Real Housewives of Rhode Island and the Reality of “Doubled-Up Homelessness” in Providence

by Eric Halvarson

Dr. Molly Richard is an academic usually focused on studying homelessness, and she had never watched the Real Housewives franchise. But as an assistant professor at the University of Rhode Island, she tuned in when the reality TV show came to the Ocean State. “This [...]

Teen Poets Recognized by Award Named for Providence Public Educator Maureen Kenner

by The Providence Eye

The winning poems for the 2026 Maureen Kenner Memorial Prize have been announced, with Lina Durfee’s poem “Altitude Sickness” receiving the first place honor.  The contest, held by poet Tina Cane and the Rhode Island Center for the Book, is a competition for students across [...]

Providence Can’t Afford to Lose Housing Stock. Here’s the Plan to Keep Aging Units Up to Code.

by Eric Halvarson

Build, build, build—that’s been a common refrain around the rising cost of housing in Rhode Island. While policymakers and constituents have major disagreements around regulating the price of housing, leaders at the State House and Providence City Hall are passing policies designed to increase construction. [...]

“Next to Normal”: A Rock Musical about Mental Illness that Delivers Humor and Honesty with Astonishing Force

by Judith Clinton

Trinity Repertory Company concludes its season with the Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning rock musical “Next to Normal,” featuring a book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt. Directed by former Associate Artistic Director Amanda Dehnert, “Next to Normal” is a deeply human [...]

Brown University’s Pandemic Center Weighs in on Ebola, Contagious Diseases Ahead of World Cup

by Eric Halvarson

At the Brown University Pandemic Center, doctors are following the current Ebola outbreak in central Africa with expertise as well as empathy.  “Initial case counts were incredibly high… with case counts at declaration larger than most outbreaks when they end,” said Dr. Craig Spencer, an [...]

Cannabis Corner? Nine Cooperatives Apply to Open Dispensaries on One Stretch of North Main Street

by Eric Halvarson

Dr. Andre Dev started the Community Cannabis Network of Rhode Island to help ensure cannabis co-ops succeeded as enduring, locally owned businesses. So, when the pool of potential cannabis retailer applications for RI started rolling in at the end of 2025, he expected a handful [...]

Wilbury’s Girl from the North Country Uses the Music of Bob Dylan to Tell A Story of America at “It’s Most Bruised and Most Resilient”

by Judith Clinton

Wilbury Theatre Group closes its season with Girl from the North Country, written by celebrated Irish playwright Conor McPherson with music and lyrics by Bob Dylan. Girl from the North Country is not Bob Dylan’s story. Rather, it is a story made possible by his [...]

Historic Institutions Attempt to Combat “The Intimidation Factor” of the Art World

by Lynn Holstein

On a warm Sunday in May, after a long and cold winter,  several dozen people opted to be indoors at the Providence Art Club (PAC). They came to participate in the lecture series called Sunday Salon. This time, it featured a discussion with two members [...]

To Keep Kids Out of Jail, Providence City Council Proposes Automatically Referring Youth Cases to Juvenile Hearing Board

by Eric Halvarson

Providence police charged 148 youth with misdemeanors in 2025. The majority of those cases go to family court, where children can face incarceration or a mark on their criminal record. However, 27 were referred to an alternative municipal body that keeps juvenile cases out of [...]

Local Journalist Interrogated at Airport Over Social Media Page Documenting ICE

by Eric Halvarson

Local journalist José Julián, founder of the popular social media page JJ Apineda Noticias, said he was detained and interrogated by Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) on April 19, 2026. After returning from Guatemala, Julián said CBP questioned him for over three hours. “I have [...]