With Republicans soon in control of the White House, Senate, and possibly the House, what could it mean for Rhode Islanders? Political reporter Ian Donnis and political scientist Wendy Schiller join us to talk about that and other takeaways from Tuesday’s elections. Also, how are the state’s young voters feeling about the election results? We talk with a group of students from Johnson & Wales University to get their take. And the Rhode Island Philharmonic has a new music director. She won’t take the seat until early next year, but she is conducting the orchestra in a concert this weekend. That and more on this week’s show.
James Baumgartner
James produces and engineers Political Roundtable, The Weekly Catch and other special programming on The Public’s Radio. He also produces Artscape, the weekly arts & culture segment heard every Thursday. His favorite part of the job is talking with artists, musicians and other creators about their process and what inspires them.
James learned the basics of audio editing while studying music at Missouri State University. He went on to get a Master of Fine Arts in Electronic Art at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute where he created electronic music, video art and internet-based media art. While at RPI, James went on the air for the first time, hosting an electronic music show on Rensselaer's station, WRPI, but his love of radio came from staying up late so he could hear punk rock on KKFI, the community radio station in Kansas City, Missouri.
Posted inArts And Culture, Local
A conversation with conductor Ruth Reinhardt, new director of RI Philharmonic
Ruth Reinhardt conducts the Rhode Island Philharmonic this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Vets with violinist Blake Pouliot. There’s also an open rehearsal on Friday at 5:30 p.m. TRANSCRIPT: This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Baumgartner: Given your experience – Europe, guest conducting in New York, Cleveland, San Francisco, Los Angeles […]
Posted inArts And Culture, Artscape
Heidi Henderson’s ‘untitled sad piece’ brings contemporary dance to a Rhode Island skating rink
Heidi Henderson is a dancer and choreographer who lives in Wakefield. Her latest work is called untitled sad piece and it’s a collection of 10 dances: solos, duets, trios and ensemble pieces with all five members of her company, Elephant Jane Dance. Untitled sad piece is set to the music of The Carpenters, the 1970s brother-sister duo known for the sweetly sad voice of Karen Carpenter. Elephant Jane Dance will perform the piece tonight (Thursday, 11/7) at United Skates of America in Rumford.
Posted inArts And Culture, Politics, The Weekly Catch
Election 2024: What to expect, young voters’ priorities, and what’s on the ballot
In this final episode before Nov. 5, we’ll be talking all about the election. With just four days left, what can we expect in Rhode Island, and what do we know about how the outcome will affect our region? Political reporter Ian Donnis and political scientist Adam Myers will break it down. Also, five students at Johnson & Wales University tell us what they’re feeling and thinking about as they make their voting decisions. Plus, what exactly is on the Rhode Island ballot? We’ll walk through the last statewide ballot question, which asks voters to approve a $10 million bond for arts and culture. That and more on this week’s show.
Posted inEnvironment, Politics, The Weekly Catch
South Coast elections preview, Rhode Island’s $53 million green economy bond, and more
This election, South Coast residents will pick candidates for the state legislature, decide on five statewide ballot questions, and vote on a contested Congressional race. Our South Coast Bureau Reporter Ben Berke reviews what you need to know. And we continue our breakdown of Rhode Island’s ballot referenda, this time with question four, a $53 million green economy bond that will go towards green infrastructure, climate resiliency, land conservation, and more. Also, a conversation with Hamilton de Holanda, world-renowned composer and player of the Brazilian bandolim. That and more on this week’s show.
Posted inEnvironment, Housing, The Weekly Catch
Protecting Rhode Island’s coastal refuges, a $120 million housing bond, and more
Rhode Island voters will face five statewide referenda questions on November’s ballot. In the weeks leading up to the election we’ll dig into each of them. This week: should voters approve a $120 million dollar bond to increase the availability of housing, and promote home ownership? Also, the head of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service paid a visit to Rhode Island in honor of National Wildlife Refuge week. She shares her thoughts on why protecting the area’s refuges is just as important as protecting the shore. Plus, Providence Journal columnist John Kostrzewa discusses a few favorite hikes from his book Walking Rhode Island. That and more on this week’s show.
Posted inEducation, Politics, The Weekly Catch
Public funding for RIC Cybersecurity Institute, ‘An American Jew Wakes to a Nightmare,’ and more
On Oct. 8, 2023, local playwright Sandy Laub started writing. The result was a one-woman play called “Picking Up Stones: An American Jew Wakes to a Nightmare.” She sat down with our South County Bureau Reporter Alex Nunes to talk about the play and reflect on the past year. Also, in November, Rhode Island voters will be faced with five statewide ballot questions. Between now and Election Day we’ll break them down for you. This week, it’s question two: a bond measure to fund improvements at URI and Rhode Island College, including building out a new home for RIC’s Cybersecurity institute. Plus, Artscape producer James Baumgartner gives us a tour of Community MusicWorks’ new location. That and more on this week’s show.
Posted inArts And Culture, Artscape
New Community MusicWorks Center is more than a space for making music
On a recent Saturday, a group of grade-school aged children wearing red t-shirts lined up on the sidewalk on Westminster Street in the West End of Providence. They were outside of two empty storefronts that used to hold Community MusicWorks. The youngest children were at the front carrying small drums and mallets. They were followed […]
Posted inArts And Culture, Politics, The Weekly Catch
How CVS changes may affect RI, constitutional convention controversy, and more
This week, CVS Health announced it will be laying off nearly 3,000 employees nationwide, and is exploring breaking up parts of its business. We’ll talk about how these changes may affect the state and its Woonsocket-based headquarters. Also, there are five questions for Rhode Island voters on this year’s ballot. This week we’ll look at question one: should the state host a constitutional convention? We’ll break down what that would mean, and why it’s become such a hot topic across the political spectrum. And the local theater season is ramping up. We’ll talk about some of the most exciting plays coming up this fall. That and more on this week’s show.
Posted inEducation, Labor, The Weekly Catch
Child labor law violations in Fall River, behind the failed Star Store-UMass Dartmouth deal, and more
A seafood processing plant in Fall River is at the heart of a new lawsuit that claims the plant employed underage migrant workers – and says the teens were exposed to potentially dangerous conditions. The suit comes a year after an investigation by The Public’s Radio into possible child labor violations at seafood processors in New Bedford. Also, a year after UMass Dartmouth abruptly closed its arts campus at the Star Store in New Bedford, an investigation by the Massachusetts Inspector General gives us a clearer picture of what exactly happened and who’s to blame. And we hear a studio session with Providence-based jazz combo, the Leland Baker Trio. That and more on this week’s show.
