In the News – for January 7, 2023

A brief summary of news items in and around Rhode Island, the region, and internationally –

RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY

Plouffe’s Restaurant in Pawtucket has closed

A new Connecticut state representative, Quentin Williams, was killed in a wrong way crash returning from the Governor’s ball – the other driver was also killed

James Diossa, incoming Treasurer and Sandra Cano, welcomed their 2^nd child, a boy, Alessandro

Military pensions no longer taxable in RI

RI Auditor General, Dennis Hoyle retires after 42 years

The shopping mall, South Shore Plaza, in MA is proposing the addition of over 450 apartments

RI minimum wage up 75 cents an hour to $13/hr – MA goes up to $15/hr

Retirees exempted another $20K in retirement income from taxes in RI

Sports betting became legal in MA in 2023

Half a million federal dollars secured to train Cranston PD in CIT training – mental Health

Plum Island in MA being dredged and shored up to prevent loss of homes

The Meeting Street Telethon will be held on February 4^th

Seven Stars Bakery union reaches first contract

Compass Real Estate laid off 250 in RI

Restrictions on the Newport Bridge were corrected to be from a 40 ton limit to a 30 ton limit for certain vehicles with 6 or more axles – this impacts very few cars

The RI Housing “Czar” had a report due on 12/31/22 to the RI legislature which was not submitted on time  Josh Saal has issued an RFP on 12/29 for someone to do the report. On January 5^th an incomplete report was submitted.

Two homeless encampments were cleared this week – one in Woonsocket impacting about 8 people and one in Warwick which had already been vacated, just leaving items behind.

Pawtucket’s homeless situation has come to the forefront as defecation is taking place on sidewalks near the Slater Mill and people are sleeping in front of the Visitor’s Center.

Rhode Island State Police are investigating the potential misuse of funds within the Newport firefighters union.

Univar Solutions will pay an $800K fine for violating the Clean Water Act at multiple locations including the Port of Providence, having to do with handling of toxic chemicals

Boston EMS says they are at a breaking point due to low staffing levels

The U.S. Attorney’s office in Rhode Island, working with partner agencies and divisions, collected$1,668,469 via asset forfeiture actions in FY 2021. Forfeited assets deposited into the Department of Justice Assets Forfeiture Fund are used to restore funds to crime victims and for a variety of law enforcement purposes. 

Morocco, England, France, South Korea, Australia, the US, and Canada will require negative COVID tests for Travelers coming from China

French President Macron said he will “overhaul” the country’s Healthcare system

The FDA is expanding availability of the abortion pill, making it available through telehealth and the mail

Amazon cutting over 18K jobs, saying they hired too rapidly during pandemic

Salesforce will cut over 7K jobs, and scale back office space

Stars of Romeo & Juliet, the classic movie, are suing for ½ billion dollars over a nude scene done without their understanding when they were teens – they are now both in their 70s – the lawsuit was filed after a new law released the statute of limitations for such violations.

NYPD police officers are leaving the state – many are reported to be going to Florida – for “pay and respect”

Leqembi, a new Alzheimer’s medication, is the first showing it can slow the decline in memory and thinking. The FDA has approved it for patients with Alzheimer’s with mild or early-stage disease.

A 6-year old shot his teacher in Newport News, and the teacher is in critical condition.

First Lady Jill Biden will have a lesion removed from over her eye with MOHS surgery as a skin cancer precaution

Many scientists are concerned about spread of a more aggressive form of COVID from China in the next 6 months

Martina Navratolova announced she has both throat and breast cancer

Colorado says they will be sending migrants coming their way to other states such as DC and NYC

Damar Hamlin has been taken off a breathing tube, and is recovering from sudden cardiac arrest suffered during the Buffalo Bills Football Game, even addressing his teammates during a facetime call to his team.

Star the Bulldog wins best in show at the 2022 AKC National Championship

Half of New York nurses have settled their potential strike issue, while the other half remain unsettled

The U.K. Extinction Rebellion says its activists would temporarily stop blocking busy roads, gluing themselves to buildings and paintings, and engaging in other acts of civil disobedience because such methods have not achieved their desired effects. To further its goals of getting politicians, corporations and the public “to end the fossil fuel era,” the group said it would instead focus on broadening its support with actions such as getting 100,000 people to surround the Houses of Parliament in London on April 21.

Over 500 migrants have arrived in boats at the Florida Keys

New Zealand has said it will not require COVID tests for Chinese arrivals in the country,

A 19 year old from Wells, Maine attacked several police officers with a machete on New Year’s Eve in Times Square

Shopify is drastically rescaling their meetings – eliminating many entirely, and providing structure for others, as much time is wasted on meetings, they find

Bed, Bath & Beyond may declare bankruptcy

War has broken out between Mexican Defense Forces and the Sinaloa Cartel in Culiacan in response to the arrest of El Chapo’s son.

An Iowa woman, 115, believed to be the oldest American, died this week

Rep. Kevin McCarthy secured leadership as Speaker of the House of Representatives late Friday night, on the 15^th round.

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PASSINGS

Lincoln Almond, 86, former RI Governor

Anita Pointer, 74, Pointer Sisters, of cancer

Bill White, 81, lost a leg in the Boston Marathon bombing

Fred White, 67, of Earth, Wind & Fire