The federally-mandated group Disability Rights Rhode Island is conducting an independent investigation of the troubled St. Mary's Home for Children in North Providence, apart from the state probes already initiated by the Rhode Island Department of Children Youth and Families and Office of the Child Advocate.  https://drri.org/ 

Lynn Singleton, President of the Providence Performing Arts Center talks about the theater's 2024 - 2025 season highlights  ppacri.org 

Sunshine Week is March 10-16; formed by news organizations, civic and watchdog groups and others to spark discussion of transparency in government and open meetings. There are a number of events in Rhode Island.  John Marion of Common Cause of RI and ACCESS/RI is featuring a free, interactive panel discussion including journalists on Saturday, March 16 from 10:30 AM to 12 PM at the William Hall Library in Cranston. Free registration at:  https://act.commoncause.org/events/demystifying-democracy-sunshine-week-2024/ 

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha launches a first of its kind Community Violence Intervention and Prevention initiative in his office.  #WPRO  The effort will be headed by P.J. Fox, the one-time director of the Institute for Nonviolence in Providence  https://riag.ri.gov/

Nancy Wolanski is the first director of the newly-formed Alliance for Nonprofit Impact in Rhode Island, launched by the United Way to act as an advocate for the state's many nonprofit organizations.   https://www.unitedwayri.org/for-nonprofits/alliance-nonprofit-impact/ 

Governor Dan McKee proposed in his State of the State address to raise Rhode Islanders' per-capital income by $20,000 by 2030. Weayonnoh Nelson-Davies of the Economic Progress Institute responded with some suggestions, and pressed to ensure that low-income Rhode Islanders are taken into account.   https://www.economicprogressri.org/  

Executive Director Loren Spears talks about the Tomaquag Museum in Exeter receiving a boost with a more than $444,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, to build a new museum near the University of Rhode Island campus in Kingston.  https://www.tomaquagmuseum.org/

Miss Rhode Island, Caroline Parente leaves shortly for the Miss America competition in Orlando, Florida. The finals will be available to view live on YouTube on Sunday, January 14.   https://www.missamerica.org/ 

Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amore weighs in on the ruling by the Colorado supreme court that would take Donald Trump off that state's primary election ballot, a decision being appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.  https://www.sos.ri.gov/ 

Kimberly Simmons, executive director of the Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness on the launch of the public & private "Pay for Success" pilot program, aimed at ending homelessness by breaking the cycle of housing instability and poor health outcomes.  https://www.rihomeless.org/ 

Citizens Financial Group CEO Bruce Van Saun talked about investments in workforce development in Rhode Island, efforts by the Federal Reserve to contain inflation and the bank's role in developing affordable housing.  https://www.citizensbank.com/about-us/our-company/leadership-team/bruce-van-saun.aspx 

Rhode Island saw more than 27.7 million visitors in 2022, according to Anika Kimble-Huntley, Chief Marketing Officer of the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation. That resulted in record spending and tax income, as the important tourism sector rebounds from the coronavirus pandemic shutdown.  https://www.visitrhodeisland.com/

Andrew Schiff - CEO of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank  In its 2023 Status Report on Hunger in Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Community Food Bank finds a record number of Rhode Islanders are seeking food assistance, nearly one in three RI households cannot afford adequate food, and communities of color and families with children are at the greatest risk of hunger.  rifoodbank.org  

Chris Marsella, President of Marsella Development Corporation is planning to develop a food hall called "Track 15" in the former Union Station in the heart of downtown Providence, drawing on restaurants and food establishments around Rhode Island, planning to open in late summer, 2024.   Rendering courtesy of VISION 3 ARCHITECTS & NEOSCAPE 

Lucia Micarelli - new album: "Saudade"  Violinist, singer and actress Lucia Micarelli is just out with her latest album of duets with guitarist Leo Amuedo, "Saudade".  www.luciamicarelli.com

The Coggeshall Farm Museum in Bristol is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, is launching a new partnership with Old Sturbridge Village upgrading their agricultural and horticultural programs and visitor experiences.  Photo: Coggeshall Farm Museum https://coggeshallfarm.org/ 

Katie Langford Sonder, Associate Director of the Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy at Salve Regina University  #WPRO  The Pell Center is out with the first poll of voters ahead of the November 7 special election for Congress in Rhode Island's 1st District, and it finds Democrat Gabe Amo leading Republican Gerry Leonard, 46% to 35%. The poll questioned 380 1st District voters from October 12-17, the poll has a margin of error of 3.3%.   https://www.pellcenter.org/amo-leads-leonard-in-salve-regina-university-pell-center-survey-of-first-congressional-district-race/

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse - Proposing term limits for Supreme Court justices  U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse is proposing 18-year term limits on Supreme Court justices, in response to revelations about politicization of judicial selections, and ethical questions about members of the Court.  

Brenda Clement - Executive Director of Housing Works RI  #WPRO  HousingWorks RI is out with their annual Housing Fact Book, as well as The Rhode Island Zoning Atlas, both aim to shed light on the Ocean State's housing affordability crisis.  https://www.housingworksri.org/ 

Nikki Ayers, Director of Giving for Farm Fresh Rhode Island  #WPRO  Nonprofit local food "hub" Farm Fresh Rhode Island has been providing food boxes for purchase, with all of the fixings for Thanksgiving, minus the turkey; now they're urging buyers to purchase a box to help Rhode Island families facing food insecurity this Thanksgiving.  https://www.farmfreshri.org/thanksgiving/

Dr. David Bethoney - Executive Director of the Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation  A half-million dollar federal 'earmark' is delivered to the Commercial Fisheries Research Foundation, which brings scientists and commercial fishermen together to collaborate on problems facing the industry.  https://www.cfrfoundation.org/   

Karen Santilli, CEO of Crossroads Rhode Island  #WPRO  Crossroads RI broke ground recently for its new, five-story housing complex, across from its existing tower off Broad Street in Providence. It will provide 176 new units of housing and supportive services for formerly homeless people, and open the way to rehabilitate the existing building.  https://www.crossroadsri.org/ 

Maureen Maigret with the Senior Agenda Coalition of Rhode Island talks about the group's 1th annual conference, the theme - "The Politics of Aging"  #WPRO  https://senioragendari.org/