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In the News… quick recap of the week’s news, week ending March 22, 2025
Faster and faster every day news items come our way. We seem to be on overdrive. Each Saturday morning we publish a VERY brief summary of news items locally, regionally, nationally and internationally (and passings of note) that you may want to know or learn more about. We hope this is helpful for a quick dive – with your cup of coffee – and a critical mind.
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
Walgreen’s, Park Ave, Cranston and West Shore Road, Warwick closed. Closing 9 stores in Massachusetts.
MA Gov. Healey announced residential customers who receive electricity from Eversource, National Grid and Unitil will each receive a $50 credit in April, funded by $125 million collected in “alternative compliance payments”
Massachusetts will lose $12.2 million in federal money for schools to buy food from local farms
Rhode Island is expected to reach a life expectancy of 100 in 100 years. Population in RI that year estimated to be 1,112,308.
Save South County Hospital, a non-profit citizens advocacy group of over 2,000 supporters, donors, and patients of the hospital is being sued by the hospital, along with a development director of 5 years ago, over claims they’ve made
RIPTA & United HealthCare could pay $35M for the joint database breach last year
The Woonasquatucket Watershed Council sued the administration over a $1M+ grant it clawed back after a contract was signed
Hudson Street Deli in Providence will close temporarily while owner battles brain cancer
Nightclub fire in Macedonia with pyrotechnics catching the ceiling on fire – over 50 dead, hundreds injured, some seriously – all reminiscent of The Station Fire in RI.
Dozens of acne treatments recalled by the FDA for containing benzene, a carcinogen
Brown University researchers, faculty and library staff are working to archive certain government data before it is removed from federal websites.
Now in MA, all adult shelter applicants must disclose their criminal histories and agree to a CORI check. Disqualifying people from shelters are charges such as for firearms felonies, murder, rape and sexual assault, within the past 6 years.
Walpole, MA father whose daughter was seriously injured years ago by a boy playing on a rival girls field hockey team filed a complaint against the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletics Assoc
20 arrested for DUI after the Newport St. Patrick’s Day parade
Small protest outside the Providence Tesla dealer – another one planned for this weekend
Rhode Island has the highest unemployment rate in New England at 4.6% for January, also higher than the national rate of 4%
Track 15 is now open in downtown Providence
Brookline, MA School Committee voted 5-to-4 to eliminate the Office of Institutional Equity, citing the need to address a $5 million budget shortfall
Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers had closed their offices and disbanded partners has now declared bankruptcy – leaving consigners owed over $700K
Gas pipeline would feed all of New England, saving $1 billion in energy costs. MA Gov. Healey rejects the idea, while 47% of voters support it – of that group 48.2% were Independent, 40.6% Democrat and 11.1% Republican.
Bubbie’s Market & Deli on Hope Street closing
Justin Worley 44, of Cranston, known as the “Bearded Bandit,” admits he robbed a bank in East Providence in 2019. Also is guilty of robbing 9 banks. He was sentenced to “time served” for the last crime
Pat’s Italian Restaurant will open their 3rd restaurant – in Warwick
$35M labor and delivery area opened now at Women & Infants
The Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council, the Eastern Rhode Island Conservation District, the Green Infrastructure Center, the Childhood Lead Action Project, the National Council of Nonprofits and others suing over pauses in federal funding that they argue are arbitrary and violate the Administrative Procedures Act. (ProJo)
MGH has opened a $400M cancer center in Massachusetts
TD Bank is closing dozens of branches in US, including 16 in New England – 0 closing in RI
Approx. 80% of all births in RI are at Women & Infants Hospital – of that, approx. 45% are insured by Medicaid.
1.5M daffodils are beginning to bloom in Newport
CCRI offers retirement incentive to 109 employees with combination of age and years of service of 80. Valued at $1.6M
RI rated the 2nd worst hospital for practice conditions for physicians in US, per Wallet Hub
Massachusetts officials preparing in case Commonwealth Care Alliance collapses, to protect the health care of insurer’s tens of thousands of elderly, disabled, and low-income members
Café Choklad in downtown Providence closing
RIPTA planning for a dedicated bus for soccer games in Pawtucket’s Tidewater Landing
Edesia, based in RI, lays off 10% of their staff, after USAID funds that were to be restored have not yet come in – planning a private fundraising campaign
Dorcas International depends on federal govt for ½ its budget – facing layoffs
Nvidia, the Silicon Valley chipmaker that produces some of the most powerful semiconductors in the world, teaming up with other companies in the quantum-computing space to form the Nvidia Accelerated Quantum Research Center in Greater Boston, with researchers involved from Harvard and MIT
Filipino Alliance at Brown Univ. advocating for the addition of a formal language program for Tagalog and has submitted a petition of 800 names
109 empty storefronts in Cambridge
Celtics ownership group has agreed to sell to William Chisholm, a California private-equity director and Massachusetts native
URI offering a master’s in public health.
DriveLessRI, new app by RIPTA encouraging people to take the bus or walk or bike and offering points and incentives
Hospital Trust Tower, downtown Providence will go up for auction on 4/10 – value estimated to be $40M
Pawtucket will start construction on the new unified high school on April 10th
A proposal to pay homeless residents with $10 gift cards for cleaning up their encampments warrants more discussion before implementation, say Woonsocket officials
1,600 age-restricted (55+) housing units planned for 330 acres at the New England Country Club (NECC) in Bellingham proposed
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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
So. Africa ambassador to US no longer welcome in US
AOC and Bernie Sanders advise wearing masks at political rallies
USPS set to eliminate 10K jobs and restructure finances under DOGE
US hits military locations of Houthis in Yemen. They retaliate and the ceasefire in this region is over
U.S. Central Command and the Iraqi prime minister announced they killed head of the Islamic state for Iraq and Syria in a targeted operation
Violent tornados hit many areas in Mississippi, Missouri, Texas, Arizona, etc. – at least 39 dead
Nationwide blackout in Cuba and Panama over last weekend. Entire countries out for several days as problems with their main power grids
Gen’l Keith Kellogg named special envoy to Ukraine
New study from Francis Crick Institute in London showed that giving blood often may result in genetic changes in blood stem cells that help prevent cancers like leukemia from developing Read study, HERE.
Egg prices decreased for 4 straight weeks.
VP Vance has said that a deal to buy Tik Tok should be finalized in April
Arizona is expected to be the 1st state to reach a life expectancy of 100 – in 2108, in 83 years
Executive Orders signed by Pres. Trump eliminate departments: U.S. Agency for Global Media, which is the parent company of Voice of America’s (VOA), the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in the Smithsonian Institution, a think tank, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, supporting libraries, archives and museums, Interagency Council on Homelessness, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, focused on work stoppages and labor disputes, the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, expands economic opportunity for underserved communities, and the Minority Business Development Agency, promotes growth of minority-owned businesses.
Voice of America will continue under direction of appointee Kari Lake. Most of their 1,300 employees are now on administrative leave
Arlington National Cemetery purged its website of material focused on Black, Hispanic, and female troops buried there and other references to special groups – some have been returned
Trump administration deporting Venezuelan gang members, while judge tries to stop this. 238 members of the Tren de Aragua terrorist gang arrived in El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center, for a period of one year. El Salvador is charging the US a large sum, for them, which is a nominal sum for the US, they have said.
Reporter Ruth Marcus of the Washington Post, of 40 years, resigns after owner Jeff Bezos refused to print it
The mural exhibit to Anthony Fauci at the NIH has been removed
The Apprentice will stream for the first time on Amazon Prime
Nightclub fire in Macedonia with pyrotechnics catching the ceiling on fire – over 50 dead, hundreds injured, some seriously – all reminiscent of The Station Fire in RI.
Cherry Blossom Festival will take place in Washington, DC from March 20th to April 13th
Auburn was picked #1 seed in NCAA selections.
National Guard deployed to Arkansas after storm destruction
With cities in India reaching temps of up to 114 degrees, the idea of coating roofs in white paint containing highly reflective pigments can prevent heat absorption seems to be working. Research from other countries shows that temperatures in white painted tin- and mud-roofed homes decreased by 2.16 degrees Fahrenheit over two years — and slightly more in homes with tin roofs.
Mediterranean monk seals are rebounding after teetering on the brink of extinction
60% of Hasbro’s revenue comes from people who are 13 and over.
An “extermination” site at Izaguirre Ranch in the western state of Jalisco in Mexico, 37 miles west of Guadalajara, was found with human remains and ovens. Operated by the New Generation Jalisco Cartel, police and family members are now scouring the area for more remains, finding piles of shoes, toys, clothing, backpacks, and personal possessions. There are 120,000+ missing people feared “forcibly disappeared”.
Forever 21 to close all stores, cannot recover from bankruptcy protection
Judge ordered Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to pay more than $54,000 in attorneys’ fees and to turn over documents after finding that her office violated Georgia’s Open Records Act.
An Antarctica science group of 12 is complaining about a colleague who is threatening to sexually assault them – and they feel trapped and asking for help
All Hudson stores to close
Harvard will offer free tuition for families under $200K. For those under $100K, it will include room and board and all expenses
Pres. Trump says Pres. Biden’s pardons signed with an automatic pen are null and void – issue is being discussed in legal circles
Hunter Biden, who is now living in South Africa, has had Secret Service protection of 18 – it ended this week – as did Ashley Biden who had a crew of 13
VA announces shift of funding and focus away from gender dysphoria and transition programs and reallocation to paralyzed veterans and those with amputations
Chuck Schumer is canceling his book tours
Tracy Morgan got ill courtside at a basketball game, then was seen bleeding from his nose and was removed in a wheelchair – later released a statement thanking people for their concern, saying he was ok
Dollar General to close 100 stores nationwide
Man who was arrested of stealing Wizard of Oz ruby slippers a few months ago, dies
DC drops lawsuit against the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers
Former Mayor in Haiti, accused of killing and torturing political opponents, hid violent past to obtain legal residency in the US 17 years ago
Maine’s 3 public agencies (Education, Principals Asso and one high school) accused by US govt of violating federal civil rights laws by allowing transgender students on girls sports teams
Conan O’Brien to return as host of the Oscars
Germany on course to reach its climate goals. Greenhouse gas emissions falling 3.4% in 2024
More than 30 countries have expressed willingness to contribute troops to a peacekeeping mission in Ukraine if a peace deal is reached between Russia and Ukraine
Ireland has called on US for help with “massive immigration crisis”, where in several rural towns the Irish have become minorities. We need US leadership, they say.
Pres. Trump and Pres. Putin agree to ceasefire on attacks on energy sources and infrastructure
Google buys cybersecurity company WIZ
Nothing Bundt Cakes named #1 restaurant chain, replacing Ruth Chris’ Steak House
Well known storm chaser Chace Myers Hahn, known as @ChacingTheStorm has died chasing tornados
JFK files released – https://www.archives.gov/research/jfk/release-2025
The Eagles will come to the White House for a reception.
The astronauts have been invited to the White House for a reception, after they have recovered from their 9 month journey in space
Frontier Airlines is offering free checked bags on flights until August in an apparent dig at Southwest
Elon Musk installed Starlink in the area in front of the White House for tourists – and demonstrators – to use
NYC subway must make its facility safer or face losing federal funds, per US DOT
Boxing is (most likely) a go for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles
Some people will need to go into the Social Security office to conduct their business – be it new applicants or bank changes – this is designed to prevent the fraud and abuse happening
$175M federal funding to be withheld from PennState for violation of Title IX, with a transgender person on the girls swim team
Prisoners in Russia have been slowly returned to Ukraine
FBI agent who illegally shared confidential information, and is known to oppose the President, arrested as he was boarding a plan to leave the country
“Rose Garden” changes. Roses, shrub border, most of lawn stays. Center area to be replaced w/decorative concrete because lawn is always wet, people’s heels sink into the ground, & the area is for events. Not ripping up the rose garden to look like Mar-a-Lago, as reported.
Colleges advising students on visas not to travel, to stay close over spring break due to Brown prof/MD being not allowed back into the country
Malaysia going back on a search for MH370 plane that crashed – after 10 years
Alaska plane that crashed, killing 10, was too heavy to fly
CEO of Amtrak leaving with encouragement of administration
Pope Francis doing better – no longer needing ventilation, though still hospitalized
Mexico City is ending bullfighting as its known and will not allow bullfighters to use spades and swords to attack the bull, which will have its horns covered to prevent injuries to humans.
3 charged with domestic terrorism for damaging Teslas in Texas
Congo has asked President Trump to bring peace to the region in exchange for access to the DRC’s vast mineral resources, estimated to be worth over $20 Trillion.
France will be disseminating a “survival guide” to residents this summer
Recall of nearly all Tesla Cybertrucks (46,000) for a repair on a side panel
Tesla stock has fallen 50%
Columbia University say they will now comply with federal govt regulations on anti-Semitic activities on campus if they can have their federal funds restored
Someone created a website, Dogequest, with names and addresses of all Tesla owners, by state
Wartime Power Act to increase mineral production enacted
Mariah Carey wins lawsuit against songwriter who alleged copyright infringement on Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You”
Taiwan will invest in the $44 billion Alaska natural gas pipeline and committed to buying their LNG from Alaska.
US signs contract with Boeing to produce the “F –47” drone fighter jet to establish US dominance in the air.
Heathrow London Airport closed for over a day due to a large fire – questions about terrorism persist. Notably the back-up systems failed as they were designed to comply with Net Zero energy guidelines.
Johnson & Johnson to make $55 billion investment in US
Egypt has agreed to accept 1/2 million Gazans, almost a third of all of Gaza. They’d be relocated to a city in Sinai, recognizing that Gazans are now living in rubble
Door Dash about to implement an “eat now pay later” program for food delivery
International Down Syndrome Day was 3/21 – 80% of children diagnosed with the extra chromosome in utero are aborted
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PASSINGS
Ron Nessen, 90, press secretary to President Gerald Ford
Jesse Colin Young, 83, Youngbloods – known most for “Get Together”