The snow is melting, spring (and baseball!) are coming, and the politics beat always runs hot. So thanks for stopping by for my weekly column. As usual, your tips and comments are welcome, and you can follow me through the week on the twitters. Here we go. 1) With the college admissions scandal dominating national […]
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 inArticle, Politics
Raimondo Cites $212M In Cash/Credit In Extending Deloitte Contract
Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo said the state is extending its contract with Deloitte, the vendor running the state’s troubled IT system, since the company improved its performance while making significant concessions. The IT system known as UHIP has been plagued by cost overruns and operational problems since it launched in 2016. On Friday, Raimondo […]
Posted inEpisode, Political Roundtable
Bonus Q&A: Sanchez On RIC, Collaborating With Other Groups & College Debt
Rhode Island College President Frank Sanchez joins Bonus Q&A to discuss how he’s using his past experience to inform his current role, the extent to which RI’s public institutions of higher learning collaborate with one another, and whether RIC is doing enough to get its message out.
Posted inEpisode, Political Roundtable
Political Roundtable: Sanchez On RI’s Promise And The College Admissions Scandal
Rhode Island College President Frank Sanchez joins Political Roundtable to discuss the college admissions scandal and Gov. Gina Raimondo’s push to extend a college scholarship program to RIC.
Posted inArticle, Politics
RI Senate Unveils New Effort To Bolster The State’s Economy
The Rhode Island Senate unveiled on Wednesday a multi-faceted two-year effort meant to improve the state’s economy. During a Statehouse media event, Senate President Dominick Ruggerio said the effort was inspired in part by how Rhode Island is expected to lose one of its two congressional seats around the time of the 2022 election. Speaking […]
Posted inArticle, Politics
The Boston Globe Is Hiring WPRI’s Dan McGowan
Dan McGowan, known as the go-to reporter for Providence politics, is being hired away from WPRI.com by The Boston Globe, The Public’s Radio has learned. McGowan and Globe editor Brian McGrory declined comment. Because of that, the nature of McGowan’s forthcoming assignment remains unknown for now. But the Globe has been devising plans for a […]
Posted inArticle, Politics
TGIF: Ian Donnis Politics/Media Roundup For March 8
The RI House vote on abortion marks a big change. That’s part of what we’re looking at this week, so thanks for stopping by for my weekly column. As usual, your tips and comments are welcome, and you can follow me through the week on the twitters. Here we go. 1) During a May 2018 […]
Posted inEpisode, Political Roundtable
Political Roundtable: LaFortune On Abortion Legislation, Providence Schools, and RI’s Changing Hospital Landscape
Ward 3 Providence City Councilor Nirva LaFortune joins Political Roundtable to discuss why the political dynamic has changed on abortion at the Statehouse, as well as next steps on improving public schools in Providence, and what a changing healthcare landscape means for the state.
Posted inEpisode, Political Roundtable
Bonus Q&A: LaFortune On Providence Pension, 2022, Teacher Contract & More
Ward 3 Providence City Councilor Nirva LaFortune joins Bonus Q&A to talk about the city’s underfunded pension, whether she’ll run for mayor in 2022, why she voted against Fane Tower, and much more.
Posted inArticle, Politics
RI House Approves Bill To Guarantee Abortion Rights
In a 44 to 30 vote, the Rhode Island House of Representatives on Thursday moved the state one step closer to guaranteeing a woman’s right to an abortion.
