State coastal regulators had some bad news this week for the North Kingstown country club that’s trying to get permission to construct a seawall where it’s already built one illegally. A subcommittee of the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council voted Tuesday to deny the waterfront classification change sought by Quidnessett Country Club. The final […]
Joe Tasca
The local voice on Weekend Edition for several years, Joe stepped into the role of morning producer in October 2023. Joe is also a reporter, covering stories in the field and conducting interviews with newsmakers.
From an early age, Joe was determined to become a broadcaster, and began his broadcast career as a high school student. His first job was working as a newscaster and engineer for WERI, a full-service radio station in his hometown of Westerly. Prior to coming to The Public's Radio in 2018, Joe spent 15 years as a news anchor and reporter for a cluster of six radio stations in eastern Connecticut.
He graduated from Westerly High and earned his bachelor's degree from Quinnipiac University. When he's not working, he enjoys reading, writing, hiking, playing golf, and traveling to Canada.
Posted inArts And Culture, Education, The Weekly Catch
Behind URI’s plan to build more student housing, remembering Bill Gale, and more
Residents in Narragansett and South Kingstown have complained that URI isn’t providing enough housing for its growing student body, affecting the town’s strained housing market. This week, the university announced plans to build more student housing. What will that look like, and will it be enough? Also, author and podcaster Nate DiMeo built up his chops as a storyteller living and working in Providence. He comes back to his hometown this week to discuss his new book, “Memory Palace: True Short Stories of the Past.” And Tony Estrella of the Gamm Theatre looks back on the life of longtime Rhode Island theater critic Bill Gale, who passed away recently. That and more on this week’s show.
Posted inHealth, Labor, Local
Strike averted at Women & Infants Hospital
Women & Infants Hospital says it’s reached a tentative agreement on a new nearly three-year contract with members of the 1199 SEIU NE union. Frontline caregivers had voted last week to authorize a strike, citing uncompetitive wages and a refusal to bargain in good faith, among other things. Union officials said the hospital’s lack of […]
Posted inArts And Culture, Politics, The Weekly Catch
Reproductive rights under Trump, how Democrats lost Fall River, and more
What could Trump’s second presidency mean for reproductive health in Rhode Island? A reproductive rights advocate tells us what they expect, what they’re hearing from people in our communities, and how they’re preparing for the difficult fights ahead. Also, Fall River has been a Democratic stronghold politically for a century. So how did Trump and the Republicans flip it in this past election? Plus, we’ll hear a studio session with two Lithuanian American siblings who have been singing traditional Lithuanian folk music for as long as they can remember. That and more on this week’s show.
Posted inPolitics, The Weekly Catch
What do the election results mean for Rhode Islanders?
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.
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, 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.
