Rhode Island Report

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 . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell...

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....

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....

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 h...

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. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California P...

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&nbs...

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...

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 gui...

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. See Pri...

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 an...

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 ide...

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. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at http...

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 . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Ca...

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 t...

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 . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Ca...

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...

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 athlet...

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 . See Privac...

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...

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 . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.co...

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 . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California P...

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 t...

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 . See Privacy Policy at https:/...

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. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-...

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 . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice a...