Every Friday, GoLocalProv takes a look at who is rising and who is falling in Rhode Island and national politics, business, culture, and sports.
This week's list includes stiffing victims' families, Providence's Hollywood star, and a highly caffeinated national ranking.
Now, we are expanding the list, the political perspectives, and we are going to a GoLocal team approach while encouraging readers to suggest nominees for who is "HOT" and who is "NOT."
Manny Perez is an actor’s actor who has appeared in what seems like every television series and an endless number of movies.
The Dominican-born Perez came to Rhode Island as an eight-year-old and is one of eleven children. His family settled in South Providence and he attended multiple elementary schools, Roger Williams Middle School and Central High School.
When they moved to America, Perez said he spoke no English and there were no ESL classes.
On Friday, Perez's movie La Soga Salvation premieres in Providence, playing throughout the day and evening at Providence Place Mall. SEE THE INTERVIEW ON GOLOCAL LIVE
Providence Named 5th Best City in U.S. for Coffee-Lovers
A new study has Providence ranked as the 5th best coffee city in the United States.
According to Clever — a real estate data company — Rhode Island’s capital city got the high ranking for the following reasons.
“Ever since the Boston Tea Party prompted a switch from leaves to beans, the United States has been running on coffee like it's our patriotic duty,” wrote Taelor Candiloro for Clever. "Americans drink roughly 656 million cups of coffee per day — in fact, U.S. adults reported drinking more coffee than bottled water last year."
"As cities gradually lifted COVID restrictions, out-of-home coffee consumption has increased 16% since January 2021, marking a near return to pre-pandemic levels,” Candiloro continued. “But with global shortages driving the price-per-pound of coffee to highs we haven't seen since 2011, it's a good time to decipher where coffee-lovers can get the best brew for their buck.”
This week, Providence College's President Rev. Kenneth R. Sicard announced the College has named Steven Napolillo ’98, PC’s senior associate athletic director, as the College’s next vice president and director of athletics.
Napolillo will succeed Bob Driscoll, who announced his retirement last week after serving the College for 21 years.
“Steve has demonstrated that he possesses the key qualities that drive success,” said Father Sicard. “I have witnessed firsthand Steve’s evolution as a leader over the past 18 years, and I am confident that he will continue to build and expand upon the legacy Bob Driscoll created and nurtured at Providence College during the past two decades.”
Father Sicard added, “Before being elected president in 2020, I was blessed to have served as executive vice president to PC President Father Brian J. Shanley from 2005-2020. I learned a great deal from him, and when I assumed my new role, was able to continue and build upon the legacy he left behind. I recognize the similarity that exists between Bob and Steve’s relationship. Such continuity of leadership allows for a seamless transition that ensures the ongoing success we have enjoyed under Bob’s leadership and encourages new opportunities. I am completely confident that Steve will oversee the PC athletic program with integrity, commitment, and genuine passion for excellence.”
The Rhode Island Trucking Association (RITA) celebrated the opening of its new headquarters in Warwick this week with a ribbon-cutting and Open House.
RITA acquired the 6,400 square foot, Class A office building at the northern end of Bald Hill Road in September when the association said it was compelled to relocate from Pawtucket. The new location is more centrally located for the convenience of members while the large parking lot will enable the continuation of safety trainings.
"This building is a great tribute to all of the members of the association," emphasized RITA Chairman Mike Kiselica. "And it is fitting that it is in the visionary city of Warwick."
"I'm a blue-collar guy," said Mayor Frank Picozzi in his remarks. "I know the work you do for the working men and women."
If Joe Biden owns inflation, then he deserves credit for the rise in the gross domestic product.
"For the full year, the economic expansion was 5.7 percent, the biggest since 1984 — an impressive feat, though one that also reflects the depth of the damage inflicted by the coronavirus the year before," reports the New York Times.
How Can RI Receive $114 Million in an Opioid Settlement and Victims Families Receive Nothing?
A GoLocal editorial raised questions about the use of funds from the settlement:
"Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha and other state officials held a press conference on Tuesday announcing a settlement with some of the companies tied to the opioid crisis — a crisis that killed thousands of Rhode Islanders.
Under the agreement, the state of Rhode Island will be paid $114.5 million over the next 18 years. The dollars the state will receive will be divided into two pots.
The vast majority — 80% — will go to support state “abatement programs." And, 20% will be distributed to Rhode Island cities and towns “to be used solely for opioid abatement.”
However, families, including the children who lost a parent -- who are in some cases now parentless -- will receive nothing in this agreement.
For grandparents now raising their dead children’s children, there is nothing. Not a penny."
It was hard to sink lower than Saturday’s loss 63-61 to one of the worst teams in the Atlantic 10, George Washington, but the Rams did it Tuesday night.
Tuesday, the Rams lost to Richmond University 70-63 after leading by 15 points.
Here are some of the ugly stats:
- The Rams scored 1 point in the last 6 minutes.
- The Rams were outscored 15-1 at the end of the game.
- The Spiders outscored the Rams by 20 points after halftime.
- Rhode Island had no field goals over the final 5:50. A 3-point basket from Jalen Carey put the Rams ahead 62-55, but URI missed its final six field-goal attempts and turn the ball over twice during a game-ending 15-1 run.
