In the news… for March 23, 2024

RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY

The Rhode Island DEM closed a section of the East Bay bike path for repairs – set to open this weekend.

A group called Rhode Island Deserves Better (dot org) claims Brown Univ & Rhode Island Hospital have had 124 violations of federal animal welfare rules since 2017. Proposing a bill to require research to be done on subjects as much like human anatomy as possible.

Brookline, MA has passed, and it was upheld in court, that anyone born in the 21^st century be banned from purchase of tobacco products.

Boston construction of “wet labs” or “meds and eds” buildings are largely empty – now they are being targeted to be converted to housing

Target at the South Bay Shopping Center in Dorchester has shut down all of its self-checkout kiosks.

Save the Bay’s Newport Aquarium will open to the public on March 28th

23 of 122 Brown med students matched with Brown

Illegal migrant living at Rockland, MA hotel charged with raping 15 year old at that hotel

Boston Mayor announces $69M more for affordable housing

24 people were charged with DUI over St. Patrick’s Day weekend

Developer Joe Paolino buys 10 Weybosset St, once the 1st skyscraper in downtown Providence

US Sect. of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg cut the ribbon on the Woonasquatucket Greenway Improvement Project and toured the Washington Bridge area, holdingn several Q&As with the press and RI delegation, Mayor Smiley, DOT Director Alviti and Gov. McKee.

Vincent Barletta, head of Baretta Construction steps down as president, will remain chairman

Gov. of MA took 4 days off and Traveled out of state – refuses to provide details as she wants to keep her personal life private – on Friday her office released info that she was in Puerto Rico

Pawtucket has a school shortfall and has not issued its bonds.

400 migrants in Clarion Hotel in Taunton – and now Taunton is suing owner of hotel

Red Panda exhibit opens at RWP this weekend – native to the Himalayas

Braintree faces an $8M deficit in schools budget, may lose 100 positions, including 65 teachers.

In Northampton 15 positions could be lost with a $2.75M shortfall

In Brookline their school budget is $2.5M in the red.

$1M gift given to Project RENEW by Mackenzie Scott, Jeff Bezos’ ex

ABC6 voted to unionize

Curt Schilling denied an invitation to come to opening day ceremonies at the BoSox

Walgreen’s managed Village MD primary care practices (8) ad 3 Urgent Care centers bought by Arches Medical of Boston

Cory King appointed Rhode Island Health Insurance Commissioner – he has been acting commissioner for several years

A bill is before RI Legislature to decriminalize possession of Schedule I illegal substances such as heroin and cocaine

Prov. City Council passing truck capacity rules for East Side streets to protect the roads

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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

“Stumpy”, a Cherry Tree in DC will be removed, along with hundreds of others as the area is redone due to salt in the water overflowing into the coastal area that is killing the trees.

Target limits self-checkout to 10 items – adding lanes for customers with large checkouts

Thailand’s government will end its cannabis industry

Florida bans homeless from sleeping outdoors in public places

Richard Simmons says he has been treated for skin cancer with MOHS surgery

Ireland’s PM, Leo Varadkar, resigns

In Chicago they want to rename Columbus Drive, Barack Obama Drive

French Bulldog #1 most popular breed in US

Pres. Biden’s new shoes are from Hoka Transport – which appear to provide more stability with raised heel and extra wide width

The U.S Military Academy at West Point has updated its motto to simply include the term “Army Values,” dropping the previous inclusion of the words “Duty, Honor, Country.”   But it will keep the 3 words in its slogan

Russia evacuating 9,000 children from coastal area involved in fighting with Ukraine

JetBlue canceling non-profitable flights

DEI programs in public schools and other public programs banned in Alabama.

The demand for lithium is fueling a modern-day gold rush. Lithium is essential for batteries in electric cars, storing renewable energy, and even smartphones. Demand for lithium is projected to soar 20x by 2040

National Cherry Blossom Festival, will be celebrating the boom in the district from March 20 to April 14.

Tradwives next big thing in women’s movements – “traditional” roles for married women

Some rural hospitals in the Southeast are converting to 24/7 emergency care hospitals, and eliminating their in-hospital patient beds – being compensated by federal govt to do so

11,000 migrants live in 23 shelters in Chicago – evictions for those over-staying the new requirements are beginning.

Joanne Fabrics has filed for Ch. 11 as people “stop doing DIY”

Mass General transplanted a genetically modified kidney into a 62 year old man – he is set to go home this weekend

Man guilty of planning David Ortiz shooting has died in the Dominican Republic

Princess Kate taped a video message that she had abdominal surgery and it was unexpectedly cancer and she is undergoing chemotherapy

In Russia, at a concert hall in Moscow, 4 shooters dressed in camouflage broke in and shot 140 – 40 dead, 100 injured – there was also a fire set – this after a terrorist attack warning

Truth Social will go public on Monday – allowing Pres. Trump eventual access to over a billion dollars. Monday is the deadline set in NYC for Trump’s huge payment or forfeiting assets, while he appeals.

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PASSINGS

David Seidler, 86, best known for his Oscar-winning writing on The King’s Speech, has died

Sarah-Ann Shaw, a community activist from Roxbury became the first Black reporter hired to work on a local network news show when she joined WBZ, died in her Boston home

Thomas Stafford, 93, Apollo astronaut