Hannah Cotter Journalist

03/05/2025

Tonight, two toddlers are recovering after being rescued from their burning home Monday night in Providence.

Two toddlers are recovering at the hospital after being rescued from a burning home in Providence on Monday night.

03/01/2025

Two people are held without bail in connection with a drug bust in Middletown on Thursday, that ended in a police chase with officers firing their guns.

Police say the DEA tried to arrest Justin Deprospo, 39, in a parking lot on West Main Road when he took off and hit an officer with his car.

02/26/2025

Hector Arvelo’s sons say their father loved music and was passionate about his North Providence recording studio, Pressure Records.

The 41-year-old was found dead inside that building over the weekend, and now investigators are working to track down whoever was responsible.

Jesaiah Arvelo has fond memories of his father, 41-year-old Hector Arvelo.

02/21/2025

“It was just devastating to staff. Completely unexpected.” 

Buttonwood Park Zoo is morning the loss of Blue, a 21-year-old harbor seal who died from bird flu.  

The Buttonwood Park Zoo is mourning the loss of Blue, a harbor seal that died from the bird flu earlier this month.

02/20/2025

Humans and animals alike are mourning the tragic and unexpected loss of Blue, a 21-year-old harbor seal who died earlier this month from complications from bird flu at Buttonwood Park Zoo.

Blue was a beloved member of the community here, and loved to paint.

Story tonight at 5 and 6 on WPRI 12.

02/20/2025

And you may ask yourself, how did it get here?

When RISD acquired a collection of materials from a New York artist and former lecturer, archivists had no idea it included a piece of music history that could be traced right back to Providence.

Story by Hannah Cotter Journalist and Jusolyn Flower: https://www.wpri.com/dont-miss/provenance-in-providence-lost-demo-tape-of-talking-heads-psycho-killer-resurfaces-at-risd/

02/12/2025

Rhode Island lawmakers are taking aim at rising utility costs. One local supplier says it’s a multifaceted problem that requires a multifaceted solution.

On Tuesday, Rhode Island state lawmakers held an informative legislative briefing to try and address rising utility costs.

02/11/2025

72-year-old James Hughes III has been denied parole eight times, after being convicted in a 1982 North Kingstown murder. Now, the parole board is mulling geriatric parole, which, according to the Department of Corrections, is available for inmates over the age of 65 who suffer from "impairment, infirmity or illness."

Krista Rousseau, whose grandfather, Zeke Harris, was murdered by Hughes, says she and her family were shocked about this latest development.

James Hughes, 72, is serving a life sentence for the 1982 murder of Howard “Zeke” Harris in North Kingstown.

02/10/2025

The RI parole board is once again taking up the case of convicted murderer James Hughes III, less than two years after his last appeal was denied.

James Hughes, 72, is serving a life sentence for the 1982 murder of Howard “Zeke” Harris in North Kingstown.

01/31/2025

Today I spoke with Douglas Lane, whose son Spencer and wife Christine were on the plane involved in last night’s air collision in D.C. They’re from Barrington.

His strength is truly remarkable. He called Spencer a “force of nature” and Christine a “beautiful, creative person.”

https://www.wpri.com/news/local-news/east-bay/rhode-island-teen-was-on-plane-that-collided-with-military-helicopter/

01/29/2025

Four-year-old Eliza Khan has died after she and her mother, 32-year-old Dena Khan, were hit by a car Monday morning.

The little girl’s preschool is encouraging students and staff to all wear pink on Friday — Eliza’s favorite color.

The 4-year-old girl who was struck by a car in Woonsocket has died.

01/29/2025

💔 the family has set up a GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-dena-eliza-after-tragic-accident?attribution_id=sl%3A9efef370-578b-41cb-8570-9aaceef6317c&lang=en_US&utm_campaign=man_sharesheet_dash&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3i6rLn0_mAfOETrs8huNLj8poXFXgihygchzbgWWI2FHxLuyjQhvKsvTs_aem_PlqkCI9X-vldfMBU7M4I0g

The 4-year-old girl who was struck by a car in Woonsocket has died.

01/29/2025

A federal judge issued a stay against a White House directive ordering a spending freeze on federal assistance programs, that was scheduled to go into effect at 5pm yesterday.

Local lawmakers and nonprofits are concerned that policy could have widespread effects here in RI.

01/25/2025

A 40-year-old Providence man is pleading not guilty to assault, disorderly conduct and larceny after being accused of “body-slamming” a jogger to the ground and stealing hat.

The jogger posted a TikTok video of the incident, which has since gone viral.

Dana Mauch, 40, is accused of knocking a 28-year-old man to the ground on the Woonasquatucket River Greenway Bike Path on Saturday, Jan. 11.

01/20/2025

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01/17/2025

Deliberations will resume this morning in the trial of two men accused of killing 34-year-old Leila Duarte Da Luz in 2022. Each defendant has their own attorney and jury. Yesterday both juries heard closing arguments from both sides. 

https://www.wpri.com/news/local-news/west-bay/juries-deliberate-fate-of-men-accused-in-pregnant-womans-murder/

01/16/2025

After the state rested Wednesday afternoon, defense attorneys made a motion to acquit the men charged in Leila Duarte Da Luz’s murder. That motion was denied.

37-year-old Gary Gromkiewicz and 47-year-old Michael Lambert are accused of killing Da Luz, after her body was found in Carbuncle Pond in December of 2022. Investigators say she was pregnant at the time and Gromkiewicz was the father.

Each defendant has their own attorney and jury in this case. Both juries will hear closing arguments Thursday morning.

On Wednesday, jurors heard continued testimony from a Rhode Island state police detective who specializes in cellphone data.

Lambert’s team rested without calling any witnesses. Gromkiewicz’s attorney called his sister to the stand, who was questioned about the relationship between Gromkiewicz and Da Luz.

The state and both defense attorneys rested their case Wednesday in the dual-jury trial of two men accused of murdering a pregnant woman in Coventry two years ago.

01/15/2025

Testimony is set to resume Wednesday morning in the double jury trial for two men accused of killing 34-year-old Leila Duarte Da Luz in December of 2022. Her body was found was found in an icy Coventry pond and investigators say she was pregnant at the time of her death.

On Tuesday, we heard from the medical examiner and a state police detective who specializes in cellphone data:

Gary Gromkiewicz, 36, and Michael Lambert, 46, are charged in connection with the death of 34-year-old Leila Duarte Da Luz.