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RI News for you: National and local news to know
NATIONAL
Russia/Ukraine
Saudi Arabia just agreed to sell China oil and trade in Chinese Yuan, not US $
Baker McKenzie, a giant American law firm is leaving Russia and dropping its Russian clients
Russia demanded that Mariupol surrender – and they would be given safe passage – they were given 3 hours to decide.
Surrendering the eastern port city of Mariupol is not an option and demanded that Russian forces allow the safe passage of civilians.
David Beckham has given his Instagram account, with 7.1M followers over to a Ukrainian doctor in Kharkiv
X-Box game Fort Night will donate all proceeds for 2 weeks to Ukraine.
10 million people have now been displaced in Ukraine.
Chernobyl’s staff have been swapped out for the first time.
Tens of thousands of young professionals choosing to leave Russia now.
Putin has put a ban on Facebook and Instagram now.
The US has offered $5M for info on the Russian oligarchs.
Maksim Chmerkovskiy of Dancing with the Stars who escaped Ukraine while there filming has returned to aid humanitarian relief efforts.
President Biden believes this is an opportunity to make some very real changes – we are at an inflection point, one that occurs every so many generations and this is ours. Things are shifting. The situation represents a significant opportunity to make some changes – that the world is at an inflection point, saying the United States must lead a “new world order.” And we’ve got to unite the free world – and we’ve got to lead it.
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COVID
The BA.2 variant may become the dominant coronavirus strain, having roughly doubled each week for the past month.
Chemical warfare may be next in Ukraine, said Pres. Biden.
In the Northeast BA.2 accounted for 38.6% of cases, up from 24% the previous week
Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin tested positive for COVID-19 and had to leave an event which he attended along with President Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Dr. Fauci says over $22M will be needed to continue to fight COVID
Disney Park in Shanghai has been closed due to COVID.
The end of the COVID pandemic “is a long way off”. This from a World Health Organization spokesperson.
The new variant is responsible for 25% of new U.S. COVID cases.
Hong Kong is in the middle of a massive outbreak, recording more than 1 million total cases in the city of 7.4 million.
Mariupol hostages are in Russia and a “prisoner exchange” for Russian soldiers being held in Ukraine is being discussed.
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OTHER
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson begins Senate questioning today in her appointment process to the Supreme Court.
Maury Povitch has retired.
Miami Beach spring break is now under a curfew midnight to 6am and a state of emergency following drug overdoses and shootings – the mayor said, ‘we don’t want spring break here anymore’.
Elon Musk will become America’s first trillionaire soon.
Beth Israel Lahey Health will acquire Exeter Hospital in New Hampshire, a move the two organizations say would strengthen access to quality care.
Amazon is buying Hollywood’s MGM Studios.
Norway reports 4 U.S. soldiers were killed in plane crash during a NATO exercise unrelated to the Ukraine war.
Myanmar’s years long repression of the Rohingya Muslim population is a “genocide,” U.S. Sect. of State Blinken announced at an event at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum
Confirmation of Supreme Court nominee begins this week.
Chief Justice Thomas is hospitalized with an infection – expected to be in-hospital for a few days.
The Washington, DC Cherry Blossom Festival has begun and will run for 1-2 weeks.
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RHODE ISLAND
COVID
Bally’s Casino in Tiverton and Lincoln have reopened the opportunity for patrons to smoke
RI State of Emergency extended through April 13th
Dr. McDonald, RIDOH said Rhode Islanders are 55 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID.
Uptick in RI this spring? Health Dept. spokesperson Wendelken told the ProJo: ‘It is possible we could see a moderate uptick in the short term — we are currently seeing modest increases in non-COVID respiratory infections,’ he added. ‘However, current models suggest that any COVID increases in the short term are not likely to be very sizable or sustained.’
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OTHER
The Barrington & Palmer Bridges on the East Bay Bike Path will be rebuilt with federal funds.
The deadline for Innovate Grant’s Winter Cycle is Thursday March 24 2022 – these are grants for artists and art groups in Rhode Island
The RI AG announced settlements with the drug manufacturers have ended for a combined value $107 million, including $28.5 million in direct payments to Rhode Island.
Gas price has fallen by approx. 13 cents – expect prices to go up and down over the next several weeks and months.
Pawtucket Credit Union is now Coastal1 Credit Union
Some RI schools are eliminating valedictorians and honors classes to create “equity””.
Brown University acknowledges a cyber breach on March 12th, with an incident of unauthorized access to a bulk email service used by the University that enabled the names and email addresses of recipients to be extracted from the service.
URI has named Arch Miller as new basketball coach.
RI Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor is expected to announce he will run for state treasurer
The South Kingstown Town Council will be naming RI State Police Colonel James Manni as their new Town Manager.
Maryland waived its gas tax – efforts to do so in Rhode Island undecided.
Marijuana legislation is stalled when Gov makes an issue of too much legislative control
The New Bedford – Fairhaven Bridge was stuck in the open position on Friday.
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PASSINGS
Scott Hall, 63, professional wrestler
Dean T. Holt, 81, of West Greenwich – banker and philanthropist
Oksana Shvets, 66, acclaimed Ukrainian actress, killed in Russian shelling attack.
Jack Williams, 87, well known television producer, dedicated to covering civil rights issues. He traveled to Zurich with his wife to undergo assisted suicide.
Rep. Don Young, 88, longest serving congressman, of Alaska
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