Peter Alviti, director of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, agreed almost two months ago to do an interview about the Washington Bridge. Altivi’s office canceled the interview three days before it was supposed to happen, so we instead talked with Attorney General Peter Neronha. Here are some highlights from the interview. You can watch […]
Ian Donnis
One of the state’s top political reporters, Ian Donnis joined The Public’s Radio in 2009. Ian has reported on Rhode Island politics since 1999, arriving in the state just two weeks before the FBI raided City Hall and Buddy Cianci’s East Side home. Ian covers breaking news, develops in-depth features and investigative reports, and welcomes a range of newsmakers to “Political Roundtable” each week. He also writes our Friday political newsletter and maintains a strong social media presence.
For many years, Ian was a panelist on WPRI-TV’s Sunday morning public affairs show, Newsmakers, and he’s a regular guest on A Lively Experiment on Rhode Island PBS. His previous experience includes serving as news editor of The Providence Phoenix and as a reporter for the Associated Press and the Worcester Telegram & Gazette. He has a BS in journalism from Boston University.
Outside of work, Ian enjoys baseball, cooking, and exploring Rhode Island.
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for March 21, 2025
April 1 is approaching, so don’t let yourself get Rickrolled along the way. You can follow me through the week on Bluesky, threads and X. Here we go. *** Want to get my column in your inbox every Friday? Just sign up right here. *** 1. STORY OF THE WEEK: As we roll into the […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, Transportation
Newport Pell Bridge on national list for new safety assessment
The Newport Pell Bridge is one of 68 bridges nationally being recommended by the National Transportation Safety Board for a vulnerability assessment due to a possible vessel collision. The Pell Bridge, which links Newport and Jamestown, was built in 1969 and it spans the east passage of Narragansett Bay. It is named for the late […]
Posted inPolitical Roundtable, Politics
RI Secretary of State Gregg Amore on Trump, how Democrats should respond and more
One person on the frontlines of the issue is Secretary of State Gregg Amore. His office works with the state Board of Elections and local cities and towns to administer elections. Amore is an East Providence Democrat who was a history teacher, coach and state representative before winning election as secretary of state in 2022. […]
Posted inArts And Culture, Artscape
Meet knifemaker, artist and fishmonger Joyce Kutty
In a few minutes, we’ll hear about the new documentary “Secret Mall Apartment” that will be screening at the Providence Place Mall. But first, I recently visited the studio of artist, fishmonger, knifemaker, and North Providence resident Joyce Kutty. Her studio in an old Fall River textile mill has several workbenches filled with neatly arranged tools, a band saw, and a sketchbook. There’s a woodblock print on the wall that has three women hammering an anvil. And in one corner, there’s a large pot, slowly simmering.
Posted inHousing, Local, Politics
RI House GOP leader raps ‘culture of secrecy’ on cost for pallet shelter
Rhode Island House GOP Leader Michael Chippendale says Gov. Dan McKee’s administration is stonewalling the release of public records explaining why the Echo Village pallet shelter in Providence wound up costing close to $5 million. Chippendale used an image of a Winnebago on social media last month to make a point — how pallet shelters […]
Posted inBusiness, Health, Local
Reliance on debt sparks concern on deal for two RI safety-net hospitals
The future of two cash-strapped hospitals — Roger Williams Medical Center in Providence and Our Lady of Fatima in North Providence — has become increasingly tenuous over the last four years. Things got even more uncertain when the hospitals’ California-based owner, Prospect Medical Holdings, filed for bankruptcy in January. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for March 14, 2025
What better way to celebrate Sleep Awareness Week than with a nap? You can follow me through the week on Bluesky, threads and X. Here we go. *** Want to get my column in your inbox every Friday? Just sign up right here. *** 1. STORY OF THE WEEK: “Don’t tax you, don’t tax me, […]
Posted inPolitical Roundtable, Politics
Economic Progress Institute’s Weayonnoh Nelson-Davies on Trump, payday lending, and more
Advocating for low- and moderate-income Rhode Islanders can be an uphill battle during the best of times. Now, with the Trump administration cutting various federal programs, the challenge is steeper. When it comes to promoting economic fairness, progressives have argued for years that the richest Rhode Islanders should pay a little more in taxes. They say their latest proposal would deliver much-needed revenue as Rhode Island once again confronts annual budget deficits far into the future. Executive director of the Economic Progress Institute Weayonnoh Nelson-Davies is among those supporting this approach. But the state budget has grown dramatically over the last 10 years, so should the focus be on finding savings and efficiency before considering new taxes? How will Rhode Island respond if Trump administration policies pose a wallop for low- and moderate-income people? And with legislative leaders unwilling to consider new taxes on the rich, what would it take to convince them to support a change? This week on Political Roundtable, I’m going in-depth with head of the Economic Progress Institute Weayonnoh Nelson-Davies.
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for March 7, 2025
I’ll take the deal if an hour less sleep brings more daylight. You can follow me through the week on Bluesky, threads and X. Here we go. *** Want to get my column in your inbox every Friday? Just sign up right here. *** 1. STORY OF THE WEEK: Tariffs “will always tend to crush […]
