In the News… quick recap of the week ending Nov. 21, 2025

RHODE ISLAND 

RI SNAP users have decreased by 3.2% over the last 2 years

1 in 7 Massachusetts residents are on SNAP

Ex-Boston city councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson, convicted on federal corruption charges, completed her 30-day sentence, released

Alex TorresPerez, formerly with WPRI, is now senior communications position with Providence Public Schools

Heritage Restaurant Group announced its acquisition of Jo’s American Bistro in Newport.

RI Energy pulled out of its discount program for all Rhode Islanders, prior to PUC hearing

Crazy Burger Restaurant in Narragansett up for sale

Roger Federer elected to International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport in 1st year of eligibility

Siena will open another restaurant – in Narragansett

Roger Williams University requiring all staff to take a week off in their FY2026 – without pay. Joins colleges with challenging finances – dependent on international students, many from middle east, no longer coming into US.  

Matt Rife owner of The Conjuring House – new resident in RI, comedian

URI to build 3 new residence halls – accommodating over 1,000 students

Parents of Smithfield HS football team players charged with anti-Semitism, filed a complaint that it was not anti-Semitic. Jewish Alliance disagrees.

Centennial Towers “Section 8” Housing unionized, demonstrating about conditions of their housing – several apartments on NBC10 news verified their condition. Carpionato manages building owned by its investment co.

Bristol 4^th Parade will return to Independence Park from one year at RWU campus

RISPCA has a new director, Todd Cramer, former head of Potter League

$18M to re-do roads leading to Misquamicut Beach in Westerly

Henry’s Tree Farm – sold and now known as Casale’s Tree Farm, is selling Christmas trees until supply runs out.

MA and RI falling behind the West Coast in ADU construction

Newport Hospital has appointed a group to determine its fate moving forward as far as OB-GYN services are concerned. They are: The 12 panel participants are:

• Lori Allan, RN – The Noreen Stonor Drexel Birthing Center
• Carol Bazarsky – Newport Hospital Foundation Board
• Emily Blosser, MD – Obstetrician-Gynecologist, Medical Director, Newport Women’s Health
• Alex Hammer Ducas – Social Enterprise Greenhouse
• Rebecca Homer, RN – The Noreen Stonor Drexel Birthing Center
• Rebecca Hurd, CNA, CLC – The Noreen Stonor Drexel Birthing Center
• Elizabeth Lynn – van Beuren Charitable Foundation
• Thomas McGue, MD – Newport Hospital Foundation Board, former Newport Hospital Chief Medical Officer
• Latisha Michel, CLC, CBE, CHW – Certified Perinatal Doula, Ready Set Latch Go, LLC
• Sydney Ormerod – Women’s Resource Center, Newport Health Equity Zone (HEZ)
• Alexandra Quick, PT, DPT – Mae Physiotherapy
• Methodius Tuuli, MD – Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women & Infants Hospital

SNAP in RI may be used at Subway & now Burger King restaurants for Homeless, Elderly & Disabled Households

Topgolf Callaway Brands will sell a 60% stake in its Topgolf unit to private-equity firm Leonard Green as it turns more focus to its equipment and apparel business.

The Rhode Island woman held at Logan has now been taken to a county jail in Maine

50-foot, 104,000-pound male sperm whale washed up in Nantucket – too large to move – part of remains accepted by New Bedford Whaling Museum and Nantucket Whaling Museum

“The Wizard of Oz” will be made into a new movie with Chad Verdi and Leonardo DiCaprio

Hendricken over LaSalle for RI State Superbowl Championship – 13 to 3

Shooting at a No. Carolina tree lighting with 4 shot, 3 in critical condition

Shooting at Chicago holiday event

Clintons called to testify on Epstein files

Barrington HS teacher who was put on paid leave for toxic rants about Charlie Kirk on social media has been allowed to return to teach social studies – will start first week of December

Search committee at URI to pick the next Athletic Director

ICE wrongfully tried to detain a high school intern for Judge McBurney’s court; the Judge intervened in this case of mistaken identification.

NATIONAL

The Pope greeted celebrities from movie and TV, lamenting the fall of people going to cinema, and saying that movies are the essence of community

Smithsonian(s) and National Zoo have reopened

More than 20 babies have been sick in US with documented cases of from botulism – suspected more – from ByHeart – total recall of all formulas made by this company. Botulism is survivable with identification and treatment.

Best places to retire, per US News & World Report: Midland, Michigan #1 – other top spots rated on affordability, quality of life, health care access, and other benefits – Weirton, West Virginia, Homosassa Springs, Florida, The Woodlands, Texas, and Spring, Texas. Closest to RI?  Altoona, PA

China warns its citizens not to travel to Japan – as countries are locked in disagreement about Taiwan

Florida Rep. charged with embezzlement of $5M in COVID dollars intended for vaccines

Oscar-winner Kevin Spacey says he’s homeless – in fact he had to sell his home to pay legal fees – but now he lives in hotels and B and B’s and “goes where the work is”

UK working on faster and greater deportation efforts

Germany lifting restrictions on exports of military equipment to Israel

Israel building a concrete wall at its Lebanon border

Verizon laying off 13K workers

Bike Lanes: Federal govt. will not allow federal funds to be spent on bike lanes.

Ukraine has signed an agreement with Greece to buy LNG

Jane Seymour declares ‘70 is the new 50’ and married for the 4^th time

Five years after his passing from colon cancer at age 43, Chadwick Boseman will receive a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on November 20

Acting Director of FEMA Richardson leaving

CDC has now put autism connection to vaccines on their website

Dem. people involved in Comey investigations purposely misspelled names to protect data from being searched.  Clinton spelled Clinit – Weiner spelled Winner – etc.

Dr. Oz said Pres. Trump may extend the health insurance subsidies until they can figure out what to do about it

Bezos taking over a new AI company – Project Prometheus

Larry Summers, former President of Harvard steps away from public life and no longer will teach

40% of rent-controlled NYC housing is occupied by migrants

3,000 Air Traffic Controllers short

Redistricting bill in CA shot done by 1^st court – what does this mean for Texas

Roger Federer elected to International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1st year of eligibility

Putin says he’s interested in peace talks – again

Nancy Pelosi in CNN interview says electing Dems by whatever means to House positions is the strategy to take control of the White House’s trajectory and “save the nation”.

Duffy, head of Transportation said he would like to see a new traveling era of civility, including “how about we don’t wear our pajamas to the airport”.

US Jobs Report – added 119,000 jobs – 4.4% unemployment rate – better than expected jobs report.

¼ of all US fighter ships are in the Caribbean

Neither President Donald Trump nor Vice President JD Vance were invited to former Vice President Dick Cheney’s funeral – who was buried on Thursday

The VA Director – Veterans Administration – said they will redirect the $77M set aside by Biden administration for EV charging stations, and redirect into MRI and other medical purposes

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy receives the US’ proposed plan to end war with Russia; plan reportedly calls on Ukraine to abandon territory and shrink its military force, weapons arsenal

First-edition copy of “Superman” comic sells for record $9M.

Amtrak set a ridership record for the second year in a row, with 34.5 million passenger trips—a 5% bump from the previous fiscal year.

The UPS cargo jet crash that killed 14 people in Kentucky this month found evidence of “fatigue cracks” in the plane’s mount that connected its left engine to the wing.

Marjorie Taylor Greene, says she will step down from Congress – notes primary and love of family

Miss Jamaica, contestant in Miss Universe pageant fell offstage and is in the ICU “not doing well” in Thailand

Meeting took place between Pres. Trump and NYC incumbent Mamdani – both participated in a civil and cordial press conference, surprising both political sides – identified areas of mutual interest, love of NYC, working together

Ukraine considering 28 point peace plan once again – with Zelenskyy saying there are some difficult decisions his country will have to make

Plot uncovered of a group to poison Jewish children in NYC

Ryan Wedding, former Olympian, identified as one of the largest drug traffickers – officials are looking for him, with cash rewards

___

PASSINGS 

Jim Avila, 69, ABC news

Rebecca Heineman, 62, game developer known wordwide died of cancer after getting diagnosed just a month ago

Alice and Ellen Kessler, 89, entertainer twins, by assisted suicide, in Germany

Spencer Lofracto, 33, actor worked with Angelina Joli on film

Dan McGrath, 61, writer of The Simpsons and King of the Hill

Michael G. Riley, 69, political enthusiast and contributor, RI