In the News… recap of the week (8.31.24)

A quick suMMAry of the news around us…

RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY

Six-story mixed-use project at 71 Dexter St. in Pawtucket will begin, delayed since 2020

South Main Street was re-named Tockwotton Cape Verdean Way

General Dynamics to lay off over 100 at Quonset

An LNG plant will be built on Aquidneck Island

South County RIPTA riders may request a ride using the agency’s Flex on Demand smartphone app, which provides an estimated pick-up time and tracks the ride in real time.

RI Police Chiefs Association’s traffic safety leaders advise making a plan to get home safely

David Booth, of Climate Jobs RI – he was arraigned on Friday for simple assault and disorderly conduct for his behavior at a wind turbine hearing in Newport

Anheuser Busch plant in Medford to lay off 200

Alahverdian admits to his real identity, at least for this one legal action – he also appeared clean shaven and dramatically different looking

Newport says it has fully recovered, and then some, in tourism, after COVID

Taylor Swift held a celebrity party at her Watch Hill home this past weekend

Vermont has spotted a Canada Lynx in the area

Worcester County is spraying for mosquitos

BCBSRI and Tufts say RI’s contract with United Health to manage Medicaid is faulty

France arrests Telegram CEO

Jill Hume Harrison to serve on the Rhode Island Ethics Commission. Dr. Harrison is a sociologist currently working at Rhode Island College (RIC) as a professor of Sociology and the Director of the Justice Studies Program. 

24 state attorneys general from the Southern and Midwest sent a letter to Brown University urging the institution to reject a proposal to divest from companies that do Business with Israel

2 Rhode Island radio stations – WADK in Newport and WMNP on Block Island are being sold for $350,000.  Island Broadcasting LLC filed paperwork to purchase the stations from 3G Broadcasting of Florida. Kurt Jackson’s Island Broadcasting of RI. Kurt Jackson, of Paxton, Massachusetts, is the 48% stockholder of Success Signal Broadcasting, Inc., according to media reports.

Massachusetts approves the addition of Duchenne to the state’s newborn screening panel, the fourth state to do so.

Ed Cooley, former PC B-ball coach was the highest paid Big East coach in 2023

No longer a crime to carry a switchblade in Massachusetts.

RI has been given $33.6M for GEAR UP, a college prep program for 7,000 RI students

Providence schools offering a one-time opportunity for a $10,000 standard base salary increase for educators transitioning or already in three specialized instructional areas: Special Education – Behavior Intervention Program (BIP), Exceptional Child Services (ECS), and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Saugus, MA has established a policy that all children attending schools be legal residents and live in Saugus.

Pawtucket will donate the former Engine Eight to Project Health CV, and the Island of Brava, for emergency services in Cape Verde.

Ninigret Park in Charlestown is the site of the Rhode Island’s 2024 Rhythm & Roots Festiva this weekend

Waterfire full lighting TONIGHT

Rhode Island Seafood Festival will be held Saturday Sept. 7 (11am-7pm); Sunday Sept. 8 (11am-5pm) at India Point Park, Providence 

Worcester Polytechnic Institute still plans to purchase two hotels in the city to address a “looming student housing shortage” — a decision that has caused an uproar among city officials. 

Meshacket Commons, an affordable housing project in Edgartown, Martha’s Vineyard, with 40 units planned, started construction this week, having been originally approved in 2021.

Home invasion in Cranston by 2-3 young men, stealing $300K Ferrari, which they took to Florida. 2 arrested.

Lifespan approved to buy both St. Anne’s Hospital in Fall River and Morton Hospital in Taunton for $175M – Lawrence General Hospital will buy Holy Family Hospitals in Methuen and Haverhill for $28M. St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Brighton and Good Samaritan Medical Center, Brockton will go to Boston Medical Center. Carney Hospital in Dorchester and Nashoba Valley Medical Center will close.

State of RI will maintain control of Providence schools for at least 3 more years

Horse died in Middleborough, MA of EEE

7-year old shot in Providence, in critical condition

New England Patriots name Jacoby Brissett starting quarterback

3 children shot in 5 days in Providence, one as young as 7

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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL

Syrian refugee, 26-year-old, arrested after stabbing attack at German festival

2 stranded astronauts will wait until February to return, using SpaceX to ship them home

New medication in trials to cut hot flashes during menopause

Sarah Palin wins right to sue the NYT for defaMMAtion

Red Lobster closing another 23 restaurants – leaving about 500

LA is putting together a street team of doctors and medical personnel for the homeless

FAA grounds SpaceX temporarily due to rocket failure

California is trying to pass a $150K home buying grant program to illegal immigrants towards purchase of their first home

Mariah Carey’s sister and mother died on the same day this week

Australian employees may now ignore employer’s texts and phone calls outside of work hours, without repercussion, under new “right to disconnect” law

Families of US soldiers killed in pull out of Afghanistan requested Donald Trump lay wreaths at the anniversary of their death at Arlington. He attended and participated in the ceremony. Neither Pres. Biden or VP Bide attended.

A 3-day Redhead Festival was held in the Netherlands. Redheads make up only approx. 1-2% of the world’s population

Many children starting school in the US in areas with extraordinary heat – some in Texas and other locations are letting out early, or delaying starts

The jersey Babe Ruth wore when he called his shot during the 1932 World Series, hitting a home run to center field, sold at Heritage Auction for over $24 million.

Heritage Auctions

Russia launched barrage of drone and missile attacks at energy infrastructure across Ukraine last Sunday night

Coney Island’s 90+ year old roller coaster shut down after malfunction

Mark Zuckerberg acknowledges the US government pressured Facebook to edit COVID information as well as Hunter Biden laptop story. “It was wrong to suppress reports…”

Hostage held by Hamas in Gaza rescued by Israeli forces

Special counsel Jack Smith filed a new indictment against Donald Trump that narrows the allegations against him

The Barbie pink flip phone is now released for sale

Namibia takes to killing wildlife to feed starving population impacted by drought – 83 elephants, 30 hippos, 60 buffalo, 50 impala, 100 blue wildebeests, and 300 zebras. None of these breeds are endangered and Namibia has a strong conservation program.

Venezuelan gangs are taking over apartment buildings and stores in Aurora, Colorado

Tanker on fire at risk of leaking 100 million gallons of crude, 10 times the impact of Valdez, happening in the MidEast. Deemed an environmental disaster.

Paralympics are on in Paris

1^st MSM interview with Kamala Harris – done by CNN’s Dana Basch

IVF would be covered for all Americans who need it per Donald Trump in an announcement

30 states have West Nile Virus victims now

Israel pauses actions in Gaza while 90% of children are attempted to be vaccinated against polio

Brazil blocking citizens against “X” – Musk is attempting to cover area with independent satellites

Donald Trump says he will support making IVF available to anyone, free of charge – also says he will vote against Florida’s 6-week ban on abortion, as it is too restrictive

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PASSINGS

Johnny Gaudreau, 31, NHL hockey star, and his brother, Matthew, 29

Saralee Perel, columnist, Cape Cod Times, for 27 years

Rob Pitt, 45, Tex-Mex Motors Netflix show

Sid Vicious, 63, pro wrestler

Mel Zurier, 95, Providence attorney and community leader