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In the News… for Week Ending April 17, 2026
A quick synopsis of news items of the week ending April 17th – in RI and regionally – and national and internationally.
RHODE ISLAND & REGION
Dune Brothers clam shack not returning to Crescent Park this season
Temporary restraining order against East Greenwich Little League on the eve of baseball season – not enough to protect the Dubell home from what they say has been a “barrage” of baseballs falling on their house and yard.
ESPN reporting Kim English going to first staff of Michael Malone (PC 95-98) at North Carolina
Anna Maria College at risk of closure due to lack of funds
Taylor Swift wedding now up for possibility of not being in Watch Hill – but in NYC
Rhode Island’s largest Medicaid health plan, Neighborhood Health Plan, is threatening legal action against the state, alleging a decade of “inaction” has left the organization with $135 million in unpaid debt for services (WPRI)
2 stabbed, a man and a woman, in Warwick Oakland Beach area
Red Sox broadcaster Joe Castiglione reveals cancer treatment
A 2nd mural to honor Iryna Zarutska has been installed on the side of OPA Restaurant on Federal Hill by same artist who started the first mural, which remains uncompleted on Snow St.
Retired teachers and state employees advocate again this year for COLAs at State House
Boston’s 1st recreational cannabis shop shuts down suddenly – amidst many lawsuits
2nd stabbing in North Kingstown apartment complex run by Crossroads – one this week and one in Nov of 2025
St. Anthony Feast in Portsmouth delayed permit after fatal fall from steps
Bad behavior fallout for Patriots Vrabel and NYT Russini: He is “business as usual”, per the Patriots. She is “sidelined pending internal review”, per NYT
North Kingstown now has active school zone speed cameras
Boston Mayor gives out vouchers to migrants for $500 for haircut and massages, despite city deficit of $50M
CCRI and RIC moving to arm campus police, with approval from necessary group, CCRI has released a statement that 67% of those surveyed at CCRI (71% students) are in favor, and they will begin to take the steps to arm campus police.
Brown U to tear down 4 multi-family homes on Brook Street to build one large campus classroom building
Proposed legislation to ensure certified school librarians are in every public school in Rhode Island being considered at the RI State House
Boston Marathon Monday – Red Sox games, too – parking will be maxxed out
RI Senate confirms former Senate President Joseph Montalbano as Superior Court judge
Hampshire College in Amherst, MA to close – bastion of liberal arts education – grads include Ken Burns, Lupita Nyong’o José Fuentes, and Alumni have won Oscars, Emmys, Pulitzers, Grammys, and MacArthur “genius” grants.
North Main St, Prov. spa – Smilers – raided by RI State Police and federal officials – 5 arrested, no customers, only staff
Brown U names James Kellner, professor of ecology, evolution and organismal biology and environment and society, as their first Assoc. Provost for Corporate Engagement – to cultivate relationships with the corporate sector around research, internships, career opps, and academic collaborations (Brown Daily Herald)
Tailgating WILL be allowed at the World Cup game, afterall
Providence Auto Shop fire caused by Hummer lithium battery malfunctioning
Patriots have now reduced their parking by 15,000 for the World Cup games
Mayor Smiley proposes $635.7M FY27 budget, no tax increases for Providence
Salve Regina commencement speaker: Broadcast journalist and author Ray
Towne Place Suites extended stay opens in Seekonk
Family Services will open a residential treatment center in Exeter for 16 girls – with 60 staff – costing $45M to build
Providence City Council passes rent stabilization – Mayor Smiley says he will veto
Shooting at a restaurant in DePasquale Sq on Federal Hill –
Applebee’s to open on Monday in Chapel View, Cranston
CVS will auction off Omnicare which it purchased for $13B in 2016
City of Cranston in budget discussions with Council and holding public hearings on the budget, cuts, and a proposal by the Mayor to ask the RI legislature for a 7.4% property tax increase. This is a volatile situation within the city with retirement buyout packages being accepted by at least 4 or 5 with offerings to “over 17” – Mayor states no one who doesn’t want to retire will be forced to. 3 out of 6 in the City Clerk’s office took the buyout. Consolidations and terminations may be ahead. Hearing TODAY, 9am to 2pm with City Council – can be seen on YouTube.
City of Cranston says none of what is happening will impact the opening of the Budlong Pool which is “on schedule” for early summer.
Mayor Smiley of Providence vetoes rent control as passed by City Council – will now go back to the Council to see if they have an override vote
Hasbro involved in a lawsuit over cybersecurity issue
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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
Tiger Woods’ private jet lands in Switzerland a week after DUI arrest
Astronaut Victor Glover thanks God after his trip around the moon. “When this started on April 3rd, I wanted to thank God in public, and I want to thank God again.” “The gratitude of seeing what we saw, doing what we did, and being with who I was with, it’s too big to just be in one body.”
Supporters flooded the streets of Budapest, Hungary, celebrating Peter Magyar’s landslide supermajority win, which looked set to end Viktor Orban’s 16-year rule.
Virginia proposing new taxes on firearms and ammunition – Firearm and ammo sales are surging in Virginia as Democrat lawmakers push new gun restrictions.
Britney Spears checks in, voluntarily, to rehab, after a DUI
Dick Vitale facing his 5th battle against cancer
Justin Trudeau is seen at Coachella with his girlfriend Katy Perry – while PM he banned Coachella from Canada
Swalwell resigns from Congress as well as his campaign for Governor
The Vatican has built a Muslim prayer room inside its Apostolic Library
Alec Baldwin says after the movie set shooting accident he now just wants to stay home with his wife and 7 young children
New Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2026: Oasis, Wu-Tang Clan, Phil Collins, Joy Division/New Order, Sade, Iron Maiden, Billy Idol, and Luther Vandross
National Security Agency & the FBI warn Americans that Russian military intelligence cyber actors have been exploiting vulnerable home and small office routers to steal sensitive information – advising everyone should reboot their routers.
Texas AG investigating presence of forever chemicals in LuLu Lemon pants
A Door Dash grandma delivered her 14,000th food delivery to Pres. Trump in the Oval office – knocking on the outside door – she talked about how important “no tax on tips” had been to her.
Husband not charged in overboard death of his wife in the Bahamas and he has been released
The abortion pill is given today, largely, by mail order
Mayor Mamdani in NYC says a $30M grocery store won’t open now until 2029
House votes to extend warrantless surveillance law for 10 days
Seven-11 to close 600 stores nationwide
Former Coast Guard officer and public health official Dr. Erica Schwartz will lead the CDC
YouTube Premium going up $2 per month
5th woman claims sexual assault by Swalwell – arrest may be imminent
Erika Kirk calls off public appearances after repeated death threats
Treasury Sect. Bessent: “I want to encourage everyone out there watching today to change their withholding … you will get an automatic real wage increase on a weekly or a monthly basis.”
LIV Golf may lose Saudi funding
Justice Sotomayor apologizes over comments about Justice Kavanaugh
Argentina’s Javier Milei: “I have nothing against artists. I myself had a rock band. My problem is that if you need a government subsidy to make art, you’re no longer an artist, you’re a public employee.”
Hungary’s prime minister-elect Péter Magyar goes on public TV to say he will suspend the news services of the country’s state-run “public” media until it regains a true public-service role.
A jury finds that Ticketmaster and Live Nation had an anti-competitive monopoly over big concert venues.
Disney has brought back its original “Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls” message that had been replaced by “Good evening, dreamers of all ages.” in 2021
Disney layoffs impacting about 1,000 roles are underway this week as the company looks to “streamline our operations” across multiple divisions
Sweden gives up digital learning – back to paper, books, and writing
Orioles Manager, Albernaz was hit in the face by a foul ball – says he has at least seven fractures in his cheek area and a broken jaw. He can only eat baby food for six weeks
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas delivered a televised broadside against progressivism, a political philosophy he described as an existential threat to America and the principles that founded it 250 years ago.
Former Lt. Gov of Virginia, Justin Fairfax, shot and killed his wife and then shot and killed himself – they were divorcing
Spirit Air still up for closure
3MG Xanax being recalled
ICE Director Lyons resigning – was appointed a year ago – says he promised his family he would get back as soon as possible
The Weather Channel now offering a daily “In Your Garden” feature
Pres. Trump posted a meme of himself as God in a healing moment – serious backlash – may move up efforts of impeachment or Article 25 – the meme was taken down in a few hours – Pres. said it wasn’t God, it was a doctor from the Red Cross image
QVC moving toward bankruptcy
US picking up possibility of addressing Cuban energy/economic crisis
Self Magazine, owned by Conde Nast, goes out of print
Top Gun 3 with Tom Cruise will be made
FBI investigating deaths and disappearances of an approx. dozen national scientists and researchers
50 new chapters of Turning Point USA open a day – most in US high schools
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Iranian conflict
120 large tankards on their way to US to buy oil
China says they are “going through” the Strait but have not done so yet
Israel believes direct talks with Lebanon could lead to Lebanon joining the Abraham Accords.
International Energy Agency Chief Fatih Birol says Europe has ‘maybe six weeks of jet fuel left’ and warns of possible flight cancellations
10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon
Late Friday night, Pres. Trump announces a final deal with Iran has been reached including a commitment to never develop nuclear weapons, to assist the US in removing uranium “dust” and bringing it to the USA, an unfreezing of Iranian assets, etc. No word yet on Iranian official word.
The Strait of Hormuz is now fully open and ships are passing – whether or not mines were ever in the Strait is now being discussed as none have been found so far. The Blockade of Iranian ships is maintained for now.