Click here to listen and read in English. En las menos de dos semanas que lleva el presidente Trump en cargo del país, ha firmado una cantidad vertiginosa de órdenes ejecutivas y cambios de políticas, ha realizado cambios radicales en inmigración, el ejército, la política exterior y más. El Fiscal General de Rhode Island, Peter […]
Luis Hernandez
Luis helms the morning lineup. He is a 20-year public radio veteran, having joined The Public's Radio in 2022. That journey has taken him from the land of Gators at the University of Florida to WGCU in Fort Myers to KNPR in Las Vegas and then to WLRN in Miami.
Luis sees himself as a journalist and an entertainer, which is what drives him every morning—bringing more local news to the listeners and doing it in an interesting and sometimes fun way.
He also co-hosts Artscape and hosts The Weekly Catch. In his spare time, Luis is working on a couple of novels, a couple of podcasts and is getting back into painting.
Posted inImmigration, Local, Politics
Rhode Island Attorney General Neronha says potential funding freeze remains a threat
Haga clic aquí para leer en español. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha spoke this week with morning host Luis Hernandez about his plans for responding to executive actions coming out of the White House. Interview Highlights On the future of the federal funding freeze Peter Neronha: We’re not convinced the freeze is over, so […]
Posted inEconomy, Local, Politics
If Trump tariff plan goes through, RI businesses and residents will foot the bill
Following his election, President Donald Trump announced plans to impose tariffs on most U.S. imports, including a 25% tariff on products from Canada and Mexico. If the administration makes good on that threat, it would upend decades of North American Free Trade. Morning host Luis Hernandez spoke about the implications of Trump’s plan with Nina […]
Posted inArts And Culture, Artscape
Studio Session: The earnest shoegaze pop of Rel’s ‘Big Try’
Rel’s debut EP “Big Try” comes out March 7, and they’re performing at a release party at AS220 March 14. You can find out more about Rel’s music at HeyRel.com. Luis Hernandez: When did you start playing music and what got you into music as a performer? Rel: So I started playing guitar when I […]
Posted inHousing, Local
Behind the Point-In-Time count: Measuring homelessness in Rhode Island
Last week, the Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness conducted its annual Point-In-Time count, measuring how many people are experiencing homelessness across the state on a given night. Last year’s count showed a 35% increase over the previous year. Jennifer Barrera, chief strategy officer for the Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness, was among the […]
Posted inEnvironment, Immigration, The Weekly Catch
After Trump orders, future is murky for local refugee program and offshore wind projects
This week President Trump suspended the country’s refugee program for at least four months. As a result, a local refugee support nonprofit says they’ve already lost funding and had to cut staff. And Trump issued an executive order declaring he would not permit any new offshore wind farms. We hear from a maritime lawyer about what this could mean for the offshore wind projects under development in our region. Also, in a world of smartphones and GPS, why run a store that sells maps? The owner of The Map Center in Pawtucket says that, unlike the apps, the maps he sells are works of art that tell stories about our world. That and more on this week’s show.
Posted inImmigration, Local, Politics
Refugee Dream Center loses funding and staff after Trump immigration orders
Haga clic aquí para leer en español. Immigrants and local groups that support them are feeling the impact from President Trump’s flurry of executive actions this week. The Refugee Dream Center in Providence says it has already lost federal funding and laid off some of its staff members as a result. The non-profit helps resettle […]
Posted inHealth, Local, South County Bureau
Community renews calls for change of leadership at South County Hospital
Interview highlights On the request to replace South County Health CEO Aaron Robinson Steven Fera: He’s made some management decisions that have not involved collaboration with health care workers, physicians, nurses, or community members. Some of those decisions involved the loss of most of our primary care providers in Washington County. So there’s one provider […]
Posted inEnvironment, Health, The Weekly Catch
The uncertain future of South County Hospital, wildfire risk in R.I., and more
The destruction in Los Angeles serves as a reminder of how vulnerable many of our communities in Rhode Island are to wildfires. We hear about what the state and residents can do to prepare for a predicted increase in wildfires due to climate change. Also, dozens of community members recently sent a letter to the Board of Trustees for South County Hospital. In it they criticized leadership and expressed concern for the hospital’s long-term financial viability. We hear from a doctor at the hospital who signed the letter. Plus, we take a trip to a Pawtucket museum filled wall to wall with pinball machines, some more than 70 years old. That and more on this week’s show.
Posted inEnvironment, Local
What can we do to mitigate wildfires in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island was the site of two major wildfires in 2023, and the state saw over 40 forest fires this past fall alone. According to Brett Still, director of the Master of Environmental Science and Management program at the University of Rhode Island, wildfires may become more prevalent in Rhode Island as we continue to […]
