Behind the Story

Tim White and Ted Nesi for years have covered politics on all levels and together they moderate some of the most highly watched political debates each year. The duo discussed the current state of affairs in the much-anticipated 2026 gubernatorial race for Democrats and Republicans, and analyze the value of polls in political reporting. White and Nesi, who also host the political affairs show "News...

In a special edition of "Behind the Story," 12 News reporter Ted Nesi fills in to host a conversation with 12 News anchor Kim Kalunian and Target 12 chief investigative reporter Tim White about how news outlets have covered the shooting at Brown University and its aftermath.

Alex Kuffner, who covers energy and the environment, said Rhode Islanders should expect some relief this winter on their heating bills. But he warned that regulators have mostly moved around existing funds to offset the higher winter costs, meaning ratepayers end up paying for those credits. He also highlighted a new rate hike proposed by Rhode Island Energy for its distribution charges, which is...

Mark Patinkin, who’s been a newspaper columnist for over four decades, recently wrote about the issue of hazing in schools following incidents in Newport and Smithfield, respectively. Hazing has also been the focus of an opinion piece written by BTS cohost Dan McGowan, a columnist for the Boston Globe. Patinkin said student athletes who behave badly should be held responsible for their actions. Bu...

The series focuses on the life of Luigi “Baby Shacks” Manocchio, the last mob boss to lead New England’s most notorious crime family. For decades, the Patriarca Crime Family ran a shadow government from Federal Hill, wielding power that rivaled public officials, private financiers and law enforcement on all levels. Target 12 managing editor Tim White, 12 News chief videographer Johnny Villella and...

Joy Fox owns Beacon Media, which publishes the Warwick Beacon, Cranston Herald and Johnston Sun Rise, along with The Reminder, a weekly shopping guide. She bought the news organization last year from legendary publisher John Howell and expressed optimism about the sustainability of the local newspaper model. "Don't count us out because I believe that the trends right now are actually coming square...

Fitzpatrick, who also hosts “The Rhode Island Report,” is a Rhode Island-based reporter for the Globe, covering statewide government and politics. Recently, he’s covered a developing controversy in his hometown of Smithfield, where there have been allegations of antisemitic hazing involving the high school football team. An attorney representing the accused players has disputed the allegations, wh...

Steve Klamkin over the years has covered high-profile criminal trials, including the one of Vincent "Buddy" Cianci after the FBI investigation known as Plunderdome.  Klamkin is recognizable for being at the forefront of media scrums over the years. But he's also well-known for the unique signoff he's had at the end of news reports for WPRO radio: "Steve Klamkin, WPRO News." "I don't have a big boo...

McNamara is a longtime sports journalist who covers college and professional sports. He focuses heavily on college basketball, which kicks off Monday for programs across Rhode Island. McNamara, who also runs the website KevinMcSports.com, said he's unsure whether Providence College, the University of Rhode Island or Bryant University will make the NCAA Tournament this season. But he said the Friar...

Jim Hummel is a longtime investigative reporter and founder of the nonprofit news organization The Hummel Report. His reporting revealed new details about the westbound I-195 bridge, which shut down abruptly to 90,000 vehicles in December 2023. Hummel’s reporting showed forensic auditors determined a critical rod of the bridge that ultimately broke was likely corroding for up to 15 years, and seve...

Ethan Hartley, editor of The East Providence Post, recently covered the city budget process where Mayor Bob DaSilva signed the latest tax-and-spending plan Wednesday. Hartley said no services were cut, but he underscored that the city still raised the overall tax levy to the state-capped limit of 4% for the next fiscal year. “Municipal budgets today are very tight,” Hartley said. “Just to get the...

Ben Berke of Ocean State Media joined Eli Sherman and Dan McGowan on “Behind the Story” this week to discuss the role out of a police reform law that went into effect earlier this year. Berke examined the Law Enforcement Officers Due Process Accountability and Transparency Act, or LEODPATA, and whether it's changed how officials handle cases of alleged police misconduct. His reporting shows the la...

Philip Eil, who's the author of "Prescription for Pain," recently wrote an opinion piece for Rhode Island Current, highlighting how quickly opioids and opioid-related deaths have become a central focus in the race for Rhode Island governor. "I was uneasy to watch this really serious, literally life and death issue, get turned into campaign mudslinging where it's about scoring points," Eil said dur...

12 News politics editor Ted Nesi joined Eli Sherman and Dan McGowan on “Behind the Story” this week to discuss the future of politics and pensions in Providence. Nesi said he's been getting a lot of feedback over the past week in response to comments about the Providence pension system made by state Rep. David Morales, who recently announced he's running for Providence. Appearing on "Newsmakers" l...

Eric Rueb of The Providence Journal joined Eli Sherman and Dan McGowan on “Behind the Story” to discuss his experience covering sports in Rhode Island. For years, Rueb has been reporting on youth and professional sports, and he expressed excitement over this year’s high school football season, which is officially underway. “I’m going to watch Central Falls and East Greenwich on Thursday, and those...

Alexa Gagosz of The Boston Globe joined Eli Sherman and Dan McGowan on “Behind the Story” this week to discuss the Hasbro decision to relocate its headquarters from Pawtucket to Boston. Gagosz covers a variety of topics including business and she's been tracking the yearlong uncertainty over whether the toymaker would make an out-of-state move. Hasbro for the past century has been headquartered in...

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Ian Donnis of The Public's Radio and Rhode Island PBS joined Eli Sherman and Dan McGowan this week on “Behind the Story” to discuss politics, public media and health care in Rhode Island. Donnis is a longtime political reporter, who also hosts the show "Political Roundtable." He covers local, state and national politics, and this week he discussed Rhode Island's upco...

Anastasia E. Lennon of The New Bedford Light this week joins Eli Sherman and Kim Kalunian on “Behind the Story” to discuss the offshore wind industry, including the Trump administration order to stop work on the Revolution Wind project. Lennon talked about what moves have been happening across the country leading up to stop-work order handed down last Friday to Revolution Wind, which project offic...

Patrick Anderson of The Providence Journal this week joined Eli Sherman and Dan McGowan on “Behind the Story” to discuss his recent reporting on Gov. Dan McKee's education agenda . Anderson is a government and politics reporter at the Projo, and he's part of a team of reporters who put together the newspaper's weekly Political Scene column. The column this week focused on the governor's education...

Tim White this week joins Eli Sherman and Kim Kalunian on “ Behind the Story ” to discuss the ongoing saga of Nicholas Alahverdian . White is managing editor and chief investigative reporter at 12 News, and he's been covering Alahverdian for years leading up to his criminal trial that began this week in Utah. Alahverdian, a conman from Rhode Island, was a longtime critic of the state's child welfa...

Nancy Lavin of the Rhode Island Current this week joined Eli Sherman and Dan McGowan on “Behind the Story” to discuss her reporting on Woonsocket finances and State House politics . Lavin is senior reporter for the independent, digital news outlet that focuses on state government and public policy. Lavin discusses ongoing financial issues in Woonsocket, which has seen its bond ratings yanked after...

Colleen Cronin of ecoRI News this week joined Eli Sherman and Kim Kalunian on “Behind the Story” to discuss her reporting about recycling violations in Providence . Cronin is a Report for America fellow working at ecoRI News, a nonprofit news outlet that focuses on environmental news. She obtained years of recycling violations data that revealed Providence has ticketed most frequently in its poore...

Ethan Shorey is chief editor of the The Valley Breeze, a weekly newspaper that covers several Rhode Island communities, including Pawtucket. In recent years, the state's fourth-largest city has seen a number of changes, including construction of a new soccer stadium for Rhode Island FC. The USL team owners said they wanted to move into the city shortly after the Pawtucket Red Sox announced a move...

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Dan Medeiros of the The Fall River Herald News joins Eli Sherman and Kim Kalunian on this week’s episode of “Behind the Story” to talk about the deadly fire that killed nine people and injured several more. Medeiros is senior digital producer at the city's newspaper of record. He lives and works in Fall River, which experienced one of its deadliest fires in recent hi...

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — WPRO radio's Tara Granahan joins Eli Sherman and Dan McGowan on this week’s episode of “Behind the Story” to discuss the world of talk radio, politics and the Washington Bridge. Granahan is host of the Tara Granahan Show, weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon on NewsTalk 630 WPRO and 99.7FM. She talks about what goes into putting together a show each day, what topics tend to...