Rhode Island officials say a newly announced $3.8 million federal grant will help the state to make more headway against its housing crisis. Kimberly McClain, assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, attended a news conference Wednesday in the state library at the Statehouse, complete with an oversized check. “It is […]
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
Whitehouse says Biden’s assessment on whether to keep running is ‘the responsible thing for him to do’
U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse – who made national news by saying he was horrified by President Biden’s recent debate performance – said Wednesday that Biden is doing the right thing by assessing whether to continue his campaign. “I think it’s the responsible thing for him to do,” Whitehouse told reporters after an unrelated news conference […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for June 28, 2024
Well, how was your Thursday night? 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: The Kennedy–Nixon debate in 1960 marked the dawning […]
Posted inLocal, Political Roundtable, Politics
RI Senate Democratic Whip Val Lawson on Washington Bridge, East Providence and the future of the Senate
Valarie Lawson has enjoyed a rapid rise in the Rhode Island Senate. Lawson was first elected in 2018 and she is now the third-ranking member in the chamber. The East Providence Democrat may climb even higher. Senate president Dominick Ruggerio is 75. If he wins re-election this year, Ruggerio is expected to pass the Senate […]
Posted inLocal, Politics
Almost half of General Assembly races go uncontested
Dozens of the 113 seats in the Rhode Island General Assembly will not feature a competitive election this year, according to initial filings with the Secretary of State’s Office. A review by The Public’s Radio shows that 17 incumbents in the 38-member Senate and 37 in the 75-member House of Representatives do not face an […]
Posted inLocal, Politics
Pell Center poll shows low ratings for McKee, Matos and Biden
A new poll by the Pell Center at Salve Regina University shows both Gov. Dan McKee and Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos with approval ratings that are underwater. Thirty-six percent of respondents support the job done by McKee, while 54% disapprove, according to the poll. For Matos, the approval number is 28%, while her disapproval was […]
Posted inLocal
Philanthropist and activist Peggy Sharpe has died at age 96
Sharpe and her late husband Henry “Hank” Sharpe, who died at age 99 in 2022, were crucial in helping to establish what we now call The Public’s Radio, recalled Elizabeth Delude-Dix, co-chair of the board of directors for the Rhode Island PBS Foundation and The Public’s Radio. The Public’s Radio recently merged with Rhode Island […]
Posted inLocal, Politics
Former Woonsocket mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt eyeing possible Statehouse run
Former Woonsocket Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt spoke out for the first time Monday about her potential plan for seeking a return to the Rhode Island House of Representatives. After fainting at an April 2023 event, the former 10-year state representative said her decision on whether to challenge Rep. Jon Brien (I-Woonsocket) hinges on pending questions about […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for June 21, 2024
All of a sudden, spending some time watching the Red Sox is a pleasure. 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: […]
Posted inPolitical Roundtable, Politics
House Speaker Joe Shekarchi on state spending, housing and his future plans
Rhode Island House Speaker Joe Shekarchi holds what is often called the most powerful job in state government. That’s because the speaker controls the legislation in the House of Representatives and has broad influence over the state budget. The $13.9 billion spending plan approved by lawmakers earlier this month won praise for including more money for healthcare and education. And Shekarchi, a Warwick Democrat, wins kudos even from some Republicans for keeping an open door and having a consensus-oriented approach. But Rhode Island’s budget has grown by 50% since before the pandemic and the state’s fiscal outlook has grown more challenging. Can Rhode Island afford the growth in its state budget? There are also familiar and persistent difficulties in housing and other areas. What can be done to make more progress on housing? And what does the future hold for the man who leads the House of Representatives? This week, we’re going in-depth with House Speaker Joe Shekarchi.
