Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - May 19, 2023

HOT

RI Movie Madness

The Killers Next Door, a feature-length thriller written and directed by Lincoln, Rhode Island resident Michael A. LoCicero, was featured at its New England red carpet premiere this week. 

“I’m so excited for people to see our film in a 185-seat theater," said producer, writer and director LoCicero of the event. "The pandemic dealt our original theatrical premiere plans a death blow, so this is a very exciting night for us all.”

Fresh from their world premiere on streaming service Amazon Prime and Vudu, The Killers Next Door is a feature-length thriller filmed entirely in New England with a local cast and crew. The film tells the story of a young couple's weekend getaway that soon becomes a bloody fight for survival when they cross paths with two desperate ex-convicts on the run.

Learn more about the movie here. 

HOT

Unanimous Support for Service Members

On Thursday, Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz introduced -- and the Rhode Island Senate unanimously passed -- a Resolution Honoring and Celebrating “Armed Forces Day” on May 20th, 2023, in the State of Rhode Island.

The Resolution, S-1026, thanks each and every member of the United States military for their service and for the sacrifices they make for our nation.

Active duty members of the United States Army, Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard were recognized on the Senate Floor in appreciation of their service.  Captain Marc R. Sennick represented the United States Coast Guard, Major Susan A. Mastrostefano represented the United States Army, Sergeant Cameron Joseph Cyr and Staff Sergeant Lauren Buxton represented the United States Marine Corps, and Petty Officer Justin Smith, Builder Petty Officer Third Class John Wood, Hospital Corpsman Second Class Bryan Escobar represented the United States Navy.

“Thank you to the Governor’s Office, Lt. Governor’s Office, Secretary of State Gregg Amore, Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, and all my colleagues here in the Senate for their generous assistance in preparing a warm welcome today for the active duty members of our Armed Forces,” said de la Cruz.

“Armed Forces Day is the one day set aside to honor the active duty members of our military and our chance to see displays of equipment and preparedness, parades and receptions,” she continued. “These men and women ensure our security, keep the peace, and safeguard the freedoms we hold dear.  Thanks to their dedication and sacrifice, our Armed Forces are the most illustrious fighting force on earth and they deserve our respect and gratitude each and every day.”

HOT

LAX

The dream of the architects of the revamped Rhode Island International Airport to have direct flights to Los Angeles is now finally realized. 

Now, Breeze is flying direct from PVD to LAX.

The effort started back in the early 1990s with the late Governor Bruce Sundlun.

Kudos to Governor Dan McKee, RIAC Chair Jon Savage and Iftikhar Ahmad, President/CEO of RIAC.

HOT

Helena Foulkes

After a bruising Democratic gubernatorial primary, the former corporate CEO held out on her endorsement of Governor Dan McKee until he promised to support the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act

EACA passed on Thursday. 

Foulkes told GoLocal, "This is a great day for the women of Rhode Island!"

HOT

When Your Hot, You're Hot

The Rhode Island company with the most significant number of mega-initiatives across the country may be Bally’s.

From a deal to bring the Oakland A’s baseball team to Las Vegas to a $1.7 billion casino project in Chicago and an initiative in Rhode Island to transform gaming — Bally’s has billions of dollars in new projects moving forward.

And, first-quarter net revenues jumped from just under $2 million to more than $178 million in 2023.

NOT

"Medicating" Your Kids in Order to Do Drugs and Have Sex Three Towns Away

We are just beginning to learn about the life of now-former Cranston Councilman Matthew Reilly.

A GoLocal investigation unveiled how he lived a drug abused life, violated the tenets of serving as an attorney, and so much more.

The ongoing series shows how a judge -- Judge Debra DiSegna and the state's disciplinary counsel failed to take action to protect his children, his clients, and the credibility of the judicial system.

READ MORE

AND MORE

NOT

Kicking the Can

Diocese of Providence Priest Eric Silva — who has been removed from diocesan assignments at Catholic schools and parishes in Cranston, Barrington and Narragansett — now has a new home.

Silva had been removed for asking children "inappropriate questions" about sex.

Demers, Haiti, and St. Joseph's Church

Now, Silva is assigned to St. Joseph Church on Hope Street — the parish associated with one of the most infamous Catholic priests — Priest Norman Demers. 

Silva's name does not appear on the St. Joseph website, or weekly handout, nor does he introduce himself when giving mass.

Demers was assigned to St. Joseph from 1974 to 1990 — it was his longest assignment during his 42-year career in the priesthood. And it was at St. Joseph that he was involved with the parish's Haiti project and allegations of sexual abuse came to light.

"The complaints about Father Demers were raised in 1989 by boys at an orphanage in Haiti. The boys complained that Father Demers, who had founded the orphanage, would touch them inappropriately, according to the orphanage and its director at the time. They complained that he would require them to come to his bedroom alone, strip in front of him and try on clothing that he was giving out, according to the orphanage and the former director," according to one press report.

Others came forward with claims of abuse about Demers. In 2020, Robert Houllahan, 51, of Providence, claimed in a lawsuit he filed that he was sexually abused by the late Demers, who received the “protection and affirmative assistance” of the leaders of the Diocese of Providence.

READ MORE

Houllahan said that he witnessed children from Central America when he was brought to Demers’ private quarters in the rectory of St. Joseph in Providence in 1976, where he was molested by Demers and another man, according to the allegations in Houllahan's lawsuit

Demers died in 2018 and has been designated by the Diocese and law enforcement on the "List of Credibly Accused Clergy."

NOT

Another Hit for Corporate Media

WEEI, once the sports radio giant in New England, has taken another blow.

Audacy, the parent company of WEEI, is being delisted on the New York Stock Exchange.

This week, Audacy's stock was suspended for trading, and it has been notified that the NYSE is moving to delist the company.

According to Billboard, the NYSE abruptly halted trading of Audacy’s stock at 2 p.m. ET on Tuesday, when shares were trading for $.094 — down slightly from $.10 at the start of the day. The company’s share price is down nearly 63% since the beginning of the year.

The company said it plans to appeal the determination by the NYSE. The WEEI franchise has been hammered in the ratings in the Boston market.

In Rhode Island, WEEI recently closed its offices.

As GoLocal reported in April, WEEI shuttered its Rhode Island operations. The Boston-based sports radio station has had a presence in Rhode Island for nearly two decades — now, no more.