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Alexandra Leslie

@alexandraleslie.bsky.social

530 followers 69 following 310 posts

Emmy nominated Target 12 investigative reporter covering Providence and more for WPRI 12 • Dog mom to Eddie • Living with Cystic Fibrosis • Reposts/likes = look! • [email protected]

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Alexandra Leslie @alexandraleslie.bsky.social · May 23

Wow!! Thrilled that Target 12 has won a Regional Edward R. Murrow Award for our multipart series on the Rhode Island housing crisis.

I feel so honored to be a part of this team at @wpri12.bsky.social.

www.wpri.com/about-us/tar...

Target 12 wins regional Murrow Award for ‘Housing Crisis’ series

The Target 12 Investigators’ series examining the Rhode Island housing crisis has earned 12 News a regional Edward R. Murrow Award.

Reposted by Alexandra Leslie

Ted Nesi @tednesi.bsky.social · 1d

NEW: Rep. Bob Craven has resigned as House Judiciary Committee chairman in the wake of revelations about his 2001 domestic-violence arrest

Craven also says he won't seek reelection to the House, all in the wake of the NK Dem's disastrous 4-day run for AG

Alexandra Leslie @alexandraleslie.bsky.social · 5d

LOOKING AHEAD: Monday, the Providence City Council’s Committee on Ordinances will discuss proposed amendments to the Community-Police Relations Act, a 2017 ordinance, in response to increased immigration enforcement.

Public comment will be taken.
www.wpri.com/news/local-n... @wpri12.bsky.social

Reposted by Alexandra Leslie

Ted Nesi @tednesi.bsky.social · 8d

NEW: Brown Health is set to take an even larger role in RI medicine

The state's top hospital group and largest employer today agreed to take on a lot more primary care patients in exchange for AG sign-off on the takeover of a major physicians practice www.wpri.com/news/local-n...

Reposted by Alexandra Leslie

Ted Nesi @tednesi.bsky.social · 11d

INBOX: Statements from Gov McKee and challenger Helena Foulkes on tonight's Target 12 report revealing the April 2024 forensic audit on the Washington Bridge

McKee points to the bridge contractor lawsuit

Foulkes wants oversight hearings and Alviti out www.wpri.com/target-12/fo...

Alexandra Leslie @alexandraleslie.bsky.social · 11d

The owners of Stewart House have been feeling the impacts of tariffs from the UK and EU, plus additional brokerage fees, for months.

Another set of tariffs introduced on Thursday could have ripple effects for businesses big and small.

MORE: www.wpri.com/business-new... @wpri12.bsky.social

Reposted by Alexandra Leslie

Eli Sherman @elisherman.bsky.social · 11d

NEW: A forensic audit the McKee administration has refused to release for more than a year shows state officials should have been aware of growing structural issues tied to the westbound Washington Bridge long before it abruptly closed in December 2023 www.wpri.com/target-12/fo...

Reposted by Alexandra Leslie

Eli Sherman @elisherman.bsky.social · 11d

NEW: Providence Place mall officials are looking for a new movie-theater operator after learning Showcase Cinemas will not renew its lease in January www.wpri.com/target-12/th...

Alexandra Leslie @alexandraleslie.bsky.social · 13d

Prov. Retirement Board denied granting a high-ranking police officer that has been out injured for 7 years a disability pension. For now, it means Lt. George Smith will return to IOD status.
www.wpri.com/target-12/retirement-board-denies-disability-pension-for-high-ranking-providence-police-officer/

Alexandra Leslie @alexandraleslie.bsky.social · 14d

NEW: The former RISP sergeant who was forced off the job after being pulled over for suspicion of drunk driving has taken a plea deal, Target 12 has learned.

www.wpri.com/target-12/ou... @wpri12.bsky.social

Alexandra Leslie @alexandraleslie.bsky.social · 15d

TARGET 12: For more than seven years, one Providence PD lieutenant has been collecting his annual salary of $111,279 tax-free -- making him by far the longest case among more than a dozen city officers currently drawing injured-on-duty benefits.

www.wpri.com/target-12/hi... @wpri12.bsky.social

Alexandra Leslie @alexandraleslie.bsky.social · 15d

Reaction from Providence mayoral candidate @davidmoralespvd.bsky.social ⤵️

David Morales @davidmoralespvd.bsky.social · 15d

I’m glad to see the Mayor finally recognizes that there is an illegal ICE presence in our city while supporting our vision of a Providence for All.

That said, today’s order does nothing more than sign his name to an existing law he’s been failing to enforce for 9 months.

Alexandra Leslie @alexandraleslie.bsky.social · 16d

NOW: Providence Mayor Brett Smiley has signed “A Safe Providence for All” into law.

The executive order is codifying existing policy around immigration enforcement in the city. @wpri12.bsky.social

Alexandra Leslie @alexandraleslie.bsky.social · 15d

Mayor Brett Smiley signed an executive order that reaffirms Providence police officers are not immigration officers.

The EO also urges *federal authorities* not to wear masks, to clearly ID themselves/their agency.

Reporting w/@katewilkinson.bsky.social: www.wpri.com/news/local-n...

Reposted by Alexandra Leslie

Eli Sherman @elisherman.bsky.social · 16d

Aaron Thomas will be sentenced today in the naked fat test case.

A jury cleared him of sex crimes earlier this year. He was convicted of misdemeanor battery.

Prosecutors want the max of two years behind bars; Thomas wants no prison time.

Details👇 www.wpri.com/news/local-n...

Alexandra Leslie @alexandraleslie.bsky.social · 16d

NOW: Providence Mayor Brett Smiley has signed “A Safe Providence for All” into law.

The executive order is codifying existing policy around immigration enforcement in the city. @wpri12.bsky.social

Reposted by Alexandra Leslie

Ted Nesi @tednesi.bsky.social · 19d

NEWSMAKERS: State Rep. David Morales joins @timwhiteri.bsky.social + me to discuss his run for mayor, rents, police - and how he'd convince PVD retirees to accept pension cuts

Plus: two RI Republican leaders on Kirk and their 2026 strategy

Watch online now - tonight/Sunday on TV - or get the pod

Alexandra Leslie @alexandraleslie.bsky.social · 19d

PROVIDENCE: A new report in response the housing crisis states that without “bold action” in Providence, more residents will continue to be priced out.

A city task force says the City Council should "explore" rent stabilization in Providence.
www.wpri.com/target-12/ho... @wpri12.bsky.social

Report recommends that City Council should ‘explore’ rent control in Providence

A new report in response the housing crisis states that without “bold action” in Providence, more residents will continue to be priced out.

Alexandra Leslie @alexandraleslie.bsky.social · 20d

👀

Ted Nesi @tednesi.bsky.social · 20d

NEW: Brown Health has finally revealed how much ex-CEO Tim Babineau got on his way out the door after the Lifespan/CNE merger failed

Tax docs show RI's top hospital group and top employer paid Babineau more as ex-CEO than it paid its *current* CEO in 2023 www.wpri.com/target-12/br...

Reposted by Alexandra Leslie

Ted Nesi @tednesi.bsky.social · 20d

Story: Congressman Auchincloss says he won't enter the 2026 Democratic primary against Senator Markey, ending months of speculation about his political plans www.wpri.com/news/local-n...

Alexandra Leslie @alexandraleslie.bsky.social · 20d

UPDATE: A judge ruled in favor of the city of Providence, which asked for Sgt. Joseph Hanley to be put back on unpaid leave until the court rules on an appeal.

Hanley pleaded no contest to beating a man in handcuffs in 2020.

Story w/ @timwhiteri.bsky.social: www.wpri.com/target-12/ju...

Reposted by Alexandra Leslie

WPRI 12 @wpri12.bsky.social · 22d

Two Providence bars are turning down the volume, thanks to special materials that cut down on externally emitted sound.

@alexandraleslie.bsky.social reports: www.wpri.com/news/local-n...

Providence bars test out sound mitigation

Alexandra Leslie @alexandraleslie.bsky.social · 22d

VIDEO + STORY: Two Providence bars are guinea pigs in a pilot program that was implemented earlier this year.

The program aims to help businesses quiet down without killing their vibe.

www.wpri.com/news/local-n... @wpri12.bsky.social

Alexandra Leslie @alexandraleslie.bsky.social · 23d

It's official.

Rep. David Morales announced he’s running for mayor of Providence, setting up a challenge against incumbent Brett Smiley.

Here's what we know:
www.wpri.com/news/electio... @wpri12.bsky.social

Reposted by Alexandra Leslie

Ted Nesi @tednesi.bsky.social · 26d

NEWSMAKERS: @helenabfoulkes.bsky.social joins @timwhiteri.bsky.social and me to discuss her newly launched Gov campaign, the economy, criticism over opioids, Charlie Kirk - and what she'd have done differently on the Washington Bridge

Watch online now - tonight/Sunday on TV - or get the podcast

Reposted by Alexandra Leslie

Ted Nesi @tednesi.bsky.social · 26d

NEW: Nearly 20 state and local police cruisers were at RI Senate President Val Lawson's home today after a bomb threat sent by email - deemed a hoax by authorities

Majority Leader Ciccone also confirms a threat sent to him (w @timwhiteri.bsky.social @elisherman.bsky.social)

Bomb threats sent to top Democrats in RI Senate; authorities say they were hoaxes

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Police responded Tuesday to bomb threats targeting the homes of top Democrats in the R.I. Senate, Target 12 has learned. “We are aware of several hoax e-m…

Alexandra Leslie @alexandraleslie.bsky.social · 26d

UPDATE: A judge has ordered that Providence police Sgt. Joseph Hanley, who pleaded no contest to beating a man in handcuffs five years ago, can move from an unpaid suspension to paid leave.

No ruling yet on if he can return to work fulltime.
www.wpri.com/news/embattl... @wpri12.bsky.social