A blessing to all who spend quality time in the sweltering RI House chamber for the budget vote. 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. *** […]
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, Political Roundtable, Politics
URI President Marc Parlange on RI’s economy, boosting research, and academia under fire
It’s not an easy time to be a university president. Academia faces criticism from across the political spectrum. Many campuses have been divided by the war between Hamas and Israel. And student debt remains a burden for many young people. But Marc Parlange, who became president of the University of Rhode Island in 2021, seems to be holding his own. URI recently completed a $300 million fundraising drive ahead of schedule. Parlange says Rhode Island’s flagship public university has turned a corner in attracting more robust state support. And last year, he unveiled an ambitious four-pronged 10-year strategic plan. The goals include making URI a hub for innovation and a more powerful economic catalyst. Are these goals realistic, and what will it take to realize them? How much promise is offered by the blue economy? And what does the university president make of the gripes about academia? This week on Political Roundtable, I’m going in-depth with URI President Marc Parlange
Posted inLocal, Politics
State Reps. David Morales and Brian C. Newberry unpack Rhode Island’s $13.9 billion budget
Last Friday, Rhode Island’s House Finance Committee passed a $13.9 billion budget for the fiscal year starting July 1. Political reporter Ian Donnis talked with two state representatives, Brian Newberry, a Republican from North Smithfield, and David Morales, a Democrat from Providence. This interview and transcript have been edited for length and clarity. Ian […]
Posted inHealth, Local, Politics
Offer to turn two Rhode Island hospitals into nonprofits poses more uncertainty
Jo-Ellen Paterno lives with her husband, Paul, and three children in Warwick. “I’m a school teacher by trade,” Paterno said during an interview in her home. “I’ve been a physical education teacher for about 24 years.” Two years ago, during the summer of 2022, Parterno added a new title: cancer patient. After considering her options […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for May 31, 2024
June, the month for dads, grads, weddings — and the state budget. 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: During a […]
Posted inPolitical Roundtable, Politics
US Attorney Zachary Cunha on his probe of DCYF, safe storage and the rule of law in our polarized moment
Problems related to the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families have persisted for years. But when U.S. Attorney Zachary Cunha recently unveiled the findings of a probe into DCYF, state officials stood up and took notice. Cunha is the top federal prosecutor in the state, and his office has enormous power. After being nominated by President Biden in 2021, Cunha has pursued federal prosecutors’ standard approach in zeroing in on crimes involving drugs, fraud, guns, and violence. But these are not normal times. If Donald Trump retakes the White House in November, he is expected to remake the Justice Department, and Trump says he’d consider pardoning people who rioted at the capitol on January sixth. So what’s it like pursuing the rule of law in the time of Trump? And how much difference can federal officials make in improving the lives of vulnerable kids? This week on Political Roundtable, I’m going in-depth with U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island Zachary Cunha.
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for May 24, 2024
With the heat on the rise, 1) it’s time to hit up Sunshine Creamery; 2) go to the beach; and 3) the end of the General Assembly session looms. 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 […]
Posted inLocal, Political Roundtable, Politics
Sabina Matos on bouncing back from an election loss, policy priorities, and what’s next
Rhode Island Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos was the early favorite in the race for an open seat in the First Congressional District last year. But a signature-gathering scandal took on a life of its own, and undermined Matos’ hopes of landing in Congress. Her boss, Governor Dan McKee, shows how a lieutenant governor can move up if they’re in the right place at the right time. But some Rhode Islanders continue to question the value of the lieutenant governor’s office. So what does Matos say about that? What has she done to overcome the disappointment of her performance in last year’s congressional race? And what does Matos say about Democrats losing support among Latinos? This week on Political Roundtable, Ian Donnis goes in-depth with Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos.
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for May 17, 2024
Time to get down to brass tacks with the budget. 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: In a sure sign […]
Posted inLocal, Political Roundtable, Politics
Central Falls Mayor Maria Rivera on housing progress, what’s next for schools, and why more Latinos are voting Republican
Maria Rivera made history in Central Falls when she won election in 2020 as the first Latina mayor in Rhode Island. Rivera does not yet face any announced opponents for re-election this year and she’s an up and comer in Rhode Island politics. During her time in office, Rivera has led the charge to build more housing, with a goal of completing 300 new units. Central Falls broke ground on a new high school last month and millions of dollars have been raised for a new community center. But the one square mile-sized city, like the rest of the state, still has a way to go in addressing its need for housing, better jobs and higher performing schools. Can Mayor Rivera make more progress in delivering these needs? Does she plan to run statewide in 2026? And what does this Democrat say about how more Latinos are voting Republican? This week on Political Roundtable, we’re going in-depth with the mayor of Central Falls, Maria Rivera.
