Newsmakers | WPRI 12 News

Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Office of the FBI, Joseph Bonavolonta and U.S. Attorney for the District of Rhode Island, Aaron Weisman. From national security to public corruption, Bonavolonta and Weisman discuss regional and national priories for both agencies.

This week on Newsmakers: political roundtables look back at the first half of 2019 and preview the rest of the year in Rhode Island and Massachusetts politics. With Ian Donnis of The Public's Radio, Dan McGowan of The Boston Globe, Stephanie Murray of Politico Massachusetts, and Peter Ubertaccio of Stonehill College.

This week on Newsmakers: Congressman Joe Kennedy III, D-Mass. The fourth-term House Democrat explains why he now supports impeachment proceedings against President Trump, shares his concern about the ongoing migrant crisis, handicaps the 2020 presidential race and discusses his own political future.

R.I. Senator Judiciary Chair Erin Lynch Prata. In an unusual move, Lynch Prata moved a controversial abortion bill to another committee to ensure its passage. Lynch Prata discusses her decision and weighs in on other hot-button issues facing lawmakers as the General Assembly session nears its end. As a lawmaker from Warwick, she also reacts to the budget woes the city is facing.

This week on Newsmakers: Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea. The second-term Democrat discusses moving the primary election, preparations for 2020, the fight over birth dates in the voter file, and her political future.

R.I. General Treasurer Seth Magaziner. Eight years after landmark pension reform in the state, Magaziner provides an update on the health of the retirement system, answers questions about a potential run for governor and discusses his legislative priorities as the general assembly session nears the end.

Sid Wordell, the executive director of the R.I. Police Chiefs' Association. Wordell discusses the challenges department face in recruiting and retaining officers, and which legislative proposals they support and oppose on Smith Hill. Then Target 12 Investigator Walt Buteau and Dan McGowan from the Boston Globe discuss the week in news.

Candace Caluori, principal of Toll Gate High School in Warwick. This academic year, an ambulance has been called to Warwick schools five times for students who have had a bad reaction after using the drug THC - which is the chemical that gives marijuana its psychoactive effects. R.I. Dept. of Education data shows THC use has spiked at schools statewude in the past year. Caluori discusses was she calls "an epidemic" and what they are doing about the problem. Target 12 also interviews the assistant principal at Toll Gate who gives a show-and-tell of some of the devices used to ingest THC.

Angélica Infante-Green, commissioner of the R.I. Department of Education. Shortly after Gov. Gina Raimondo announced Infante-Green was taking the helm at the state's education department, legislative leaders announced a sweeping package of reforms aimed at the state's K-12 public school system. Infante-Green weighs in on the bills she likes - and doesn't like - and what her priorities are as the new commissioner of RIDE.

This week on Newsmakers: Lifespan President and CEO Dr. Timothy Babineau and Dr. James Fingleton, chief of Lifespan's Cardiovascular Institute. With state regulators considering a proposed takeover of Care New England by Boston-based Partners HealthCare, Babineau and Fingleton make the case on why the deal shouldn't get the green light.

This week on Newsmakers: Norm Birenbaum, the R.I. Department of Business Regulation's point person on marijuana policy, and state consultant Andrew Freedman discuss the governor's proposal to legalize cannabis; Rhode Island College President Dr. Frank Sánchez discusses free tuition, school safety, his future and more.

This week on Newsmakers: Mayor Allan Fung, R-Cranston, and the executive director of the National Education Association Rhode Island, Robert Walsh. House lawmakers passed two controversial bills pushed by organized labor in recent weeks: one would continue union contracts after they expire, the other provides overtime for firefighters any time over 42 hours in a week. Municipal leaders say the bills will lead to increased property taxes, while unions call it a matter of fairness. Fung and Walsh debate the proposals.

This week on Newsmakers: Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha. After a review of his office, Neronha announced this month the backlog of unprosecuted cases was larger than first thought. He discusses what's being done to move those prosecutions along, and reacts to the release of the redacted Mueller report.

A political roundtable. Joining Tim White and Ted Nesi are Eyetwitness News Political Analyst Joe Fleming, Former RI GOP Chairman Brandon Bell, and Public Affairs Consultant Cara Cromwell. The group discusses the latest out of Washington D.C., President Trump's reelection chances and takes an early look at the 2022 gubernatorial race in Rhode Island.

This week on Newsmakers: Suzanne Cienki, R.I. Republican Party Chairperson. After a devastating election cycle for the state Republicans in 2018, Cienki discusses where she wants to put the Party's focus in 2020, and who she sees as the rising stars in he state GOP.

Rhode Island U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. With the conclusion of the Robert Mueller probe, the third-term Democrat reacts to the summary of the investigation by Attorney General William Barr, what he would like to see happen next, and what should be made public.

This week on Newsmakers: Vincent Mesolella, Chairman of the Narragansett Bay Commission. Mesolella discusses the third and final phase of the massive combined sewer overflow project - estimated to cost $779 million - and the plans to pay for it. He also weighs in on Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza's pitch to monetize the Water Supply Board.

Colonel James Manni of the R.I. State Police. Manni is just the 14th superintendent in the 95-year history of the storied law enforcement agency. Manni weighs in on the possibility of legalized recreational marijuana, staffing changes within the agency and he talks about his years in the U.S. Secret Service.

This week on Newsmakers: Rabbi Sarah Mack and PC Professor Holly Taylor Coolman discuss the Rhode Island House's abortion vote; Herald News editor Lynne Sullivan and UMass Dartmouth Professor Michael Goodman previews next week’s Fall River mayoral recall election.

This week on Newsmakers: Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, D-North Providence. Now in his second term leading the upper chamber, Ruggerio shares his views on Smith Hill's biggest issues, including marijuana, abortion, beach fees, gambling and more.

This week on Newsmakers: T. Kevin Olasanoye, executive director of the R.I. Democratic Party, and Lee Ann Sennick, Rhode Island Republican national committeewoman. Olasanoye and Sennick discuss the 2020 presidential election, the arrest of a Republican fundraiser, and look back at the 2018 election in RI.

New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell discusses a wide range of issues from charter school expansion and marijuana shops to his political future.

U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse on the SOTU, Green New Deal, a potential government shutdown and more.

Congressman David Cicilline discusses being in the majority party of the House for the first time.

DiPalma, D-Middletown, and Euer, D-Newport, discuss the impact of the natural gas shutoff to some 6,000 customers on Aquidneck Island.

In her first extended television interview since her State of the State address, Raimondo discusses her newly unveiled $9.9-billion budget plan, the proposal to legalize marijuana for adults, staff changes in her administration, beach fees, and much more.