Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not - January 30, 2026

HOT

Could a Medical School at URI Help Fix RI’s Healthcare System?

A legislative commission recommends establishing an MD-granting medical school at the University of Rhode Island.

The issue has been studied by the General Assembly for more than a year.

Both Massachusetts and Connecticut have state-sponsored medical schools.

Today, Rhode Island faces a healthcare crisis, with one of the most significant issues being the growing shortage of primary care physicians.

“Having a local, public medical school – alongside in-state residencies, loan forgiveness and scholarship programs for graduates who commit to providing primary care in Rhode Island, and continually raising the state’s low primary care reimbursement rates – would enable more young doctors to enter primary care and to practice in our state once they graduate, the commission found,” said the press release announcing the recommendation. 

Presently, the fate of two Rhode Island hospitals — CharterCARE’s Roger Williams and Fatima — are in bankruptcy. A confidential memo secured by GoLocal unveiled an effort to stabilize the hospitals in a deal with Brown Health. A number of major primary care provider groups have failed.

“Rhode Island is deep in a primary care crisis, and one that is projected to get even worse in the next several years. We need to take decisive action to bring primary care providers here and make them want to stay. After looking at the issue, it’s clear that enabling Rhode Island students to more affordably enter the primary care field, and supporting them once they make that choice, is both feasible and necessary,” said Sen. Pamela J. Lauria, co-chairwoman of the commission.

HOT

Perry Raso

The bounce-back by noted Rhode Island food innovator Perry Raso is underway.

The chef, restaurant owner, and oyster farmer took a major blow in May 2025 when his Matunuck Oyster Bar was devastated by a fire.

The building was a total loss.

Now, Raso is opening Matunuck Atelier & Market in Wakefield, the next evolution of his “commitment to craftsmanship, culinary excellence, and community. Located in the business district of Wakefield, this new venture offers a refined dining and shopping experience unlike any other in the region.”

PHOTO: Pat Durkin 

HOT

New England Patriots

How many Super Bowls is this?

Oh, 12 appearances, and no other team has more than 8.

HOT

Red Hot PC Men's Hockey

As GoLocal sports columnist Bob McMahon wrote this week:

The Providence College hockey team is officially the hottest team in college hockey.  The Friars swept another blueblood Hockey East opponent for the third weekend in a row.  Six straight wins.

They have now won nine of their last 10 games and are 15-7-2 for the season. READ MORE

NOT

Plant City Closing

Providence’s award-winning Plant City will close its location at 334 South Water Street on Feb. 8. The world’s largest plant-based restaurant, Plant City, opened four restaurants, three bars, a coffee bar, a retail market, and a community cellar in June of 2019.

After six and a half years in business, Plant City Providence’s owner and management team cited the Washington Bridge disruption’s significant impact on traffic patterns and access to the waterfront as a reason for its closure.  

“It is with heavy hearts that Plant City Providence announces our closure,” owner Kim Anderson said. “Rhode Islanders and visitors welcomed us with open arms in 2019.  We are so honored to have been a part of your lives for six and a half years, and grateful for every visit of every guest.” 

The restaurant recently underwent significant improvements. 

NOT

Smiley's Storm Cleanup and Bad Judgment

The Smiley administration screwed up most every aspect of the response to the snowstorm, from the timing of announcing the parking ban and school closings to towing. 

To add insult to injury, Smiley, in the middle of the city's attempt to clean up, jumped on a plane to attend an out-of-state conference.

NOT

Slashing Local Sports Radio

Longtime Providence sports personality Scott Cordischi and former ABC 6 Sports Director Nick Coit hosted a smart radio show on WEEI 103.7 for the past few years.

It was one of the only local radio sports shows. Now, after the station's sale to public radio, the parent company decided to end the show before the deal was finalized.

Cordishi has been the best local sports radio analyst for the past three decades. 

NOT

Layoffs

East Greenwich-based EaglePicher has filed with the State of Rhode Island, notifying it that the company is laying off 38 Rhode Island employees.

The layoffs are scheduled for March.

EaglePicher filed its WARN letter (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) this month.

A WARN letter is a legally mandated notice informing employees, local officials, and state dislocated worker units of impending mass layoffs, plant closures, or significant relocations.