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In the News… quick recap of the news of the week, ending January 2, 2026
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
Bishop Lewandowski kicked off the 21st season of the Keep the Heat On by presenting grants for $2,500 each to two organizations for clients who have cultural or language barriers Prov & Newport
Minimum wage goes up $1 in RI in January
Coyotes have taken 3 dogs in Narragansett
A Martha’s Vineyard Gingerbread House, less than 360 sq. ft. is selling for $640K
Live-in personal care attendants in MA no longer have to pay federal or state tax – will impact 18,000 caregivers, saving about $5K each
900 flights were canceled with over 8,000 delays in last weekend’s snowstorm
JB’s on the Water in Jamestown remodeled and open on the water
The $1.8B lottery winner can remain anonymous in Arkansas – but only for 3 years
Two men were arrested for assaulting their brother, who was a patient at Fatima Hospital
As of Jan. 1, in RI, debt collectors can’t seek a lien against a person’s home for medical debt, and credit reporting agencies are prohibited from reporting a consumer’s medical debt. They also capped interest rates on this kind of debt.
A shipment of lobster meat valued at $400,000 vanished en route from a warehouse in Taunton to Costco locations in the Midwest
Louis Diner restaurant on the East Side of Providence closed 12/31
RIDOT will close and renovate its Richmond Welcome Center
New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs is facing charges of misdemeanor assault and battery and felony strangulation or suffocation
Charles “Chass” Calenda appointed as new interim U.S. District Attorney for RI – to serve for 120 days
2nd New England Patriot player – Christian Barmore, charged with assault
Smyth Companies LLC: Closing its label manufacturing plant, laying off 69 workers – Wilmington MA, north of Boston. Also in Wilmington – Charles River Laboratories: around 70 layoffs – streamlining its pharmaceutical operations.
3 shot off Douglas Avenue in a home on New Year’s Eve – all stable. Very close to PC
The Bearded Chicken in Somerset, MA closed
Rally held in RI to support Revolution Wind
2 scallopers dead after boat capsized off Martha’s Vineyard. Rescued, but did not survive.
RI House and the Senate will return to the State House Tuesday, Jan. 6, at 4 p.m. Both sessions will be broadcast by Capitol Television. https://capitoltvri.cablecast.tv. Both chambers plan to meet twice-weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4.
Seven Stars Bakery staff vote to authorize strike
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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
Build-A-Bear Workshop shares grew 1,150% in five years
FBI Director Kash Patel announced that the agency would be permanently shutting down its current headquarters.
The abandoned Loring Air Force Base in northern Maine could be the state’s first data center
Regardless of the trend to not depend on college education for future careers, the group having the hardest time finding a job and one with a future are those without a college education
Numerous New Year’s Eve parties/events in US have been canceled due to terrorism concerns
Gmail users may request new named accounts while maintaining archive of old emails – perfect for people with email names they no longer want to use publicly
Charlie Kirk Assassin trial – judge allows media/public to access redacted transcripts of closed-door hearing held on 10/24 & 25. Redaction of items such as court security plans, etc. will be done – Avail in approx. 2 weeks. Next hearing Jan. 16th, 1pm.
Victor David Hanson, conservative commentator, had an undisclosed type of major surgery
The man charged with planting pipe bombs near the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee HQ in January 2021 has now confessed to the crime
Tatiana Schlossberg, a granddaughter of JFK, is dead at 35 after cancer diagnosis
Jill Biden’s ex-husband’s wife dies in Delaware after police were called for a domestic dispute, and she was found unresponsive – later said to be cardiac arrest
HHS has frozen all daycare payments to Minnesota without documentation of expense or cost
Israel says it will halt operations of several humanitarian organizations in Gaza, including Doctors without Borders and CARE
U.S. has surpassed 2,000 measles cases for the first time in more than 30 years
Chicago campaign to name a snow plow has mayor’s endorsement of “Abolish Ice”
US appeals court allows US govt to withhold Medicaid funding from Planned Parenthood if they provide abortions
National Links have lost federal contract to manage Wash. DC’s 3 municipal golf courses
Jessica is the new name for “Karens”
Swiss ski resort suffered NY Eve fire with explosion in the basement, where many events are held – at least 40 presumed dead – hundreds injured
Iranians hold demonstrations about the economy
ICE to invest $100M into recruitment
France grants citizenship to George Clooney and family
President Trump auctioned a painting of Jesus Christ. The bid started at $100,000. Sold for $2.75M – 50% goes to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. – 50% goes to the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Department.
President Trump will end the deployment of National Guard troops in L.A., Chicago and Portland, Ore.
The U.S. investigated and found that the Ukraine did not try to hit Putin’s residence in Russia, as he had claimed
Amsterdam fire leaves iconic church in ruins, started right after fireworks
Pink has surgery to replace two discs in her neck
US expands countries for travel ban – most from Africa
Britain has a new group, the “Pink Ladies”, against uncontrolled immigration, particularly concerning women’s issues like Sharia law, cultural customs such as marrying off very young girls, no rights for women, safety, etc.
1 Brown student left hospitalized after Brown U shooting
New Hampshire eliminating mandatory annual vehicle safety and emissions inspections for most passenger vehicles, as well as inspection stickers ending on January 31, 2026
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution ended its 157-year print run on Dec. 31, 2025, moving to a digital-only format.
Just 13% of homes destroyed in LA fires have permit to rebuild as lawsuit claims ‘endangered plants’ hindered firefighting efforts
White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller announced his wife was pregnant
50th anniversary this year for the Muppets
ISIS-inspired attack thwarted in North Carolina
US led military action in Venezuela against military targets in early morning 1/3
Mamdani takes office as Mayor of NYC Jan 1st, then issues many EOs and revoking of certain ordinances and resolutions – holds block party which angered people because there was no food or restrooms – in first day of office he visited apartment buildings with repairs needed and took the subway around the city
MSM are beginning to follow up on Minnesota daycare and healthcare scandal. Other states are showing their own – Ohio, California, MA, etc. Hearings on Minnesota will begin next week
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PASSINGS
Brigitte Bardot, 91, actress
Victoria Jones, 35, daughter of Tommy Lee Jones, found in a hotel room
Richard Smallwood, 77, gospel singer, 8 time Grammy award nominee, kidney failure
A factoid: Trump has generously said that the money for the painting he auctioned off is being donated. St. Jude’s will get 50% and the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Dept. will get 50%. That’s approx. $1.3 million. I’m sure both parties will appreciate the gesture.
St. Jude’s is a wonderful organization that does so much good.
As to the Palm Beach Sheriffs, they are also deserving. Why, you ask? When Trump comes to town, it’s all hands on deck; police details and overtime. PB doesn’t build that into its budget so the taxpayers had to pick up the tab. PB kept sending bills to the gov’t and were never paid. In July, the gov’t said it would reimburse the County. Each day he’s in Fla., it costs the local taxpayers $240K. They had to approve another $45 million just for his trips.
Dec. 20, 2025 Arrived in Florida for a 16 day holiday. Do the math. If world leaders are there, the cost rises. That’s $3.8 million for the past week’s security.
That ‘donation’ doesn’t cover this week.