12 News politics editor Ted Nesi joined Eli Sherman and Dan McGowan on “Behind the Story” this week to discuss the future of politics and pensions in Providence.

Nesi said he's been getting a lot of feedback over the past week in response to comments about the Providence pension system made by state Rep. David Morales, who recently announced he's running for Providence.

Appearing on "Newsmakers" last week, Morales said he'd tackle the city's woefully underfunded pension plan in part by renegotiating pension benefits paid to out-of-state retirees.

Cutting pension benefits has long spurred contentious debate in Providence, and previous efforts have often resulted in lengthy legal battles. Nesi said Morales' comments quickly evoked a lot of calls and emails from retirees who were upset by Morales' proposed idea.

"Retirees see this very simply: They worked, they were promised a benefit -- it's the city's job to figure out how to pay them the benefit," Nesi said.

More broadly, Nesi discussed Morales' political career and his approach to taking on incumbent Brett Smiley, who's seen as more moderate candidate and has said he intends to run for reelection. The two Democrats would face off in a primary election next September.

"There's genuine disagreement between different flavors of Democrats right now," Nesi said.

Later in the show, Dan and Eli talked about the “Stories We Wish We Wrote.” They include:

• Lax Enforcement, Lack of Awareness Result in Poor Recycling Ticket Returns in Providence by Colleen Cronin, ecoRI News. (Bonus: Cronin joined "Behind the Story" in July to talk about Providence recycling. You can watch the full episode here.)
• How AI is changing police work by John Howell, Warwick Beacon. (Another bonus: Howell joined "Behind the Story" in June. Full episode here.)

• McKee and Foulkes have our attention on R.I.’s opioid crisis. Here’s how they can earn our respect by Philip Eil, Rhode Island Current
• Westerly unveils new schools strategic plan by Ryan Blessing, The Westerly Sun

Watch “Behind the Story” Thursdays at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on the WPRI 12+ TV app.

• How to download the free WPRI 12+ smart TV app

It airs on TV (Sundays at 8 a.m. on FOX Providence and 11 a.m. on The CW Providence), and will be available on demand through the WPRI 12+ app and right here on WPRI.com.

“Behind the Story” is hosted by Eli Sherman and Kim Kalunian of 12 News, along with Dan McGowan of the Boston Globe.

Eric Rueb of The Providence Journal joined Eli Sherman and Dan McGowan on “Behind the Story” to discuss his experience covering sports in Rhode Island.

For years, Rueb has been reporting on youth and professional sports, and he expressed excitement over this year’s high school football season, which is officially underway.

“I’m going to watch Central Falls and East Greenwich on Thursday, and those are the games I love to see,” Rueb said. “Someone’s going to do something I’ve never seen before and that’s the reason why high school football should exist, and why people should love it.”

Rueb also talked about some of the issue surrounding sports, such as the importance of developing programs, whether private schools have competitive advantages over traditional public schools and the dangers of parents getting angry at referees during games.

“Being a jerk is never part of the game,” Rueb said. “It’s the kids that I feel bad for because [parents] don’t realize how they’re affecting their kids’ lives going forward.”

Rueb also offered a preview of his new new sports show “Blitz Breakdown,” which just launched this week on the 12+ TV app.

Later in the show, Dan and Eli talked about the “Stories We Wish We Wrote.”

• Pawtucket school officials delete plagiarized welcome message by Ethan Shorey, The Valley Breeze

• City Council to sue and filibuster Mayor Mitchell by Colin Hogan, The New Bedford Light
• TF Green Airport CEO gets new contract, raise. Here’s how much he will be making by Patrick Anderson, The Providence Journal

A special shoutout to 12 News politics editor Ted Nesi, who’s started a new series of digital-explainer reels covering complicated issues for Rhode Island PBS. Watch his first one here, examining the new “Taylor Swift” tax that will affect second-home owners beginning next July.

Watch “Behind the Story” Thursdays at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on the WPRI 12+ TV app.

• How to download the free WPRI 12+ smart TV app

It airs on TV (Sundays at 8 a.m. on FOX Providence and 11 a.m. on The CW Providence), and will be available on demand through the WPRI 12+ app and right here on WPRI.com.

“Behind the Story” is hosted by Eli Sherman and Kim Kalunian of 12 News, along with Dan McGowan of the Boston Globe.

Alexa Gagosz of The Boston Globe joined Eli Sherman and Dan McGowan on “Behind the Story” this week to discuss the Hasbro decision to relocate its headquarters from Pawtucket to Boston.

Gagosz covers a variety of topics including business and she's been tracking the yearlong uncertainty over whether the toymaker would make an out-of-state move. Hasbro for the past century has been headquartered in Rhode Island.

The company announced this week it would indeed move to the Boston's Seaport, and a spokesperson said Hasbro will no longer have a corporate footprint in Rhode Island by the end of 2026.

Gagosz talked about her recent reporting on what losing Hasbro means for Pawtucket, along with the broader Rhode Island business community, along with what it means for the 700 people whose jobs are moving north.

In addition to discussing Hasbro, Gagosz talked about her newsletter dubbed "The Food Club," which takes readers behind the scenes of the regional food and restaurant industry.

Later in the show, Kim and Eli talked about the “Stories We Wish We Wrote.”

• Rhode Island Beaches Hosted Tiny Gelatinous Visitors This Summer: Salps by Isabella Jibilian, Rhode Island PBS/The Public's Radio
• Trick or treat? ‘The Conjuring’ house listed for auction on Halloween by Sarah Guernelli, 12 News

• Police investigating pornographic ‘Zoom bombing’ of New Bedford Board of Health meeting by Frank Mulligan, The New Bedford Standard-Times
• Coastal Agency Canceled Meeting to Vote on Lowering Quorum Requirements Due to Lack of Quorum by Rob Smith, ecoRI News
• Advocates: Save the Stephen Olney House by Ethan Shorey, The Valley Breeze

Watch “Behind the Story” Thursdays at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on the WPRI 12+ TV app.

• How to download the free WPRI 12+ smart TV app

It airs on TV (Sundays at 8 a.m. on FOX Providence and 11 a.m. on The CW Providence), and will be available on demand through the WPRI 12+ app and right here on WPRI.com.

“Behind the Story” is hosted by Eli Sherman and Kim Kalunian of 12 News, along with Dan McGowan of the Boston Globe.

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Ian Donnis of The Public's Radio and Rhode Island PBS joined Eli Sherman and Dan McGowan this week on “Behind the Story” to discuss politics, public media and health care in Rhode Island.

Donnis is a longtime political reporter, who also hosts the show "Political Roundtable." He covers local, state and national politics, and this week he discussed Rhode Island's upcoming gubernatorial election in 2026.

Donnis also talked about the shifting landscape of public media in Rhode Island and across the country, along with the future of health care against the backdrop of a pending sale of Roger Williams and Our Lady of Fatima hospitals.

Later in the show, Dan and Eli talked about the “Stories We Wish We Wrote.”

• Westerly Planning Board’s rejection of housing plan upheld in Superior Court by Katie Castellani, Providence Business News
• Podcast: A newscast about a sea creature has become part of Ocean State lore by Edward Fitzpatrick, Boston Globe RI

• RI woman convicted in infamous 'stolen valor' case back in custody. What we know by Tom Mooney, The Providence Journal
• Christopher Silvia 'heartbroken' after ending campaign for Fall River mayor by Emily Scherny, The Fall River Herald News
• Who gets Christopher Silvia's mayoral race donations? What campaign finance law says by Dan Medeiros, The Fall River Herald News

Watch “Behind the Story” Thursdays at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on the WPRI 12+ TV app.

• How to download the free WPRI 12+ smart TV app

It airs on TV (Sundays at 8 a.m. on FOX Providence and 11 a.m. on The CW Providence), and will be available on demand through the WPRI 12+ app and right here on WPRI.com.

“Behind the Story” is hosted by Eli Sherman and Kim Kalunian of 12 News, along with Dan McGowan of the Boston Globe.

Anastasia E. Lennon of The New Bedford Light this week joins Eli Sherman and Kim Kalunian on “Behind the Story” to discuss the offshore wind industry, including the Trump administration order to stop work on the Revolution Wind project.

Lennon talked about what moves have been happening across the country leading up to stop-work order handed down last Friday to Revolution Wind, which project officials said was 80% completed.

She also discussed what's known so far about the security concerns cited as the reason for stop-work order, along with what other offshore wind projects are in the works and what this decision might mean for them.

Later in the show, Eli and Kim talk about the “Stories We Wish We Wrote.” They include (not all mentioned on air):

• Cow pie star comes up empty in Little Compton by Christian Silvia, EastBayRI
• 'Impossible': Why potential bridge builders question RI's new Washington Bridge plans by Patrick Anderson, The Providence Journal

• While RIPTA Held Service Cut Hearings, McKee’s Office Scheduled Bus Hub Discussions with Paolino by Colleen Cronin, ecoRI News
• Lombardi sets new limit on yard waste after confrontation by Ethan Shorey, The Valley Breeze
• The RI Ethics Commission could double the gift limit for lawmakers. Should they? by Kathy Gregg, The Providence Journal
• Regionalization Ball in Middletown’s Court by Philip Cozzolino, Newport This Week

Watch “Behind the Story” Thursdays at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on the WPRI 12+ TV app.

• How to download the free WPRI 12+ smart TV app

It airs on TV (Sundays at 8 a.m. on FOX Providence and 11 a.m. on The CW Providence), and will be available on demand through the WPRI 12+ app and right here on WPRI.com.

“Behind the Story” is hosted by Eli Sherman and Kim Kalunian of 12 News, along with Dan McGowan of the Boston Globe.

Patrick Anderson of The Providence Journal this week joined Eli Sherman and Dan McGowan on “Behind the Story” to discuss his recent reporting on Gov. Dan McKee's education agenda.

Anderson is a government and politics reporter at the Projo, and he's part of a team of reporters who put together the newspaper's weekly Political Scene column.

The column this week focused on the governor's education agenda, which includes bolstering out-of-school learning for students to try and make up for education missed out on during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Anderson discusses whether the policies are working, and what ground needs to be covered to achieve the governor's goal of closing a persisting gap between Rhode Island and Massachusetts standardize testing scores by 2030.

Later in the show, Dan and Eli talk about the “Stories We Wish We Wrote.” They include (not all mentioned on air):

• Why the police log no longer names the accused by Joy Fox, Warwick Beacon
• As schools navigate AI, new guidance from R.I., Mass. urges adoption — and caution by Steph Machado, Boston Globe

• North Smithfield weighs humane fixes as beaver-caused flooding persists by Corey Plante, The Valley Breeze
• Noisy neighbors nag some residents nearby Main Street in Warren by Mike Rego, EastBayRI

Watch “Behind the Story” Thursdays at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on the WPRI 12+ TV app.

• How to download the free WPRI 12+ smart TV app

It airs on TV (Sundays at 8 a.m. on FOX Providence and 11 a.m. on The CW Providence), and will be available on demand through the WPRI 12+ app and right here on WPRI.com.

“Behind the Story” is hosted by Eli Sherman and Kim Kalunian of 12 News, along with Dan McGowan of the Boston Globe.

Tim White this week joins Eli Sherman and Kim Kalunian on “Behind the Story” to discuss the ongoing saga of Nicholas Alahverdian.

White is managing editor and chief investigative reporter at 12 News, and he's been covering Alahverdian for years leading up to his criminal trial that began this week in Utah.

Alahverdian, a conman from Rhode Island, was a longtime critic of the state's child welfare agency until he got jammed up with the law and faked his own death in 2020.

White discusses Alahverdian's life in Rhode Island, his troubles with the law, getting discovered while using a fake identity in Scotland and his criminal trial in Utah.

Later in the show, Eli and Kim talk about the “Stories We Wish We Wrote.” They include (not all mentioned on air):

• Report: R.I. child care providers not complying with health and safety regulations by Christopher Allen, Providence Business News
• Rocky Point's Corkscrew and Cyclone weren't the only roller coasters in RI. Here's a list by Savana Dunning, The Providence Journal

• New Bedford’s growing Hispanic population lags in voter turnout by Grace Ferguson, Tavishi Chattopadhyay and Jakob Moskowitz, The New Bedford Light
• $50 bills are popping up around Providence, thanks to this Instagram account. How it works by Nish Kohli, The Providence Journal

Watch “Behind the Story” Thursdays at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on the WPRI 12+ TV app.

• How to download the free WPRI 12+ smart TV app

It airs on TV (Sundays at 8 a.m. on FOX Providence and 11 a.m. on The CW Providence), and will be available on demand through the WPRI 12+ app and right here on WPRI.com.

“Behind the Story” is hosted by Eli Sherman and Kim Kalunian of 12 News, along with Dan McGowan of the Boston Globe.

Nancy Lavin of the Rhode Island Current this week joined Eli Sherman and Dan McGowan on “Behind the Story” to discuss her reporting on Woonsocket finances and State House politics.

Lavin is senior reporter for the independent, digital news outlet that focuses on state government and public policy. Lavin discusses ongoing financial issues in Woonsocket, which has seen its bond ratings yanked after struggling to get its annual financial reporting in order.

Lavin also talks about a recent feature she wrote about Sen. Pam Lauria, a Barrington Democrat, who made some power plays this past legislative session at the State House, helping to recast "her own reputation -- from quiet workhorse to change agent," according to Lavin.

Later in the show, Dan and Eli talk about the “Stories We Wish We Wrote.” They include (not all mentioned on air):

• From ranking seaweed to working at Dunkin' Donuts, RI politicians share their summer jobs by Antonia Noori Farzan, The Providence Journal
• Future of former library building remains unclear by Allison Shinksey, Southern Rhode Island Newspapers

• Why more cranberry farmers are selling to conservationists, not developers by Crystal Yormick, The New Bedford Light
• Leadership at Rhode Island’s top economic development agency is in limbo at a critical moment for the state’s economy by Alexa Gagosz, Boston Globe RI

Watch “Behind the Story” Thursdays at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on the WPRI 12+ TV app.

• How to download the free WPRI 12+ smart TV app

It airs on TV (Sundays at 8 a.m. on FOX Providence and 11 a.m. on The CW Providence), and will be available on demand through the WPRI 12+ app and right here on WPRI.com.

“Behind the Story” is hosted by Eli Sherman and Kim Kalunian of 12 News, along with Dan McGowan of the Boston Globe.