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1 month ago | 
thepublicsradio.org | Luis Hernandez |Joe Tasca |Mareva Lindo
A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to hire back fired government workers. They’re getting paid, but they’re not doing any work for now. Our South Coast Bureau reporter Ben Berke tells us how federal employees are reacting. Also, is enough being done to hold government officials accountable for the Washington Bridge debacle? We dive deeper into that question with Michelle San Miguel from Rhode Island PBS Weekly.
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1 month ago | 
thepublicsradio.org | Luis Hernandez |James Baumgartner |Joe Tasca |Mareva Lindo
Recent job cuts by the Trump Administration could have a negative impact on New Bedford’s huge fishing industry. Our South Coast Bureau reporter Ben Berke tells us how. Also, Rhode Island has spent millions battling lawsuits from people challenging books. Since 2021 there have been more than 30 such challenges. We’ll learn about a bill before the General Assembly that would protect schools and libraries from litigation and censorship.
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1 month ago | 
thepublicsradio.org | Luis Hernandez |Mareva Lindo |Joe Tasca |James Baumgartner
The Trump administration’s cuts in science research have led to lost jobs and stalled research in the Ocean State. Protesters showed up to the State House on Friday as part of a national movement called Stand Up For Science. We hear from one of the protest’s organizers. Also, there is a lot of fear and anxiety in the majority-Latino city of Central Falls. Business owners say they’re already feeling the impact because people without legal status are avoiding public places.
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1 month ago | 
thepublicsradio.org | Luis Hernandez |Mareva Lindo |Joe Tasca |James Baumgartner
The issues with the Washington Bridge have affected all of us, and will for years to come. This week we launched Breaking Point: The Washington Bridge, a new, community-centered project exploring how we got here, the impact of the bridge on our lives, and what the future holds. And we want to hear from you. Also, the threat of climate change is making it harder and more expensive for Rhode Islanders to insure their homes. How can the state and homeowners prepare?
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2 months ago | 
thepublicsradio.org | Luis Hernandez |James Baumgartner |Joe Tasca |Mareva Lindo
The Trump administration has threatened to cut back or even eliminate the Department of Education, which is responsible for enforcing civil rights protections, overseeing student loans, and funding things like special education. What would those cuts mean for Rhode Island? Also, scams involving cryptocurrency ATMs are on the rise.
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2 months ago | 
thepublicsradio.org | Luis Hernandez |James Baumgartner |Joe Tasca |Mareva Lindo
A judge has temporarily blocked a major policy change announced last week by the National Institutes of Health. It would have significantly reduced payments to universities, hospitals, and other research institutions. If the change goes through, how will it affect Rhode Islanders, and the many places here that get funding from the NIH?
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2 months ago | 
thepublicsradio.org | Luis Hernandez |James Baumgartner |Joe Tasca |Mareva Lindo
President Trump issued an astounding number of executive orders and policy changes in the first two weeks of his second term. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha is one of many AGs around the country who have promised to check the president’s power. Also, after Trump froze and later unfroze federal funding this week, some local nonprofits who rely on federal money are anxious about their future. We hear from the CEO of Sojourner House, which provides services to survivors of abuse.
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2 months ago | 
thepublicsradio.org | Luis Hernandez |Joe Tasca
Following his election, President Donald Trump announced plans to impose tariffs on most U.S. imports, including a 25% tariff on products from Canada and Mexico. If the administration makes good on that threat, it would upend decades of North American Free Trade. Morning host Luis Hernandez spoke about the implications of Trump’s plan with Nina Eichacker, Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Rhode Island.
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Jan 24, 2025 | 
thepublicsradio.org | Luis Hernandez |James Baumgartner |Joe Tasca |Mareva Lindo
This week President Trump suspended the country’s refugee program for at least four months. As a result, a local refugee support nonprofit says they’ve already lost funding and had to cut staff. And Trump issued an executive order declaring he would not permit any new offshore wind farms. We hear from a maritime lawyer about what this could mean for the offshore wind projects under development in our region. Also, in a world of smartphones and GPS, why run a store that sells maps?
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Jan 17, 2025 | 
thepublicsradio.org | Luis Hernandez |James Baumgartner |Joe Tasca |Mareva Lindo
The destruction in Los Angeles serves as a reminder of how vulnerable many of our communities in Rhode Island are to wildfires. We hear about what the state and residents can do to prepare for a predicted increase in wildfires due to climate change. Also, dozens of community members recently sent a letter to the Board of Trustees for South County Hospital. In it they criticized leadership and expressed concern for the hospital’s long-term financial viability.
