The voter registration deadline in Rhode Island is Oct. 6. You can register at vote.RI.gov. Go here for a guide to all five referenda questions on this year’s ballot, and click here for more information on when, where and how to vote in this year’s election. TRANSCRIPT: This transcript has been edited for length and […]
Luis Hernandez
Luis helms the morning lineup. He is a 20-year public radio veteran, having joined The Public's Radio in 2022. That journey has taken him from the land of Gators at the University of Florida to WGCU in Fort Myers to KNPR in Las Vegas and then to WLRN in Miami.
Luis sees himself as a journalist and an entertainer, which is what drives him every morning—bringing more local news to the listeners and doing it in an interesting and sometimes fun way.
He also co-hosts Artscape and hosts The Weekly Catch. In his spare time, Luis is working on a couple of novels, a couple of podcasts and is getting back into painting.
Posted inLocal
Tiverton farm animal sanctuary up for national award
West Place Animal Sanctuary in Tiverton was recently named a finalist for the Defender Service Awards, a national competition that recognizes nonprofits that make a positive impact in their communities. It’s the state’s oldest and largest sanctuary for farm animals rescued from abuse, neglect, and cruelty. The group’s founder and executive director Wendy Taylor spoke […]
Posted inArts And Culture, Politics, The Weekly Catch
How CVS changes may affect RI, constitutional convention controversy, and more
This week, CVS Health announced it will be laying off nearly 3,000 employees nationwide, and is exploring breaking up parts of its business. We’ll talk about how these changes may affect the state and its Woonsocket-based headquarters. Also, there are five questions for Rhode Island voters on this year’s ballot. This week we’ll look at question one: should the state host a constitutional convention? We’ll break down what that would mean, and why it’s become such a hot topic across the political spectrum. And the local theater season is ramping up. We’ll talk about some of the most exciting plays coming up this fall. That and more on this week’s show.
Posted inLocal, Politics
Breaking down the ballot: Should Rhode Island hold a constitutional convention?
The voter registration deadline in Rhode Island is Oct. 6. You can register at vote.RI.gov. Go here for a guide to all five referenda questions on this year’s ballot, and click here for more information on when, where and how to vote in this year’s election. TRANSCRIPT: This transcript has been edited for length and […]
Posted inArts And Culture, Artscape
‘Water Brother’ film tells the story of New England surfing and skateboarding legend Sid Abbruzzi
If you skateboard or surf in New England, you know the name Sid Abbruzzi. He runs the Water Brothers Surf & Skate Shop in Newport, and played a key role in expanding the skating and surfing culture in the Northeast. He’s the focus of the new documentary “Water Brother: The Sid Abbruzzi Story.”
Posted inEducation, Labor, The Weekly Catch
Child labor law violations in Fall River, behind the failed Star Store-UMass Dartmouth deal, and more
A seafood processing plant in Fall River is at the heart of a new lawsuit that claims the plant employed underage migrant workers – and says the teens were exposed to potentially dangerous conditions. The suit comes a year after an investigation by The Public’s Radio into possible child labor violations at seafood processors in New Bedford. Also, a year after UMass Dartmouth abruptly closed its arts campus at the Star Store in New Bedford, an investigation by the Massachusetts Inspector General gives us a clearer picture of what exactly happened and who’s to blame. And we hear a studio session with Providence-based jazz combo, the Leland Baker Trio. That and more on this week’s show.
Posted inHealth, Local
What can you do when someone you know is in crisis? Talk to them.
This conversation includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know is in need of help, call the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. September is Suicide Prevention Month. One of the organizations working year round to prevent suicide-related deaths and provide support to survivors is the Rhode Island Chapter […]
Posted inBusiness, Shoreline Access, The Weekly Catch
What the loss of Hasbro would mean for Rhode Island, Westerly taxpayers call for new town solicitor, and more
What would it mean if Hasbro left Rhode Island? News broke this week that the company is considering moving their headquarters to the Boston area. Political Reporter Ian Donnis talks about what’s at stake. Also, Westerly’s town solicitor is facing scrutiny over work related to the Watch Hill Lighthouse, which was transferred in January to a private nonprofit amidst public outcry. Our South County Bureau reporter Alex Nunes gives us an update. And we talk to the co-creators of “Scandalous Conduct: A Fairy Extravaganza,” a musical documentary inspired by the Newport Navy sex scandal of 1919. That and more coming on this week’s show.
Posted inEducation, Housing, The Weekly Catch
Remembering Alan Shawn Feinstein, Woonsocket homeowners regain protections, and more
For years Woonsocket homeowners didn’t have the same foreclosure prevention tools as the rest of Rhode Island. After an investigation by The Public’s Radio, that is finally changing. Our Nina Sparling will give us the update. Also, Alan Shawn Feinstein had a profound impact on the lives of thousands of young people in the Ocean State. We’ll meet a couple of them in a remembrance of one of Rhode Island’s most prolific philanthropists. And affordable live/work housing for artists in Providence is a rarity these days. So, where do artists live and work today? And when housing is so scarce for everyone, why is it important to have affordable spaces for artists? That and more on this episode of The Weekly Catch.
Posted inEducation, Local
Boys & Girls Clubs of Providence hopes a clubhouse renovation will help them better serve children in the city’s North End
TRANSCRIPT: This transcript has been edited for length and clarity. Luis Hernandez: Nicole, thanks so much for the time. I appreciate it. Nicole Dufresne: Thank you so much for having me. Hernandez: Tell us about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Providence. What is its mission? Who does it serve exactly? Dufresne: Sure. So our […]