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In The News… summary on December 16, 2023
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
RIPTA buses may move more south of the Garrahy court building
Hasbro will close Providence office, lay off 1,100 people by Jan. 2025
41 students, others arrested at Brown Univ. after a protest at the provost’s office would not end by close of day
Route 195 West will be shut down at the bridge area – for as long as 3 months – for critical repairs – identified as possible catastrophic failure
Starbucks in downtown Providence votes to unionize
Providence Business News has been sold to an Iowa based company, Woodward Communications
Rep. Gabe Amo will be named to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
Rep. Roberts will submit legislation to support organic farming businesses in Rhode Island.
3rd whale taken from Canada to Mystic Aquarium has now died
In Massachusetts, public undergraduate enrollment rose almost 3% from last fall — the first spike in the schools’ undergraduate enrollment in almost a decade.
Chariho voters will decide to replace as many as 3 out of 4 schools
Mark Haywood, RI SBA will retire after 32 years, in 2023
CARDI Corporation announces it will be “closing down”
Providence FC announces NESN will be their local broadcast partner
RI DEM is reminding the public that the Plastic Waste Reduction Act passed by the Rhode Island General Assembly in the 2022 session will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2024. The law bans retail establishments from providing single-use plastic bags to customers at the point of sale. 18 cities in RI already have similar laws.
DEM Advises Pet Owners – don’t let dogs mingle with other dogs until respiratory disease identified.
Napoleon Gonsalves, the Director of Administration for East Providence has resigned
John DePetro announced he had cancer and was operated on, and is now home recovering
Uncle Tony’s Restaurant in Cranston temporarily closed due to rodents and bugs – they will be cleaning and being inspected before opening. NOTE: Restaurant reopened on Friday.
Ex-Providence schools admin convicted of groping teen’s foot at RI gym.
Trio Restaurant in Narragansett will reopen as Celeste, part of the Newport Restaurant Group
Dr. Katherine Woods, chief medical officer of Eleanor Slater Hospital has resigned, saying, “”After our discussions, it is clear that this is not the mutual best fit for myself or the organization for the long run…”
2 Westbound lanes opened on I-195East has eased the traffic considerably after the shutdown of the West side of the highway – expected to last as long as 3 months
EZPass Transponder application fee of $10 has been waived – passes over the bridge are charged, with an EZPass at 83 cents, not the $6 without a pass.
$400M grant for Cape bridge given by federal department
Nor’easter without snow – description of storm heading to New England for Monday/Tuesday
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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome impacts more people than thought before – an estimated 3.3 Million Americans
Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour is the first tour to cross the billion-dollar mark
Navy Federal Credit Union has widest gap between white and black applicants, denying 52% of black applicants
Chris Evert, former tennis star, and now sports reporter, says her cancer has returned, though she remains hopeful – Evert suffered from Ovarian Cancer years ago
In San Francisco, fears are that Macy’s will leave – following Starbucks and Walmart due to lack of safety, drug activity and homeless on the streets
Mayor Adams of NYC says “there is no hope”, no optimism that help is coming from Washington, DC
Smile, online teeth aligning system through TeleHealth is shutting down and canceling all lifetime contracts
NYC will invest $50M to maintain at least 500 private SROs (single rental occupancy) rooms where bedrooms are rented with shared kitchens, baths, living areas – geared primarily to very low income or homeless.
$5.8 Billion offered to buy Macy’s – by investors
CIGNA no longer wanting to buy Humana – a $140B deal that is now off
Foreign language education has plummeted over the last few years.
A 2nd person has died after drinking a Panera drink with mega amounts of caffeine
Tucker Carlson will start its own streaming service – $72/year
Ukraine President Zelenskyy came to DC to meet with Senators about more aid, as support wanes
California stores that sell toys and do not have a gender neutral section face a $500 fine
Tesla recalling nearly all vehicles for repair on the automatic steering feature
House votes to begin impeachment investigation of Pres. Biden
A bull was captured that was running along the train tracks in New Jersey
RI will receive over $56M from opioid settlement with Walgreens, Walmart and CVS.
SCOTUS left in place Illinois AR15 gun ban
University of Idaho says they will demolish the house where 4 students were murdered this time last year
Former FBI official Charles McGonigal, who helped investigate Trump for ‘colluding’ with Russia, has been sentenced to four years in prison for colluding with Russia.
4 members of Hamas arrested in Europe in a foiled terrorist attempt
Houtis bombed a container ship headed for Israel, with a drone
Ice cream producers unionize at Ben & Jerry’s Waterbury plant
Rudy Giuliani ordered to pay $148M in damages to 2 election workers in Georgia
Jeopardy host, Mayim Bialik, has been let go by show owners, Sony
Melania Trump, former 1st lady, spoke to new US citizens at a naturalization ceremony at the National Archives in Washington, DC
The Dorrance Dance group did a spoof on The Nutcracker at a debut of this year’s White House decoration event. They are a tap group from NYC.
Iman in Michigan recorded a call to Jihad for all Muslim men to rise up against the west and make the word “Jihad” a normalized part of conversation.
The US House has adjourned for the holiday break. The US Senate will stay in session at this point, focusing on border issues
Matthew Perry‘s cause of death was “acute effects of ketamine” – with drowning as a secondary
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PASSINGS
Turkish MP Hasan Bitmez, 54, of a heart attack live on TV after threatening the destruction of Israel with the “Wrath of Allah.”
Andrew Braugher, 61, actor
Pedro Henrique, 30, Brazilian gospel singer, of a heart attack while performing
Robert L. Houghtaling 69, of Warwick – leader in youth addiction counseling, particularly in EG