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In the News… quick recap of the week ending Jan. 16, 2026
A quick recap of the news of the week in Rhode Island, regionally, nationally and internationally – get caught up on a busy news week.
Rhode Island & Vicinity
Patient arrested at Butler Hospital after an altercation, injuring at least 4 staff, including 2 women who were rendered unconscious, and a police officer who went to the hospital with a head injury – recently Butler opened a 24/7 emergency facility, though it’s not clear where at Butler this occurred
Chick-fil-A opened in Warwick, very close to their first one opened in Warwick
All Pizzeria Uno stores in MA closed as well as the RI location in Warwick
Estimated 85% of Massachusetts residents now use seatbelts
Lot where Duck & Bunny once was on Wickenden St. sold to a developer
Helena Foulkes wants to ban donations from lobbyists during campaign season
St. Mary’s Home will be reopened as a psychiatric facility for girls
The New Bedford Whaling Museum hosted the eighth mini-marathon reading of a Portuguese adaptation of Herman Melville’s “Moby-Dick” featuring simultaneous readings across three continents, including sites in mainland Portugal, the Azores, Madeira, and Cape Verde
St. Martha’s Church in East Providence vandalized over last weekend
New Brown Health Urgent Care Center opens in Barrington
Cranston schools athletic director Mike Traficante will retire at the end of this school year
Recovery grants for Merchant Associations impacted by Brown University Shooting can be applied for in Providence
Former RI Gov. Gina Raimondo said she is still considering running for President – says it’s a “job she can do”
Garden City new stores: Cambridge-based Lanner Noodles will open where Bistro 22 was. Bistro 22 will not reopen. PopUp Bagels will open where Yankee Candle was. Anna’s Taqueria will open next door to Dunkin’. Sally’s Apizza where Anthony’s Coal-Fired Pizza was.
New Study on how New Englanders would save billions of dollars and avoid power blackouts by replacing state-mandated renewable energy projects with nuclear and natural gas power released by a coalition of New England think tanks. HERE
K-pop will play in Gillette on Aug 5 & 6
Work will be done on Mt. Hope Bridge from 1/20-4/30/26, alternating lanes of travel to “dehumidify”
4 court nominees made by Gov. McKee – Shannon G. Signore, Esq., Rhode Island Superior Court; Michael J. McCaffrey, Esq., Rhode Island District Court; Magistrate Alberto Aponte Cardona, Sr., Rhode Island Family Court; Magistrate Andrea Iannazzi, Rhode Island Family Court.
Ribbon cutting on Monday for the new Pawtucket-Central Falls Transit Center passenger amenity building will complete the Transit Center project
RI and MA reaffirm their current immunization schedule for children, not the federal adjusted one
ICE agents chased a potential detainee to the Providence courthouse, where he, and they entered, and chased him to the other entrance where he was arrested
There is now an AI program to tell New Hampshire skiers if it is safe to ski at that time
Person arrested for fleeing police on side roads in Warwick, crashing off of Route 95N and then running, was captured. He was a driver by profession, from Central Falls – faces many charged including driving without a license and DUI
A bakery in Springfield, MA is making “F— Trump” cookies
NATIONAL
310 with measles in So. Carolina
Military exercises taking place in Greenland – plans to upgrade US bases there – 2 days after US landing, Germany sent troops to do their own military exercises.
New federal rule for a one-year cap on credit card interest rates – 10% – beginning on Jan. 20.
Saks declared bankruptcy
New Postage Stamp with Mohammad Ali image on it coming out soon
Newest mortgage interest rate for 30-year mortgage, 6.06%
Pope speaks on use of inclusive language/phrases/terms: “…a new Orwellian-style language is developing which, in an attempt to be increasingly inclusive, ends up excluding those who do not conform to the ideologies that are fueling it.”
Gen Z said to be cutting down on screen time and substituting “Grandma Hobbies” such as crocheting, crossword puzzles, crafts, etc.
Federal attorneys will go to Minneapolis after several in the state resign
Nurses are on strike at several NY hospitals
A mountaintop site being used as a landfill collapsed in Cebu City, Philippines, killed at least four workers, injured 12, and left more than 30 missing.
Taxpayers can begin filing 2025 tax returns on Jan. 26 says IRS
FIFA has picked Tik Tok as its preferred media
Mary J. Blige new residency in Vegas – tickets now on sale
The Lancet published a “gold standard” study from England that shows there are no adverse effects of taking Paracetamol, or acetaminophen, by pregnant women
Prosecutors open criminal probe into Fed Chair, Jerome Powell
Golden Globe top winners: One Battle After Another and Adolescence. Best podcast to Good Hang with Amy Poehler – all, HERE
140 missing children found in Tennessee by US Marshals
At least 3 Vervet monkeys are loose in St. Louis, Missouri neighborhoods
A Roman villa was unearthed in Wales by archaeologists
Harvard has enrolled a record number of international students for 2026
COVID shot predictions are outnumbered and Moderna’s stock increases
Allegiant Air acquires Sun Country Air for $1.5B
US stops immigration visas from 75 countries, temporarily, while visa system redone
$2,000 checks should come to Americans “late in 2026”
Somalis in US under TPS have had orders canceled – must leave by March 17th or be deported
Lebanese, Egyptian, and Jordanian chapters of the Muslim Brotherhood declared as terrorist groups
For the first time in 50 years, US is in net 0 migration
Julia Iglesias facing multiple sexual assault charges by staff
Birth control pills are being prescribed for a variety of skin conditions, to which the FDA advises against
In a 9-0 decision in William Trevor Case v. Montana, SCOTUS held that police need only an objectively reasonable basis—not probable cause—to enter a home without a warrant when they believe someone inside needs urgent aid
US seized 6th tanker – the Veronica – from Venezuela
The Louvre is raising admission nearly twice for non-French citizens
Haitian drones took out 3 gang leaders
Those impacted by the Verizon outage, $20 credit is available to be accepted on your Verizon app
Stars & Stripes staff will be asked questions about patriotism to work there
Saks files for bankruptcy
US now cutting tariffs on goods from Taiwan
Harvard pays over $2M fine for improper PPP loans
María Corina Machado of Venezuela came to DC to discuss future of her country – presented the President with her Nobel Peace Prize in recognition and honor from the Venezuelan people – she said when she was kidnapped she took 7 rosaries with her believing she would die. Pres. Trump intervened saying not to “harm a hair on her head – or else” – she was freed, had the rosaries presented to the Pope for blessing and presented one to the President at their meeting
DOJ opens investigation into Gov and Mayor in MN
Federal ruling that ICE and other Military cannot use pepper spray and force against “peaceful” demonstrators, nor can they stop vehicles for “checks”, nor can they retaliate if protesters are at a distance – such as on sidewalks.
Zohran Mamdani says NYC faces a $2.2B shortfall for the current fiscal year and a massive $10.4B gap for the next year, blaming Eric Adams and saying this is why taxes must be increased on the wealthy.
21 more pardons issued by President
A new health insurance program providing subsidies to people, and a plan to lower drug costs talked about in DC – details not yet revealed
Plan to attach paychecks and benefits for those behind in student loans paused until a more realistic payback program can be developed
6 Democrat, 1 Republican members of Congress flew to Greenland to “ease tensions” – acknowledging US security concerns contradicting the President’s approach in most ways – Sen. Coons said he hopes to go back and speak to the President, though he has not talked to him “since the inauguration”.
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PASSINGS
Scott Adams, 68, inventor of Dilbert, after long struggle with prostate cancer
T.K. Carter, 69, actor known for his role in “The Thing” and “Punky Brewster”
John Cunningham, 93, national theater actor
Roger Ewing, 83, actor in Gunsmoke
John Forte, 50, Grammy award winning artist – on Martha’s Vineyard
Bob Weir, 78, founder of The Grateful Dead, of cancer
Read the story of Machado of Venezuela carefully — think about it — that has the light of what is really going on in the world …