In the news… for July 1, 2023

RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY

Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) will receive $13.5 million in federal funding to expand service and grow its hybrid electric bus fleet.

A bear was found in Pawtucket, tranquilized and removed

Mayor Smiley signed the budget for city of Providence

Ed Sheeran is in concert at Gillette on June 30 and July 1

Topher Hamblett named interim CEO for Save the Bay. He has worked there for 30 years.

Wallet Hub says RI is the worst state in the US for road trips. The worst measure was cost – noting 6 metrics: gas prices, cost of car repairs, price of a three-star hotel room, price of camping, vacation rentals per capita and cost of living.

July 6^th the Queen Mary II will be in Newport

Black bear in Foxboro, MA seen around stores

Max Bowlaway will close in Warwick and become a self-storage facility

The Boston Herald says it will end its “comments” section to speed up the website

The RI Center for Freedom and Prosperity will present The Middendorf Pillar of Freedom Award to Dr. Stephen Skoly, the Center’s Chairman at its November fundraising dinner.

A federal judge declined a request from Rhode Island officials to dismiss the lawsuit brought against them by plaintiff Soscia Holdings LLC, the company that owns the dam and water rights to the Flat River Reservoir, more commonly known as Johnson’s Pond.

Shea HS Principal Ash resigns – there may be a senior prank involvement

High speed internet funds coming to RI – $108M

The Emerald Ash Borer is attacking RI’s ash trees

RI Ethics Commission votes to move forward with investigation of 2 now-former state officials regarding their trip to Philadelphia on a building development

Achievement First Promesa Elementary, a charter school, is proposed for the site of the closed Lauro school in Providence

Providence City Council approves a new charter school in Providence

RiffRaff Bookstore in Providence selling for $250K, including books

CVS will need to improve services to the deaf in their Minute Clinics, per a legal ruling.

Former Patriots QB Ryan Mallett drowns in Florida

$25 million coming for Route 37 from federal government – “allowing more commerce to bloom” says RIDOT

Achievement First has been approved to open/continue with its 5^th charter school in Providence

HIV pre-post exposure drugs now covered by insurance in RI

Ditch the Dive program begins as Sumner Tunnel is closed July 5 – August 31sst – offering reduced commuter lie rates, free blue line, etc.

RI noted for having “a high percentage of millennials relative to other New England states who can act as cheap, trainable labor”, making it advantageous for companies to locate here

Federal Judge Thomas Smith will move to senior status, opening up the position

A vault in the Santander Bank on Federal Hill was broken into. FBI was on the scene. As much as ½ million dollars could have been taken.

Scott Travers of Coventry, RI has been appointed executive director of the Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association

The RI Cannabis Control Commission is now fully formed and meeting, chaired by Kin Ahern, formerly Gov. McKee’s chief of staff

The Rhode Island Foundation has awarded its first series of grants under new president, David Cicilline, of nearly $1.2 million in grants to improve student performance in Providence, Pawtucket, Newport, and Central Falls schools, by advancing programs designed to attract and support teachers of color.

Shri Yoga has moved to its new location at 390 Pine Street – owned by Alison Bologna

The Sailing Museum and National Sailing Hall of Fame announced Ashley Householder has been appointed executive director.

Kibbie Reilly, president of Providence-based consulting firm Reilly Consulting, names chair of the board at Trinity Repertory Company

The University of Rhode Island and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration form a five-year partnership to study how offshore wind development impacts marine ecosystems and humans who rely on the ocean.

Priscilla De La Cruz was announced as the Director of Sustainability for the City of Providence

COSTCO – Cranston officials say the store is coming to Cranston as they determined the city to be their city of the future.

25 candidates have declared as the deadline ends for CD1 race in RI

Alex & Ani will close 20 more stores – and leave Rhode Island with their corporate headquarters.  They are now known as  Metal Alchemist

The Green Line MBTA in Boston will shut down on July 18 for 42 days (Aug. 28)

The Johnston Town Council voted to approve the town take over the School Dept. for running for 2 years in the red. Vote now goes to the School Committee

Boston Children’s Hospital has acquired Franciscan Children’s in Brighton.

The RI Shark license plate coming for motorcycles

Fall River will invest $2M in children taking classes in fitness, dance and music

With more than 50 NASA contractors in Rhode Island NASA administrator Bill Nelson has toured Rhode Island.

Karim Belle named new Chief Operating Officer of the Capital Good Fund. Comes to RI from Florida where he worked for the Orlando Credit Union

Extremely bad air quality coming for the weekend due to Canadian fires

Yawgoo Valley’s water park is now open

35 candidates have declared for the CD1 election. 4 Republicans, 10 Independents, balance Democrats – they now have to get 500 signatures each to remain on the ballot for the primary

The temporary shelter set up on Cape Cod for homeless immigrants is full to over-capacity

Charlesgate Nursing Home, part of which closed a few months ago is now a family shelter, with the state paying $40K+ per month for use of the building while it considers buying it. Families are being moved in from extended stay hotels in the area.

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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

Record traffic expected this weekend

$42Billion announced by Commerce Sect. Gina Raimondo for nation’s high speed internet

Coup nearly happened in Russia

Hundreds stormed the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad over the burning of a Quran that happened in Sweden – Embassy was evacuated

An on-road NASCAR race of stock cars will be held in downtown Chicago

Dept. of Justice asks to move the trial of former president Trump to December

Nearly ½ of the US population of honeybees perished this past year

Illumina laying off 10% of their workforce

Doordash to now pay drivers minimum wage

Sarah Ferguson had surgery for very early breast cancer, reported to be doing well with good prognosis

Buc-ees has opened in Tennessee, the largest gas station in the world, with over 350 employees, 120 gas pumps, serving food, BBQ, etc. with gifts and other items to purchase.

Ford will cut thousands of engineering jobs in US and Canada

NYC pizzerias must reduce carbon emissions in their ovens – new equipment costs $20K

$500+ Million more US aid to Ukraine

Robinhood is starting to eliminate full time jobs

A Peppa Pig Theme Park will open in Texas

Pat Sajak to be replaced by Ryan Seacrest

Jesse Waters takes over Tucker Carlson on Fox at night

Over 2,500 pilots will retire this year – training of new pilots takes 2-3 years

NYC is requiring a moment for “mindful breathing” in public schools

Chicago, Detroit, and Minneapolis had the worst air quality in the world this week – due to Canadian fires

Some cities are looking at eliminating drive-thrus in high traffic areas due to pedestrian accidents – some locations are adding more lanes, etc. Drive-thrus are the future for fast food Businesses in particular.

Hunter Biden’s suit for failure to provide child support has been settled with a lump sum up front with $5,000/month – rather than $20K per month, with no upfront funds

A Klimit artwork got the most ever at auction – $104.5Million – at Sotheby’s in London

Kim Kardashian will open a chain of retail stores – Skims – in 2024

Ghislaine Maxwell has said she will release the name of 8 prominent clients

Pieces of the Titan submersible are beginning to be recovered and brought to Canada – some human remains found

Madonna recovering from “serious bacterial infection” that required a multiday hospital stay in intensive care; on Friday it was announced she was out of the hospital – world tour postponed

Supreme Court rules that Affirmative Action, or race as a decision factor in college acceptances in not constitutional

Federal government and regional states group looking to see how taxing people by the miles they drive, given move to EV cars would eliminate gas taxes that fund road maintenance

Wikileaks has dropped all its filed online:  https://file.wikileaks.org/file/

Simone Biles will once again enter comPetition in gymnastics

In North Carolina, one community is building an affordable housing development has been added to the community for teachers who want to teach in the local schools – hoping to attract staff

UPS may strike on Aug. 1^st without more money

RSV vaccine available through MDs for those over 60

Dylan Mulvany is upset with Bud Lite for not sticking with the campaign

2 of Russia’s top generals have gone missing

Overstock buys rights to Bed, Bath & Beyond, for online selling

4 NFL players suspended for gambling

There are now over 100,000 homeless living in NYC – more than 50% are immigrants

ESPN layoffs, including 20 some Celebrity on-air hosts

France continues to burn with nightly massive demonstrations – Macron has appealed to families to keep their young children at home as arrests are being made, and many are as young as 12 and 13.

Parts of US – particularly in midwest, Texas, scorching with temps as high as 120

SCOTUS says “no” with votes 6-3 against affirmative action, school loan abatement, and supports a Christian designer to not have to design for a cause they did not believe in and went against their religious principles.

Pres. Biden says he will work on a work-around on the student loan assistance issue

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PASSINGS

Alan Arkin, 89, actor

Jeannine Chartier, Executive Director of Arts Equity, formerly VSA Arts Rhode Island

Christine King Farris, 95, sister and last surviving sibling of Martin Luther King Jr.

Ryan Mallett, 35, former Patriots QB, of drowning, in Florida

Julian Sands, 65, actor who had gone hiking, his body being found weeks later

Anne Mimi Sammis, 82, RI artist and sculptor (including bronze at Narragansett Beach)