Subscribe!
In the News. Quick recap of news of the week in Rhode Island and beyond, July 5, 2025
Here is our really-quick synopsis of stories of the week – locally, nationally, and internationally – as well as passings of note – to learn more do your research by searching on Google for further info – or write to us at news@rinewstoday.com.
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
The Publics Radio’s Political Roundtable is going on hiatus for the summer and will return with a new name, longer Q&As and a YouTube video version – happening as Lively Experiment is also going on summer hiatus amid PBS/NPR merger
Providence’s fireworks show is $48K – Pawtucket is $25K split with RIFC. Most cities/towns not impacted by tariffs this year as they already had ordered supplies – but next year
All Anchor Medical offices closed June 30th. Warwick, Providence, Lincoln, includes pediatrics.
A 71-year-old man was arrested at a Brockton hotel for allegedly attempting to rape a child under 16. Galloway was an employee of a school in Fall River.
Film being shot in Little Compton area – “Remain”
58,000 estimated laid-off federal workers interested in moving to Boston, after MA ran a state recruitment campaign for them (BosGlobe)
Finn’s Harborside open again after fire
CVS Caremark ordered to pay $95M for overbilling Medicare
Healthy Aging group in RI appealing for people to be able to have an emergency change of Medicare companion plan away from United Health so their hospitals can be covered.
Providence Pools (5) are now open as well as Splash Pads
Ribbon cutting to fully open the Amazon Johnston location
Vino Veritas Restaurant to close
Eric Ulis, of Smithfield, famous for mystery hunting (CooperCon) will run for Lt. Gov. as a Democrat
New Hampshire will no longer require emissions testing after this September
Parente’s Restaurant to close
Boston garbage workers on strike (also, Philadelphia) – over 400 – and garbage piling up
Brown University lost $45M in NIH funding since April,
RI increased insurance coverage for hearing aids from $1,500 to $1,750, per ear, for all people regardless of age, allows for purchases every year instead of every three years, and applies to everyone, including children. The increase will be effective starting Jan. 1, 2026.
Unique Diversity Innovation – a health company being raided at Branch Ave. offices by the Medicaid Fraud office of the RI Attorney General’s office
4 hospitals of Brown Health now not in the Medicare Advantage/United Health Care system – RI Hospital, Miriam Hospital, Newport Hospital and Hasbro Children’s Hospital
861 boardings for the 2024 Express Beach Bus, which ran on weekends and holidays from June 29 through August 31, 2024, reports RIPTA
Randy Buck named interim Supt. of Schools for Pawtucket
The Halal Guys – a popular chain – will open in Warwick
U’Nique Diversity Innovation on Branch Avenue was raided for Medicaid fraud by the RI Attorney General’s office
Brown University has been subpoenaed by the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary, claiming that the university has failed to fully comply with the group’s investigation into alleged price-fixing among Ivy League institutions.
Hasbro announced a new slate of multiyear licensing agreements aimed at expanding its most popular brands into the casino category. They signed licensing agreements with Providence-based Bally’s Corp., Aristocrat Technologies, Evolution and Galaxy Gaming.
Treasurer Diossa’s “baby bonds” program set to go – but no funds provided in the budget – will now seek private donor dollars
Modern Diner in Pawtucket “may” be for sale
Newport Polo will take place every Saturday from now through September
MA reporting violent crime has decreased significantly, but antisemitic incidents “have soared” – reported by MA. Executive Office of Public Safety & Security
Astrana Health (formerly Apollo Medical Holdings) acquired the assets of Prospect Health (a health plan, multiple medical groups & an acute care hospital). Astrana will control Prospect Health Plan, a California licensed healthcare service plan; & Prospect Medical Groups in California, Texas, Arizona & Rhode Island.
Providence Restaurant Weeks July 6-19
Rhode Island PBS and The Public’s Radio merger – now known as Ocean State Media
The Men’s Wearhouse in Warwick is temporarily closed to shopping as it contends with a technical outage – open for drop-offs and pick-ups
RI raises fines for wrong-way driving from $85 to $500
Jim Bennett, former EVP of Prospect Medical Holdings and on the board of RI Commerce, is appointed director of the agency.
EB paid $6.4 million for Macy’s property at Crystal Mall.
Paul Rianna announced he is once again running for Gov. of RI
Storm damage leaves some communities “out” until Sunday, as estimated by RI Energy, whose outage map is not working and has come under criticism for poor response rate
City of Providence Recreation Director leaves after coming to the position in 2023.
Some people charged with crimes being released in MA because no public defenders available
Reductions in federal Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) − will not take effect – at the state level – until 2028.
New owners of Atlantic Mills have given eviction notices to current tenants – they refuse to leave and are organizing for legal action
___
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
Smuckers removing dyes from its foods
We have 9.1M Veterans enrolled in VA care
Pres. Trump says there is a buyer for Tik Tok – and – he’ll announce it in 2 weeks
Attorney General Pam Bondi fired at least two federal prosecutors who worked on cases against Jan. 6 rioters.
University of Virginia president resigns amid DEI fight.
Microsoft is changing their blue death screen to black
DOGE hire, nicknamed “Big Balls” because of his screen name, left the govt employ – but he was offered a permanent job to work on fixing Social Security – he accepted the position. He had left Harvard early to work for Musk’s team
85% of people on Medicaid do not have a college degree
Israeli court postponed Netanyahu’s trial for the week after Pres. Trump pled his case, saying how could he negotiate peace sitting in a courtroom
The 8 pilots who were involved in the Iran bombing will be coming to the White House
Temporary prison for deporting illegal migrants called Alligator Alcatraz in Florida 60 miles north of the Everglades opened
Idaho firefighters were shot at, 2 killed, 2 in serious condition, in an ambush – killer started a fire and then shot at responding firefighters. Killer was found dead on mountainside.
Beyonce had an equipment malfunction, leaving her dangling in a “car” over the audience at a concert – she called for the music to stop and was lowered without incident – though performances like this and their safety are now being questioned
The Taliban in Afghanistan say they are eager to welcome back tourists
Two Chinese nationals have been charged with spying in the United States on behalf of Beijing. They photographed a Naval base, and tried to recruit members of the military who they thought might be open to working for Chinese intelligence.
Lu Lu Lemon suing COSTCO over selling knock-offs of their items
Starlink now available in Sri Lanka
The Dalai Lama said he may be the last Dalai Lama, but that his office has the “sole authority” to name his successor and that followers should reject a potential Beijing-appointed Dalai Lama.
Waffle House dropping its 50 cent egg surcharge as egg prices have come down
$16M to be paid by CBS parent company to Donald Trump – Most of the settlement money will go toward Trump’s presidential library – settles “fake news” with Kamala Harris interview
$7 Billion for Education being withheld to cities/states
Fint, MI pipes replacing completed
Tennessee legislature has enacted a regulation that any young person shown to be bullying, they will lose their driver’s license except for working, church, etc.
DelMonte files for bankruptcy
Diddy found guilty on 3 transportation charges out of 5 – sentencing to be in October – no bail
USAID closed – some programs changed over to DOA
UPenn agrees to send apology letters to their women athletes – and to strip Lia Thomas of her awards and positions, giving them to the women next in line – and to take her name off official records
US House debates Senate BBB bill
Laura Trump says she will seriously consider running to represent the people of her home state of North Carolina
Microsoft laid off 2,300 workers
The number of summer jobs available nationwide has dropped
Philadelphia essential workers – many of whom are garbage and municipal workers on stroke – to return – for the public’s safety.
Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, 21, of MA, a senior at UMassAmherst, an intern for Kansas Rep. Ron Estes, killed in Washington DC shooting
Secretary Rubio announces State Department food and aid items shall only carry the logo of the American flag, reading “Provided by the United States of America” rather than all different companies and nonprofits
Vietnam trade – tariff deal struck – they will pay US a 20% Tariff on any/all goods sent into our Territory, & a 40% Tariff on any Transshipping. In return, Vietnam will give the US TOTAL ACCESS to their Markets for Trade, with zero tariff.
Hershey to remove all artificial dyes by 2027
Alice Cooper to go into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame at the age of 76
Tehran has suspended cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Ukraine seeks a go-around in weapons procurement – asking Washington to let Europe purchase U.S. weapons for Ukraine
U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Allvin announced a replacement for the famous B-2 bomber, the B-21. “It will be able to penetrate further into enemy territory and put Warheads on Foreheads anywhere the President wants”
Plane carrying 14 people crashes near airport in New Jersey – at least 5 injured
Now ½ way through 2025
Microsoft to layoff 9,000
Meta CEO – Zuckerberg – is trying to lure talent from OpenAI and other tech companies with offers that can top $100 million in total compensation for the first year alone — top-tier packages can reach up to $300 million over four years
The S&P 500 and Nasdaq hit new record highs after the trade deal announced by President Trump with Vietnam.
House passed the Big Beautiful Bill on July 3rd
Tesla deliveries fell for a second straight quarter
Dr. Phil’s TV network files for bankruptcy
Hakeem Jeffries set new record for speaking from the House floor
Israel has an AI car inspection system to scan your car for problems – coming to US
Joey Chestnut wins 17th Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest by downing 70 ½ hot dogs
Proposed 2026 budget slashes the Historic Preservation Fund by $158 million
The WNBA is adding three new teams for a record 18 franchises: Cleveland will begin play in 2028, Detroit joins in 2029 and Philadelphia will tip off in 2030.
Poland sending the Polish Army to the country’s borders with Germany and Lithuania to stop illegals migrants from crossing into Poland
Massive flooding in Texas – 23 girls missing from girls camp – some being rescued from tree tops
Executive Order on use of national parks gives priority to American residents over foreign tourists for reservations, etc. and sets a slightly higher fee for tourists
Pope Leo takes a 2-week vacation, not usually done by Popes of recent time
Countries who have not negotiated a tariff settlement with the US will be notified of what their tariffs will be
RFPs for artists to make statues for the Garden of Heroes have begun – no location has been named – statues need to be ready for the 250th celebration
___
PASSINGS
David Crombie, 83, former ProJo reporter
Diogo Jota, 21, Liverpool footballer, has died in a car crash (and his brother)
Michael Madsen, Actor in “Reservoir Dogs” and “Kill Bill,” Dies at 67
Julian McMahon, 56, actor, ‘Charmed,’ ‘Fantastic Four,’ and ‘FBI