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In the news…
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
Four North End restaurant owners dropped their lawsuit against Mayor Michelle Wu, retracting claims that she showed anti-Italian discrimination when singling out their neighborhood for last year’s $7,500 outdoor dining fee.
24,000 pot cases expunged in RI
Newport schools offering free lunch to any child whose family is enrolled in SNAP
The Trap North restaurant opened in Smithfield
The “Bells” abandoned structure in Newport will be demolished in 3 months
Gilbane & a NY real estate investor company, Tredway, purchased an 816 unit affordable housing unit on Coney Island in NY.
Rosalini’s in Pawcatuck, CT, a popular place for live music, has closed due to insurance and curfew issues, and will now be turned into affordable housing.
A brawl broke out on Saturday night at a Mayor Smiley sponsored community event in Providence
CODAC has 2 returning staff – Dustin Alvanas is returning to as chief operating officer after leaving in 2020 following nine years of service, and David Nefussy.
Woonsocket has 5 new police officers
Warwick wants the Warwick Neck Lighthouse
The tall ship Providence, which called Newport home for several years, will have a new home in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia
Pawtucket will add more speed cameras
Schartner Farms going again for permitting for a huge tomato growing facility – 1 million square feet, the size of the Warwick Mall
“May’s Gluten Free Market” will open in the Riverside this month
The Taunton hotel leased by the state of MA for Haitian migrant housing is 70-90 over capacity.
Nathan Biah will not run for CD1 – he will run for Sen. Mary Ellen Goodwin’s seat
Newton, MA may expand height of “strip malls” to add affordable housing units to address housing crisis.
Veterans at the home in Chelsea MA are experiencing another COVID outbreak
Rhode Island AG Neronha has sued a landlord with over 100 properties over the conditions of their property, including lead-abatement required.
In Middletown, the historic Boyd’s Wind Grist Mill is being repaired
Charlestown Chef Sherry Pocknett won a James Beard Award for Best Chef in Northeast – Sly Fox Den Two
Block Island Fishing Tournament held this weekend
Street signs in Barrington being removed as city residents found them unattractive
Massage Envy had a court action against them and they now must assist those with physical disabilities onto and off of massage tables
Kirkbrae will be closed until at least October – 100 events need to be redirected, including 46 weddings
Newport Grand area will be developed into a mixed use plaza – but city says it has not received a plan from developer, Carpionato, which still needs to go through hearings, etc.
Dr. Ashish Jha will return to Brown to head upp the school of public health
Rhode Island FC Announces Partnership with Bryant University for 2024 USL Championship Season
Nips ban legislation seems dead this year.
RI House passes $14B budget – full votes should come next week
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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
Oregon will fine legislators absent from meetings $325 a day
Twitter ad sales plummet 59%
$100M in fencing installed at NYC subways to prevent people from being pushed onto tracks
Mike Pence filed his papers to run for President
Cornel West says he will run for President for The People’s Party – he is a prominent activist and author
Chris Christie is running on the Republican ticket for president
Shooting at a HS reunion in Richmond, VA, with 2 killed and several others injured. Shooter may have known at least one of the victims
Chuck Todd will no longer anchor Meet the Press, but move to chief political analyst, where he will serve as a key voice both in the field and during coverage of major events. He will also focus on longform journalism. Kristen Welker (past RI reporter) will take over. In the announcement, he was emotional about devoting 30 years of his life to the job and promising his family not to sacrifice his life and health, saying he can’’t remember when he got upp after 5am.
Poisoning of 80 girls at their school in Afghanistan
Nationwide shortage of pink paint resulted from hand-painting of every scene item in new movie, “Barbie”.
CDC study shows nearly every American has COVID antibodies in them.
Prince Harry did not show up in court on his first day of trial against the Daily Mirror
A wealthy businessman in Finland was charged over $129K for a speeding ticket – where ticket prices are based on income
Norway, Finland, Sweden and the UK have restricted sex change operations for minors
Michael J. Fox fell on stage during a TV interview, then explained that he had a tumor removed from his spine which has “messed up” his walking even more, due to his Parkinson’s and he has suffered a broken hand, arm, a fracture in his face, etc. He says going on is getting much harder.
Apple unveiled its long-awaited mixed reality (MR) headset
Gonorrhoea and syphilis sex infections reach record levels in England
NYC is offering payment (possibly $100/day) for places of worship and private homes to take the homeless into their buildings.
Florida is now transporting migrants to California
Major Ukrainian dam is destroyed – with possible flooding for thousands of people in the water’s path
Hocus Pocus 3 is planned for production by Disney
Reading Rainbow’s 40th anniversary this month
Haiti suffers massive flooding – and – a devastating earthquake – leaving thousands without water, clothing, shelter and food. Transportation is down on many parts of the island. Gangs are controlling roadways and demanding tolls paid by relief workers
CNN head, Chris Licht is out
Pres. Biden has vetoed the bill ro resume student loan payments
18% of Gen Xers have no savings at all – 80% think they will never be able to retire
NY Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies both canceled games due to air quality from Canadian fires
Former Pres. Trump indicted on charges relating to records taken and will have to report to a Miami judge on Tuesday
LA Times laying off 74 or 13% of staff
Reddit will lay off 5% of employees
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PASSINGS
Astrid Gilberto, 83, “The Girl from Ipanema’
Pat Robertson, 93, religious broadcaster
The Iron Sheik, 81, wrestler