Rhode Island
Rhode Island FC's Debut Season Grows Bleaker
For not the first time this season, Rhode Island FC held a convincing lead going into the final minutes of a game that they should have won. Once again, however, the Draw Kings found a way to drop two important points en route to their ninth draw through fourteen matches.
Though some of their previous matches have been bad, this one in particular stands head-and-shoulders above the rest as the single most ignominious, as Rhode Island watched a two-goal lead against Memphis 901 FC evaporate in second-half stoppage time.
Rhode Island FC’s hopes were bolstered early in the first half, as a chipped pass from RIFC striker JJ Williams found the right foot of Rhode Island midfielder Conor McGlynn 15 yards from the goal in the 18th minute, and McGlynn half-volleyed a blast towards the near post that Memphis goalkeeper Tyler Deric had no chance of stopping. It was the most attractive goal I’ve seen Rhode Island score all season, and McGlynn deserves some acclaim for having scored it.
Rhode Island went into the half up 1-0 despite Memphis having a goal called back for offsides and RIFC goalkeeper Koke Vegas making a brilliant save against Memphis 901 FC’s former USMNT midfielder Emerson Hyndman.
The second half began in just as positive a fashion for RIFC as the first did. In the 67th minute, Noah Fuson broke free on the right-hand side of Memphis’ goal and fired a close-angle shot that snuck through Deric’s legs and rolled towards goal before RIFC midfielder Joe Brito came sliding in to push it over the line, despite the best efforts of Deric to smother it and keep it out.
The goal was a scrappy one and exactly the kind of play fans will have wanted to see from their team, scoring goals however they can — pretty ones and ugly ones alike. The goal gave RIFC its first two-goal lead of the season and in club history.
The elation of the moment did not last long.
In the 87th minute, RIFC’s Vegas came rushing out of his box to make a challenge on a long ball to Memphis’ Nighte Pickering. Vegas missed the ball entirely and slammed Pickering to the turf and the referee gave him a red card for the careless, reckless challenge that Vegas quite frankly should have known better than to attempt, especially with a two-goal lead and only three minutes to play.
With Vegas sidelined, RIFC was forced to sub out Fuson for backup goalkeeper Jackson Lee and they were lucky to have the subs to do so. Lee’s first challenge was the free kick given for Vegas’ foul, which was taken in the 90th minute from a dangerous position just outside the RIFC box.
Memphis midfielder Samuel Alejandro Careaga lifted it up and over Rhode Island’s leaping wall and although Lee was able to get a fingertip to the blasted shot, he was unable to stop it from careening into the left side of his goal. Memphis was back in the match, with RIFC a man down, and the fourth official was about to give a healthy amount of stoppage time with which they could take advantage of that fact, fifteen minutes to be exact.
The seemingly inevitable came in the 11th minute of second-half stoppage time, as Memphis sent a long ball over the top into the box, and Lee collected it comfortably. Rhode Island’s Karifa Yao, however, had other ideas.
He tackled a Memphis attacker in the box and gave Memphis a gift penalty for his efforts. Memphis 901 FC striker Marlon easily converted it, as Lee guessed right and Marlon fired left, and Memphis tied it up. The final whistle blew four minutes later, with Rhode Island FC having dropped two points in only a handful of disastrous minutes.
Looking at the stats, however, one may find it impressive that Rhode Island managed a point at all, as Memphis outshot Rhode Island 22 to 8, held 68% of possession to Rhode Island’s 32%, completed 535 passes with 78% accuracy to Rhode Islands 258 passes and 58% accuracy. At this point, it’s becoming clear that Rhode Island FC’s on-pitch situation is growing ever-bleaker. What will RIFC Head Coach Khano Smith and the front office do to turn things around? What can they do?
Rhode Island FC fans can next catch their team in action away against Louisville City FC on Saturday, June 22nd, at 8 pm ET. Thanks to his red card, the team will be without star goalkeeper Koke Vegas for this important matchup against the highest-scoring team in the USL Championship.
Another famous face is joining the cast of “Rubber Hut” filming throughout Rhode Island.
As we previously reported, Grace Van Patten is starring in the feature film debut for director Hannah Gray Organschi about the infamous “condom hut” business from the early 90s.
The short-lived Fotomat kiosk turned drive-thru condom store garnered local notoriety as well as national attention in 1992 and is now the subject of a movie with several A-list stars attached.
READ MORE: Michael Imperioli, Emmy Rossum Join RI ‘Condom Hut’ Film
Scenes were filmed for several days at a custom-made “condom hut” on West Shore Road in Warwick. On Thursday, June 11, Beach Avenue was closed down to shoot a parade scene. Now, film crews have moved to Meshanticut Valley Parkway in Cranston for scenes along a residential street.
Who Was Behind the Original Condom Hut?
The home is believed to represent the residence of Emanuella DelVecchio, the former flight attendant who had the brilliant idea to open a condom kiosk in response to the AIDS epidemic.
Instead of support, however, DelVecchio received the condemnation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence and was plagued with vandalism before shuttering her business within a year.
READ MORE: New Bedford’s Gone But Not Forgotten Closed-Down Bars
Who Has Joined the ‘Condom Hut’ Movie Cast So Far
Photos of parade scenes for the film show Michael Imperioli portraying a priest in the movie and now Deadline has reported that stage actor, Will Harrison, is attached to the project as DelVecchio’s husband. Other actors’ specific roles remain unknown.
Filming is expected to continue in Rhode Island until the end of June with a theatrical release likely in 2027.
See the Stars Who Own Homes in Rhode Island
There are plenty of celebrities who once called Rhode Island home, but how many still do? Here’s the list of stars who own homes across the Ocean State.
Gallery Credit: Nancy Hall
20 Stars Who Hail From Rhode Island
Rhode Island may be the smallest state in the nation, but it has been home to many celebrities. Though some have moved here, filmed here or attended school here, only a handful were actually born here. These are those celebrities.
Gallery Credit: Nancy Hall
All The Famous Faces That Have Been to Taylor Swift’s Rhode Island Home
Here are all the celebrities we know have made an appearance at Holiday House over the years.
Gallery Credit: Nancy Hall
Two Rhode Island residents were charged after the Justice Department announced a $6.5 billion healthcare fraud crackdown.
The department said 455 defendants were charged, including 90 doctors and other licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in health care fraud and opioid abuse schemes.
Mareli Arias Batista, 57, of Providence, was charged with false representation of a social security number, aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, false statement in application for a passport, use of a false passport and bank fraud in connection with a scheme to obtain benefits using the identity of another person.
Officials said Batista fraudulently obtained approximately $28,236.42 in Rhode Island Medicaid benefits.
Balni Pimental Lara, 59, of Providence, was also charged with false representation of a social security number, aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, and health care fraud, in connection with a scheme to obtain benefits using the identity of another person.
According to officials, Lara fraudulently obtained approximately $24,018.86 in Rhode Island Medicaid benefits.
Bhamin Chhatrapati, 40, of Stoughton, Mass., was charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud in connection with over $5.1 million fraudulently billed to Medicare, of which over $2.6 million was paid.
Approximately 1,079 medical providers were suspended and billing privileges were revoked for 1,403 providers.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) — Former Rhode Island House Speaker Joseph Shekarchi loses an attempt to stop an ethics complaint against his bid for a seat on the state Supreme Court.
The state Ethics Commission voted Tuesday to deny Shekarchi’s motion to dismiss the complaint filed in May.
The Ethics Commission voted June 2 to further investigate the complaint.
The question is whether Shekarchi’s attempt for a lifetime spot on the bench violates Rhode Island’s anti-corruption revolving door law.
The law prevents sitting lawmakers from taking most other state jobs for at least a year after leaving office.
Shekarchi resigned as House Speaker on May 8 to seek nomination to the Supreme Court.
He kept his House seat.
That same day, Roger Williams University law professor Michael Yelnosky filed an ethics complaint.
Shekarchi argues a Supreme Court seat is an exemption from the revolving door law, like other constitutional offices including governor.
JOIN THE CONVERSATION (4)
The Ethics Commission’s prosecutor argues the high court seat is not exempt.
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