HOT

Anthony Sionni

No community activist has had more impact on big issues than part-time community activist and part-time Uber driver Anthony Sionni.

He was one of the leaders that forced Providence Mayor Angel Taveras to re-open the Davey Lopes pool and he has been the leading force to reforming that chaotic and de facto illegal rollout of Jorge Elorza’s traffic camera program.

He proves you can beat City Hall — twice.

HOT

Virgin Pulse

Home-grown, first as Shape Up, Virgin Pulse is now looking more and more like it could be the sleeper “It” tech company Rhode Island has always dreamed of launching. This week’s merger announcement points to a bigger and broader company that is now an American force and can be a global influence.

David Osborne is now driving the train, but it was Rajiv Kumar along with other Rhode Islanders who built the tracks.

HOT

Worcester

Worcester created 4 times more jobs than Rhode Island did in April.

The City of Worcester added 4,000 jobs in the month of April and a total of 5,300 jobs over the year, according to the latest labor numbers. 

Worcester is one of 15 areas in the Commonwealth that saw job gains and is among six areas that recorded the largest job gains. 

HOT

Bob Flanders

Came out the week with a strong attack on Sheldon Whitehouse's vote on banking legislation. Flanders cited that 16 Democrats in the Senate voted for the legislation that Whitehouse tried to block.

With Whitehouse underwater in most public polls, a few more quality shots and the race can be competitive -- Flanders v. Nardoilillo in the primary, with a vulnerable Whitehouse looming on the horizon. 

HOT

Ahold Facility

The newly signed agreement by RI Commerce Corp will create upwards of 700 jobs in Rhode Island.

Some will criticize Gina Raimondo administration’s incentive ladder strategy, but the workers with a job will appreciate the opportunity. The Dutch company is the parent concern of Stop & Shop.

HOT

Deepwater Wind

The Raimondo administration announced this week that Deepwater Wind will construct a new 400-megawatt offshore wind farm as part of The Revolution Wind project.

"Rhode Island pioneered American offshore wind energy, and it's only fitting that the Ocean State continues to be the vanguard of this growing industry. We applaud Governor Raimondo for her bold commitment to a clean energy future. We are building a new industry here in Rhode Island while driving down the cost of clean energy. Revolution Wind will mean lots of jobs for Rhode Island and major investments in local infrastructure,” said Deepwater Wind CEO Jeffrey Grybowski.

NOT

Boston Globe

Laid-off as many 30 at the paper.

“The Globe's weekday circulation as of the beginning of this year was 120,876, down 9.7 percent from the same time a year earlier and down 15.7 percent from the beginning of 2016. Its Sunday subscribers numbered 213,206, down 8.9 percent from a year prior and down 16.6 percent from the beginning of 2016,” according to Boston Business Journal.

Editor-in-chief Brian McGrory is facing allegations of sexual harassment.

Star columnist Kevin Cullen is being investigated for fabricating stories.

So much for the positive impact of benevolent media moguls like John Henry owning a newspaper.

NOT

NFL

If the goal of the decision by the NFL to fine players for kneeling during the National Anthem was to create conflict with its players and to incite more protests (and maintain a manufactured relevancy in the offseason) then the NFL has achieved its goal.

Simply, it appears that wealthy owners rejected the views of its players and sided with another wealthy white guy — President Donald Trump.

The NFL has lost viewership — look for a lot more decline in the 2018 season.  All PR is not good PR. 

NOT

The Culture of “No”

One of Rhode Island’s greatest strengths is its natural beauty and it needs to be preserved with the greatest vigilance, but we may have hit a tipping point in which little or nothing can be sited, especially when it comes to energy sources.

Without arguing the merits of any of the projects, there is organized opposition to every proposed energy project:

Gas powered energy plant in Burrillville

Solar projects in numerous communities

LNG facility in Providence

Wind projects in numerous communities

Biomass project in Johnston

NOT

Brady Sullivan

The loft mill developer is being sued, investigated by the U.S. EPA, and on Thursday, the RI Fire Marshall hit them with 21 fire code violations.

Hundreds are claiming to be adversely impacted by mold and contamination. 

In other New England states, they have been fined by the EPA and sued by tenants. Rhode Island has given the company millions in historic tax credits.