Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - October 31, 2025
Analysis
Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - October 31, 2025
Every Friday, GoLocalProv takes a look at who is rising and who is falling in Rhode Island and national politics, business, culture, and sports.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST
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."
Over the past 14-plus years, more than 7,400 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? - October 31, 2025
HOT
If You Are Going to Do Halloween, Go Big
One home on Fosdyke Street in Providence is all in.
Buried on the corner of Fosdyke Street and Morris Avenue - one block over from Rochambeau Avenue - a true “yard of horrors” awaits. READ MORE
HOT
La Salle's New Leader
The Board of Trustees of La Salle Academy announced Tuesday that Donald J. Kavanagh, AFSC'69 ’69 will continue in the official capacity of President. This decision became official following approval by the Brothers of the Christian Schools’ District of Eastern North America. He will serve a three-year term concluding on June 30, 2028.
Kavanagh, who assumed the role of Interim President of La Salle Academy on July 1, 2025, has a long history at La Salle Academy. Having graduated from La Salle in 1969, he went on to teach Anatomy/Physiology, Biology, Health, and Physical Education. During his time as an educator, Kavanagh also coached cross country and track and field.
He then went on to serve as Assistant Principal and Senior Class Dean from 1999 to 2000 before taking on the role of Principal of La Salle Academy, a position he held through June of 2022.
HOT
T.J. Weeks, Jr. Realizing the Dream
GoLocal's Jim Malachowski had a great piece this week on RI's emerging basketball star:
Former Bishop Hendricken basketball star, T.J. Weeks Jr., was drafted on Saturday in the second round by the Wisconsin Herd of the NBA G League. The Wisconsin Herd is one of 31 teams in the G League, the NBA’s official minor league feeder program. The Herd is affiliated with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Upon getting the call from the Wisconsin Herd, Weeks said, “I am happy and excited to be drafted by the Herd. I took a chance, hoping to get into the G League instead of going overseas to play. This puts my foot in the door for the NBA.”
Weeks is from Warwick, and after attending Bishop Hendricken High School, he spent a prep year at Woodstock Academy, and played for the University of Massachusetts and then Rider University.
He will be leaving his job as a teacher’s aide at Ocean State Academy, working with children with autism, and heading out to Wisconsin as soon as he can get on a flight. G League training camps begin on October 27, with the G League Tip-Off Tournament starting on November 7th.
HOT
NOW OPEN
In September of 2024, GoLocal's Kate Nagle first reported the news that a remarkable new cafe was coming to Providence.
It is now open on North Main Street. The experience is tremendous. The cafe is beautiful and the coffee is delicious. Visit Here.
Here is what was reported in 2024:
A new business is coming to Rhode Island — which calls itself a “human rights movement disguised as a coffee shop.”
Bitty & Beau’s, which started in North Carolina and has expanded to nearly 20 locations across the country, will soon be opening in Providence.
According to its founders Amy and Ben Wright, it’s where “people with intellectual and developmental disabilities are valued in the workplace.”
The Wrights are parents of four children — Lillie, Emma Grace, Beau, and Bitty. Lillie was born with autism, and Bitty & Beau were born with Down syndrome.
It was when the Wrights wanted to start a business where their children could work that Bitty & Beau's was born.
GoLocal spoke with Amy Wright about the new location coming to Providence, and what people can expect when it arrives.
HOT
CVS Bounce Back
Financially, CVS reported solid numbers for the third quarter. It is good news for the company and Rhode Island.
Third quarter total revenues increased to a record high $102.9 billion, up 7.8% compared to the prior year.
"CVS Health uniquely delivers what the people we serve want the most: a connected, simpler experience that improves health and simplifies care. Our leadership team has stabilized operations and is focused on businesses and markets where we can succeed. As a result, we are making progress on our journey to be America's most trusted health care company. Our strong Enterprise performance demonstrates the continued focus we have on operational and financial improvement across our businesses," David Joyner, CVS Health President and CEO.
HOT
Once in a While, Government Works
Last week, Speaker of the House Joe Shekarchi called on Rhode Island Energy and the Public Utility Commission to hold off on shutoffs for those families impacted by the federal government shutdown.
Within a couple of days, the two worked through the issues.
There will be no shutoffs.
NOT
Smithfield
Here are the facts reported by the victim.
He was physically abused by members of the Smithfield High School football team, the subject of antisemitic verbal abuse, and sprayed with a material to reenact a Nazi gas chamber.
The boy attacked is Jewish.
The boys who allegedly did it were not dismissed from the football team or suspended from school.
A little historical lesson — The SS and their accomplices murdered approximately 1.5 million Jewish children, thousands of Roma (Gypsy) children, German children who had mental or physical disabilities, and Polish children.
On arrival at the death camps, the majority of children (usually under the age of 12) were sent directly to the gas chambers. Although Jewish adolescents (aged 13-18) were often not gassed immediately, but selected for forced labour, their long-term survival was rare, as most died from exhaustion and disease.
The children involved in the incident deserve better than a free pass. They needed to be educated about the atrocities and decency, paid a penalty, but maybe it is too late for them and their parents.
The failure by the School Committee, the Superintendent, the Principal, and the Football Coach is catastrophic. Unforgivable. Their failure defines the incompetence and de facto acceptance of the incident.
NOT
Investigation - Memorial Boulevard Bridge
A GoLocalProv investigation this week, reporting on the conditions of the columns supporting the Memorial Boulevard Bridge in Providence, unveils significant decay and damage.
The busy road is the critical infrastructure to downtown.
NOT
Investigation - Waterplace Park and Riverwalk
Equally disturbing, in a separate but related investigation, GoLocal uncovered the condition of Waterplace and Riverwalk.
GoLocal reported:
In just the past three years, millions of dollars were appropriated and targeted to make repairs to Waterplace Park and Riverwalk, but a GoLocal review found that while the decay mounts, little of the money has been spent.
The millions — up to $18 million — were either “reprogrammed” or have simply not been spent.
Some of the damage is to the design and decorative elements of the park, but other issues are more serious and are tied to the structures.
When the park was created, it was heralded by the national and international press; the New York Times wrote a glowing story. The city was dubbed “The Renaissance City” in part due to the park.
