The Weekly Catch

After years of advocacy, two state lawmakers are hopeful that 2024 will be the year we see funding for suicide barriers along some Rhode Island bridges – a strategy that’s been effective elsewhere in the U.S. And school shooter drills have become a regular part of life for Rhode Island students. But how are they […] The post McKee’s ‘return to reality’ budget, preventing bridge suicide...

Universities and their leaders are facing increased pressure to take a stand on political and social issues – most recently, the war in Gaza. When is it time for educational institutions to be silent, and when do they have a responsibility to weigh in? We’ll dig into the topic. Also, pregnancy-related deaths in the United States are soaring compared to many of our peers. What’s behind it? Rhode Is...

For our last episode of the year, a look back at a few of our top stories from 2023. We start by revisiting our multi-part series, Underage and Unprotected, with the story of a migrant teenager in New Bedford who spent his days juggling a full high school schedule with a full-time job at a seafood processing plant. Also, from our collaboration with Latino oral history project Nuestras Raíces, we h...

In New Bedford, a migrant teen traded her job in a fish processing plant for a high school education. Now, she’s struggling to figure out how to survive financially. And, is Rhode Island losing tourism dollars by not emphasizing the Ocean State’s prominent role in American history? Also, the holidays are here and so are some unwelcome guests: COVID, the flu and the virus known as RSV. We’ll hear f...

The abrupt closure of the Washington Bridge on Monday affected thousands of drivers, in some cases adding hours to their commutes. We hear from two engineers about the state’s large number of aging bridges, and how to address the issue. And U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) just got back from COP28, the UN climate summit in Dubai. He talks about key takeaways and what he’d like to see happen nex...

Like many other states, Rhode Island has a shortage of primary care physicians. We’ll hear from a doctor at Brown who says things could worsen by the decade’s end. And thousands of immigrants are going to Massachusetts to seek asylum and shelter. Many are falling victim to scammers promising to fast-track their immigration status. Also, a new documentary called “Israelism” follows the journey of t...

There is a growing tension on the campus of Brown University between students and the school’s administration over the war between Israel and Hamas. Those tensions came to a head at a recent vigil-turned-protest on campus. And one year after recreational cannabis sales began in Rhode Island, what progress has the state made on its promises over social equity? Also, there’s a new law in Massachuset...

With a worsening shortage of primary care providers, Rhode Island’s most vulnerable communities are struggling to get basic care – and losing trust in the American medical system. Also, noise pollution from things like traffic or leaf blowers can be bad enough, but imagine hearing gunshots for hours on end. We hear about a Cranston neighborhood’s fight to silence a nearby police shooting range. An...

After months of campaigning, the voters of the first congressional district picked Gabe Amo to go to Congress. We sit down with a panel of political reporters to discuss what happens next for the freshman congressman. And we talk to our Metro Reporter Olivia Ebertz about the arrest of 20 student protesters at Brown University earlier this week. Also, The Public’s Radio and Rhode Island PBS plan to...

It's been a relatively quiet couple of months in the race to represent Rhode Island's 1st Congressional District. The election ends on Tuesday – but what does it mean for voters when candidates or the media treat an election as a foregone conclusion? Also, 2023 has been a big year for labor. Unions representing actors, car manufacturers, janitors and more have gone on strike across the country. Ar...

This week, U.S. Senators addressed the crisis of migrant children working in dangerous jobs across the country. But can a divided Congress work together to find solutions? And a conversation about tenants’ rights, a week after a condo complex in North Providence was abruptly condemned, leaving some residents living out of their cars. Also, the story of a local artisan who makes hand-carved gravest...

Rhode Island officials are confident that this winter, they will be more prepared to help those experiencing homelessness than in previous years. We hear about the state’s new plan from Housing Secretary Stefan Pryor. Also, the Rhode Island Food Bank just released the 2023 Hunger Survey. What does it show about who in the state is going hungry? And a new commission in the Rhode Island State Senate...

We talk with leaders from New England’s Jewish and Palestinian communities to hear about how they’re getting through these difficult times. Also, in the final part of our collaboration with oral history project Nuestras Raíces, we hear from Central Falls Mayor Maria Rivera about how she overcame a fear of public speaking to become the first Latina mayor in Rhode Island. And the URI Guitar Festival...

A new investigation into a former Fall River police officer reveals flaws within the department’s internal affairs process. We talk with South Coast Bureau Reporter Ben Berke about some key takeaways from his report. And when José Gonzalez came to Rhode Island College in the 1970s, he felt like an outsider – we hear how that experience led him to create the Latin American Student Organization. Als...

A group of Pawtucket residents, elected officials and activists have been campaigning to save the city’s Morley Field. Now they say the city may have been violating land-use laws for years. And many people think of redlining as a thing of the past, but the justice Department this week found evidence of discriminatory lending in a number of American cities – including in Rhode Island. Also, we shar...

This week we brought you “Underage and Unprotected,” a three-part investigation into migrant teens working in New Bedford seafood plants. We hear part one of the series, and talk with the Public’s Radio reporters who spent two years working on this special project. Also, advocates this week called on Rhode Island to fix what they called “systemic discrimination” against minority- and women-owned b...

Hurricane Lee has weakened and continues to do so as it moves off the New England Coast. But that doesn’t mean it won’t have an impact on the area. We talk about how to prepare. Also, a former White House COVID advisor shares what you need to know about the new vaccines. Plus, we hear about a new URI study that found an alarming amount of microplastics in Narragansett Bay. And we introduce you to...

The CD1 primary came and went, with Democratic winner Gabe Amo surprising some pundits by pulling off a victory early in the night. We’ll talk about the takeaways from Tuesday’s election, and hear from Amo himself. Also, students are back in school – but a lot of teachers in Providence left over the summer. They say the culture of the district is mostly to blame. Reporter Amy Russo from The Provid...

The 1st Congressional District special election primary is upon us. After weeks of ads and controversy, on Tuesday, Democratic voters will decide between 11 candidates and Republican voters between two. Our reporters roundtable talks about where the candidates stand, and what the outcome could mean for the district. Also, Rhode Island is on track to open its first-ever supervised consumption site...

Ten Democratic candidates took to the stage on Tuesday in a special CD1 forum co-hosted by The Public’s Radio. But did any of them distinguish themselves enough to pull ahead? We break it down and give you the highlights from the night. Also, folks on Block Island are still in shock about the fire that destroyed the 144-year-old Harborside Inn. We hear how the town acted quickly to house hotel gue...

Rhode Island schools are struggling, leaving many students falling behind, and absenteeism is on the rise. We talk with Gov. Dan McKee, who hopes to change that with his new education plan, Learn365RI. And Providence appears to be moving forward with a hotly debated development on Wickenden Street. We hear about what it could mean, and why the City Plan Commission approved it despite neighborhood...

Another homeless encampment has been shut down – this time by the city of Providence. We talk with an advocate about the challenges facing unhoused people in the state, and how to support those communities now. Also, an oceanographer tells us how warming waters are affecting our local fish populations, and how we can prepare for changes to come. And infighting over shoreline access and ownership o...

The Narragansett Indian Tribe is bringing a lawsuit against the federal government for land the tribe says is owed to them. Also, the deadline is coming up to register to vote in the upcoming special election. We give you the latest on the CD1 race and more. And what do you want to see in rules and regulations around recreational cannabis in Rhode Island? You can share your opinion in public liste...

Rhode Island's fight for shoreline access went viral this week, with a TikTok video featuring a confrontation in Middletown between a beachgoer and property owner. We hear from the man behind the video. And what does a controversy over falsified signatures tell us about the integrity of voting in Rhode Island? Ian Donnis gives us the 4-1-1 on that and more from the week in politics. Also, a conver...

Rhode Island Energy this week dropped their plans to be part of another large wind farm project off the coast. But that’s not slowing down the push to put up more of these giant turbines to generate renewable energy. We’ll get the latest from South Coast Bureau Reporter Ben Berke. And, a look back on an eventful week in politics from Political Reporter Ian Donnis. Also, two stories about housing i...