Rhode Island Report: Recent Episodes
The Boston Globe
A weekly podcast from The Boston Globe on what’s bubbling in Rhode Island news. In-depth interviews with newsmakers, perspective and analysis from Globe Rhode Island reporters, and intimate conversations with community members across the state.
This Friday is the start of the Jewish New Year, and while many will be celebrating with apples and honey, there’s a reality that’s not so sweet. This past year, reports of antisemitism in Rhode Island increased by around 250 percent. Adam Greenman, the president and CEO of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, joins us to talk about this troubling trend and what we can do about it. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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Providence is about to get a new sculpture in honor of a local Black artist. Edward Bannister was a prize-winning painter in the 1800s and a founder of the Providence Art Club. The club will unveil his sculpture next weekend during PVD Fest. Pamela Watts from Rhode Island PBS Weekly and Gage Prentiss, the creator of the Bannister sculpture, join the show to talk about Bannister's place in Providence history and why it's important to acknowledge his life and work. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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The primary for the First Congressional District race is just weeks away, and the Democratic winner is very likely to become our next representative in Congress. But there are 12 Democrats running — and a lot of disagreement among them. Our own Steph Machado and Jim Hummel from A Lively Experiment on Rhode Island PBS join the podcast to give us their analysis. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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For the first time ever, an American team has won the Ocean Race, a sailing competition around the globe that's been running for 50 years. Leading the team was Charlie Enright, a Rhode-Islander and Brown University graduate. He joins us on the podcast to tell the story of their dramatic victory — and the environmental changes he sees out on the water. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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US Representative Seth Magaziner went from being Rhode Island’s junior congressman to our senior and ONLY congressman in just a few months. He joins us in the studio to talk about his first term in office, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and the race to replace former Congressman David Cicilline. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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During COVID, Dr. Ashish Jha was often the face of public health, appearing constantly in the media and staying active on Twitter. Then he joined President Biden's administration as COVID czar. Jha, who left the White House in June to return as dean of Brown University’s School of Public Health, saw firsthand the dangers of misinformation and says the government and public health leaders must do a better job communicating next time. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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In a special collaboration with "Future of XYZ" on Rhode Island PBS, we bring you a conversation with David Hardy, the CEO of Ørsted North America. Ørsted is the company behind Rhode Island’s next offshore wind farm and potentially more to come. We talk about the timeline for the project, why Rhode Island rejected Ørsted’s most recent proposal, and prospects for the industry over the next 10 to 20 years. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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It’s been more than a year since Rhode Island legalized marijuana. What’s happened since? Is the law living up to its promise to address the harms of the war on drugs? Representative Cherie Cruz, a Pawtucket Democrat, advocated for the law before she joined the General Assembly. She gives us an update and talks about the future of McCoy Stadium and soccer in Pawtucket. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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Looking for something to do this summer? On days that are too cold for the beach, you could check out some of the hundreds of museums in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts. We talk to Jim Karpeichik,the co-producer of “Treasures Inside the Museum” on Rhode Island PBS, for some recommendations. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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We're off this week for the 4th of July holiday. Ed Fitzpatrick will be back next week with a new episode. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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It’s been more than three years since the murder of George Floyd inspired worldwide protests and a reckoning about the state of racism in America. But what’s happened since? Kiara Butler, the host of Generation Rising on Rhode Island PBS, says she’s seen a waning commitment to racial equity work. But she's not giving up. In her new book, "Terms and Conditions," she offers a framework for moving forward. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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This week, we’ve got our new Globe Rhode Island reporter Steph Machado doing what she does best — reporting on Providence City Hall. She sat down with Mayor Brett Smiley to talk about the Cranston Street Armory, PVD Fest, marching with his husband in the Pride parade, and higher tax bills for homeowners. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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Sherry Pocknett, the owner and chef at Sly Fox Den Too in Charlestown, was just named a James Beard Award winner, the restaurant industry's most prestigious honor. Sherry is the first Indigenous woman chef to receive the award. We talk about her restaurant, eating with the seasons, and her ambitions for expansion. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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The COVID public health emergency may be officially over, but the mental health effects will linger for years. This week, we talk to mental health counselor and singer-songwriter Allison Rose. She’s about to release an album that includes songs about her father, who died of COVID. Allison also uses music as a tool in her therapy sessions with clients. We talk about music, grief, and her upcoming performance at Providence Porchfest. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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Listen to a live event taped at the Rhode Island PBS studios celebrating the podcast’s 100th episode. Our host, Ed Fitzpatrick, and Jim Ludes from Salve Regina and Rhode Island PBS interview House Speaker Joe Shekarchi and Senate President Dominick Ruggerio. Brown political science professor Wendy Schiller concludes the show with some analysis. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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US Representative David Cicilline has spent nearly half of his life in politics — first as a state representative, then the mayor of Providence, and finally in Congress. He's leaving all of that behind this week to run the state’s largest philanthropic organization, the Rhode Island Foundation. We chat about his last day in office, the debt-ceiling debate, and where he envisions taking the foundation in the years ahead. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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Nine months after the start of the war in Ukraine, refugees from the conflict have started to make their way to Rhode Island. We talk to Justin Kenny from Rhode Island PBS Weekly and freelance journalist Alli-Michelle Conti about their upcoming TV segment profiling the Kreshchuks, a family of Ukrainian musicians who relocated to East Providence. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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Soccer is in the news right now — around the world with the start of the 2022 men's World Cup in Qatar, and here in Rhode Island, which is getting a new men's professional soccer team in 2024. Brett Johnson is the developer behind the newly named Rhode Island FC. He joins us to talk about the team, its new stadium that's being built in Pawtucket, and why it’s worth $60 million in taxpayer funds. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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Globe columnist Dan McGowan and Jim Hummel, the host of A Lively Experiment on Rhode Island PBS, join Ed Fitzpatrick to analyze Democrat Seth Magaziner's big win over Republican Allan Fung in CD2 and the "red wave" that never came. They also dive into Governor Dan McKee's rout of challenger Ashley Kalus in the governor's race and other trends from the night. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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You’ve probably already seen the campaign ad where Governor Dan McKee plays cards with his mother. Turns out it was pretty true to real life. Every week, McKee and his family sit down for a card game called May I. So Ed stopped by his campaign headquarters to give the game a try and ask McKee about the cards he’s been dealt as governor. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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Witches are having a moment right now. But what does it actually mean to be a witch or practice witchcraft? Alexa Gagosz talks to Loren May and Tracey Lawrence, practicing witches who co-own the Veiled Crow in Cranston. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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A new documentary, "No Time to Fail," offers an unprecedented look at what it took to keep Rhode Island elections running in 2020, at a time of escalating partisan attacks on ballot workers nationwide. Ed Fitzpatrick spoke with the film's directors and two election officials at a recent screening at the GlobeDocs Film Festival. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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Back in the day, Republican gubernatorial candidate Ashley Kalus was a serious boxer. She even won a Golden Gloves championship in 2001. These days, she trains at a gym in West Warwick. Ed dropped by to learn a few moves from Kalus's coach – and to let her take a swing at some policy questions. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com
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This is part two of our special episode with the candidates for Rhode Island’s 2nd Congressional District - Republican Allan Fung and Democrat Seth Magaziner. We brought both candidates into the studio separately to explain where they stand on the major issues. Then we put their responses together so voters can easily compare and contrast. Today, we’ll see where the candidates stand on student loan debt, immigration, and the 2024 elections.
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The race to watch this election cycle is the contest between Republican Allan Fung and Democrat Seth Magaziner to replace Jim Langevin in the 2nd Congressional District. So, we brought both candidates into the studio separately to explain where they stand on the major issues. Then we put their responses together so voters can easily compare and contrast. Here’s part 1.
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Conspiracy theories. Doctored photos. Outright lies. We’re inundated by disinformation online. And it's only going to get worse heading into the midterm elections and the 2024 presidential contest. Claire Wardle, co-director of the Information Futures Lab at the Brown University School of Public Health, explains what it all means -- and what we can do about it. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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Thom Jones, a dialect coach for Hollywood stars, who used to work for Trinity Rep and Brown University, explains the mystery of Rhode Island accents and teaches our producer how to sound like a local. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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Adam Myers, Associate Professor of Political Science at Providence College, joins Ed to unpack the results of Rhode Island’s primary. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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Warning:* Parts of this episode may be disturbing to some listeners***
This month, a national organization for clergy abuse victims will launch its first support group in Rhode Island. It’s known as SNAP, which stands for the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests. We talk with the new group’s co-leaders- psychologist Dr. Ann Hagan Webb and Claude Leboeuf. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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Rhode Island has an open seat in Congress for the first time in over a decade and the primary is just weeks away. Our own Globe RI columnist Dan McGowan breaks down the latest in the CD 2 race. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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COVID is still lingering, monkeypox is spreading, and polio is reemerging in wastewater. Is it time to panic? Or is this just our new normal? To give us some perspective, we talk to Dr. Amy Nunn, the executive director of the Rhode Island Public Health Institute. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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US Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island joins us to talk 2024, the new information he's learned about the FBI's investigation into Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, and what the landmark Inflation Reduction Act will do about climate change. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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This week, we sit down with state treasurer candidate Stefan Pryor, who has served as secretary of commerce under governors Gina Raimondo and Dan McKee. Pryor faces James Diossa, a former mayor of Central Falls, in next month's Democratic primary. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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The Democratic primary for Rhode Island Treasurer is only a month away, and the race is heating up. So, we’re talking to both candidates about why they deserve the job. This week, the former mayor of Central Falls, James Diossa. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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Brien Lang, the co-founder of the Rhode Island Ukulele Armada and the director of new works at the Wilbury Theatre Group, talks about the Providence Fringe Festival, which is organized by the theater group. The Armada's performance at the festival had to be postponed due to COVID, but Lang's special in-studio performance gives Rhode Island Report listeners a taste of what the Armada has to offer. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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If you feel like there’s been an unending string of gun violence in the US this year, you’re right. According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been at least four mass shootings every week so far in 2022. Dr. Megan Ranney, an emergency room doctor and the academic dean at Brown University’s School of Public Health, says gun violence should be treated like the public health crisis that it is.
We talk about her prescription for change and her latest COVID guidance. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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For 10 years, Chef James Mark has been offering delicious and innovative food in Providence. He’s the force behind North restaurant as well as Big King, a spot in the West End named after his grandmother. But after weathering the pandemic, as well as countless late nights, Chef James is calling it quits. At least for now. We talk to him about his decade in Rhode Island’s restaurant industry, why he’s taking a break, and what comes next. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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Rhode Island report is taking this week off for vacation. While we’re away, you can check out some of our past episodes- like Ed’s interview with State Senator Tiara Mack, or Alexa Gagosz’s conversation with the couple behind Providence Date Night. Enjoy your week, and we’ll be back soon! Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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It’s shaping up to be a hot political season here in Rhode Island – with races for governor, the second congressional district, and plenty of other local contests. So, Suffolk University and the Boston Globe teamed up to see what Rhode Islanders think about the major issues and the major candidates. Our columnist Dan McGowan joins us to talk to us about the results. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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Rhode Island’s restaurant and tourism industries have suffered some serious blows during the past two years of the pandemic. But with the weather getting warmer and mask mandates lifted, are we ready for a comeback? To get the latest on what this summer has in store, and how Rhode Island businesses have adapted to the pandemic, we talk to Dale Venturini with the Rhode Island Hospitality Association, and Kristen Adamo from the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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We all have our favorite places to eat, but what are the most under-appreciated spots in Rhode Island? Where can you find a good dive bar? And how have restaurants pivoted in response to COVID? Globe Rhode Island is tackling these questions and more with our new dining guide, out this month. We talk with our own Alexa Gagosz about why she created this resource and how it’s different from other guides out there. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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After a two-year break during the pandemic, PVDFest is back, starting this Friday. The free, outdoor festival features music, dancing, food, shopping, and art installations throughout downtown. We talk with Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza and Lizzie Araujo, the director of the Providence Department of Art, Culture + Tourism, about what to expect. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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It’s been a little more than six months since Rhode Island got a new US attorney. After some political drama, Zachary Cunha was appointed to the position in December.
He joins us for his first extensive conversation with the media to talk about the path that got him here, his priorities in office, and the tools he has to combat issues ranging from mass shootings to the opioid crisis. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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This week, Rhode Island became the 19th state to legalize recreational marijuana for adults. The new law also automatically expunges all past marijuana possession convictions. State Representative Leonela Felix, a Pawtucket Democrat, was a leading advocate for the automatic expungement provision. We talk with her about that work and what legal marijuana will look like in Rhode Island. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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Providence resident Molly Huddle is a two-time Olympian and holds the American record for the fastest 10K. She’s also the co-author of How She Did It, a book profiling 50 accomplished long-distance runners. We talk about that book, her running career, and more. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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As part of our ongoing series interviewing candidates for RI governor, we talk to former secretary of state Matt Brown about where he stands on the major issues, what he has to say about his opponents, and whether the Rhode Island Political Cooperative can actually win the whole State House. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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Former Cranston Mayor Allan Fung is running to replace US Representative Jim Langevin. He’s styling himself as a moderate Republican who supports bi-partisanship, but is that possible in today’s political climate?
We get his take on the possibility of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, whether he supports Trump, and where he stands on issues like climate change and the Jan. 6th attack on the US Capitol.
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Four Democrats are competing to replace Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza when his term ends this year. Who are the candidates, what are the differences between them, and who’s likely to win? Our own Globe columnist Dan McGowan helps us sort it all out and analyzes the latest debate. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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We often talk about the relationship between Providence and the State House, but what about the rest of the state? To get some perspective, we talk with Charles Lombardi. He’s been the mayor of North Providence for 15 years and the President of the League of Cities and Towns since 2020. We talk about police accountability, marijuana stores, and the probe of a controversial state education contract. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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The Boston Marathon is coming up on Monday, and everybody’s going to be talking about Heartbreak Hill. But did you know that a Rhode Islander is the reason it has that name? Ellison “Tarzan” Brown, a member of the Narragansett Indian tribe, broke defending champion "Johnny" Kelley’s heart when he beat him in the 1936 race.
Tarzan won the Boston Marathon again in 1939 and was also an Olympic athlete. In this episode, we talk with his granddaughter, Anna Brown-Jackson, about his legacy and why he deserves a statue of his own. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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As part of our ongoing series interviewing candidates for RI governor, we talk to Ashley Kalus, a healthcare executive and newcomer to Rhode Island who is the only Republican candidate so far. We talk about where she stands on the major issues, what she knows about Rhode Island, and how she became a New England Golden Gloves champion. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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State Representative David Morales isn’t just the youngest member of the Rhode Island General Assembly. He’s also the newly minted commissioner of the Renegade Wrestling Alliance, a Providence-based pro wrestling outfit.
In this episode, we talk battles in the ring and at the State House, including his efforts to extend health insurance to all children, regardless of their immigration status.
Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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As part of our ongoing series interviewing candidates for RI governor, we talk to Dr. Luis Daniel Muñoz. He talks about where he stands on the major issues, why he calls his opponents ‘performative,’ and how he faces a huge fundraising disadvantage. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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Angie and Jeff DiMeo are the couple behind Providence Date Night, an Instagram account about local food and drinks. We talk about how the city's food scene has evolved since COVID, where to go for your first night back out on the town, and why they've ditched alcohol for mocktails. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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The Russian invasion of Ukraine is hitting home for Amin Faqiry. Less than a year ago, he was forced to leave a country that was also under attack - Afghanistan. Amin was a front-line interpreter there for the US military and State Department for nearly 12 years.
We talk to Amin about his experience, the plight of the Ukrainian people, what the US should do with seized Afghan funds, and his work to help refugees in R.I. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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As part of our ongoing series interviewing candidates for RI governor, we talk to Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea. She explains her stance on repealing Rhode Island’s voter ID law, why she thinks she’s more qualified than her former boss, Matt Brown, and what she thinks of Governor McKee’s response to the pandemic. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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Congressman David Cicilline recently had a first-hand look at the rising tensions in Ukraine during a visit to Kyiv in January. We talk about what he learned there and some issues closer to home, like the midterm elections and who will replace his colleague, Congressman Jim Langevin.
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Moses Brown Junior Sophia Gorriaran just broke the under-18 world record for the fastest 800 meters by a woman. She and her dad, Steve, join us to talk about running, the Olympics, and how she managed to set the record just a couple of days after spraining her ankle. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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If you were intrigued by our episode about the 1919 Newport Sex Scandal, this bonus episode is for you. A few years ago, The Globe’s Mark Arsenaulttold another side of this story at Globe Live, a storytelling event put on by the Globe at a theater in downtown Boston. This is a recording of Mark’s piece.
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Here's a scandalous bit of Rhode Island history. More than 100 years ago, the US Navy launched an entrapment operation to root out gay sailors and civilians in Newport. The Navy actually commissioned about a dozen undercover sailors to have sex with members of the gay community.
The Globe's Alexa Gagosz talks with Jason Tranchida, the co-organizer of a multimedia installation that puts a spotlight on this bizarre and troubling episode.
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In the first of our series interviewing the RI candidates for governor, we talk to former CVS executive Helena Foulkes. She makes her case for replacing Governor McKee, responds to critics, and talks about those incredibly long CVS receipts.
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We start this episode with the topic everybody is talking about – who will replace Representative Jim Langevin now that he’s decided to retire from Congress? Dan McGowan and Ed sit down to untangle who’s running, who’s thinking about it, and what it all means.
Then, Ed talks with House Minority Whip Katherine Kazarian about a bill that would make it easier to vote by mail or early in person.
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When Central Falls Mayor Maria Rivera was sworn into office last January, COVID-19 vaccinations were becoming available, and infection rates were starting to slowly go down. But a year later, Central Falls is a COVID hot spot once again. We talk to Mayor Rivera about the pandemic's impact on residents, the need for more affordable housing, and plans for a new high school. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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In this week's episode, state Senator Tiara Mack challenges the Senate president's objections to taxing the rich and says if Rhode Island legalizes recreational marijuana, it should also expunge marijuana convictions.
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It’s a new year, which means a new legislative session. We’ve heard from Senate leadership about their priorities for Rhode Island in 2022, but what are some of the state’s advocates hoping to accomplish this year?
For another perspective, we talk to Marcela Betancur, the director of the Latino Policy Institute at Roger Williams University. We discuss some of the laws she’s hoping to get passed in 2022, and how the state should better manage COVID in places like Central Falls. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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Earlier this year, the Globe Rhode Island team came together for an event with Venture Cafe at CIC Providence. It was a chance for Globe RI journalists to introduce themselves, meet some readers, and talk about the work they do every day. This is an edited version of that conversation. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio details his top priorities for the new legislative session, including expanding access to pre-K, funding school construction projects, and replacing the lead water pipes still in use across Rhode Island. Plus, an East Greenwich native shares the story of an infamous chestnut battle from his youth. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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This isn't "Squid Game," but back in the day chestnut fights were brutal battles in at least one Rhode Island schoolyard. On this week's episode, Ed Fitzpatrick returns to his native Greenville for a showdown with his childhood friend Sue Tremblay. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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In late October, North Kingstown High School was rocked by the news that its longtime basketball coach, Aaron Thomas, had been conducting naked “body fat tests” on students for about 25 years.
Students, parents, and now the attorney general’s office want to know what happened and how this practice continued for so long. Globe RI journalist Amanda Milkovits has been covering this story since the beginning. She joins us to explain exactly what we know about the controversy. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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When CCRI President Meghan Hughes becomes the chair of the Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce, will it help students or conflict with their best interests? She talks with Dan McGowan about this new role, what COVID did to enrollment numbers, and her priorities for the college moving forward.
Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com
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Lorén Spears, the executive director of the Tomaquag Museum, gives us some perspective on Thanksgiving. We also talk about an intriguing new exhibit on Indigenous boarding schools, how to better serve Native students, and what should be done with Providence’s Columbus statue. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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Providence College Professor Eric Hirsch is sounding the alarm on Rhode Island’s homelessness crisis. He says the governor and the General Assembly have failed to address the record number of people on the streets, while they sit on $1 billion in COVID relief funds. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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At a time when information on COVID-19 and kids was nowhere to be found, Brown Economics Professor Emily Oster filled the void. She gave parents advice, advocated for a return to in-person learning, and even developed a database on how COVID has affected schools across the country.
Emily joins us to talk about her work, and the latest COVID development: vaccines for children ages 5 to 11.
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We go behind the scenes of a haunted house in the town of Johnston, where Michael DeCesare has been scaring the heck out of Rhode Islanders for almost 20 years. Michael is the creator of Deadly Fantasies, Silent Nightmares. It’s a spooky experience he operates out of his own home for free, once a year on Halloween. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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Governor Dan McKee joins us in the studio to talk about his first seven months as governor and his plan for spending $1.1 billion in federal COVID relief funds. He also fires back at critics of his administration's decision to award a lucrative education contract to ILO, a consulting firm with ties to his long-term ally. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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The Rhode Island Political Cooperative aims to run up to fifty progressives for local and statewide offices, but not all progressives are onboard with its approach. The group has been criticized for challenging liberal incumbents and supporting candidates with questionable social media posts. One of the Coop’s co-founders, Jennifer Rourke, joins us to clarify what the group is all about.
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The Papitto Opportunity Connection is a new foundation that’s dedicated to supporting nonprofits and businesses in local communities of color. In its first 10 months, the organization has given away more than 7 million dollars. We talk to the founder, Barbara Papitto, and Arnell Milhouse, a member of the foundation’s advisory board.
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Five Democrats are competing in next week’s primary to be the new senator for the east side of Providence. What’s the difference between the candidates? What factors will affect who wins? And why should the rest of the state care? Globe columnist Dan McGowan helps us sort it all out. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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Jorge Elorza has a big campaign account and plenty of name recognition. So why did he pull out of the governor's race? Ed Fitzpatrick talks to the mayor about his decision, what’s next for him politically, and what he’ll do with his remaining time in office. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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Tens of thousands of people have escaped Afghanistan after the take-over by the Taliban. And up to 250 of them might be headed to Rhode Island. Ed Fitzpatrick talks with Omar Bah, the head of an organization that plans to help them, and Negina Sadat, who made the very same journey six years ago. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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Brown University professor Baylor Fox-Kemper, a lead author of a new United Nations climate report, sits down with Globe RI's Brian Amaral to talk about rising seas, the potential impact on Rhode Island, and what Rhode-Islanders can do to stem the tide. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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Judge O. Rogeriee Thompson was the first Black woman to serve on Rhode Island's district and superior courts. She has served on the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston since 2010, and was the first Black judge and second woman on the that court. Judge Thompson discusses what she learned from her family, why the judicial system must reflect society, and how she came to write such distinctive opinions. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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In the wake of Tropical Storm Henri, Ed Fitzpatrick talks to two guests about what was -- and what could have been. Globe RI reporter Carlos Muñoz describes what it felt like on the ground as the storm barreled into the coastline. Marc Pappas, director of the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency, discusses the statewide impact, and how it could have been far worse. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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One hundred and twenty-nine people were exonerated of crimes in the United States last year, meaning they were cleared of their guilt and set free after wrongful convictions. Scott Hornoff is one such exoneree. In 2003, he was released from prison after spending more than six years behind bars for a crime he didn’t commit. Now, he’s the advocate behind a new Rhode Island law that will provide money and support for people who have suffered the same fate.
Hornoff sits down with Globe RI’s Amanda Milkovits to discuss his own experience and what the state owes people like him.
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Ocean Staters pride themselves on the state’s beautiful coastline and summers on the water. But, in actuality, only a fraction of Rhode Island’s beaches are accessible to the public. And when the majority of an area is privatized or locally restricted, it inevitably means some communities are being left out.
Ed Fitzpatrick talks with Globe RI reporter Brian Amaral about the history of beach access in Rhode Island, and what needs to change to make coastal privileges more equitable.
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Last year, less than eight percent of state business contracts were awarded to minority owned enterprises. That’s below the ten percent marker promised by the state, and could mean a hefty loss of income for minority owned businesses already struggling to keep up with white-owned competitors. Ed Fitzpatrck talks with Rep. Karen Alzate about the needs of minority owned businesses, and what’s top of mind for the state’s legislative Black and Latino caucus.
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With August marking the 56th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, Ed Fitzpatrick sits down with veteran civil rights leader Clifford Montiero. At 83, Montiero has spent more than 60 years fighting for equal voting rights in Rhode Island and across the country. But there's so much more work to be done, he says. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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Every year, the Newport Folk and Jazz festivals take over Fort Adams in Newport for two unforgettable celebrations of music and community. Every year, that is, except last year, when COVID forced their cancellation. Jay Sweet, executive producer and director of the Newport festivals, talks about getting through a rough 2020; how the festivals will be different this summer; and what he’s most excited about as he welcomes musicians and fans back to Fort Adams. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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Dan McGowan talks with Angélica Infante-Green about how the pandemic changed our understanding of student learning, where Rhode Island should spend federal education dollars, and whether she’d be willing to send her own children to Providence schools. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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In the last month, the Atlantic Shark Institute has tagged more great white sharks off the coast of Rhode Island than they have in any year prior. Globe Rhode Island reporter Amanda Milkovits talks with Jon Dodd, executive director of the Atlantic Shark Institute, about his decades-long passion for sharks, the important role these animals play in the health of the ocean, and what shark behavior can tell us about climate change.
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Peter Neronha has been Rhode Island's attorney general since January 2019, working on big-news topics like gun violence, hate crimes, and police misconduct. Ed Fitzpatrick talks with the attorney general about growing trends in violent crime, the argument for getting body cameras on all Rhode Island police officers, and what the state needs to do better to address crimes rooted in bigotry and bias.
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Speaker of the Rhode Island House Joseph Shekarchi is wrapping up his first term in what many call the most powerful position in state government, leading the Legislature through its first full session in the pandemic. Ed Fitzpatrick talks with the speaker about the biggest issues facing the state, including marijuana legalization, charter schools, and what to do about towns that resist affordable housing.
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As a member of the state’s COVID-19 Equity Council, Dr. Pablo Rodriguez has made it his mission to ensure every Rhode Islander, regardless of neighborhood, income or identity, has access to accurate pandemic resources, and access to the COVID-19 vaccine. Dr. Rodriguez joins Ed Fitzpatrick to discuss COVID’s disproportionate impact on Rhode Island’s Latino population, what needs to be done to combat vaccine misinformation, and what the pandemic has taught us about the deeply rooted social conditions leading to disparities in public health.
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Sabina Matos is Rhode Island's 17th lieutenant governor. She's also the first woman of color to hold the second-highest office in the state. She talks about how her background and experience inform her work at the State House, how NIMBYism impedes affordable housing, and how she plans to run as a team with Governor Dan McKee in 2022. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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Former governor Gina Raimondo has been a household name in Rhode Island for years. Now, as U.S. commerce secretary, she's packing her bags for Washington to help President Joe Biden deliver on his economic agenda. Ed Fitzpatrick talks to Raimondo about what she’ll miss most about Rhode Island, how she’s trying to win over Republicans in Congress, and what the U.S. should be doing about economic aggression from China. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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A new weekly podcast from The Boston Globe on the biggest stories in Rhode Island. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.
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