Rhode Island Report

In just two weeks, the Rhode Island General Assembly will be back in session. What can we expect from lawmakers in 2024? Guest host Steph Machado sits down with House Speaker Joseph Shekarchi for a preview. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected].

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It’s been six years since the last Benny’s closed in Greenville, and people are still talking about their favorite store. The place that sold everything — from bikes, to towels, to tires — still holds a special place in many hearts. Now there’s a way to share your memories. We talk to Benny’s co-owner Arnold Bromberg and filmmaker Dante Bellini about a forthcoming documentary about the store, which will include voices from the community. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected].

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This week, we’re getting out of the studio to have some fun — at a pinball museum in Pawtucket. The Electromagnetic Pinball Museum and Restoration opened less than three years ago, but it already has more than 100 working machines, and you can play them all day for just $10. Ed Fitzpatrick talks to the founders, checks out the space, and rocks out to Rush while he plays the silver ball. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected].

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Numb hands from cleaning freezers for hours. Shifts that end at 4 in the morning. These are just a couple of the experiences of the dozens of teenagers who spoke to The Public’s Radio about working at seafood processing plants in New Bedford. Nadine Sebai and Nina Sparling are the reporters behind a two-year investigation into migrant teens working these risky jobs. Their series, “Underage and Unprotected” came out earlier this year. We talk about their reporting and what’s happened since. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected].

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There’s a huge gap between what most of us were taught in school about Native American culture and what’s actually true. "Native America," a new series on PBS — and produced by a Rhode Islander — seeks to explore the complexity that’s not described in our textbooks. We talk to Gary Glassman, the executive producer of the series, and Daniel Golding, the director of the latest episode. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected].

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The new Netflix series “All the Light We Cannot See,” based on the award-winning novel of the same name, stars a native Rhode-Islander with raw talent. Aria Mia Loberti had no acting experience when she auditioned for the role of Marie-Laure LeBlanc, a blind girl who sends secret messages to the Allies during World War II. But she did have some significant life experience. Aria is legally blind. She joins us to talk about growing up in Johnston, advocating for the blind community, and her sudden rise to stardom. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected].

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Rhode-Islanders went to the polls Tuesday in a special election in the First Congressional District and for some local issues as well. What do the results tell us, including Democrat Gabe Amo's landslide win over Republican Gerry Leonard. We’re joined by our own Steph Machado and Jim Hummel, the host of A Lively Experiment on Rhode Island PBS. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected].

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The United States is facing a children’s mental health crisis, according to the American Psychological Association. The Providence nonprofit Turning the Corner is helping to address this issue by offering services to kids in the custody of the state Department of Children, Youth & Families, many of whom were removed from their homes for safety or behavioral reasons. The Rev. Lauri Smalls, the executive director of Turning the Corner, joins us to talk about her work and the need for more funding. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected].

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He’s already a Providence folk-rock singer, songwriter, and Brown University senior. Now Chance Emerson can add tech startup founder to his resume. With his platform ForeverFan, he’s helping independent musicians like himself communicate with their fans. Chance, a recent guest on Rhode Island PBS's "Ocean State Sessions," joins guest host Alexa Gagosz to talk music, college, and what’s next. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected].

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On Nov. 7, voters in the 1st Congressional District will decide whether Republican Gerry Leonard or Democrat Gabe Amo will replace former US Representative David Cicilline. So we brought the two candidates into the studio separately to explain where they stand on the major issues. Then we put their responses together so voters can easily compare and contrast. Tips and ideas? Email us at [email protected].

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