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Boston Globe
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Senator Reed and Representative Amo sound the alarm
The event marks the 200th episode of the Rhode Island Report podcast and celebrates the ongoing partnership between Globe Rhode Island and Rhode Island PBS The full podcast show will go live tomorrow — listen to it on Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up A sold-out crowd listens to a live recording of the Rhode Island Report podcast with US Senator Jack Reed, US Representative Gabe Amo, and hosts Jim Hummel, host of "A Lively Experiment" on Rhode Island PBS, and Globe Rhode Island political reporter Edward Fitzpatrick on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at Rhode Island PBS studios in Providence, R.I. Carlos Muñoz Advertisement Here are a few highlights. A looming constitutional crisis At several points, Reed made it clear he has concerns about Trump's willingness to defy the US Supreme Court, and what it would mean for the country. He said he hopes that Republicans in Congress will realize that they have to intervene, but he acknowledged that Trump knows it's highly unlikely he will be impeached, and he is 'playing on that now.' The case of Abrego Garcia is the Advertisement Harsh words for Hegseth Reed pulled no punches about his feelings on Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, whose nomination he attempted to block. He said the latest reports that Hegseth shared sensitive information about forthcoming strikes in Yemen on March 15 with family members proves he is not qualified for the job, and should resign. Reed said Hegseth's tendency to work 'in this circle of very close cronies' is especially concerning. Following a live recording of the Rhode Island Report podcast at Rhode Island PBS studios, US Senator Jack Reed chats with guests. Carlos Muñoz Concerns about higher education Amo pointed out that the Trump administration's attempts to cut and freeze funding to colleges and universities could have a much larger negative impact on the economy – especially in Rhode Island. Amo said the state's attempt to become a player in the life sciences space will be at risk if Brown University has to pause construction or hiring. Reed said that rather than attempting to build a knowledge economy, Trump's 'trying to build an ignorance economy' by cutting research grants. USAID cuts are devastating Amo is a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, which has been digging into the gutting of USAID, said the 'heartlessness we've seen from President Trump, the weakness from Secretary [Marco] Rubio, the arbitrary cuts from Elon Musk, leave us in a position where around the world where our allies are saying, 'don't trust the US.'' He said Trump wants to force countries to come to the US and beg for help, 'and that's not OK.' Following a live recording of the Rhode Island Report podcast at Rhode Island PBS studios, Congressman Gabe Amo chats with guests. Carlos Muñoz 'We're abandoning the Ukrainians' Reacting to reports that Secretary Rubio plans to skip the next stage of the Ukrainian cease-fire talks, Reed said he fears that it's another sign that 'we're abandoning the Ukrainians.' Reed warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin will not be satisfied until he can pursue more former territories that were once controlled by Russia, and those countries are concerned that America won't be there to offer support. He also warned that China is watching the situation closely because it could become more aggressive with its neighbors if the US isn't in the picture. Advertisement Other quick hitters Reed does plan to seek reelection next year and is still backing Democratic Senate Leader Chuck Schumer: When it comes to Democratic infighting, Reed said, 'the worst thing we can do as Democrats is spend the next year and a half fighting with each other.' Amo said he would be supportive of Congress passing legislation to offer more student visas to help the innovation economy continue to flow. This story first appeared in Rhode Map, our free newsletter about Rhode Island that also contains information about local events, links to interesting stories, and more. If you'd like to receive it via email Monday through Friday, . Dan McGowan can be reached at
Boston Globe
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
🏆 As Rhode Island Report nears 200 episodes, go behind the scenes of the award-winning podcast with host Ed Fitzpatrick
Q: Aside from your perfectly Rhode Island accent, what has made the podcast such a success? Fitzpatrick: The podcast succeeds because we stay on top of the news, breaking stories and adding perspective to the big Rhode Island issues while listening to voices that might not otherwise be heard. It succeeds because of our great partnership with Rhode Island PBS. And it succeeds because we have a dream team in producer Megan Hall, editors Lylah Alphonse and Maria Caporizzo, plus reporters Amanda Milkovits, Dan McGowan, Steph Machado, Alexa Gagosz, Carlos Munoz, Chris Gavin, and Omar Mohammed. Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up Q: You've had a lot of different roles in journalism, but it's so fun to watch you get so much joy out of the podcast. What's the biggest difference between print and audio for you as a journalist? Advertisement Fitzpatrick: I get a kick out of it because it's a whole new way to tell the stories of Rhode Island. You can hear so much that you would never pick up in a print article, whether it's the sound of the pinball machines at Pawtucket's Advertisement Q: Rhode Island Report has made plenty of headlines since you launched. Tell us about some of your favorite moments from the podcast. Fitzpatrick: Our most popular episode was who's on the Mount Rushmore of great Rhode Island State House accents. Also, I've been moved by the accounts of the refugees who escaped Q: You're about to celebrate the 200th episode of Rhode Island Report, and you're hosting a live event to mark the occasion. What should we expect from that event? Advertisement Fitzpatrick: Join us April 22 for 'Rhode Island Report, Live: Washington decisions, Ocean State impact.' US Senator Jack Reed and US Congressman Gabe Amo will take part in a live, in-studio discussion about the impact that decisions and discussions in D.C. have on R.I. I'll ask questions along with Jim Hummel, host of RI PBS' 'A Lively Experiment,' as we mark the 200th episode and celebrate the partnership between Globe Rhode Island and Rhode Island PBS. The event runs 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at RI PBS Studios, 50 Park Lane, Providence. It will air as a special episode of 'A Lively Experiment' and the Rhode Island Report podcast. It's free, but This story first appeared in Rhode Map, our free newsletter about Rhode Island that also contains information about local events, links to interesting stories, and more. If you'd like to receive it via email Monday through Friday, . Dan McGowan can be reached at
Boston Globe
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
R.I.'s largest immigration nonprofit faces layoffs amid Trump funding freeze
For Dorcas, it meant an abrupt stop to roughly $1 million in annual funds used to help refugees in their first 90 days in the country, setting them up with housing, cultural orientation, English classes, school enrollment and other assistance. While no more refugees arrived after the stop work order, there were already 65 recent arrivals to Rhode Island who were within their first 90 days in the US, including the family who arrived the day of the order. The refugees came from Central America, Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan, and other countries. Get Rhode Map A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State. Enter Email Sign Up 'So there's no rent money, there's no food money, there's no money for them to support them in those first three months,' said Kathy Cloutier, the executive director of Dorcas International Institute, in an interview with the Boston Globe and Rhode Island PBS. Advertisement 'So that was what was disconcerting,' she said. 'It was one thing not to have new refugees coming in. It was another thing to say, wait a minute. We've promised these folks this three months worth of assistance, and you've just stopped it without any warning and without any reason, frankly.' The program that was halted, The State Department declined to comment to the Globe about when the program might restart, referring all comment to the White House. The White House did not respond. Advertisement But in a court filing on Friday in one of the federal lawsuits over the refugee program's abrupt halting, the Trump administration indicated it would not be easy to restart refugee resettlement, since contracts with nonprofits have been terminated. It would take 'at least three months' just to solicit bidders for new contracts, the Trump administration's lawyers wrote in the documents. For Dorcas, which serves roughly 6,000 immigrants a year, the program suspension has already resulted in job cuts. The nonprofit's 105 employees have been cut down to 92, Cloutier said, through both voluntarily resignations and layoffs since the refugee program stopped. And there is still other funding that is paused. Funds from the federal 'We haven't been paid for that work since December,' Cloutier said. 'And there's no explanation that we've received in terms of why we haven't been paid. It's putting a significant strain on us financially.' The federal money flows to Dorcas through a national nonprofit, the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, which also said they haven't received an explanation for the ongoing pause. The money should have started flowing again following multiple 'Unfortunately, we have no additional insight,' Sleeper said. 'The administration is not paying agencies for work completed.' Advertisement Cloutier said if all of Dorcas's federal funding were cut — roughly half of its $11.5 million budget — she would have to reduce the staff to 62 employees. It would have a profound effect on the immigrants they serve, she said.. 'This is just a way of putting us out of business,' Cloutier said. 'Because if you make us wait long enough, we're not gonna be able to pay our bills.' Dorcas also gets revenue from philanthropic donations, and charges some clients a low fee for legal services. Cloutier said the agency was ultimately able to raise private funds for the 65 refugees affected by the initial stop work order. Cloutier said the agency is not yet seeing mass deportations in Rhode Island, as promised by Trump during the campaign, nor have there been reports in the state of ICE agents entering schools, hospitals, or churches. There have been ICE agents in the state executing individual deportation orders, as there were during the Biden administration. A Providence police spokesperson said ICE has notified city officials twice so far this year of their 'intent to come to the city,' but did not provide specifics and did not ask police for any assistance. Cloutier said many clients are coming in seeking advice about their immigration status, even if they have a green card. 'We are seeing a lot of fear,' Cloutier said. 'The rules are changing, and nobody knows what the rules are anymore.' If funding to Dorcas is not fully restored, Cloutier said, it will become more difficult for immigrants to be successful learning English, getting jobs, and becoming productive members of society. But she said Dorcas, which was founded in 1921, will adapt to whatever happens. Advertisement 'We're in the worst of times,' she said. But we've been around for over 100 years and plan to be around for 100 more." Watch the interview with Cloutier on Rhode Island PBS Weekly in the video player above, and listen to an extended version on the Rhode Island Report podcast. Steph Machado can be reached at
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Now we know how many overweight trucks are crossing the Washington Bridge
Over 2,600 trucks weighing at least 80,000 pounds have crossed the eastbound Washington Bridge over the past seven weeks, according to new Rhode Island Department of Transportation data.(Photo by Rhode Island PBS Producer David Lawlor) More than 2,600 overweight trucks have crossed the eastbound Washington Bridge over the past seven weeks, according to newly released data from the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT). The data comes from RIDOT's newly installed weigh-in-motion system, part of a larger technical package designed to monitor the structural health of the highway over the Seekonk River. RIDOT plans to update the online dashboard on truck weights every Wednesday. The state paid $2.8 million last May to Swiss-based technology company Kistler to install sensors meant to monitor traffic volumes, vehicle weights and axle loads, vehicle distances, and vehicle classes that cross the bridge. The eastbound bridge has a weight limit of 80,000 pounds, but vehicles weighing up to 96,000 pounds can cross if they are given a permit. Trucks weighing 140,000 pounds or more will trigger a visual inspection by crews to assess any potential impacts to the highway connecting East Providence to Providence. The heaviest vehicle to cross the eastbound bridge since the new monitors were installed weighed 135,225 pounds on Jan. 15, according to RIDOT's data. Feb. 7 saw the highest number of overweight trucks, with 170 crossing in both directions. RIDOT plans to close portions of Waterfront Drive in East Providence on March 17 and 18 in order to install sensors for the structural health monitoring system. The eastbound span, constructed in 2008, was converted to take on traffic heading west days after the state closed the westbound side of the bridge in December 2023 upon the discovery of broken anchor rods that put it at risk of collapse. 'Safety is RIDOT's highest priority,' RIDOT Director Peter Alviti, Jr. said in a statement. 'As part of our comprehensive efforts for maintenance and inspection of the eastbound bridge, we installed this state-of-the-art system which will allow RIDOT to have its finger on the pulse of the bridge in real time, every day, around the clock.' RIDOT's new data comes as contractors begin to tear down the substructure of the westbound bridge, which is expected to wrap up by the end of the year. The state plans to award the contract to rebuild the westbound bridge by June 6, 2025. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
