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In the News… recap for week ending Nov. 23, 2024
Here is an abbreviated recap of news from this past week – for more information, search for any of the items for more details. We hope this is helpful to keep up with happenings in a fast-paced news world.
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
Homecoming game and celebration canceled at Durfee HS in Fall River due to fights at a local parking lot. Surrounding stores now close for a few hours every day – when school lets out.
Applebee’s now says they will reopen in Cranston – they are “assessing a location – new and existing”
Security assets arrive on Nantucket for the President (Biden)’s traditional Thanksgiving family gathering
Pawtucket’s First Lady Laureen Grebien will coordinate distribution of 850+ turkey baskets to low-income Pawtucket residents on Monday, to help families with their Thanksgiving celebrations with their families. Over 100 volunteers participating.
Providence Place receivers looking for new anchor store, should Macy’s leave
Centennial Real Estate Management LLC is the new property management group for Prov. Place Mall
RI will receive a $31,933,577 Low-Carbon Transportation Materials grant for the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) to incorporate low-carbon transportation materials in construction projects and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
A dozen employees at T.F. Green International Airport have been “warned not to destroy records over what the airport’s legal team has described as “tortious interference” with business operations.” – RI Current
Rhode Island Worker Cooperative Alliance (RIWCA) formed – described as an organization building ties between worker-owned co-ops, democratic workplaces, and mutualists in the Ocean State. https://riworkercoop.org
At least 3 stabbed at Lo Vera VIP club area on Broad Street
Boston Police have seized dozens of illegal mopeds and scooters
Boston City Council considering an added tax for building owners who leave their storefronts empty
Jewish Voice for Peace – projected messages on Sen. Jack Reed’s office in the Federal Building in Kennedy Plaza, reading “Reed and Whitehouse: Stop Funding Genocide”, “Arms Embargo Now”, and “Reed and Whitehouse: This is what you’re illegally arming. This is your legacy,” followed by a list of the Israeli military’s documented human rights violations.
Thundermist Health Center’s Chuck Jones returning as president and CEO. He served in those rules there, from 2011-17 before going to Harbor Health Services in Massachusetts.
Boston Bruins has fired their coach and switched up management
Manager of Saje, Federal Hill, where a stabbing recently happened, was arrested for disorderly conduct and assault during the altercation
Steward Hospitals being bought who have religious icons and basis will lose all of that in their “resurrection” as a new hospital
CCRI has partnered with Building Futures to launch a new Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program for recent high school graduates and young adults. With the support of a $250,000workforce investment from RIDLT, the college will begin training future apprentices across all trades for careers in the construction and building trades.
Waterman Grille reopened 6 weeks after their kitchen fire
Viola Davis will receive the 2025 Cecil B. DeMille Award at 82nd annual Golden Globes
Job Lot is now open where “Christmas Tree Shop used to be” in Warwick
Hassenfeld Family Foundation gave leadership gift to RWU
Mayor Smiley & Brown Univ Health sign $1.5M PILOT agreement
NBC 10’s Patrice Wood honored with Champion For Children award
Carvana adding 200 jobs in Framingham, MA
Ten primary care doctors from one Brigham and Women’s Hospital practice in Chestnut Hill are resigning to join a new practice in Wellesley affiliated with rival Beth Israel Lahey Health (BosGlobe)
RI Football Club may add a women’s team in 2026
Brown University transfers 255 acres in Bristol, R.I., to the Pokanoket Indian tribe
Charlotte Lester remains found after 2 years in the woods in Exeter, Mark Perkins arrested and charged for 1st degree murder. Perkins was originally suspected as her killer.
City of Providence settles on millions to be paid to school department in court. Says property tax hike is coming.
Cathy Levesque, CEO of Stadium Theatre in Woonsocket, to retire
Amazon facility in Johnston now fully open
A newly completed section of the Blackstone River Greenway connecting the path from its previous end in North Smithfield to a longer trail into Massachusetts is now complete
Gilmore Furniture has changed its name to Frugal Furniture
Lifespan doctors looking to unionize – effort failed on Friday
Brown University BURP project – Brown University Relaxation Project, is a wellness group that trains student volunteers to offer free back massages and other stress relief resources to the Brown community.
RI and CT will work together on retirement plan for those who are not offered one at work
Newport Hospital (Lifespan) announces it is building a children’s’ behavioral health unit – 8 beds, serve over 240 patients in Newport area
Raising Cane’s will open another location in Warwick on Bald Hill Road, near the Warwick Mall
Christopher Durand named RIPTA Chief Executive Officer. He has been serving as the Interim Chief Executive Officer since April.
Prov. City Council referred to committee ordinance to not fine homeless for sleeping/camping outdoors
Prov. City Council referred to committee to ban leaf blowers by city workers and the general public in a phased in way
Over 1 million MA residents use SNAP. In MA, benefits are extended: SNAP recipients can get additional savings on utilities like gas, electric and internet bills – and access to savings at cultural institutions for the holidays, like the Boston Ballet, Boston Symphony Orchestra and ArtsEmerson.
Deborah Goddard, will be new Housing Secretary – prior she was a paid consultant in MA and in RI
Owners of Oak Bluffs final 3 operational moped licenses offering to sell all of them, which could effectively take the rental mopeds off the streets because the town may not allow any other licenses while getting rid of the existing rentals.
The Lexington Historical Society, the Lex250 Commission, and the town will do a reenactment of the 1773 burning of imported tea on Dec. 14 from 12-3 p.m. at the Lexington Visitors Center.
Rep. Magaziner will introduce a bipartisan bill to make part time National Guard members eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, which they are currently not eligible for.
40 new affordable housing units in North Kingstown are underway for those 55+; 11 of the units will be reserved for those earning at or below 30% of the Area Median Income.
4th Annual Central Falls Thanksgiving Drive items and gift cards will be given out to 500 Central Falls households. Volunteers from Tufts Health Plan/Point32Health, Central Falls Housing Authority, Central Falls Foundation, Central Falls Police and Fire Departments, and local residents and city staff will be on site at Monday’s event.
Dr. Jack R. Warner officially installed as 11th President of Rhode Island College
The Rhode Island Foundation will give the Providence Animal Rescue League $34,169 to support its Thrive Program, offering low-cost vaccine clinics, microchipping, nail trims, flea and tick products, free spay and neuter services for cats and other resources to support the increasing number of intakes at PARL via transfer or diversion from Providence Animal Rescue (PAC).
MA Governor Maura Healey wants to limit homeless and migrant families to 6 mos stays in Massachusetts’ strained emergency shelter system. Emergency housing is expected to exceed $1 Billion in 2025
Hasbro is said to have auctioned off $3.3 million in memorabilia in Texas
Travis Kelce’s stolen watch from a house invasion, burglary while he was playing football, turned up in Providence
Providence settled with schools for $15M over the next 2 years. Mayor Smiley said there will be a property tax increase next year
Dolphins showing up stranded and dead on the Cape hit an all time high – theories are climate change, as well as offshore wind turbine construction
BLM in RI holds breakfast with RI police chiefs
Cranston Mayor Hopkins says he would like to add an annex to City Hall and renovate the building to serve the government and people better, including where public meetings are held
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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
Brandeis has launched a new program that will cover the full cost of tuition for students from families with yearly incomes under $75,000
Malcolm X’s three daughters filed a $100M federal lawsuit yesterday against the CIA, FBI, and the New York Police Department, alleging these agencies were complicit in the 1965 assassination of the civil rights leader.
Federal judge overturned Pres. Biden’s campaign proposal to make more salaried people eligible for overtime
Boeing issues layoff notices to 400-plus workers as it begins drastic cuts
A Florida cruise company is offering a 4-year escape to Americans upset by the results of the Nov. 5 presidential election
20% of people diagnosed with lung cancer have never smoked
Women live an average of six years longer than men, but they spend more of their lives grappling with conditions like diabetes, heart disease and depression (NYT)
The Hamas spox has said there will be no hostage deal until war has ended
As standardized test scores fail to improve, more states are dropping the standardized tests
Whooping Cough said to be up 10-fold in US
Spirit Airlines files for bankruptcy
Target said to be losing business to Walmart
New US postage stamp will honor Betty White – coming out in 2025
Organic baby carrots recalled – people ill with salmonella in 18 states
McDonald’s spending $100M to lure people back after slivered onion issue
Mickey & Minnie Mouse turn 96
PALCUS predicts Portugal will be the country with the highest percentage of immigrants from the United States.
Two undersea cables in the Baltic Sea have been severed in recent days. The German and Finnish foreign ministries said in a joint statement that the incident “raises suspicions of intentional damage” and that an investigation is underway.
Hallmark Movie Christmas Cruise to the Bahamas now has a 60,000 waiting list – with a major announcement coming soon
80 million Americans will travel over Thanksgiving holiday
Plant in North Carolina that had stopped making IV fluids is back up and operating and shipping
Pres-elect Trump said he will declare a state of emergency to begin deportation
Pres. Biden turned 82, oldest sitting president
Italy offering homes for $1 for Americans who want to relocate – island has been depopulated
Venice, CA votes to raises their own taxes for homeless shelters and housing. Now they are demonstrating in the streets to keep shelters, storage units from being built. E Coli being found in the beach water and public bathrooms. Residents now say the homeless need mental health facilities, not housing.
Jay Leno fell 60 feet trying to take a shortcut to a restaurant, while walking. He broke his wrist, hit his eye on a rock and is bruised – he went on to perform that night and saw a doctor when he returned to LA.
Susan Smith, who killed her 2 children by driving them into the water, denied parole after serving 30 years of a life sentence
Jose Ibarra, illegal immigrant, who bludgeoned and killed Laken Riley, while jogging, sentenced to life without parole
Carlo Acutis will be made a saint by Pope Francis. Acutis died at 15 of leukemia, after creating an app that tracked miracles and running websites for Catholic groups around the world – he will be named “patron saint of the internet”
Angel Reese, WNBA, said her estimated net worth of $2M is “way off” – and she has taken care of everyone in her family/life that needs to be taken care of
Bomb cyclone impacting west coast
Matthew Whittaker chosen as Ambassador to NATO
Florida man arrested for plot to bomb New York Stock Exchange and reset America
The “Trump dance” being seen among sports teams nationwide – NFL says it has no issue with it
Ellen Degeneres and her wife have moved to rural England – Cotswalds region – where King Charles’s estate Highgrove House is located – and say they will never return because of Donald Trump’s election
Jussie Smollet 2019 conviction overturned
Chinese cargo ship accused of severing the 2 cable lines – called sabotage
Pam Bondi nominated for US Attorney General.
Russia fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile at Ukraine. Putin said the missile was experimental and demonstrative of their capabilities. This follows after the United States and the United Kingdom allowed Ukraine to use Western long-range weapons to strike Russian territory earlier this week. Zelensky called the missile’s usage “a clear and severe escalation in the scale and brutality of this war.” Russia let the US know about the missile 30 minutes before the strike – six of the missiles in the barrage were shot down, with only the ballistic reaching the Ukrainian city.
Judge in Trump case says he can file a motion by Dec. 2nd to dismiss – which his team is expected to do. Judge has delayed sentencing “indefinitely”.
Kelly Loeffler – named Sect. of Agricullture – former Sen. from Georgia
Scott Bessent – Secretary of the Treasury
Scott Turner, Secretary of HUD
Hayley Harrison – First Lady Melania Trump’s Chief of Staff. Has been with the First Lady for 7 years
Sebastian Gorka – Senior Director for Counterterrorism
Alex Wong – Assistant to the President and Principal Deputy National Security Advisor
Dr. Marty Makary – FDA Commissioner
Dr David Weldon – CDC Director
Dr. Julia Nesheiwat – US Surgeon General
Lori Michelle Chavez-DeRemer – Director of Labor
Russ Vought – Director of Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
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PASSINGS
Alice Brock, 83, of Alice’s Restaurant fame, of Massachusetts
Arthur Frommer, 92, well known for Frommer travel guidebooks
Bela Karolyi, 82, gymnastics trainer of multiple Olympic gold medalists and world champions
Jodi Rell, 78, former Governor of Connecticut
Timothy West, 90, British character actor
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I hope that R.I. will get rid of standardized tests. They have been around for decades. They’re not being used as they were originally intended. Tests were supposed to measure the curriculum, not a student’s capabilities. Too much time and money has been spent teaching to the test, not to a subject. They should be taught to diagram a sentence so that they can construct a sentence properly. They have poor spelling (spell check isn’t always right), they use vocabulary incorrectly which can change the meaning of a sentence and their reading comprehension is abysmal.
The lack of comprehension affects other subjects including math. If they don’t understand the problem, they can’t solve the equation. Start teaching them U.S. History early. They need to know more than the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. They will vote and there is nothing worse than an uneducated voter. Geography can’t be done with GPS. There are places outside of the U.S. that are in the news but they have no idea where. Not every subject needs to be immersive but they are good to know. They make for a well-rounded individual. It will serve them in good stead in the adult world.
Don’t just hand them a subject to ‘study’. Tell them why they should. Make it interesting so they will want to learn.
Their future depends on education and learning, not TikTok or Instagram. Being an ‘influencer’ is a short-term career path to nowhere.
And please, tell them that a ‘viola’ is a flower. The word they want is ‘voila’ from the French meaning ‘there it is’ or ‘got it’.
Well done