Our first This I believe Rhode Island essay of the new year focuses on the role of work and business in our lives. Annie Doran is the founder of Fair Loom and fairloom.org. She believes in people coming together to make an organization succeed.

The general assemble convenes with a 600 million dollar budget deficit hanging over their heads. Providence city councilors want the school superintendent to resign, and the ethics commission is pursing charges against another state senator.

WRNI's Bob Seay talks about these and other issues with URI Political Science Professor Maureen Moakley and Providence Journal Political reporter Scott MacKay.

Rhode Island homeless shelters have been filled to capacity this week
as men and women who usually sleep outdoors seek shelter from the intense cold. Some homeless people are so put off by shelters they need some encouragement to enter one. WRNI's Flo Jonic introduces us to one man, who tries to provide that encouragement.

Sometimes, we need reminders to follow our beliefs. Maria DeCarvalho is an Episcopal priest who lives in Providence and provides organizations with compassion based communication training through the organization she founded, called Another Way. She tells about one reminder she received on a trip with her brother.

The New Hampshire primary and a heated primary race ahead, new corruption charges involving the state landfill operation, and a move to get more power for the lieutenant governor.

WRNI's Bob Seay talks about these and other issues with URI Political Science Professor Maureen Moakley and Providence Journal Political reporter Scott MacKay.

This essay focuses on what actions our beliefs lead us to take. Jerry Elmer practices law in Providence. He says he gladly lives with the consequences of his actions.

In this installment of our cultural roundtable we look beyond the stage
at the community value of our local arts organizations, and at how the
community and the press view and support those organizations. WRNI's Bob Seay talks with Providence Black Rep's artistic director Don King, and veteran arts journalist Bill Gale.

The Governor's new director of revenue and the state treasurer offer proposals to address the grim state financial picture, and the Rhode Island presidential primary election may be more important than first expected.

WRNI's Bob Seay talks about these and other issues with URI Political Science Professor Maureen Moakley and Providence Journal Political reporter Scott MacKay.

As state lawmakers begin reviewing state spending, Governor Carcieri
is pushing for some immediate spending cuts. He says ending the current fiscal year without a deficit will require sacrifices from many groups. WRNI's Flo Jonic reports on the supplemental budget proposal the governor submitted yesterday.

Listen to the Democratic response to the Governor's address.

Listen to WRNI's excerpts from the Governor's state of the state address.

Listen to the Governor Carcieri's full address.

Among the many of you who have responded to our essay series are numerous young people. This morning's essay comes from an 11th grader at the Met School in Providence. Aminah Fonseca believes in pride.

Senate Majority leader, democrat Teresa Paiva-Weed, responds to the
Governor's state of the state address. She talks with WRNI's Bob Seay.

Among this week's topics: the Governor's state of the state speech, the overturning of corruption changes against former executives at Roger Williams Medical Center, and the Lieutenant Governor overseas a response plan for storms and emergencies storm.

WRNI's Bob Seay talks with URI Political Science Professor Maureen Moakley and Providence Journal Political reporter Scott MacKay.

Dancer and Choreographer Liz Lerman is bringing her unique participatory 'Dance Exchange' work to Providence. WRNI's Bob Seay visits the production and talks with Lerman.

University of Rhode Island science writer Todd McLeish watches birds in his Burrillville back-yard and during every vacation of adult life. He's author of the book Golden Wings and Hairy Toes. He explains his fascinations with birds.

Trinity Repertory Company has performed plenty of Shakespeare. This
season it's taking its first crack at the Bard's early history play, Richard
III. Bill Gale has a review.

Rhode Island kids are reading, writing and doing arithmetic better
than they did a year ago but they still lag behind their counterparts
in New Hampshire and Vermont. WRNI's Flo Jonic has results from the
latest round of New England Common Assessment Program testing.

Albert Silverstein ponders mysteries at his home in Pawtucket and is a retired professor of psychology from the University of Rhode Island. He tells us about his belief in a fictional detective.

The popularity of farmers' markets and the growing trend to eating
local are keeping some Rhode Island farmers busy even in the winter.
WRNI's Elizabeth Smick reports on their extended growing season.

Playwright Martin McDonagh lists Harold Pinter and David Mamet as two of his favorite writers. Their influence is obvious in a McDonagh play now on stage at the Sandra Feinstein Gamm theater in Pawtucket. Bill Gale has this review.

Some sports fans in this area are still searching for words to describe
their disappointment in the New England Patriots' narrow loss in super-bowl 42 on Sunday. Some say they're in pain. But commentator Frederick Reamer found himself in tears on Sunday for a far different reason.

The Governor's budget for next year is already under attack, and Rhode Island's primary next month has taken on more importance with the tight democratic race.

WRNI's Bob Seay talks about these and other topics with URI Political Science Professor Maureen Moakley and Providence Journal Political reporter Scott MacKay.

With Valentine's Day upon us, Festival Ballet Providence is offering a mid-winter bill of three ballets noted for their emotional qualities. Masters of Motion is at the VMA February 8, 9 and 10. Bill Gale has a review.

Evolution can be a difficult thing to watch. In this essay John Monaghan, retired political reporter and managing editor of the Providence Journal, tells us how difficult it is to watch changes in a vital industry.

Rhode Island is drawing attention from the Presidential campaigns as a new poll says that Rhode Islanders are pessimistic about the future.

WRNI's Bob Seay talks about these and other topics with URI Political Science Professor Maureen Moakley and Providence Journal Political reporter Scott MacKay.

In between revivals of classics, 2nd Story Theater in Warren some digs up some obscure plays as well. Now on stage is a little known play called Red Scare. Theater critic Bill Gale finds it well worth seeing.

Presidential candidate John McCain made a brief campaign stop in Rhode Island yesterday before racing up to Boston to receive the endorsement of vanquished former rival Mitt Romney. Governor Carcieri, who until last week was Romney's Rhode Island campaign chair, also endorsed the Arizona senator. WRNI's Flo Jonic was there.

This I Believe Rhode Island essay this week concerns intimacy. It's something Doctor Charles Sherman, a pulmonologist at Coastal Medical in East Providence, came to appreciate only years after a great loss.

One way Governor Carcieri hopes to help balance the state budget is
by sending fewer Rhode Island seniors to nursing homes. He's not the first person to make that proposal. Some advocates for seniors have long pushed for more community based services. And although they are excited to see the Governor on board, they're nervous about the details. WRNI's Megan Hall reports.

Governor Carcieri's budget proposal to rely less on nursing homes for
elderly care reflects a national movement away from institutional care.
WRNI's Bob Seay talks with Professor Larry Polifka. Polifka is the associate director of the School of Aging Studies at the University of South Florida, and the director of the Florida Policy Exchange Center on Aging.

Michelle Obama's visit to Rhode Island and fallout from the dismissal of the Governor's deputy chief of staff are among this week's topics on our Political Roundtable.

WRNI's Bob Seay talks with URI Political Science Professor Maureen Moakley and Providence Journal Political reporter Scott MacKay.

Nudity is one thing for adults. But when children are involved there's
a difference. At the Trinity Repertory Company in Providence
a strong production takes on the issue. Bill Gale has a review. Some Things are Private continues at Trinity Rep through March 23. Bill
gale reviews the performing arts for WRNI.

When not volunteering on east side education projects, Samuel Zurier is also an attorney practicing law in the city. He tells us that he believes in public education.

There's more proof of the influence Rhode Island could have in the democratic presidential primary. Senator Hillary Clinton took a day away from Ohio or Texas yesterday to barnstorm in this state, which also holds a primary next week. Speaking before a crowd of two thousand at Rhode Island College, Senator Clinton vowed to extract the u-s from the war in Iraq, establish health insurance for all, and create five million new jobs through an energy independence program. WRNI's Flo Jonic was on hand.

Illinois senator Barak Obama is now the only major candidate from either party, who has not made a direct appeal for support from Rhode Island voters ahead of the primary here one week from now. Even conservative republican Mike Huckabee is trying to drum up support in Rhode Island. WRNI's Megan Hall reports that despite the enormous lead of John McCain, Huckabee and his Rhode Island supporters are not ready to give up.

In less than one week, Rhode Islanders get their chances to weigh in
on the race for president. In a tight primary, it appears the preference
of voters in this state will carry a lot more weight than usual. Casting
your vote could be a little more difficult too, because of the state budget crisis. WRNI's Flo Jonic reports.

The candidates for president visit Rhode Island, and Rhode Island's schools do poorly in regional math tests.

WRNI's Bob Seay talks with URI Political Science Professor Maureen Moakley and Providence Journal Political reporter Scott MacKay.

Throughout history, people have toasted each other on special occasions. Benjamin Gedan, a reporter with the Providence Journal, shares with us his unique experiences with toasts.

Little Rhody hands Hillary Clinton a big win, Rep. Patrick Kennedy's mental health parity bill passes in the House, and legislators are taking a closer look at all those tax credits handed out to businesses in Rhode Island.

WRNI's Bob Seay talks with URI Political Science Professor Maureen Moakley and reporter Jim Baron of the Pawtucket Times.

This week's essay is about generosity - something the Downing family found a few weeks ago outside the Dunkin' Donuts Center.

Neil Downing is a reporter for the Providence Journal. Katlin downing plays soccer and goes to school. She's in the 7th grade at Dighton middle school.

When Mike O’Connell took over management of the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation he realized some things were not quite right. With the help of Governor Carcieri, an expedited audit was requested. WRNI’s Flo Jonic reports on the findings of the audit released yesterday.

The Eliot Spitzer scandal renews interest in changing Rhode island's prostitution law, Geraldine Ferraro visits Rhode Island after leaving the Hillary Clinton campaign, and Latino leaders want the Attorney General to investigate what they claim is a hate crime committed by a Providence business owner.

WRNI's Bob Seay talks with URI Political Science Professor Maureen Moakley and Providence Journal Political reporter Scott MacKay.

Senior projects have become a sign of change for earning a high school
diploma in Rhode Island. Another sign of change is a controversial
proposal to make so-called "high stakes testing" a bigger part of graduation requirements. But educators and students are finding there is no simple path to graduation day. WRNI's Rhonda Miller reports.

It's been almost five months since the state department of transportation imposed weight restrictions on the interstate 95 Pawtucket River bridge because of corroded steel. Ample time for truckers to get the message that if they're carrying more than 22 tons they need to take a detour. But as Wrni's Flo Jonic reports, state police find violators every day.

Many of us struggle to find balance in our lives. Bob Colonna is an actor, teacher, and the author of the book, Greetings Gate: The Story of Professor Jerry Colonna. He shares his thoughts about the role of ambition and passion in his life.

Lincoln Chaffee criticizes Democrats who supported the Iraq war, and Providence is looking for a new school superintendent.

WRNI's Bob Seay talks with Arlene Violet and Providence Journal Political reporter Scott MacKay about these and other topics.

Rhode Island's unemployment rate has hit a 13 year high. The Ocean State now has the sixth highest unemployment rate in the country, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. WRNI's Flo Jonic examines the factors for, and the people, behind the numbers.

All of us know that life can serve up sudden unexpected challenges. Alan Rosenberg is south county regional editor at the Providence Journal. He tells us about the kindness that pulled his family through a crisis.

Tom Brady is a retired Army colonel who has been acting head of
Philadelphia schools. Brady has held high level positions in
Washington, D.C. and Fairfax, Virginia schools. WRNI education reporter Rhonda Miller has more from Tom Brady and some who know him.

Jeanpaul Ferro is a writer and lives in the Wyoming section of Richmond, RI. He believes there is a lot to appreciate about living in Rhode Island.

WRNI's Bob Seay talks Lincoln Chafee about his new book Against the Tide: How a Compliant Congress Empowered a Reckless President forum.

Advocates for immigrants oppose the Governor's executive order to step up enforcement against illegal immigration. The state will have a new chief of emergency management. And political scientist Darrell West is leaving Brown University.

WRNI's Bob Seay talks with URI Political Science Professor Maureen Moakley and Providence Journal Political reporter Scott MacKay.

The new Providence school superintendent Tom Brady is a retired army
colonel who starts work July 14. Brady replaces Donnie Evans who resigned in march. Brady is the acting head of Philadelphia schools, which just appointed a permanent leader. He spoke from his Philadelphia office with WRNI Morning Edition host Bob Seay.

Howard Tinberg lives in Pawtucket and is a professor of English at Bristol Community College in Fall River. He believes in the power of ten.

The immigration debate continues on Smith Hill. The house puts the brakes on 24 hour gambling. And the state health insurance commissioner comes under investigation.

WRNI's Bob Seay talks with URI Political Science Professor Maureen Moakley and Providence Journal Political reporter Scott MacKay.

It's easy enough to feel pessimistic about Rhode Island. The state's
unemployment rate is the 6th highest in the country. The state deficit
is the highest in nearly 20 years. And homes have lost six percent of
their value in the past 14 months. But there is also cause for optimism
- due in large part to the presence of RISD and Brown University, a new industry is taking root. WRNI's Flo Jonic has our story.

Penny and David Kadmon are physicians who live in Providence with their three children. They tell us about challenges and joy they experience as parents of a child with Down syndrome.

Most police chiefs in Rhode Island say they will enforce the governor's executive order on illegal immigration. The chairman of the senate finance committee takes on pension reform. And, will Rhode Island finally get a bottle bill?

WRNI's Bob Seay talks with URI Political Science Professor Maureen Moakley and Ian Donnis of the Providence Phoenix.

The issue of illegal immigration has recently moved into the forefront.
But, even before governor Carcieri issued his executive order designed
to crack down on illegal residents, a flood of bills with the same intent
had been filed on smith hill. After years of passive acceptance of a broken federal immigration system, some Rhode Islanders are saying 'enough is enough'. Advocates, however, say they're being made scapegoats for years of overspending and corruption.
WRNI's Flo Jonic begins our series with an overview.

Two years before the Governor's executive order to crack down on illegal immigration, Rhode Island's general assembly voted to stop giving health care to undocumented and even some legal immigrants. That was through changes to RIte care - the state sponsored program that provides health coverage to low income children and families. Now the state is considering cutting over two thousand immigrant children who were spared from those cuts. WRNI's health care reporter Megan Hall has more.

Andrew Schiff is executive director of the Rhode Island Community Foodbank. He believes our society can end hunger. His essay reminds us that getting enough food is a challenge for some Rhode Islanders.

Education week magazine recently ranked the state's schools among the most expensive and lowest performing in the country. Educators say the disconnect is due in part to the large number of non-English speaking students.
There's no question that many English language learners are performing below grade level and dropping out of high school. But, WRNI's Flo Jonic reports that improving academic achievement is complex and costly.

As Rhode Island engages in a debate about how to care for immigrants who came here illegally, there's little talk about those newcomers who came here legally, but would go back home if they could. Over the past five years, Rhode Island has welcomed more than a thousand refugees from war torn countries around the world. Many come from parts of Africa like Liberia and Burundi where medical care is nothing like the American health system. A new program through the international institute and the department of health aims to make that transition a little easier.

The congressional stalemate over immigration has left many employers scrambling to find summer workers. In Newport, hotels are hoping to solve the shortage before the tourism season gets into full swing. WRNI's Elizabeth Smick reports.

The General Assembly gets to work and needs to tackle a multi-million dollar budget deficit. A bill requiring private employers to verify the immigration status of workers moves forward. And, the lawmakers debate about the penny.

WRNI's Bob Seay talks with URI Political Science Professor Maureen Moakley and Providence Journal Political reporter Scott MacKay.

WRNI's Morning Edition host Bob Seay discusses some of the issues
raised in this series with reporters Flo Jonic, Megan Hall and
Elizabeth Smick.

Elizabeth Ochs is the coordinating editor of Street Sights, a newspaper published by current and formerly homeless individuals. She shares her beliefs about the remarkable strengths she has discovered among people who are homeless.

When two mentally ill men died after encounters with the police this
year, Rhode Island law enforcement officials and mental health advocates took notice. WRNI's health care reporter Megan Hall has 2 reports on the topic. The first looks at efforts in Rhode Island to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Rhode Island law enforcement is working with mental health advocates to implement a mental health program called crisis intervention teams or CIT. Over ten states and many more cities have turned to CIT after mental health tragedies. In the second of this two part series WRNI's Megan Hall reports on the crisis intervention team in New London, Connecticut.

A 24 hour gambling bill may be vetoed by the governor. The senate takes up the supplemental budget and economists say Rhode island is the only new England state to be in a recession.

WRNI's Bob Seay talks with URI Political Science Professor Maureen Moakley and Providence Journal Political reporter Scott MacKay.

The program features Curt Columbus , Janice Duclos, Tim Crowe, William Damkoehler and Mauro Hantman, performing and discussing O. Henry's short stories The Ransom of Red Chief and Tobin's Palm (May 2, 2008)

The City of Providence has appointed its fourth school
superintendent in less than 10 years. He's a retired army colonel who
inherits a district facing complex academic, financial, social and
political issues. This week, WRNI education reporter Rhonda Miller
takes a closer look in our series: Providence Schools - In the Shadow
of the Renaissance.

The success of a school usually depends on the success of teachers, In
part two of our series, Rhonda Miller reports on the role of teachers
and teacher unions in the Providence schools.

Henry Sharpe is the former chairman and president of the Brown and Sharpe Manufacturing Company. In his essay Sharpe shares his beliefs about the possibility of reconciliation, even among sworn enemies. Sharpe reflects on his World War II experiences fighting the Japanese and his eventual embrace of his former enemy.