Rhode Island Report

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 mone...

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...

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...

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 . See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/...

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 excit...

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

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 ca...

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...

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...

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 comba...

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 . See Privacy...

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 ag...

A new weekly podcast from The Boston Globe on the biggest stories in Rhode Island. 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-my-info .