There’s no truth to the rumor that Rhode Island will be the setting for a remake of “Waterworld.” You can follow me through the week on threads and what we used to call the twitters. Here we go. *** Want to get my column in your inbox every Friday? Just sign up right here. *** […]
Local
Posted inEnvironment, Local, Newport Bureau
Residents in a Portsmouth neighborhood take storm and flooding preparedness into their own hands
“Hi. Yeah. Yeah, we’re going down to the plantings.” Nicole Gotovich calls out to Common Fence Point resident Mil Kinsella, who’s passing in her SUV. Gotovich is taking me on a tour of the community’s sea level rise and storm surge mitigation projects. As we walk along Common Fence Boulevard on Mount Hope Bay, Gotovich […]
Posted inLocal, Political Roundtable, Politics
Ken Block on disproving 2020 election fraud — and how to improve American elections
Ken Block was surprised to get a phone call from an unfamiliar number one day after the 2020 election. It was a lawyer for Donald Trump’s campaign, and he wanted to know if Block would search for evidence of fraud in the election. Block ran as a third party candidate for governor in 2010 and as a Republican in 2014. But he’s also an expert in database technologies and data analytics — and that’s why the Trump campaign reached out to him. Block details his findings in a new book. So why has Trump not backed away from his lie about a stolen election? How can Americans move ahead when so many people disregard facts? And what needs to be done to strengthen the election process? I’m Ian Donnis and this week I’m going in-depth with Ken Block, author of “Disproven: My Unbiased Search For Voter Fraud For The Trump Campaign, The Data That Shows Why He Lost, And How We Can Improve Our Elections.”
Posted inHealth, Local
McKee names new Rhode Island interim health director
Governor Daniel J. McKee announced on Thursday the appointment of an infectious disease specialist who recently joined the Rhode Island Department of Health as its interim director until a permanent hire is finalized. Dr. Staci Fischer worked 15 years at Rhode Island Hospital and oversaw training for medical residents and fellows for Lifespan in her […]
Posted inArts And Culture, Artscape, Local
Studio Session: Keith McCurdy of “gothic folk” band Vudu Sister
Keith McCurdy is the songwriter, singer and guitarist for Vudu Sister, a Providence-based band that includes a rotating cast of other musicians on violin, cello, bass and more. Drawing influence from ghost stories and the macabre, they describe their music as “Gothic Folk.” Keith says another big influence on his sound is the 90s MTV Unplugged series – in particular, Nirvana’s legendary set.
Posted inEnvironment, Local, South Coast Bureau
Developers seek to get offshore wind back on track with latest bids to New England states
Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island received bids for new wind farms on Wednesday from offshore wind developers seeking to get construction back on track after a string of projects were canceled last year because of rising construction costs. The bids seek to lock in higher electricity prices for offshore wind that manage to strike a […]
Posted inArts And Culture, Local
Grammy-nominated Black Violin brings signature mix of classical and hip hop to Providence
Black Violin is performing at The Vets in Providence Saturday, March 30. Tickets and more information at thevetsri.com. Transcript: This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Luis Hernandez: Kev Marcus and Will Baptiste have been playing and creating music since high school. They are the duo Black Violin. The group has been performing […]
Posted inLocal, Politics
Here’s what you need to know to vote in the Rhode Island presidential primary
For the audio version of this story, linked above, you can listen to Morning Edition host Luis Hernandez’s conversation with Rob Rock, Rhode Island Deputy Secretary of State. On April 2, voters in Rhode Island will decide on the presidential candidates for the November general election, as well as the Democratic and Republican delegates that […]
Posted inLocal, Politics
Rhode Island Ethics Commission fines former state official for Philadelphia trip
The Rhode Island Ethics Commission on Tuesday fined former state properties head David Patten $5,000 for behavior during a trip to Philadelphia last year that sparked a cascade of negative out-of-state attention. The commission also found probable cause for three of four violations against James Thorsen, formerly the director of the state Department of Administration, […]
Posted inHousing, Local, Metro Desk
What Providence’s proposed zoning changes would mean for your neighborhood
The City of Providence’s Planning Department has released a new map showing proposed changes in growth and density in the city under its draft comprehensive plan. According to the city’s Planning Department, the proposed changes are meant to accommodate more people. Over the last Census period, the city’s population increased by 7%, and the city […]
