Ian Donnis

Providence

Political and Investigative Reporter at The Public's Radio

Politics reporter for @ThePublicsRadio; ex-@ProvPhoenix;❤️ Biggest Little State, ⚾️, 🐕, barbecue & Wifey. Tips: [email protected]

Articles

New plan targets 15,000 more housing units in RI by 2030 - TPR: The Public's Radio

1 day ago | thepublicsradio.org | Ian Donnis

Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee and Housing Secretary Deborah Goddard unveiled Wednesday a plan to build 15,000 new housing units over the next five years through what Goddard called a “carrot” approach. “We’re going to set municipal goals for every community, both production goals and low-mod housing — low- and moderate-income housing goals — and we’re going to reward progress,” Goddard said during a Statehouse news conference.
RI Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, 76, has died

4 days ago | thepublicsradio.org | Ian Donnis

Rhode Island Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio, 76, the longest serving lawmaker in the state and an influential local political player for decades, died early Monday. “It is with deepest sorrow that we announce the passing of Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio earlier this morning,” the Senate said in a statement. “We are so grateful for the love and support of his friends and colleagues.
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for April 18, 2025

6 days ago | thepublicsradio.org | Ian Donnis

Is it too much to yearn for a major motion picture about Buddy Cianci and a cool indie about the Dorr Rebellion? You can follow me through the week on Bluesky, threads and X. Here we go. *** Want to get my column in your inbox every Friday? Just sign up right here. ***1. STORY OF THE WEEK: If the sine qua non of President Donald Trump is about pushing boundaries, the apex of that tendency is coming front and center.
Amid tariff battle, support for Trump remains strong in his best Rhode Island community

1 week ago | thepublicsradio.org | Ian Donnis

Don Fox has a front row seat to the trade war between the Trump administration and China. That’s because his Burrillville, Rhode Island-based company, Alashan Cashmere, imports cashmere sweaters made in China. Now, tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump threaten to bring Fox’s business to a standstill for the fall season. The tariffs on the products he imports now range from 140-160%, Fox said.
Reed, Magaziner say GOP plan is to slowly kill Social Security

1 week ago | thepublicsradio.org | Ian Donnis

While Republicans have long accused Democrats of using scare tactics to fan fears about Social Security, two Rhode Island Democrats say the GOP’s planned cuts to the taxpayer-funded retirement system speak for themselves. U.S. Sen. Jack Reed and U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner were among those who spoke Tuesday at a mid-day news conference at the St. Martin De Porres Center, a senior center in Providence.
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for April 11, 2025

2 weeks ago | thepublicsradio.org | Ian Donnis

April vacation week is here for the General Assembly, so prepare for a more active phase of the session once lawmakers return to the roost. You can follow me through the week on Bluesky, threads and X. Here we go. *** Want to get my column in your inbox every Friday? Just sign up right here. ***1. STORY OF THE WEEK: Decades after supporters lauded the North American Free Trade Agreement as a way to add American jobs, there’s plenty of criticism of NAFTA from both the left and the right.
Political Roundtable: RI House GOP Leader Mike Chippendale on Trump’s tariffs, government accountability and gun rights

2 weeks ago | thepublicsradio.org | Ian Donnis

For now, it’s unclear if Trump will be able to deliver on his promise to increase prosperity by bringing more manufacturing back to the US. Rodin was a hub of industry 100 years ago, and state leaders have struggled for decades to bolster the state’s economy. So is Trump on the right track by trying to wind back globalization or is his approach a recipe for chaos and uncertainty?
Bipartisan push begins in Rhode Island for latest inspector general proposal

2 weeks ago | thepublicsradio.org | Ian Donnis

State Rep. George Nardone (R-Coventry) is spearheading the latest legislative effort to create an Office of Inspector General in Rhode Island, arguing that the state sorely needs an independent voice for accountability. Speaking during a Statehouse news conference on Wednesday, Nardone said about 20 lawmakers — a mix of Democrats, Republicans, and the lone independent in the House of Representatives — have signed onto his bill.
Centreville Bank acquires naming rights for soccer in Pawtucket

2 weeks ago | thepublicsradio.org | Ian Donnis

The new home of the Rhode Island FC soccer team in Pawtucket will be called Centreville Bank Stadium. The naming rights agreement was announced during a news conference Tuesday. “Centreville Bank Stadium will be the outdoor sports and entertainment epicenter of Rhode Island and beyond,” Rhode Island FC Co-Founder and Chairman Brett M. Johnson said in a statement. “We could not be more excited to expand our partnership with Centreville Bank.
TGIF: Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for April 4, 2025

2 weeks ago | thepublicsradio.org | Ian Donnis

Raise your hand if you remember when Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan saluted those who braved a parking lot on I-95 to make it to Quonset by exhorting, “Rhode Island, smallest state in the nation, we will rock you!” You can follow me through the week on Bluesky, threads and X. Here we go. *** Want to get my column in your inbox every Friday? Just sign up right here. ***1. STORY OF THE WEEK: The mid-term elections of 2026 are almost 20 months away — and that’s an eternity in politics.