Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not - December 12, 2025
Analysis
Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not - December 12, 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 - December 12, 2025
HOT
Big Series A Raise for RI Co.
Portsmouth-based Vatn Systems, the defense technology company building autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) for the United States military, allied nations, and commercial customers, announced on Wednesday that it has closed $60 million in Series A funding, bringing total capital raised to date to $76.5 million.
In November of 2024, the company raised $13 million in its seed round. Since then, it has been all growth.
The AUV industry is red hot due in part to the need for advanced military and research equipment. Founded in 2023 by a team of maritime experts and military leaders, Vatn Systems is on a mission to be the next underwater defense prime in a world where autonomous systems dominate the naval battlespace.
The company is led, in part, by Nelson and Freddie Mills — both of whom live in Rhode Island and grew up in upstate New York. The third cofounder is Barrington-native Geoff Manchester, the company's chief technology officer.
"Vatn Systems is on a mission to become the next underwater defense prime in a world where autonomous systems dominate the naval battlespace," said Nelson Mills, co-founder and CEO of Vatn Systems. "Demand for affordable, scalable autonomous systems in undersea environments is accelerating rapidly. This funding strengthens our position as the leader in deployable AUV technology and enables us to expand our team, accelerate R&D, and scale manufacturing to capture this growing demand and win critical contracts both domestically and internationally."
Nelson believes that by the end of 2026, the company will be producing tens of thousands of AUVs.
HOT
No National Championship, But Great Season
The URI Football team fell Saturday to UC-Davis in the playoffs, but Coach Jim Fleming had another outstanding season.
The Rams finished the season 11-3.
HOT
Heartfelt Thank You From Newport County YMCA to NBA star
The Y writes:
From playing basketball at the Newport County YMCA, to St. George’s, to Villanova, to the NBA, and now in the Euro League for Anadolu Efes, Cole Swider has not forgotten about his home in Newport County.
We were blown away to receive a very generous donation to Santa’s Workshop from the Portsmouth native and basketball star.
This hometown hero stayed close to his roots after all his success, ensuring kids in our community have special gifts for the holidays.
We are proud to support Cole in his professional career and to share this full-circle moment. Thank you, Cole, for reminding us that home is where the heart is.
PHOTO: YMCA
HOT
The Holidays in Providence
This week, Santa was at Track 15, Earth Wind & Fire played to a sold-out crowd at PPAC, and Trinity Rep hosted A Christmas Carol.
It is a wonderful time to enjoy family and friends.
HOT
Indiana GOP
The Republicans in the Indiana Senate voted to reject the latest partisan gerrymandering plan.
They bucked the President.
Democrats and Republicans should stop the democracy killing strategy.
NOT
Disturbing Allegations Out of URI
GoLocal News Editor Kate Nagle wrote this week about a URI student who is leveling some serious allegations against the university:
A disabled PhD student at the University of Rhode Island (URI) filed a federal lawsuit alleging the university violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) - and her civil rights.
In a 36-page complaint filed this week in U.S. District Court, Cumberland resident Rachel Young says that after enrolling in the fall of 2025, URI “failed to provide her with classrooms in a building that had an ADA-compliant restroom, accessible doors and hallways, an accessible path, and accessible parking.”
“During the time that she attended classes, she purposely did not eat or drink from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to avoid needing to use the restroom or having an accident,” according to the lawsuit. “This led to extreme exhaustion, fatigue, and dehydration.”
Young is being represented by disability rights attorney Ellen Marjorie Saideman, who in 2023 represented a deaf student in Michigan whose case against a local school district for violating ADA went to the United States Supreme Court - as co-counsel for the plaintiff, she won on a 9-0 decision.
“Access to a restroom is a fundamental civil right, necessary for human health, safety, and dignity,” according to Young’s lawsuit against URI. “ADA has set clear standards for accessible restrooms since July 26, 1991."
URI President Marc Parlange promised in an email that the issue would be resolved, but nothing happened.
NOT
Drugs and Overdoses
The incident this past weekend, first reported by GoLocal, about the seven Providence College students who were rushed to the hospital due to drug overdoses, is a sad reminder of the lost war against drugs.
NOT
False and Ridiculous Claim
On March 14, 2024, Governor Dan McKee and the Rhode Island Director of Transportation held a press conference on the timeline and cost of demolishing the failed Washington Bridge and constructing the replacement bridge.
At that press conference, the demolition was to be completed by March of 2025.
And McKee presented a plan that would have the new bridge in place by September of 2026 at the latest.
Now, on Friday, McKee announced “the Washington Bridge project reached a major milestone ahead of schedule: the full demolition of the old bridge is complete.”
“We continue to make progress on the Washington Bridge project, and reaching this major demolition milestone is an important step forward,” said McKee. “I know travelers are still feeling the frustration of traffic, and I want to assure them that we are fully committed to rebuilding this bridge as quickly as possible, with one of the nation’s top bridge builders leading the work. We thank Rhode Islanders for their patience as we construct a new, safe bridge that will improve traffic flow and shorten commute times.”
The Governor’s office claimed: “The full demolition project was completed in two major phases: first, the deck and superstructure, and then the substructure. The deck and the superstructure were removed between July 2024 and February 2025, finishing on schedule. Substructure demolition began in March 2025, with work on the underwater portions starting in July 2025 in accordance with environmental permits. The final phase wrapped up this week, ahead of schedule.”
NOT
New Bond Deal for Pawtucket Minor League Soccer Stadium
The new deal for refinancing the Pawtucket stadium.
The McKee administration did not disclose the new scheme - GoLocal dug up the bond refinancing.
The state is taking on even more financial responsibility for a stadium that in 100% owned by California-based developer Brett Johnson.
