Behind the Story

Behind the Story
Podcast Description
Come Behind the Story with WPRI 12 News in Providence, Rhode Island with conversation that takes you beyond the headlines.
Hear it from the journalists who broke the biggest news across Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. Hosted by Target 12 Investigator Eli Sherman, 12 News anchor Kim Kalunian, and Boston Globe columnist Dan McGowan, this 30-minute show pulls back the curtain on how impactful stories come to light — and why they matter. Each week, reporters reveal the questions they asked, the obstacles they faced, and the moments that made the difference. It’s a front-row seat to the journalism that shapes your community.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The show focuses on local journalism and current events in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts, delving into topics such as the Napatree Point dispute, the Butler Hospital strike, and various community issues. Episodes often feature analysis of reporting methods, discussions about ongoing stories, and insights into local events that have a significant impact on the community.

Come Behind the Story with WPRI 12 News in Providence, Rhode Island with conversations that take you beyond the headlines.
Hear it from the journalists bringing you the most interesting news across Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts.
Hosted by Target 12 Investigator Eli Sherman, 12 News anchor Kim Kalunian, and Boston Globe columnist Dan McGowan, this 30-minute show pulls back the curtain on how impactful stories come to light — and why they matter.
Each week, reporters reveal the questions they asked, the obstacles they faced, and the moments that made the difference. It’s a front-row seat to the journalism that shapes your community.
Ethan Hartley, editor of The East Providence Post, recently covered the city budget process where Mayor Bob DaSilva signed the latest tax-and-spending plan Wednesday.
Hartley said no services were cut, but he underscored that the city still raised the overall tax levy to the state-capped limit of 4% for the next fiscal year.
“Municipal budgets today are very tight,” Hartley said. “Just to get the basic services and take care of your contractual increases takes up a lot of what you have room for. And so mostly, they said it’s not a great budget, it’s not perfect, but it’s the best we can do. And they passed it.”
Hartley also talked about the giant troll that was recently erected in town, and discussed the lasting effects of the closed westbound Washington Bridge, which connects East Providence to Providence.
“Rhode Islanders are very adaptable people,” Hartley said. “We kind of assume that things are going to be bad. And so I think at this point, almost two years in, we just know what to expect and that the bridge is going to be miserable and traffic’s going to take an extra half hour to get where you want to go.”
Later in the show, Kim and Eli talked about the “Stories We Wish We Wrote.” They include:
Kim’s picks
- Which Dunkin’ is the most Dunkin’ of all? An investigation. by Beth Teitell, The Boston Globe
- Rhode Island considers ending Medicaid coverage of GLP-1 drugs for weight loss by Alexandro Castro, Rhode Island Current
Eli’s picks
- HOSPITAL MAKEOVERS: Health systems look for shot in the arm from multimillion dollar projects by Katie Castellani, Providence Business News
- New tour biz offers tastes of SouthCoast aboard a double-decker bus by Ashley Schuler, The Fall River Herald News
- Everyone’s coverage of the Dartmouth plane crash on I-195
Watch “Behind the Story” Thursdays at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on the WPRI 12+ 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.

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