In the decades before the 1964 Civil Rights Act outlawed discrimination in public places, traveling throughout the country could be a minefield for Black Americans, including in New England. Finding safe places to stay or eat where they wouldn’t be turned away was a challenge. That’s where the Green Book came in. A nationwide travel […]
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 inArts And Culture, Local
Rhode Island is searching for a new historian laureate
Rhode Island has a job opening right now that doesn’t come around too often. The state is accepting applications for the position of historian laureate. The historian laureate delivers lectures about Rhode Island’s past at special events and formal ceremonies, provides historical information to state officials, and edits state-sponsored historical publications. After serving in the […]
Posted inArts And Culture, Artscape
Writer and director Dave Solomon on filmmaking and the art of auditioning
A historic cottage situated in Westerly Library’s Wilcox Park is home to an Artist-In-Residence program that attracts creatives from around the country. It offers artists of all levels and disciplines to take risks and pursue new projects, while also providing creative and educational programming to the surrounding community. The latest artist-in-residence is Dave Solomon. He’s an award-winning, New York-based writer and director of film and theater. Morning host Luis Hernandez spoke with him for this week’s episode of Artscape.
Posted inEconomy, Local
Reimagining downtown Providence in a hybrid work world
Providence, like many cities across the country, has seen office spaces emptying out, as some companies are downsizing and moving towards hybrid work models. That can have a ripple effect on the city’s economy, including local businesses like restaurants and shops. What is Providence doing to avoid falling into the so-called doom loop that is […]
Posted inArts And Culture, Environment, Politics, The Weekly Catch
Record year for marine mammal strandings, RI State Senator praises Trump’s first weeks
So far, two dozen of the more than 50 executive orders President Trump has signed have been met with lawsuits. Democratic leaders and other critics are calling some of his directives unconstitutional, but Republicans have been supportive of the president’s actions. We hear from one of Trump’s supporters in the Ocean State: State Senate Minority Leader Jessica de la Cruz. A record number of marine mammals have washed up along Massachusetts’ south coast this past year. While some speculate that offshore wind is playing a role in the deaths, scientists say they haven’t found evidence to back that up. And we talk with the new leader of LitArts RI, Christina Bevilacqua. All that and more – on this episode of The Weekly Catch.
Posted inLocal, Politics
RI state senator gives Trump an ‘A’ for first weeks in office
Interview highlights: On President Trump’s performance in his first weeks in office Jessica de la Cruz: I would say [he gets] an A. He campaigned on these promises and now he’s following through. I just feel that sometimes if I put my phone down for a couple of hours, I’ve missed what could be two […]
Posted inArts And Culture, Artscape
Meet LitArts RI’s new executive director: Christina Bevilacqua
LitArts RI started in 2018 as a shared creative workspace for writers. Since then, the nonprofit has grown to offer events, workshops, and other support to Rhode Island writers and readers. They recently announced their new executive director, Christina Bevilacqua, who has been a part of the literary world of Rhode Island for a while now at the Providence Athenaeum, Trinity Rep, and the Providence Public Library.
Posted inEnvironment, Health, Local
Avian flu has been detected in Rhode Island. Here’s what you need to know
Last month, a flock of birds in southern Rhode Island was euthanized after they were found to be infected with H5N1 avian influenza. While the threat to public health is considered to be low, Dr. Suzanne Bornschein, medical director and state epidemiologist at the Rhode Island Department of Health, says you should take some necessary […]
Posted inEnvironment, Local, Metro Desk
What are the least energy efficient buildings in Providence?
Providence has set an ambitious goal of being carbon neutral by 2050. That’s why, in 2023, Providence began requiring owners of large buildings – the biggest carbon producers in the city – to track and report their energy usage. After a year of reports from places like schools and the zoo, what do we know? […]
Posted inArts And Culture, Politics, The Weekly Catch
Rhode Island AG, nonprofits plan for possible threats to federal funding
President Trump issued an astounding number of executive orders and policy changes in the first two weeks of his second term. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha is one of many AGs around the country who have promised to check the president’s power. Also, after Trump froze and later unfroze federal funding this week, some local nonprofits who rely on federal money are anxious about their future. We hear from the CEO of Sojourner House, which provides services to survivors of abuse. Plus, a studio session with emerging shoegaze pop artist Rel. That and more on this week’s show.
