HOT

Stephen Cardi's Quote

At a time when many in Rhode Island are questioning the honesty and transparency of the McKee administration, Cardi's quote on the importance of trust is so poignant.

Cardi said in an interview with GoLocal, regarding the misleading statements made by RIDOT Director Peter Alviti since the Washington Bridge was closed, that he was worried that it would damage the trust people now have in their everyday lives. 

“Well, even an atheist has to live in faith, because you have faith that the bridges you're going over are safe,” said Cardi.

HOT

Matt Sheaff

It is a big loss for Rhode Island government as Matt Sheaff departs for "greener pastures" in the corporate world.

Sheaff was a stabilizing force at Commerce RI and then in Governor Dan McKee's office.

He was responsive to the media, always respectful, and focused on serving the public.

Add in that he has been a prolific fundraiser for children's causes.

At GoLocal, we wish him the very best.

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Let's Hear It for the Home Team

The James Beard Foundation announced its 2024 Restaurant and Chef Awards semifinalists on Wednesday.

The James Beard Awards are among the nation’s most prestigious culinary honors. The awards honor those who are creating exceptional food, food media content, and better food systems, while demonstrating a commitment to racial and gender equity, community, sustainability, and a culture where all can thrive.

"We are thrilled for the return of the James Beard Awards—recognizing the outstandingly talented leaders making their mark on American food,” said Clare Reichenbach, CEO of the James Beard Foundation. “As we’ve heard time and again from honorees, receiving this recognition has the potential to be truly transformative—and so, the Awards remain a vital platform for supporting and elevating the independent restaurant industry as a whole. Congratulations to our 2024 semifinalists and best of luck this Awards cycle!"

Rhode Island scored well — here is who was named:

Outstanding Restaurant

Bywater, Warren

Emerging Chef

Sky Haneul Kim, Gift Horse, Providence

Best New Restaurant

Tuxpan Taqueria, Central Falls

Outstanding Hospitality

Rhode Island: 
Giusto, Newport

Outstanding Bar

Courtland Club, Providence

Best Chef: Northeast

Peter Carvelli, Foglia, Bristol

Subat Dilmurat, Jahunger, Providence

Maria Meza, Dolores, Providence

Andy Teixeira, Newport Vineyards, Middletown

Basil Yu, Yagi Noodles, Newport

Nominees will be announced on Wednesday, April 3, and winners will be celebrated at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards ceremony on Monday, June 10, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

PHOTO: James Beard Semifinalists named CC: 3.0 Cullen 328

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WOW!

Michael Rose, GoLocal's art columnist, has a big write-up on a "wow" exhibit.

"The textile arts were the backbone of the local economy for generations and played a role in the working lives of many New Englanders. For Rhode Island artist Deborah Baronas, textiles are a fine art medium that brings impressive results and shares powerful stories about bodies at work. The fusion of concepts around fiber and labor makes for a strong solo exhibition of Baronas’ work on view at the Jamestown Arts Center through March 16.

Titled “Dropcloths: Tales of a Process,” Baronas’ show features an array of textiles created between 1983 and 2023. The show charts the productive decades-long career of a singular artist and shows off the remarkable effect of works created on and with cloth. Primarily focused on figures and work, the towering pieces in the exhibition have the effect of tapestries that aim to capture and share histories. An immersive installation brings viewers close to Baronas’ art, inviting a walk through artistic creation."

READ MORE

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GoLocal Investigation Leads to More Than 20% of Fines Collected by US Attorney in RI

U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Cunha announced Friday that the District of Rhode Island collected $6,952,328.06 in criminal and civil actions in Fiscal Year 2023. Of this amount, $3,275,794.48 was collected in criminal actions and $3,676,533.58 was collected in civil actions.

A series of more than 50 reports by GoLocalProv uncovered the dumping of contaminated materials next to homes in the Olneyville neighborhood of Providence. 

James White, President of Local 57, was the first to contact GoLocal and blow the whistle on the dumping.

Ultimately, the lead contractor on the 6/10 project, Barletta Heavy Division, was forced to pay the U.S. Attorney $1.5 million in a non-prosecution agreement.

The Barletta settlement equals 21% of the office's total collection.

6/10 in Focus, Washington Bridge Connection

The material dumped by Barletta was adjacent to homes and businesses — the homes included homes with multiple children and two pregnant women.

Barletta is also the contractor on the failed I-195 George Washington Bridge, which has been closed for more than six weeks, creating a commuting nightmare for many in Rhode Island.

Governor Dan McKee has defended the continued use of Barletta for the repair work on the closed bridge.

“This is why investigative journalism matters. GoLocal began uncovering the dumping in September of 2020, and it took thousands of hours of work to cover this environmental crime," said GoLocal Co-Founder and CEO Josh Fenton. 

HOT

Rhode Island’s Kali Reis Stars in HBO’s “True Detective” With Jodie Foster

Rhode Islander Kali Reis is making headlines by starring in "True Detective" with Jodie Foster. 

"True Detective: Night Country" is the fourth season of the crime drama television series, which premiered on January 14 on HBO MAX.

Reis plays Detective Evangeline Navarro on the show.

She previously wrote and starred in “Catch the Fair One,” where she played a Native American woman who embarks on the fight of her life, when she intentionally gets entangled in a human trafficking operation in an effort to retrace the steps of her little sister.

From EP Roots to Hollywood

A 2004 graduate of East Providence High School, Reis was given a key to the city by Mayor Bob DaSilva in 2023.

She has won the International Boxing Association crown, the World Boxing Council World Middleweight title, and the World Boxing Association and World Boxing Organization Super Lightweight Champion titles.

Now she has equal billing with Foster — winner of two Oscars and numerous awards throughout her career — in the detective series. 

It has been 50 years since Foster has appeared on TV.

“TV and streaming is where it’s at,” said Foster in an appearance on MSNBC’s Morning Joe this week.

“Two seconds into reading it, I was really captivated and wanted to know what happened,” said Reis of landing the role. “To have this as my third job, to get this opportunity was a pretty big deal. Just a blessing.” 

in 2023, Reis was inducted into the North American Indigenous Athletic Hall of Fame (NAIAHF) for becoming a role model for the youth of the community and for her accomplishments as an athlete.

“With my advocacy — I use advocacy very lightly with the work I do, it’s just something I feel as a duty as mixed-Indigenous, Cape Verdean woman, as having a warrior spirit, as being a voice for the voiceless,” said Reis of her role on "True Detective," on Morning Joe. 

"These women, these people that have gotten murdered, and have gone missing and have no authorities looking for our people is just something that needs to be put on mainstream media," said Reis. 

PHOTO: HBO promotion

NOT

Peter Alviti

Bullying the public.

6/10 contamination.

George Washington Bridge failure.

Misleading the public.

NOT

Child Sex Abuse Case Sits for 5 Years

A top techie, an allegation and charges of child sexual assault, and just one court hearing in five years — just one.

EDITOR’S NOTE: As a policy, GoLocal does not disclose the names of alleged victims of assault, nor does it disclose the names of juveniles involved in court proceedings.

Josh Chu is a top-tier technologist who has worked at a range of technology firms in Atlanta, Boston, and now, Providence. Today, he serves as Vice President of Engineering for Driver Technologies — a smartphone-driven tech firm.

According to his resume, he has worked for tech firms like Oracle and Upserve — Rhode Island tech guru Angus Davis’ former tech startup.

“Our focus is on providing easy access to your videos so that you can share and view them from anywhere,” says Driver Technologies in its promotion.

Beyond his executive role at Driver Technologies, Chu is also a real estate developer in Rhode Island, having just completed a significant apartment complex on North Main Street in Providence.

Charges Pending

He is being accused of sexual assault by a then-teenage family member and two counts of video voyeurism of the same child.

The complaint was filed with Providence Police in 2018 by the family of Chu’s then-wife. The allegations of molestation date back to 2015. 

Attorney General Peter Neronha’s office filed criminal charges against Chu on January 18, 2019 — more than five years ago.

The alleged victim was 14 years old when the child and family went to the Providence Public Safety Complex to file a complaint — ugly charges of sexual assault and voyeurism.

Now, more than five years after Neronha’s office filed the charges, there has not been a single court hearing.

Not one.

READ MORE

PHOTO: Camera Björn Antonissen, Unsplash, RI AG Peter Neronha, GoLocal

NOT

Mega-Media Layoffs

This week, the Los Angeles Times shed more than 20% of its newsroom, or 115 people.

TIME magazine has more layoffs.

Sports Illustrated fired nearly all its staff.

NOT

More Than Half of Los Angeles Times Layoffs Were Minorities

According to multiple reports, about 60% of the cuts to the LA Times newsroom were minority reporters. 

Why?

The union contract requires that the last hired are first fired.