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In the News… quick recap of the week ending Oct. 17, 2025
We provide this weekly recap on Saturdays of the news for Rhode Island, regionally, nationally, and internationally, and passings of note.
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
Portsmouth OKs 40-unit affordable housing complex
Sewage small in Narragansett at water treatment plant near the beach
Small plane crashes onto Route 195 media in Dartmouth, MA, killed were a couple from Middletown and one person not in the plane
TJ Maxx on Newbury Street, Boston, will close
Rep. Seth Moulton (D) made his Senate bid official in MA
A federal grant being used to train special educators in Rhode Island was canceled
The Institute for Cybersecurity & Emerging Technologies at Rhode Island College opened a new, state-of-the-art cybersecurity range, a training facility where participants can respond to a variety of real-world cyberattack scenarios—live malware, phishing, ransomware—in a safe, controlled environment. The facility will be used by students taking cybersecurity courses, and local businesses and organizations looking to train their staff and upgrade their cyber defense systems.
CITGO sign in Boston will stay, but be raised up higher and over a bit to one side
Colleen Burns Jermain, Ed.D., will step down as Superintendent of Newport Public Schools at the end of this year
6 people a day will be moved from Crossroads main building to their new building, until all have been moved over so renovations can now begin on their main building
Seth Moulton will run for Ed Markey’s office in MA
Fenway Health will not treat with puberty blockers for minors going forward
Coalition of RI organizations, businesses, and other stakeholders led by the RI Food Policy Council has sent a letter calling on state leaders to provide necessary resources to protect the more than 144,000 Rhode Islanders who they feel are at risk of losing SNAP benefits.
A juvenile Atlantic puffin rescued in Chepachet has been released back to sea
BCBS will cut the healthcare benefits of 275 of their own retirees
Royal Crest Apts in Warwick, 492-units sold for $132M to Harbor Group International, a global real estate investment and management firm
Prov. City Council leaf blower ordinance restricting use tabled, not passed as many media outlets initially reported – its future is unclear
34th Bowen’s Wharf Seafood Festival this weekend
Apple Cinema may take over PPM movie theater location
Deloitte may pay a $6.3 million settlement to RI – in class action lawsuit filed after the 2024 cyberattack on Rhode Island’s public benefits computer system – those impacted have to document in detail how they were impacted for a max of $5K – others can qualify without documentation for $100 – postcards will be sent out to those who are impacted
Legacy Church will be built where an old Job Lot was in the Buttonwoods area of Warwick
Applebee’s will open at Chapel View, near to Shaws in Cranston
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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
4,000 Federal Workers terminated – Homeland Security, Education, and Energy
AstraZeneca signs agreement on drug prices to be offered to American people at reduced costs – follows Pfizer in this
Charlie Kirk receives the Medal of Freedom posthumously at the White House
Protein powders said to have too much lead in some of them
Beginning this week US-owned, operated, and affiliated vessels will be required to pay a docking fee in China. After this announcement, the US announced tariffs will move to 100% – Pres. Trump said the meeting with Pres. Xi will go on as planned
Wendy Williams says she is “trapped in a high-end dementia facility” – and the former talk-show host is campaigning for freedom
Pres. Biden is beginning 5 weeks of radiation treatment
250th US anniversary – plans are in the making for a $1 silver coin with Donald Trump’s image on it
Troops will not miss a paycheck. They will be paid from “all available funds” per Sect of Defense/War.
$6.1 billion agreement w/ Finland to build more U.S. icebreakers.
Alec & Steven Baldwin crashed into a tree – neither were injured
No survivors in Tennessee explosive factory explosion
Tiger Woods discloses he had another back surgery
Windows 10 shutting down – used in almost ½ of the world’s systems
Matt Romney’s sister-in-law found dead near a parking garage
Some airports around the US have refused to air a new PSA on how airports are struggling with unpaid air traffic controllers and how the Democrats refuse to open the government as a violation of the Hatch Act.
CDC let go over 1,000 employees – next day rehired 700 saying it was a glitch
3 Qatari diplomats killed in car accident in Egypt on their way to peace event on Monday. Included 1 member of the royal family. Said to be malfunctioning steering wheel. At least 2 others survived
Public approval of the Department of Homeland Security rose to 42 percent from 32 percent last year, the largest gain among federal agencies
Average home price in RI goes up to $530K
Protesters in African countries said to be primarily “Gen Z-ers”
Don Lemon published his interview on the street where he maintains that illegals who have not committed a crime can’t be charged with a crime because a misdemeanor for being here illegally is not a crime.
The U.S. Department of Education fired nearly everyone in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services in a wave of new layoffs that began Friday, The TRIO office was also eliminated.
All 20 known alive hostages were released back into Israel – Pres Trump addressed Knisset
New York health officials confirm state’s first locally acquired case of chikungunya virus
Jim Carrey will play George Jetson in a new Jetsons movie
20 more bodies need to be returned from Gaza and officials say they need equipment to do that – unclear if that will happen
California passes ordinance to help undocumented, illegal immigrants pay for rent, legal fees
NBC News to lose 150 jobs as they move to focus on subscriptions and sports
Cartels have released bounties for ICE staff – escalating prices for shooting, kidnapping, killing
A 5th cartel ship outside Venezuela was destroyed by US
Journalists move out of Pentagon building – only outlet known to sign on to new rules was NewsNation
Former Trump adviser, John Bolton, has been indicted
Lay’s Potato Chips will remove artificial flavoring
Prince Andrew giving up his “Duke” title – says he won’t come to Christmas anymore
Pres. Trump commutes sentence of George Santos who was a few months into a 7-year term after his family pleaded about his condition, having been in solitary confinement, etc.
As of TODAY, 5 universities have said “no” to signing the federal government agreement and Compact
2025 Daytime Emmy Award Winners:
OUTSTANDING DAYTIME DRAMA SERIES – General Hospital
OUTSTANDING DAYTIME TALK SERIES – Live With Kelly and Mark
OUTSTANDING DAYTIME TALK SERIES HOST – Drew Barrymore
OUTSTANDING ENTERTAINMENT NEWS SERIES – Entertainment Tonight
OUTSTANDING CULINARY SERIES – Delicious Miss Brown
OUTSTANDING LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A DAYTIME DRAMA SERIES: ACTRESS – Nancy Lee Grahn as Alexis Davis, General Hospital
OUTSTANDING LEAD PERFORMANCE IN A DAYTIME DRAMA SERIES: ACTOR – Paul Telfer as Xander Kiriakis, Days of Our Lives
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE IN A DAYTIME DRAMA SERIES: ACTRESS – Susan Walters as Diane Jenkins Abbott, The Young and the Restless
OUTSTANDING SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE IN A DAYTIME DRAMA SERIES: ACTOR – Jonathan Jackson as Lucky Spencer, General Hospital
OUTSTANDING GUEST PERFORMANCE IN A DAYTIME DRAMA SERIES – Alley Mills as Heather Webber, General Hospital – WINNER
OUTSTANDING DAYTIME PERSONALITY – DAILY – Cassie DiLaura, Denny Directo, Kevin Frazier, Rachel Smith and Nischelle Turner, Entertainment Tonight – WINNER
OUTSTANDING WRITING TEAM FOR A DAYTIME DRAMA SERIES – General Hospital – WINNER
OUTSTANDING DIRECTING TEAM FOR A DAYTIME DRAMA SERIES – General Hospital – WINNER
House of Reps. will be shut down at least through this full week
Pickleball players are increasingly having eye injuries – protective glasses are being recommended
250th celebration in southern California today of the US Marines
TPUSSA has had over 120,000 new chapter inquiries with 900 on college campuses and 1,200 at high schools established prior to Kirk’s death – at least $6M raised immediately following death
Nestle to eliminate 16,000 jobs
Appeals to Ukraine/Russia War to move to negotiations and to stop and “stay where they are” geographically
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PASSINGS
Ace Frehley, 74, founder of KISS
Diane Keaton, 79, iconic actress
John Lodge, 82, bassist, The Moody Blues
Mark Zaccaria, 76, former chair of the RI Republican Party
Re: Don Lemon – His explanation is muddied. Illegal entry (crossing the border) and unlawful presence (remaining without legal authorization) are civil violations subject to civil penalties such as fines or deportation. Neither is a crime.
Pentagon Media – OAN (One America News) was the only media to sign Hegseth’s pledge.
Misdemeanors are crimes. Including illegal entry.
Illegal entry is not a crime. I have checked this numerous times. The only time it would be considered a crime would be if that person had broken laws, such as shoplifting, speeding tickets, robbery, etc.
If the person’s record is clean, it is ‘civil disobedience’.
“Simply being undocumented or overstaying a visa → Civil violation, not criminal, unless accompanied by fraudulent means or prior removals.”
Lesley – illegal entry is a civil offense – it is deportable – it is not jail time and it is not a criminal offense – but it is illegal. If you are here illegally and then commit a robbery, etc, then there are 2 things – one is a criminal offense and the other is a civil offense. Both illegal. Subject to immmigration court. And arrest by immigration authorities. This may help:
1. Civil vs. Criminal
Unlawful presence (e.g., overstaying a visa or entering without inspection) is a civil violation, not a criminal one.
Illegal entry (crossing the border without inspection) is a misdemeanor for a first offense under federal law (8 U.S.C. § 1325), and a felony for repeat offenses (8 U.S.C. § 1326). First repeat entry is up to 6 mos then deportation.
2. Who Can Arrest
ICE or Border Patrol can arrest someone suspected of being unlawfully present for removal (deportation) proceedings.
Local police generally cannot arrest someone solely for being undocumented, unless they are cooperating with federal authorities under specific agreements.
3. Consequences
Those arrested for immigration violations may be detained in immigration custody.
They are typically placed into removal proceedings before an immigration judge.