The head of the Massachusetts company that owns the “Superman Building” in downtown Providence has died. David C. Sweetser was 70 years old. “A devoted family man, beloved friend to many, and a titan in the real estate development industry,” said Bill Fischer, a spokesman for Sweetser, in a statement on Tuesday. “He will be […]
Economy
Posted inEconomy, Labor, Local
Remembering Providence’s Arthur A. Coia, longtime labor leader
Arthur A. Coia died last week at age 82. The Providence native was a pioneer in the U.S. labor movement and best-known as a former president of the Laborers’ International Union of North America. Afternoon Host Dave Fallon discussed Coia’s legacy with Scott Malloy, an expert on union history, a professor emeritus at URI, and […]
Posted inArts And Culture, Economy, Politics, The Weekly Catch
Local tourism slumps under Trump, highlights of the 2025 RI legislative session, and more
In the 2025 Rhode Island General Assembly session, lawmakers passed a major gun law and numerous bills tackling housing and healthcare. We’ll look into what legislators achieved and failed to get done, as well as what to expect in 2026. Also, Trump administration policies are scaring off tourists. Hotels have higher than normal vacancies, and restaurants are closing on certain days due to low traffic. What kind of summer season will we have this year? Plus, thousands in Massachusetts and Rhode Island will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of Cape Verdean independence this weekend. We talk with two people from our region who are being featured at a national celebration in Washington, D.C. That and more on this week’s show.
Posted inEconomy, Environment, Local
‘Big Beautiful Bill’ could leave New England clean energy projects blowing in the wind
The latest version of President Trump’s domestic policy bill would gut federal incentives and subsidies for solar and wind, and likely slow one of the fastest-growing sectors of New England’s economy. Investors in SouthCoast Wind have spent $600 million over the past 7 years on an ambitious plan to harness the wind off Nantucket and […]
Posted inEconomy, Local, Politics
Matunuck Oyster Bar reopens al fresco
Sipping an ice cold beer at the bar, Andrew Ferrandino was philosophical about the new Matunuck Oyster Bar. “It’s great,” he said. “Actually, the view is even better than the old one!” The bar now occupies one corner of a pavilion tent set up in what used to be the valet parking lot. But it […]
Posted inEconomy, Environment, Local
Jamestown has a drinking water problem. Could it have been avoided?
This story is part of our series One Storm Away: How climate change is threatening drinking water on the Ocean State’s islands When Christina DiMeglio decided to move back home to Rhode Island in 2016, she thought she’d found the perfect house on Conanicut Island. It has a wide backyard with sweeping views of the East […]
Posted inEconomy, Local, Politics
McKee distances himself from R.I.’s new budget
Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee has a message to voters who might not be happy about all the new taxes and fees in the state budget for the new fiscal year starting next week: Don’t blame him. “Talk to your General Assembly members,” he suggested, at a roundtable with reporters on Smith Hill on Wednesday. […]
Posted inEconomy, Local, Metro Desk, Sports, Stories
The last bits of PawSox trivia finally revealed
The PawSox disappeared to Worcester four years ago. McCoy Stadium has since been razed to the ground. But on Monday evening, a small crowd gathered in what used to be right field for one last event in what may be the longest goodbye in baseball history. Among them, Kevin Wildenhain in full PawSox regalia. His dad […]
Posted inEconomy, Local, Transportation
How safe are Rhode Island’s other bridges?
The Washington Bridge may have grabbed most of the headlines, but it is by no means the only piece of Rhode Island infrastructure in urgent need of repair. Rhode Island PBS and The Public’s Radio identified 119 bridges listed as “Poor” in the most recent available data from the National Bridge Inventory, a federal survey […]
Posted inEconomy, Local, New England News Collaborative, Politics
Northeast governors, Canadian premiers pledge collaboration despite trade war and tourism slide
Maine’s 176 craft breweries are already feeling the impacts of tariffs on aluminum and other packaging materials from Canada. Canadians’ reservations at Vermont hotels are down by 45%. And in Massachusetts, where nearly 2,400 Canadians study each year, Gov. Maura Healey is wondering about the impacts on research institutions and teaching hospitals. Governors shared those […]
