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In the news… summary for August 5, 2023
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
Catholic Charities Inn is a new shelter housing over 42 people/families in Boston, some coming from Haiti and other countries
Over 10,000 attended the NAACP annual convention in BBoston this past weekend
RIDE in Massachusetts, where people in need of medical transport call or text and schedule a pick up is having difficulty with long wait times
The Cannabis Control Commission in MA is having organizational problems with their head stepping down saying the group is in “crisis”.
Yellow, a major trucking company shut down – based in Nashville, with major facility in Cumberland
Barrington Shopping Center will open 3 new stores – Joseph A. Bank, Ivy Rehab, and Compass Real Estate
Tesla will open a vehicle repair and service center in Reservoir Triangle, at the site of the old Stop & Shop Supermarket – where a homeless encampment was just removed. This is their 2nd facility, with the first being located on Bald Hill Road in Warwick. 30 will be employed.
Five Below is opening 2 new stores – one in the Cranston Parkade, a Paolino Property
The RI MADE program was launched in Pawtucket to provide a range of resources to advance Automation & Robotics, Cyber Resiliency, and Risk to strengthen and accelerate Rhode Island manufacturing companies and the nation’s defense manufacturing ecosystem. The program is being run by PolarisMEP (https://polarismep.org).
The Christmas Tree Shop is now closed.
Providence Police Dept is recruiting
103,000 Rhode Islanders may have had their data compromised in North Kingstown transactions – the town has sent letters out to all, but no cases have surfaced
Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital made US News & World Reports annual honor roll of 22hospitals – no RI hospital made the list
An AED has been installed in Boston’s Moakley Park, due to a family’s efforts who had lost a loved one there of a cardiac arrest
CD1 debate – Social justice will be the focus of a debate hosted by Black Lives Matter RI PAC and the Rhode Island Black Business Association at the Providence Public Library at 150 Empire Street on Friday, Aug. 4, from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
Fight at Rhode Island Training School sends two staff members, two youths to hospital – 16 total injured. Officials point out that they have been asking for more resources and note a staffing shortage.
#RIReady Municipal Road Fund Program application time is open in RI. This grant program makes $20 million available to fund important road, bridge, and sidewalk projects on locally maintained city and town roads.
New England Revolution Assistant Coach Arena put on administrative leave for workplace issue
Jason Cabral named new CEO of The Gamm Theatre
Beginning in fall 2024, URI’s Feinstein College of Education will offer a new doctoral degree in education, to prepare students to implement cutting edge research to improve opportunities across the educational spectrum and become community-engaged scholars and leaders.
RIPTA’s free R-Line trial, while successful in increasing ridership, with the line being the most popular, the $2 fare loss would have equaled $400,00 in income per month to RIPTA
Mt. Pleasant HS – no decision on renovate or replace, but contractors made it clear they could never fix heating system, insulate, etc. with existing building
Sen. Jack Reed is offering assistance to anyone having a hard time renewing or getting their passports.
2 families are suing the city of Warwick over drownings on the beach sand bar saying appropriate notice was not provided
Providence Police Force wants to increase the force by 20% or approx. 34 new members bringing the force to 433+
Electric charging stations in RI now number approx. 500
RI Attorney General Peter Neronha’s office filed a motion in U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island on Monday seeking to dismiss a lawsuit filed by a homeowner’s group objecting to the state’s new shoreline access law.
A $74,125,000 bond issue for Cumberland to finance the construction, renovation, improvement, alteration, repair, furnishing and equipping of schools and school facilities announced.
Providence College and RI DMV officials distributed PC license plates to motorists who purchased one.
An explosion happened at the North Providence public pool, inside the pool building where a jacuzzi exploded – they believe it was a build up of chlorine gas
PC/URI will continue their basketball rivalry annual game
Brent Runyon is now with Residential Properties, after leaving the Providence Preservation Society
“Do not drink” orders for three RI water systems: Exeter Job Corps and the Ladd Center, which are both in Exeter and are supplied by the Quonset Development Corporation, and Bruin Plastics, in Burrillville.
The Papitto Foundation has paused its grant making in light of the Supreme Court ruling on Affirmative Action. United Way and RI Foundation say they will continue with their focused grants.
Boston’s Mayor Wu says she is about to take a “major step” in how she is handling the homeless on the streets of Boston… ½ of the original Mass & Cass “residents” have gone from temporary housing to permanent housing – over 400. Now there are hundreds more arriving in Boston. Critical point of success is matching street workers almost one-on-one with those in need, and not dealing with the “crowd dynamic”. Wu also notes that the majority of the people at Mass & Cass DO have housing, but congregate there for what is happening there.
Second gentleman, Doug Enhoff, will travel to Block Island Friday, Aug. 4, to give remarks at a fundraiser for President Joe Biden’s re-election campaign.
RI will invest nearly $1 million in federal funding for a new suicide prevention program for those at highest risk, men between 25 and 64, veterans and first responders.
Newport Secret Garden Tours canceled for September due to erratic weather.
MHARI is offering a $10K scholarship, “Bridging the Divide: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Behavioral Healthcare Scholarship” to increase the availability of culturally and linguistically competent mental health providers in Rhode Island by supporting graduate students from diverse backgrounds studying in behavioral health programs.
Mezzo Lounge can open again for those 25+ for 90 days (first 30 days private events only) – if no problems, it can go to 21+ – this may be the last 18+ club in RI and that model will be gone now.
Roger Williams Medical Center, Fatima Hospital, CharterCare – computer systems are down – hospital is on ambulance diversion until at least Monday – but hospital is functioning with rescheduled elective events using paper records – determined to be a cyber attack.
SNAP and WIC benefits were 1-2 days delayed this month due to a glitch in the payment system
RI Board of Elections has called a special meeting for Tuesday to discuss problem with Matos’ signatures
Newport Jazz Festival this weekend in Newport
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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
University of No. Carolina at Chapel Hill has voted to bar “race, sex, color or ethnicity” in college admissions. The school also voted to offer free tuition to students whose family makes less than $80K.
Companies that must use outside workers are adjusting safety protocols now that extreme summer heat is becoming expected
1st new nuclear reactor now active in Georgia
Mattel is considering a sequel to Barbie
Yellow, a major trucking company shut down – based in Nashville
Frozen worms revived after 43,000 years
Pres. Biden on vacation for a week in Delaware
Wallet Hub determined the best and worst states for healthcare, across 44 metrics of healthcare cost, access and outcomes. The metrics ranged from cost of medical visit to share of non-immunized children. Read more about the methodology here. Rhode Island was ranked 3rd, after Minnesota (1) and Iowa (2) in cost, access and outcomes, according to the analysis:
Gina Raimondo, US Commerce Sect will be going to China
The CDC says leprosy has become endemic in Florida
CVS to layoff 5,000 nationwide, not customer facing. They employ 300,000 people
CVS CEO, Karen Lynch, will be named by Pres. Biden to The Export Council
SPACE Command will stay headquartered in Colorado, and not move to Alabama
The new “X” logo sign installed at the headquarters of X, formerly known as Twitter. A few days later it was taken down, out of safety concerns and how bright the flashing light was to the neighborhood.
ISIS has claimed responsibility for the bombing in Pakistan that killed over 50 people and injured hundreds more.
Senegal has restricted internet usage and dissolved an opposition party ahead of elections
31 days of temps over 100 in Arizona ended with a rainstorm
Dr. Ashish Jha, who has returned from COVID work with the federal government, to Brown University, in an editorial said, “we can now prevent nearly every COVID death”.
Pres. Donald Trump received 4 more indictments on election issues for conspiracy and obstruction
World Youth Day attracts hundreds of thousands in Portugal with Pope Francis
US credit rating downgraded by Fitch due to its “failure at governing”; U.S. long-term credit rating from AA+ to AAA.
Writer’s Guild will return to the negotiating table
Lizzo accused of sexual harassment and fat shaming of her dancers and staff
The 1,100 troops which were sent to the border a few months ago are now being recalled.
Disabled who need rides to medical appointments, etc may be finding themselves stranded in their homes as local EMS, ambulance workers refuse to carry people
Department of Energy rule requiring new lightbulbs to have a minimum brightness of 45 lumens went into effect in the United States yesterday, effectively banning incandescent lightbulbs. The ban does not affect currently owned lightbulbs and excludes several specialty bulbs used in refrigerators, plant lights, and others
Pittsburgh synagogue shooter sentenced to death
Tom Brady now co-owner of the Birmingham Football Club
Meta has begun blocking news articles on Instagram and Facebook in Canada in response to a new law that requires tech companies to pay news outlets for using their content.
2nd NYC professional shows up dead in a “toxic creek” in the city – both, days apart, having gone missing from a nightclub.
Hasbro selling E1 for $500 million – much less than what it purchased it for
Sen. Diane Feinstein has had her daughter given power of attorney
The FDA approved the first pill to treat postpartum depression, a fast-acting antidepressant
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PASSINGS
Angus Cloud, 25, actor known for “Euphoria”, suspected suicide after death of his father
Zhanna D’art, 39, Vegan raw food activist, of starvation
Mark Greenberg, 69, of cancer, owner of New England Tractor Training School
Sheila Oliver, New Jersey Lt. Gov, taken ill, 71.
Paul Reubens, known as PeeWee Herman, 70, actor and comedien, of cancer