Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - July 18, 2025
Analysis
Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - July 18, 2025
We have expanded the list, 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 EBLAST
Over the past 14-plus years, more than 7,000 have been tagged as HOT or NOT.
Email 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? - July 18, 2025
HOT
Rhode Island's Cole Swider
Kevin Stacom has a great profile on the Portsmouth native who is ever so close to becoming a Los Angeles Laker:
The late great ProJo sports writer, Bill Reynolds, would often adopt the literary technique of the Homeric Journey in fleshing out the story of a particular athlete’s Odyssey that brought him or her to a particular point in their athletic career.
Every year at the NBA’s showcase summer league in Las Vegas, there are always a few surprise candidates that emerge seemingly out of nowhere to distinguish themselves to the point of demanding serious consideration to deserve a permanent spot on an NBA roster.
Cole Swider, Portsmouth native and Saint Andrew’s of Barrington graduate, is such a player. His performance this summer has been remarkably consistent, writes Stacom. READ MORE:
HOT
WNBA to Providence
If you want to be a major city, it helps to land a major league team.
Providence and state leaders should all be working together to finalize a deal to relocate the Connecticut Sun to the Civic Center.
GoLocal unveiled who is looking at the potential deal.
HOT
RI Real Eatate - If You Are a Seller
If you are selling your home, this real estate market is great news.
New data shows that the median price of a single-family home in Rhode Island hit a new record in June, according to a report released this week.
The median price of a home jumped to $520,000 in June — a 5.3% increase over June of 2024.
And, Rhode Island's prices are significantly higher than the national median price. "The median U.S. home sale price for the four weeks ending July 6 hit a new record at $399,633, which was up 1% year over year, the real estate company reported in data released on Thursday," reports Inman.
And, the asking price in Rhode Island jumped to $549,000, according to the report prepared by Mott & Chace Sotheby’s International. This is on top of the May increases that saw Rhode Island single-family home prices jump to $512,750 — a 12.4% increase year-over-year.
"Single-family home sale prices have stayed elevated year-over-year, likely due to low inventory. A balanced market should have about six months of available inventory, while June 2025 had just above two months of inventory. While mortgage rates seem to be stabilizing, there is still significant buyer demand for well-priced homes," reports Mott & Chace.
And, if you are a buyer, this market is exhausting.
HOT
Red Sox Fever
A ten-game winning streak is pretty hot.
Read what GoLocal's Bob McMahon has to say about the rest of the season.
NOT
Maybe the Most Ridiculous Quote Ever
Providence homeowners and renters are being hit hard in the new Providence budget, and two public paychecks, Grace Diaz had something to say this past week.
City worker and State Representative Diaz posted to social media about the city's fiscal crisis and near-record tax increase: "Thanks to Mayor Brett Smiley, Providence City Council, and the RI General Assembly, property taxes are lower than we expect!"
NOT
Job Market in RI
Rhode Island suffered its largest one-month job loss in more than two years, according to data released by the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training on Thursday.
The loss of 2,400 jobs is the largest since April 2023.
The numbers are the latest hit for Governor Dan McKee’s administration. He has been trying to reshuffle his economic strategy with the “resignation” of outgoing Commerce Corporation Secretary Liz Tanner and the appointment of Jim Bennett to that position.
Over the year, jobs decreased by 400 from June 2024
NOT
Get Ready for More Trump v. RI
GoLocal broke the story this week of the U.S. Department of Justice launching an investigation into Rhode Island elections.
This has the potential to be an explosive and litigious conflict.
NOT
Trump's Handling of the Jeffrey Epstein Investigation
The Epstein case is one of the most perverse in American history, with some experts claiming that upwards of 1,000 young women were damaged by Epstein and reportedly a wide swath of powerful men.
And more and more of Trump's own team is calling him out.
