Rhode Island Report The Boston Globe

It’s been 50 years since the Rao family opened Mr. Lemon in Providence. Customers come to the tiny white building on Hawkins Street for the frozen lemonade, and many return because they feel like family. Colleen, Joe, and Janice Rao know almost everyone – and their favorite flavors. They talk with Ed about the business and their first year serving lemonade without their mother, Eileen Rao. Got a story about Mr. Lemon? Email us at rinews@globe.com.

The game of golf isn’t often associated with young people or diversity, but one nonprofit in Rhode Island is trying to change that. For more than 20 years, Button Hole in Providence has been making the game affordable and accessible to children in the area. Ed talks to Anaridis Rodriguez, host of “Generation Rising” and Don Wright, executive director of Button Hole, about the program. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.

When the US Senate confirmed Judge Melissa DuBose in March, she broke two barriers. She became the first person of color and the first openly LGBTQ Judge to serve on the US District Court for Rhode Island. She officially starts that job in January, but she joined us in the studio for a preview of what’s to come. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.

The City by the Sea is known for its history. It's also on the front lines of climate change. Some of Rhode Island's biggest tourist attractions – Newport's mansions and other historic properties – are increasingly impacted by rising sea levels and extreme weather. Rhode Island PBS Weekly reporter Pamela Watts and Preservation Society of Newport County director of museum affairs Leslie Jones join Ed to discuss this issue. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.

If you want to know about military actions around the world, ask US Senator Jack Reed. He’s Rhode Island’s senior Senator, the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, and often joins congressional delegations on trips overseas.

Steph Machado down with Reed for Sunday’s episode of Rhode Island PBS Weekly for an update on the US’s role in the wars in Gaza and Ukraine as well as some issues closer to home. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.

Earlier this week, our own Dan McGowan and Brian Amaral moderated a live conversation about the Blue Economy and Rhode Island’s sustainable future. The panel featured Patty DiOrio, VP and head of project development, Americas at Ørsted; and Bill Fazioli, managing director of program and business development at the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank.

If you missed part of the conversation, you can listen along to this lightly edited version. Tips and ideas? Email us at rinews@globe.com.