This week, RIPTA's board voted to raise wages for drivers, a move the agency hopes will stave off possible service cuts. We talk with RIPTA CEO Scott Avedisian. Also, the Tidewater Landing soccer stadium deal will cost Rhode Islanders tens of millions more than originally planned. Boston Globe reporter Brian Amaral explains how much more taxpayers are on the hook for and why. Plus, on Artscape this week: actor Kali Reis, co-star of the latest season of HBO’s “True Detective.” It’s the third acting role for Reis, a former boxing world champion who was born in Providence and grew up in East Providence. That and more coming up on this episode of The Weekly Catch.

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For most rental housing, Rhode Island law requires landlords to regularly inspect units and obtain “lead certificates” showing they’re safe from immediate lead hazards like peeling or pulverized paint. But this week, an investigation by The Public’s Radio revealed that landlords rarely face consequences for failing to obtain the certificates. We talk with the reporter behind the investigation, Nina Sparling. And Providence has a new Office of Housing and Human Services. We talk with director Emily Freedman about how the office will guide the city’s strategy around affordable housing and public health. Plus: Political Reporter Ian Donnis on the week in politics; Ukrainian pastor Boris Kroner reflects on the war in Ukraine, two years in; T.F. Green features local artists; and a few tips on what to do this week.

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Students at Brown University are a week into a hunger strike. They’re trying to pressure the school’s board to divest from companies they say profit from human rights abuses in Palestine. And Rhode Island has been without a permanent health director for more than two years. The interim director is retiring next month. We’ll find out why it’s so hard to find a new one. Also, Rhode Island’s housing crisis is even worse in rural communities, but one town seems to have found a way forward. Plus, a restaurant in Warren closes its doors. Known for its unique take on Southern-inspired food, it was also home to a community of folk musicians. That and more on this episode of The Weekly Catch.

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A Fall River police officer was found guilty this week of covering up a beating at the police station. It's the second time in less than a year that a city police officer was found guilty of covering up excessive force with false reports. Also, Providence Superintendent Dr. Javier Montañez is optimistic about the future of the district, despite lagging test scores and high absenteeism. And Rhode Islanders living near the water are increasingly vulnerable to flooding. A group of lawmakers say we need a statewide plan for coastal resiliency. Plus, our review of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” at The Gamm Theatre. And a look back on the week in Rhode Island politics.

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St. Mary’s Home, a place for children seeking drug rehabilitation and psychiatric help in Rhode Island, is under tough scrutiny. A recent report from the Rhode Island Office of the Child Advocate showed that the home was understaffed, and abuse was running rampant. Can the long-time facility be saved? And Brown University’s Haffenreffer Museum plans […]

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After years of advocacy, two state lawmakers are hopeful that 2024 will be the year we see funding for suicide barriers along some Rhode Island bridges – a strategy that’s been effective elsewhere in the U.S. And school shooter drills have become a regular part of life for Rhode Island students. But how are they […]

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Universities and their leaders are facing increased pressure to take a stand on political and social issues – most recently, the war in Gaza. When is it time for educational institutions to be silent, and when do they have a responsibility to weigh in? We’ll dig into the topic. Also, pregnancy-related deaths in the United States are soaring compared to many of our peers. What’s behind it? Rhode Island PBS is launching a new documentary series that looks into the issue here in the Ocean State. And we speak with the director of a new production at Trinity Rep inspired by the real-life stories of Latinos in Rhode Island. Plus, a look back on the week in politics. That and more coming up on The Weekly Catch.

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For our last episode of the year, a look back at a few of our top stories from 2023. We start by revisiting our multi-part series, Underage and Unprotected, with the story of a migrant teenager in New Bedford who spent his days juggling a full high school schedule with a full-time job at a seafood processing plant. Also, from our collaboration with Latino oral history project Nuestras Raíces, we hear how Maria Rivera overcame her fear of public speaking to become the first Latina mayor of Central Falls. And finally, we listen to an extended version of our conversation with Abraham Josephine Riesman, author of “Ringmaster: Vince McMahon and the Unmaking of America.”

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In New Bedford, a migrant teen traded her job in a fish processing plant for a high school education. Now, she’s struggling to figure out how to survive financially. And, is Rhode Island losing tourism dollars by not emphasizing the Ocean State’s prominent role in American history? Also, the holidays are here and so are some unwelcome guests: COVID, the flu and the virus known as RSV. We’ll hear from a medical director at the Rhode Island Department of Health. Plus, stone carver Karin Sprague makes grave markers that are works of art and comfort.

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The abrupt closure of the Washington Bridge on Monday affected thousands of drivers, in some cases adding hours to their commutes. We hear from two engineers about the state’s large number of aging bridges, and how to address the issue. And U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) just got back from COP28, the UN climate summit in Dubai. He talks about key takeaways and what he’d like to see happen next. Also, a new report connects the dots between fossil fuel interests, climate denial think tanks, and local groups collaborating to oppose offshore wind farms in the northeast. Plus, we look at a few holiday theater productions, and talk about what’s to come in Rhode Island politics in 2024. That and more on this episode of The Weekly Catch.

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