The attorneys general of Rhode Island and Massachusetts are among the plaintiffs charging that a Trump administration freeze on more than $6 billion in education funding is illegal. Without a detailed explanation, the U.S. Education Department on July 1 blocked the release of $6.8 billion in education grants for states. Twenty-three attorneys general and the […]
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 June 27, 2025
Enjoy summer while we can — it will be gone in a flash. You can follow me through the week on Bluesky, threads and X. A quick program note: I’m taking some time off, so this column will next appear on July 18. Here we go. *** Want to get my column in your inbox […]
Posted inPolitical Roundtable, Politics
R.I. House Speaker Joe Shekarchi on the state budget, economy, and his next move
Though the 2025 General Assembly session is over in Rhode Island, all eyes remain on House Speaker Joe Shekarchi. The Warwick Democrat is a potential candidate for governor, potentially setting the stage for a three-way primary with incumbent Dan McKee and former CVS executive Helena Foulkes. Back and forth between McKee and Shekarchi over the state budget this week may be a preview of more clashes to come. This week on Political Roundtable, I’m going in-depth with Rhode Island House Speaker Joe Shekarchi.
Posted inLocal, Politics
R.I. Gov. Dan McKee on the state budget, the life sciences economy and the new legislation on his desk
State officials In Rhode Island hope the life-sciences will propel new economic growth in the state. But there are challenges along the way. The Public’s Radio political reporter Ian Donnis met with Governor Dan McKee to discuss that and other economic and political questions. They talked at the new State Health Lab which is under construction in Providence.
Posted inBusiness, Local, Politics
New state health lab taking shape in Providence’s 195 District
During a hard-hat tour of the new state health lab on Tuesday, Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee motioned to a scene a short distance away on Richmond Street in Providence’s 195 District, where construction crews are building a life sciences building for Brown University. McKee’s message: the two nearby structures dovetail with the state’s effort […]
Posted inLocal, Politics
Sen. Reed calls Trump’s military strike on Iran premature
U.S. Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island agrees with President Trump that Iran should not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, but he said Trump’s use of a military airstrike over the weekend is too much, too soon. “The best path would be for negotiations,” Reed said in an interview Monday. “We had an […]
Posted inLocal, Politics
Bill to ban sales of ‘assault weapons’ in RI poised to become law
Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee is poised to sign into law a bill that will ban the sale and manufacture — but not the use or possession — of guns defined as assault weapons. Any uncertainty about the legislative path for the bill ended when the House of Representatives approved the measure on a 43-to-28 […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for June 20, 2025
I volunteer to play 1B for the Sox for a lot less money than Rafael Devers. 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: More than […]
Posted inLocal, Politics
Amended ‘assault weapon’ bill advances to RI Senate amid criticism
The Rhode Island Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday approved an assault weapon bill that left both gun-rights advocates and some gun-safety supporters feeling disappointed. The bill, an amended version of legislation sponsored by Sen. Louis DiPalma (D-Middletown), cleared the Judiciary Committee on an 8-to-6 vote. The amended bill bans the sale, although not the use […]
Posted inLocal, Politics
RI House passes $14.3 billion budget with more healthcare money
The Rhode Island House of Representatives used a speedy three-hour debate Tuesday to pass a $14.3 billion budget for the fiscal year starting July 1, amid uncertainty about possible fallout from GOP spending cuts in Washington, D.C. The vote came on a 66-to-9 mostly party-line vote. State Rep. Marie Hopkins (R-Warwick), a nurse who said […]
