Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s - November 14, 2025
Analysis
Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s - November 14, 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."
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Over the past 14-plus years, more than 7,400 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? - November 14, 2025
HOT
Top Winners
After securing first place out of 82,000 students nationwide on October 7, 2025, Evan Perez, a senior at The Met High School, and Adrian Bartista, a Met alum and freshman at the University of Rhode Island, will present their business plan, Color Your Life, at the United Nations in New York City on November 20, 2025. They will compete among student entrepreneurs from 14 countries at the prestigious NFTE (Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship) World Series of Innovation.
Color Your Life is a digital coloring book platform that integrates artificial intelligence and proprietary software developed by the students themselves. The innovative concept allows users to blend creativity, technology, and mindfulness through personalized digital art experiences.
Perez and Bartista are members of the Entrepreneurship Program at The Met Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which empowers young people to design solutions for real-world problems through creativity, business acumen, and community impact.
“This is our 4th national title in six years and earning these accomplishments reflects the spirit of innovation and collaboration that drives our students,” said Jodie Woodruff, director of The Met Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. “Evan and Adrian have shown that with passion, persistence, and purpose, young people can make a real difference.”
The duo’s success showcases Rhode Island’s growing presence in youth entrepreneurship and the impact of programs that encourage students to dream big, take risks, and build ventures that inspire change.
HOT
Trinity Moves Forward - With $40 Million
Trinity Rep is moving forward with the renovation of its Lederer Theater Center, marking the start of construction and the most significant facility project in the company’s history.
The $40 million project is off and running.
Built as the Emery’s Majestic Theater in 1917, the historic Lederer Theater Center has not been substantially renovated since the early 1970s, when Trinity Rep first purchased the building.
According to Trinity, the renovation "will bring Rhode Island’s Tony Award-winning theater into the 21st century, making the spaces safer, more accessible, and more welcoming for all, while adding much-needed square footage to the facility."
Demolition work began this fall, and construction will continue through early 2027.
PHOTO: Mark Turek
HOT
Entering the Arena
Welcome to the bigs.
As GoLocal was first to report this week, there is officially a new entrant in the Democratic primary for Governor in Rhode Island.
Rhode Island business owner Greg Stevens, who had previously indicated he was considering a run, made it official Wednesday, filing his campaign finance "notice of organization" at the Rhode Island Board of Elections.
“I’m not running as a politician — I’m running as someone who’s lived on the front lines,” said Steven, who owns Pat’s Italian Restaurants. “As a small business owner, I’ve spent my life creating jobs, paying taxes, and helping Rhode Islanders put food on their tables.”
Stevens now joins declared candidates Dan McKee and Helena Foulkes in the Democratic primary for Governor in 2026.
“I’m not ‘woke’ — I’m awake. Awake to what’s happening to our state, our economy, and our people,” said Stevens.
HOT
Morales Is Taking it to Smiley
He is everywhere. Whether you like his politics or not, Rhode Island State Representative David Morales - who is running for Mayor of Providence - is in full campaign mode.
He appeared at a campaign event Wednesday night just down the street from Mayor Brett Smiley’s East Side mansion and turned out a solid crowd. Smiley and Morales are on schedule to meet in the Democratic primary in September of 2026.
The event held at the neighborhood bookstore, Books on the Square, was nearly overflowing with nearly all the seats filled and another 15 or so standing in the small retailer.
Morales spoke with attendees and answered questions on issues ranging from education to RIPTA to how the colleges and universities could contribute more to the city, both fiscally and as neighbors.
Smiley signed an agreement with Brown University that stands out, and not in a positive way. Yale pays New Haven over $23 million annually, and Brown, in its payment in lieu of taxes agreement, pays a fraction of that amount.
The Smiley deal, signed in 2023, allows Brown to pay just $8.7 million a year.
The Morales event, dubbed a town hall, featured drinks and cookies and was a contrast in tone to Smiley.
While Smiley tends to lecture like a McKinsey consultant telling Providence residents what they should know, Morales, during his presentation Wednesday night, offered a more collaborative approach.
The Democratic primary is less than ten months away, and Morales appears to be taking his message to every neighborhood, including Smiley’s backyard.
NOT
RISD: Art Nouveau? Or Just Trashing the Neighborhood
RISD is having its visiting maintenance trucks and staff cars park all over the historic Market Square.
Can you imagine Faneuil Hall turned into a dumping ground? Nope, this is just another case of the Smiley administration allowing RISD to trash the area.
The ever-growing arrogance of colleges and universities in Providence, which views the city as a backdrop at their disposal, is nearly endless. SEE Providence College's Halloween melee.
NOT
AI Is Really Coming for Your Job
The boss of one of the UK's largest online retailers has predicted automation and artificial intelligence (AI) will slash his workforce by two-thirds within the next three years.
Nick Glynne, the boss of Buy It Direct which owns Appliances Direct, told BBC 5 Live's Wake Up To Money that future prospects for hiring people in the UK was "very bleak" for his business.
The company employs more than 800 staff and more than 500 jobs were estimated to go. This was not a "fixed plan", though the process was being sped up by extra costs placed on the firm by the government, Mr Glynne said.
NOT
State House Bridge "Investigation"
Zero for three.
The Rhode Island General Assembly's third hearing on the failed Washington Bridge was equally embarrassing as the two previous hearings.
They hired former U.S. Attorney Zachary Cunha, who seemed ill-prepared for his role as an investigator. Cunha allowed Alviti to blather for hours during the hearing about unrelated matters. The hearing was about the failed Washington Bridge, and Alviti gobbled up the clock with the same refrains about consultants checking the work of consultants and how his department fixed 300 other bridges.
Cunha was hired three weeks ago. He failed to be prepared on the key issues.
NOT
Providence Schools
This week, GoLocal unveiled that three Providence Public Schools employees have been placed under investigation and on leave due to three student-related incidents.
One of the educators has been arrested and charged.
Recently, GoLocal broke the story about a number of teachers being assaulted by students.
How is this state's takeover of the Providence Schools doing?
NOT
The Penny
It was a good run for more than 230 years.
The anti-penny lobby won out.
