Newsmakers: Wpri 12 Eyewitness News

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.

U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin, D-Rhode Island. Recently, Langevin announced he now supports an impeachment inquiry against President Donald Trump. He explains why he had a change of heart and admits it could be bad for Democrats politically. Plus, Langevin weighs in on the likelihood of Rhode Island losing a congressional seat.

This week on Newsmakers: former New Bedford Mayor Scott Lang discusses why he's considering a Democratic primary challenge against U.S. Sen. Ed Markey; UMass Dartmouth's Shannon Jenkins and the Liberty Square Group's Scott Ferson analyze Congressman Joe Kennedy's potential Senate campaign.

Warwick Mayor Joseph Solomon, a Democrat, discusses his first year as mayor, the city's uncertain financial picture, restoring school sports, declining passenger traffic at T.F. Green and more.

This week on the first half of Newsmakers: Gov. Gina Raimondo. Gaming giants IGT and Twin River have been embroiled in a public battle over a contract to manage the state's gambling technology and lottery systems. Raimondo discusses why she supports extending IGT's contract over the objections of the casino. She also reacts to the mass shootings in Texas and Ohio. On the second half, WPRI.com reporter Eli Sherman and Eyewitness News Political Analyst Joe Fleming join Tim White and Ted Nesi for a political roundtable.

The President of the Providence Performing Arts Center, Lynn Singleton. With the smash hit "Hamilton" in Providence, Singleton talks about the impact the show has had on subscriptions to PPAC now and moving forward. Singleton also talks about the history of PPAC and how they have evolved over the years to host major shows, like "Hamilton."

Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza. Newly minted education commissioner Angélica Infante-Green took a major step earlier this week in taking over the beleaguered Providence schools. Mayor Elorza discusses what he'd like to see from the change and says there should be an end date on the state intervention. He also discusses city taxes, the closing of a Federal Hill nightclub and more.s

This week on Newsmakers: U.S. Rep. David Cicilline, D-Rhode Island. As a member of the House Judiciary Committee, Congressman Cicilline will be questioning Robert Mueller next week on the special counsel's investigation into his Russia probe. Cicilline previews that hearing, weighs in on talk of a division among House Democrats, and reacts to a devastating report about the Providence public schools.

Special Agent in Charge of the Boston Office of the FBI, Joseph Bonavolonta and U.S. Attorney for the District of Rhode Island, Aaron Weisman. From national security to public corruption, Bonavolonta and Weisman discuss regional and national priories for both agencies.

This week on Newsmakers: political roundtables look back at the first half of 2019 and preview the rest of the year in Rhode Island and Massachusetts politics. With Ian Donnis of The Public's Radio, Dan McGowan of The Boston Globe, Stephanie Murray of Politico Massachusetts, and Peter Ubertaccio of Stonehill College.

This week on Newsmakers: Congressman Joe Kennedy III, D-Mass. The fourth-term House Democrat explains why he now supports impeachment proceedings against President Trump, shares his concern about the ongoing migrant crisis, handicaps the 2020 presidential race and discusses his own political future.

R.I. Senator Judiciary Chair Erin Lynch Prata. In an unusual move, Lynch Prata moved a controversial abortion bill to another committee to ensure its passage. Lynch Prata discusses her decision and weighs in on other hot-button issues facing lawmakers as the General Assembly session nears its end. As a lawmaker from Warwick, she also reacts to the budget woes the city is facing.