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In the News… recap of the news of the week, ending April 26, 2025
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
Sen. Whitehouse wants to start a $1M/day fund for the deportee, Garcia, until situation is resolved – he could receive the taxpayer funds at the end of his ordeal
71.4% of Rhode Island children have met the well-child visit goal, ranking #3 in US – provided by Birth Injury Lawyers Cooperative
Bertucci’s, Warwick, closed after 32 years
Herb’s column has been mentioned in Generations Beat Online – an e-newsletter sent to over 1,100 journalists, producers, and authors covering aging issues.
Funeral for RI Sen. Ruggerio is Monday, April 28, at 11 a.m. at St. Anthony Church in North Providence. Calling hours will be held Sunday from 3 to 8 p.m., and again Monday from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at Maceroni Funeral Home in Providence.
Former Catholic Foundation of R.I. director, Richard Popovic, now chief revenue officer for R.I. PBS/Public’s Radio
Rodent infestation closes North Providence Dollar Tree store
Rhode Island Anime Con set for June 7 & 8, 2025
Cross Insurance is proud to announce the opening of its new flagship office in Providence, Rhode Island – in the Foundry building
June 7th, Boston’s Fenway Park will hold a full boxing event – first time in decades
A South Korean national who scheduled around 10,000 appointments with high-end prostitutes in cities including Cambridge has been sentenced to one year in prison – then subject to deportation after his sentence
Gateway Healthcare and Wood River Health recently partnered to serve the residents of Washington County. Gateway is an affiliate of Brown University Health
The dedication of Providence College’s new Ben Mondor Center for Nursing and Health Sciences will take place on April 26 at 10:30 a.m.
In 5 years, New Hampshire will be one of the top 5 retirement spots – only state in area to be named.
3 students from Concord-Carlisle High School in MA killed in auto accident on spring break in Florida – 1 other student is in serious condition
Coventry Crossings sells for $9.9M
Armed robbery of 4 teens by 3-4 others outside Coldstone Creamery in Chapel View, Cranston – evidence provided by rideshare driver who had a webcam – assailants used rideshare to escape, later captured
RWU to begin a doula training program
RIC commencement speakers are: Advanced Degree Ceremony, Princess Sirleaf Bomba, Director of Equity, Community & Belonging at The Wheeler School. Baccalaureate Degree Ceremony former Rhode Island AFL-CIO President George Nee.
Salve Regina commencement speaker will be Cody Keenan, former White House chief speechwriter
Demonstration outside emergency room at Rhode Island Hospital for 4 hours after an ICE-detained person had briefly been treated there.
Rhode Island College will close approx. two dozen degree programs and concentrations due to low enrollment – some as low as zero, others with 1 or 2.
Dispose of expired or unused medication on Saturday, April 26th, 10AM to 2PM at the Providence Public Safety Complex, 325 Washington Street, Providence.
URI will award honorary degree to writer, director, producer Steven Feinberg of the RI Film Commission
U.S. Department of Justice is cutting millions of dollars in grants to Massachusetts organizations working to decrease violence and support victims of violence, according to termination letters sent to non-profits this week.
MBTA has fined Keolis, operator of So. Coast commuter train $52,000 for problems in service
Providence is hosting the National Curling Championships this weekend
Wendy Schiller to step back from Watson Institute, Taubman Center – will take a year-long sabbatical before returning to Brown as a professor.
Brown to sponsor first Jewish alumni reunion weekend this fall – a 3-day event, “130 Years of Jewish Life at Brown,” expects to draw 700 to 1,000 alums.
Son of late Rhode Island mobster, Bo Bo Marrapese, admitted on Thursday he murdered his ex-girlfriend in their Cranston apartment in 2019
Half a billion birds flying north to the area this weekend
AntiSemitism on the rise in the US. MA the 5th highest in the country
Wellesley College staff end strike, return to work so as not to lose health insurance, reportedly, with,no contract changes
ICE announced an action in the Boston area this weekend, focusing on fentanyl trafficking
Report says MA need 440,000 housing units for the income restricted
Payments to primary care physicians will be increased – and 60% of prior authorization requirements will end in RI
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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
Russian President Putin says he will have a 30-hour pause in fighting due to Easter
Sponsors were solicited to underwrite costs for the Easter Egg Roll and Hunt at the White House. YouTube, Amazon, and Facebook and Instagram parent company Meta. Extra funds will go to the White House Historical Association
Ford halts shipping cars to China
Sam’s Club will remodel all stores, and open new ones – will include eliminating check out registers – all to use self-checkout
San Jose, CA wants to make it a crime for an encampment resident to refuse housing after the 3rd offer
Death of Pope Francis begins period of mourning for 9 days, then process will begin to select a new pope
World Economic Forum says founder Klaus Schwab, 87, steps down
Harvard filed a lawsuit to halt the funding freeze saying it is unlawful and beyond the government’s authority.
Pres. Trump and first lady will attend the Pope’s funeral on Saturday
Robert Irwin joins Dancing with the Stars
Santana has health issues, reschedules concerts
United HealthCare spent $1.7M on security for executives
Nadine Menendez convicted of participating in bribery scam with husband, Bob Menendez
SCOTUS declined to get involved in the ongoing debate about age restrictions for weapons
Homeland Security head Kristi Noem had her pocketbook stolen at a restaurant
National Autism Society estimates 40% of those diagnosed cannot speak. RFK Jr. may consider payments to families caring for the most severe on the spectrum
RFK Jr. announces plans to phase out 8 commonly used food dyes and additives
60 Minutes producer resigns, says he has lost his objectivity
“Assassination culture” is more of a concern as calls for supporting the reported killer of United Health Care exec, with comments made about killing has good reasons, sometimes. Psychologists describe them as psychopathic narcissists using false cries of victimization, entitlement, reparation culture – ultimate manipulators.
RiteAid going into 2nd bankruptcy – closing some locations
Profits at Tesla down 71%
Elon Musk will spend 1-2 days/week on govt matters, but otherwise will return to his work
Marco Rubio set to realign the department of administration
Chobani opening a manufacturing plant to New York
170 college presidents have signed a letter condemning government intervention into their campus affairs
Gov. Shapiro reopened his home after the firebombing the first night of Passover
Pres. Trump says he has no plans to fire Federal Reserve chair – it’s another fake news
US Army says physical agility tests will be identical for women as it is for men now
Sarah Palin lost her case bringing libel against the NYT
Teenagers said to have the same testosterone levels as 68 year old men
The last baby boom was over 80 years ago – the US is considering giving $5,000 for new babies born
Trader Joe’s to open 21 new stores (closest to RI is in Boston)
12+ “students” at UCONN have had their academic records removed so their student visas are no longer active
Study shows toddlers only need 4 toys
Apple plans to shift all US-bound iPhone production to India next year, accelerating pivot from China amid supply chain diversification
George Santos sentenced to 7 years
The federal government is reversing the termination of legal status for international students after many filed court challenges around the US
Pope Francis funeral begins TODAY, Sat, April 26th at 3amET – ½ million people are expected to attend
Accuser of Prince Andrew in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, Virginia Giuffre, dies of suicide after an accident in earlier weeks
Kennedy Center cancels “Pride” events
Man stabbed to death in NYC subway during Friday morning rush hour commute – attacker not yet found
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PASSINGS
Pope Francis, 88, on Easter Monday
Jean Marsh, 90, British actress known best for Upstairs, Downstairs
Dominick Ruggerio, 76, RI Senate President
Myra Shays, founder of PFLAG