Newsmakers: Wpri 12 Eyewitness News

This week on Newsmakers: a closer look at how the coronavirus could affect Southern New England with R.I. Department of Health Director Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott; plus, Tim White and Ted Nesi pose your questions about the outbreak to Brown University's Dr. Adam Levine and Rhode Island Hospital's Dr. Selim Sooner.

This week on Newsmakers: Pawtucket Mayor Don Grebien discusses the new report about the closure of Memorial Hospital, the Tidewater Landing project and his own political future; Stephanie Murray of Politico Massachusetts and Michael Goodman of UMass Dartmouth break down a busy week in Massachusetts politics.

This week on Newsmakers: Rhode Island Foundation President and CEO Neil Steinberg discusses its new long-term strategy documents about education and health care; a political roundtable breaks down the New Hampshire primary results.

This week on the first half of Newsmakers: Democratic presidential hopeful Mike Bloomberg and Gov. Gina Raimondo talk with WPRI 12 politics editor Ted Nesi about her decision to endorse him. Then political analysts Joe Fleming and Lisa Pelosi join the panel to break down the latest news in the presidential race.

This week on the first half of Newsmakers: R.I. Convention Center Authority Ex. Director Jim McCarvill. In the wake of a controversial audit ordered by House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello, McCarvill weighs in on why he thinks the audit was ordered and the ensuing state police probe. On the second half: State Sen. Ryan Pearson. A new report from a special Senate task force focused on how the state spends $1 billion in education funding each year. Pearson discusses the list of recommendations which will likely lead to series of bills in the coming months.

This week on Newsmakers: Democrat Becky Grossman, a candidate for Massachusetts’ 4th Congressional District and Newton city councilor, discusses her campaign to succeed Joe Kennedy III. She is one of seven Democrats who are currently in the race, along with Jake Auchincloss, Dave Cavell, Alan Khazei, Ihssane Leckey, Jesse Mermell and Ben Sigel. On the second half, a reporter roundtable featuring Steph Machado, Eli Sherman and Dan McGowan breaks down the week’s headlines at the Rhode Island State House and Providence City Hall.

This week on Newsmakers: R.I. House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello. The state's top lawmaker is already bristling over Gov. Gina Raimondo's budget proposal. Mattiello, D-Cranston, discusses how he opposes adult marijuana legalization this year, but may be open to it down the road. And he responds to questions about why he ordered an audit of the R.I. Convention Center at the same time one of his friends is in the middle of a personnel investigation.

This week on Newsmakers: House Minority Leader Blake Filippi, R-New Shoreham, discusses the Republican policy agenda for 2020 at the State House and whether he'll run for governor; Warwick Beacon publisher John Howell reflects on his 50 years running the biweekly newspaper.

This week on Newsmakers: a political roundtable examines 2020. Joining Tim White and Ted Nesi are Eyewitness News Political Analyst Joe Fleming along with political analysts Lisa Pelosi and Joy Fox. The panel looks at the upcoming election year from a national and local perspective, and what policies the governor and General Assembly may tackle in the new legislative session.

This week on Newsmakers: Eyewitness News anchor Kim Kalunian conducts a year-end interview with Gov. Gina Raimondo, who reflects on the ups and downs of 2019 and reveals what she will be pushing in 2020.

This week on Newsmakers: Roman Catholic Bishop of Providence Thomas Tobin discusses his recent meeting with Pope Francis in Rome, the ongoing Catholic sex abuse crisis, declining Mass attendance and more.

This week on Newsmakers: Brett Johnson, founder and principal of Fortuitous Partners, discusses his $400 million proposed soccer complex for Pawtucket; Care New England President and CEO Dr. James Fanale discusses the possibility of renewed hospital merger talks with Lifespan.

This week on the first half of Newsmakers: Jesse Mermell, a Democratic candidate for Massachusetts’ 4th Congressional District, discusses her campaign to succeed Congressman Joe Kennedy. She is one of six Democrats who are currently in the race, along with Jake Auchincloss, Dave Cavell, Becky Grossman, Alan Khazei and Ihssane Leckey. Then on the second half, a reporter roundtable discusses the $400 million proposed Pawtucket soccer development.

Rhode Island Community Food Bank CEO Andrew Schiff, and the executive director of Meals on Wheels Rhode Island Meghan Grady. Despite the good economy, Rhode Island is still seeing thousands of families who need food assistance. Schiff and Grady discuss the demand they’re seeing. On the second half of Newsmakers: Ted Nesi interviews Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza on the 20th anniversary of the Providence Place Mall.

The leader of Rhode Island's Ivy League institution since 2012, Paxson discusses the state of higher education in America, the Varsity Blues scandal, the ongoing drama in Rhode Island's hospital sector, and the Providence schools takeover.

This week on Newsmakers: Gov. Gina Raimondo. The governor recently sued the General Assembly over marijuana regulations; she discusses why, and what would lead her to drop the suit. The governor also admits her team got it wrong when putting together the budget for the state's child welfare agency, and weighs in on the 2020 presidential race.

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.