JANUARY 30, 2004:
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Focus Rhode Island airs on WRNI 3-4p.m. every Friday, Saturday 6-7 p.m., and Sunday 8 - 9 p.m. Audio of the entire show is archived on the web two hours after the end of Friday's broadcast. The archived programs are streamed in the Real Audio Format.
Click here to download Real Player.

Longer School Day Debate
The Education Commissioner's proposal to require longer school day has gotten an angry response from teachers in the state. We hear from Commissioner Peter McWalters and Marcia Reback, executive director of the American Federation of Teachers, Rhode Island.

Artists Eviction
Over 50 Artists were evicted recently from an old factory building in Providence over fire and safety violations. We report on the plight of the artists and talk about the reaction of the city with Cliff Wood, director of the department of Art, Culture and Tourism.

Steady Bongo
The Sierra Leone musician Lansana Sherif, known as Steady Bongo, is trying to get support from the West African community in Rhode Island for his education and peace making efforts in Africa. He tells his story of using music to deliver political messages.

Political Roundtable
Scott MacKay, political writer for the Providence Journal
Maureen Moakley, chairperson of the political science department at the University of Rhode Island.

Frescoe Artist
Artist Jose Dario Rojas has painted frescoes in churches and public buildings in Colombia. He is now using the Renaissance technique to create a fresco on the walls of the Health, Science and Technology Academy and the Providence Academy of International Studies. The work will be in memory of Julia Sanchez, a youth activist who dedicated her time to creating racial harmony in Rhode Island.
Thanks to Roseanne Rosales from HSTA for on site translation.

Waiting for Bessie Smith
A new musical, Waiting for Bessie Smith, will premier at the University of Rhode Island's Providence campus this weekend to mark the beginning of Black History Month. We talk with the author of the play Ricardo Pitts-Wiley.

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To Contact Focus Rhode Island:
email: focusri@wrni.org
phone: 401-351-1699