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In the News… recap of the week ending Sept. 7, 2024
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
Orsted to double employee base in RI
RI Sect. of State debuts a new bus wrap, part of an advertising campaign to encourage Rhode Islanders to vote, and to remind voters of upcoming election dates and deadlines.
Holocaust exhibition to open at Framingham University
Tome Biosciences, a gene editing company in Watertown, MA will begin laying off all its employees – over 130.
Haunted Labyrinth will not open this year in Cranston – with no reason given
BU resident assistants go on strike
Donkey dies at Franklin Park Zoo, had given birth recently
Ed Cooley earned $33M+ over 12 years as Providence College basketball coach – slightly more on a per year average than the URI Coach who is paid approx. $2.1M in public money as the state’s top paid employee
Michael J. Fox will headline Rhode Island Comic Con, along with cast members of Back to the Future
Breeze Airways CEO said passenger demand is slowing
Cumberland also has buses with cameras and videos to capture passing cars
Centreville will open a new branch in Pawtucket
The I-195 highway will have a new system made by Kistler – 40 digital censors that will monitor weight bearing and traffic – on the bridge – described, however, by RIDOT as “electrical work”. Cost? $2.7M
Somerville Library in MA has closed during after-school-hours due to rowdy behavior of high school students who come in, and concerns of violence – rather than removing the students
Dr. Laurie Glimcher, chief executive of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute will step down and Dr. Benjamin L. Ebert, chair of Dana-Farber’s medical oncology department will step up
Citizens Bank will recruit dozens of new employees before 2025 as its wealth management and private banking units are growing
PVDFest runs Friday through Sunday
Smithfield will update their communications system and provide training for firefighters with a $477,000+ federal grant
The Washington Bridge Small Business Grant Program, in partnership with the Cities of East Providence and Providence will be announced next week
20% increase to Rhode Island Works (RIW) benefits. Families will receive this increase on their monthly cash benefit this week
Calway & TopGolf will split into 2 separate companies, per media reports
Ex-Patriots Danny Amendola to appear on Dancing with the Stars
Elton John says he has a severe eye infection which has limited his vision
U.S. filed money-laundering charges against two employees of Russian state media network RT for a scheme to hire an American company to produce online content to influence the 2024 presidential election.
Low-income MBTA riders in Boston now eligible for ½ price fare
Escobar Farm open for 25th year Sat., 9/7
Frontline caregivers at Groden Center who provide essential services for children with autism have voted for a 3-day strike starting September 11, 2024 should management fail to come to a contract agreement that encourages wage boosts, recruitment, retention, and safer practices for students.
George Nee will retire as President of the AFLCIO
Farmer Tim Schartner has been approved to complete his 25-acre greenhouse in Exeter.
Brown University’s incoming first years estimated that the share of Black decreased by nearly half, while the percentage of Hispanic students declined by one-third since last year. White student numbers remained the same. Asian students showed a “marked increase”.
Federal Hill Taphouse and Kitchen closed abruptly
India Point Seafood Festival will be held TODAY
PVD Fest this weekend, downtown Providence
Greek Festival this weekend, Cranston, Oaklawn Ave
Holy Ghost Festival this weekend, Johnston
Pawtucket Arts Festival continues this weekend – Slater Park Festival events
Sunken barge in Providence River to be raised and “restored as art” announced Sen. Jack Reed
Comedian Matt Rife is building an 80-acre estate in Rhode Island, possibly in the Burrillville area
Escobar Corn Maze in Portsmouth recognizing its 25th year
RI will choose up to 24 new cannabis retailers
Approx. 900 apartments and condos – not single family homes – are in the plans for land in Coventry. 15% will be affordable living
SouthCoast Wind will have 3,915 high-paying jobs in the RI/MA region as they announce a joint wind turbine project, with the Vineyard Wind blade disaster still in play in public support
Skyline owner will be evicted, per Providence and upheld by courts, after failure to pay rent
9/11 Memorial in Oakland Beach, Warwick will be held to commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the terrorist attacks. The ceremony will begin at 10:28 am with a moment of silence to observe the exact time when the North Tower of the World Trade Center collapsed.
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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
Ricky Pearsall, the San Francisco 49ers’ first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, was shot in the chest during an attempted robbery at San Francisco. He is in stable but serious condition.
Mpox could disappear – again – by 2025
Veterans won legal victory over restoring land for veterans housing – seen as a major step toward eliminating homelessness among veterans – land presently held by Brentwood School and UCLA
U.S. employers announced 75,891 layoffs in August, the highest in five months and nearly triple the number seen in July, with technology companies leading the cuts with 39K
Red Lobster exits from bankruptcy with new owners
Many cases of COVID from DNC – including Hillary Clinton
National hotel workers strike 3 days this week
A dye has been invented which turns a mouse’s skin translucent and then back again – may be useful in humans, particularly with cancer diagnosis
Low water conditions have led to several barges running aground along a key stretch of the lower Mississippi River,
Goldman Sachs is planning to cut a few hundred jobs as part of an annual review process aimed at low performers
South Korea wants to bring in 1,200 nannies from other countries to respond to the need
41,000 people died in car crashes in 2023 in the US
Lyft selling portion of bike business, cutting jobs
Volvo drops plan to sell only EVs
4 shot and killed while they slept on 2 separate cars of a Chicago commuter train. Victims were not sitting together.
US seized a luxury airplane used by Venezuela’s President Maduro, said to be bought in violation of sanctions. Maduro has a warrant for this arrest.
Brian Steltler returns to CNN as Chief Media Analyst
NY Gov. Hochul’s former aid who worked for her for 10 years was arrested for being a Secret Agent for China
ALEXA was giving skewed pro-Dem responses to questions about who to vote for for President – they have fixed the “error”
Russia will be accused by US government of effort to influence the 2024 election with social media and other means
Shooting in Georgia with 4 dead and 9 seriously injured, with as many as 30, total, by a 14 year old student who surrendered. Suspect was investigated last year for threats about shooting a school last year. A few days later his father was arrested on murder and manslaughter charges, child cruelty, and providing a gun to his son. He gave him an AR-15 as a birthday present.
The NFL is putting in facial recognition systems at all stadiums
Aids to New York governors present and past are being arrested for working with China, and other charges. One worked with the Chinese government against Taiwan, charged as a Secret Agent. Another, a spy, with more arrests expected.
After US said media outlet RT was conducting election interference in the US for Russia, Russia has said it will take retaliatory measures against sanctions against its state owned media networking, saying it will “make everyone shudder”.
Starliner has returned to Earth, seemingly safely, with none of the problems that were of concern happening – 2 astronauts remain at the International Space Station, until their planned return in February.
Locke Lord and Troutman Pepper law firms have agreed to merge
While individual philanthropists who head corporations are giving more, corporate philanthropy has fallen significantly.
Donald Trump sentencing will be delayed until after the election – moved to 11/26
Presidential debate – Trump – Harris – will be held on Tuesday night
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PASSINGS
James Darren, 88, actor
Fatman Scoop, 53, rapper, collapses and dies on stage