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Hasbro is considering moving from Pawtucket to Boston

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Hasbro is considering moving from Pawtucket to Boston


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Local politicians are scrambling to keep the toy company in Rhode Island.

The exterior of Hasbro Inc.’s location in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff

The iconic toy maker and entertainment company Hasbro is considering uprooting its headquarters in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, to Boston. If this happens, it would leave a hole in the Ocean State but bolster the recovering downtown Boston.

“It’s all hands on deck to keep Hasbro in Pawtucket,” Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee said in a statement. 

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McKee and Mayor Don Grebien reached out to Hasbro’s CEO, Chris Cocks, in the hopes of persuading the company to remain in the state. 

“Together, the state and the city will absolutely pursue all options to maintain Hasbro’s presence in Pawtucket,” McKee said. 

Rhode Island Congressman Gabe Amo, who grew up in the city, also hopes to help persuade the company to stay. 

“For more than a century, Hasbro’s Pawtucket headquarters has been the place where toy ideas come to life,” he said in a statement. “The workers at this iconic Rhode Island business have been an invaluable part of our community and I hope that this storied history is on the minds of Hasbro’s leadership.”

Hasbro is one of a few large corporations headquartered in Rhode Island, along with CVS, Textron, and FM Global. 

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The international company is known for its portfolio of over 1,800 brands, including Monopoly, Dungeons & Dragons, Nerf, Transformers, Play-Doh, and Peppa Pig. 

Hasbro was founded in 1923 by Henry and Hillel Hassenfeld. It began by selling textile remnants before manufacturing pencil boxes and school supplies. In 1952, it changed the toy industry by creating the Potato Head. 

According to the company’s 2023 annual report, it has about 5,500 employees worldwide, about half located in North America. The company owns its corporate headquarters in Pawtucket, which is about 343,000 square feet, and an adjacent facility of about 23,000 square feet.

The Boston Business Journal broke the news Monday that Hasbro was scouting Boston-area locations. 

According to a source close to Gov. Maura Healey, members of her economic team have met informally with Hasbro. 

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“We are always competing for businesses to move and expand to our state and will continue to support existing businesses across Massachusetts,” wrote Healey’s spokesperson, Karissa Hand. 

Hand added that the state is ranked No. 1 for innovation, education, and health care and is also the best state for raising a family and for women. 

In a message Cocks sent to Hasbro employees on Monday, which Boston.com obtained a copy of, he told employees, “Don’t pack your bags yet,” as nothing is final and it could take up to two years to move. 

“As we build a workplace for the future that reflects our brands, our vision, and our impact, we are considering options for a more suitable HQ, including in the Greater Boston area,” Cocks wrote in his email. “We are looking to find a space that allows for collaboration and design and showcases who we are and what we stand for. A space that is accessible to our teams and our partners.”

Hasbro faces headwinds:

The move comes after a challenging year at the company. 

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In 2023, the company’s net revenues decreased 15% from the prior year to about $5 billion. 

In a corporate filing last December, the toy maker announced that it was cutting 1,100 jobs or 20% of its workforce. The reductions were on top of 800 job cuts made last year as part of a strategic move to save up to $200 million to reinvest in the business. 

The same filing also announced the company’s plans to close its leased 136,000-square-foot office space in Providence, Rhode Island, by January 2025. 

In addition, the annual report said that Hasbro finalized the sale of its Entertainment One Film and television business, eOne Film and TV, to Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. for $370 million last December. 

However, Cocks was optimistic during the second quarterly results that came out in July. 

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“Hasbro is emerging as a more profitable, agile, and operationally excellent company delighting fans of all ages through the magic of play,” Cocks said in a statement to Bussiness Wire. 





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Flags are at half-staff in Rhode Island today. Here’s why

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Flags are at half-staff in Rhode Island today. Here’s why


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On Friday, May 15, flags will be flown at half-staff across the United States to commemorate Peace Officers Memorial Day.

Recognized each year since 1962 as part of May’s National Police Week, the national observance pays tribute to United States law enforcement officials who gave their lives in the line of duty, whether at the local, state or federal level.

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“United in gratitude, we recommit ourselves to supporting those who keep the peace in our neighborhoods, and we offer our heartfelt appreciation for the service they render to community and country,” reads a proclamation from President Trump. “Their steady presence brings calm to our streets, their dedication preserves the order that allows our Nation to flourish, and their unwavering vigilance is the reason families across America can rest under the promise of a safer tomorrow.”

In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice, the flag of the United States at all public buildings and grounds across the country and its territories – including in Rhode Island – will fly at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Friday, May 15.

Why are flags flown at half-staff?

According to the official website of the U.S. General Services Administration, flags typically fly at half-staff when the country or specific state is in mourning. Observances include national tragedies, days of remembrance and deaths of government or military personnel.

The president, the state governor or the mayor of Washington, D.C., can order flags to fly at half-staff.

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Half-staff vs. half-mast

While half-staff refers to lowered flags on land, half-mast refers to those at sea. Both refer to a flag being flown beneath the top of its staff as a sign of respect.



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Star-studded cast of ‘My Boyfriend is a Demon,’ filming in RI, released

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Star-studded cast of ‘My Boyfriend is a Demon,’ filming in RI, released


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  • A new horror movie titled “My Boyfriend is a Demon” is currently filming in Rhode Island.
  • The film follows a lonely girl whose fake Instagram boyfriend materializes in real life.
  • The cast includes children of famous actors, such as Mattias Ferrell and Coco Arquette.
  • Veteran actors David Arquette and Rosanna Arquette are also part of the ensemble cast.

Verdi Productions’ secret horror movie, “My Boyfriend is a Demon,” now filming in Rhode Island, is no longer a secret as Chad A. Verdi, the East Greenwich production company’s president, has announced the cast and given an outline of the movie’s plot.

The ensemble cast comprises veteran actors and rising young talents. The story follows Mary, a lonely, small-town girl who creates a fake Instagram account that pretends to be boyfriend, a guy too perfect to be real. Mary puts so much effort into making him “real” that he shows up at her door one day.

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The cast includes:

  • Mattias Ferrell, son of comic actor Will Ferrell and known for “A Very Jonas Christmas Movie” and “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues.”
  • Coco Arquette, daughter of Courteney Cox and David Arquette and known for “Cougar Town.”
  • David Arquette, known for his work in the “Scream” film franchise.
  • Rosanna Arquette, David’s sister and Coco’s aunt, known for “The Moment.”
  • Bailey Sloan, known for “Ragamuffin.”
  • Jack Champion, known for “Avatar.”
  • Ever Anderson, known for “Peter Pan & Wendy.”
  • Vinnie Hacker, known for “Euphoria.”
  • Josephine Reitman, known for “Juno.”
  • Savannah Lee Smith, kown for “Tunsel Town.”
  • Lisa Yamada, known for “Elle.”
  • Ty Law, known for “Friday Night Lights.”

“My Boyfriend is a Demon” is written and directed by first-time director mishka.

“My Boyfriend is a Demon” is filming in Providence

The movie began filming in Rhode Island in April and has rented Providence’s Cranston Street Armory for the month of May to use as a studio.

The producing team for Verdi Productions includes Chad A. Verdi, Chad Verdi Jr., Paul Luba, Michelle Verdi and Sera Verdi. Executive producers include Ketchup Entertainment and Kinolime.



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Weather Now: Showers, T’storm Today

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Weather Now:  Showers, T’storm Today


Good morning! Happy Thursday! Today will be pretty unsettled with the chance for showers and t’storms. Friday will still be damp with showers and drizzle, but the weekend still looks amazing!

The one good thing with the rain, for allergy sufferers at least, the pollen levels will be lower. In fact, both today and tomorrow, the tree pollen counts will be low locally. Do expect a spike in the pollen count for Saturday and Sunday with the dry weather.

INTERACTIVE RADAR: Live Pinpoint Weather 12 Radar »

“https://www.wpri.com/weather-now/weather-now-for-thu-5-14-26/” FLIGHT TRACKER

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“https://www.wpri.com/weather-now/weather-now-for-thu-5-14-26/” POWER OUTAGES

TODAY

Hour-by-hour forecast for today…

Hour by Hour // A close look at the upcoming conditions »

We’ll have some showers around during the morning commute today, but the greatest chance for showers and t’storms will be after 9AM and before 5PM.

Showers and thunderstorms could slow travel around mid-day. Rain could fall heavily at times.

A line of showers and t’storms will be sweeping across the area through the afternoon as a slow-moving weather systems moves through the region.

Highs today will be in the upper 50s to lower 60s with southeast to east winds of 5-15mph.

“https://www.wpri.com/weather-now/weather-now-for-thu-5-14-26/” BEACH AND BOATING FORECASTS

TONIGHT

Showers are still possible this evening; although they won’t be as numerous.

TOMORROW

That low center will be nearby Friday morning, and we’ll be stuck with a damp, cool windflow. Expect drizzle and showers in the morning and possibly some lingering showers in the afternoon.

Highs Friday will only be in the 50s. The average high this time of year is in the upper 60s.

LOOKING AHEAD

Then…there’s the weekend. Saturday looks amazing with lots of sunshine and dry weather. It’ll be warmer, too, with highs in the 70s.

-Meteorologist T.J. Del Santo

T.J. Del Santo (tdelsanto@wpri.com) is the weekday morning and noon meteorologist for 12 News. Connect with him on Facebook and Twitter and Instagram and Threads and BlueSky.

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