A quick summary of news happenings of the week, locally, nationally, regionally, and internationally, and passings of note. If we missed something, or you want to send us news information – [emailprotected]
RHODE ISLAND & VICINITY
Suffolk Downs plan on hold for 10,000 housing units, with 475-unit building to open in 2024, due to economic conditions on existing financial agreements
OctaPharma opening on Branch Ave. Collects (pays for) blood plasma donations
119th State Amateur Championships this week at the Warwick Country Club
Park Theatre in Cranston says it will open in the fall and will soon be announcing acts, new branding, marketing, and work with the Rolfe St. neighborhood
MBTA new payment system allowing subway and bus riders to tap their smartphones or credit cards to pay fares will debut August 1st
TV Reviewer for the Globe, Matthew Gilbert, will no longer do his column
Pawtucket has issued an RFP for development of Apex building property
AETNA becomes sponsor of Celtics main jersey – replacing Vistaprint
Grace Barker Health disciplined for operating with unlicensed nursing assistants
Brown University and the United States Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) came to an agreement on complaints harassment of students based on national origin (including shared Jewish, Palestinian, Arab, and/or Muslim ancestry.
The Amazon plant in Johnston is the size of 6 football fields – they already employ over 500 people
Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns today announced that its executive director Ernest Almonte is retiring on December 31, 2024.
Shake Shack will open its 3rd location – where TGI Friday’s used to be in Warwick – other locations are on Thayer Street and in Garden City
Boston Herald laid off three employees – down from 240 employees in 2018 to 24 in 2020.
40 workers laid off at Providence Health Centers due to 6-year grant ending
PVD was ranked #2 out of more than 500 commercial airports in the United States, in Travel + Leisure
Rosie Woods, past traffic reporter for WJAR, NBC10 will begin a new TV show, her own, on Saturday and Sundays at 6:30am on ABC6 called Rhode Tripping.
Kip’s hot weiners are now available in Pawtucket at the Happy Hour Club on Benefit St.
Happy Hour with reduced drink prices may be returning to Massachusetts
Parking restrictions in Narragansett have been lifted for now
Farouk Rajab is the new President of the RI Hospitality Assoc
The Kraft Group want to build a soccer stadium in Everett, Mystic River area with only 75 parking spaces – using the MBTA to transport people in to the congested area.
A portion of Hawkins Street in Providence will be known as “Mr. Lemon Place.”
A relay of eight swimmers are planning a relay swim from Nantucket to Martha’s Vineyard to raise money for research on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS.
While some towns in Martha’s Vineyard have restricted flying of flags that are not state, city or US, Aquinnah will fly the Progressive Pride flag – indefinitely. It flies equal to the Aquinnah flag, and under the US flag.
A Vineyard Wind–affiliated company is looking to lease property on Spring Street in Martha’s Vineyard for renting to between 25 aand 60 wind farm workers, under a draft lease with General Electric Renewables US LLC — a partner in the Vineyard Wind 1 offshore wind farm project – with neighbors opposing the possibility.
Stop & Shop to close 32 stores in region, 2 in RI – the Johnston and East Side Marketplace in Providence
Providence City Hall in need of outside refurbishing
West Nile detected on Martha’s Vinyard
A suggestion to build a tunnel, instead of replacing the Washington Bridge, has been proposed by Vincent Mesolella – there are issues such as transportation of trucks, etc. that would be considered
Pawtucket planning director, Bianca Policastro wants to replace Stefan Pryor who is leaving at RI Housing
A $1 billion grant to replace the Sagamore Bridge, totaling $1.7 billion in federal investment so far will deliver two new bridges for the Cape
Block Island gets a new fire truck – one year after the hotel fire
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NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL
The Dalai Lama turned 89
Pres. Biden did a few interviews on black radio shows over the weekend – with questions provided by the White House to the hosts – they say they will no longer do this
Kamala Harris’ husband tests positive for COVID. VP does not. He was on the White House overlook on the 4th for fireworks.
6,000 to be laid off by John Deere
Dave & Buster’s may be bringing social betting to their experience – over 18, sports betting, etc.
Target announced it will no longer accept checks, joining the likes of Aldi and Whole Foods in nixing the payment method.
TSA Officers have set a new record for most travelers screened in a single day on Sunday, July 7th, 3,013,413 people were screened at checkpoints nationwide
Columbia Univ. removes 3 deans and will require all staff to undergo training in the fall
Big Lots will close 40 stores this year
NATO condemns China for aiding Russia in the fight to destroy Ukraine
Mirage Hotel in Vegas will close – expected to reopen in a few years
COSTCO membership fee first time since 2017 raised from $60 to $65
CNN eliminating about 140 staff, saying they are moving to a more digital focus, less emphasis on television news
Human Abedin engaged to George Soros’ son, Alex, 10 years her junior
KCAL television in Los Angeles has been sued by an anchor person let go by the station, with claims that he, “was fired because he is an older, white, heterosexual, male.
Bill Belichick will join “Inside the NFL” TV show this fall
The case of Alec Baldwin has been dismissed with prejudice, he cannot be tried again, due to the judge ruling an envelope with ammunition was purposely hidden in files to avoid “discovery” by the defense
Sen. Susan Collins of Maine (R) says she cannot vote for either more likely candidate for president, and will write in Nikki Haley
Republican National Convention begins on Monday
Climate radicals attacked the Tesla Center in Hamburg, Germany, coating Tesla trucks with paint
META has released restrictions on Donald Trump‘s accounts so he is free to use them as he runs for office
AT&T massive data breach earlier this year – delayed disclosure because of national security per the company
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PASSINGS
Shelley Duvall, 85, actress from The Shining, complications of diabetes
Benji Gregory, 46, child star from “Alf”
Cedric Huntley, former director, Non-Violence Institute, active in Providence violence prevention and race relations
Khyree Jackson, 24, of the Vikings NFL team, died in a car accident.
Claudia Williams, 52, daughter of Ted Williams, in December 2023
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