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In the News… quick recap on news of the week, ending Jan. 30, 2026
A quick recap of the news of the week – take a moment to catch up and learn what you want to know more about.
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
Rhode Island Dental Association, the former Pawtucket Dental Society has donated more than $9,000 to the Blackstone Valley Community Health Center for dental care
Kelly Bates is the new External Communications Manager for the Institute for Neurodegenerative Disorders in CT
Newport Creamery closes its Barrington store
Sen. Gallo from Cranston put a bill in to allow campaign funds to be used for security measures during campaign time.
Starting soon, travelers without a Real ID will pay $45 to get through airport security at T.F. Green.
More than 47,000 people have filed claims related to the RI Bridges data-breach settlement
Another shooting at a child’s bday party – this in Carver, MA, with 2 adults shot
Private jet with 8 people from Houston crashes upon taking off in Maine, 7 died
The New England Patriots will face the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl in San Francisco in two weeks’ time.
RIPTA ridership falls 14% due to service cuts
Plant City in Providence has closed
PETA wants to replace Mr. Potato Head license plates with a RI Red chicken – Love Chicken, Don’t Eat Them
2 of 4 eleven and twelve year olds who beat a man to death in Providence were charged with felony assault and murder. Two will be arraigned on lesser charges
Pawtucket School Committee appoints Randy A. Buck as Superintendent of Schools
Museum of Fine Arts in Boston will cut over 50 employees
MA has a net loss of 33,000 residents
Amazon cuts 16,000 jobs in latest cut
Home Depot orders all virtual staff in to the office – cutting 800 jobs
Janet Yellen ’67, the first female chair of the Federal Reserve and first female secretary of the treasury department, received the Elliot L. Richardson Prize for Excellence in Public Service
Cape Cod Chips terminating approx. 50 jobs – moving all manufacturing to WI, NC and PA
Mass. Senate approves returning to phonics and other proven reading education methods
Senate approved all Gov McKee’s judicial nominees
Brown pays $1.5M each to CCRI and to Building Futures (part of Trump administration fine)
Feb. 21 is “Pantless Day” in Boston
Charles Place without heat – over 200 apartments, 10 floors – no repairs coming until NEXT Friday
Newport Winter Fest Feb. 13-22nd
Allyn Meyers of Tiverton named new head of the RI GOP
Sale or takeover of St. Joe’s and Fatima Hospitals extended to Feb. 27th
Video of Patrick Pass, former Patriots player, shoving an 80 year old to the ground at a local gym from a few years ago noted that Pass served no time with no charges, while victim is taking medication daily for back pain
RI small businesses received $179M in loans in 2025
Storm digout continues with challenges in Newport, where a parking ban remained in place – also in Providence and side roads in most major cities remain a challenge as the next snow is expected in days
Providence students participated in a walkout as part of a national walkout against ICE
Exotic Tegu Lizard buried under deep snow was found in Providence and is now in the care of a veterinarian
Rhode Island State Police arrested seven people from the alleged “Bucket West” gang, facing drug and firearm charges after raids in Providence, Pawtucket, Barrington and Woonsocket.
Rhode Island State Council of Churches called for a coordinated campaign to ensure no one risks spending a night outside in the cold – this follows the death of a man on a sidewalk on Washington Street in downtown Providence, considered to be a homeless man.
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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
Meetings begin to create the “New Gaza”
UnitedHealth stock plunged nearly 20% in reaction to govt saying they must keep Medicare Advantage rates flat.
France seizes sanctioned Russian “shadow fleet” tanker Grinch in the western Mediterranean near the Strait of Gibraltar, between Spain and Morocco.
US Olympic bobsledders who participate will receive $200,000 each – a contribution from financier, Ross Stevens
California man found guilty of spending $23M meant for the homeless
President Trump said the U.S. used a new secret weapon he calls “The Discombobulator” to capture Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro.
Afghanistan leadership permanently forbids women from attending school
Bill Belichick overlooked for the Hall of Fame
Yale Univ. offering free and reduced tuition/costs for families earning less than $100K and $200K
Southwest Air implements assigned seating, no more choice seating
Rock climber in Taiwan climbed the over 1,600 foot tall skyscraper with no safety ropes
Meta to lay off hundreds
The California Post has launched this week
Remains of last Gazan hostage returned to Israel
Most wanted – Ryan Wedding – turned himself in. Wedding was an Olympic medalist in snowboarding who was on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted List for drug trafficking.
The self-deportation stipend increases from $1,000 to $2,600
Approx. 50 Minnesota-based companies published a letter asking US, state and local officials to work together to bring an end to the violence
Sydney Sweeney launched her lingerie brand, “Sirn” – financed partially by Bezos, by hanging her bras on the Hollywood sign
Man attacked Rep. Ilhan Omar during a town hall event reportedly sprayed apple cider vinegar on her – charged with 3rd degree assault
UPS to cut 30,000 jobs
Pinterest is laying off 15% of employees and pivoting to AI
Amazon is closing all of its Fresh and Go stores and converting some of them into Whole Foods
Melania Trump opens the stock exchange on Jan. 28th
Tesla profits fall 61% in 4th quarter
FBI searches Fulton, GA election offices
11 days before Alex Pretti died in Minneapolis, a video shows his attack on agents and their retaliation – eventually they walk away – Pretti’s family confirms it is him in the video
February 1st starts new SNAP guidelines which will include work requirements for some
Colbert’s show will have its last on May 21st
Travis Kelce buys in to Sleep Number company
Bluey was the most streamed “show” in 2025
Melania Trump’s movie debuted this week – will be on Amazon Prime in about 4 weeks
Apple reports best iPhone sales every – with $30Billion in service income
Streaming now the leading revenue source for music
Pres. Trump commented about appearing to be asleep at the last 4-hour cabinet meeting, “Tell you the truth? I was a little bored – I wanted to get the heck out of here”
Plot uncovered of a man from Minnesota pretended to be an FBI agent – to break Luigi Mangione out of jail
Josh Shapiro (D) says the immigration system is broken in US
META – Facebook – blocking links to an ICE docking website
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill to Launch a Portal to Track & Report ICE Agents
National Guard moving into the southern states for storm assistance
Kevin Warsh nominated as new Fed Chair – economist, professor at Stanford, former Federal Governor
Millions of new Epstein case pages released
Lindsey Vonn, hurt in a downhill fall, may not be able to participate in the Olympics – consulting with doctors
Late night possible agreement in congress results in 2-week extension for DHS bills, full vote to continue on Monday – no impact expected to the average person
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PASSINGS
Catherine O’Hara, 71, Kevin’s mom on “Home Alone”, comedic actress – after a short illness
Shirley Raines, 58, LA advocate for the homeless
returning to phonics is great news. Now they just need to add books, good books. And a required high school half-semester of logic.
The economy is wonderful. I’m still looking for that $1.99 a gallon gas.
I suppose you want a 20-cent loaf of bread, too. And a $3,900 new car.
I keep hearing about $1.99 a gallon gas and winning the 2020 election.
My $2.59 gas (I pay cash) is up to $2.79. Others are at the $3.00 mark.
I’m also looking for those 7 million fraudulent votes. Someone thinks 4 years can be resurrected. I could also be 25 again and weigh 100 pounds.