Top 10 Stories of 2016

We’re counting down the top 10 Rhode Island new stories of 2016.

1. In the 2016 presidential sweepstakes, Rhode Island voters went with the outsiders Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump in the April primaries.

The state’s Democratic establishment lined up behind party favorite Clinton, but Vermont Senator Sanders captured the hearts of younger voters and drew a crowd of more than 7,000 to a rally at  Roger Williams Park. He went on to win the Democratic primary.

On the Republican side, Trump attracted a big crowd at a rally in Warwick. On primary day, the New York business mogul won a big victory.

Come November, Clinton comfortably defeated Trump in a state that hasn’t voted for a Republican presidential candidate since Ronald Reagan In 1984. Yet, Trump did better in the Ocean State than any Republican White House candidate since George H.W. Bush, attracting nearly 40 percent of the vote.

2. Rhode Island’s political rascal king, Buddy Cianci, is one of the many people we mourned in 2016.

Even in death, Vincent A. Cianci Jr. stirred the political pot. His passing in January prompted a dispute over whether state flags should be lowered to honor him. Within 24-hours, Gov. Gina Raimondo relented and the flags came down for the longest-serving mayor in Providence history.

Cianci, known universally by his nickname, Buddy, was the rouge prince of Providence. Elected as a reformer in 1974, he was twice bounced from office after committing felonies. The first time he pled guilty to beating up his ex-wife’s lover. The second time, Cianci was convicted of running the city as criminal venture. He gained notoriety for heading a corrupt administration where cash laden envelopes floated around the Beaux Arts City Hall.

But Cianci was also known as an architect of Providence’s 1990s rebirth. After serving nearly five years in federal prison, he returned to become a top-rated radio talker. He tried to resurrect his political career, running for mayor in 2014, but lost to Democrat Jorge Elorza. He lost his battle against cancer at age 74.

3. “Cooler and Warmer” became a national news story and a statewide joke when it was proposed as a new tourism slogan.

Rhode Island got more than it bargained for when a new tourism campaign was unveiled last March. The tagline for the campaign, Rhode Island: Cooler and Warmer, sparked confusion for some and all-out mockery from others on social media.

There were other problems. The state tourism web site contained outdated information, and a video meant to promote Rhode Island included a short clip that turned out to be Iceland. The state’s chief marketing officer resigned because of the controversy.

Despite the botched rollout, Governor Gina Raimondo says the state had a strong tourism season.

4. Rhode Island flipped the switch on the nation’s first of offshore wind farm: a pilot project with five turbines off the coast of Block Island.

It took two summers to build the Block Island Wind Farm, but it’s been in the works for more than 10 years. The project has weathered several challenges, including battles at the state Public Utilities Commission and Supreme Court. Now many Rhode Islanders tout the Block Island Wind Farm as a success story, as evidence that it’s possible to harness energy from the ocean while creating local jobs. Four out of the five wind turbines started producing electricity this month for both Block Island and the mainland. The fifth, undergoing repairs, is expected to go online in January. Some Rhode Islanders remain skeptical about the project and the cost to electric customers. But many states are looking to it as an example of how to get offshore wind projects done. 

5. A settlement with one-time Red Sox star Curt Schilling in the state’s lawsuit over his video game company, 38 Studios.

Everything seemed rosy when former Red Sox star pitcher Curt Schilling agreed to bring his video game company to Rhode Island in 2010. But just two years later, 38 Studios went bankrupt, leaving taxpayers on the hook for a state-backed loan totaling nearly $90 million. Lawsuits soon followed, and this year marked a milestone – the state reached a settlement with Schilling and three other top execs, who agreed to pay $2.5 million to avoid a trial.

Several other financial institutions also settled, and the state has now recouped close to half its original investment. Just one defendant, the state’s former financial advisor First Southwest, remains. A trial is scheduled to begin in early 2017. 

6. The uneven recovery from the Great Recession.

Rhode Island has faced a steep climb since the Great Recession. Starting in 2007, the state struggled to reduce one of the worst jobless rates in the nation. Today unemployment is down to about 5.3 percent, a big improvement but still higher than the national average, and the highest in New England. Housing costs continue to outpace many residents’ incomes. And development seems to come in fits and starts, especially along the high-profile I-195 corridor.

But there are bright spots.  Once perceived to be unfavorable to big business, the tech sector is dipping a toe into Rhode Island. General Electric, Johnson and Johnson and Virgin Pulse have all committed to bring dozens of jobs into the state. Governor Gina Raimondo has championed programs to bring computer science and job training initiatives into public schools. And summer hotel and restaurant receipts continued to be strong in 2016, after posting record numbers in 2015.

7. House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello squeaks through with a tight re-election victory.

The speaker is elected by the 75 members of the House of Representatives, but just like rank and file lawmakers, he or she also has to seek re-election from voters every two years.This year, Republican Steven Frias offered a stiff challenge to Mattiello. Frias framed the race as a referendum on the Smith Hill status quo and got a boost by running in a conservative-leaning district.

On election night, it appeared Frias had won the vote, maintaining a narrow lead from in-person ballots. But Mattiello refused to concede. He said he was certain the mail ballots would give him a victory. When the mail ballots were counted, Mattiello beat Frias by just 85 votes. Frias protested at the Board of Elections, alleging mail ballot fraud, but an investigation found no evidence of wrongdoing. So Mattiello will be back in the top spot at the House in 2017.

8. Growing opposition to the proposed Burrillville power plant.

Invenergy’s power plant review is on hold until next month, when the state Energy Facility Siting Board hopes to learn how the company plans to cool its power plant. The villages of Pascoag and Harrisville denied water supplies for the facility, so now Invenergy is wooing Woonsocket for water.

The Burrillville Town Council initially seemed supportive of the project, but this year the council joined residents and environmental groups in their efforts to block the project. Council members have gone so far as to ask Woonsocket to refuse Invenergy’s water request.

While the company and its supporters continue to promote the project as a solution to New England’s rising electricity prices, opponents say the fossil fuel power plant will set back the state’s goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

9. Setbacks for charter schools and standardized testing.

The first rumblings about charter schools came from communities concerned about funding for their other public schools. Some residents and local officials said charter schools were draining the budget, and a state review backed up some of their concerns. State lawmakers took up the issue and passed new rules that cut some funding for charters, while giving a boost to traditional schools.

In another blow to education “reformers,” Rhode Island also rolled back a plan to require test scores for a high school diploma. Supporters – including the governor and business groups – said the policy would ensure basic skills for all high school graduates. But critics said it put low-income and minority students at risk. And calls grew for classes focused less on test scores and more on meaningful skills.

10: Major changes in the health care landscape.

The state saw more hospital consolidation and an uncertain future for Obamacare in 2016. Over the summer, Memorial Hospital announced plans to close its birthing and intensive care units. Staff and community members protested, but the struggling hospital said it had no choice. Then a proposed affiliation between Care New England and SouthCoast Health fell through, leaving the Care New England looking for another dance partner. Some hospitals have fared better in some regards since the advent of Obamacare, with more people having insurance coverage to pay for care.

But uncertainty looms after the election of Donald Trump, who has promised to repeal Obamacare. Will key features like expanded insurance coverage, and free preventive care stick around? Insurers, doctors, and patients are watching closely as inauguration day approaches.