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Extra Footage
Working and Collecting 6.27.2010
The Union Perspective...3.1.2012
Last fall's special session of the Rhode Island General Assembly resulted in significant changes to the state's pension system. But the appetite for reform in the municipal systems has waned as lawmakers head into the heart of this year's session. This week Jim Hummel sits down with two veteran union leaders for their perspective on the changes - and the pension system going forward.
A Question of Enforcement 2.23.12
The water quality of the Providence River has improved dramatically over the past decade. But this week, Jim Hummel investigates questions about a scrap yard adjacent to the river cited repeatedly for storm water and hazardous waste violations. One environmental group wants to know: why isn't the state doing more to crack down?
Wrestling for Answers 2.16.2012
This week: Two high school honor students caught in a bureaucratic vacuum that has kept them from wrestling the entire season - in a year when their team is competing for a division title. Jim Hummel sorts it all out with the students (one is the team captain), their principal, and the head of the interscholastic league, who tries to explain a rule and a decision that have left many baffled.
In Limbo 2.9.12
A few months ago the state installed a controlled-access gate in one of the parking lots adjacent to the Rhode Island State House. But the project has been more headache than help, as the gate system turned out to be too narrow and had to be removed after a barrage of complaints. This week Jim Hummel talks with the state official overseeing the project - and a state senator who says government needs to treat every tax dollar as carefully as the taxpayers do themselves.
Chained In 1.26.2012
The Station Nightclub Fire left many Rhode Islanders acutely aware of entrance and exit doors. This week: we have undercover video of a chained fire exit at a charter school in Cranston - with students just steps away down the hall. The state fire marshal was so disturbed when Jim Hummel showed him the video, he and the state police reacted immediately.
(Re) Calling Mayor Flanagan 1.19.2012
Even before he was sworn in for a second term on Jan. 2, Fall River Mayor William Flanagan discovered an unexpected challenge for the new year: a recall effort by two city residents, upset with controversial decisions the mayor made right after his election in November. They include the appointment of an interim fire chief facing a criminal charge in Rhode Island. If successful, it will be the first time a mayor has been recalled in Fall River's 209-year history.
Hidden truth 1.12.2012
For years motorists in the East Bay couldn't figure out why the Barrington Bridge was taking so long - and costing so much - to finish. This week: the president of the company that was being blamed by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation talks publicly with Jim Hummel, for the first time, about a confidential report that now puts the blame on the D.O.T., costing taxpayers millions of extra dollars. And, he says, the problems go much deeper.
The First Year 1.5.2012
This week Providence Mayor Angel Taveras looks back on his first year in office: the challenges and surprises, the successes and setbacks, as he answers the critics who thought he might not be tough enough to get it all done. And he tells Jim Hummel why he hasn't criticized his predecessor David Cicilline - when many others have.
That's a Wrap for 2011 12.29.2010
This week we take a look back at a very busy year for the Hummel Report. Jim Hummel has new information on a handful of investigations - from a cracked bridge in Warren to defective engines on high-priced search and rescue boats. Plus, a controversial figure in Fall River continues to make news - and what would 2011 be without an update from Rehoboth?
Pro Bono 12.15.2011
This week: a special holiday Hummel Report as we take a break from government waste and the multitude of problems in Rhode Island - to profile an organization that over the past two decades has provided millions in free dental work to hundreds of elderly and disabled patients who need it the most. Jim Hummel speaks with the president of the organization and two patients who have benefited from the program.
The Cost of Transparency - extra footage
The Cost of Transparency - extra footage
The Cost of Transparency - extra footage
The Cost of Transparency - extra footage
The Cost of Transparency 12.8.2011
This week we take a closer look at the embattled Bristol County Water Authority, which is facing allegations of mismanagement following a hefty rate increase last year. Now the board chairman is gathering information about four vocal critics amid talks of potential litigation. Is it fact finding or intimidation? Jim Hummel sits down with the chairman and his critics.
An Island Unto Itself 12.1.2011
The controversy over a trash-removal contract on Block Island moves to the mainland this week, as the company with the losing bid files a lawsuit in Superior Court. But it's not just about this contract. Jim Hummel finds the suit claims there is a larger conspiracy that makes it virtually impossible for outsiders to do business on the island.
Risky Business 11.17.2011
This week: The results of a six-month Hummel Report investigation into a taxpayer-funded business loan program run by the city of Providence. The program had a default rate so high under the Cicilline administration that federal officials overseeing the lending initiative have stepped in, wanting to know why. Jim Hummel discovers loans going to the politically-connected and some who never should have gotten the money to begin with.
Risky Business Extra Footage
Risky Business Extra Footage
Risky Business Extra Footage
Risky Business Extra Footage
A Bridge Too... 11.10.2011
The Quonset Business Park is one of the few bright spots for economic development in Rhode Island these days, attracting new companies and jobs. But some who located here are questioning a brand new $4.2 million taxpayer-funded bridge that links one side of the park with the other. This week Jim Hummel sits down with the park's managing director for the background on the bridge.
Change Order
The mayor of Fall River is defending his decision to divert a quarter of a million tax dollars earmarked for street repairs throughout the city - instead spending it on two little-used roads surrounding a project being developed by a major political supporter. This week Jim Hummel asks: Is it economic development or a political payoff.
Trash Talk 10.13.2011
We travel to Block Island this week, to investigate allegations of a no-bid contract for a lucrative trash-hauling business, which is recently getting a lot of attention. Jim Hummel finds island politics can be just as rough-and-tumble as they are on the mainland.
Disclosure 10.6.2011
Taxpayers in East Providence last year repeatedly heard from their city council that taxes would increase at the city's capped rate of 3.5 percent in 2011. But the Hummel Report has learned the total amount the city had to raise from its taxpayers was actually 8.7 percent higher, in large part because of losses in state aid, a figure that was not publicized. Jim Hummel sits down with the former head of the council - and the man who defeated him - to try explain the numbers.
New Details 9.29.2011
This week we have new information on five of our investigations. From the elimination of a controversial state fee to an ill-timed construction project; another episode of As the Town of Rehoboth Turns - and a good example of what-goes-around-comes-around. Jim Hummel has the details.
Identity Crisis, The Trial 9.22.2011
A federal jury has convicted a Russian man, living in Warwick, on identity theft, wire and passport fraud charges after a trial this week in U.S. District Court. Jim Hummel was in court all week on the case the Hummel Report profiled earlier this month. He has details from the trial, the verdict and reaction.
Quick Start 9.15.2011
It has been more than a year since Secretary of State Ralph Mollis announced he was implementing a streamlined, online application system for business start-ups in Rhode Island - at a cost to taxpayers of $250,000. With the finish of that project still at least six months away, Jim Hummel asks the secretary: Why is it taking so long and what are taxpayers getting for their money
Identity Crisis 9.8.2011
Last fall the U.S. Attorney announced the arrest of a Russian couple living in Warwick on identity theft and fraud charges. The media painted the picture of spies who had infiltrated the community. This week - what the indictment doesn't say, and Jim Hummel's prison interview with the man who is the target of the government's case.
A Taxing Situation 8.18.2011
The legislature rejected Gov. Chafee's proposal this past session to broaden Rhode Island's sales tax. This week, in a hidden camera investigation, Jim Hummel discovers you may already be paying an extra tax - without you or the state knowing it. We go undercover to find money going into the state's coffers that shouldn't be.
A Matter of Timing- Part 2
Last month we told you about a construction project that began right after the 4th of July in downtown Newport. This week: groundbreaking for a $4 million state-of-the-art pavilion at one of Rhode Island's most popular beaches right at the height of beach season. Jim Hummel asks if state officials considered any alternatives to the timing.
Details Details 8.2.2011
Rhode Island taxpayers spend millions of dollars every year for police officers to work overtime details at construction sites. This week a Jamestown man questions whether taxpayers are getting their money's worth - and if civilian flaggers should be doing the same job. Jim Hummel speaks with a retired police chief who now trains officers for details and defends their presence at construction jobs.
Striking a Balance 7.21.2011
Taxpayers have shelled out nearly $2.5 million to form a Marine Strike Team, part of a Homeland Security initiative for the Port of Providence and Narragansett Bay. While the team has been effective in disaster response, Jim Hummel finds the four boats purchased with federal tax money have had recurring, and costly problems - knocking one out of the water for more than a year.
Rough Waters 7.14.2011
It's an age-old problem in Providence: finding a place to park. Now the city is relying on increased revenue from stepped-up parking enforcement to help balance its budget this year. But how is it affecting local businesses? Jim Hummel speaks with one not-too-happy store owner - and the commissioner of public safety, who weighs in on what drivers can expect when they come to the city.
Another Way 6.30.2011
We are back in Central Falls, where the state-appointed receiver overseeing the city's finances is moving the community closer to bankruptcy. This week Jim Hummel sits down with a man who is well acquainted with government in Central Falls, serving as city clerk, councilman and mayor. He says the receiver has not made the tough decisions that other communities are making to work through their financial crises.
A Matter of Timing 6.23.2011
Newport is a community that relies heavily on tourism. But visitors to the city will soon have to navigate their way around a downtown construction project scheduled to get under way right as the tourist season kicks into high gear. This week Jim Hummel talks to business owners and the person overseeing the project about the timing for construction.
Mid Year Update 6.16.2011
As we near the mid-way point of 2011, there are some significant developments in the ongoing saga that is the town of Rehoboth; changes at the state's 911 call center; and a breakthrough for opponents of a massive wind turbine proposal in North Kingstown. Jim Hummel has the latest information
Don't Count On It 6.9.2011
For many of us email is often the easiest way of getting in touch with somebody directly and in a hurry. That is, unless you're trying to reach the vast majority of lawmakers in the General Assembly at their state email addresses. This week Jim Hummel puts the legislature to the test. Find out how your senator and representative fared.
Inspect This 6.2.2011
Thousands of businesses every year have their hot water heaters inspected by the state of Rhode Island - and with it comes a fee. But are the inspections necessary? This week Jim Hummel finds that an increase in the number inspectors has resulted in more businesses subject to inspections - some for the first time in decades. But he also discovers the state is revamping the program, with emphasis on a little customer service, and a lower fee.
Giving Rhode Island the Business 5.26.2011
Rhode Island has lured millions of dollars worth of television and film work from out of state since the legislature passed financial incentives in 2005. But the tax credit program used as the bait requires support services like catering for the productions to be provided by Rhode Island companies. This week, Jim Hummel asks the question: What defines a ``Rhode Island company?''
Showdown with the State 5.12.2011
The town of Portsmouth is in a showdown with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, which is ordering a section of the community to install sewers - at a cost of more than $40 million. But what if voters reject a bond to pay for it? This week Jim Hummel looks at an issue that could set a precedent for other communities in Rhode Island.
A Difficult Path
The streets of Providence can be a challenge to negotiate, even for those who know the city. But if you're trying to do it in a wheelchair the path can be both difficult - and dangerous. This week Jim Hummel finds the city has largely ignored an order from the federal government to make its sidewalks accessible to the handicapped, failing to make changes officials promised to make more than a decade ago.
Unfinished Business 4.28.2011
Last fall Chief Stephen Enos phoned the Rehoboth Police station just after midnight, asking the dispatcher to run a Rhode Island license plate. Enos then asked for street-by-street directions to the address in Pawtucket where the car is registered. This week, Jim Hummel has a copy of the recording, which took the department more than seven weeks to produce.
Better than Expected 4.21.2011
It has been called the biggest public works project you'll never see: a three-mile underground tunnel. Its purpose: to catch up to 65 million gallons of sewage and storm drain runoff that used to go directly into Narragansett Bay untreated. This week Jim Hummel breaks the news that 2 1/2 years after the tunnel went online water quality in the Bay - and particularly the Providence River - has improved dramatically.
911...Please Hold 4.14.2011
When there's an emergency - you call 911. But last year in Rhode Island thousands of people were put on hold. Telephone customers pay millions of dollars in surcharges every year to fund the 911 system, but the money's not going where it's supposed to. This week, Jim Hummel finds out why, and talks with one woman who says 911 failed her when she needed it last month.
Under the Radar 4.7.2011
So far this year more than 1,000 bills have been filed in the Rhode Island House of Representatives and another 800 in the state Senate. This week, Jim Hummel sifts through the proposed legislation, offering a look at some of the quirkier bills flying under the public's radar
More on Morra 3.31.2011
Christopher Morra has been a polarizing figure in Rehoboth since moving to town from East Providence eight years ago. He was responsible for hiring embattled Police Chief Stephen Enos and is working to help allies of the chief stay on the Board of Selectmen when voters go to the polls on Monday. This week Jim Hummel has a few questions for Morra - and finds out that Morra has a few questions for him.
More on Morra UNCUT 3.31.2011
Christopher Morra has been a polarizing figure in Rehoboth since moving to town from East Providence eight years ago. He was responsible for hiring embattled Police Chief Stephen Enos and is working to help allies of the chief stay on the Board of Selectmen when voters go to the polls on Monday. This week Jim Hummel has a few questions for Morra - and finds out that Morra has a few questions for him.
Quarterly Update 3.24.2011
We have new details this week on Hummel Report investigations over the past several months. There have been major developments in North Kingstown's wind turbine project, Governor Chafee's sales tax proposal and a former Massachusetts state senate candidate who continues to dig himself a deeper hole with Rhode Island regulatory board. Jim Hummel has the latest information.
Listen to This 3.10.2011
After he became Rehoboth's police chief in 2008, Stephen Enos had a new phone system installed at the police station that allows him to listen to all the incoming and outgoing calls, which he does regularly. But there's one big problem, and this week we find out what the chief did when Jim Hummel started asking questions.
Missing in Action-extra footage
Missing in Action-extra footage
Missing in Action-extra footage
Missing in Action-extra footage
Missing in Action 3.3.2011
Rehoboth's Police chief has been under fire for the past several months - after a December drinking incident in East Providence that has left lingering questions - and a no confidence vote from the department's rank-and-file. This week Jim Hummel finds the chief hasn't been spending a lot of time at work.
Disclosure 2.24.2011
A freshman city councilman in Pawtucket turned quite a few heads at his first meeting in January when he floated the idea of privatizing the city's rescue services. This week Jim Hummel takes a closer look at what he didn't say
Left in Limbo 2.10.2011
A Pawtucket couple is robbed of thousands of dollars worth of electronic equipment and jewelry that is eventually recovered in Providence by the Providence Police. Or is it? This week we find the couple has spent more than two months trying to get their possessions back. And Jim Hummel asks the Providence Police: Why
Another Look 2.4.2011
The Board of Selectmen in Rehoboth decided Friday to hire what the chairman is calling a private, independent investigator to look into a December incident involving Police Chief Stephen Enos - who admitted to drinking at an East Providence restaurant while taking the narcotic Vicodin, after using his cruiser to get there. Jim Hummel has reaction from the board chairman and the chief.
Some Investigation- extra footage
Some Investigation- extra footage
Some Investigation- extra footage
Some Investigation- extra footage
Some Investigation- extra footage
The police chief in Rehoboth says an adverse reaction to medication - after drinking at an East Providence restaurant last month - caused him to wind up blocks away, lying on the sidewalk screaming. Now the Board of Selectmen is under fire for clearing the chief with no disciplinary action. Jim Hummel did some digging of his own and found key details the selectmen missed during their investigation. He also talks exclusively with a selectman who resigned, in part, over the situation and is now calling for a state police investigation.
Net Metering 1.20.2011
Two years ago, in an effort to promote wind energy, the legislature changed the law on ``net metering'' - a practice that allows the owners of wind turbines to sell any power they don't use back to National Grid. It seemed to make sense in the drive to encourage development of renewable energy sources. But, as Jim Hummel finds, the change in law opened up a loophole that is now the subject of an investigation by the Public Utilities Commission.
A Lot of Wind
Wind energy became a hot topic last year as the Deepwater Wind project off Block Island played out before the Public Utilities Commission and the General Assembly. In 2011, the focus has shifted to the mainland, where many local communities are grappling with the pros and cons of wind turbines coming to their own backyards - literally. Jim Hummel, who has been tracking the issue since last fall, finds that ground zero for that discussion has been North Kingstown.
It's Official 1.6.2011
Extra Footage
It's Official 1.6.2011
Lincoln Chafee became Rhode Island's 58th governor on Tuesday. But how he got there has been months - some might say years - in the making. This week, in a wide-ranging interview with Jim Hummel, Gov. Chafee talks about his short- and long-term goals, the controversial proposal to broaden the state's sales tax and offers insight about some of the people he's brought into his inner-circle.
That's A Wrap 12.20.2010
This week as we wrap up 2010, The Hummel Report has new details on some of our investigations - and the fallout from what we've uncovered. Plus, Jim Hummel has a special tribute to one of the good guys in government, who persevered in a city under siege
Lost and Found 12.16.2010
It has been more than four years since Providence firefighter Michael Day died in the line of duty. So why is his widow still waiting for memorial pins that she helped pay for, to be distributed to her husband's colleagues? This week Jim Hummel finds out the wait is almost over.
Flexing his muscle 12.9.2010
In North Providence, where politics is not for the faint-of-heart, one town councilman is defending himself against complaints that he's doing town business on the clock of his public-sector employer. He says a little-known ``flex-time '' law allows him to do it. Jim Hummel has the councilman's explanation, and reaction to it.
Lame Ducks 12.2.2010
All five incumbents on the Foster Town Council lost their seats on Election Day. Over the past several weeks they have reopened - and extended - each of the town's union contracts, pushing their new expiration dates beyond the term of the newly-elected council. Is it a case of taking care of unfinished business - or is it a parting shot from the outgoing council? Jim Hummel hears from both sides.
A Matter of Exemption 11.18.2010
Nearly 40 percent of all property in the city of Providence is now tax-exempt - double what it was just a decade ago. This week we take a look at some businesses run by tax-exempt institutions that are competing for consumer dollars. Jim Hummel finds one college-owned store and restaurant not charging sales and meal tax required by the state. Find out where - and the response to our investigation.
Another Taxing Question 11.11.2010
He lives and works in Rhode Island, and has just been elected to a local town council - but has his $40,000 truck registered in Vermont. This week Jim Hummel finds out why - and what state law says about who should be registered in Rhode Island. The answer may surprise you - and a lot of Rhode Islanders who have their vehicles registered in other states, trying to avoid the local car tax.
Meet the Candidates: Part 2
Frank Caprio part 2
Meet the Candidates 2010
Frank Caprio
Meet the Candidates: Part 2
John Robitaille part 2
Meet the Candidates 2010
John Robitaille
Meet the Candidates: Part 2
This week we continue our in-depth profiles of the four major candidates running for governor. Democrat Frank Caprio and Republican John Robitaille - on the campaign trail and in sit-down interviews with Jim Hummel - offer their views on the issues, the campaign, their styles and heading down the homestretch to Election Day. We have separate profile pieces on Caprio and Robitialle, with additional links of outtakes from the interviews. So a total of four links to look at this week (plus a brief overview of the Caprio/Robitaille stories on our main page). If you missed last week's pieces on Lincoln Chafee and Ken Block, go to our `Archives' page
Meet the Candidates 2010
Ken Block part 2
Meet the Candidates Part 1
Ken Block
Meet the Candidates Part 1
Link Chafee part 2
Meet the Candidates Part 1
Link Chafee
Meet the Candidates Part 1
This week we continue our in-depth profiles of the four major candidates running for governor. Democrat Frank Caprio and Republican John Robitaille - on the campaign trail and in sit-down interviews with Jim Hummel - offer their views on the issues, the campaign, their styles and heading down the homestretch to Election Day. We have separate profile pieces on Caprio and Robitialle, with additional links of outtakes from the interviews. So a total of four links to look at this week (plus a brief overview of the Caprio/Robitaille stories on our main page). If you missed last week's pieces on Lincoln Chafee and Ken Block, go to our `Archives' page
A Family Affair
The North Providence Town Council is back to full strength after a special election replacing three councilmen who resigned in the wake of federal corruption charges. But one of the council members elected to an at-large seat not only works for the School Department, but has two sons employed by the town. This week Jim Hummel asks her about a potential conflict of interst.
First Anniversary 10.7.2010
This week we mark the first anniversary of the Hummel Report, a year of uncovering government waste, corruption - and of giving a voice to those who don't have one in the media. Join Jim Hummel for a highlight reel of investigations and the impact our reporting has had over the past 12 months.
This Just In 9.30.2010
This week: New information on several of our investigations over the summer. From the DEM worker living rent-free in a state-owned house...to a much-anticipated sentencing in a fatal drunk driving crash...to primary results of several candidates we focused on who had some ``issues'' heading into election day. Jim Hummel has the details
A Healthy Benefit 9.23.2010
This week we take a look at the city of Warwick, which picks up the tab on medical coverage for its elected officials, past and present. Jim Hummel goes inside the numbers, showing how much the medical benefits for current council members are costing taxpayers. He also lists some of the former councilmen and mayors who are getting lifetime medical on the taxpayer dime - including one who may surprise you.
Ready for Inspection? 9.16.2010
The state says if you want to put a vehicle on the road, it's got to have a valid inspection sticker. This week we find engines in the Central Falls Fire Department that have failed inspection, but are driving around with expired stickers anyway - one nearly a year overdue. Jim Hummel sits down with the chief to find out why
Another Taxing Questions 9.9.2010
The General Assembly's elimination of the car tax exemption means everybody who owns a motor vehicle in Rhode Island is now paying more in property tax. This week Jim Hummel takes a look at one local town councilman who isn't paying the standard registration fees or taxes on vehicles that he, his girlfriend and his mother are driving.
Permit Me 9.2.2010
He is the president of the Fall River Firefighters union and owner of a home construction company. Michael Coogan is also running for the Massachusetts Senate seat in Fall River. But Coogan is facing questions - and an investigation by the state of Rhode Island - about a construction job his company did in Barrington last year. Find out why as Jim Hummel talks with the candidate about it this week.
(Some) Help is on the Way 8.19.2010
Last fall we told you about crumbling concrete, burned out lights and graffiti-covered walls on the city side of the Providence Amtrak station. Now a new report details serious structural problems you can't see, but as Jim Hummel reports, a little help is on the way.
A Familiar Face 8.12.2010
Three years ago North Kingstown's school superintendent was forced out by the school committee under a cloud of controversy. The state Department of Education determined his administration improperly spent nearly a quarter of a million dollars of restricted special education grant money. Now, James Halley is back, asking the voters of North Kingstown to send him to the General Assembly. This week, Jim Hummel catches up with the candidate.
One on One 8.5.2010
Mark Pfeiffer was enjoying his retirement from 21 years on the Superior Court bench when he got a call last month: Would he take on the job of getting Central Falls back on solid financial footing, as a state-appointed receiver? Pfeiffer agreed to the task and two weeks ago hit the ground running - changing the locks at City Hall and relieving Mayor Charles Moreau of his day-to-day duties. This week, Jim Hummel sits down for a wide-ranging interview with the retired judge about what he hopes to accomplish in the coming weeks and months.
One on One - Extra Footage
Extra Footage
Living Free 7.29.2010
A two-bedroom state-owned house, off the beaten path, in one of the most beautiful parks in Rhode Island: It's a great location for anyone working in the park. Especially if it doesn't cost anything to live there. This week Jim Hummel tells us why one state worker has been getting a free ride for more than a year - and why that's coming to an end.
Revenue Raid 7.22.2010
At the end of this year's session the General Assembly and governor's office were quick to publicize that they balanced the new state budget with no broad based tax increases. This week Jim Hummel focuses on a restricted fund lawmakers raided to help fill a massive budget deficit - tax money that is supposed to be going to help clean up the environment.
Special Fund
Over the past six years a special fire alarm inspection program has generated nearly a quarter of a million dollars in fees. But the money from the inspections - mandated by the Rhode Island Fire Marshal's office - hasn't been going to the state's General Fund as most revenue does. This week, Jim Hummel tells you where it has been going and why that is changing.
New Information 7.1.2010
This week we have new information on several of our investigations. From a new harbormaster on Block Island and plans for a renovated but vacant building on the state prison grounds, to parking at the State House, cracks in a brand new bridge and public funding for the arts - Jim Hummel has developments on each. And, of course, the very latest on the investigation into corruption at Central Falls City Hall.
Working and Collecting - extended footage
Working and Collecting - extended footage
Working and Collecting 6.27.2010
How is it that someone can show up for work every day at a computer repair shop and still collect unemployment benefits? That's the question we pose this week to an East Providence man - who says the business is his wife's and he doesn't take any pay for the hours he puts in there; at the same time collecting the maximum benefit allowed in Rhode Island. Jim Hummel goes to the state for answers about the unemployment insurance program, finding out what's allowed - and what may get you in trouble.
The State's Response 6.17.2010
Earlier this spring we brought you the story of one businessman's struggle to have his contaminated property cleaned up - contamination that came in part from a gas station next to his land. This week Jim Hummel speaks with the state agency overseeing the case to find out why it has stretched over so many years - and discovers it's another example of government having to do a lot more with a lot less these days.
Power Play 6.10.2010
This week our focus is the Central Falls School Department. Not the much-publicized firing of its high school teachers; rather a long-running battle between the superintendent and Mayor Charles Moreau over the condition of the city's school buildings and a controversial repair made to one. Jim Hummel sits down with Superintendent Frances Gallo for a behind-the-scenes look at (as The Hummel Report has revealed over the past several months) an all-too-familiar pattern of action coming out of City Hall.
First Year Report card
Will it be the future of education in Rhode Island? That's a question some in academic circles are asking as the state's first `mayoral academy' finishes up its inaugural school year. This week we take a tour of Democracy Prep Blackstone Valley and Jim Hummel sits down for a conversation with the head of the school, as well as Cumberland's mayor - the driving force behind this new type of charter school. But as we found - it's not a school model everyone will embrace.
The Right Reimbursement? 5.27.2010
Providence Mayor David Cicilline told The Hummel Report in February that no city resources would be used on his newly-launched campaign to replace Patrick Kennedy in Rhode Island's First Congressional District - even though for the next five weeks he used a city vehicle and police driver to go to more than a dozen campaign stops. The mayor's campaign has reimbursed the city for some of that travel. But this week, Jim Hummel asks him the question: is it enough?
Under the Radar...The Sequel 5.20.2010
In March we took a look at some of the more bizarre legislative proposals filed in this year's General Assembly session. Now as Rhode Island's lawmakers head into the homestretch, we take another look at another round of offbeat bills winding their way through the committee process. From taxing soda or allowing free beer and wine tastings at package stores to business-friendly legislation that's about 20 years overdue: Jim Hummel is back to break down another set of bills.
The Price of Art 5.13.2010
For 20 years the state of Rhode Island has mandated that at least 1 percent of the cost of any new public building be set aside for art. But with the state continuing to face massive budget deficits the law has come under fire - with two projects at the Kent County Courthouse at the center of a renewed debate over public funding for art. This week Jim Hummel gets differing perspectives on the program and provides a first-hand look at the art in question.
Politics of a Prison 5.6.2010
The Wyatt Detention Center has generated millions of dollars for the city of Central Falls since it opened in 1993. But that money dried up a year and a half ago when a prisoner died in custody and the feds pulled some of their inmates. That led to Mayor Charles Moreau stepping in and shaking up management at a facility that had previously had a stellar track record. But have those moves been in the best interest of the taxpayers? This week Jim Hummel takes a closer look at how politics have infiltrated the prison.
Calling it a Career 4.29.2010
For more than two decades the name Jeremiah S. Jeremiah Jr. has been synonymous with Rhode Island's Family Court. Jeremiah, the chief judge since 1987, has been the public face of a court where much of the action takes place out of public view. His tenure, though, has not been without controversy. This week Jim Hummel sits down for an extended interview with the judge - who is retiring in June - to talk about why he's leaving, and some of the changes he's seen during his tenure on the bench.
Security or Convenience?
Next time you visit the Rhode Island State House be sure and pack a pair of walking shoes. That's because two dozen metered parking spots for the public on Smith Street are now `reserved' - for people who work inside the building and are being displaced from parking in the circle adjacent to the front of the State House. This week Jim Hummel finds out why the state changed the parking - and he tries to determine who scored a select spot.
Extra Footage
Extra Footage
Cashing In...4.14.2010
Retirement, as the saying goes, isn't always what it's cracked up to be. That's particularly true in the city of Central Falls. Last week, Jim Hummel called the police chief about a deal the chief made to ``retire'' and begin collecting a pension, while remaining on the job as chief, at a higher salary. Over the weekend, the chief put out a written press release reacting to our inquiry - but it didn't include all of the details. Now we have them, after Hummel sat down with Chief Moran for a wide-ranging interview about the deal and the public's perception of it.
A Case of Contamination 4.8.2010
Four years ago a Warwick businessman was poised to sell his mortgage-free property for $3 million to a developer and enjoy the retirement he'd been working toward for years. That is, until tests showed an adjacent gas station had contaminated his property, which scuttled the deal. This week Jim Hummel has the story of one man's fight to try and get his land cleaned up.
Sink Your Teeth Into This One 4.1.2010
Last summer a Central Falls City Council candidate - and political rival of the mayor - was campaigning door-to-door when an unlicensed pit bull darted out from the back yard of a house in his district and bit him twice. This week Jim Hummel tries to find out how the pit bull (the breed is banned by ordinance in the city) suddenly received a license from City Hall, who may have been behind it and why the police won't get involved.
Now for this Update 3.25.2010
We have some new developments on the two major stories we broke since the beginning of the year: The ongoing corruption investigation at Central Falls City Hall, and Providence Mayor David Cicilline's use of a police security detail for his congressional campaign. Jim Hummel has an update on those two series of stories, and the fallout from a few others.
Bloopers 3.22.2010
Back by popular demand we bring you the Hummel Report blooper reel - this from the last leg of our Tour Through New England two weeks ago. We were answering Providence Mayor David Cicilline's challenge that to compare Providence to other New England cities - his premise being that the mayors of most cities the size of Providence have security details like his.
Under the Radar 3.18.2010
While the Rhode Island General Assembly still hasn't figured out how to balance this year's budget, lawmakers have filed hundreds of extraneous bills that have nothing to do with jobs, the economy or an exploding deficit. This week Jim Hummel takes a closer look at legislation that may leave you....perplexed.
A Chilling Effect 3.11.2010
Providence Mayor David Cicilline spends half a million dollars a year for police security and transportation. But there may be another cost to the public. This week Jim Hummel speaks with one person who says the officer always near the mayor's side sometimes sends the wrong message - and to another person who questions how the police detail is being used.
What About the Others? 3.4.2010
Last week Mayor David Cicilline insisted that police security details for mayors in cities the size of Providence is standard practice. And, he said, that's why a detail of four full-time veteran officers transports him, at a cost last year to taxpayers of half a million dollars. So this week we visit five similar cities in New England to see how the mayors there get around. And we ask how Cicilline's detail compares to that of Governor Carcieri. The answers may surprise you.
The Cost of Security 2.25.2010
Providence Mayor David Cicilline doesn't go anywhere in public without a Providence Police officer by his side and behind the wheel of an SUV with City license plate No. 1. But how much is it costing taxpayers to have a team of officers assigned to the mayor dawn-to-dusk, weekends and holidays? This week Jim Hummel sits down with Cicilline for his take on the police detail, the cost and how it might be affected by his recently-launched campaign for Congress.
No Bid, No Problem 2.18.2010
By day, Richard Aubin Jr. is the chief mechanic at his family's car repair business in Central Falls. But on the first Monday night of every month he trades his overalls for a suit - and a seat - as a councilman inside City Hall. That has not stopped him having a no-bid contract with the Police Department to service its vehicles. This week, Jim Hummel goes one-on-one with the councilman and takes us inside the numbers to see how much Aubin's family business has received from the city.
In for a Dollar 2.11.2010
Central Falls Mayor Charles Moreau is under fire for selling a piece of city-owned land to a political ally... for a dollar. The mayor convinced the City Council it would be good economic development, saying a local businessman planned to put up a brand new million-dollar building on the site. But we learned the businessman knows nothing about it and the mayor is nowhere to be found. This week, Jim Hummel goes to the City Council - which gave Moreau permission to sell the lot - for answers.
A Taxing Question 2.4.2010
Nearly 40 percent of all property in Providence is tax exempt. But should it be? This week we ask the question: Should tax exemption be based on use - not just ownership. Jim Hummel takes a look at properties in Providence that are unused or underused, but still enjoy tax exempt status. And we check in with one community that is now receiving hundreds of thousands of dollars in new tax revenue from a formerly tax-exempt institution.
A Conflicted Story 1.28.2010
Ten months ago Central Falls Mayor Charles Moreau needed the furnace in his house replaced. The bill -- for $6,875 - didn't go to the mayor, but to a longtime friend and campaign contributor, who at the time was doing tens of thousands of dollars of work for the city -- work given to him by the mayor. This week we go straight to the mayor for an explanation.
The Attorney General's Perspective 1.28.2010
As the state police continue to investigate potential corruption at Central Falls City Hall, we sit down with Attorney General Patrick Lynch, a friend and political ally of Mayor Charles Moreau. The AG gives us his take on our series of stories, the investigation into Moreau's administration, Lynch's own public support in the past for the mayor and much more. Jim Hummel reports.
One Sweet Deal 1.21.2010
We are back in Central Falls this week, where the heat is on City Hall. How and why did a close friend of the mayor’s get the inside track on boarding up foreclosed houses, making hundreds of thousands of dollars before the work even went out to bid? Jim Hummel learns the contractor – who is also a campaign contributor to the mayor - had the full force of City hall behind him…and now has the state police asking questions.
A Conflicted Story 1.14.2010
Ten months ago Central Falls Mayor Charles Moreau needed the furnace in his house replaced. The bill – for $6,875 - didn’t go to the mayor, but to a longtime friend and campaign contributor, who at the time was doing tens of thousands of dollars of work for the city – work given to him by the mayor. This week we go straight to the mayor for an explanation.
Sick Bonuses 1.7.2010
Many communities in Rhode Island offer their workers a benefit that private sector employees can only dream about: Cash payouts for unused sick time when they retire. The city of Warwick, though, takes it one step further: paying veteran union and management workers cash bonuses for not using their allotted sick time during any given year. Despite a multi-million dollar municipal budget gap, the checks went out as usual last month -- including bonuses for some managers making six-figure salaries. This week Jim Hummel sits down with Mayor Scott Avedisian to find out why.
Whatever Happened? 12.30.2009
Since we launched The Hummel Report in mid-October many people have asked that we give them periodic updates on our investigations. So this week, as 2009 draws to a close, Jim Hummel takes a look back –from our first piece on a police officer who has been on paid leave for 13 years…to a building on the state prison grounds that sits vacant, even though the government spent $17 million to refurbish it.
Cracks in the Concrete 12.17.2009
Over the past decade, while the new Barrington Bridge became the poster child for what could go wrong with a state construction project, the smaller Warren Bridge half a mile down Route 114 largely escaped public scorn and scrutiny. It opened a month before its more famous neighbor to the north, but The Hummel Report has discovered that even before the first car crossed the new pavement, the state and contractor were faced with cracks in some of the concrete, which you can see in this week's video. How serious is it? Jim Hummel goes to the state Department of Transportation for answers.
Putting a Finger on the Problem 12.10.2009
In the post-September 11th-era, Rhode Island began requiring job applicants in many fields to be fingerprinted as a condition of employment. But tightening budgets and staff cutbacks have led to huge fingerprinting backlogs in some of the larger communities - delaying some people's opportunity to work again. This week Jim Hummel finds that many officials were unaware of the problem until the Hummel Report brought it to their attention - and now they're beginning to do something about it.
Deadly Consequences 12.2.2009
Last March a van full of Connecticut College students set out from New London at 3:30 a.m. for a medical missions trip to Uganda. They were 8 miles into their ride to Logan Airport when a man who later admitted to drinking at Mohegan Sun Casino plowed head-on into them, killing a 20-year-old premed student who had organized the trip. This week Jim Hummel speaks exclusively with a student from Barrington who was in the van. She talks publicly for the first time about how the aftermath of the crash has affected her life, about drinking policies at the casino and Twin River's recent decision to extend gaming to 24 hours a day here in Rhode Island.
A Diamond in the Rough 11.19.2009
With the holidays right around the corner we take a brief break from government waste and corruption to profile an inner-city organization that is helping to change lives every day. It started out 33 years ago as a soup kitchen for the homeless, but over the last decade has evolved into a multi-million dollar operation that trains hundreds - and serves thousands - every year. Jim Hummel goes to South Providence for an inside look at Amos House.
Welcome to Providence 11.12.2009
It is a place thousands of visitors pass through every year – the Providence Amtrak station. So why are the nearby sidewalks crumbling and the majority of municipal lights burned out on one side of the station, while other bulbs shine brightly in broad dayligt? It’s a question one man has been trying to get answered– unsuccessfully – for nearly 15 years. This week, Jim Hummel goes to City Hall with a few questions of his own. Find out the he gets in his latest Hummel Report investigation.
The Lights Are On But Nobody's Home 11.5.2009
Six years ago, Rhode Island Corrections Director A.T. Wall pitched an idea to lawmakers: Why not build a new cutting-edge `reintegration center ‘ for problem inmates on the verge of being paroled? His plan was to put nearly 200 inmates together in a renovated building on prison grounds. Now, five years after construction began and $17.5 million later, the building is still vacant – although it’s well-lit and heated -day and night. So what happened? Jim Hummel gets the answers in this week’s Hummel Report investigation.
Block Island Brohah 10.29.2009
This week The Hummel Report goes on the road (actually, across the water) to Block Island, where we find that conflicts of interest involving public officials are not confined to the mainland. The island’s longtime harbormaster is facing an investigation by the Rhode Island Ethics Commission – accused of using his public position to try and line his own pockets. On this island where almost everybody really does know everybody, it’s difficult to get anyone to talk publicly – but one year-round resident has come forward to say: enough is enough. Hear what he has to say. And we go to the harbormaster’s boss, who has begun her own investigation.
Signs of the Times 10.22.2009
They may look fine to passing motorists, but thousands of road signs across Rhode Island need to be replaced, so says the state’s Department of Transportation – all in an effort to meet new federal highway guidelines. The state has begun a $9 million for sign replacement, using federal stimulus money to pay for a project it otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford. But just what do you get for $9 million? And could state highway officials save money right now by taking one simple step? That is the focus of this week’s Hummel Report investigation.
Million Dollar Mistake 10.15.2009
This week's story focuses on a local police officer who has been on paid leave for nearly 13 years, costing taxpayers close to $1 million in salary, benefits, litigation and tax breaks. How did this happen? Jim Hummel takes a look at how early mistakes by the city have put taxpayers on the hook and how the blame game began from the start. We go right to the mayor and the officer for their reaction to a case that seems unlikely to be settled anytime soon.
