News

Former treasurer Frank Caprio continues his comeback tour with the obligatory denunciation of his "shove it" remark during the 2010 gubernatorial race, courtesy of a Wednesday column by ProJo political columnist Ed Fitzpatrick.

The Rhode Island student who successfully challenged a prayer banner in Cranston public schools is getting an award from Hugh Hefner.

Jessica Ahlquist will receive a Hugh Hefner First Amendment Award at the playboy mansion in Beverly Hills. Ahlquist writes on her Facebook page that she is honored to be chosen but adds she is not expecting to meet Hugh Hefner in person. She says his daughter Christie Hefner will attend the ceremony, where Ahlquist will receive a plaque and $5,000.

In today's podcast, the US Department of Agriculture is working with Rhode Island to provide free meals to kids over the summer, and Rhode Island considers an income tax increase on the wealthy.

Plus Elisabeth Harrison sits down with Denise Dallaire, a woman held in prison for 10 years for minor drug charges.  And on This I Believe Rhode Island, a thirteen year old student proves the pencil is indeed mightier than the sword.

Denise Dallaire served ten years in prison before being abruptly freed a few months ago by the same judge who sentenced her.

She was convicted in 2003 on a minor drug dealing charge, but because of mandatory sentencing laws in effect at that time, she received a 15 year sentence.  When her sentence was reversed, the judge apologized to her.

Ms. Dallaire sat down with Rhode Island Public Radio’s Elisabeth Harrison.

More from Elisabeth Harrison's interview with Denise Dallaire.

The commission charting the redevelopment of about 20 acres made available by the relocation of Interstate 195 has hired an executive director.  The vacant land is viewed as a source of economic growth in Providence.

Jan Brodie was chosen after the I-195 Commission conducted a six-month search. She’s due to start work as the commission’s executive director May 20th.

As immigration legislation makes its way through the Senate, Rhode Island Public Radio’s Scott MacKay talks with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse about the immigration bill, and what happened to the gun bill that went down in the Senate.

Renowned author Anne Lamott once wrote, “It's funny: I always imagined when I was a kid that adults had some kind of inner toolbox full of shiny tools: the saw of discernment, the hammer of wisdom, the sandpaper of patience. But then when I grew up I found that life handed you these rusty bent old tools.” And doesn’t it often happen that we have to depend on the simplest, most primitive things in our lives when times are tough? That’s exactly what happened with this 13-year old Jeremiah Matos.

Jeremiah Matos is an eighth grade student at TAPA: Trinity Academy for the Performing Arts. He is a visual artist, dancer, and filmmaker. Jeremiah loves exploring the root of his artistic side, and appreciating how a simple pencil changed his outlook on the world.

New data from the Association of American Medical Colleges shows med school enrollment is on track to reach a 30% increase by 2017. That's over enrollment numbers in 2002.

Rhode Island's own Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University is no exception, with record enrollment numbers.

What's most interesting about the data is that a good number of the new med school slots are in newly accredited or in-the-process-of-becoming accredited medical schools. There's one in our own backyard that fits that bill, Quinnipiac.

Foreign nationals would be able to get driver’s licenses under a bill being considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday afternoon.

One of the cosponsors of the legislation, Democratic Senator Juan Pichardo of Providence, said offering licenses to undocumented residents makes sense.

“By granting a driver’s license for undocumented that will give them the ability to register their vehicles and then pay taxes, therefore having some state revenues,” said Pichardo, “but will also provide a safety measure for many residents.”

The PawSox are away to take on the Gwinnett Braves for the next three of a four game series on the road in Georgia.  Monday’s 5 -1 win was the ninth loss in a row for the Gwinnett Braves.  Pawsox spokesman Bill Wanless said this gives the PawSox a boost for tonight’s game against the Braves.

“First up we got to take care of business down in Georgia tonight and then in Charlotte over the weekend before we come home,” said Wanless.  

The PawSox return next week to face the Braves at McCoy stadium.