Behind the Story

Ed Fitzpatrick, who covers government and politics, has been closely watching the General Assembly as House Speaker Joe Shekarchi faces a Thursday deadline to decide whether to apply for a seat on the R.I. Supreme Court.

If Shekarchi takes the plunge and steps down as the most powerful Democrat in the House, the move could trigger a cascade of changes to leadership.

“This is a big deal because the speaker of the House, especially in Rhode Island, is the most powerful politician in the state,” Fitzpatrick said. “They have arguably more power than the govern...

Ian Donnis, a longtime political reporter, has been covering the recent failure of a highway ramp in Cranston that disrupted travel for motorists and Amtrak passengers.

Last Friday, part of a bridge in poor condition fell onto a railroad track, surprising transportation officials who said there had been no prior signs of trouble.

The infrastructure issue comes amid ongoing criticism of the Washington Bridge closure. The westbound span failed in December 2023 and has remained closed to traffic.

The Cranston bridge failure comes about 10 years after the state unveiled RhodeWorks, an expensive and controversial...

David Cicilline, who served in the U.S. Congress, said he remembers a time when there were regional and Washington bureaus of The Providence Journal. Today, those no longer exist, and he said the shrinking of the industry has resulted in an erosion of civic health among Rhode Islanders.

The Rhode Island Foundation, which helps support “Behind the Story,” is leading a national initiative locally called Press Forward Rhode Island, which will provide grants to nonprofit and for-profit news organizations that come up with ideas for how to improve access to news, address information gaps and increase sust...

The story, “Working the Night Shift,” appears in this month’s issue of Rhode Island Monthly.

Lauren Clem, a senior editor, and Jonathan Pitts-Wiley, a photographer, shadowed workers in fields including hospitality, health care, policing, fishing and restaurants.

“I am not normally working the night shift, so we had some very sleepless few weeks,” Clem said. “The majority we did on separate nights, and we tried to line them up chronologically within the feature.”

Pitts-Wiley, a North Providence-based portrait and documentary photographer, partnered with Clem to capture moments experienced by those featured in the piece. He...

Eric Halvarson, who has been a contributing writer since August, was hired last month to cover Providence full time. He said the hire marks an important milestone for the largely volunteer-driven organization as it looks to expand its coverage.

“One of the motivations behind starting the outlet was to cover all of the city and move beyond downtown and the East Side, and to cover areas that might not get as much in-depth attention,” Halvarson said during a taping of the show.

Halvarson, who grew up in Cranston and now lives in Providence, recently published a de...

Alex Kuffner, who covers energy and the environment, first shed light on the issue last month with an in-depth report on the state’s largest sludge disposal facility in Woonsocket, which residents are fighting to shut down.

More than 90% of the state’s sludge — a mix of human waste, organic materials and chemicals filtered out of wastewater — is disposed of at the facility in northern Rhode Island.

“If that closes, you’re going to have dozens of cities and towns that will have not have a place to take their sludge,” he said. “They’re going to be faced...

Ethan Shorey, who served as the newspaper’s editor, has said in the past that he always wanted to spend his entire career at one news organization. But he acknowledged it has become tougher in recent years and felt now was the time for a change. He left the paper on March 6.

“I was able to make it work for a really long time,” Shorey said, adding the long hours required at a local newspaper were affecting his ability to spend time with his family. “I was ending up having to do almost a full-time extra job 15 to 20 we...

Patrick Anderson, who covers politics and government, has followed the story since former state directors Jim Thorsen and David Patten became embroiled in the scandal three years ago.

The two men traveled to Philadelphia to visit a redeveloped space known as “Bok.” Afterward, state contractors who gave them a tour alleged Patten behaved inappropriately during the trip and that Thorsen failed to intervene.

The two men were also treated a free lunch at a restaurant called Irwin’s, which opened early specifically for them. Thorsen paid for Patten and himself days later after realizing trouble was br...

Alexa Gagosz, who covers business for the newspaper, has spent years reporting on the mall. She described it as currently being in a state of limbo.

“It’s this place that used to be a luxurious place to shop with the Nordstrom’s — with classic mall stores like The Gap, J. Crew and a lot of those have been replaced and gone,” Gagosz said. “When we say the mall is in limbo, it’s like, what is the future of this major development?”

The mall has been under court-ordered receivership, a state-level version of bankruptcy, since the former...

Bekah Berger is the co-host of the morning show on 92 PRO-FM and one of the most recognizable radio voices in the region. She has been covering the rollout of “Real Housewives of Rhode Island,” which marks the network’s 20th season of the hit reality franchise.

Although the show was filmed locally and Rhode Island is featured throughout, Berger said first-time viewers will quickly learn it is more about the cast and their relationships than the setting.

“You see them at the polo tournament, you see them at Newport Vineyards, you see them at Goddard Park, yo...

In a special blizzard edition of “Behind the Story,” 12 News journalists Kayla Fish and Corey Welch discussed covering the Blizzard of ’26.

Fish, an anchor and reporter, was stationed on Aquidneck Island with Welch, the station’s chief photographer.

For hours during the height of the historic snowstorm, the breaking news duo trudged through wind and snow to show viewers the dangerous whiteout conditions.

“It’s active, it’s interesting. People are usually sitting at home and can’t go anywhere because they’re snowed in, so it’s on us to show them what’s happening out...

The hosts of “Behind the Story” devoted a special episode this week to examining the coverage of the deadly shooting at a high school hockey game in Pawtucket.

The shooting killed two people and wounded three others, who remained in critical condition as of Wednesday. The incident quickly drew national attention.

Police identified the shooter as Robert Dorgan, a transgender person who also went by the name Roberta Dorgan. Authorities said Dorgan shot and killed Rhonda Dorgan and Aidan Dorgan during a hockey tournament at the Dennis M. Lynch Arena.

Robert Dorgan later died...

Jonny Williams, who covers health-related topics for the Journal, said researchers found troubling patterns in chatbot responses after feeding them scripts over several months and prompting the technology to act as mental health counselors.

“Even after putting iterations of different prompts into the AI chatbot, the chatbot was still violating ethical guidelines for counseling,” Williams said. “It was doing things like gaslighting, false empathy and giving advice that didn’t line up with guidelines.”

Williams said the research was prompted by recent headlines showing more people are turning to AI chatbots for mental health counseling. He said th...

Bill Haberman, a morning host and news aficionado, is a familiar voice in the state. He hosts an early-morning show and delivers news at the top and bottom of the hour each weekday on WPRO.

He spoke about the station’s longtime brand, “Operation Snowball,” and how relaying school closures and cancellations has changed as real-time information has become more accessible.

“It used to be a real undertaking because literally all the staff — the sales staff, the promotion staff, the administrators — would have to come in and answer phones,” Haberman said. “And if you got a surprise snow...

Mark Dondero, a former 12 News sports reporter, said it’s been fun to watch how invested New England fans become when the Patriots are winning. The team is 2-0 in the playoffs and will face the Denver Broncos on Sunday with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line.

“Nobody thought they were going to be this good,” Dondero said. “Nobody thought Drake Maye could potentially win the MVP award. I certainly didn’t think we’d be talking about a Super Bowl run. Make the Super Bowl? Are you serious?”

Dondero predicts the Patriots will...

Nancy Lavin, a senior reporter covering government, politics and policy for the online news outlet, wrote about the governor’s address that typically outlines his tax and spending priorities ahead of his full budget proposal to the General Assembly.

Lavin said covering the State of the State is somewhat easier than writing about the budget each year because it doesn’t require as much calculation. This year, she said McKee’s tone made it clear he was running for reelection in what’s likely to be a tough campaign.

“McKee is up for reelection this year and w...

Ellen Liberman, a contributing editor and writer for the magazine, spent several months interviewing Shekarchi, widely considered the most powerful lawmaker in the state.

The cover story is available now on newsstands.

Her reporting explores Shekarchi’s personal life, follows his career in law and politics and offers a behind-the-scenes look at his role during a tense gun reform debate at the State House last June.

"When I met him in the morning, he said to me, 'It's gun day'," Liberman said. "And I was like, 'OK, there's my lead right there.'"

Tim White and Ted Nesi for years have covered politics on all levels and together they moderate some of the most highly watched political debates each year.

The duo discussed the current state of affairs in the much-anticipated 2026 gubernatorial race for Democrats and Republicans, and analyze the value of polls in political reporting.

White and Nesi, who also host the political affairs show "Newsmakers," also talked about what goes into preparing for debates, how they think about the value of those discussions and what affect they can have on a candidate's position in a race.<...

In a special edition of "Behind the Story," 12 News reporter Ted Nesi fills in to host a conversation with 12 News anchor Kim Kalunian and Target 12 chief investigative reporter Tim White about how news outlets have covered the shooting at Brown University and its aftermath.

Alex Kuffner, who covers energy and the environment, said Rhode Islanders should expect some relief this winter on their heating bills. But he warned that regulators have mostly moved around existing funds to offset the higher winter costs, meaning ratepayers end up paying for those credits.

He also highlighted a new rate hike proposed by Rhode Island Energy for its distribution charges, which is the portion of customers’ bills where the company can make a profit.

“They agreed to hold off on filing this, this distribution rate case for several years, so now it’s actual...

Mark Patinkin, who’s been a newspaper columnist for over four decades, recently wrote about the issue of hazing in schools following incidents in Newport and Smithfield, respectively. Hazing has also been the focus of an opinion piece written by BTS cohost Dan McGowan, a columnist for the Boston Globe.

Patinkin said student athletes who behave badly should be held responsible for their actions. But he also called on adults — specifically coaches — to take some ownership of what’s going on.

“Coaches have the power to be able to sit kids down and a football team or a...

The series focuses on the life of Luigi “Baby Shacks” Manocchio, the last mob boss to lead New England’s most notorious crime family.

For decades, the Patriarca Crime Family ran a shadow government from Federal Hill, wielding power that rivaled public officials, private financiers and law enforcement on all levels.

Target 12 managing editor Tim White, 12 News chief videographer Johnny Villella and on-air marketing manager James Bartone joined host Eli Sherman to talk about the project that started nearly one year ago.

Episode 1: "The Hill" is currently streaming exclusively on the WPRI 12+ TV app.

Joy Fox owns Beacon Media, which publishes the Warwick Beacon, Cranston Herald and Johnston Sun Rise, along with The Reminder, a weekly shopping guide. She bought the news organization last year from legendary publisher John Howell and expressed optimism about the sustainability of the local newspaper model.

"Don't count us out because I believe that the trends right now are actually coming squarely over local news," Fox said. "People really want to know what is happening at their city hall, what is happening in their schools and what's happening next door."

Fox, who started reporting...

Fitzpatrick, who also hosts “The Rhode Island Report,” is a Rhode Island-based reporter for the Globe, covering statewide government and politics.

Recently, he’s covered a developing controversy in his hometown of Smithfield, where there have been allegations of antisemitic hazing involving the high school football team.

An attorney representing the accused players has disputed the allegations, which were filed as a complaint with the R.I. Attorney General’s Office.

Fitzpatrick said the controversy has been scrutinized by many in the town, along with broader Rhode Island and multiple Jewish advocacy groups.

“Th...

Steve Klamkin over the years has covered high-profile criminal trials, including the one of Vincent "Buddy" Cianci after the FBI investigation known as Plunderdome. 

Klamkin is recognizable for being at the forefront of media scrums over the years. But he's also well-known for the unique signoff he's had at the end of news reports for WPRO radio: "Steve Klamkin, WPRO News."

"I don't have a big booming voice, I never have," Klamkin said Wednesday. "The signoff from my stories over the years — it just happened and I never gave it a thought. And then people sta...

McNamara is a longtime sports journalist who covers college and professional sports. He focuses heavily on college basketball, which kicks off Monday for programs across Rhode Island.

McNamara, who also runs the website KevinMcSports.com, said he's unsure whether Providence College, the University of Rhode Island or Bryant University will make the NCAA Tournament this season.

But he said the Friars may have a competitive advantage because the program has been spending big money under new rules that allow colleges to pay student-athletes up to a combined $20 million.

"At Providence, it's men's and...

Jim Hummel is a longtime investigative reporter and founder of the nonprofit news organization The Hummel Report. His reporting revealed new details about the westbound I-195 bridge, which shut down abruptly to 90,000 vehicles in December 2023.

Hummel’s reporting showed forensic auditors determined a critical rod of the bridge that ultimately broke was likely corroding for up to 15 years, and several inspections that flagged issues with that section of the bridge largely went unchecked.

The new detail were not included in a draft report of the forensic audit that was made public last month.

“Some...

Ethan Hartley, editor of The East Providence Post, recently covered the city budget process where Mayor Bob DaSilva signed the latest tax-and-spending plan Wednesday.

Hartley said no services were cut, but he underscored that the city still raised the overall tax levy to the state-capped limit of 4% for the next fiscal year.

“Municipal budgets today are very tight,” Hartley said. “Just to get the basic services and take care of your contractual increases takes up a lot of what you have room for. And so mostly, they said it’s not a great budget, it’s not perf...

Ben Berke of Ocean State Media joined Eli Sherman and Dan McGowan on “Behind the Story” this week to discuss the role out of a police reform law that went into effect earlier this year.

Berke examined the Law Enforcement Officers Due Process Accountability and Transparency Act, or LEODPATA, and whether it's changed how officials handle cases of alleged police misconduct.

His reporting shows the law -- which replaced a previous version known as LEOBOR -- has struggled to deliver on some of the promises its champions touted when it passed last year.

"The...

Philip Eil, who's the author of "Prescription for Pain," recently wrote an opinion piece for Rhode Island Current, highlighting how quickly opioids and opioid-related deaths have become a central focus in the race for Rhode Island governor.

"I was uneasy to watch this really serious, literally life and death issue, get turned into campaign mudslinging where it's about scoring points," Eil said during a taping of the show on Wednesday. "The public gaze drifts away from the real stakes of this issue, which, as I noted in my piece, is ongoing."

Incumbent Gov. Dan McKee...

12 News politics editor Ted Nesi joined Eli Sherman and Dan McGowan on “Behind the Story” this week to discuss the future of politics and pensions in Providence.

Nesi said he's been getting a lot of feedback over the past week in response to comments about the Providence pension system made by state Rep. David Morales, who recently announced he's running for Providence.

Appearing on "Newsmakers" last week, Morales said he'd tackle the city's woefully underfunded pension plan in part by renegotiating pension benefits paid to out-of-state retirees.

Cutting pension benefits has long spurred cont...

Eric Rueb of The Providence Journal joined Eli Sherman and Dan McGowan on “Behind the Story” to discuss his experience covering sports in Rhode Island.

For years, Rueb has been reporting on youth and professional sports, and he expressed excitement over this year’s high school football season, which is officially underway.

“I’m going to watch Central Falls and East Greenwich on Thursday, and those are the games I love to see,” Rueb said. “Someone’s going to do something I’ve never seen before and that’s the reason why high school football should exist, and wh...

Alexa Gagosz of The Boston Globe joined Eli Sherman and Dan McGowan on “Behind the Story” this week to discuss the Hasbro decision to relocate its headquarters from Pawtucket to Boston.

Gagosz covers a variety of topics including business and she's been tracking the yearlong uncertainty over whether the toymaker would make an out-of-state move. Hasbro for the past century has been headquartered in Rhode Island.

The company announced this week it would indeed move to the Boston's Seaport, and a spokesperson said Hasbro will no longer have a corporate footprint in Rhode Island by the...

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Ian Donnis of The Public's Radio and Rhode Island PBS joined Eli Sherman and Dan McGowan this week on “Behind the Story” to discuss politics, public media and health care in Rhode Island.

Donnis is a longtime political reporter, who also hosts the show "Political Roundtable." He covers local, state and national politics, and this week he discussed Rhode Island's upcoming gubernatorial election in 2026.

Donnis also talked about the shifting landscape of public media in Rhode Island and across the country, along with the future of health care against the backdr...

Anastasia E. Lennon of The New Bedford Light this week joins Eli Sherman and Kim Kalunian on “Behind the Story” to discuss the offshore wind industry, including the Trump administration order to stop work on the Revolution Wind project.

Lennon talked about what moves have been happening across the country leading up to stop-work order handed down last Friday to Revolution Wind, which project officials said was 80% completed.

She also discussed what's known so far about the security concerns cited as the reason for stop-work order, along with what other offshore wind projects are in the...

Patrick Anderson of The Providence Journal this week joined Eli Sherman and Dan McGowan on “Behind the Story” to discuss his recent reporting on Gov. Dan McKee's education agenda.

Anderson is a government and politics reporter at the Projo, and he's part of a team of reporters who put together the newspaper's weekly Political Scene column.

The column this week focused on the governor's education agenda, which includes bolstering out-of-school learning for students to try and make up for education missed out on during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Anderson discusses whether the policies are work...

Tim White this week joins Eli Sherman and Kim Kalunian on “Behind the Story” to discuss the ongoing saga of Nicholas Alahverdian.

White is managing editor and chief investigative reporter at 12 News, and he's been covering Alahverdian for years leading up to his criminal trial that began this week in Utah.

Alahverdian, a conman from Rhode Island, was a longtime critic of the state's child welfare agency until he got jammed up with the law and faked his own death in 2020.

White discusses Alahverdian's life in Rhode Island, his troubles with the law, gett...

Nancy Lavin of the Rhode Island Current this week joined Eli Sherman and Dan McGowan on “Behind the Story” to discuss her reporting on Woonsocket finances and State House politics.

Lavin is senior reporter for the independent, digital news outlet that focuses on state government and public policy. Lavin discusses ongoing financial issues in Woonsocket, which has seen its bond ratings yanked after struggling to get its annual financial reporting in order.

Lavin also talks about a recent feature she wrote about Sen. Pam Lauria, a Barrington Democrat, who made some power plays this past legi...

Colleen Cronin of ecoRI News this week joined Eli Sherman and Kim Kalunian on “Behind the Story” to discuss her reporting about recycling violations in Providence.

Cronin is a Report for America fellow working at ecoRI News, a nonprofit news outlet that focuses on environmental news. She obtained years of recycling violations data that revealed Providence has ticketed most frequently in its poorest neighborhoods.

Cronin talks about how she gathered, analyzed and used the data to inform her reporting, along with how it led her to interviews with key community members.

She also lear...

Ethan Shorey is chief editor of the The Valley Breeze, a weekly newspaper that covers several Rhode Island communities, including Pawtucket. In recent years, the state's fourth-largest city has seen a number of changes, including construction of a new soccer stadium for Rhode Island FC.

The USL team owners said they wanted to move into the city shortly after the Pawtucket Red Sox announced a move to Worcester. The soccer team started playing home games in the new stadium this spring.

Shorey talks about how the new team, along with a handful of new housing...