In the News… quick recap to catch up on news in Rhode Island and beyond — June 6, 2026

We captured a quick listing of the top news items of the week!

NOTE: Rhode Islanders start the weekend June 6th under a statewide air quality alert as ozone reaches unhealthy levels across the state.

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RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY

MA Gov. Wu eliminates Climate Department

Mass General Brigham to close Foxboro sites at Patriot Place during World Cup game days

Carlos Valderrama, former World Cup captain and Colombian soccer legend, now 65 years old, made an appearance at the Pawt. stadium and at Central Falls schools

After the Unitarian Church announced that it was canceling its annual reading of the Declaration of Independence on the Fourth of July in a political protest, another Nantucket church stepped in to keep the tradition going.  St. Paul’s Church on Fair Street will read the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights on the morning of July 4th.

Midland Commons – Warwick Mall – has been sold to a Montreal-based real estate company for $20.5 million

Proclamation declaring June as Pride Month signed in RI

Coach of Barrington Christian Academy, Sean Cassidy, age 53, of Pawtucket, arrested for 1.) Contributing to the Delinquency of a Child 2.) Procurement of Alcoholic Beverages for Underage Persons.

Reports of fin whales feeding off the coast of RI

Steven A. Baker is the new President & CEO of the Jewish Alliance of RI

8 arrested in RI on child trafficking charges

Gov. McKee will have his first TV ad edited due to 2 items in it – one which listed “yes” to sex, when it referred to gender, and another wordsmith error which was a pejorative

E-bike ban in East Providence – not banned on bike path, yet. None on sidewalks and parks.

Chicken salad was invented in Rhode Island in 1863 in South Kingstown

Misquamicut Beach opens after opening changed 3 lanes to 8 lanes, and other features

Meteor that fell off the Cape coast and was heard in nearby New England is said to be particularly dense and possibly made of iron

New film, “The Rubber Hut” being made in Warwick based on the pink Condom Hut in 1970s in Cranston

2026 Teacher of the Year in Providence – Dr. Javier Montañez will reveal this year’s recipient, Danielle Trial Lucini of Mt. Pleasant HS

2 rainbow crosswalks in downtown Providence as the city will celebrate 50 years of Pride Month

Nantucket school teacher bringing suit about brownies given out to members that were laced with laxatives to demonstrate brownies containing CBD will face criminal charges

Possible cancer cluster at Uxbridge HS being investigated

Wakefield credited with birthplace of Chicken Salad

Bill signed to save the Crook Street Bridge and transfer it from DOT to the city of Providence

Associate Justice of the RI Superior Court Joanna M. Achille and Associate Justice of the RI Superior Court Maria Ferro Deaton sworn in to the RI Superior Court

Roller Derby starts in Warwick arena TODAY –

Providence City Council unanimously passed amendments strengthening civilian oversight of the Providence Police Department

RIDOH approving the state’s first kratom manufacturer license.

Massachusetts rideshare drivers officially unionized, first such union in the country

Farmers Markets in RI list here: https://www.farmfreshri.org/programs/farmers-markets/rimarketguide/

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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

FAA will bar drones over all FIFA World Cup 2026 matches and related fan

Victoria’s Secret changes its stock call letters to VSXY from VSCO

Smoking rates at an all-time low in US – 1 in 11 adults

Americans outside of the US diagnosed with Ebola will go to a US facility in for treatment, rather than fly back to the US

WHO Chief visits Ebola outbreak center in Congo

Frankie Valli cancels last 4 concerts of a tour

Fatal bus accident in Virginia, driver was Chinese national who may not have spoken English – 5 killed from Worcester family on way to a wedding

NYC Mayor Mamdani does not participate in annual parade celebrating Israel

Cruise members told when they go to port not to wear camouflage

Bill Pulte replaces Chelsea Gabbard, a controversial appointment

Scott Pelley accused Bari Weiss and new management of “murdering” 60 Minutes show

Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and Chairman of Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac, William J. Pulte, to serve as Acting Director of National Intelligence, replacing Chelsea Gabbard

CA Gov race: 2 in November:  Steve Hilton (R): ~26.8–26.9% (leading) and Xavier Becerra (D): ~25.7–25.8%

LA Mayor campaign: Top two advance to the November runoff Bass vs. Pratt, (as he’s holding a strong second).

CBS News fires 60 Minutes’ Scott Pelley after his rant at administration

George Santos being looked at for insider trading

Europe’s first Universal theme park is set to be built in the UK

Ebola cases begin to drop and head of WHO says it will remain a regional problem, not a global spread as they call for more funding on epidemics

Datacenters run on a closed loop cooling system, the water usage for an entire year is roughly that of usage of 1 restaurant

Iran striking w/drones, missiles – explosions in Kuwait Airport and Bahrain – injuries, at least 1 fatality.

Cancer survival 5-year rates as high as 70% now, doing better each year – RI #1 state for lung cancer survival.

Mexico World Cup location security on high with robot dogs patrolling stadium as demonstrations and riots grow under the theme “there will be no kickoff”

60 people in Idaho got very sick from drinking raw milk

4.0 magnitude earthquake in Las Vegas

Funding to fully fund ICE was approved – $70 Billion

Iran Soccer Team granted visas to attend the World Cup

U.S. forces struck Iranian coastal radar sites after shooting down Iranian drones launched toward the Strait of Hormuz. AP says the U.S. military reported shooting down four Iranian drones and responding with strikes on radar sites.

Verizon CEO notes AI may replace much of its customer service operations

Putin say he will not meet with Zelenskyy, per his request to the Russian leader, saying, “I don’t see the point”

Jobs number way over projected 80,000 to 172,000 new jobs

A Sherpa missing for over a week in Kathmandu, with his funeral plans being made, was found and rescued in fairly good condition

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PASSINGS

Peabo Bryson, 75, singer, died after a stroke

Kelly Curtis, 69, actress, sister of Jamie Lee Curtis and daughter of Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh, no cause listed, died at home

Anthony Head, 72, actor