The Rhode Island Attorney General’s office is seeking files on child sexual abuse allegations within the Catholic Church dating back to 1950. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence has agreed to turn over what will likely be many files including anything related to allegations of sexual abuse against children perpetrated by Clergy or other church […]
John Bender
Reporter
John Bender was the general assignment reporter for The Public's Radio for several years. He is now a fill-in host when our regular hosts are out.
Posted inArticle, Environment
Woonsocket Wins EPA Grant To Assess Polluted Sites Along Waterfront
Woonsocket is beginning the long process of cleaning up its underutilized and possibly contaminated waterfront. For years, the site of the Dorado Mill Complex was one of the many along the Blackstone River producing textiles. Residents could tell which dyes the mill was using each day by the color of the river. Today the site […]
Posted inArticle, Education
Providence Leaders Signal Support for State Takeover of City Schools
Rhode Island’s new education commissioner Angelica Infante-Green announced her intention this week to use state law to reconstitute the district. That could mean taking control of most aspects of the school district, including budget and personnel. “Today marks the start of a new era for the Providence schools,’ Infante-Green said in a statement announcing the […]
Posted inArticle
Expected Immigration Raids Have Advocates On Alert
Federal immigration raids could begin nationwide this weekend. The news has local immigration groups on alert again. Immigrants and undocumented residents have been on edge for the last several years, but the anticipated raids are creating new tensions. And immigration attorneys say the Trump administration’s approach to immigration has made it unclear who is being […]
Posted inArticle, Environment
Permits For Burrillville Power Plant Project Still Pending
Less than a month after state regulators rejected a proposal to build a power plant in Burrillville two other permits for the project are still under review. One is a state permit from the Department of the Environmental Management concerning impacts of the natural gas powered plant on air quality. The other is a federal […]
Posted inArticle
RI Attorney General Says List Of Clergy Accused Of Sexual Abuse Will Be Reviewed
Rhode Island’s Attorney General Peter Neronha says the recently released list of clergy accused of child sexual abuse does not mark the end of his office’s involvement in such matters. Neronha says the matter is continuously under review, a term the Attorney General was quick to point out is not an investigation which would likely […]
Posted inArticle
Catholic Diocese Of Providence Releases List Of Clergy Accused Of Sexual Abuse
The list includes 50 priests and deacons that served in Catholic churches, schools, hospitals and nursing homes as part of the Providence Diocese since 1950. More than half of those named are deceased, and many died before any accusations were made. The rest have been removed from the ministry. “The failure to publish the list […]
Posted inArticle, Politics
Rhode Island Officials Cautiously Optimistic Following Supreme Court Census Decision
The U.S. Supreme Court effectively rejected the Trump administration’s justification for a citizenship question on the 2020 Census. That means the question may – or may not – end up on the Census. The lawsuit over the citizenship question could make its way back through the courts, though it’s unclear if any decisions will be […]
Posted inArticle, Politics
Statute Of Limitations Legislation Passes In Waning Days General Assembly Session
On Wednesday, the full House and the Senate approved bills to extend the time victims of childhood sexual abuse have to file civil suits. The legislation lengthens the statute of limitations to 35 years from adulthood, or seven years from the time a person realizes abuse took place. The newest version of the bill also […]
Posted inArticle, Education
Governor, Mayor Call For Major Reforms In Providence Schools
The state will be more involved in the running of Providence’s public schools. Governor Gina Raimondo made the pronouncement following a bleak report from Johns Hopkins University outlining issue after issue in the capital city’s schools. The school system in Rhode Island’s capital city has struggled for years with low test scores and high teacher […]