News

By Frederic Reamer

Providence, RI – All of us have had people walk into our lives unexpectedly and, in ways we never anticipated, change our lives forever - the way we view the world, our most basic priorities, our sense of what really matters. Indeed, that's what happened to Cori Hughes.

By Ian Donnis

Providence, RI – The final vote was preceded by hours of meandering debate. But in the end, House Democrats passed a spending plan that cuts state pension benefits, restores some car tax revenue for cities and towns, and makes about a three percent cut in state education aid. House Finance Chairman Steven Costantino called it another budget for tough times.

By Ian Donnis

Providence, RI – "When we came in here it was very rough, so I've redone the kitchen and bathroom," says William Felkner, founder of the Ocean State Policy Research Institute, during a tour of his office. "I feel like I'm on a home network show. But that's pretty much the office."

Felkner founded OSPRI in 2007. Because of its improbable location, it quickly became associated with the name John Galt, a symbol of capitalist power in conservative icon Ayn Rand's novel, Atlas Shrugged.

By Scott Mackay

Providence, RI – So far, the Assembly has elected a new Speaker, Rep. Gordon Fox of Providence, and held a slew of hearings. Saints Patrick and Joseph have been toasted, the local basketball teams have been honored and several sessions were cancelled while half the state was under water.

By Flo Jonic

Providence, RI – His letters to his parents during the six months he spent there form the basis of "Hidden Letters," a book written by his first cousin, Deborah Slier, who spoke at Providence's annual Holocaust Remembrance event a the Temple Emnauel yesterday.

"It is important to stand up and be counted," she said. "It is important to help your neighbor."

By Ian Donnis

Providence, RI – Rhode Island's road to recovery from the flood. That's part of the discussion this week on Political Roundtable.

By Flo Jonic

Cranston, RI – In this story, WRNI reporter Flo Jonic revisits one woman she met at the height of the flood and introduces us to two more in the hard hit Perkins Avenue neighborhood of Cranston.

By Elisabeth Harrison

West Warwick, RI – "I still have nightmares," she said. "And actually every time I step foot in the school, it actually has affected me."

The damage is considerable. A layer of black sludge covers the floors, which will probably have to be replaced. Earlier this week, teachers wearing masks and plastic bags over their shoes picked through the wreckage to see what they could salvage. One teacher says she lost everything in her first grade classroom.

By Megan Hall

West Warwick, RI – "Between the sewage and the oil spills and the rest, you can really smell it in the air," Hayes says. "Doesn't seem that healthy, does it?"

His crew spent this past Monday inside the building, power washing and bleaching everything. Outside, most of the contaminated sludge had dried up; dust was blowing through the air.

Hayes says the potential effect the flooding could have on his health is not his primary concern right now.

By Frederic Reamer

Providence, RI – One of the joys of living in Rhode Island is that we're surrounded by remarkably creative artists and their often provocative words, images, and sounds. As Lynnie Gobeille tells us, sometimes we can find the fruits of artists' labor in some very unlikely spots in the Ocean State.