Rhode Island Report

For more than 10 years, FRINGEPVD: The Providence Fringe Festival has been bringing new, weird, and experimental performances to Providence. And it’s happening right now through July 27th. Josh Short, the founder and artistic director of the Wilbury Theatre Group, joins us to talk more about the festival. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, we’re coming to you on location at Yacht Club Soda in North Providence. The family-owned business recently launched its Soda Pop Poll ahead of November's presidential election. It's a rematch pitting Donald's Trumpian Punch against Joe's Bidenomics Berry. Yacht Club Soda owner John Sgambato talks to us about the poll and his company. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Every year, a group of Rhode Islanders visits clam cake shacks all over the state, sampling as many deep-fried clam cakes as they can -- so you don’t have to. This year marks their tenth clam cake crawl, so Ed decided to join them. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In May, the US Department of Justice accused the state of Rhode Island of violating the civil rights of hundreds of children by warehousing them at Bradley Hospital, a psychiatric hospital for children. Steph Machado took an in-depth look at the issue for Rhode Island PBS Weekly and Globe Rhode Island. She joins us to talk about what she found, and some possible solutions. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On Friday, the Rhode Island legislative session wrapped up in the early morning hours, when most of us were asleep. Ed sorts through the Assembly's final decisions with Globe RI’s Steph Machado and Jim Hummel, the host of A Lively Experiment on Rhode Island PBS. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s been 50 years since the Rao family opened Mr. Lemon in Providence. Customers come to the tiny white building on Hawkins Street for the frozen lemonade, and many return because they feel like family. Colleen, Joe, and Janice Rao know almost everyone – and their favorite flavors. They talk with Ed about the business and their first year serving lemonade without their mother, Eileen Rao. Got a story about Mr. Lemon? Email us at [email protected]. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The game of golf isn’t often associated with young people or diversity, but one nonprofit in Rhode Island is trying to change that. For more than 20 years, Button Hole in Providence has been making the game affordable and accessible to children in the area. Ed talks to Anaridis Rodriguez, host of “Generation Rising” and Don Wright, executive director of Button Hole, about the program. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When the US Senate confirmed Judge Melissa DuBose in March, she broke two barriers. She became the first person of color and the first openly LGBTQ Judge to serve on the US District Court for Rhode Island. She officially starts that job in January, but she joined us in the studio for a preview of what’s to come. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The City by the Sea is known for its history. It's also on the front lines of climate change. Some of Rhode Island's biggest tourist attractions – Newport's mansions and other historic properties – are increasingly impacted by rising sea levels and extreme weather. Rhode Island PBS Weekly reporter Pamela Watts and Preservation Society of Newport County director of museum affairs Leslie Jones join Ed to discuss this issue. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you want to know about military actions around the world, ask US Senator Jack Reed. He’s Rhode Island’s senior Senator, the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, and often joins congressional delegations on trips overseas. Steph Machado down with Reed for Sunday’s episode of Rhode Island PBS Weekly for an update on the US’s role in the wars in Gaza and Ukraine as well as some issues closer to home. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Earlier this week, our own Dan McGowan and Brian Amaral moderated a live conversation about the Blue Economy and Rhode Island’s sustainable future. The panel featured Patty DiOrio, VP and head of project development, Americas at Ørsted; and Bill Fazioli, managing director of program and business development at the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank.If you missed part of the conversation, you can listen along to this lightly edited version. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Earlier this week, our own Alexa Gagosz moderated a live conversation about Climate and Business Resilience in Rhode Island's Food Ecosystem.The panel featured Ester Bishop, who is the co-owner, chef, and farmer at Gnarly Vines Farm; Ben Sukle, the chef and owner at Oberlin and Gift Horse restaurants in Providence; and Robert Andreozzi, the chef-owner at Pizza Marvin in Providence. If you missed part of the conversation, you can listen along to this lightly edited version.Want more food news and insights from your favorite chefs? Sign up for The R.I. Food Club, a free weekly newsletter about food and dining in Rhode Island at globe.com/rifoodclub.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today, we’re getting out of the studio and putting on our running shoes to talk with Mark Sheeran. He’s an ultra-marathoner who’s spent the past few months running down every street in Providence. He invited Ed to tag along as he finished up one of his last runs. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rhode Island’s Board of Elections has a new executive director – but he’s no stranger to the job. Miguel Nuñez has been working for the board for nearly 25 years. He took the top spot in February, breaking ground as the board's first Latino executive director. Miguel talks with Ed about leading the BOE, and the biggest threat he sees coming up in this election year. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

St. Mary’s Home for Children in North Providence has been in the news since January when the state's Office of the Child Advocate released a scathing report about conditions there. Our own Amanda Milkovits has been following the story ever since. She’s recently talked with a family whose grandchild has been a resident there for a year. They say things there have not changed. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Every year, Rhode Islanders read the same book as a part of the Reading Across Rhode Island program.This year’s selection is Solito- a memoir by Javier Zamora. It tells the true story of Javier’s journey from El Salvador to The United States as an unaccompanied nine-year-old.Javier joins Ed in the studio, along with Maureen Nagle, education chair of Reading Across Rhode Island. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When reporters are working on important stories, they often use Rhode Island's Access for Public Records Act, or APRA. It gives them the ability to ask for government emails, data sets, or other documents. But APRA isn’t perfect. So, there’s a bill before the General Assembly to make it stronger. Ed talks with Colleen Cronin, a reporter who covers environmental issues for ecoRI, and John Marion, executive director of Common Cause Rhode Island, to learn more. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s been a little over a year since Stefan Pryor became Rhode Island’s housing secretary, as housing affordability remains one of the top issues facing Rhode Islanders. So what is he doing about it? Steph Machado sat down with Pryor to find out. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For RI restaurants and food businesses, the overall cost of doing business is going up, and the closure of the Washington Bridge that carries Interstate 195 into and out of Providence has made matters worse. How are these companies going to survive? Alexa Gagosz talks with Kate Roberts, the owner of Easy Entertaining in Providence, to see how she’s coping. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Teenagers spend tons of time on their smart phones, and often they don’t stop even when they’re in class. To address that issue, some Rhode Island schools make students put their phones in locked pouches. Our own Steph Machado just finished a segment for Rhode Island PBS about this growing trend. She joins us in the studio to talk about what she learned. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Earlier this week, our own Dan McGowan and Steph Machado moderated a live conversation about the state of RI schools. The panel featured Central Falls Mayor Maria Rivera, Rhode Island Commissioner on Postsecondary Education Shannon Gilkey, and Rhode Island Deputy Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Lisa Odom-Villella. If you couldn’t make it, you can listen along to this lightly edited version of the discussion. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you want to know about the plans to bring minor league soccer to Pawtucket, Globe RI’s Brian Amaral is your man. He’s been covering the Tidewater Landing project from the beginning. Last weekend, he went to Rhode Island FC's home opener at its temporary home in Smithfield. Brian joins Ed to talk about the game, the team, and what he’s uncovered about the financing of the stadium. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Back in 2020, the Trump campaign hired Rhode-Islander and Moderate Party founder Ken Block to investigate widespread election fraud. Spoiler alert: He didn’t find any. But Ken did find data to explain why Trump really lost. He joins Ed to talk about his new book, "Disproven." Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s been nearly three months since the RI Department of Transportation shut down the westbound side of the Washington Bridge and it doesn’t look like it’s reopening anytime soon. Our own Steph Machado and Jim Hummel, the host of “A Lively Experiment” on Rhode Island PBS, give us the latest on this debacle. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Imagine studying science or math in a different language. Many English learners in Rhode Island’s public schools face this challenge every day, and their numbers are growing. What is the state doing to help these students succeed? Guest host Dan McGowan talks with RI PBS reporter Michelle San Miguel and Providence School Board President Erlin Rogel about the issue. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

To celebrate Black History Month, we’re joined by Valerie Tutson, the executive director and festival director for Rhode Island Black Storytellers, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting the awareness, appreciation, and application of Black storytelling. She talks with Ed about her work, avoiding the trap of ‘trauma stories,’ and training a new generation of storytellers. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nearly 20 percent of General Assembly members belong to the Rhode Island Black, Latino, Indigenous, Asian American, and Pacific Islander Caucus. The caucus co-chair, Senator Jonathon Acosta of Central Falls, joins us to talk about some of his priorities, including police accountability, feeding more students, and raising taxes on the wealthiest households. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If you want to know something about Rhode Island’s Latino community, ask Marta Martinez. Marta is the executive director of Rhode Island Latino Arts and the founder of the Latino Oral History Project of Rhode Island. She’s spent decades collecting the stories of Spanish-speaking pioneers, leaders, and community members. Now, her oral history collection is the inspiration behind La Broa’ — a new play at Trinity Rep. We talk to Marta about the play and her work capturing the history of Rhode Island’s Latino community. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s been about a year since Oscar Perez became the new chief of the Providence Police Department — and the first Latino to hold the position. He joins the Globe's Steph Machado to talk about community policing, crime trends in the city, and what his appointment means to communities of color. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Edesia Nutrition, a North Kingstown nonprofit that feeds malnourished children around the globe, got a big boost last year when the Bezos family made a donation worth nearly $140 million. Edesia founder and CEO Navyn Salem joins us to talk about how the money will help them serve many more kids, at a time when war and climate change are threatening children like never before. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s easy to assume that giving birth in the US is pretty low-risk. But according to a new documentary, women in America die of pregnancy-related causes at a rate that’s up to 10 times higher than countries such as Japan, Spain, and Germany. "The Risk of Giving Birth," a three-part series by Rhode Island PBS, digs into the dangers of pregnancy, especially among women of color. We talk to Dr. Pablo Rodriguez, one of the experts featured in an episode on birth-related issues in the Latino community. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Providence College basketball hit the big time a little more than 50 years ago, when Ernie DiGregorio and Marvin Barnes led the team to its first Final Four tournament. Ernie D tells the story of that journey in a new book, "Star with a Broken Heart." We talk about the book, basketball, and his long friendship with Barnes and PC Coach Dave Gavitt. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today is the first day of the 2024 legislative session. So what will lawmakers act on this year — housing, law enforcement accountability, guns, a new courthouse? We get some predictions and analysis from our own Steph Machado and Jim Hummel, host of “A Lively Experiment” on Rhode Island PBS. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In 2023, we heard all about tinned fish, “girl dinner,” butter boards, and zero-proof drinks. Inflation drove up prices, and we haven’t heard the end of trying to build a more sustainable food system. So what’s in store for the food and restaurant world in 2024? Guest host Alexa Gagosz gets some predictions from Jason Evans, the founding dean of the College of Food, Innovation and Technology at Johnson & Wales University. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In just two weeks, the Rhode Island General Assembly will be back in session. What can we expect from lawmakers in 2024? Guest host Steph Machado sits down with House Speaker Joseph Shekarchi for a preview. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It’s been six years since the last Benny’s closed in Greenville, and people are still talking about their favorite store. The place that sold everything — from bikes, to towels, to tires — still holds a special place in many hearts. Now there’s a way to share your memories. We talk to Benny’s co-owner Arnold Bromberg and filmmaker Dante Bellini about a forthcoming documentary about the store, which will include voices from the community. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This week, we’re getting out of the studio to have some fun — at a pinball museum in Pawtucket. The Electromagnetic Pinball Museum and Restoration opened less than three years ago, but it already has more than 100 working machines, and you can play them all day for just $10. Ed Fitzpatrick talks to the founders, checks out the space, and rocks out to Rush while he plays the silver ball. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Numb hands from cleaning freezers for hours. Shifts that end at 4 in the morning. These are just a couple of the experiences of the dozens of teenagers who spoke to The Public’s Radio about working at seafood processing plants in New Bedford. Nadine Sebai and Nina Sparling are the reporters behind a two-year investigation into migrant teens working these risky jobs. Their series, “Underage and Unprotected” came out earlier this year. We talk about their reporting and what’s happened since. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There’s a huge gap between what most of us were taught in school about Native American culture and what’s actually true. "Native America," a new series on PBS — and produced by a Rhode Islander — seeks to explore the complexity that’s not described in our textbooks. We talk to Gary Glassman, the executive producer of the series, and Daniel Golding, the director of the latest episode. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The new Netflix series “All the Light We Cannot See,” based on the award-winning novel of the same name, stars a native Rhode-Islander with raw talent. Aria Mia Loberti had no acting experience when she auditioned for the role of Marie-Laure LeBlanc, a blind girl who sends secret messages to the Allies during World War II. But she did have some significant life experience. Aria is legally blind. She joins us to talk about growing up in Johnston, advocating for the blind community, and her sudden rise to stardom. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rhode-Islanders went to the polls Tuesday in a special election in the First Congressional District and for some local issues as well. What do the results tell us, including Democrat Gabe Amo's landslide win over Republican Gerry Leonard. We’re joined by our own Steph Machado and Jim Hummel, the host of A Lively Experiment on Rhode Island PBS. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The United States is facing a children’s mental health crisis, according to the American Psychological Association. The Providence nonprofit Turning the Corner is helping to address this issue by offering services to kids in the custody of the state Department of Children, Youth & Families, many of whom were removed from their homes for safety or behavioral reasons. The Rev. Lauri Smalls, the executive director of Turning the Corner, joins us to talk about her work and the need for more funding. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

He’s already a Providence folk-rock singer, songwriter, and Brown University senior. Now Chance Emerson can add tech startup founder to his resume. With his platform ForeverFan, he’s helping independent musicians like himself communicate with their fans. Chance, a recent guest on Rhode Island PBS's "Ocean State Sessions," joins guest host Alexa Gagosz to talk music, college, and what’s next. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On Nov. 7, voters in the 1st Congressional District will decide whether Republican Gerry Leonard or Democrat Gabe Amo will replace former US Representative David Cicilline. So we brought the two 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. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ruth Simmons made history in 2001 when she was named the president of Brown University, making her the first Black president of an Ivy League institution. She joins us on the podcast to talk about her new memoir, “Up Home,” how teachers can shape lives, and affirmative action and legacy admissions at universities. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

More than 50 years ago, Kathrine Switzer made history when organizers of the Boston Marathon tried to push her off the course. She was the first woman to officially enter and run the race — and a trailblazing figure for legions of women runners who came after her. This weekend, she’s returning to the Boston area to run in two races. One of them is the Women’s Classic 5K right here in Providence. She joins the podcast with Bob Rothenberg, a former Brown running coach and one of the organizers of the race. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

If your baby or toddler has developmental disabilities, they qualify for a free program to help them catch up to their peers. You’re supposed to get those services in 45 days. But, here in Rhode Island, the wait is much longer. Our own Steph Machado just finished a story about this issue with Rhode Island PBS. She joins us to talk more about the crisis and what's currently being done to solve it. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Providence Mayor Brett Smiley has had a rough few weeks. First a rainy PVDFest and then flash flooding from even more rain. But hidden among the dreary news was also a victory: a landmark agreement with Providence’s private colleges that will bring in more than $200 million for the city. The mayor joins guest host Dan McGowan for an update on all of that and more. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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 [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In a crowded field of 11 candidates vying for the Democratic nomination for Congressional District 1, former Biden administration staffer Gabe Amo emerged victorious last night. He is almost certain to become the first person of color to represent Rhode Island in Congress. How did Amo win? What did the pundits get wrong? My colleague Steph Machado and Jim Hummel, host of “A Lively Experiment” on Rhode Island PBS, are here to break down the results. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected] Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.