Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - April 17, 2020
Analysis
Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - April 17, 2020
Making the list this week -- Raimondo's secrets, job openings, and still no racial data.
Now, we are expanding the list, the political perspectives, and we are going to a GoLocal team approach while encouraging readers to suggest nominees for who is "HOT" and who is "NOT."
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTEmail GoLocal by midday on Thursday about anyone you think should be tapped as "HOT" or "NOT." Email us HERE.
Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - April 17, 2020
HOT
Rhode Island Ranked #4 for Children's Health Coverage
WalletHub ranks Rhode Island #4 in the country for children's healthcare coverage.
"Luckily, around 95% of children ages 0 to 18 have health insurance. However, the high coverage rate hasn’t translated to lower health costs for parents. According to a recent study, health care costs have risen to almost twice their level in the 1980s. Some families can find relief through Medicaid or through the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). However, many people who don’t qualify for government assistance will still struggle, especially in the difficult economic situation caused by COVID-19," write WalletHub.
HOT
New Jobs Board - EmployRI.com
Rhode Island has launched a new jobs board with nearly 2,000 positions.
Most are tech or healthcare. Get ready to reinvent yourself.
Many of the jobs posted are frontline positions in the fight against COVID-19.
Jobseekers can visit www.EmployRI.org to find jobs as well as other important resources including information on unemployment insurance, resume tips, and other COVID-19 updates.
HOT
Rhode Island Musicians Partner With Kids - Virtually
The coronavirus pandemic has made people think outside the box, and Rhode Island musicians Keith Munslow and George Dussault came up with a creative way to produce a new album.
Munslow took to social media to share how the duo -- with the help of others -- were able to add children's voices to the new musical album -- virtually.
"I was in the midst of finishing up an album of kids music when the quarantine started," said Munslow. "I had wanted to add some children's’ voices to the album, and had previously scheduled a session to do so, but those plans were kaput, due to needed social distancing."
"After brainstorming with my co-producer/engineer George Dussault, I reached out to see if any parents would be willing to record their kids’ voices at home, so we could add them to the album. I was humbled and honored that folks responded so enthusiastically," he continued.
"Exclamation Point!" is the forthcoming album of brand-new music for kids from Parent’s Choice Gold winner Munslow, who is crowdfunding the effort to finish producing the album (more below).
"You will get to hear the result when the album comes out, hopefully by the end of May or early June. But I wanted to give a huge shout out to these talented kids for lending their voices, their parents for helping facilitate this unprecedented feat, and George for pulling it all together. You all have my heartfelt gratitude!" he said.
"Three cheers to: Cooper & Riley Jacob, Hadley & Hayden Kozola, Marissa Cabral, William Klyberg, Jed Vendettuoili, and Garrison Toomey!" said Munslow, of the participants.
HOT
Ross-Simons Donating $50,000 to Fight Hunger in RI
Ross-Simons President Jim Speltz joined GoLocal LIVE to discuss why his company is donating $50,000 to fight hunger in Rhode Island.
Speltz said his company has been impacted by the coronavirus crisis, but has been able to keep hundreds working in their Cranston facilities.
One of their companies is Luca + Danni -- the Cranston-based jeweler.
Thursday's announcement by Ross-Simons, which operates under the tagline 'Americas Favorite Jeweler,' is giving $25,000 to both the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island.
HOT
Big Innovation in RI
Rhode Island native Sandy Chen -- who GoLocal tapped in February as possibly having the "next big thing" in technology -- is changing course to innovate in the fight against coronavirus.
Chen is the founder of Graphene Composites, which "creates the strongest, lightest, most resilient materials in the world to manufacture life-changing products."
Now, he's developing virucide "graphene ink" that could have the ability to kill the virus -- and create a more effective mask for frontline health care workers, and more.
Chen, who recently appeared on BBC program "Look North," spoke with GoLocalProv about the latest development.
HOT
RI Real Estate Robust in March Despite Pandemic
RI Realtors numbers show single-family home sales rose slightly year-over-year in March and pending sales – those under contract but not yet closed – dropped negligibly, down .4 percent.
The median price of those sales was $300,000, a 13.2 percent gain.
It is unclear how the April coronavirus lockdown will impact sales and prices.
Realtors on Record
The realtors said, “Though some closings were delayed, realtors were busy last month putting the finishing touches on deals commenced before the onslaught of barriers brought on by COVID-19. Pivoting quickly to working as remotely as possible, showings, inspections and closings took place throughout March – many of them virtual.”
NOT
Raimondo Data Failure
The Governor calls herself a "data geek." Maybe it is time to share some data.
"Whether this is due to economic factors, lack of medical resources, non-access to proper nutrition, or underlying conditions that affect minority communities more than others, it is becoming clear that COVID-19 is ravaging minorities more than any other group,” said State Rep. Jean Phillipe Barros on Thursday in calling for the release of data.
"The public and its leaders need this data in order to stop this troubling pattern and this is why we are urging Governor Raimondo and Dr. Alexander-Scott to release this important data so that we have the whole picture of the impact of COVID-19, particularly on Rhode Island’s minority residents," he continued.
NOT
Strange Selection
On Thursday, Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott announced that Oak Hill Center in Pawtucket was selected to serve as the “COVID-19 specialty nursing home” for the state of Rhode Island.
Oak Hill has been cited 45 times for violations in recent years, according to federal reports compiled by ProPublica. Those 45 violations are the largest number of violations of any nursing home in the state during the time period.
The corporation that owns the facility says most of the violations took place under the previous owners, but a GoLocal review finds that the current corporate ownership has been cited for issues across the country at their facilities.
State's Selection
At Thursday’s presentation by Governor Gina Raimondo, Alexander-Scott said, “I want to highlight one of those approaches today [to serve nursing home patients] - we have designated Oak Hill Center in Pawtucket as a COVID-19 specialty nursing home [as] a central facility to accept patients who are being discharged from the hospital.”
The selection of Oak Hill Center raises questions as the facility has been unable to control coronavirus at its facility. It has recorded 70 positive cases - with18 coronavirus related deaths.
