Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - March 6, 2020

HOT

Wind Power

Whether it's onshore or offshore, wind power is critical to diversifying Rhode Island's energy sources -- presently, more than 90 percent of the state's electricity comes from gas-powered, out-of-state electricity.

Ørsted, a global leader in offshore wind development, officially opened its United States Innovation Hub in Providence on Monday at the CIC workspace at Wexford. 

“Rhode Island represents as strong, if not the strongest, marine blue innovation economy ecosystem anywhere in the country,” Ørsted New England division head Matt Morrissey told GoLocal on Monday.

“As we are in the business of developing marine-based technologies, we have a very strong interest in partnering with Rhode Island-based companies and understand what kind of technologies they can bring to our projects," he said.

HOT

State Senator Hanna Gallo

The Rhode Island School Superintendents’ Association presented its 13th annual Paul W. Crowley Award to Sen. Hanna Gallo (D-Dist. 27, Cranston, West Warwick) Wednesday during a ceremony at the State House.

The award is given each year by the Association to a Rhode Island citizen or organization who, in his or her professional and personal capacity, has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to improving the quality of education for the children of Rhode Island. The award is named after the late Rep. Paul Crowley of Newport, who was dedicated to educational issues throughout his career as a state representative.

Senator Gallo co-chaired the Joint Legislative Committee to Establish a Permanent Education Foundation Aid Formula, which she helped to establish through her sponsorship of the Education Equity and Property Tax Relief Act. The Commission made recommendations to establish a fair, student-based funding formula for state aid to education in Rhode Island. Senator Gallo subsequently championed the education formula, winning enactment of this landmark legislation into law. It has been fully funded each year since.

“Representative Crowley’s tireless commitment to public education is well known in Rhode Island, and it is an incredible honor to receive this award in his name,” said Senator Gallo. “It has been my distinct privilege to serve Rhode Island schools, and especially our educators and students. RISSA has been and continues to be a valuable partner in this work, and I’m grateful to the RI Superintendents for this recognition.”

HOT

John Goncalves

The winner of the Providence First Ward Democratic Primary is a lock for the vacant seat.

There is no organized opposition in the general election.

HOT

PC Friars

Five straight wins have led the Friars to a lock the fourth position in the Big East for the season.

This year's team set a school record by beating all of the other teams in the Big East at least once.

The Friars are going dancing. 

PC fever is here again. 

HOT

RIC Professor Val Endress

Endress is a national-level talent in breaking down the Presidential campaigns. 

She joined GoLocal LIVE on Wednesday morning and offered tremendous insights into Vice President Joe Biden's surge, Michael Bloomberg's collapse and, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren's future.

NOT

Nick Mattiello

More subpoenas. An extended grand jury.

It can't be good for the embattled Speaker of the House.

NOT

Sandra Cano

The Pawtucket legislator (and others) got hustled to put in one of the worst bills ever submitted in the history of the Rhode Island General Assembly --  and then Cano defended it, even while she was pulling the bill

Even while Cano was pulling the legislation, she Tweeted, "Being charged with a crime is a serious, potentially life-altering altering matter. When people are accused of a crime they are often thrust into the media spotlight. However, if they are later found to be not guilty of the charges, there is never any follow up clarification.

This is unfair. That was the reasoning behind a bill that I was asked to introduce to accompany a bill by Rep. Grace Diaz. While I agree with the reasoning, I understand that the language in this proposed legislation goes too far and, therefore, I am withdrawing this bill."

WPRI's Tim White Tweeted in response, "Dear sponsors of this idiotic and troublesome bill: This is essentially prior restraint, which the founding fathers specifically had in mind when they, you know, wrote the First Amendment."

Ouch.

NOT

URI Basketball

Just three weeks ago, the Rams were being predicted as an NCAA tournament team. Fatts Russell was playing as well as any guard in the country.

Then, the wheels started to come off the wagon.

There was an overtime loss at Davidson, a near disaster loss to a bottom-dwelling Fordham, a home loss to St. Louis and then Wednesday nights beating at home by #3 Dayton.

Two bad weeks and without an A-10 Tournament win, the Rams may be NIT bound.

That's not the dance they are looking for. 

NOT

ProJo Woes

On Tuesday, GoLocal reported that while the Dow Jones Industrial average recovered on Monday, gaining a record 1,293 points --  a 5% one day gain --  the Providence Journal’s parent company Gannett’s stock continued to fall — losing 6.67% on the day.

The stock has now fallen from a 52-week high of $13 to Monday’s close of $4.20 — a 67% loss in value. Well, by closing bell on Thursday, the stock was down to $3.85 a share as it lost another 7.23%.

NOT

Raimondo's Bloomberg Endorsement

Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo's endorsement of Michael Bloomberg made little sense in early February, but by March, it was a disaster. 

Bloomberg spent more than $500M to win 12 delegates before bowing out of the race.

Raimondo's 2016 Clinton backing was ill-fated; it's déjà vu all over again.

NOT

Frisbee Lawsuit

"Don't throw the ball in the house," is an utterance spoken by parents, more than a billion times, in multiple languages, for obvious reasons. 

As GoLocal unveiled this week, a student at Bryant University in Rhode Island is being sued by the school's insurance company — for allegedly causing nearly $600,000 in damages after playing Frisbee in a school hallway.

The American Guarantee and Liability Insurance Company has filed suit against New Hampshire native Mason Smith in federal court after they said Smith threw a Frisbee indoors — against college rules — that struck a sprinkler pipe ultimately causing the more than half a million dollars in damage. 

The Frisbee is the famous "flying disc" created by the Wham-O company.

Neither the alleged Frisbee thrower nor the litigious insurance company is answering questions about the legal battle.