The Rhode Island Coalition for Children and Families recently sounded an alarm about a growing number of deaths and near deaths involving young children. The coalition is calling on Gov. Dan McKee and state lawmakers to take action to address the crisis. This situation has quietly developed over years and a number of different factors are responsible. So does Rhode Island have the will to do a better job in protecting the state’s most vulnerable children? And what other steps are needed to improve the lives of young people in the state? This week on Political Roundtable, Political Reporter Ia ..read more

The median price of a single-family home in Rhode Island was $440,000 in February, an almost 15% increase from a year earlier. The high cost of housing leaves many people on the outside of home ownership, looking in, squeezing out those with less money. So what will it take for the state to make more progress, and how long? This week, Ian Donnis goes in-depth with Rhode Island Secretary of Housing Stefan Pryor. Transcript: This transcript has been edited for clarity Ian Donnis: Welcome back to the Public’s Radio.  Stefan Pryor: Thank you, Ian.  Donnis: We know how lots of money has ..read more

The I-195 District now includes new housing, a Trader Joe’s, and the Wexford Science and Technology building. But realizing the initial vision of sparking innovation and more high-wage jobs has been a challenge. It’s not any easier now in the climate of inflation and high interest rates. So can Crisafulli foster more progress while approaching his second year of chairing the I-195 District Commission? What are the main barriers, and how can they be overcome? I’m Ian Donnis and this week I’m going in depth with chairman of the I-195 District Redevelopment Commission Marc Crisafulli. Ian Donnis ..read more

Rhode Island’s unemployment rate is at a historic low. But that doesn’t come close to telling the whole picture about the state’s economy. Lots of Rhode Islanders are struggling to get by. The situation is exacerbated by inflation, the high cost of housing, and the state’s absence of new engines of job growth. These challenges are familiar to the staff of the Economic Progress Institute, a research and policy organization dedicated to improving the lives of low- and moderate-income Rhode Islanders. What is the institute’s prescription for reducing poverty? Does the state make effective use of ..read more

Amo is the favorite since the district is overwhelmingly Democratic. The son of African immigrants, Amo grew up in Pawtucket and he’s worked for years as a political staffer in Rhode Island and at the White House. What would it mean to him to become the first person of color elected to Congress from Rhode Island? What does he make of the violence in Israel? And as a former aide to President Biden, how does Amo explain the low approval ratings for the president as he gears up for another campaign with Donald Trump? I’m Ian Donnis and this week I’m going in depth with the Democratic nominee in ..read more

As a 30-year veteran of the Marines who left with the rank of colonel, Leonard says he has the judgment and leadership to ably represent Rhode Islanders in the First Congressional District. But can he overcome the challenge of running as a Republican in a heavily Democratic district? What does Leonard think of the rightward direction of the GOP in Washington and Donald Trump’s attempt to recapture the White House? And what is this combat veteran’s view of the violent conflicts in Israel and Ukraine? I’m Ian Donnis and this week I’m going in depth with the Republican candidate in the First Con ..read more

Organized labor is having a moment in America. Strikes by Hollywood writers and auto workers in Michigan show how unions are flexing their muscle in response to changes in technology. At the same time, corporate giants like Amazon and Starbucks have squelched the impact of organizing among their employees. Here in Rhode Island, organized labor remains an influential force at the Statehouse. One familiar face in that movement, Pat Crowley of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, is poised to take over the leadership of that union. So can labor maintain its local relevance? Do expanded benefits for public ..read more

Jack Reed’s first term in the U.S. Senate coincided with the so-called “vacation from history.” That was the period between the end of the Cold War and 9/11, a time marked by a lack of conflict on the world stage. Now, things are very different. The state of war between Hamas and Israel raises concerns about a wider regional conflict. U.S. policymakers are focused on the rising power of China. The war in Ukraine grinds on. Autocrats control a number of nations. In the U.S., the House of Representatives is marked by instability, many Americans have lost faith in government, and the country is ..read more

As a state rep, Morales has mixed idealism and pragmatism along with his advocacy for public education, labor rights and public benefit programs. His approach has won the respect of his colleagues and made him someone worth watching. So why did Morales pursue a path in politics when many young people choose not to do so? How much of a difference can he make at the Statehouse? And can lawmakers like Morales make inroads on complex issues like healthcare and income inequality? I’m Ian Donnis and this week I’m going in depth with state Representative David Morales. Ian Donnis: Welcome to The Pub ..read more

Of course, this isn’t without some conflict, considering the amount of dubious information and conspiracy theories involving COVID. But Jha, who returned to Brown earlier this year after serving as the White House COVID-19 czar, seems to relish his role as a spokesman on public health. So what will it take to shift the disease-centered focus of much of American medicine? What does the future hold for Rhode Island’s hospital and healthcare landscape? And what can be done about all that misinformation? I’m Ian Donnis and this week I’m going in depth with Dr. Ashish Jha. TRANSCRIPT: Ian Donnis: W ..read more