On today’s show we look at two significant bills signed into law this week by Gov. Dan McKee. First, a ban on the sale and manufacture of assault-style weapons. How effective are bans like this at actually tackling the problem of gun violence? A national expert breaks it down. Also: Rhode Island has joined the growing number of states banning cell phone use in schools. We’ll hear from a Providence teacher who says she hopes it will reverse some of the learning losses that have happened over the past decade. And we remember George Kent, the founding musical director of the Chorus of Westerly, who died recently at the age of 88. That and more on this week’s show.
Links:
- R.I. bill banning the sale of ‘assault weapons’ becomes law
- Rhode Island lawmakers pass legislation to ban cell phones in schools
- TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for June 27, 2025
- Chorus of Westerly founder George Kent remembered as ‘Rhode Island’s music man’
- Sommerfest at the German American Cultural Society of Rhode Island (June 28)
- Revolve Dance Project at The Strand Ballroom (June 29)
- Hiroya Tsukamoto at Blackstone River Theater (June 29)
Guests:
- Andrew Morral, co-leader of the Gun Policy in America initiative at the RAND Corporation
- Lisa Garcia, math teacher at North Kingstown High School and former Rhode Island State Teacher of the Year
- Ian Donnis, The Public’s Radio political reporter
- Ryan Saunders, executive director of the Chorus of Westerly
The Weekly Catch is a production of The Public’s Radio. Our producer is James Baumgartner. Our assistant producer is Joe Tasca. Our editor is Mareva Lindo. Thanks to Maddie Mott for our podcast artwork. Our Chief Content Officer is Sally Eisele, and our President and CEO is Pam Johnston.
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