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In the News… quick look for week ending April 20th
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
Potter League aids Pawtucket Animal Control in rescuing ten dogs from hoarding case.
CCRI receives Military Friendly School designation for the third year for supporting student veterans with resources and opportunities.
CON dates set for RI: Anime, June 15-16 & RI Comic Con, Nov. 1-3 – both at AMP Center
Worcester, MA public transportation (buses) will remain free into the 5th year
RI has helped over 2,7000 migrants obtain working papers in the last 6 months, but they are having difficulty finding jobs that will get them out of the shelter system. Language barriers, a lack of transportation, and sometimes lack of skills are problems in getting employment
Land across from Slater Mill in Pawtucket bought by city for $200K and will be developed
Speed humps are coming for Slater Park, to be installed at two crosswalk locations in Pawtucket
ACI inmate collapses and dies – less than a week later a female prisoner collapsed and died who had just been brought in
Lori Pelletier of Exeter will be a judge in the American Kennel Club
Two MA governors had committed to build a footbridge across the Mystic River — between Somerville and Everett — for pedestrians and cyclists –and advocates are calling for it to begin
The New England Submarine Shipbuilding Partnership of SENEDIA, in Middletown, has supported training in 25 programs across six institutions, including community colleges in Rhode Island, Connecticut and New Hampshire, launching in 2020, and training about 2,800/yr
The Frosty Hollow Bridge at Breakheart Brook has reopened after repairs due to storm damage creating erosion.
Holy Ghost Feast in East Providence canceled due to Washington Bridge issue – though there will be select food events and a procession to the church.
55.6% of Rhode Islanders regret taking out student loans. 44.4% said loans are worth the cost – reported by the Boston Globe on a survey by Emerson College of 1,000 RI college grads
4 individuals were arrested for stealing and reselling from Home Depot in RI, MA, and CT
The Penguin exhibit at RWP Zoo has been delayed, after encountering some construction challenges, as they work to remain responsible and efficient. The project is moving forward while adapting. We are still fully committed to this project, and we should have a revised completion estimate soon.
No changes are planned to the WaterFire lighting schedule due to the Washington Bridge.
Both the Sagamore then the Bourne Bridge need replacing, but they will be phased in to secure the billions in federal funding needed to complete both bridges
The Courtyard Providence Downtown has been acquired by DelMonte Hotel Group and Rockbridge. It will soon receive a top to bottom renovation, the buyers say.
Raising Cane chicken restaurant will open in Warwick
Huge anti-Israel protest events tied up numerous state at bridges and in congested areas from the west coast to the east, with people and cars glued together, etc. RI had 30 protesters standing in front of Textron
Red Lobster is investigating bankruptcy
Commencement Speakers: Salve Regina – Susan Eisenhower, granddaughter of Pres. Ike Eisenhower, author. New England Tech – Rita Moreno. URI – Viola Davis. Bryant – Karen Lynch (CVS). Providence College – Arthur Brooks (author). Johnson & Wales – Dorothea Bongiovi, restauranteur
Better RI NOW was formed in RI to “influence policy makers and constituents to work for progressive change in housing, education, labor, and health care, particularly women’s health care” – consisting of Kate Coyne-McCoy, George Zainyeh, and Patti Doyle
Boston Bruins announcer, Jack Edwards, announces retirement
Narragansett is trying to pass an ordinance that would either ban duplexes or require larger size lots for duplexes
Mass General and Cape Cod Hospital approved to add beds
Starting in June, it will cost at least $15 to enter parts of Manhattan by automobile, making New York the first major U.S. city to implement “congestion pricing”. Transit say they want to try it in downtown Boston.
60 Minutes will feature Gina Raimondo on its Sunday program
Congressman Magaziner and his wife, Julia, had their second child – he will be taking paternity leave after returning to DC for a vote
Taylor Swift launched a new album “Tortured Poets Anthology at midnight days ago – 2 hours later she launched a 2nd, surprise album
MA spent $932 Million on homeless sheltering in the past year
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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
Former VP Mike Pence will be teaching at Grove City College in PA
Brittney Griner and wife, Cherelle, are expected their first child in 3 months
Jimmy Fallon will host closing ceremonies at Olympics
Elon Musk announcing 17,000 jobs to be cut at Tesla
2nd stabbing in Sydney, Australia, this one inside a church
Dubai suffered extreme flooding as 10 inches of rain fell in 2 days – with some saying it was because of cloud seeding, a common practice in desert countries. Some say there was no cloud seeding and others say there were 5 treatments.
CBS will begin a new daytime soap opera – The Gates – with a primarily black cast
Travis Kelce will host “are you smarter than a celebrity”
Scotty Scheffler wins 2nd Masters in 3 years
FBI opens criminal investigation of Baltimore bridge
News orgs pressuring both parties to debate for President
Army & Navy announce they will meet their recruitment goals this year
Duke University ends scholarships restricted to minority students and opens it to all
In Portugal, the Left Bloc wants the government to replace domestic flights between Porto, Lisbon, and Faro airports by 2030 with “reinforced, fast and affordable” railway connections.
CNN cancels Charles Barkley and Gayle King’s weekly show ‘King Charles’
LL Bean laying off customer service workers – only staffing 8am to 8pm
Pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel protesters shut down bridges and roads from California to NY in a coordinated, planned protest, leaving people stuck on bridges for multiple hours, and challenging police to respond. Golden Gate Bridge, Wall Street, Chicago O’Hare, etc.
The rat infestation in NYC is attributed to outdoor dining and cuts in maintenance. They are now looking at a chemical birth control, rather than poisoning.
Maine rejects bill to allow gun makers to be sued
2024 Olympic Torch has been lit – Paris is making safety arrangements for opening ceremonies with a back-up plan
One of Copenhagen (Denmark)’s oldest, and most iconic building has burned, with its spire tumbling – while people rush in to carry out valuable art and objects.
Senate stopped impeachment action against Homeland Security head Mayorkas
Salmonella from fresh basil sold at Trader Joe’s is effecting people in over 20 states
Google fired 28 employees on Wednesday over their participation in sit-ins to protest the tech giant’s cloud computing contracts with the Israeli government, which have been in place since 2021.
Kennedy family endorses Biden
President of Columbia University grilled at congressional hearing about anti-Semitism on campus – the university said they can stay for now but cannot pitch tents
Man set himself on fire outside of where the Donald Trump trial is – wrote a manifesto about politics in America
Multiple high school students shot in Maryland on senior skip day – at a water fight
Entire women’s basketball team of Brandeis says they will resign over student allegations of racist and toxic behavior from coach Carol Simon, unless she be terminated
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PASSINGS
Dickey Betts, 80, Allman Brothers
Dr. Henry Childers, veterinarian and founder of Cranston Animal Hospital
Ray Johnson, 76, former PC basketball player and well known Narragansett resident
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