Eli Sherman

NEW: Rep. Bob Craven has resigned as House Judiciary Committee chairman in the wake of revelations about his 2001 domestic-violence arrest

Craven also says he won't seek reelection to the House, all in the wake of the NK Dem's disastrous 4-day run for AG

NEW: Mobster Ralph DeLeo strikes plea deal with prosecutors in murder plot case.

The octogenarian former crime boss was sentenced to two years in prison. w/ @elisherman.bsky.social

www.wpri.com/target-12/mo...

‘Campaign mudslinging’: Opioids and politics in the race for RI governor Philip Eil joins Eli Sherman and Kim Kalunian on “Behind the Story” to discuss the role opioids are playing early in the race for Rhode Island governor.

Behind the Story:

@phileil.bsky.social joins @kimkalunian.bsky.social + me to discuss the role opioids are playing in Rhode Island politics.

Shoutouts + more 👇https://www.wpri.com/original-and-local/wpri-original-local-shows/campaign-mudslinging-opioids-and-politics-in-the-race-for-ri-governor/ 

NEW: Rhode Island leaders agree the Washington Bridge forensic audit warrants another oversight hearing, but not on how it should play out.

•McKee says officials won't answer questions tied to lawsuit
•GA leaders say officials may be put under oath www.wpri.com/traffic/i-19...

Here's our chat. @kimkalunian.bsky.social and @elisherman.bsky.social are total pros!

The draft audit was completed in April 2024, but withheld from the public until it leaked last week.

Background www.wpri.com/target-12/fo...

Gov. McKee urges legislative leaders to hold oversight hearing after forensic audit shows state officials are partially to blame for Washington Bridge failure.

But he says state official won’t answer questions about anything tied to ongoing litigation, which includes said audit

A selfie in front of a sign for Channel 12/WPRI, taken at the station's East Providence headquarters.

Kim Kalunian and Eli Sherman sit in a TV/podcast studio at WPRI TV, in East Providence, R.I. Between them, a screen on the wall reads "Behind the Story."

Thanks to @kimkalunian.bsky.social and @elisherman.bsky.social for having me on WPRI's "Behind the Story" podcast, to discuss my recent @rhodeislandcurrent.com op-ed on the emergence of opioids and overdoses as a McKee-v-Foulkes campaign issue.

I'll share the link when the convo's online!

NEW: Brown Health is set to take an even larger role in RI medicine

The state's top hospital group and largest employer today agreed to take on a lot more primary care patients in exchange for AG sign-off on the takeover of a major physicians practice www.wpri.com/news/local-n...

NEW: Legislative leaders will hold another oversight hearing about the Washington Bridge debacle after a forensic audit emerged showing state officials should have been aware of structural issues tied to the bridge long before it was closed in 2023 www.wpri.com/target-12/fo...

NEW: RI just got its first head-to-head test of the McKee/Foulkes primary, via the UNH Survey Center

Foulkes 35%
McKee 19%
Undecided 40%

Gov's job approval is 24% (up from 19% in May)

And no signs of trouble for Jack Reed - 51% want him reelected in www.wpri.com/news/electio...

Turns out a forensic audit of the Washington Bridge failure was drafted nearly a year and a half ago. State officials just hid it - until now

Great scoop by @timwhiteri.bsky.social @elisherman.bsky.social

NEW: A forensic audit the McKee administration has refused to release for more than a year shows state officials should have been aware of growing structural issues tied to the westbound Washington Bridge long before it abruptly closed in December 2023 www.wpri.com/target-12/fo...

NEW: Providence Place mall officials are looking for a new movie-theater operator after learning Showcase Cinemas will not renew its lease in January www.wpri.com/target-12/th...

Grand Jury Indicts James Comey, Former FBI Director and Longtime Trump Target The move came after the president intensified his pressure campaign on the Justice Department in recent days, publicly demanding that top officials prosecute Mr. Comey.

Breaking News: A federal grand jury is said to have indicted James Comey, after President Trump intensified his pressure campaign on the Justice Department.

NEW: Carmen “The Cheeseman” DiNunzio, the reputed boss of the Patriarca crime family, has died.

He was 68 years old.

w/ @timwhiteri.bsky.social www.wpri.com/target-12/ca...

Aaron Thomas will be sentenced today in the naked fat test case.

A jury cleared him of sex crimes earlier this year. He was convicted of misdemeanor battery.

Prosecutors want the max of two years behind bars; Thomas wants no prison time.

Details👇 www.wpri.com/news/local-n...

Sometimes I agree with people, sometimes I don't!

.@johnmarion.bsky.social, who filed the initiating complaint, says the conclusion was "incorrect" and that the investigation failed to examine Magee's lobbying *after* McKee became governor

NEW: Secretary of state officials have closed their probe into Gov. Dan McKee's former aide Michael Magee, ruling he didn’t need to register as a lobbyist when he helped steer a lucrative education contract to ILO Group www.wpri.com/news/secreta...

Don't forget you can listen to Behind the Story as a podcast.

Here's our latest episode.

Download it wherever you get your podcasts! https://behind-the-story.simplecast.com/episodes/cover-the-preps-like-theyre-pros-projos-eric-rueb-on-covering-high-school-sports 

NEW: RI leaders criticize Brown Health over multimillion-dollar severance payments to former CEO

McKee: "misplaced priorities"

Foulkes: "What a disgrace"

Shekarchi/Lawson: "seems excessive" www.wpri.com/target-12/mc...

Really interesting talking with @ericrueb.bsky.social about the issue of parents getting angry at sporting events.

It's just like I remember when I was a kid, but now everyone's got a camera.

w/ @danmcgowan.bsky.social

Full conversation --> www.wpri.com/behindthesto...

‘Cover the preps like they’re pros’: Projo’s Eric Rueb on covering high school sports 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.

Behind the Story:

@ericrueb.bsky.social talks with @danmcgowan.bsky.social + me about sports, angry parents and his new show on @wpri12.bsky.social.

Shoutouts + full discussion 👇https://www.wpri.com/behindthestory/cover-the-preps-like-theyre-pros-projos-eric-rueb-on-covering-high-school-sports/ 

NEW: Nephew of Providence police chief loses appeal in major fentanyl case.

Josh Perez was sentenced to 22 years. 1st Circuit quickly rejected claims the punishment was unreasonable. w/ @elisherman.bsky.social

www.wpri.com/target-12/pr...

VIDEO + STORY: Two Providence bars are guinea pigs in a pilot program that was implemented earlier this year.

The program aims to help businesses quiet down without killing their vibe.

www.wpri.com/news/local-n... @wpri12.bsky.social

BREAKING: Police: Bomb threats sent to top R.I. Democrats

State police responded Thursday to "hoax e-mails" containing bomb threats targeting top R.I. Democrats. Story by @timwhiteri.bsky.social, @elisherman.bsky.social & @tednesi.bsky.social: https://www.wpri.com/target-12/bomb-threats-target-top-democrats-in-ri-senate-authorities-say-they-were-hoaxes/ 

Bomb threats sent to top Democrats in RI Senate; authorities say they were hoaxes EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Police responded Tuesday to bomb threats targeting the homes of top Democrats in the R.I. Senate, Target 12 has learned. “We are aware of several hoax e-m…

NEW: Police responded Tuesday to bomb threats targeting the homes of top Democrats in the R.I. Senate.

Deemed a hoax and state police are investigating
www.wpri.com/target-12/bo...

Rhode Island Energy overcharged state more than $2M for utilities, audit found Rhode Island is the utility company’s largest customer. Regulators ordered an audit after state officials discovered major issues with their bills.

Audit finds Rhode Island Energy overcharged the state by $2 million.

Customers have raised billing concerns since RIE took over in 2022.

But state officials only audited after seeing issues with their own accounts.

The audit only examined state accounts www.wpri.com/target-12/rh...

Behind the Story:

@alexagagosz.bsky.social‬ joined @kimkalunian.bsky.social‬ + me to discuss the Hasbro move to Boston.

It's not sitting well with some employees.

Full convo + shoutouts 👉 https://www.wpri.com/behindthestory/behind-the-story-9-10-25-alexa-gagosz-discusses-hasbro-move-to-boston/