Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - July 12, 2019

HOT

Rhode Island's Leadership in Treating Stroke

Dr. Ryan McTaggart with The Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University talked about the latest intervention methods for the most severe strokes — and more — when he joined “Smart Health” on GoLocal LIVE.

"We’ve aimed to get patients to the right place the first time," said McTaggart, of Rhode Island Hospital being one of the few hospitals in the country to perform a breakthrough in stroke treatment -- mechanical thrombectomy -- for the most severe stroke patients.

Research in Focus

“For the past three years, I’ve been focused on clinical research to increase access to a procedure mechanical thrombectomy for emergent large vessel occlusion stroke. That’s sort of a loaded sentence, so let me explain a little bit what that means,” said McTaggart.

“90% of strokes are ischemic strokes those are strokes caused by [a] blocked blood vessel. 10% of strokes are hemorrhagic strokes — or strokes caused by bleeding in the brain. A subset of those ischemic strokes — called emergent large vessel occlusion strokes — are the most devastating. And without treatment, 75% of patients will die or be severely disabled,” said McTaggart. “But we can do a surgical procedure to open those blood vessels and instead of patients being dead or disabled, we can send them home in a few days.”

HOT

U.S. Women's Soccer

They are smart talented, feisty, brash, outspoken and World Champions -- America at its best.

HOT

Frank Coletta

The veteran WJAR-10 news broadcaster has been a beloved personality in the market for decades. He is one of the last of the old guard. Today, the reporters at local TV come into the market for a year or two and then they are gone. Coletta was a fixture for more than 40 years.

HOT

Wexford is Coming

The ribbon cutting of the Wexford Innovation Center will be held next week.

The building is cool and the potential is unlimited.

NOT

Rhode Island's Brand Reputation

A tough week for Rhode Island.

First, the Wall Street Journal has named Providence “an education horror show — a case study in public school failure and lack of accountability.”

NOT

DCYF

Most states struggle with their agencies that support children, youth and families who are in distress and poverty. Tragic events happen in each state, but the problem in Rhode Island is that the agency seems both rudderless and incompetent. Another director. Another year.

NOT

Rhode Island's Business Ranking

#50 ranking is just not hot.

NOT

Governor Gina Raimondo 

Refusing to answer basic press questions is now becoming the norm for Raimondo.

I guess if your school systems are ranked poorly and your economic policies have driven the state to 50th, then you too might want to head to Idaho and refuse to answer questions.

NOT

Jorge Elorza - City Management

From the governing side, the Providence Mayor seems to be struggling at every level.

The latest blow to for the Elorza administration is a new national survey that ranks Providence 147 for financial stability out of 150 major U.S. cities measured.

In addition, the same study finds Providence’s quality of city services is ranked 130th of 150 cities. In contrast, Huntington Beach, California is ranked first in the United States and Detroit is ranked 150.

Then this week, GoLocal was first to report CAPP is halting services at the Providence-owned Elmwood Community Center due to health and safety concerns. 

NOT

Jorge Elorza - National Embarrassment

The Wall Street Journal has named Providence “an education horror show — a case study in public school failure and lack of accountability.”

This is yet another national hammering of the capital city and the failed education system.

The Wall Street Journal cited episode after episode from the John Hopkins study.

“One student reported that ‘my best teacher’s desk was urinated on, and nothing happened.’ Another noted a teacher ‘was choked by a student in front of the whole class. Everybody was traumatized, but nothing happened.’ One district leader observed, ‘the students run the buildings.’”