Rhode Island lawmakers are taking aim at the state’s housing shortage by passing laws and increasing funding to expand inventory. But local zoning laws that vary between cities and towns are often a barrier to building. We take a look at the political tug-of-war between state and local officials over the housing crisis from our series Zoned Out. Also, Rhode Island’s state primary election is this Tuesday. Political reporter Ian Donnis highlights a few key races to watch. Plus, we look back at the thriving arts scene in Providence in the 1990s, and how the old mill buildings of the city’s industrial past made that possible. That and more on this week’s show.
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 inArts And Culture, Housing, The Weekly Catch
The invisible legacy of racially restrictive housing covenants, Providence schools outlook, and more
Buried deep in residential property records across Rhode Island lies an ugly truth: old restrictions in deeds that prohibited people of color from buying a given home. We hear from our own Nina Sparling about how racist restrictions in housing deeds helped shape where Rhode Islanders live today. Also, Providence public schools will remain under state control for another three years. Political reporter Ian Donnis gives us his take on the news, and a few highlights from the week in Rhode Island politics. And we have a studio session from The Whelks, an acoustic trio defined by their three-part harmonies, and a shared love of early country, swing, and Rhode Island. Plus: Our picks for what to do this week.
Posted inHousing, Local, South Coast Bureau
With cold weather coming and beds in short supply, advocates want New Bedford to build a city-run homeless camp
TRANSCRIPT: This transcript has been edited for length and clarity. Luis Hernandez: The U.S. Supreme Court recently upheld a ban on sleeping or camping in public places, a decision that’s left many people experiencing homelessness with no place to go. Advocates in New Bedford have responded by encouraging the city to build its own city-run […]
Posted inHousing, The Weekly Catch
How zoning stifles housing production in Rhode Island, a celebration of Guatemalan culture, and more
Rhode Island has faced a housing shortage for decades, and despite efforts to address it, the problem is getting worse. Today, thousands of people in Rhode Island are homeless, thousands more homeowners and renters are living in unsecure conditions, and home prices continue to skyrocket. The state needs to build more housing, but one of the biggest factors stifling that process is zoning. It’s the focus of our new series, Zoned Out. Also, we visit New Bedford’s Patio de Comidas, a summer-long celebration of Central American cuisine. It culminates this weekend with the Festival Tipico de Guatemala. Plus: A look back on the week in Rhode Island politics with political reporter Ian Donnis, and our picks for what to do this week.
Posted inHealth, Local
Abrupt closure of St. Mary’s Home for Children leaves families of vulnerable Rhode Island kids looking for answers
The board of directors of St. Mary’s Home for Children, a residential treatment center serving youth in state care, announced on Tuesday that it was shutting down the facility. The nonprofit planned to relocate its outpatient program and school to the offices of Tides Family Services, the agency that took over some responsibilities earlier this […]
Posted inArts And Culture, Artscape, Local, South Coast Bureau
El Patio de Comidas: Summer-long celebration of Central American cuisine provides a launch pad for local businesses
Hundreds gather in New Bedford’s Riverside Park on Saturdays throughout the summer to enjoy Latin American food from local vendors who got their start through the Patio de Comidas initiative. The series, which also features music, dancing, and local goods, concludes on Saturday with a grand finale: the Festival Tipico de Guatemala.
Posted inThe Weekly Catch
Providence awards $1.5 million in reparations funds, Tim Walz in Rhode Island, and more
Two years ago the city of Providence approved a $10 million reparations fund in order to narrow the city’s racial wealth gap. This week, some of that money was awarded to 15 different nonprofit groups. We’ll discuss how that money is being used. Also, we’ll introduce you to our new community engagement reporter, Paul C. Kelly Campos, and talk about how you can help inform our elections coverage this year. And it was 50 years ago when Newport played host to one of the largest outdoor art installations in the world. Back then, the art world didn’t really notice. Today, it’s seen as a pivotal moment for outdoor art. Plus: we bid a fond farewell to CEO and General Manager Torey Malatia. That and more on this week’s show.
Posted inLocal
Meet our new community engagement reporter: Paul C. Kelly Campos
This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Transcript: Hernandez: Paul C. Kelly Campos joined our team recently as a community engagement reporter through Report for America. For the next few months, he’ll be focusing on this year’s elections. And we want to introduce you to him. Paul, welcome to The Public’s Radio. Kelly […]
Posted inArts And Culture, Artscape
50 years later, revisiting the impact of Newport’s ‘Monumenta’ on public art
This year is the 50th anniversary of Monumenta, a ground-breaking collection of outdoor sculptures by 40 different artists. Some of those names included Willem de Kooning, Christo, and Barbara Hepworth. It was an ambitious exhibit that didn’t get much attention from the art world at first, but it’s now recognized for its influence on large-scale public art. Morning host Luis Hernandez recently spoke with Jim Donahue, Curator of Historic Landscapes and Horticulture at Newport Mansions, which is hosting a symposium on Monumenta this Saturday.
Posted inBusiness, Local
What could the loss of Macy’s mean for the future of Providence Place Mall?
TRANSCRIPT: This transcript has been edited for length and clarity. Luis Hernandez: Joining me now is Katie Castellani, reporter with the Providence Business News. Katie, it’s such a pleasure. Thanks so much. Katie Castellani: Yeah, thanks for having me. Hernandez: There’s conflicting information about the future of the Macy’s location at the Providence Place Mall. […]