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The RI Independent Man Wasn’t Supposed to Be, and His Name Was Changed

The Rhode Island Independent Man who has adorned the top of the Rhode Island State House dome is getting a rehab.

The sculpture initially was not to be created in the image of a golden god-like statue, but the sculpture was to be Roger Williams.

Massachusetts-born George T. Brewster created the statue.

Noted Rhode Island College Historian Chester Smolski wrote, The ‘Independent Man’ was first proposed to be a statue of Roger Williams at the annual meeting of the Rhode Island Historical Society in 1895.”

“The statue, to be placed atop the proposed new State House, was designed by George T. Brewster for $3,000, who called the statue “Hope” and changed the design to fit the Renaissance Revival architecture of the building. The statue has only been taken down once in 1975 for repair and a new coat of gold leaf. It is seen here being returned to it’s proper spot on 20 July 1976,” added Smolski, who died in 2008.

PHOTO: CC: 4.0, Chester E. Smolski photographic slides and publications, housed by the Rhode Island College Special Collections.

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Former WPRO Host Zandy Announces New Career Move

One of WPRO’s top radio hosts in the Providence-metro market announced in June that she had been let go by management at the Cumulus-owned radio station.

Kim Zandy, the Kim in the “Giovanni and Kim” tandem, said at the time the station "decided to go in a different direction" with her position.

Now, she has a new one.

Zandy announced the following on Tuesday:

An update on what I'm doing with my life, now that I've had to grow up and get a real job.  lol Thanks to everyone who has been checking in and asking about the kids, and what I'm going to do next!  

First, the career:  No surprise here, but it involves DCYF and The Village For RI Foster and Adoptive Families!  I'm doing project management for RI Kinship Community Connections.  We provide resources and info specifically tailored to 55+  Kinship (family, friend, or established relationship with the child) providers.  Doesn't matter if they are formally involved with DCYF or if they have a private agreement with birth families.  

As an older foster and adoptive mom and Nana, I know more resources are needed! I'd love it if you'd like/follow the page, and share it with anyone you know who fits the description! RI Kinship Community Connections

As for the kids, they're great!  We had a blast at Disney and they're enjoying 5th and 3rd grades. Arianah says she's getting used to "not being famous anymore" lol.  

For me, personally, I'll just say that SLEEPING IN IS A BEAUTIFUL THING!  

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Artist Ellen Nanni-Vargas

Michael Rose, GoLocal's art contributor, writes a review of the great work of one of Rhode Island's emerging stars. 

Art benefits when creators bend the rules to move their media forward. For Rhode Island artist Ellen Nanni-Vargas, recent works push painting into three dimensions and employ poured resin to create unexpected forms. Other pieces she has produced utilize collage in a variety of ways, be it in a drawing or in an hand-edited photograph. Nanni-Vargas is a multi-talented artist and art educator whose unique work will be on view in an exhibition in Newport through October 29.

Nanni-Vargas was raised on the beaches of Little Compton but left Rhode Island to earn her undergraduate degree in art from Syracuse University. She lived in California for a time, where she participated in Americorps and was an active member of the artistic community.

Later returning to Ocean State, Nanni-Vargas earned her Master of Arts in Teaching at RIC and joined the staff of the Pawtucket Public Schools where she is an educator cultivating the talents of young artists. Recently, she completed her Master of Fine Arts at Lesley University, and her latest works were produced during her graduate program. Recent exhibitions have seen Nanni-Vargas’ work shown at Gallery 263 and the Lunder Arts Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts as well as closer to home at World’s Fair Gallery in Providence and The Collaborative in Warren.

READ MORE

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Nice to See Him Back in the Game

Marc A. Crisafulli has been named chairman of the Bally’s Rhode Island Board, which has been created to focus exclusively on operations, growth, community relations, and workforce enhancement in Rhode Island.

Marc nearly died three years ago and was forced to relinquish his position at Bally's. 

Welcome back.

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Transparency

A GoLocal Editorial:

Give a tip of the hat to the Newport Police Department for immediately releasing hours of body camera and security video of the incident of the melee involving a wedding party that took place at Bowen’s Wharf.

Unlike a number of other police departments and the Rhode Island Attorney General’s office, Newport responded immediately to an Access to Public Records Act request.

The significant amount of video provided the public with a glimpse into the chaos and the actions of all involved.

These incidents are never easy and never perfect, but the immediate release of the video allows the public to see what took place. 

In many parts of the country, this is standard procedure. Too often in Rhode Island, law enforcement and the attorney general block the release, create distrust, and feed into false claims and assumptions.

Newport Police Chief Ryan Duffy and Mayor Xay Khamsyvoravong deserve credit for creating a new policy of openness and transparency.

Let’s hope others follow suit. 

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Most Ridiculous Government Press Release EVER

The Office of Health Commissioner gave approval for health insurance companies to jack up their rate -- most were approved at twice the rate of inflation. 

While costs are going up OHIC claims that they are saving folks business.

Really!

"As a result of these changes, Rhode Islanders will save $23.8 million in 2024 compared to what the commercial health insurers requested. In the months since the rate filings were submitted in May, OHIC has reviewed the medical expense trend assumptions, administrative charges, and margin requests for each insurer."

Clearly, no one at OHIC has ever worked in the business world.

A 10% increase is not a savings.

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Kennedy Plaza Is Providence's Outdoor Version of New York's Port Authority

Brawls.

Drug busts

Stabbings.

Why is Kennedy Plaza a good idea?

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What Was Hopkins Thinking?

Cranston Mayor Ken Hopkins on Tuesday announced that the city is no longer considering having the Park Theatre taken over for what was claimed to be education purposes.

The Park Theatre is operated by former GOP Councilman Ed Brady -- a close Hopkins' political ally. 

It did not look good.

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Rhode Island Emergency Room Waiting Times

A new report finds that emergency room wait times in Rhode Island are among the highest in the United States.

According to CMS data published by Becker’s Healthcare, patients in Washington, D.C., have the highest median time spent in the emergency department, while patients in North Dakota have the lowest.

Where Does Rhode Island Rank?

Rhode Island ranks poorly. Patients wait on average 214 minutes — only Maryland at 242 minutes and Washington, D.C. rank worse. DC's average waiting time is 329 minutes.

Rhode Island's waiting times have risen nearly 600% in the past in the past seven years. A 2016 report found that RI's average ER waiting time was 31 minutes.

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Zoom. Zoom.

A GoLocal editorial points out the ridiculous hypocrisy of former Congressman David Cicilline.

Former Congressman and now head of the Rhode Island Foundation David Cicilline loves his Tesla. He can be seen speeding around the East Side of Providence, driving his non-union-built little Elon Musk mobile.

Zoom. Zoom.

While union workers of the United Auto Workers are trying to cut the margin between how much the CEOs of the big three make and the median salary of union workers, the big winner is expected to be non-union Tesla and Musk. The CEOs of the big three make about 300 times the median salary of their company's workers.

When Cicilline was a member of Congress, he chest pounded and would have blocked the Norwegian Air coming to RI because of their labor practices -- the key step to growing the now-Rhode Island International Airport and jobs.

READ MORE AND SEE THE VIDEO

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Look How Nice He Looked

The photo is U.S. Senator John Fetterman's official portrait.

But now, the United States Senate is changing its rules because Fetterman wants to wear hoodies and shorts.

Is it the most important issue facing the country? No.

But does everything and everyone need to look like crap? No.