Rhode Island

Stop & Shop closures; Ruggerio’s absence; RI’s quirky gems: Top stories this week

Published

2 years ago

June 1, 2024

Stop & Shop closures; Ruggerio’s absence; RI’s quirky gems: Top stories this week

Here are some of The Providence Journal’s most-read stories for the week of May 19, supported by your subscriptions.

Here are the week’s top reads on providencejournal.com:

Is your Stop & Shop closing?

Its corporate parent, the Dutch-based Ahold Delhaize, said at an investor meeting last week that it will close underperforming stores, without saying how many or which ones.

“Stop & Stop has done a thorough evaluation and is focused on assuring a stable and thriving future,” the Dutch company’s chief executive for the United States, JJ Fleeman, said during an online presentation dated May 23. That includes “optimizing the portfolio to focus on core markets where it can win.”

Stop & Shop has 395 stores in Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and parts of New York and New Jersey. That includes 26 locations in Rhode Island.

Business: Stop & Shop plans to close underperforming stores. What we know so far.

Out of sight for more than a month, 75-year-old Senate President Dominick Ruggerio had hoped to return to his powerful, front-and-center perch in the Senate chamber this week.

But that is not happening.

Ruggerio, the long-serving political warhorse who acknowledged last month that he is battling cancer, is no longer giving an estimated time for his return to work at the State House, though he says he hopes to return soon.

In a statement, Ruggerio attributed his absence to “health complications” from a virus he contracted in April. He says that even at a distance, he is actively engaged by phone in high-level, end-of-session negotiations on legislation, including the big budget bill still in progress.

Ruggerio has not presided over the Senate since April 23, and has not attended a session since April 25.

Politics: Where is Dominick Ruggerio? RI Senate president has been out over a month. What we know.

Narragansett’s summer tourist season began with a cloud hanging over property owners like Joseph Volpe, who rent a room, apartment or house on websites like Airbnb and VRBO.

One of the most aggressive local ordinances in Rhode Island to curtail the short-term rental of homes is set to go into effect there in September, so this may be the last summer Volpe offers his four-bedroom house online for use by visitors.

Most observers, including state Housing Secretary Stefan Pryor, say the sale and conversion of homes from year-round use to vacation rental is contributing to the shortage of apartments and houses on the market.

Will cracking down on vacation rentals actually make the problem better or worse? That’s unclear.

State House reporter Patrick Anderson explains the state law that legalized short-term rentals, the local ordinances enacted to impose restrictions or ban them outright, and the House study commission that is delving into the matter.

Housing: Vacation is over: New regs tamp down Narragansett Airbnbs as RI studies short-term rentals

Journal reporter Amy Russo is leaving Rhode Island, but she says she’ll take many memories with her, including experiences she had in her adopted state while writing her New to RI column. She spent time tending the braziers at WaterFire, did some quahog digging and clam cake eating, and, at one point, plunged into a practically frozen Greenwich Bay in January.

In her farewell, she lists the places she’ll miss the most. If you’re a seasoned Rhode Islander, you’ll know them all.

Entertainment: RI has plenty of quirky and fun hidden gems. Here are a few to visit.

It is not often that Journal food editor Gail Ciampa is so taken by a meal that she forgets to take a photo of what she’s eating. But she did just that on a recent visit to Providence’s Capital Grille.

While Gail and her husband were sipping cocktails and listening to the list of specials, the mention of a bone-in filet sealed her decision. What makes this special cut so intensely flavorful that it’s worth every penny of the $80 price? Gail can explain.

Dining: There’s a secret menu item at this Providence steakhouse. Why you’ve got to try it soon

To read the full stories, go to providencejournal.com. Find out how to subscribe here.

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Rhode Island

Revs edge RIFC in US Open Cup thriller at Pawtucket. Here’s how

Published

5 hours ago

April 15, 2026

Press Room

Revs edge RIFC in US Open Cup thriller at Pawtucket. Here’s how

Revs beat RIFC in penalty kicks in US Open Cup thriller at Centreville Bank Stadium

PAWTUCKET – The final result was all that eluded Rhode Island FC on this showdown Tuesday night against the New England Revolution.

The effort over 120 minutes couldn’t be questioned. No keeper was saving the goal scored by Diego Fagundez. JJ Williams provided an equalizer in the 11^th minute of stoppage time, proof that his side never gave up hope in the second half of regulation.

Penalty kicks were required to decide this Round of 32 meeting in the US Open Cup on April 14, and it was only there where Rhode Island FC came up shy. Donovan Parisian stopped three of the four shots against him and Tanner Beason blasted home the deciding attempt to give New England a 1-1 (3-1) victory against a regional rival.

The Revolution are through to the Round of 16 just like at Centreville Bank Stadium last season, but this was a different sort of match entirely in front of 6,073 fans. Rhode Island FC came to life after an indifferent first half of regulation, pulled even in the 101^st minute and looked the more likely of the two sides to win it in the first 15-minute period of extra time. New England was able to stay the course and avoided an upset as the MLS entry.

“Soccer’s a cruel game sometimes,” Rhode Island FC coach Khano Smith said. “No disappointment on my end. I’m so proud of my team.”

Hamady Diop found the net on the opening shootout attempt for Rhode Island FC, the only player to do so in what could have been a five-round format. The Revolution wrapped it up early when Luca Langoni, Andrew Farrell and Beason all converted from the spot. Parisian dove to his right to deny Jojea Kwizera and twice to his left to stop Leo Afonso and Williams.

“We train them a lot, honestly,” Williams said. “It’s very hard to replicate. It is.”

Each team enjoyed one real chance in extra time. Grant Stoneman cleared off the line for Rhode Island FC after keeper Koke Vegas got a finger on a Langoni shot from the right wing. Parisian was in the right place at the center of his goal to catch a Williams header chest high, an opening created when Aldair Sanchez made room for a cross off the left.

“I could go on for minutes talking about the positives,” Smith said. “But for me, if we’re able to play like that, we’re going to win a lot of matches in USL Championship playing that way.”

Amos Shapiro-Thompson’s yellow card for Rhode Island FC was the only noteworthy development through the opening 45 minutes. Both teams were a bit cagey and heavy-legged after playing league matches on Saturday, and a 0-0 tie into the break was just about right. New England needed less than six minutes out of the locker room to pull ahead, as a deep Peyton Miller cross off the left was headed down by Damario McIntosh and thumped home by Fagundez from the top of the penalty area.

“I think we’re all very happy with how we fought,” Rhode Island FC defender Hugo Bacharach said. “We knew we had a great rival in front of us. We thought we could take them down.”

Smith made three attacking substitutions within the next three minutes – Williams, Kwizera and Afonso were summoned from the bench to spark the front line. Parisian got down quickly to his left to deny Afonso in the 82^nd minute before Williams struck for the tying goal. Diop’s searching ball off the left was deflected and Williams was quickest to react, placing his header inside the near post to erase a 1-0 deficit.

“They’re playing in our stadium,” Williams said. “Technically it’s a home game for them, but we had all the energy and momentum from that point on.”

Smith said his players would have at least the next two days off after some covered more than 10 miles in the match. Charleston Battery visit next Wednesday night as Rhode Island FC gets back to league play. The club picked up its first USL Championship win over the weekend thanks to a 3-1 triumph at Lexington SC.

“Their keeper made three great saves,” Smith said. “They’d obviously done their homework. He was excellent.

“He made the difference. That’s all it was.”

Rhode Island FC (1): JJ Williams; assist – Hamady Diop.

New England Revolution (1): Diego Fagundez; assist – Damario McIntosh.

Halftime – 0-0. End of regulation – 1-1. End of extra time – 1-1. Penalty shootout – RIFC 1 (Diop), NER 3 (Luca Langoni, Andrew Farrell, Tanner Beason).

Shots – RIFC 10, NER 8. Saves – Koke Vegas, RIFC, 0; Donovan Parisian, NER, 2. Attendance – 6,073.

bkoch@providencejournal.com

On X: @BillKoch25

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Rhode Island

Carjacking suspect hits cruisers during chase across 3 RI towns

Published

17 hours ago

April 14, 2026

Press Room

Carjacking suspect hits cruisers during chase across 3 RI towns

BURRILLVILLE, R.I. (WPRI) — A man is facing charges in three Rhode Island towns after a carjacking investigation led to a police chase Tuesday morning.

Cranston police said Jacob Zhawred, 32, of Johnston, allegedly assaulted a woman in the Stop & Shop parking lot off Garfield Avenue just before 7 a.m., then stole her car and fled.

Jacob Zhawred, 32 (March 2026 booking photo, courtesy Cranston Police Dept.)

Using the victim’s phone that was left inside the vehicle, officers tracked it heading north. Glocester police later attempted to stop the car in the area of Route 44 at St. Eugene’s Church, but authorities said Zhawred took off, crossing multiple residential lawns to evade officers.

Burrillville officers deployed stop sticks on Camp Dixie Road, flattening the car’s tires, but police said Zhawred continued driving on the rims.

During the pursuit, police said he struck multiple cruisers from Cranston, Glocester and Burrillville. He appeared to be under the influence of drugs at the time, according to police.

The chase extended onto Eagle Peak Road and Wallum Lake Road, where police said Zhawred again hit cruisers and tried to cut across a lawn before crashing into a telephone pole.

Zhawred was arrested around 9:40 a.m. and taken to Landmark Medical Center for treatment of his “extensive impairment issues,” police said. He’s since been released from the hospital and is now being held without bail at the ACI.

In Burrillville, he is charged with:

Assault with a deadly weapon (6 counts)
Leaving the scene of an accident resulting in property damage (2 counts)
Vandalism (2 counts)
Possession of a stolen motor vehicle
DUI
Eluding/reckless driving
Resisting arrest

He also faces an eluding/reckless driving charge out of Glocester.

In Cranston, Zhawred is charged with second-degree robbery and shoplifting for allegedly stealing $100 worth of items from a Lowe’s before the carjacking.

Police said the woman he allegedly assaulted is OK, and no one was hurt during the chase.

Cranston Police Chief Michael Winquist also told 12 News that Zhawred was “recently released from prison.”

“He has multiple assault charges, shoplifting charges, breaking and entering, a lengthy criminal history, he has drug charges,” Winquist said. “This is somebody that’s dangerous to the community. I’m happy the officers were able to use teamwork to get this person off the streets.”

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Rhode Island

Severe Tick-Borne Meat, Dairy Allergy Disease On Rise Across RI: What You Need To Know

Published

1 day ago

April 14, 2026

Press Room

Severe Tick-Borne Meat, Dairy Allergy Disease On Rise Across RI: What You Need To Know

The tick-borne illness that causes those infected to become severely allergic to meat and dairy products is emerging as an increasing concern in Rhode Island.

The Centers for Disease Control said nearly a half-million people are affected by the condition nationwide — with symptoms that can vary in severity with each exposure to meat or dairy.

See also: Cranston Man Killed In Paramotor Aircraft Crash

The CDC said symptoms include the acute onset of any one or more of the following allergic and/or gastrointestinal symptoms that occur 2–10 hours after ingestion of pork, beef, lamb, any other mammalian meat, or any mammalian-derived product (e.g. gelatin), or within two hours after intramuscular, intravenous, or subcutaneous administration of alpha-gal containing vaccination or medication:

Abdominal pain
Nausea
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Heartburn/indigestion
Hives
Itching
Anaphylaxis as diagnosed by a provider
Swelling of one or more of the following: lips, tongue, throat, face, eyelids, or other associated structures
Shortness of breath
Cough
Wheezing
Acute episode of hypotension