HOT

Mike Moore
He might not be a household name in RI, but he could have a profound impact.

As GoLocal reported this week, "Moore, arguably the top litigator in America, is now zeroing in on Purdue Pharma and other opioid manufacturers and distributors.

Moore in the early 1990s led the 50 state battle against big tobacco that led to a $250 billion settlement when he was the Attorney General in the state of Mississippi. He was also a key player in the $60 billion-plus settlement with BP for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Moore’s effort against the opioid manufacturers and distributors potentially has significant implications for Rhode Island.
 

HOT

Brown on the Move

They said it would take three days -- and it took two.
Brown University’s historic Sharpe House has been moved to its new location on Brown Street.

After the move of the historic structure started on Monday, the house is now situated in its new location directly adjacent to Peter Green House, another 19th-century residence, which was also moved by the university to Brown Street in 2007 to create “The Walk" -- the walkway between the main campus and the former Pembroke campus.

According to a university spokesperson, now that the house is on Brown Street in its new location, a new foundation will be constructed to finalize the moving process. 
 

HOT

RI Dept. of Health Addressing Opioid Abuse

Rhode Island state dentist Dr. Sam Zwetchkenbaum appeared on GoLcoal LIVE where he spoke to efforts by the state to reduce opioid prescribing among dentists. 

Zwetchkenbaum spoke to a recent study that showed that over-the-counter pain medications are more effective than prescription opioid pain medication -- and that young adults who are prescribed opioids by their dentists are more likely to have substance abuse problems. 

Governor Gina Raimondo, however, continues to refuse to return -- or donate -- campaign contributions from the Sacklers of Purdue Pharma and Oxycontin fortune -- and now litigants named in multiple lawsuits around the country.
RIDOH, hot.

Raimondo, see NOT HOT. 
 

HOT

Narragansett Bay

The City of East Providence announced this week that after being closed for nearly a century, the Sabin Point Park Beach will reopen for swimming in the next five to ten years — with the help of funding from the Rhode Island Attorney General’s office. 

City engineer Erik Skadberg joined GoLocal News Editor Kate Nagle on GoLocal LIVE to talk about the logistics of reopening the first and only beach in the Upper Narragansett Bay in generations. 
 

HOT

Leveraging Celebrity to Promote Local Arts

Lin-Manuel Miranda is composer, lyricist, playwright, rapper, and actor best-known for creating and starring in the Broadway musical Hamilton and on Tuesday he announced the creation of a new scholarship for Performing Arts Students at Rhode Island College.

The scholarship identifies rising juniors or seniors from underrepresented populations who are interested in pursuing a career in music, theatre or dance and who have demonstrated strong talent.
 

NOT

RI’s Population

The ever stagnant RI population continues to take its toll on the state’s economy and, now, its political influence.

Rhode Island is scheduled to lose a Congressional seat after the 2020 election and the state will join the likes of Wyoming and Vermont — only one house member.

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Poverty

It now costs more than $60,000 per year for a family of four to live in Rhode Island says a new study released on Thursday by the Economic Policy Institute.

The report, titled the Rhode Island Standard of Need (RISN), finds that it costs a single-parent family over $55,000 and a two-parent family more than $60,000 to raise a toddler and school-age children.

A single adult has expenses close to $22,000.

“All Rhode Islanders deserve the opportunity for economic stability. The RISN shows how work support programs, including child care assistance, subsidized health insurance and SNAPA help working families close their budget gap when earnings are not enough. An adequate minimum wage and state Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) are vital to boosting workers’ incomes. Rhode Island should continue to move forward with improving access to child care assistance and increasing the minimum wage and the state EITC,” said Rachel Flum, executive director of the Economic Progress Institute.

NOT

700% Increase

How could it happen?  A 400 foot pedestrian bridge now has jumped to a cost of  $21.9 million and climbing.

It started in September 2010 when then-Mayor David Cicilline and Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) officials announced a competition to design a pedestrian bridge across the Providence River — at a span of just 400 feet. The bridge was estimated to cost approximately $3 million.

Over time, the scope of the project has been reduced and yet the cost of the pedestrian bridge has doubled, tripled and then some. 

By 2011, the total project cost was estimated to be $5.5 million according to Providence and RIDOT presentations. 

Now, under Governor Gina Raimondo’s administration, the cost continues to spiral and is expected to be $21.9 million or more. In just the past two years -- the estimated cost by RIDOT to the now trending project cost has jumped over 68 percent -- from $13 million to $21.9 million.

NOT

Stock Market

Down, down, down.

The market has given back every bit of gain of 2018 and with the Federal Reserve increasing rates this week, the likelihood of an immediate reversal is low. Get ready for a wild ride.

NOT

Opioid Industry's Influence

While Mike Moore (SEE HOT), arguably the top litigator in America, is now zeroing in on Purdue Pharma and other opioid manufacturers and distributors, the dark hand of the industry can be seen everywhere including the Rhode Island State House.

Moore’s effort against the opioid manufacturers and distributors potentially has significant implications for Rhode Island.

First, Rhode Island is home to one of the largest Oxycontin manufacturing facilities — a facility that is a major employer in Rhode Island. In September, GoLocal unveiled that Rhode Island is home to one of the largest manufacturing plants of the drug in the world -- and the company's marketing functions.

It has been reported the ownership relationship between Purdue Pharma and RI-based Rhodes Technologies and its related marketing company. Rhodes is a subsidiary to Purdue, the company owned by the Sackler family -- the billionaires whose patriarch invented oxycontin and is now facing criticism and legal actions across the country for pushing the drug -- often described as "heroin in a pill."

Second, Rhode Island is suing Purdue Pharma as are more than 40 others states and thousands of cities and towns across the country.

Third, Governor Gina Raimondo continues to refuse to return or donate the $12,500 she has accepted in campaign donations from Purdue Pharma’ Jonathan Sackler and his wife.