April 30 marks the one-year anniversary since Brown University students packed up their pro-Palestinian encampment on the school’s Main Green. Students agreed to end the protest after school leaders said they would hold a vote on a proposal to divest from companies that support Israel, drawing both criticism and praise. April 30 also marks President […]
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Posted inArts And Culture, Local
What’s on in May at the Community Libraries of Providence
The Community Libraries of Providence offer a slew of programming every week for kids and adults at their nine locations around the city – from book clubs, to gardening resources, to artist talks. We highlight a few of these events in our monthly community libraries segment. For May, morning host Luis Hernandez spoke with Cheryl […]
Posted inLabor, Local, Politics
Lawson wins R.I. Senate presidency while retaining prominent union role
After Rhode Island Senate Majority Leader Val Lawson won a lopsided vote Tuesday to lead the chamber following the recent death of Dominick Ruggerio, she downplayed potential conflicts stemming from her work as the president of one of the state’s largest teachers’ unions. Lawson (D-East Providence) easily outpaced rival Sen. Ryan W. Pearson (D-Cumberland) on […]
Posted inHealth, Local, Metro Desk, Politics
Amid Anchor Medical closure, Gov. Dan McKee rolls out primary care reforms
The impending closure of Anchor Medical Associates means some 25,000 Rhode Islanders will soon be forced to find new doctors. And the state already has a shortage of primary care doctors. As many as 400,000 Rhode Islanders already have no access to primary care. That’s the problem Gov. Dan McKee hopes to alleviate. “We […]
Posted inHealth, Local
Rhode Islanders can’t find doctors, and Anchor Medical closure will only make it worse
Since Anchor Medical Associates announced it will close its primary care practice in Rhode Island on June 30 — leaving behind about 25,000 patients, including 7,000 children — doctors’ offices have been swamped with calls. I know, because I’m one of their patients. The Monday after the news broke, I called close to a dozen […]
Posted inEnvironment, Local
How climate change will affect Rhode Island’s drinking water, and how we can better prepare
This story is part of our series One Storm Away: How climate change is threatening drinking water on the Ocean State’s islands As Rhode Island’s climate continues to change, scientists expect big changes to the state’s drinking water supply. Climate models suggest that average air temperatures will increase over the next century, and predict more […]
Posted inEnvironment, Local
Climate change is threatening Prudence Island’s drinking water
This story is part of our series One Storm Away: How climate change is threatening drinking water on the Ocean State’s islands Nestled in the middle of Narragansett Bay, Prudence Island is home to a small community of about 230 year-round residents. It’s only reachable by boat, and climate change may be spurring a drinking […]
Posted inHealth, Labor, Local
Butler Hospital’s unionized staff vote to authorize a strike
Unionized workers at Butler Hospital have voted to authorize a possible strike, saying the hospital’s operators at Care New England have refused to address concerns about workplace safety and wages. Leadership of the SEIU District 1199 New England – which represents more than 4,000 workers in Rhode Island, including over 400 frontline staff at Butler […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, TGIF
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for April 25, 2025
Considering the torrents of news, is it time to measure the first 100 days of a new presidential administration in dog-years? You can follow me through the week on Bluesky, threads and X. Here we go. *** Want to get my column in your inbox every Friday? Just sign up right here. *** 1. STORY […]
Posted inImmigration, Local
Crowd protests ICE activity outside Rhode Island Hospital
A crowd of about 85 protesters gathered outside Rhode Island Hospital on Thursday afternoon in response to an alert, sent out by local activists, that federal agents tased a person they were trying to apprehend. The alert said the detainee had been taken to the hospital for their injuries. According to Providence Mayor Brett Smiley’s […]
