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With Hasbro heading to Boston, R.I. lawmakers want to scrap the Mr. Potato Head license plates

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With Hasbro heading to Boston, R.I. lawmakers want to scrap the Mr. Potato Head license plates


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A new bill would end the specialty plates that raise money for the Rhode Island Community Food Bank.

A statue of Mr. Potato Head greets visitors to the corporate headquarters of toymaker Hasbro Inc. in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Michael Springer / Bloomberg

Mr. Potato Head may soon be peeled off Rhode Island license plates. After Hasbro announced last year that it was shifting its headquarters to Boston, state lawmakers are now pushing a bill to retire the toy-inspired tags, framing the effort as an overdue act of “self-respect.”

As first reported by the Providence Journal, Rhode Island Reps. Brian Newberry and Thomas Noret co-sponsored a bill introduced last Wednesday to remove the specialty plates. 

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“Hasbro abandoned the State, causing untold economic harm and loss of tax revenue,” Newberry said in a statement to Boston.com on Friday. “There is no reason we should be advertising their products on our license plates.”

He continued, “It may seem trivial compared to many other things, but it’s a matter of self-respect.”

Courtesy of the Department of Motor Vehicles of Rhode Island

Neither Noret nor Hasbro returned a request for comment Friday. 

According to the legislation, drivers who already purchased the special plates would be allowed to keep them. However, they wouldn’t be allowed to transfer them to a new car or a family member’s vehicle.

Half of the proceeds from the plates, which say “Help End Hunger” and cost $40, goes to the Division of Motor Vehicles and the other half to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. 

According to the food bank’s website, the state began issuing Mr. Potato Head plates in 2002. Designers made the plates to commemorate the toy’s 50th anniversary. The food bank has raised more than $50,000 from them since. 

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The food bank was not pleased to hear that the Legislature may soon scrap the plates, saying in a comment to Boston.com on Friday that the demand for emergency food assistance reached historic highs last year. 

“With additional federal cuts and policy changes on the horizon, the need will be greater than ever moving forward,” Kate MacDonald, a food bank spokesperson, said. “Every source of support for the Rhode Island Community Food Bank — and by extension our network of 137 member agencies — matters.” 

MacDonald said the nonprofit is eager to engage key stakeholders to explore opportunities to maintain this source of income. 

Rep. Newberry said he’d be open to a different license plate design, suggesting “perhaps the Big Blue Bug or Del’s Lemonade or some other RI institution.”

Profile image for Beth Treffeisen

Beth Treffeisen is a general assignment reporter for Boston.com, focusing on local news, crime, and business in the New England region.

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Boston, MA

ICE Boston arrests Barbados national during targeted operations in Attleboro

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ICE Boston arrests Barbados national during targeted operations in Attleboro


U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Boston said Friday that it arrested a Barbados national during targeted operations in Attleboro.

ICE Boston said Irijah Jabarri Stowe Marshall is “a criminal illegal alien.”

According to officials, his criminal history includes a pending charge for failing to register as a sex offender in Massachusetts.

He was also previously convicted of attempted rape and aggravated sexual contact, ICE Boston said.

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Man who allegedly shot at Boston Police officers arrested after foot chase in Dorchester

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Man who allegedly shot at Boston Police officers arrested after foot chase in Dorchester


A 20-year-old Boston man is facing a series of charges after prosecutors say he shot at Boston Police officers during an attempted stop in Dorchester before leading them on a foot chase through neighborhood backyards.

Rasiel Carbuccia was arraigned in Dorchester District Court Thursday on a list of charges, including assault with a dangerous weapon, carrying without a license and possession of a large capacity firearm, stemming from the Wednesday night incident near Devon and Laredo streets.

Opened fire with ghost gun, prosecutors say

According to prosecutors, Boston Police officers attempted to stop Carbuccia when he pulled out a gun and began shooting, striking a Boston police cruiser before fleeing the scene.

Investigators said Carbuccia ran through backyards and hopped fences before he was taken into custody. Officers did not fire their weapons during the encounter.

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Prosecutors said investigators later recovered the firearm along the path where Carbuccia had been running.

“It was determined that the firearm was a ghost gun, and it did not possess a serial number,” Suffolk County prosecutor Jacqueline Martinelli said in court.

Union says “everyone should be outraged”

Larry Calderone, president of the Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association, said the shooting is part of what he believes is a troubling trend of violence this summer and renewed his call for more officers on Boston streets.

“Everybody should be outraged. Bullets flying in the city’s streets at uniformed police officers. How can we possibly convince the general public that they’re safe to walk around their own neighborhoods?” Calderone said.

Rasiel Carbuccia allegedly opened fire on Boston Police officers in Dorchester. 

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“We have teenagers pulling firearms and stealing mopeds from others in broad daylight. We have shots being fired at police officers in uniform, officers being attacked, people being shot daily that we can’t solve the crimes,” he added.

No one was injured in the shooting, but Calderone said the outcome could have been much worse.

“Thank goodness, neither officer or a pedestrian, an innocent child or somebody in the middle of the evening did not get killed last night. Just as thankful, at least they caught him. They recovered the weapon,” he said.

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After the arraignment, Carbuccia’s attorney declined to discuss the case in detail but indicated mental health issues could become part of the proceedings.

“Ultimately as you guys know this is a process that has to play out and he’s presumed innocent and there’s going to be a number of things that are going to come out in respect to mental health and potentially the investigation, I don’t really have much more to say beyond that,” attorney Bob White told reporters.

According to prosecutors, Carbuccia had two open assault cases and an active warrant at the time of his arrest.

He’s being held in jail without bail and is scheduled to return to court later this month for a dangerousness hearing.

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4 Red Sox Trade Targets to Solidify Boston’s Push for a Playoff Spot

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4 Red Sox Trade Targets to Solidify Boston’s Push for a Playoff Spot


The Boston Red Sox will return to action on Friday to kick off the second half of the 2026 Major League Baseball season with a doubleheader against the Tampa Bay Rays.

The last few weeks have been incredible for Boston and have really gotten the organization right back into the thick of the playoff race. Beforehand, the Red Sox looked like one of the worst teams in baseball. Now, Boston is 46-48 and has won 14 of its last 16 games. It’s why you play the games. The MLB season is long and full of ups and downs. Sure, the first few months of the season were full of many down moments for the Red Sox, but they flipped a switch, got hot, and now are right back in the mix.

Now, there are just over two weeks to go until the 2026 trade deadline and Boston should be looking to add. But who should the Red Sox be targeting? Here are four intriguing options for Craig Breslow and the Red Sox’s front office to target.

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Gleyber Torres — Detroit Tigers

Jun 10, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres (25) turns a double play over Minnesota Twins third baseman Brooks Lee (22) in the fifth inning at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
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The former longtime New York Yankee is a member of the Detroit Tigers and was slashing .280/.395/.395 with a .790 OPS, four homers and 18 RBIs before the All-Star break. Torres is on the Injured List, but has already begun a rehab assignment. Torres has the type of right-handed pop Boston’s lineup needs. Plus, he’s just 29 years old.

Luis Arráez — San Francisco Giants

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Jul 12, 2026; San Francisco, California, USA; San Francisco Giants second baseman Luis Arraez (1) during the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

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Luis Arráez isn’t a right-handed bat and doesn’t have much power, but this is a guy with three batting titles under his belt and has a shot at another one. He’s batting .330 right now and would go a long way for Boston by getting on base towards the top of the lineup.

James Wood — Washington Nationals

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Jul 13, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Washington Nationals James Wood (29) speaks before the home run derby at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

This would be a pipe dream type of move. Wood is under team control for four more seasons and is just 23 years old, and yet he’s already a two-time All-Star. He blasted 31 homers last year and already has 28 this season in 97 games played. If the Red Sox could get a bat like his, they’d be all set. But it would cost quite a bit to pry him from Washington.

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Isaac Paredes — Houston Astros

Jul 8, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Houston Astros third baseman Isaac Paredes (15) fields a grand ball against the Washington Nationals during the second inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

There are few players who were connected to Boston more this past offseason than Isaac Paredes. The Astros don’t look like a team that is going to sell, but Paredes is still worth a call. Houston traded Lance McCullers Jr. to the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday in a salary dump.

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