Subscribe!
In the News… recap for week ending Jan. 4, 2025
A quick synopsis of the news of the week, locally, regionally, nationally and internationally – and passings of note.
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
On Jan. 4, the African Meeting House on Nantucket will celebrate its bicentennial with a reception and live performances.
Horsley Witten Group (HW), an environmental consulting firm based in Sandwich, MA that specializes in sustainable and resilient design solutions will design and improve an existing pathway between the Norman Bird Sanctuary’s Main Campus and Coastal Education Center, providing year-round access for visitors while enhancing and protecting the surrounding environment.
RI nursing home residents can have cameras installed in their rooms for families to watch over their care if they want them
Ruth, the elephant, at Buttonwood Park Zoo has died at the age of 66
Willie, a 30 year donkey at RWPZ passed away
In 2025 it is illegal to sell flavored vaping products
Massachusetts sub-contracted to a food vendor for homeless shelters that was found to be more expensive with less quality food than buying from individual restaurants, which ended
Jan. 14th, 7pm – Gov. McKee’s state of the state – Jan. 16th, MA state of the commonwealth
Nonstop flights from TFGreen will be added in 2025 – to: Daytona Beach, Wilmington, and Nashville
GE Vernova stock is soaring even though they had a malfunction off the coast of Nantucket
PBN reports that BCBSRI is posting a $30M loss for the 3rd quarter of 2024
Snowy owls are back on Nantucket for the first time since the winter of 2021-22.
Peyser Real Estate Group hosted a groundbreaking for the “Dexter Street Commons” Project in Pawtucket – this development will have over 150 units of housing and commercial space.
Peabody, MA game center had a ceiling collapse with multiple injuries
Brown dealing with a $46M deficit
Governor of CT orders departments to account for unspent ARPA funds
Tara Booker leaving the position of Executive Director of Homelessness and Community Supports at RI Dept. of Housing which she took in the spring of 2024
MA lawmakers get an 11% increase, annual base salary for all 200 members of the Legislature becomes $82,044
The Heritage Hotel Group is acquiring the historic Vanderbilt hotel
Roger Williams University, has established an endowed engineering scholarship program for women
Bristol Community College will host its 25th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Breakfast, on Monday, January 20th, a free event, open to all. Keynote presentation will be by Austin Ashe, Senior Associate Director of Belonging and Culture at the MIT Sloan School of Management.
Inauguration event for Warwick Mayor Picozzi at Crown Plaza from 7 to 9:30pm
Berk’s on Thayer Street shoe star closing, retiring, after 50 yrs in business
Penguin Plunge raises $160,000 for Special Olympics Rhode Island
Mayor Rivera of Central Falls will be have an inauguration event on Monday at 4pm at Calcutt Middle School
Capron Park Zoo in Attleboro announced the passing of their female lion, Nyalla
4 found dead in a home in West Greenwich, all of gunshot wounds, 2 adults, 2 children
___
NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
Pres. Biden wants to send another $1.25B in aid to Ukraine this week
While overall homelessness has increased dramatically, homelessness among veterans has steadily decreased, 8% in just this one year – there was a 40% increase in family homelessness. Massachuestts ranked 5th highest per capita.
Gucci’s iconic “double G” items are decreasing in sales
Gen BETA will be the new generation beginning in 2025
Madoff final payments being made – making whole about 94% of those who lost funds
Big Lots may stay open by partnering with another undisclosed business
Pix released by National Archives after a lawsuit shows Pres. Biden with Hunter Biden’s colleagues from China – this after Biden repeatedly says he never met any of his son’s business partners.
$2.5 Billion more for Ukraine
The Chinese-linked Salt Typhoon cyber-espionage operation targeted AT&T’s systems, but the wireless carrier’s U.S. networks are now secure as it works with law enforcement and government officials
12+ chain restaurants filed bankruptcy in 2024
Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have reached a divorce settlement
FDA should ban red dye in food products soon
Gordon Brothers is the company that will buy all the Big Lots stores
USS George Washington bans its sailors from drinking alcohol after two crew members found dead soon after vessel arrived in Japan.
Nearly all of Puerto Rico was without power on New Year’s Eve – could be out for days – said to be an underground cable
Court decision puts back on track a plea deal to spare the 3 men in jail for the 9-11 attack the death penalty.
US Stock Exchange closes out the year with records never seen before
FBI finds largest cache of explosives in Virginia
Man in NYC pushed onto the subway tracks – and is now in critical condition
Man plowed into crowd on Bourbon Street, 15 dead, over 30 injured. 2 IEDs found. FBI took over investigation in the beginning. Deemed a terrorist attack. Samsud-din Jabbar identified as terrorist – from Houston, who worked as a realtor. Family, friends say he had become converted to Islam and his behavior was erratic. Former wife said he was abusive – current wife had a restraining order against him. He had also been in the US military.
Apple CEO, Tim Cook, donated $1M to Trump inaugurationn
Tesla Cybertruck, rented at the same company as the New Orleans truck, and filled with explosives with a detonation device in control of the driver, blew up just outside the front doors of the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas. Terrorist was identified as Matthew Livelsberger. He served in the United States Army on active duty for many years… Hours before the attack, he posted videos on social media indicating that he’s inspired by ISIS. The solid nature of the cybertruck is credited with containing the explosion.
At least 10 shot outside a nightclub in Queen’s New Year’s Day night
Bags of broccoli florets sold in 10 states recalled (not any in New England)
Woman burned on NYC subway id’d as 61-year-old, potentially homeless woman from NJ
Kari Lake says she will now go to DC to help in the presidential administration
Pres-elect Trump plans an indoor rally the day before the inauguration
Hawaii fireworks explosion in a home kills 3, injures others
NY must give pregnant women up to 20 hours of PTO to attend appointments, etc.
Workers in a limestone quarry in southern England have uncovered almost 200 dinosaur footprints dating to roughly 166 million years ago
Meta to introduce AI-generated characters with their own profiles that will share content, interact with users across Facebook and Instagram
Beginning this year the generation will be known as Generation Beta
Federal appeals court strikes down Biden administration net neutrality rules
Speaker Johnson re-elected Speaker of the House on the first vote
Pres-elect Trump will be sentenced Jan. 10th to a no-jail time sentence – 10 days before inauguration
Alcohol suggested to carry a warning as cancer contributing
Pres. Biden blocked the Japanese takeover of U.S. Steel, saying it was a security issue
___
PASSINGS
Aaron Brown, 76, former CNN anchor/reporter
John Capodice, 83, played Ace Ventura & actor on General Hospital
Past-President Jimmy Carter, 100
Charles Dolan, 98, founder of HBO
Agnes Keleti, 103, oldest living Olympic gold medalist and Holocaust survivor
Linda Lavin, 87, actress
John J. Lomas, 74, owner of McShawn’s Pub in Edgewood
Wayne Osmond, 73, original member of the Osmond family group
Osamu Suzuki, 94, founder of Suzuki Motors
Jocelyne Wildenstein, 84, Swiss socialite known for extreme plastic surgeries, of a pulmonary embolism
I suggest that readers look further into the Biden pix with the Chinese. There is an article on CNN (12/2/24) with an account of the timeline.
IMHO, why is this news almost 12 years after the fact? It was an official visit.
As to Hunter’s dealings and pardon, he has been tried and pled guilty. He has paid back any monies/fines owed and is in recovery. He was a week shy of being sentenced when Biden pardoned him.
A president can execute a pardon. Trump has already said he’s considering a pardon for the Jan. 6th insurrectionists.
A pardon is simply that – a pardon. It doesn’t expunge or erase any records. Hunter remains a convicted felon.
Trump is a convicted felon with 34 guilty charges. He hasn’t admitted guilt, hasn’t paid any fines or monies (including his civil case with E. Jean Carroll), hasn’t paid vendors, and has perfected the art of using other peoples’ money.
What’s good for one doesn’t work for another.