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URI v. PC Rivalry

One of the best days of the year is the cross-state rivalry between the University of Rhode Island and Providence College men's basketball teams.

It is our big-time sports moment. Saturday night, the two go head-to-head at the "Civic Center." 

The game is sold out.

National TV has it on Fox Sports 1.

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Top Rhode Island Businessman Pushing to Build Baseball Stadium in Providence

Providence-based businessman Art Solomon owns one baseball team, once tried to buy the Pawtucket Red Sox, and is now working to build a new minor league stadium in Providence.

In 2004, Solomon’s bid to purchase the PawSox from the late Ben Mondor was rebuffed.

But within a year or so Solomon had purchased the major interest in the Double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats — the affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays.

Solomon has owned the team since.

For five years, he owned another minor league team — a high-A Minor League Baseball affiliate of the Tampa Bay Rays located in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

In December 2013, Solomon sold the team to Manhattan Capital Sports, headed by Stuart Katzoff. Solomon's children own the Hartford Yard Goats. who play in the Eastern League and are a Double-A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies.

Solomon literally wrote the book on minor league sports ownership, "Making It in the Minors: A Team Owner's Lessons in the Business of Baseball."

Make no mistake about it: Solomon made his wealth on Wall Street and in real estate.

Owning minor league teams has been a passion.

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Three Nights of Lights -- Cool and Innovative

The Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau (PWCVB) and the City of Providence announced the return of Three Nights of Lights.

The citywide celebration runs December 1-3.

“I am thrilled to welcome visitors from near and far as we activate downtown with three days of vibrant performances and holiday festivities," said Mayor Brett P. Smiley. "Weekends like these exemplify why Providence is the entertainment capital of Rhode Island. Three Nights of Lights is the best way to gather together with our community to celebrate the holiday season and witness first-hand why Providence is a travel destination all year long.”

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Imago Gallery Celebrates 20 Years - Inside Art with Michael Rose

Michael Rose, GoLocal's art contributor writes:

Two decades in business is an impressive milestone in any industry, but particularly so in the fickle realm of the visual arts. In Warren, the artist-run Imago Gallery is in the midst of celebrating twenty years and is mounting a special show featuring forty artists to celebrate.

The exhibition, titled “20 Years / 40 Artists”, is on view through December 23 and includes a range of artworks that hint at the broad influence that Imago enjoys on the Rhode Island art scene.

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Rhode Island College Women Are Now Ranked #4

Coach Jenna Cosgrove and her squad are 34-4 over the last two years.

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No More Ben Mondor, That's for Sure

The PawSox first got gobbled up and then shipped up to Worcester.

After Worcester built the team a $159 million stadium, the team's ownership group announced they were looking to sell to a local group.

Oops, they are selling to a sports conglomerate owned by a $100 billion private equity fund. 

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Joke Rehab - Crew of 5

GoLocal has confirmed that the much anticipated interior demolition of the Superman building has finally begun, but for the past three weeks, only five workers have been onsite.

State officials had promised the project would create 1,500 construction jobs over the course of the rehab.

The developer, High Rock Westminster, has repeatedly promised the interior demolition of the building and that it would be spending upwards of $25 million.

First, on October 3, the developer announced in a press release that interior demolition of the building was beginning. “The first phase of the project will include interior demolition, asbestos abatement, and other work preparing various aspects of the building for restoration, totaling approximately $25 million dollars. This phase is expected to take six to nine months. No public tax dollars are being expended at this time,” said High Rock on October 3.

Further, they promised that the demolition would begin in October.

That did not happen. READ MORE

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Joke Rebab - No Sprinklers

Providence Fire Chief Derek Silva is voicing his opposition to the proposed plan submitted by the Superman developer to the City of Providence to remove the sprinkler system during the internal demolition of the building.

Specifically, High Rock Westminster, the corporation that owns the building, has applied for “Demolition of existing sprinkler system in High Rise building,” according to city records and Silva.

The Superman Building is 26 stories tall — 428 feet.

Silva told GoLocal, “We oppose this plan; it is a violation of the fire code.”

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Brown Blocks Press From Vigil for Palestinian-American Student Shot in VT

In an unprecedented move, Brown University is blocking the press from an event on campus on Monday. 

Brown University President Christina Paxton announced on Sunday that a vigil was going to be held for Brown student Hisham Awartani, one of three Palestinian students shot in Vermont over the weekend.

On Monday, as national and local press descended on the Providence campus, the university announced just hours before the vigil on the campus green that it would be closed to the press. 

“Never before in GoLocal’s nearly 14-year history has a college or university decided at the last moments before an event to block the media's access and ability to report,” said Josh Fenton, CEO and Co-Founder of GoLocal. “For the Paxson administration, who has repeatedly talked about the importance of the freedom of ideas in the past, this is a black eye to the freedom of the press.”

Brown spokesperson Amanda McGregor sent the following out on Monday afternoon — just hours before the event. 

We're fielding a high volume of inquiries from news organizations reaching out for more information and sharing requests for a news presence on the Brown University campus. To respect our community’s desire for privacy, we are not permitting external news organizations to have an on-campus presence today for media coverage of the 4:30 p.m. Vigil for Peace and Healing. 

We are conveying to all news media that the Brown University community is deeply shaken by the attack on one of our students in Vermont over the weekend, and the vigil is intended as a space where our students, faculty and staff can have the comfort of community with hopes of encouraging healing. It’s considered a private University event for this reason. Reporters are not permitted to film or conduct interviews on campus.

Brown is a private campus, including the College Green (also known as the Main Green), so news media may report from the public streets adjacent to the campus (including public property outside the Student Center arch on Waterman Street and outside of the campus gates on Prospect Street). We appreciate your understanding.

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New Partner in Providence Port Operation Linked to 7 Workers Deaths in 10 Years

There is a new major player at ProvPort and at port operations in East Providence — SSA Marine.

The mega-company is based out of Seattle, Washington. 

A GoLocal review found a series of safety violations and numerous worker deaths tied to SSA Marine's operations.

The company, its related company, SSA Terminal, and its parent company, Carrix, have been hit with millions in safety and environment fines, according to the website Violation Tracker.

Carrix is owned by the $40 billion Blackstone Infrastructure Partners, "the world’s largest alternative asset manager."

7 Workers Deaths in 10 Years

SSA Marine has a checkered track record on worker safety and is tied to multiple worker deaths. According to CAL/OSHA reports and other news sources, seven workers died in ten years.

Less than two weeks ago, Waterson Terminal Services, LLC, the operator at ProvPort, and SSA Marine announced they "agreed to enter into a joint venture to invest in WTS and support its continued growth as a leading provider of terminal management and stevedoring services for bulk, breakbulk, automobile, and offshore wind customers in New England.”

On Wednesday, it was announced the triad of ProvPort, Waterson Terminal, and SSA Marine signed a lease to develop East Providence’s "South Quay."

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