News

The full State Senate is scheduled to vote today on a package of bills aimed at making schools safer in the aftermath of the deadly shootings at Connecticut’s Sandyhook Elementary School.

The bills would require schools to craft safety procedures in conjunction with local law enforcement and have their plans reviewed annually by the state.

Governor Lincoln Chafee’s choice to lead the state Economic Development Corporation faces approval by the full state Senate committee Tuesday.  The votes comes amid debate over the EDC’s future.

Chafee’s choice, Marcel Valois, was unanimously approved by a Senate committee last week. Valois led the EDC in the 1990s during Lincoln Almond’s tenure as governor. He says Rhode Island needs to do a better job of helping business when it can and getting out of the way when it can’t.

The Rhode Island Dept. of Health estimates nearly 11,000 Rhode Islanders are infected with the Hepatitis C virus but don’t know it. That’s why the department is encouraging testing.

A handful of open government groups are urging Gov. Lincoln Chafee to block legislation that would shroud school safety plans in secrecy. 

Throughout the school year, we've been following two bright, young, future doctors. Now, we're wrapping up the journey with a one-hour documentary about the crucible of medical school, set against the backdrop of some of the most dramatic changes in health care in a generation. Listen to the full hour or individual segments online, below, or download and listen on the go.

A Rhode Island state trooper who went to the aid of victims of the Boston Marathon bombings is speaking out publicly about his experience for the first time.  The trooper rejects any suggestion that he’s a hero.

Trooper Roupen Bastajian has participated in five marathons. But the April 15th Boston Marathon was the first one he completed running all the way. He decided to compete because it was the 117th running of the Boston Marathon and 117 is his badge number.

There is still no word from a University of Rhode Island student who’s been missing since Thursday.

21-year-old Matthew Royer was last seen leaving his apartment in Rhode Island on Thursday, he was heading back home to southeastern PA where he was supposed to start a job on Friday.

URI officials say the university reached out to Royer’s family on Saturday.

The Pawsox give it up to the Indianapolis Indians 8 - 4 today at McCoy stadium.  Jerry Sands batted a grand slam in the first inning of the game giving the Indians a big lead while making it tough for the Pawsox to comeback throughout the game.  PawSox Manger Gary DiSarcina has a few words to say applied towards improvement for the last game against Indy today (Tuesday).

“Pitch a little bit better, our defense has been solid, run the bases good, and like I said be a little more clutch at the plate.”

On today's podcast Rhode Island graduated almost 12-thousand undergraduates over the weekend, and Newport resident, and Boston Marathon Bombing victim Heather Abbott received a warm welcome home.

Plus, commentary from Rhode Island Public Radio's political analyst Scott MacKay, on what to do with Providence's abandoned Dynamo House.

Rhode Island’s two teacher unions are hosting a forum Monday to collect information to present to the state Board of Education.  Teacher evaluations and state Education Commissioner Deborah Gist are expected to be targeted for criticism.

Last week, two dozen business organizations endorsed state Education Commissioner Deborah Gist and urged the state Board of Education to renew her contract.  Some of the teachers under her command, however, do not share their enthusiasm. Frank Flynn, president of the Rhode Island Federation of