Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - August 18, 2023

HOT

A Win for Journalism

This week, GoLocal News Editor Kate Nagle asked Lt. Governor Sabina Matos about her congressional campaign and ongoing investigations. 

The Board of Elections this week voted in favor of considering issuing subpoenas to Matos' ballot-placement signature collectors. 

Matos however decided to kick Nagle's question to New York Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), who repeatedly interrupted Nagle. 

Espaillat was rude, and his actions were dismissive and downright sexist, and Matos -- who has repeatedly refused to debate opponents -- was meekly deferential. 

Nagle was unrelenting to get a response from Matos. 

Top national political scientist Jennifer Lawless, the Chair of the University of Virginia Political Science Department with over twenty years of research on gender politics, said in an interview on GoLocal LIVE that the exchange between Espaillat, Nagle, and Matos exemplifies the persistent sexism that continues today in American politics.

See that interview here. 

HOT

Providence Police 

Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez and Detectives Major David Lapatin deserve a hat tip for busting the Federal Hill bank heist at the Santander on Atwells in June -- a robbery by a gang that allegedly included an inside player and ripped off $500,000. 

The case appears to be solved.

Kudos to the Providence Police detectives who tracked the suspects down.

HOT

Matt Espeut - One Part Fitness Guru, One Part Spiritual Guide and One Part Small Business Leader

Matt Espeut has been GoLocal's fitness contributor for the better part of a decade.

Recently, at the Fit Body Boot Camp World Conference in Dallas, Espeut received the prestigious "Masterminder of the Year" award during the event, and just a week ago, he was also honored by the Todd Durkin Mastermind.

These accolades underscore Espeut's exceptional authority in the fitness industry.

Week in, week out, he helps Rhode Islanders achieve their health goals; the recognition has been long in the making. 

HOT

Little Green Men

The Smithfield Little League keeps on winning.

Let's hear it for the boys -- after their opening win at the Little League World Series on Wednesday, they are back in action on Friday. 

PHOTO: The team's official Little League uniform is assigned by the tournament - everyone knows Smithfield wears green.

NOT

Matos Should Leave the Bronx in the Bronx

Sabina Matos might want to rethink the idea of bringing New York Congressman Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) to Rhode Island again.

Espaillat represents the Bronx.

The Yankees are in last place, and so is the Congressman.

NOT

City Councilor Accepted Thousands in Campaign Contributions from Developer

The City Councilor who represents the Fox Point neighborhood — John Goncalves — has refused to take a position for, or against, the a controversial new apartment complex.

The developer, Dustin Dezube, is the owner of Providence Realty Advisors, and according to records filed with the Rhode Island Secretary of State’s office, is also the man behind the project proposed by Fox Point Capital, LLC.

Dezube and other Providence Realty Advisors personnel are Goncalves' largest donors to his congressional campaign, with $3,300 in recent months.

Providence Realty Advisors staff have also donated another $2,300 to the Goncalves City Council campaign account — $2,000 coming from Dezube according to state records.

Goncalves repeatedly refused to answer questions from GoLocal if he supported the project or opposed the project.

Goncalves said in a text to GoLocal, “With all due respect urging the City Plan Commission to listen to my neighbors is a position.”

Dezube and his company Providence Realty Advisors have been the subject of complaints by tenants and repeated press coverage for allegations of poor living conditions and evictions.

“Organizing as the Providence Living Tenants Union, at least 22 renters experiencing terrible conditions in apartments throughout Providence created a list of demands. Joined by allies, they marched to the Providence Living offices at 296 Wickenden and taped the demands to the door of Providence Living,” reported Uprise RI.

READ MORE

NOT

Atlanta 19

Former President Donald Trump has been indicted again.

It marks the fourth time in recent months that the former President has been indicted.

This indictment was announced at about 11 PM on Monday evening. The prosecution was led by Fani T. Willis, the Fulton County district attorney.

There are 41 charges against 19 individuals in a 98-page Indictment.

Here are the names of those indicted:

Donald Trump, former US president

Rudy Giuliani, Trump lawyer

Mark Meadows, White House chief of staff

John Eastman, Trump lawyer

Kenneth Chesebro, pro-Trump lawyer

Jeffrey Clark, top Justice Department official

Jenna Ellis, Trump campaign lawyer

Robert Cheeley, lawyer who promoted fraud claims

Mike Roman, Trump campaign official

David Shafer, Georgia GOP chair and fake elector

Shawn Still, fake GOP elector

Stephen Lee, pastor tied to intimidation of election workers

Harrison Floyd, leader of Black Voices for Trump

Trevian Kutti, publicist tied to intimidation of election workers

Sidney Powell, Trump campaign lawyer

Cathy Latham, fake GOP elector tied to Coffee County breach

Scott Hall, tied to Coffee County election system breach

Misty Hampton, Coffee County elections supervisor

Ray Smith, Trump campaign attorney

PHOTO: Video feed WCBS, Manhattan Court House indictment

NOT

Mortgage Rates

Mortgage rates hit a 21-year high of more than 7% for a 30-year fixed rate.

The impact is that you can functionally buy half the home you could three years ago.

NOT

CVS 

CVS took a major hit on Thursday.

Blue Shield of California announced a new pharmacy care model that is designed to "fix problems in today’s broken prescription drug system."

The company said it will no longer use CVS Health’s Caremark as its pharmacy benefit manager and instead will partner with several companies, including Amazon Pharmacy and Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company. The insurer expects to save up to $500 million in annual drug costs once the multi-year plan is fully implemented.

CVS's stock lost more than 8% today.

CVS just two weeks ago announced the layoff of up to 5,000 workers. It is unknown if the layoffs, in part, were in anticipation of the loss od the Blue Shield of California business.

“The nonprofit health plan is transforming how medications are purchased and supplied to its 4.8 million members by selecting organizations that share Blue Shield’s vision for more affordable and transparent pharmacy services,” said Blue Shield.

Thursday’s announcement is a major milestone in Blue Shield’s Pharmacy Care Reimagined initiative, which will help provide its members with convenient, transparent access to medications while lowering costs. Once Blue Shield’s multi-year strategy is fully implemented, the health plan expects to save up to $500 million in annual drug costs.

NOT

Giant Rats

A group of more than a dozen giant rats in Providence can be seen in a video obtained by GoLocalProv.

Anita Villot filmed the rodents she spotted while riding in a car. 

The rats were gathered at the intersection of Atwells Avenue and Valley Street in the Olneyville section of the city. 

“I took it on the way to a restaurant on Atwells,” Villot told GoLocal. “There were [actually] a lot more than that, but I was recording it right as the light was turning.”

Villot said she had witnessed dozens of large rats gathered. 

“There were at least 100,” said Villot. “They were eating something on the ground.” 

The lot is adjacent to a restaurant on Atwells Avenue. 

“They were bigger than my kittens,” said Villot.

NOT

Ransomware

CharterCARE and its parent company Prospect have been devastated by a hacking attack and ransomware attack that has disabled the healthcare system's computers for more than two weeks.

These attacks are economically devastating and can impair public health.