Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - March 5, 2021

HOT

Gina Raimondo

Love her or not -- she is off like a rocket to the heights of the federal government.

Raimondo is just ten heartbeats away from being the most powerful person in the free world.

HOT

Dan McKee

From Mayor of Cumberland and owning a gym in Woonsocket to becoming Rhode Island's 76th Governor, Dan McKee battled back after losing the Mayor's office and nearly getting toppled by progressive Democrat Aaron Regunberg in the Democratic primary for Lt. Governor (winning by less than 2,500 votes).

Now, McKee is Governor of one of the original 13 colonies.

HOT

Allan Fung

Former GOP gubernatorial candidate and Mayor of Cranston Allan Fung is joining one of Rhode Island’s top firms — Pannone Lopes Devereaux & O’Gara LLC.

The addition is another win for the fast-growing firm.

“Allan has served the Rhode Island community with distinction and is a dedicated public servant. We are excited to be part of the next chapter in his journey at PLDO and concentrate his time in the practice of law while he continues to assist individuals and corporate clients to achieve their respective goals,” said Gary Pannone, Managing Principal.

“I am thrilled to join the great team of attorneys at PLDO and look forward to working with such an excellent law firm that is committed to community, diversity and helping others achieve their goals – the same values that I am passionate about,” said Fung. “Returning to practicing law in a thriving law firm where I can contribute to its continued growth is exciting, and I am delighted at the opportunities ahead.” 

HOT

Brown University Fashion Week

Brown University’s Fashion Week this year features a star-studded lineup including Gwyneth Paltrow, Sarah Jessica Parker, Stella McCartney, and more. 

The online events, hosted by Fashion@Brown, run from March 4 to March 22 and are open to the public -- and have garnered the attention of the fashion world. 

Top industry publication WWD highlighted the speakers set to headline the Brown event. 

“Brown Fashion Week has wrangled an impressive lineup for its first all-virtual event,” wrote WWD.  “Sarah Jessica Parker, Gwyneth Paltrow, Stella McCartney, Kenneth Cole, Steve Madden and Olivier Rousteing are among the featured speakers for the 11th annual Fashion@Brown event. Sessions will include a fireside chat between Patrice Louvet, chief executive officer of Ralph Lauren (and Brown Parent, Class of ‘22) and Isabelle Guichot, CEO of Maje.”

HOT

Nanotechnology Startup

Graphene Composites (GC), a leading, global nano-materials engineering company with operations in Rhode Island, has announced that independent testing conducted by Brown University has shown its new technology to be 100% effective at neutralizing coronavirus and influenza viruses in under one minute.

The technology -- GC Ink™ -- is a "game changer in reopening schools safely and quickly," according to GC. The findings have been published on bioRxiv.  

“Our results show that this technology is very effective at preventing infection by two important respiratory viruses which clearly has important implications for this pandemic and the next one," said top Brown University respiratory virologist Amanda M. Jamieson, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, who oversaw the study. 

The potential applications are wide-ranging, says the company, pointing out that the "fast-acting, extremely effective, and safe formulation of graphene and silver nanoparticles can be applied to masks and other PPE, and in particular, applied to filters in ventilation systems."

HOT

CVS Vaccinating Teachers

CVS is now offering K-12 teachers, daycare workers and staff vaccines in Rhode Island. 

SEE HERE

The information was posted to CVS vaccine website on Wednesday. 

The development comes after now Governor Dan McKee had pledged to prioritize teachers in the vaccine schedule before taking office.

Currently, Rhode Islanders 65 and older can sign up for vaccine appointments.

In Providence, Mayor Jorge Elorza prioritized several zip codes for residents 50 and older, grouping in individuals at low risk with high; while high-risk populations in other zip codes are still not prioritized.

HOT

401 Gives

The United Way of Rhode Island announced Wednesday that in four weeks, Rhode Islanders will have the opportunity to support any of more than 300 local nonprofits when 401Gives, the state’s largest single day of giving, returns on April 1. 

After exceeding the $1 million mark for the effort’s first-ever year, United Way of Rhode Island has upped the ante, setting a goal to raise $1.5 million for nonprofits across the Ocean State in a span of just 24-hours.
 
“When we launched this new statewide giving campaign one year ago, the pandemic had just begun and I don’t know that anyone could have predicted the ways our nonprofit community would respond to the needs we’ve seen over the past 12 months – and so much of that need still exists,” said Cortney Nicolato, United Way’s president and CEO. “Rhode Islanders have been incredibly generous, and 401Gives is a chance to channel that energy into a single day and support the organizations whose work means the most to you.”

NOT

Lack of Common Sense

Vaccinating those at the highest risk for coronavirus is smart.

Being too lazy to figure out that just flagging zip codes is not so smart.

Some top health experts have warned against using zip codes as a designation because they are too broad and rather use census tracks that can better pinpoint those most at risk.

If you live in a luxury unit at The Promenade Apartments in Providence and are over 50 years of age you get to jump the line and get vaccinated next according to a new directive from Mayor Jorge Elorza and Council President Sabina Matos.

For those living in the Promenade Apartments — who already enjoy an indoor swimming pool, concierge serves and a private gym — they go to the front of the line. 

A two bedroom unit goes for $3,500.

How did these residents —  who include corporate CEOs, doctors and lawyers make the list?

Providence officials made an announcement on Tuesday the prioritization is simply now being made by zip code rather than risk.

While many in the three zip codes being prioritized — 02907, 02908 and 02909 are lower income, live in more compact housing and are employed in workplaces like manufacturing with higher exposure and risk, the designation simply by zip code includes multiple upscale apartment complexes.

"That's right. It's a vital next step to vaccinate residents in the communities hardest hit by COVID-19 and we want to ensure that these residents have priority access to the vaccine. All residents ages 65+ can still register for any of the City's vaccination clinics,” said Ben Smith, spokesperson for Elorza.

NOT

There Are Horrible People and Then There Are These Guys

The U.S. Attorney's Office for Rhode Island announced Thursday that four men from the Atlanta, Georgia area were charged in federal court in Providence for allegedly operating a long-running scheme in which homeless and transient individuals from the Providence area were recruited to cash counterfeit business checks in exchange for a cash payment. 

It is alleged in court documents that homeless individuals enlisted by the Georgia men were driven to financial institutions in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, and elsewhere, provided bogus business checks made out to them, and were instructed to cash the checks using their Rhode Island ID card or driver’s license for identification. The individuals were told to return to the vehicle with the cash and in return were paid between $100 and $200.
 
In at least one instance, it is alleged a homeless individual was threatened with bodily harm if that person took off with the proceeds after cashing the bogus check and failed to provide the funds to the schemers. 

As a result of an investigation by the Medway, Massachusetts Police Department and the United States Secret Service, federal criminal complaints filed in U.S. District Court in Providence charge Austin Weaver, 31, of Decatur, GA; Cortavious Benford, 26, of Atlanta, GA; and Michael Williams, 26, and Jalen Ronald Stanford, 28, of East Point, GA, with conspiracy to commit bank fraud, announced Acting United States Attorney Richard B. Myrus, Medway, MA, Police Chief Allen Tingley, and Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Secret Service Frederick J. Regan.

NOT

More Media Cuts - Less Journalism

Sinclair Broadcast Group, owner of WJAR-10, said on Wednesday it will cut its workforce by approximately 5%, amounting to hundreds of layoffs across the company.

"The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be felt across all sectors of the economy, something that can have a profound impact on a company as diversified as ours," a Sinclair spokesperson told CNN Business in a statement. "From local businesses and advertisers to distributors and partners, no component of our business's ecosystem has been fully shielded from the impact of the global pandemic."

"In response to this, we are currently undergoing enterprise-wide reductions across our workforce, including corporate headquarters, to ensure we are well-positioned for future success," the Sinclair spokesperson added.