Chris Rooney describes his job as “making sure the trees and the power lines get along.” He’s in charge of forestry for National Grid Rhode Island, the utility company that serves most of the state. And that job is getting harder. When the electrical grid was first built, rural Rhode Island was mostly farmland. Over […]
Sofie Rudin
Science and Environment Reporter
401-302-1057
srudin@thepublicsradio.org
Sofie Rudin is the science and environment reporter at The Public’s Radio. She previously worked as producer, editor, and general assignment reporter. Her series "When is it time to retreat from the sea?" was a finalist for a Covering Climate Now Journalism Award. She also led the development of web pages for reporting on COVID-19, shoreline access and The 2020 Gallery, which won a National Headliner award and PMJA award. Sofie graduated from Brown University in 2017, where she studied geology.
Posted inArticle, Environment
R.I. Superior Court finds no wrongdoing in coastal agency’s mediation with Block Island marina owner
Rhode Island’s coastal agency followed the law when it went into mediation with a Block Island marina owner. That’s the decision released Thursday by Rhode Island Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Lanphear. The mediation was aimed at resolving an 18-year battle over Champlin’s Realty Associate’s proposal to extend its marina 240 feet into Block Island’s Great […]
Posted inArticle, Environment
How a Block Island marina dispute fractured trust in R.I. coastal agency
Control of Rhode Island’s 400 miles of coastline is contentious, and hotly debated questions often fall to the Coastal Resources Management Council. Critics say the council is not accountable to the public. When the CRMC last year went into private mediation with a marina owner, it fueled further questions about the agency’s transparency.
Posted inArticle
Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts cope with the remnants of Hurricane Ida, after historic rainfall
In Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts, the remnants of Ida brought heavy rains, flooding, sewage overflow, power outages and road damage Wednesday night and Thursday. The region remains under a flood warning until 6:30 pm tonight. Aquidneck Island experienced some of the heaviest rainfall and flooding. In Portsmouth, a road partially collapsed from the force […]
Posted inArticle, Environment
Henri leaves thousands without power in Rhode Island: Latest updates
Nearly 36,000 National Grid customers still affected by power outages in Washington County, by far the most in the state. The outages are most widespread in Charlestown and Narragansett, where about 5,600 and 9,300 customers are affected in both towns, respectively.
Posted inArticle, Environment
In the eye of Tropical Storm Henri: Sunshine, sheltering birds and dragonflies
Tropical Storm Henri passed over Block Island Sunday morning, on its way to the mainland. Block Island Power Company president Jeffrey Wright called reporter Sofie Rudin with an update from the eye of the storm.
Posted inArticle, Environment
Block Island residents prepare for storm surge, wind damage as Henri approaches
The sun was shining and the sky was blue on Friday. Tourists in swimsuits roamed Block Island on rented mopeds and bicycles. But at the town boat ramp, locals were queuing up to pull their boats out of the water. “Well we just buttoned up the house, and now we’re pulling out the whaler,” said […]
Posted inArticle, Environment
Wading into an urban river: What lives in the Woonasquatucket?
The water was running high on this recent muggy afternoon, as a group of volunteers in hip waders prepared to step into the Woonasquatucket River. The banks were lush and green, with a bike path running along one side. Under the trees, coffee cup lids, bottles, and plastic bags littered the ground. Broken glass mingled […]
Posted inArticle, Environment
R.I. Coastal Resources Management Council chair resigns
In a letter to Gov. Dan McKee Wednesday, Jennifer Cervenka did not give a reason for stepping down from her position as chair of the Rhode Island’s Coastal Resources Management Council. Cervenka wrote that she’s proud of CRMC’s work during her four-year tenure, pointing to “strong programs and dedicated staff.” And she cited a report from […]
Posted inArticle, Criminal Justice, Politics
R.I. set to change parole guidelines for young people convicted of a crime
Tucked into the budget passed by the Rhode Island House and Senate is a measure that would guarantee people given a lengthy sentence for a crime committed before the age of 22 a parole hearing after serving 20 years in prison. Currently, the state’s parole guidelines do not take into consideration a person’s age at […]