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In the News… recap for the week ending Dec. 7, 2024
Get caught up on the news of the week in RI, regionally, nationally, and internationally – plus passings of note. To learn more on an item, just copy and paste and search.
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
Lead poisoning cases against Pioneer housing management thrown out by judge saying the AG had no standing to bring the case
Harvard Pilgrim Health says it will phase out coverage of certain name brand HIV drugs in RI in 2025, while still offering generics
Raising Cane’s chicken restaurant now open in Warwick
Texas offers land for use as detention center
Shotgun deer hunting season has begun on Nantucket and runs through December 14th on thousands of acres of public property owned by the Nantucket Land Bank and more owned by the Nantucket Conservation Foundation.
Narragansett Town Council voted to RENEW Boon Street Market’s liquor license – allowing them to remain open until 1am with stipulations that live music end at 9pm and outdoor music must be turned off at 11pm. (WPRI).
RIDEM conserves 982 acres of land in Burrillville
New orientation for RI House of Reps members was held on 12/4 – members who are new – 4 Republicans and 2 Democrats:
- Christopher Paplauskas (R-Dist. 15, Cranston)
- Marie Hopkins (R-Dist. 21, Warwick)
- Earl Reed III (D-Dist. 26, Coventry, West Warwick, Warwick)
- Richard Fascia (R-Dist. 42, Johnston, Cranston)
- Paul Santucci (R-Dist. 53, Glocester, Smithfield)
- Jenni Furtado (D-Dist. 64, East Providence, Pawtucket)
Mass & Cass Avenue homeless problem has moved to Boston Commons
East Sandwich’s Riverview School, which serves students with disabilities, just teamed up with the Barnstable Land Trust to buy the Irish Village Conference Center in Hyannis for $12.5M
R.I. Infrastructure Bank has closed on a $250,000 loan for Johnston and a $300,000 loan for Scituate to allow both communities to make 0% interest loans to qualifying homeowners to repair or replace failing septic systems and cesspools.
Norman Bird Sanctuary is beginning to build the first phase of its proposed Coastal Trail Master Plan and Design
West Warwick “bans” homeless encampments starting next week – at least 40 people living in tents outdoors – the town has no shelters
Vaping rates continue to plummet, particularly among young people
RIDOT says the pause in the demolishing of the Washington Bridge cost $700K
St. Joseph Hospital pensioners now covered “for life” in federal protection
250-unit low income housing complex targeted for Johnston by developers opposed by city residents – a no vote was taken – mayor says he will do all he can to support residents’ will
UNFI that just terminated over 100 people will move into the American Express building next to the Providence Train Station
RI Senate will now air live on Capitol TV – at the same time as RI House.
URI is building over 1,000 new housing units so more students can live on campus
The Smithfield Times shut down abruptly, according to reports
Gov.McKee participated in Bally’s Annual Charity Holiday Blackjack Tournament
50th anniversary of the Nantucket Christmas Stroll this weekend
Shannah Kurland, public advocacy attorney settled with city of Providence for $142,500 for being charged with “failure to move” which was not a law or violation
PC sports director apologizes for religious slurs yelled by audience at the AMP at a largely Mormon team during a basketball game – “this is not PC”.
Strike averted at Women & Infants
Gov. issues drought alert in RI
City of Randolph, MA has no pediatric practices – a clinic will be put into one of the schools to assist with physicals for sports, etc.
Feast & Fettle acquires WECO Hospitality (MA)
Vaping and alcohol use is down among RI young people – cannabis use is up
Women’s Development Corporation (WDC)’s plans to redevelop 183 Washington Street into 30 units of affordable housing – plan has been approved by the West Warwick Arctic Redevelopment Commission (WWARC). Currently, West Warwick has met 8.83% of the state’s 15% affordable housing threshold for urban communities.
Brown University will establish five new regionally-based admissions positions to enhance collaboration with high schools, and other strategies for sustaining diversity, as they saw their numbers go down.
Dighton-Rehoboth teachers file grievance against schools’ ban on political agenda items such as flying gay pride flags and other specialty causes – school officials say the students need to focus on education issues and not be distracted by cause issues
No bomb found at Electric Boat after bomb threat
ABP, a boutique professional services firm on Wampanoag Trail in East Providence, has been acquired by Citrin Cooperman.
Boston City Councilwoman Fernandes Anderson arrested for federal fraud charges
Burrillville has filed a lawsuit regarding installation of a synthetic turf field at Burrillville High School saying resident, Roberta Lacey, advocated against it with information based on speculative and unsubstantiated fears. The suit seeks compensation for damages.
PETA is demonstrating Dec. 7th outside the Providence Farmer’s Market on Sims Street with a truck bearing pictures of slaughtering turkeys – called “Hell on Wheels” – to advocate for people to not buy and cook turkey for the holidays.
Providence Business News announced that Sales Manager John Layton will serve as its next publisher, replacing the retiring Annemarie Brisson, effective Feb. 1st.
The Providence City Council shifted unspent ARPA funds to the school district
Vinny Paz inducted into International Boxing Hall of Fame
Hasbro Children’s Hospital, Flynn Foundation announce pediatric oncology nursing fellowship
Metacomet CC land in East Providence, will begin phase 2, a small outdoor shopping center, and courtyard, after the golf course has been opened for some time.
50th annual Nantucket Christmas Stroll is this weekend
Courts have now said truck tolls are constitutional in RI
Gov McKee said on a radio interview that he will begin holding regular press conferences regarding the Washington Bridge and other things
Man living in Cranston, from Guatemala, being held for rape of a girl, who was let go on home confinement, has been arrested by ICE
PC Friars vs. URI Rams TODAY at noon at URI
Commissioner of Education, Infante-Green, is being given a $10K “retention bonus” – she makes approx. $280,000/yr
Echo Village, the grouping of 40+ Pallet Shelters will now NOT be open by winter, with a January date being discussed
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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
2 Venezuelan gang members arrested in NYC – same ones who took over apartment complexes in Aurora, Colorado.
Fight broke out after Thanksgiving Michigan & Ohio State game ended
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul says she’ll call ICE to deport any illegal aliens who break the law. “Someone breaks the law, I’ll be the first one to call up ICE and say, ‘get them out of here.’” – a reversal of her previous position that she would stand in the way of any illegals being deported.
Kash Patel named FBI director
3 million travelers were screened in 1 day – a new record for TSA
Charles Kushner (Jared Kushner’s father) named Ambassador to France
Macy’s announced that “an employee” made an accounting error of $132 million to $154 million.
President Biden pardons his son, Hunter Biden, after repeatedly saying he would not.
Aleppo has fallen to insurgents in Syria
Southwest Airlines will begin preparing for landings sooner in the flight, to prevent injury from turbulence
Pres-elect Trump to attend opening ceremony for Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris
Elton John announces he has lost a lot of his eyesight due to an infection
Justin Timberlake cancels more performances now saying he has a back injury
Days of Our Lives has lost 3 leading men in rapid succession. Bill Hayes, Drake Hogestyn, and Wayne Northrop.
China has completed planting a 2,000 mile ring of trees around a large desert land, as a conservation measure begun in the late 70s. One motivation is to reduce sandstorms.
3 radio station owned in Maine by Stephen King to close
South Korea declares martial law to “protect them from forces of the north” – parliament reversed it, now calling for the leader’s resignation.
8 children injured in Gaza arrive in Chicago for treatment in Shriners Hospitals in US. They come with 1 parent and a host family in the US
CVS closes all Minute Clinics in Utah
Great Lakes region of US blanketed in more than 5 feet of snow, more feet coming.
$1Billion in aid to Africa announced by US, to rebuild after floods destroyed buildings, homes, etc.
Flags have been banned at Edison, New Jersey Town Council meetings
DEA pick Chad Chronister withdrew his name from consideration for the position.
TikTok may have to either sell or close up in USA, per new law going into effect. TikTok owners denied an appeal
Federal investigators found 11 children working cleaning a meat processing plant – they had been doing that for at least 4 years
EU reduces its protections against wild wolves
NJ police investigating large drones flying at night
Cuba’s energy grid down again
60% of workers received a raise last year
French government “toppled” in no confidence vote. PM must resign to President Macron
Chipolte raising prices 2% to offet inflation costs to them
CEO of United Health, Brian Thompson, shot and killed in NYC.
Bahamas rejects Pres-elect Trump proposal to take deported migrants” – report coming from Bahamian press
Bitcoin tops $100K
Uber launched holiday delivery options on Uber Eats, offering Christmas trees, festive decor, and even a troupe of carolers in select locations.
LPGA puts ban on transgender participants into effect for all of 2025
The City of Boston prefers that city parks avoid artificial turf installations going forward, citing environmental and health concerns.
CVS names Lee Shankman, pharmacy and consumer wellness chief
US milk supply will be tested for bird flu
Impeachment votes underway in So. Korea
After 4 days, a woman’s body was recovered from a large sinkhole in Pennsylvania
Shooter who killed United Health Care CEO Thompson, now said to have left NYC, perhaps on a bus to Georgia.
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PASSINGS
Art Cashin, 83, Wall St. legend
Bill Gale, 87, former Theatre and Dance critic/writer for the Providence Journal
Suzanne Young Murray, 83, philanthropist and wife of Terrence Murray
Dr. Kelly Powers, 45, podiatric surgeon and Fox medical commentor
Brian Thompson, 50, CEO of United HealthCare, murdered in NYC