HOT

Jennie Johnson

The executive director of City Year Providence is working hard, along with the rest of the non-profit’s workers, to help students realize their full professional and the tools it takes for academic success. There are 53 Americorps members (City Year is a division of Americorps) spread out among Providence’s schools, led by Johnson, helping our students succeed.

Johnson appeared on GoLocal LIVE where she made a special appeal to Rhode Islanders to apply for next year.

HOT

Patricia Morgan

The House Minority Leader told a crowd of supporters that she is running for Governor last week. Good for Morgan, who has fought tirelessly for good government causes such as stifling moral obligation bonds, and eliminating wasteful government spending.

She will undoubtedly add to the debate and make the Governor’s race more interesting with her inclusion.

HOT

Bradley Collins

The Lincoln resident who serves as an internist at Miriam Hospital has been named the new President of the Rhode Island Medical Society. Here’s hoping that Dr. Collins can help find ways to make medical care more affordable without compromising patient care.

It’s not a small task, but the cost of medical care is something that needs to be addressed collaboratively by all stakeholders.

HOT

Alejandro Villanueva

It’s easy to stick by your convictions when the crowd is on your side. Real courage, however, is sticking by your principles when doing so is uncomfortable. So a hero emerged on Sunday when Villanueva, an offensive lineman for the Steelers, and former Army Ranger who served three tours of duty in Afghanistan, exited the locker room, and placed his hand over his heart as he listened to our National Anthem--while his teammates remained in the locker room.

He apologized to teammates later for "throwing them under the bus," but in the end, he was the only one who stepped out of that tunnel.

HOT

RI Festival of Children’s Books and Authors

There will be 18 authors and illustrators of children’s books converging on The Lincoln School on October 14, beginning at 9:00 am. The event is a great opportunity to celebrate children’s literacy and those who work to get more children interested in reading. There will be book signings and talks by the authors and illustrators.

A good time by all who attend is basically guaranteed.

HOT

Paperless

The employees at Dunder Mifflin wouldn’t appreciate it, (the fictional paper company in NBC’s smash hit The Office), but more and more companies, including GoLocal, are going paperless. It makes sense in an increasingly digital world, and is much better for the environment. Hopefully this trend continues, since trees are cool and we don’t need to cut them down just to make unneeded paper.

NOT

Gina Raimondo

The Governor is trying to get all the credit for the new Wexford development on the 195 land, but she refuses to disclose the agreements between the tenants and the company, despite the fact that they’re receiving $40 million in state subsidies. Are tenants CIC -- and probably more importantly to Rhode Islanders, Brown University -- getting sweetheart deals? This is a total lack of transparency, and we cannot find any truth without the numbers, Governor!

NOT

Jazz Johnson-Merton

The Johnson & Johnson heiress demonstrates that someone can have money but lack any semblance of class. This socialite was caught trying to kick her horse after she tumbled to the ground competing in an equestrian event at the Hampton Classic earlier this month, as GoLocal reported last Saturday. As if that’s not obnoxious enough, this heiress also reportedly wrote a book about how to be a social climber. I haven’t read it, but maybe Governor Raimondo has?

After all, Raimondo saw fit to give Johnson & Johnson $6 million in incentives to bring a measly 75 jobs here ($80,000 per job!).

NOT

Elmer Stanley

The Providence recreation employee caught a smack in the face and was suspended from his job last Saturday, without pay, for his efforts, after unsuccessfully trying to break up a fight at the Joslin Center.

That’s not a great turn of events for this city employee. Hopefully, this individual will be cleared of his suspension once an investigation into that brutal turn of events takes place.

NOT

Politicization of the NFL

The NFL players want to fashion themselves as social change agents somehow, as if disrespecting our flag and national anthem by refusing to stand for it will make race relations better or reduce police brutality. Of course, President Trump goaded them into it by shining a light on what once were isolated incidents, and calling them a derogatory name during a speech in Alabama.

The players helped stoke the culture war by playing right into his hands and widening the protests. Too bad people cannot unwind anymore and just enjoy a game, after a long week, without having to have politics thrown into their face

NOT

Robert Kraft

Allow me to say something that needs to be said: Bob Kraft is a jerk. The New England Patriots decided it was prudent to start charging their beloved fans $4.50 and $5 for cups of tap water after the team ran out of bottled water on an unseasonably 86 degree day.

The New England Patriots ownership only cares about their fans if it means that they can make money off of them. Whenever Kraft or Patriots leadership express any other sentiment, it’s just phoniness.

NOT

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

The number of cases of sexually transmitted diseases in Rhode Island, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis have risen significantly in recent years and are at current 10-year highs according to data released by the Rhode Island Department of Health from the Centers for Disease Control. This is bad news indeed and clearly signifies the importance of taking proper safeguards before engaging in sexual activity.