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In the News… quick recap of news of the week. Nov. 1, 2025
A quick recap of news of the week in Rhode Island, the region, nationally and internationally.
We start with good news for those on SNAP who are facing its sudden pause. With RI & MA judges stepping in, if their decision is upheld, SNAP should be restored, but it will take some days to do it. Posted last night:
RHODE ISLAND
A massive roughtail stingray — potentially up to 8 feet wide and 800 pounds — was captured on video off Rhode Island’s coast
Bryant University selected as #1 Base Camp for FIFA Northeast – Boston games. Graduate Hotel in Providence also selected in the package
Shooting down a drone on your property that is not yours is not legal – call authorities
The Stanley Burger named #1 burger in Rhode Island at Stanley’s Famous Hamburgers in Central Falls – by “Only in Your State”
5 to 6 rounds were fired in and around the Hartford Housing building in Providence. No injuries known at this time, though casings were found and suspects fled, per local media reports
Newport Mansions begin holiday season starting on Nov. 22nd
Omni Parker House, a 170-year-old hotel in Boston, went through a $65 million renovation.
Terminesi’s in Wakefield to close.
Gazebo at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet, that faces Broad St., being restored
Middletown speeding camera enforcement to go into effect this week
Quonset Development noted their 15,000th job this week
Republican Vic Mellor may challenge Rep. Seth Magaziner
Bobby Cowsill will perform at Belmont Chapel at Island Cemetery for performances – Dec. 4 and 5.
The Island Cup Thanksgiving tournament between Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket Highs was canceled due to too many injured or restricted players
Showcase closing at Patriots Place in Foxboro
Pawtucket Soup Kitchen says they are open for business and serving all, no questions asked.
Smithfield HS Football team, who “hazed” a Jewish team member by putting him in a bathroom stall and spraying him with Lysol, shouting epithets, appealed their dismissal from the team, and won and were restored as playing members. Community is holding meetings for many who are outraged at the behavior and reaction to it
Beacon Wind offshore wind project halts production off Martha’s Vineyard
Gov. McKee rec’d his flu and COVID shots
Newport Illuminated Boat Parade to light up harbor Nov. 28
Beacon Wind, w/plans for 155 turbines to power an est. 1 million homes, 20 miles south of Nantucket and next to Vineyard Wind, is no longer viable and will not continue.
Gov. McKee is adding a 2nd grandchild to the family – a boy
There is a dolphin in the Swansea, MA waterways
Based on the # of cemeteries per 100K people, Rhode Island is rated the 8th “Spookiest State” in the US
The attorney general’s cold case unit and local police closed the cases of Cynthia McKenna, who was killed in 2007, and 24-year-old Debra Stone who was slain in 1984 – both murders died years ago
Mystic Seaport about to lay off some employees
WBZ’s Jon Keller and other employees let go by Boston TV station amid Paramount layoffs
SnapSupport.RI.gov or 2-1-1 for food help in RI since SNAP
A state employee (and member of the RI National Guard) from North Providence, age 37, charged with wrongfully obtaining more than $17,000 in SNAP food assistance benefits. Listed as Senior Cyber Security Engineer at CCRI, making over $120K.
Simmons College lost all its credit rating standings
Tom Donilon, Providence native, had a salary of $4M and would have been bonused $4M if Biden won
Apple Cinemas opens at Providence Place beginning November 1st will include new amenities, technology, and experiences for visitors: Luxury Recliners – Advanced projection and sound technologies – Bowling Lounge – Trampoline Park – Bar & Lounge
6 charged after woman found dead in Pawtucket
1 arrested by ICE outside courthouse in Providence
MA Gov. Healey aide accused of taking cocaine delivery at state building — 21 kilos seized
Hillary Clinton spoke at Brown University
140,000 fentanyl pills in Johnnston, Warwick and in MA seized as part of a probe into a Dominican organization’s New England drug-trafficking activities – part of the Sinaloa Cartel Network – none of those arrested were from RI
RI & MA judges issue ruling to restore SNAP (Judge MacConnell for RI)
Median home price in Providence stays the same for October – $469,900
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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
The Pentagon confirmed it has accepted an anonymous $130 million gift to help pay members of the military during the government shutdown. Later identified as multi-billionaire, Timothy Mellon
Lance Twiggs, roommate/partner of Robinson, who is charged with murder of Charlie Kirk, is now missing
10 people accused of cyber bullying of Mrs. Macron on trial in Paris
Pres. Trump announced he had a type of MRI and it “was perfect”.
Justin Trudeau and Katy Perry are now out in the open about their relationship
Former President Joe Biden received a lifetime achievement award from the Edward M. Kennedy Institute.
It’s peak fall migration will millions of birds along the Atlantic Flyway
45% of all frozen shrimp coming into the US comes from India – exports have sputtered due to US tariffs
Judge ruled that Mr. Robinson who is charged with the murder of Charlie Kirk can appear in street clothing, but will appear in restraints, but use the least restrictive restraints possible. Media cannot photograph or record Robinson in restraints or coming or going from the courtroom.
Reformist Milei wins in a landslide in Argentina – says he will continue to “make Argentina great again” with “free market reforms”.
Egypt and Red Cross now helping in the search for hostage bodies in Gaza. 13 still missing.
US Navy helicopter and fighter jet crash in separate incidents in the South China Sea
Hurricane Melissa brought flash flooding to Jamaica, southern Haiti, and the Dominican Republic
Prometheus, at Rockefeller Center, their iconic sculpture has been taken down for re-gold leafing – the leafing, paper thin, will cost $60K just for product, not including labor and moving costs
NYC tree lighting to take place on Dec. 3
The makers of Tylenol, Johnson & Johnson and Kenvue are being sued by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who accused them of knowingly hiding the drug’s links to autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Another strike on 2 drug cartel boats – 14 killed
ICE leadership – approx. 12 – being repositioned – most are in the west coast area – also Philadelphia – some replacements are going to be border patrol officials
Russia tests a new nuclear-powered cruise missile; the Burevestnik, nicknamed “Skyfall” by NATO, is designed to evade existing missile detection systems
18,000 Japanese police officers were assigned to guard President Trump during his trip to Japan
Gov. Newsome says he will be interested in running for President – so says Kamala Harris
Gayle King, who has been the face of CBS News’ morning show for more than a decade, is expected to depart as an anchor next year and possibly take on another role
Arrest made in direct threat and offer of bounty to kidnap, harm or kill AG Pam Bondi
Mamdani held a massive rally with AOC, Bernie Sanders and others, for his mayoral campaign – where he announced his socialist programs to provide things for free like day care, housing equity, etc. to massive response of thousands. AOC pleaded with people that “they are not insane, they are not crazy, they are sane”.
Kelsey Grammer, 70, welcomes 8th child. His oldest is 41
Meeting with No. Korea will not happen during this trip to So. Korea of President Trump
Japan donates 250 Cherry Trees to DC
Gov DeSantis offers $5K for NYC police officers to come work in Florida
White House officials fired all six members of the U.S. Commission on Fine Arts, a federal agency which would have been tasked with advising on the design elements of the new $300 million White House ballroom
Ol’Miss College Chapter of Turning Point USA, Charlie Kirk’s college group, numbers 1,500
$4.2B to be spent this year in Halloween decorations
Trucking officials say there is a 60,000 shortfall in CDL drivers in US
General Motors cut 1,700 workers at factories in Michigan and Ohio
Federal Reserve announces its 2nd interest rate cut of 2025, reducing rates by 25 basis points.
119 killed in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil drug gang raid by officials
US will begin testing nuclear weapons once again
Glamour Magazine put 9 biological males on the cover, recognizing them – they are all transgendered
Prince Andrew has lost his residence and all titles associated with being “Prince”
97 people in LA charged with anti-ICE activity
Customers who have linked a SNAP or EBT card to their DoorDash profile can have their delivery and service fees waived on an order from one of the listed grocery stores
Dr. Seuss book, “Sing the 50 States” coming out in spring, in time for 250th
Paramount merged with Skydance and lost 2,000 employees
Bill Gates now says poverty and global health is more important than climate change and has written a 55-page statement as to why
So. Korea confirms trade deal has been done with US
UPS let go over 48,000 workers
Toyota will invest $10B in opening plants in the US
FBI’s Arctic Frost Investigation –
5 new arrests in Louvre case
Nvidia becomes first $5 Trillion company (economy of Germany)
Paramount to lay off roughly 2,000 employees
The remains returned by Hamas today have been identified as Amiram Cooper, 86, and Sahar Baruch, 25.
Dictionary.com names “6-7” the 2025 Word of the Year.
At least 19 killed in Jamaica due to hurricane devastation
HealthSourceRI estimates over 13,000 Rhode Islanders will drop health insurance due to affordability
Providence may finally sell Camp Cronin in Narragansett
Prospect Medical has asked a bankruptcy court to transfer Roger Williams Medical Center and Fatima Hospital to the state or allow them to be closed.
RI Judge & MA Judge say SNAP must continue. It will be appealed. Emergency fund could fund SNAP for 3 weeks.
Lincoln bathroom at the White House remodeled all in white marble
2,300 Rhode Islanders may no longer qualify for SNAP under new federal rules in 2026
30,000 Rhode Islanders may no longer qualify for Medicaid under new federal rules in 2026 (9,000 due to new restrictions placed on immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers)
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PASSINGS
Franklyn T. Cook, 85, Fund Consultants, capital campaign direction for many RI nonprofits
June Lockhart, 100, actress
Nick Mangold, 41, NY Jets player, of kidney disease
Ambassador J William Middendorf II, 102
Presentation of the lifetime achievement award to Joe Biden contained the usual boilerplate of ‘service’ ‘persistence’ and ‘hard work’.
But my question is: what did he actually achieve? Longevity in political office? Is that why it is a lifetime achievement award? Such balderdash.
The current situation in the US is 100% better, in every respect, that it was in his term.
re: Toyota’s $10 Billion Investment
Time to take Dementia Donald to a rest home. How many other ‘investments’ has he ‘misinformed’ us about?
Per Snopes ( and a dozen other sources):
Toyota contradicted Trump’s claim by clarifying that there was no new $10 billion U.S. investment pledge, though the company continues to make significant investments in its American operations. The $10 billion number appears to have been taken out of context — likely a reference to previous spending — and presented by Trump as a new commitment.
Snopes not a good resource – after doing some research, this is what we found, as stated by Japan:
Japan agrees to invest around US $550 billion in the U.S. economy.
“Critically… the Government of Japan has agreed to invest $550 billion in the United States.”
The investment is described as targeting “core American industries” such as manufacturing, aerospace, agriculture, energy, automobiles, industrial goods.
The investment scheme is to be under U.S. selection of projects: “These investments — which will be selected by the United States Government — will generate hundreds of thousands of United States jobs…”
Japan agrees to expand market access for U.S. goods (agriculture, autos) into Japan. Some specifics:
Increase annual purchases of U.S. agricultural goods (including corn, soybeans, fertilizer, bioethanol, sustainable aviation fuel) to about US $8 billion per year.
Increase U.S. rice imports under Japan’s “minimum access” scheme by ≈ 75 %.
Accept U.S.-manufactured passenger vehicles with U.S. safety certification in Japan without additional testing.
Accept U.S.-made commercial aircraft, defense equipment.
Japan agrees to tolerate a new U.S. tariff structure on Japanese imports (in exchange) — Though this is more on the U.S. side, it implies Japan accepts the deal’s tariff consequences. For example: a 15% reciprocal tariff for Japanese exports rather than a threatened 25%
That’s pretty rude to say of Mr. Trump. And pretty rich, too. In his term in the White House, Mr. Biden was practically non compos mentis.
Mr. Trump changed the skyline of New York, and now he is changing the political and economic landscape of the world. For the better!
If your hatred is so blind to facts, maybe you should just not strain to bash him every time you get an urge to speak.