Fifty years ago, the authoritarian Estado Novo regime was overthrown in Portugal by a military coup. Known today as the Carnation Revolution, it’s a day that’s celebrated around the world – including by the large Portuguese-American community here in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. Also, Rhode Island nursing homes are facing understaffing, patient injuries, and preventable deaths, and the issues are only getting worse. Plus, we bring you a special performance from local singer Gian Carlo Buscaglia, who made a name for himself singing romantic ballads and songs of social justice in the streets of Harvard Square.
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Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for April 26, 2024
We can only wonder how much better the Sox might be without a spate of injuries. You can follow me through the week on threads and what we used to call the twitters. Here we go. *** Want to get my column in your inbox every Friday? Just sign up right here. *** STORY OF […]
Pro-Palestinian activism ramps up at Brown University campus
At Brown University, a pro-Palestinian encampment is growing, as the campus community puts pressure on the university’s president to take action on divestment, and to ask for charges to be dropped against students who were previously arrested while protesting on campus. Beyond the Brown Campus, activists in downtown Providence gathered to put pressure on Senator […]
Ex-Fall River cop sentenced to prison for covering up police station beating
A former Fall River police officer received a nearly three-year prison sentence on Wednesday for filing false reports to cover up the beating of a suspect in custody in 2020. Nicholas M. Hoar was convicted in February of one count of deprivation of rights under color of law and two counts of false reports in […]
Sen. Reed defends U.S. support for Israel
A $95.3 billion package passed Tuesday by the U.S. Senate includes what supporters call critical aid for Ukraine and Israel. U.S. Senator Jack Reed, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, is among those who voted for the package. Reed spoke about the aid package with The Public’s Radio political reporter Ian Donnis. The following […]
Studio session: Gian Carlo Buscaglia sings songs of romance and social justice
This week on Artscape: a studio session with Gian Carlo Buscaglia. The Pawtucket-based singer and guitarist got his start performing Latin American ballads and songs of social justice in the streets of Harvard Square in the 1980s. “Very bohemian, a lot of jugglers, clowns, different musicians,” Buscaglia said of that time. “Tracy Chapman was around that time playing in the streets of Harvard Square. So it was a very magical time.”
Pro-Palestinian encampments at Brown University grow
As of 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, no arrests at the encampments had been made, although Brown University had promised it would take disciplinary action against students who break school policy while protesting on campus. Students with the group behind the encampments, Brown Divest Coalition, say the number of students participating in the encampment grew from about […]
What will it take to fix the growing labor crisis in Rhode Island nursing homes?
Rhode Island nursing homes are struggling. Staffing shortages, employee burnout, and serious financial challenges have been problems since before the pandemic – but all have gotten significantly worse in recent years, leading to an uptick in things like neglect and preventable deaths. Morning Edition Host Luis Hernandez spoke about the issues with Elizabeth White, Assistant […]
Attorney general approves merger of The Public’s Radio and Rhode Island PBS
Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha announced Tuesday that he has approved the merger of the state’s two public media organizations, The Public’s Radio and Rhode Island PBS. As part of a 421-page decision, Neronha determined that the combining of the two entities will constitute a public benefit. “Public media contributes uniquely and substantially to […]
Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for April 19, 2024
School vacation week made for some swift journeys across the Washington Bridge. You can follow me through the week on threads and what we used to call the twitters. Here we go. *** Want to get my column in your inbox every Friday? Just sign up right here. *** STORY OF THE WEEK: As the […]
