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In the News… quick recap of news of the week ending Aug. 1, 2026
Here is a quick synopsis of news of the week – for Rhode Island, the region, national and international news, too. Passings of note…
If you have news items send to: [email protected]
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
Calls increasing for RI voting rolls to be completely cleared up, reviewed and some continue calls for having federal government assist in that function.
Patrick Clancy, who was married to Lindsay Clancy, has remarried
Brown Univ. hires Eric Reveno to coach basketball – comes from Stanford
Portuguese Festival in New Bedford starts July 30th – said to be the largest Portuguese festival in the world
50%+ of Little Compton – and 42% of Tiverton‘s highest assessed residences sit empty more than half the year
Dave Matthews makes surprise appearance at Newport Folk Festival
Mohegan Sun won the Corporate People’s Choice Award of the National Council on Problem Gambling for its“Winning Starts with Responsible Play” Campaign
Patriot player Mack Collins says he can now go to a restaurant with no shoes on because they know “I’m not a homeless man – they know who I am now”
Best Prime Rib in every state identifies Lindy’s Tavern in No. Smithfield for RI – and The Sweetheart Inn in Methuen, MA – and J. Timothy’s Taverne in Plainville, CT
Average delay of approx one minute for East Bay ambulance trips after the bridge closure. Some taken to different hospitals to avoid the bridge, although trauma, stroke and pediatric patients continued to cross for specialized care. (Rhode Island Current)
Angel Tavares is attorney for bilingual charter school unable to open this year
Buy a lottery ticket online for MA residents now possible
La Fe Taqueria opens in Providence
Aquapalooza ends with four arrests and 24 boating citations
Fish in a Vermont lake are coming down with a transmissible form of “skin cancer”
TACO sold to Pentair, of UK, for $1.4B – company says it will maintain a “significant presence” in RI
Panera Bread to make Boston their headquarters in 2027
Capron Zoo to continue to consider privatization for operations
All 5 candidates for RI Supreme Court were approved and forwarded to the Governor
One has died in Attleboro at the AMTRAK train station – believed to have jumped in front of it
Florida person wins Megamillions for $800M, not yet identified
The Atlantic Shark Institute tagged its first hammerhead near Block Island—an 11-foot male reportedly found near the wind farm.
Grace Church, Providence receives its refurbished organ pipes – installation under way with plan for Dec. completion
RI will create an EV car registry so fire departments will know what homes may have them
Chiropractor Mark Breiding, 58, was hit with a six-year suspended sentence with six years of probation and pay nearly $75,000 for insurance fraud to Neighborhood Health Plan
Milford, CT and a few other locations have experienced Flock camera vandalism with people sawing through the poles
“Newly arrived” immigrant students in Boston’s public schools have decreased by over 20%
MBTA summer discounts extended through November
The Dutch government – Netherlands – is running TV ads asking citizens to limit their electricity usage between 4pm and 9pm because the grid might collapse.
12 cars were burned in a North Kingstown lot
Hennessey’s bar – iconic in Boston – to close
Feast of the Blessed Sacrament this weekend, 4 day Portuguese cultural feast in New Bedford is the largest in the world.
Logan Airport will add 3 more remote check-ins to add to the 1 in Framingham which has been successful (Woburn, Danvers and in-city Boston location)
General Dynamics Electric Boat has announced a historic $76.6 billion Navy contract covering 14 nuclear submarines. Electric Boat at Quonset Point will do 18% of the work. The company plans to hire 3,500 workers this year.
Campanella’s on Oaklawn Ave in Cranston may be reopening – some saying it will be the original owners
Flock cameras under concern in some communities. RI State Police installing 39 Flock license-plate readers statewide – Tiverton votes to install more
Little Sister restaurant in Fox Point closing
Over 50 new clergy sex abuse lawsuits filed against Catholic Church in RI after legislation removed statute of limitations
New RI State Police headquarters opened in West Greenwich
The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority work on the Mount Hope Bridge: dehumidification project ongoing, with daily alternating lane closures from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Monday through Thursday and 9:00 am to 1:00 pm on Fridays. On Wednesday, August 5, (weather permitting) traffic will be held in both directions at several intervals between 9:30am and 2:30 pm, for two large lifts and drivers should expect delays. Weather permitting, surface repairs will take place on the next five Sundays (August 2, August 9, August 16, August 23 and August 30) from 8pm until 5am.
Maine Dem Senate candidate Troy Jackson fathered two children – with his second cousin
Ruth Taylor appointed new director of Preserve Rhode Island after Sheryl Hack steps down
Nobel Prize winning podcaster, Pablo Torre and WPRI investigating RI Football Club stadium secret investors, turning up LA Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard and other undisclosed investment at the time Leonard and the NBA is being investigating
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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
The new Prime Minister of the UK signed his first bill to eliminate “Rough Sleeping” – or, homelessness, in London and UK
Federal SNAP food program for low-income Americans had $524M used at fast-food chains
Early window of the 2028 Democratic presidential nominating calendar:
South Carolina, January 22, 2028
Nevada, February 1, 2028
New Hampshire, February 8, 2028
New Mexico, February 15, 2028
Michigan, February 22, 2028
Virginia, February 29, 2028
North Korea is sending 30,000 troops to fight for Russia in the Ukraine
Shooting at Seattle Festival leaves 3 dead, 8 injured, shooter captured, 15 years old
70 year anniversary of the Andrea Doria sinking
Dave Matthews surprising performer who closed out the Newport Folk Festival
Danube River at record lows with ruins becoming visible for the first time
Israel PM Netanyahu comes to US today, meeting in DC, attending Lindsey Graham funeral
NYC Mayor Mamdani said he will be opening 5 city-run, tax-funded grocery stores: “Prices set at 30% below retail prices”
Cracker Barrel CEO Julie Felss Masino is stepping down after the company’s controversial rebrand sparked backlash from longtime customers
The Pentagon is awarding $10 million to the Mike Rowe Works Foundation with the goal of getting more young Americans trained to help build and repair ships, aircraft and munitions
Carly Simon reveals she has Parkinsons Disease
BuzzFeed is reportedly laying off 35% of its workforce.
AI-powered Flock Safety cameras are facing growing scrutiny over privacy concerns despite being used by law enforcement to recover stolen vehicles and solve crimes.
J & J offers to pay $5.5 billion to settle baby powder lawsuits
2nd business to residential conversion high rise construction halted over damaged beams
Michigan officials say Kristopher Karolkiewicz shot and killed his wife, Amanda, and their six children, ages 5 to 15, before setting multiple fires inside their home and then killing himself.
Brian Kohlberger attempts to withdraw guilty plea in killing of college students saying he was lied to by his attorneys
Thousands of mosquitos released in DC
Savannah Guthrie released another message asking to learn where they should search for her
43 million tons of turbine blade waste will need to be buried or otherwise disposed of, worldwide, by 2050. The blades are made from glass and carbon fiber.
6.8 earthquake in Japan, rescue operations underway, especially at a mall which partially collapsed – 300K residents evacuated – after shocks expected and landslides
TSA will share information with ICE to assist in deportations
Funeral of Lindsey Graham took place with world leaders, president and cabinet attending
Florida person wins Megamillions for $800M, not yet identified
EBay pays $56M to couple in MA it “harrassed”
The Pope will hold a “Concert for Peace” this weekend in the Vatican’s private gardens usually only open to pontiffs – will feature children’s choirs, music and prayer
Former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene married former White House correspondent, Brian Glenn
Another bicyclist dies on busy downtown road, collides with bicyclist then truck. In NYC
More Americans now use marijuana on a daily or near-daily basis than alcohol or tobacco, a new survey has found – SAMHSA
Haitian immigrants here under TPS had category ended as of July 27 and face deportation
Dulles Airport will undergo renovations, especially focusing on parking convenience
The Cooney’s home was in risk of burning in Spain fires and they were evacuated
Seattle Police Chief fired by Mayor, saying it was primarily over extensive travel
The Schengen Area in Europe is a zone of 29 European countries with open borders and no internal passport controls. Key features include free movement for over 450 million people, a shared visa policy, and unified external border rules. Friday afternoon Italy closed its borders with Spain. Austria and Denmark join Italy and Finland in suspending Spain from the Schengen Agreement.
Nancy Guthrie notes revealed that the 1st one said her mother was safe but scared but the second revealed she had unexpectedly died
Brittney Griner files for divorce from wife who fought to free her from Russian custody
FIFA President now says they will not sell the World Cup to private equity investors
Romania state of emergency after record-low Danube levels force nuclear reactor shutdown
J. Watt to replace Tony Romo on CBS sports
Robots that look and act like humans are now being “hired” for $30 an hour to clean homes
Cabinet meeting held at Camp David conference room, first time open to the public at that location
Kelly Ripa still recovering from gum surgery, not on her TV show
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PASSINGS
Glen Hansard, 56, singer, in car accident in Europe
Dr. Isadore “Izzy”Ramos, 89, former Mayor of East Providence