Newsmakers: Wpri 12 Eyewitness News

This week on Newsmakers: Democratic candidate for governor Seth Magaziner. The second-term general treasurer discusses his vision for Rhode Island on issues including health care, energy and federal relief funding. He also responds to criticism from his rivals.

R.I. Republican Party Chair Sue Cienki talks about the outlook for the GOP in the 2022 elections; then, Steph Machado and Eli Sherman discuss the controversies in the North Kingstown School Department and at Providence City Hall.

This week on Newsmakers: Rhode Island Foundation President and CEO Neil Steinberg discusses his organization's newly released recommendations for spending the state's $1.1 billion American Rescue Plan Act allocation. Then on the second half, two local U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs leaders -- Larry Connell, director of the VA Providence Healthcare System, and E.J. McQuade, executive director of the Veterans Benefits Administration's Providence office -- explain how their agencies seek to help veterans.

This week on Newsmakers: a debate between the two candidates for Fall River mayor, incumbent Paul Coogan and challenger Cliff Ponte. The pair spar over city finances, marijuana regulations, campaign controversies and much more. The city election is Nov. 2.

This week on Newsmakers: a debate between the two candidates for mayor of Attleboro. Incumbent Paul Heroux, who is seeking a third term as mayor, faces challenger Todd McGhee. The candidates sparred over rodent infestations, federal pandemic relief funds, pension debt, politics, the Attleboro High School mascot and more.

With Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza term-limited, several candidates have thrown their hat into the ring, including Ward 3 City Councilwoman Nirva LaFortune. She discusses city violence, the unfunded pension liability and more. Then the executive director of the Latino Policy Institute, Marcela Bentancur, talks about her organization's 15th anniversary and the increase in the Hispanic population in Rhode Island.

Providence City Council President John Igliozzi on the increase in shootings and homicides in the city, a controversial police hire, what the city plans to do with an influx in federal COVID relief funds and more. Then, Eli Sherman joins Tim White and Steph Machado to break down a series of State House hearings focused on a controversial taxpayer-funded contract awarded to a new firm with political connections.

In the coming weeks, Rhode Island lawmakers will be considering how more than $1 billion in federal coronavirus aid money should be spent. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ryan Pearson, D-Cumberland, discusses the process moving forward, and questions he wants answered surrounding a controversial multimillion-dollar state contract that is being paid for with those funds. Then Tim White and Ted Nesi break down the latest in the 2022 governor's race.

This week on Newsmakers: New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell. A Democrat first elected in 2011, Mitchell talks about the struggle to increase vaccination rates in his city, the challenging facing the fishing industry, offshore wind, his own political future and more.

This week on Newsmakers: state Rep. Gregg Amore, D-East Providence, discusses his newly launched campaign for Rhode Island secretary of state; Shannon Buss and David Salvatore of the Rhode Island Association of Realtors break down the latest trends in the state's housing market.

This week on Newsmakers: U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., talks with Ted Nesi about the budget talks on Capitol Hill, America's exit from Afghanistan, and her political future; Matt Newell, whose mother Renee died on Sept. 11, looks back with Mike Montecalvo in Newell's first sit-down interview about the topic.

Steph Machado interviews the acting superintendent of Providence schools, Dr. Javier Montañez; Tim White and Ted Nesi break down the controversy involving the governor's now-former chief of staff.

Among President Joe Biden's most vocal supporters of the decision to withdraw from Afghanistan is U.S. Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-Massachusetts. Auchincloss served in Afghanistan as a U.S. Marine in 2012, and said Biden's decision was the right one, though the execution of the plan could have gone smoother. Auchincloss also weighed in on the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill and what it could mean to towns in his district including Attleboro, Taunton and parts of Fall River.

This week on Newsmakers: U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, discusses the chaotic American evacuation of Afghanistan and whether President Biden made a mistake ordering the withdrawal. The fourth-term Rhode Island Democrat also looks back at why the U.S. mission struggled and what he learned during his 18 visits to the country since 2001.

This week on Newsmakers: Tom McCarthy, executive director of Rhode Island's COVID-19 response, lays out the state's strategy to deal with the delta variant and open schools; Ben Downing, a Democratic candidate for Massachusetts governor, explains why he's running for the state's top job.

This week on Newsmakers: Brett Smiley, candidate for mayor of Providence, discusses rising concerns about violent incidents in the city and other policy issues; Target 12 investigator Eli Sherman shares an update on the latest coronavirus trends in Rhode Island.

In the era of misinformation, should a seminal case that provided sweeping protections to a free press be revisited? Roger Williams University Law School Prof. David Logan’s recent law review article arguing it should be was cited multiple times in a dissent by Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, and explains why New York Times v. Sullivan may doing more harm than good. Then, author Maureen Boyle takes viewers through the findings of her new book “The Ghost” that relives one of the most notorious mysteries in Southern New England.

This week on Newsmakers: Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos discusses her first 100 days on the job, and her visit to every city and town in the state. She also discusses the state takeover of Providence Public Schools, and why vaccination rates in Providence - where she was city council president - lags the rest of the state. Then Eli Sherman joins Tim White and Steph Machado to discuss the uptick in COVID cases, decline in vaccinations, and body worn camera policies.

This week on Newsmakers: Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, D-North Providence, and Senate Majority Leader Michael McCaffrey, D-Warwick, discuss the end of the regular legislative session and the prospects for lawmakers returning in the fall to tackle marijuana.

This week on Newsmakers: Kim Kalunian talks with R.I. House Speaker Joe Shekarchi; Ted Nesi moderates a reporters' roundtable on Rhode Island politics featuring Steph Machado, Ian Donnis and Dan McGowan.