When reporters are working on important stories, they often use Rhode Island's Access for Public Records Act, or APRA. It gives them the ability to ask for government emails, data sets, or other documents. But APRA isn’t perfect. So, there’s a bill before the General Assembly to make it stronger. Ed talks with Colleen Cronin, a reporter who covers environmental issues for ecoRI, and John Marion, executive director of Common Cause Rhode Island, to learn more. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and Californi ..read more

It’s been a little over a year since Stefan Pryor became Rhode Island’s housing secretary, as housing affordability remains one of the top issues facing Rhode Islanders. So what is he doing about it? Steph Machado sat down with Pryor to find out. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ..read more

For RI restaurants and food businesses, the overall cost of doing business is going up, and the closure of the Washington Bridge that carries Interstate 195 into and out of Providence has made matters worse. How are these companies going to survive? Alexa Gagosz talks with Kate Roberts, the owner of Easy Entertaining in Providence, to see how she’s coping. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ..read more

Teenagers spend tons of time on their smart phones, and often they don’t stop even when they’re in class. To address that issue, some Rhode Island schools make students put their phones in locked pouches. Our own Steph Machado just finished a segment for Rhode Island PBS about this growing trend. She joins us in the studio to talk about what she learned. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ..read more

Earlier this week, our own Dan McGowan and Steph Machado moderated a live conversation about the state of RI schools. The panel featured Central Falls Mayor Maria Rivera, Rhode Island Commissioner on Postsecondary Education Shannon Gilkey, and Rhode Island Deputy Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Lisa Odom-Villella. If you couldn’t make it, you can listen along to this lightly edited version of the discussion. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell ..read more

If you want to know about the plans to bring minor league soccer to Pawtucket, Globe RI’s Brian Amaral is your man. He’s been covering the Tidewater Landing project from the beginning. Last weekend, he went to Rhode Island FC's home opener at its temporary home in Smithfield. Brian joins Ed to talk about the game, the team, and what he’s uncovered about the financing of the stadium. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ..read more

Back in 2020, the Trump campaign hired Rhode-Islander and Moderate Party founder Ken Block to investigate widespread election fraud. Spoiler alert: He didn’t find any. But Ken did find data to explain why Trump really lost. He joins Ed to talk about his new book, "Disproven." Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ..read more

It’s been nearly three months since the RI Department of Transportation shut down the westbound side of the Washington Bridge and it doesn’t look like it’s reopening anytime soon. Our own Steph Machado and Jim Hummel, the host of “A Lively Experiment” on Rhode Island PBS, give us the latest on this debacle. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ..read more

Imagine studying science or math in a different language. Many English learners in Rhode Island’s public schools face this challenge every day, and their numbers are growing. What is the state doing to help these students succeed? Guest host Dan McGowan talks with RI PBS reporter Michelle San Miguel and Providence School Board President Erlin Rogel about the issue. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ..read more

To celebrate Black History Month, we’re joined by Valerie Tutson, the executive director and festival director for Rhode Island Black Storytellers, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting the awareness, appreciation, and application of Black storytelling. She talks with Ed about her work, avoiding the trap of ‘trauma stories,’ and training a new generation of storytellers. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info ..read more