Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - March 8, 2024
Analysis
Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - March 8, 2024
We have expanded the list, and we are going to a GoLocal team approach while encouraging readers to suggest nominees for who is "HOT" and who is "NOT."
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Over the past 12-plus years, more than 6,000 have been tagged as HOT or NOT.
Email GoLocal by midday on Thursday about anyone you think should be tapped as "HOT" or "NOT." Email us HERE.
Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - March 8, 2024
HOT
RI Jobs Numbers Are Good
Rhode Island businesses added 2,200 jobs in January as the state’s unemployment rate rose to 3.6 percent, the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training announced on Thursday.
Over the year, jobs were up 9,900 from January 2023, and the unemployment rate was up seven-tenths of a percentage point.
The revised December jobs data revealed that Rhode Island had recovered all the 108,700 jobs lost during the pandemic shutdown.
Rhode Island’s Labor Force
The January unemployment rate was 3.6 percent, up two-tenths of a percentage point from the December rate of 3.4 percent. Last year, the rate was 2.9 percent in January.
The U.S. unemployment rate was 3.7 percent in January, unchanged from December. The U.S. rate was 3.4 percent in January 2023.
The number of unemployed Rhode Island residents — those residents classified as available for and actively seeking employment — was 20,900, up 1,300 from December. The number of unemployed residents was up 4,300 over the year.
Employment in Focus
The number of employed Rhode Island residents was 557,600, up 1,100 over the month and up 3,700 over the year. The Rhode Island labor force totaled 578,500 in January, up 2,300 over the month and up 8,000 from January 2023.
HOT
A Night for Dale
Monday night, hundreds came out to pay tribute to Dale Venturini for her 35 years of contribution to Rhode Island as the head of the Rhode Island Hospitality Association.
HOT
Who Should Be Opening? We Have Our Thoughts!
Rock legend Graham Parker is coming to Rhode Island on April 10 at The Met.
Also appearing is Rhode Island Music Hall of Famer Mark Cutler.
We might be Cutler-biased here at GoLocal but we think Parker should be opening for Cutler!
HOT
Perfection Continues
Jenna Cosgrove and her RIC women's basketball team go for their 30th consecutive win on Friday night in the Sweet Sixteen game at RIC.
They have no losses.
HOT
Reed, McKee, and Ahmad
Give them credit.
Led by Jack Reed, the trio announced big news for Rhode Island.
Reed, Rhode Island's senior senator who serves on the Appropriations Committee and is the Chairman of the Armed Services Committee, worked with federal officials from DoD and the FAA to help secure $63 million the federal funding to repair and expand runways and Quonset.
Governor Dan McKee and Rhode Island Airport CEO Iftikhar Ahmad drove the strategy.
HOT
There Is Cool, and Then, There Is an Art Gallery in an Apartment Cool
GoLocal's art columnist knows where all the cool stuff is and this week's piece is no exception. How about an art gallery in an apartment?
When most people think of a gallery, they think of a crisp white cube, perhaps in a storefront downtown. Galleries come in a variety of formats, but there is also a long tradition of exhibitions taking place in apartments and domestic spaces. At 44 East Manning Street in the heart of the East Side, a new apartment art gallery has emerged. The result is an exciting and inviting venue to see contemporary art.
The space, called East Manning Projects, was started by local artist and RISD Painting Critic Scott Lerner. Describing the mission of the gallery, Lerner points to hopes for greater connectedness on the local art scene. He says, “I started East Manning Projects hoping to allow artists and art lovers to meet one another. The arts community in the greater Providence area is pretty fragmented, divided up across cities, towns, universities, local organizations, and age groups. By putting together shows, I wanted to see if I could create opportunities for more paths to cross.”
HOT
Froma for the Win
Columnist Froma Harrop scores a knockout.
Her column, "Yes, You Can Haul Your Butt to an 8 AM Meeting," was right on the mark.
PHOTO: Annie Spratt, Unsplash
NOT
Remember When URI and PC Basketball Were Rivals?
URI men's basketball program is nearing a death spiral. Once upon a time, PC and URI were rivals; now, the programs are going to very different places.
The University of Rhode Island men’s basketball team was blown out Wednesday night by George Mason.
The Rams season is in freefall.
The loss to the Patriots 69-51 at the Ryan Center was on Senior night.
URI has now lost 7 games in a row and has fallen to 11-19 overall and 5-12 in the Atlantic 10.
The Ram's team defense is now ranked 311 in the country -- giving up 77.6 points a game. There are 351 D-1 teams.
After beating the University of Massachusetts on January 13, the Rams were 9-7 on the season.
But since mid-January, the Rams 2-12.
For Coach Archie Miller, his two-year record leading the Rams is 20-41.
NOT
Bronze Stolen From Grave of Noted Artist Edward Bannister
GoLocal has learned that a significant piece of bronze has been stolen from the grave of noted Rhode Island artist Edward Bannister.
The theft of the bronze was detected by cemetery staff at the North Buriel Ground which is managed by the city of Providence.
The bronze is the critical element of the grave. Bannister is one of Rhode Island’s most noted artists and is identified as one of the most celebrated Black artists in America.
PHOTO: Jen Snoots
NOT
The Ongoing Failed Management of the RI Department of Transportation Is a Black Eye for Rhode Island
What else is there to say.
