This week on the Cobblestone Press, Kevin Aherne was joined by Mike Stenhouse, CEO of the RI Center for Freedom and Prosperity to talk about the Center's Freedom Index, the lack of direction in our state, and more.

Listen below

100 billion dollars.

That’s how much money Americans spent on beer in 2013… equaling 196 million barrels.

Of that, 15+ million barrels came from craft -- or microbreweries -- totaling $14.3 million in revenue -- nearly 8 percent of the overall market share and a 17 percent increase from the previous year.

This week on The Cobblestone Press, Kevin Aherne welcomed owner of Foolproof Brewery, Nick Garrison, to discuss the emerging craft beer market nationally – and locally. 

Listen to the interview below!

This week on the Cobblestone Press, host and URI alumnus Kevin Aherne disregarded the topics of political corruption and economic reform -- in favor of March Madness.  With the University of Rhode Island Rams knocking at the door for the NCAA Tournament, Aherne spoke with a pair of Rhody hoops experts -- current Sports Editor for the Good Five Cent Cigar, Jake Marrocco, and former Cigar editor, Mike Parente, to discuss the upcoming Atlantic 10 tournament in Brooklyn. 

Can both URI and PC make it to the big dance? What will the Rams need to do in order to impress the Selection Committee? What is the outlook for Dan Hurley's squad in 2015 and beyond?

Click play, and find out!

If enacted, the legislation would become the most innovative and universal school choice program in the entire nation, according to the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice, which is partnering with local organizations in advancing the scholarship program.

Also expected to attend are members of the growing BrightToday.org coalition, including Gertrude Jones, former President of the Providence School Board, who is also scheduled to provide remarks. 

This week on Cobblestone Press, Kevin Aherne was joined by first-term State Representative, Aaron Regunberg about his introduced legislation to raise Rhode Island’s subminimum wage for tipped workers for the first time in nearly 20 years.

The legislation would gradually raise the state’s tipped minimum wage from its current rate of $2.89 per hour until it is in line with Rhode Island’s regular minimum wage by the year 2020. While the base rate of hourly pay would increase, wait staff would still receive tips, as they do in the seven other states that do not have a separate subminimum wage. The bill was introduced with 42 co-sponsors in the House and 21 in the Senate.

“It’s far past time for Rhode Island to take up this issue,” said Representative Regunberg (D-Dist. 4, Providence). “Our state’s two-tiered wage system has left a critical sector of our workforce behind. Rhode Island has the lowest tipped minimum wage in all of New England, and our state’s tipped workers are twice as likely to live in poverty as our non-tipped workers. The last time we raised the tipped subminimum wage, the minimum wage was $4.45 an hour. It’s time for a change.”

Have you ever been arrested or detained by police in Rhode Island? Did you know that even if you are never convicted -- or even charged with a crime -- a public record of your arrest still exists?

This week on Cobblestone Press, Kevin Aherne was be joined by film and television producer Charles Belk and State Representative Carlos Tobon -- the two men championing ‪Auto-Erase legislation in the Ocean State that will protect citizens from unfair discrimination.

Listen to the full episode below