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IAN DONNIS

Latest Articles

R.I.P. Richard Egbert, super-tough defense lawyer

In Memoriam
In the time before Buddy Cianci’s Plunder Dome trial in 2002, I met with Richard Egbert, the quintessential take-no-prisoners defense lawyer, and gleaned a telling detail about him.

By: IAN DONNIS | July 30, 2008

Who’ll stop the pain?

Another round of cuts looms at the ProJo
Will the last reporter to leave the Providence Journal please turn out the lights?

By: IAN DONNIS | July 30, 2008

Is RI making the most from its tourism appeal?

Critics call a variety of agencies a wasteful approach in this small state
If you were going to promote Rhode Island's plate of idiosyncratic attractions to potential visitors in other states, what would be the best way to do it?

By: IAN DONNIS | July 24, 2008

Let’s embrace satire, not boycott it

Get a grip
When the New Yorker last week ran a cover illustration spoofing the right-wing critique of Barack Obama, it was another instance in which the storied magazine put a provocative point on its front page.

By: IAN DONNIS | July 23, 2008

Looking out for the public interest

Christine Lopes leads the charge at Common Cause of RI
Lopes has steadily ramped up her efforts in the time since, focusing on such perennial Common Cause topics as open records, voting integrity, campaign-finance-reform and separation of powers.

By: IAN DONNIS | July 21, 2008

MacKay’s fill-in column comes to a sudden end

As The ProJo Turns
Providence Journal political reporter Scott MacKay’s temporary assignment as a political columnist came to an abrupt end.

By: IAN DONNIS | July 16, 2008

Cicilline: A go or no for governor?

His rough patch shows how the mayor’s office remains a tricky launching pad
Call it a case of art imitating life.

By: IAN DONNIS | July 09, 2008

Lynch sides with Bush in opposing shield law

Talking Politics
As he gears up for a gubernatorial run in 2010, Attorney General Patrick C. Lynch has assembled an eclectic and sometimes contrary portfolio of issue-related stances.

By: IAN DONNIS | July 09, 2008

State’s renewable energy effort goes into neutral

Talking Politics
When it comes to advancing the cause of solar energy in Rhode Island, nothing is ever easy, or so it seems.

By: IAN DONNIS | July 02, 2008

Mixed reviews: A state budget for desperate times

Talking Politics
The budget consensus reached by Governor Carcieri and legislative leaders last week represents just another marker of Rhode Island’s ongoing dire straits.

By: IAN DONNIS | June 25, 2008

A tale of two TV stories

Hidden influence can be a bigger concern than aggressive reporters
Bill Rappleye, of WJAR-TV, was pursuing the adversarial relationship between reporters and elected officials when he asked Governor Carcieri to explain why he isn’t violating the state’s anti-nepotism law.

By: IAN DONNIS | June 18, 2008

Plan languishes for garage at Garrahy courthouse

Parking Wars
The Providence Foundation and some other boosters have been championing a plan to create a multi-story parking garage behind the Garrahy Judicial Complex in downtown Providence.

By: IAN DONNIS | June 18, 2008

Can the Providence schools get it together?

The answer will have a serious impact on the state’s economic future
As Rhode Island continues to struggle with budget deficits and economic development, the future of education is a piece of a large puzzle.

By: IAN DONNIS | June 12, 2008

Scott takes another bite at the Kennedy apple

Talking Politics
Anyone running against a Kennedy can count on a very stiff challenge.

By: IAN DONNIS | June 11, 2008

Got sustainability?

Apeiron’s annual festival points the way to different possibilities
Growing numbers of Americans are taking up bicycling and gardening, and perhaps reconsidering the more costly habits of the not-so-distant boom times.

By: IAN DONNIS | June 04, 2008

Claiming the nomination, Obama achieves the re-markable

Talking Politics
On Tuesday, the Democratic Party’s historic embrace of a black presidential candidate seemed both unremarkable and amazing.

By: IAN DONNIS | June 09, 2008

Can’t anybody here play this game?

Rhode Island remains trapped between economic distress and missed opportunities
The need to reinvent Rhode Island’s economic infrastructure — which remains anemic compared with most of its neighbors in New England — is more urgent than ever.

By: IAN DONNIS | May 21, 2008

Ten-5 plan for Providence City Council sparks sharp debate

Ten-5 plan for Providence City Council sparks sharp debate
Critics react to the plan to reformulate the Providence City Council.

By: IAN DONNIS | May 21, 2008

New push: add at-large seats to Providence City Council

Talking Politics
In the ward-based politics of the Providence City Council, it’s the rare councilor who publicly criticizes anything beyond the confines of his or her own turf.

By: IAN DONNIS | May 14, 2008

Avedisian, Trillo challenge Manning for GOP post

Talking politics
Since the RNC is “basically a seniority-based organization,” he says, a change in the post would mean “we’re going to [have to] start all over again.”

By: IAN DONNIS | April 30, 2008

Media rebels in the Internet age

The debate-defining posts of Rhode Island activists wield influence beyond their readership
Bloggers have “used a new and powerful medium and ‘crashed the gates’ to ensure that information — the most important ingredient in a democracy — would be available to anyone who wanted to write, read, or debate.”

By: IAN DONNIS | May 01, 2008

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