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In the news… updates for 10/23/22
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
Cranston police gets $779K federal grant to equip officers with cameras
Incoming Mayor Smiley to pause Kennedy Plaza plans until after Superman building project completed – says he will also evaluate the city’s bike lanes “to nowhere”
Hope Street Bike Lane trial has merchants organizing a petition in the community
Providence City Council approves 30-year tax stabilization agreement for Superman building
Katie Titus has been selected next Head of School of Moses Brown, replacing Matt Glendenning
Since May Brown University received $91 million in “generous commitments to provide critical support for Brown’s priorities, including endowed professorships, financial aid, graduate education, the Lindemann Performing Arts Center, athletics and a range of academic programs.”
Warwick is installing 10 Flock cameras
Old ProJo building will not be developed as a hotel, it will now be 124 high-end, fully furnished apartments, with retail space on the ground level, with a “barcade” in the basement, connecting to a rooftop facility.
RI Right to Life has issued a statement opposing Seth Magaziner’s description of it as an “extremist” group
RIPTA says starting this week bus transportation to Providence schools “should be fine” with specific routes assigned to specific drivers.
The demolished Duck & Bunny restaurant on Providence’s East Side has plans to rebuild, after years when their building was demolished because it was structurally unsound
A construction firm has been fined for using contaminated soil moved from one cleanup location to under the 6/10 Connector project in Providence. The soil poses no threat to the community.
Warwick has moved its city offices to Sawtooth Mill building.
Advocates are proposing free RIPTA bus passes for all RI homeless – there will be a pilot program providing free bus passes to 600 people who are homeless
RI’s 5th medical marijuana dispensary opened in Lincoln – hoping to transition to recreational sales
Check the number of mail & in-person early voting numbers by city – here: https://ri-voter-turnout-tracker-ridos.hub.arcgis.com/
At the RI Blood center, for every person donating blood, a tree will be planted in Uganda
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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
Student loan payment program put on hold as federal judge issues pause, but applications still being accepted as government appeals – apply at: https://studentaid.gov/debt-relief/application
Hospitals are filling up with children with RSV – some are putting tents up around the country
Spirit Airlines shareholders approve sale to Jet Blue
Boris Johnston, ousted PM of England, returned from vacation when he heard that the current PM resigned and is considered to be a candidate for return to office
Jan. 6th panel issues subpoena to former Pres. Trump – it is not expected that he will ever testify
Taylor Swift is making entertainment history in how she is releasing her music – a song and snippet of video at midnight – followed by a longer release at 3am – then an 8am video – and now something planned for Tuesday night.
Carly Simon’s 2 sisters died of cancer – 2 days apart this week
Italy’s first female prime minister has taken office – Giorgia Meloni, a conservative
Venezuelan migrants who were turned back at the US border are now stranded in Mexico as Venezuela will not allow them to return – up to 24,000 will be allowed to fly in with a US sponsor.
NYC is deploying more police security to the subway system
San Jose will no longer bus immigrants to NYC as huge shelter opens in the city for them
Hurricane Roslyn heading to the Puerto Vallarta area of Mexico, category 2
$44 billion purchase of Twitter by Elon Musk expected to close in about a week
The childcare industry lost 9.7% of its workforce since the pandemic (over 102,000)
Suicide rates are dropping in the military as awareness programs increase
CDC votes unanimously to add COVID-19 vaccine to the ‘Vaccines for Kids’ program, meaning they will be free for uninsured. No action to make the C19 vaccine mandatory for school attendance
Greece ran entirely on renewable energy for five hours last week for the first time ever – using solar, wind and hydroelectric power
President announces another 15 million gallons of oil will be released from the US strategic reserve
Ukraine is experiencing severe power outages as Russia targets the utility infrastructure – efforts will be needed to help the country heat its residents for the winter which gets sub-zero temps
Kanye West said he will purchase Parler
IRS will raise its standard deduction for next filing year
TikTok raises its age for “going live” from 16 to 18
Uganda locking down parts of country to control Ebola outbreak
Elon Musk decides to continue to providing Starlink services free to Ukraine
NYC opened a migrant center on Randal’s Island and will house 500 men, providing them with phones, x-box and video games, and culturally appropriate food
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PASSINGS
Dietrich Mateschitz, founded of Red Bull, at age 78