Every Friday, GoLocalProv takes a look at who is rising and who is falling in Rhode Island politics, business, culture, and sports.
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."
Email GoLocal by midday on Thursday about anyone you think should be tapped as "HOT" or "NOT." Email us HERE.
James Manni has been named the head of the Rhode Island State Police, Governor Gina Raimondo announced on Thursday.
He replaces Colonel Ann C. Assumpico, who announced that she will retire in January of 2019.
"I am humbled and honored to have the opportunity to lead the Rhode Island State Police and look forward to joining many of my former colleagues to preserve public safety across the state and continue the tradition of our storied State Police. I appreciate that Governor Raimondo has put her faith in me, and I am thankful to Colonel Assumpico for her leadership of the State Police over the last two years,” said Manni.
Manni’s nomination requires Senate confirmation.
Raimondo will submit his name in the opening days of the 2019 session.
With the game tied at 82, and time winding down, Barrington’s Ben Silvia got a lob pass off a heads-up inbound play from teammate Cole Reed and put it in to give the Eagles an 84-82 win over Juanita Sanchez on Friday night in Providence.
The win improves Barrington to 4-0 on the season and in first place in Division II.
Sennen Conte with Johnston, Rhode Island-based allergen-friendly food company Gerbs joined GoLocal News Editor Kate Nagle on GoLocal LIVE to talk about the company's mission -- and plans for growth.
The all-online food production business -- which is free from fourteen major allergens and started with allergen-friendly pumpkin seeds -- has expanded to include dozens of foods from fruits and nuts, to granola and stuffing, and more.
Conte spoke to working with the Rhode Island Small Business Development Center, and plans to grow in the coming year, which includes developing a line of allergen-friendly nut butters.
Rev. Robert L. Marciano ’75 is taking over as the new president of Bishop Hendricken High School.
Marciano assumes his new position on January 1, 2019. He is taking over for John Jackson who retired this month after 46 years at Bishop Hendricken High School, the last 8 of which he served as president. Rev. Marciano will continue his role as pastor of St. Kevin Church and School, Warwick and as Administrator of St. Benedict Parish, Warwick.
“As a 1975 graduate of Bishop Hendricken High School, I am honored and humbled by the appointment of Bishop Tobin to the position of president,” said Marciano. “I follow in the footsteps of Mr. John Jackson, class of 1971, who has served with distinction and solid faith these last 8 years. This great institution, soon to celebrate its 60th year, has been a place of Catholic faith and academic excellence that has ranked among the very best in the nation. Young men come to us to be shaped by the Roman Catholic traditions and values of integrity, virtue, goodness and faith and grow to be leaders in our Church and our society. I am honored and pleased to do my part now as a member of the Hendricken team to lead us forward and to continue to make Bishop Hendricken High School a proud part of the Diocese and the Church that we love and call home.”
Rhode Island is one of the worst run states in the U.S., according to a report released earlier this month. The report evaluated 20 measures of state finances, economy, job market, and social-economic measures.
According to 24/7 Wall Street’s survey of Best Run States in America, Rhode Island is the worst run state in New England and the tenth worst run state in the country, ranking 40th overall.
The University of Rhode Island men’s basketball team shot just 52% from the free throw line and fell 84-82 to the Bucknell Bison on Saturday night in game one of the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic in Hawaii.
Rhode Island shot 23 free throws and made just 12 of them.
URI then lost to Hawaii 68-60 in the final game of the Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii on Christmas Day. The Rams missed multiple frontends of one-and-ones.
The Centers for Disease Control released new data that shows that the rate of Rhode Islanders who died from opioid overdoses increased from 2016 to 2017.
The new data unveiled is a blow Governor Gina Raimondo and RI's efforts to lower the death rate. Now entering her fifth year in office, the opioids death rate is increasing.
According to the CDC data, RI’s death rate by opioids increased by 0.2 percent. And in other data released by the CDC, Rhode Island ranked 11th highest for increase in age-adjusted rates of drug overdose deaths and deaths involving synthetic opioids other than methadone. Read more here:
The cost of utilities in Rhode Island is among the highest in the country.
According to a report by Move.org, the average monthly cost of utilities in Rhode Island is $521.98, the third highest in the U.S. behind only Hawaii and Alaska.
“Rhode Island might be the smallest state in the union, but it certainly doesn’t have the smallest utility bills. Rhode Island’s electricity, natural gas, and internet all land within the top ten most expensive for each category with its average internet bill costing the second-most in the country,” writes Move.org about Rhode Island.
United States veterinarians are at an increased risk of suicide, according to a new CDC study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA).
The study shows that female veterinarians were 3.5 times as likely, and male veterinarians were 2.1 times as likely, to die from suicide as the general population.
Seventy-five percent of the Veterinarians who died by suicide worked in a small animal practice.
“Our findings suggest mortality from suicide among veterinarians has been high for some time — spanning the entire 36-year period we studied. This study shines a light on a complex issue in this profession. Using this knowledge, we can work together to reduce the number of suicides among veterinarians,” said CDC Director Robert Redfield, M.D.
