News

Rhode Island and the rest of New England have become foreign territory for Republicans. RIPR political analyst Scott MacKay explains why.

Just about every state in New England, and especially Rhode Island, could benefit from robust two-party political competition. Our state’s  General  Assembly has 113 members. Only 11 caucus with Republicans.

All eyes are on the Pawtuxet and Pawcatuck rivers as they are expected to rise even higher Friday night. The Blackstone River is also rising.

Two inches of rain fell between Thursday and Friday morning, according to the National Weather Service. It came in what was already a soggy week in Rhode Island. All the rain has pushed the Pawtuxet River to more than a foot above flood stage. The National Weather Service expects it to crest at 11 feet and remain high through Saturday night.

The long-sought trial of James "Whitey" Bulger in US District Court in Boston offers a great example of how Twitter can carry the drama of legal action to a far bigger audience. Tweets from a bevy of top crime reporters, including WPRI-TV's Tim White, have offered a minute-by-minute account of the scene as the former fugitive mobster faces justice.

When the Bruins host the Chicago Blackhawks for games three and four of the Stanley Cup finals, a voice from Rhode Island will be part of the games.

When Jim Martin’s working his day job, he’s the spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Providence. But during hockey season, his night job is being the public address announcer for TD Garden in Boston. Martin’s been announcing there for almost 20 years. Two years ago, he announced in his first Stanley Cup game.

Two young falcons will be released back into the wild in Pawtucket this Saturday.  The two got away from their nest which sits atop Pawtucket City Hall. 

The Department of Environmental Management picked up two juvenile peregrine falcons that were found on the ground in Pawtucket last week.

The birds, one male and one female, are siblings, and about seven to eight weeks old.

Wildlife experts say juvenile falcons can often get away from their nests when learning to fly.

On today's podcast, debate over whether or not to pay back the bonds for 38 Studios is holding up budget negotiations in the General Assembly, and a closer look at the final plays of Trinity Rep's season.

Plus this week's Political Roundtable with House Minority Leader Brian Newberry.

House Minority Leading Brian Newberry takes part in Bonus Q+A to discuss a possible public subsidy for the Superman Building; his evaluation of Governor Lincoln Chafee; and the outlook for increasing GOP representation in the General Assembly.

House Minority Leader Brian Newberry (R-North Smithfield) joins the Roundtable this week to discuss his expectations on the budget; whether the state should pay back moral obligation bonds related to 38 Studios; what the General Assembly will accomplish this year to boost the economy; and more.

Providence Business News Editor Mark Murphy joins Rhode Island Public Radio's Dave Fallon for a weekly business segment we're calling "The Bottom Line." Each Friday they look at business news and themes that affect local business and the public.

This week Dave and Mark talk with Providence Foundation Executive Director Dan Baudouin about the new business revival that is happening in downtown Providence.

When to Listen

You can hear The Bottom Line each Friday at 5:50pm.

At Trinity Rep these nights 14 professional actors and half as many kids are romping and stomping, racing and rushing from the upstairs Chace Theater to the downstairs Dowling Theater. And this is no exercise program. It’s actually the simultaneous performance of two separate plays by a single cast.

They fly from one play to another, changing costumes and characters all night long.