Friday, April 25, 2008

It's good to see how WRNI (1290 AM), with the benefit of increased staffing, is offering a stronger local news report. GM Joe O'Connor recently sent out an e-mail, touting the public radio station's efforts:

The role of immigrants in Rhode Island history is well established.  All this week, WRNI has been exploring the challenges faced by current immigrants, state agencies and

lawmakers.                                                        

 

Our five-part series explores a variety of topics which shed light on the complexities of the immigration issue.  In our final segment, airing tomorrow during Morning Edition at 6:40am and 8:40am, WRNI's Elizabeth Smick goes in-depth into the economic impact of illegal immigration in the state of Rhode Island.  Specifically, her story will examine the economic impact of immigration on the season summer workforce in Newport. 

 

The rest of the stories from our immigration series are available online at wrni.org.  You can also click on the following story titles to access the audio content on our website.

 

Illegal Immigration

by: Flo Jonic

The issue of illegal immigration has recently moved into the forefront. But, even before governor Carcieri issued his executive order designed to crack down on illegal residents, a flood of bills with the same intent had been filed on smith hill. After years of passive acceptance of a broken federal immigration system, some Rhode Islanders are saying 'enough is enough'. Advocates, however, say they're being made scapegoats for years of overspending and corruption. WRNI's Flo Jonic begins our series with an overview.

 

RIte Care Cuts

By: Megan Hall
Two years before the Governor's executive order to crack down on illegal immigration, Rhode Island's general assembly voted to stop giving health care to undocumented and even some legal immigrants. That was through changes to RIte care - the state sponsored program that provides health coverage to low income children and families. Now the state is considering cutting over two thousand immigrant children who were spared from those cuts.

 

Immigrants and Schools

By: Flo Jonic

Education week magazine recently ranked the state's schools among the most expensive and lowest performing in the country. Educators say the disconnect is due in part to the large number of non-English speaking students. There's no question that many English language learners are performing below grade level and dropping out of high school. But, WRNI's Flo Jonic reports that improving academic achievement is complex and costly.

 

Caring for Refugees

By: Megan Hall

As Rhode Island engages in a debate about how to care for immigrants who came here illegally, there's little talk about those newcomers who came here legally, but would go back home if they could. Over the past five years, Rhode Island has welcomed more than a thousand refugees from war torn countries around the world. Many come from parts of Africa like Liberia and Burundi where medical care is nothing like the American health system. A new program through the international institute and the department of health aims to make that transition a little easier.

Providence Schools: In the Shadow of Renaissance    WRNI takes an in-depth look at education issues by talking with parents, students, teachers and civic leaders about the state of our schools.    This five-part series, by WRNI's Education Reporter Rhonda Miller, will air Monday, May 5th during Morning Edition.