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In the News… summary on Dec. 9, 2023
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
Warren Town Manager Kate Michaud recently stepped down from her role as the Town’s lead administrator to take a job as the District Director for Rep. Gabe Amo
Naval Station Newport will rename two streets in its military housing communities next month as part of actions directed by the Navy to replace names of Confederate States Navy officers. Maffitt Street, which bears the name of Commander John Newland Maffitt, will be renamed Bundy Street, honoring Commander William F. Bundy, the first African-American to rise from enlisted sailor to submarine commander in the U.S. Navy. Warley Street, which bears the name of Lieutenant Alexander F. Warley, will be renamed Der-Vartanian Street, honoring Master Chief Petty Officer Anna Der-Vartanian, the first woman in the U.S. Armed Forces to be promoted to the grade of E-9 in 1959 while serving as an assistant to the Global Strategy Officer at the Naval War College.
Breeze Airways will be the major sponsor for Rhode Island FC, RI’s professional soccer team, with front of the shirt placement.
The YMCA of Woonsocket will close January 1st after the board reviewed operations and finances and realizing rising costs associated with maintaining an aging building, accompanied by the financial strain of declining membership and enrollment, the decision to close was reinforced. They will explore other opportunities to serve the community of Woonsocket, including expanding the childcare program. Members can transfer to the YMCA of Pawtucket at a 50% discount.
Pawtucket’s Shea High Get RIght Food Truck had a ribbon cutting Friday – it will serve as a hands-on learning experience for the students in both the CTE Culinary Arts and Hospitality and Tourism Management programs at Shea High School. Students enrolled in these pathways will develop menus, prepare food, learn how to create business plans, build budgets and demonstrate entrepreneurship skills needed to run a food truck business.
Massachusetts’ $3.1M budget was signed – it included $250 million for the overflowing emergency shelter system
James Taylor will be performing at a downtown Boston fundraiser for President Joe Biden on Tuesday. Dubbed “You’ve Got A Friend in Joe.”
Axios Boston reports that MA “multibillion-dollar life sciences industry remains white- and male-dominated,” even after pledges were made in 2020 by Boston-area life sciences companies to make the biotech sector more inclusive.
Independent Man was removed from the top of the RI State House so his base could be repaired – he was then unveiled inside the State House.
Levels Lounge in Providence closed after 3 men were shot there
Pawtucket City Hall cost of a true conversion, according to the Valley Breeze, could be between $90 million and $95 million, city officials learned last week, and that figure could very well go higher.
Colt State Park has been named the most beautiful spot in Rhode Island by a New Jersey real estate website
In Leverett, MA, 700 housing units may be built on the sprawling estate of the late founder of Yankee Candle
The Diocese of Providence announced the opening of a new women’s emergency homeless shelter on the second floor of Emmanuel House, 239 Public Street, in Providence. Capacity is 32.
Judge Frank Caprio Sr. has taped a message telling people of his pancreatic cancer diagnosis and asking for people to pray for him.
Some Rhode Islanders who accepted the childcare assistance were put over the Medicaid allowance and tossed off health insurance. Some people were added back on as of December 1st after Sen. DiPalma looked into it after a Ch. 10 report.
New York-based Skanska USA will build the new NOAA facility at the Newport Naval Station, which is moving from Norfolk Virginia. Originally planned for 2 years, now to be completed in 2027, over 3 years.
New England Sinai rehabilitation hospital in Stoughton will close
Smithfield Adopt A Spot had to remove its Christmas decorations due to many complaints to the RIDOT.
CCA Health Rhode Island has announced that it has added WellOne Primary Medical and Dental Care to its network of community providers.
AG Peter Neronha has tested positive for COVID and will not be going into court for Judge Proccaccini’s command to appear
Boston will close its emergency shelter program operating out of its DOT building conference rooms. They will transition to Eastern Nazarene College Quincy, where people will be screened for eligibility and a family “welcome center” is set up to connect migrants to services.
Providence has passed zoning changes that will allow for the development of housing on smaller lots, fostering more efficient land use; establishing greater transparency in standardizing the utilization of special permits; and streamlining City review processes, enhancing efficiency and expediting decision-making. The new regulations will also allow for adaptive reuse of commercial buildings for housing so that schools, religious buildings, offices, and other commercial spaces across different zones can be repurposed for housing.
A Poke restaurant to close.
Newport Mental Health receives $25,000 from CVS Health Foundation to support mental health care
The price of the WooSox sold by Larry Lucchino is estimated at $50M-$70M
Lifespan Corp. closed out fiscal 2023 in the black with an $8.6 million operating income t
R.I. Superior Court Judge Procacciani is seeking disciplinary action against Attorney General Peter F. Neronha over his social media posts criticizing Rhode Island’s system for bench trials
Former Governor Raimondo‘s house on the East Side of Providence has sold.
AG Neronha opens applications for Clifton Clerkship Program
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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
Susan Sarandon, Julianna Margulies apologize over comments on Israel-Hamas war
Rep. Santos filed ethics violations against House members who voted to oust him
The band, KISS, will move to all virtual concerts
Macaulay Culkin gets a star on the Walk of Fame
Alaska Airlines will buy Hawaii Air
USS Carney warship, in the Red Sea, fired and took down drones that were headed to attack in, fired by Yemen
Ousted Rep. George Santos has a new job – with Cameo – where you pay $200 and he records messages for birthdays, or any message you want.
McDonald’s is planning to open 50,000 more restaurants in the next 4 years – some of which may have an experimental name
North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum announced Monday he would end his campaign to become the 2024 Republican presidential nominee.
Spotify cutting 1700 jobs
Presidents of 4 colleges – Harvard, UPenn, MIT, etc. were summoned to congress for testimony on why they are allowing anti-Semitic behavior on campus – prior to the hearing Jewish students spoke about specific behavior on campus.
A sleep divorce (married couples sleeping in separate rooms) may help couples say researchers, especially where snoring,
Yahoo Sports will fire 20% of their staff
Pres. Biden says he might not have had to run if Donald Trump didn’t run – believes he’s the only candidate who can defeat him.
NCAA President Charlie Baker wants top-tier colleges to be able to pay student athletes directly, a major policy shift that would clear the way for some athletes to receive annual stipends of at least $30,000 annually from their schools.
$4.8Billion more in student loan relief announced – these target teachers, etc
Shooting at UNLV campus, 3 dead, 1 injured, (all staff or faculty) – 67 yo college professor from East Coast, who had tried unsuccessfully to get a job at the college, killed by police, id’d as shooter.
All Osprey aircraft grounded after many accidents, one recently that killed crew
UPenn President tapes a new message condemning calls for genocide after refusing to condemn it in Congress.
Hunter Biden was indicted in California on 9 tax/financial charges – 3 felonies and 6 misdemeanors. There are also pending federal firearms charges in Delaware.
US government will open an investigation into several colleges – including Harvard, UPenn and MIT – after testimony given in congress.
Pantone has issued its color of the year – Peach!
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PASSINGS
Denny Laine, 79, founding member, Wings
Norman Lear, 101, television producer, died at home of natural causes
Ryan O’Neal, 82, ‘Love Story,’ ‘Paper Moon’, longtime partner of Farrah Fawcett (died 2009), chronic leukemia and prostate cancer