At the Pittsburgh Sword Fighters club, members are asked to leave their politics at the door, a rule that has led to closer relationships and more learning from one another.
politics
Posted inNPR
Meet the evangelicals trying to make a case for VP Harris
More than 80% of white evangelicals supported Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020, but a new group is trying to push some of those voters to the camp of Democratic nominee vice president Kamala Harris.
Posted inNPR
Authorities say ‘outside agitators’ are at Gaza war protests. We’ve heard this before
The term “outside agitator” has staying power.
It’s been used against protestors throughout history, from the Civil Rights Movement, to the anti-Vietnam War protests and now during the pro-Palestinian demonstrations on college campuses.
“Outside agitator” was also used to describe some of the people who protested the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri In 2014.
Who exactly are the “outside agitators” and what purpose does it serve to call them out?
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Posted inArticle, Politics
‘I need to set the example’: Maria Rivera on her unexpected journey to becoming the first Latina mayor in Rhode Island
Ten years ago, Maria Rivera was terrified of public speaking. Running for office wasn’t in the plan. But years later, Rivera found herself on the Central Falls city council, and in 2021 she was elected mayor of Central Falls – the first Latina mayor in Rhode Island. In this recent conversation with organizer and former city hall intern Lorraine Quintero, Rivera says she ran because she wanted to address the issues facing her community – issues she had faced herself.
Posted inEpisode, The Weekly Catch
Fall River police abuse allegations, building a Latino community at RIC, and more
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. Also, we give our review of the latest show at Trinity Rep: A dark comedy about a modern-day descendent of a woman executed during the Salem Witch Trials. Plus, the latest in politics, and a few things to do this week.
Posted inEpisode, The Weekly Catch
Teacher shortage, primary election surprise, and more
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 Providence Journal tells us about that and other challenges facing the city’s struggling education system. And 19th-century Providence artist Edward M. Bannister is getting a statue this weekend. We’ll tell you why he’s one of the most important Black artists in U.S. history.
Posted inEpisode, The Weekly Catch
Shoreline access goes viral, a formerly homeless woman helps the unhoused, and more
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 conversation with Rhode Island’s Housing Secretary, and a story from a formerly homeless woman who is now dedicated to supporting the unhoused. Plus, the Artscape team walked over to Weybosset Street where artist Michelle Perez was finishing a new mural. And we offer a few tips on what to do this week.
Posted inEpisode, Housing, The Weekly Catch
College diversity in post-affirmative action world, a fight over housing affordability in Charlestown, and more
How can Rhode Island schools cultivate diverse, inclusive learning environments, now that affirmative action has ended? State Senator and Brown University alum Tiara Mack offers her take. And South County Bureau Reporter Alex Nunes reports on the housing crisis in Charlestown, where residents are at odds over who’s to blame for skyrocketing rents and a lack of affordable housing. Also, we hear about a few highlights from this year’s Newport Classical Music Festival. Plus, a look back on the week in politics, and a few tips for what to do this week.
Posted inEpisode, The Weekly Catch
Opioid settlements, Matos’ support for a controversial hospital deal, actor Alan Cumming, and more
This week, we reported that Lt. Gov. and CD1 candidate Sabina Matos supported a 2020 proposal that could have threatened the survival of two Rhode Island hospitals. We talk with Political Reporter Ian Donnis about that story, and other highlights from the week in politics. Also, millions of dollars are flowing into Rhode Island cities and towns from opioid settlements. But how are they spending it? Health reporter Lynn Arditi looks for answers. And we talk with Tony Award-winning actor Alan Cumming, who comes to New Bedford this weekend for an unlikely collaboration with NPR’s Ari Shapiro. Plus, our arts and culture picks for the week.
Posted inEpisode, Housing, The Weekly Catch
Documenting the pandemic, Middletown’s affordable housing problem, and more
An exhibit at the Providence Public Library shares images from a COVID-19 archive; a URI grad is priced out of his hometown; local musician Asher White plays a song from their latest album; the week in politics; and what to do this weekend.