In the News… quick recap of the news of the week ending Dec. 5, 2025

A quick summary of news of the past week – get caught up on items you may have missed or have more interest in… just copy the note and “google” it.

 

RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY

PVD Holiday Fest, which includes Saturday’s City Hall Tree Lighting, runs from now through December 7, with dozens of events spanning Downtown Providence and Federal Hill

Care New England blames Butler Hospital strike for their $10.8M loss, following a $15.2M gain the year before

The Ocean Mist named one of US top dive bars

Rusty’s Bar & Grille in Middletown has closed

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins says she will be moving to HALT federal funding to states who refuse to turn over SNAP data to help root out fraud

USDOJ suing RI Sect. of State over not turning over complete voter rolls to federal govt

Yankee Candle closing 20 stores in US in Canada, 3 stores are in RI, but no word which would or would not close (Smithfield, Cranston, Providence)

Providence Bishop Bruce A. Lewandowski announced that Rhode Island State Police Lieutenant Colonel Robert A. Creamer will start leading the Diocese of Providence Compliance Office next month.

Centurion insists plan to buy Roger Williams, Fatima hospitals remains on track

Hometown Poke & Bubble Tea in EG closed

Cafecito Taiyaki on Dean Street has closed

After criticism on holding a private, invitation-only Christmas Tree lighting this week, there will be an Open House at the RI State House Dec. 16th to view the tree, decorations, and enjoy music and hot chocolate.

Sally’s Apizza will open at Foxwoods – it has a Garden City Center location in Cranston

Dr. Ashish Jha stepping down as Dean of the School of Public to “lead an initiative that aims to bolster our nation’s defenses against emerging pandemic and biological threats.”

RI Convention Center put in a large, round bar in the rotunda area

Prime Healthcare will receive a $2 million refund over the next five years from the city of Woonsocket, where its local subsidiary owns and operates Landmark Medical Center.

Mayor Wu wants to assess individual taxpayers approx. $780 per year to clean up downtown Boston’s commercial district

Prime withdraws bid for Roger Williams & Fatima Hospitals

RI AnchorHome, a new first-time home buyer program makes access more affordable, fixed-rate (3.99%) mortgages with no PMI through trusted local lenders – announced by Treasurer Diossa

Massachusetts church outdoor nativity scene keeps sign saying “ICE WAS HERE” up – without the baby Jesus and Mary and Joseph statues – going up against an order from the Archdiocese of Boston called sign “divisive political messaging” and telling the parish to remove it immediately.

Gov. McKee announced via a press release that “the Washington Bridge project reached a major milestone ahead of schedule: the full demolition of the old bridge is complete.” Some media outlets are disputing this.

The 2026 Point in Time Count, a national requirement, will be managed by the Executive Office of Housing in RI, taking it over from the Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness which has done this project for the past 16 years.

The 51st Christmas Stroll on Nantucket will take place this weekend

Slater Park Carousel has commemorative 2025 holiday ornaments for sale at the carousel and at Camera Werks in Providence

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NATIONAL & INT’L

Louvre increases ticket prices by 45% for non-Europeans

Every day, more than 10,000 Americans turn 65

US Rep. Troy Nehls from Texas won’t seek re-election, but has endorsed his twin brother

Mass shooting in California at a family function in a hall was a function that had several gang members as part of the group – “it happened to settle a beef”, per police chief

Measles has dropped 71% over the last 24 years

Cory Booker married Alexis Lewis

Portugal bans all Islamic Veils in public spaces, fines of more than 600€

“Trump Accounts” launched. Will give American children born 2025-2028 a $1,000 deposit – can be invested into stocks. Parents can contribute $5,000/yr. At age 18, withdrawals can be made for education, other qualifying uses.

White House gets festive with 51 trees and 120 pounds of gingerbread. “Home Is Where the Heart Is” theme that includes 75 wreaths, over 50 trees, 10,000 butterflies

The Prada Group has purchased Versace for almost $1.4 BILLION.

San Francisco will sue makers of ultraprocessed foods, saying they cause diseases that burden governments with health costs.

NYC and Starbucks agreed to a separate local $38 million labor settlement

“Trump Accounts” will provide $1,000 for every child born between from 2025 to 2028 —in an investment account funded by M/M Michael Dell with a $6.25M seed money contribution. Funds can be added to up to $5K a year. They mature when child is 18.

RFK Jr. announces a near end to prior authorization for medical procedures: “We convened the insurance companies representing 280 million Americans and got them to agree — most of them by January of 2026, two months from now — to remove prior authorization for all the procedures we want them removed from. And that means that American patients at the point of care will be able to get an answer immediately.

Capitol Christmas Tree was lit

AT & T will end its DEI policies and has informed the govt of that

San Francisco is suing 10 major companies over “ultra processed foods” – similar action to RFKJr’s campaign, but taking the legal route

Yankee Candle closing 20 stores in US and Canada that represent only 1% of their sales – laying off 900, mostly admin staff

Serena Williams says she will not have a tennis comeback

Mike Lindell has filed to run for Minnesota governor, challenging Tim Walz.

Andrea Bocelli begins a US tour

Coach Bill Belichick and owner Robert Kraft are among the five finalists announced today for the Hall of Fame Class of 2026

Pres. Trump announces he will begin a nationwide tour on “Affordability” next week

US Govt will investigate Act Blue

SCOTUS agreed to hear President’s case banning birthright citizenship in the U.S.

Starlink now in So. Korea

Netflix buying the Discovery network

Bally’s preliminary approval to build $4M casino in the Bronx

CDC votes 8 to 3 to recommend only newborn babies get a HEP vaccine whose mothers test positive for Hep B (or whose status is unknown). No longer across the board at birth – but wait until 2 mos. after birth for vaccine. ALSO, usually one vaccine is given at birth, a second at 1-3 months later and a third at 6-15 months of age. New recommendations that antibody levels be tested after each shot to determine whether additional shots are needed. Some will need 1 shot, some 2, some all 3.

New restrictions for immigrants, reducing the work authorization periods from five years to 18 months,

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PASSINGS

Frank Gehry, 96, a titan of architecture

David Jones, long time radio personality in RI

Tom Stoppard, 88, British playwrite

“Chubby” Tavares, singer in Tavares, Rhode Island