There’s no truth to the rumor that $1 tickets will be sold for the chance to swing a sledgehammer as part of the demolition of the Washington Bridge. You can follow me through the week on threads and what we used to call the twitters. (A quick program note: my column is skipping next week […]
Politics
Posted inPolitical Roundtable, Politics
State Rep. Patricia Morgan on her GOP challenge to U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse
Morgan, a Republican, says she would fight for her constituents and she’s trying to capitalize on issues like inflation and immigration. But Whitehouse has vanquished a series of rivals since first winning his Senate seat by beating Lincoln Chafee, a Republican at the time, in 2006. When former state Supreme Court Justice Robert Flanders ran […]
Posted inEducation, Local, Politics
Brown votes against divestment from companies with ties to Israel
Brown University will not divest from 10 companies that student activists said facilitated “the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory.” The Corporation of Brown University, the university’s governing body, voted Tuesday to support the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on University Resources Management (ACURM) against divestment, according to a press release issued on Wednesday. ACURM found […]
Posted inLocal, Politics
Cranston mayoral candidates spar over city finances in testy debate
At a debate Monday night at Cranston West High School, incumbent Mayor Ken Hopkins and Democratic challenger Robert Ferri portrayed two very different visions for the city. Moderated by The Public’s Radio morning host Luis Hernandez, a panel of three journalists – Rory Schuler of the Cranston Herald, The Public’s Radio political reporter Ian Donnis, […]
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, TGIF
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for Oct. 4, 2024
Yeah, I actually like raking leaves, but don’t expect me to come do this at your yard. 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 […]
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 inLocal, Political Roundtable, Politics
Providence Journal columnist Mark Patinkin on violence in the Middle East, RI’s economic challenges and the local mediascape
When Hamas attacked Israel last October 7th, it raised concerns about a wider conflict in the Middle East. This week, Iran fired more than 180 missiles into Israel, in response to Israel’s assassination of the head of Hezbollah. The question now is how Israel will respond … and whether the Middle East can step back from the brink of an intensifying war.
Providence Journal columnist Mark Patinkin is no stranger to the region. He traveled to the Middle East after the first intifada in the late 80s and returned this year. His conversations with Israelis and Palestinians became part of Patinkin’s latest book, “The Holy Land at War: A Journey Through the West Bank, Israel and Gaza.” Patinkin has been a columnist at the ProJo since 1979. Forty-five years later, he’s still at it, writing with a mix of humor and outrage about different aspects of life in Rhode Island. So how does Pantikin view the outlook for stepping back from the precipice of wider violence in the Middle East? Does he think Rhode Island politicians are up to the task of building a stronger economy? And how does the longtime columnist feel about the evolving media landscape in the state? This week on Political Roundtable, I’m going in-depth with columnist for The Providence Journal Mark Pantikin.
Posted inLocal, Politics
Approval for McKee and Matos falls in new Pell Center poll
With 2026 drawing closer, the approval ratings for Gov. Dan McKee and Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos declined in a new poll by the Pell Center at Salve Regina University. The poll shows approval falling two percentage points for each of the two state officials since an earlier Pell survey in June, with McKee showing a […]
Posted inLocal, Politics
Election 2024: Your guide to voting in Rhode Island
On Nov. 5, the voters of Rhode Island will be deciding on several key local and state offices, and weighing in on decisions about state spending on education, arts and culture, and more. And after months of campaigning that have seen two assassinations attempts and a stunning change in Democratic candidate, voters will be deciding […]