Newsmakers: Wpri 12 Eyewitness News

This week on Newsmakers: Democrat Becky Grossman, a candidate for Massachusetts’ 4th Congressional District and Newton city councilor, discusses her campaign to succeed Joe Kennedy III. She is one of seven Democrats who are currently in the race, along with Jake Auchincloss, Dave Cavell, Alan Khazei, Ihssane Leckey, Jesse Mermell and Ben Sigel. On the second half, a reporter roundtable featuring Steph Machado, Eli Sherman and Dan McGowan breaks down the week’s headlines at the Rhode Island State House and Providence City Hall.

This week on Newsmakers: R.I. House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello. The state's top lawmaker is already bristling over Gov. Gina Raimondo's budget proposal. Mattiello, D-Cranston, discusses how he opposes adult marijuana legalization this year, but may be open to it down the road. And he responds to questions about why he ordered an audit of the R.I. Convention Center at the same time one of his friends is in the middle of a personnel investigation.

This week on Newsmakers: House Minority Leader Blake Filippi, R-New Shoreham, discusses the Republican policy agenda for 2020 at the State House and whether he'll run for governor; Warwick Beacon publisher John Howell reflects on his 50 years running the biweekly newspaper.

This week on Newsmakers: a political roundtable examines 2020. Joining Tim White and Ted Nesi are Eyewitness News Political Analyst Joe Fleming along with political analysts Lisa Pelosi and Joy Fox. The panel looks at the upcoming election year from a national and local perspective, and what policies the governor and General Assembly may tackle in the new legislative session.

This week on Newsmakers: Eyewitness News anchor Kim Kalunian conducts a year-end interview with Gov. Gina Raimondo, who reflects on the ups and downs of 2019 and reveals what she will be pushing in 2020.

This week on Newsmakers: Roman Catholic Bishop of Providence Thomas Tobin discusses his recent meeting with Pope Francis in Rome, the ongoing Catholic sex abuse crisis, declining Mass attendance and more.

This week on Newsmakers: Brett Johnson, founder and principal of Fortuitous Partners, discusses his $400 million proposed soccer complex for Pawtucket; Care New England President and CEO Dr. James Fanale discusses the possibility of renewed hospital merger talks with Lifespan.

This week on the first half of Newsmakers: Jesse Mermell, a Democratic candidate for Massachusetts’ 4th Congressional District, discusses her campaign to succeed Congressman Joe Kennedy. She is one of six Democrats who are currently in the race, along with Jake Auchincloss, Dave Cavell, Becky Grossman, Alan Khazei and Ihssane Leckey. Then on the second half, a reporter roundtable discusses the $400 million proposed Pawtucket soccer development.

Rhode Island Community Food Bank CEO Andrew Schiff, and the executive director of Meals on Wheels Rhode Island Meghan Grady. Despite the good economy, Rhode Island is still seeing thousands of families who need food assistance. Schiff and Grady discuss the demand they’re seeing. On the second half of Newsmakers: Ted Nesi interviews Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza on the 20th anniversary of the Providence Place Mall.

The leader of Rhode Island's Ivy League institution since 2012, Paxson discusses the state of higher education in America, the Varsity Blues scandal, the ongoing drama in Rhode Island's hospital sector, and the Providence schools takeover.

This week on Newsmakers: Gov. Gina Raimondo. The governor recently sued the General Assembly over marijuana regulations; she discusses why, and what would lead her to drop the suit. The governor also admits her team got it wrong when putting together the budget for the state's child welfare agency, and weighs in on the 2020 presidential race.

This week on the first half of Newsmakers: Fall River Mayor-elect Paul Coogan. The turbulent Jasiel Correia era in Fall River is over: Coogan won Tuesday’s election handily and is tasked with raising morale in a city that has been battered by allegations of corruption. Coogan outlines his priorities and discusses his conversation with Mayor Correia after the results came in. Then on the second half, Target 12 Consumer Investigator Susan Campbell sits down with R.I. Airport Corporation President and CEO Iftikhar Ahmad to discuss why revenue is falling at T.F. Green and what the outlook is there.

This week on Newsmakers: Jake Auchincloss, Democratic candidate for Massachusetts' 4th Congressional District; then, Politico Massachusetts' Stephanie Murray joins Tim White and Ted Nesi to preview next week's mayoral elections in New Bedford, Fall River, Taunton and Attleboro.

This week on the first half of Newsmakers: Roger Williams University President Ioannis Miaoulis. After running the Boston Museum of Science for 15 years, Miaoulis came to Bristol to take the helm at RWU. He discusses the state of the university and higher education overall. On the second half, state Sens. Lou DiPalma, D-Middletown, and Ryan Pearson, D-Cumberland, break down the legislative hearings examining a proposed bill that would give gaming giant IGT a 20-year extension on its state contract for lottery technology.

IGT Global Solutions Chairman Robert Vincent and Twin River Rhode Island President Mark Crisafulli discuss the State House debate over the state Lottery technology contract.

This week on the first half of Newsmakers: R.I. Republican Party Chair Sue Cienki. With the ongoing spat between gaming companies IGT and Twin River making headlines, Cienki outlines why the state GOP opposes the governor’s push to extend IGT’s contract, arguing the opposition is not driven by politics. Then, Eyewitness News Political Analyst Joe Fleming joins Tim White, Ted Nesi and Cienki for a political roundtable, analyzing the potential political fallout of the impeachment inquiry into President Trump.

This week on the first half of Newsmakers: Providence Public Safety Commissioner Steven Paré. After a summer of nightclub-related violence, the longtime public safety official weighs in on a proposal to create a special district for nightclubs. Plus, why it’s getting harder to recruit police officers. One the second half, Target 12 Investigators Walt Buteau and Steph Machado join Tim White to discuss their in-depth investigation into immigration “An American Debate”, a look at the often divisive topic through the prism of southern New England.

More than a month since a truck pushed its way into a crowd of protesters outside the Wyatt Detention Center, Neronha provides an update on his investigation. The first-term Democrat also discusses why he rejected an initial settlement with Purdue Pharma in a nationwide opioid lawsuit.

With another round of charges against Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia, Keating – whose district covers a large chunk of Fall River – calls on the embattled city leader to resign. He also discusses why he is now supporting an impeachment investigation against the president and where things stand on the stalled Vineyard Wind project.

Lt. Gov. Dan McKee, a second-term Democrat, discusses his approach to education policy, the Providence schools takeover, whether he'll run for governor in 2022 and more.