Patrick Anderson, who covers politics and government, has followed the story since former state directors Jim Thorsen and David Patten became embroiled in the scandal three years ago.

The two men traveled to Philadelphia to visit a redeveloped space known as “Bok.” Afterward, state contractors who gave them a tour alleged Patten behaved inappropriately during the trip and that Thorsen failed to intervene.

The two men were also treated a free lunch at a restaurant called Irwin’s, which opened early specifically for them. Thorsen paid for Patten and himself days later after realizing trouble was brewing.

“It was a very unusual circumstance that Thorson was walking into, with no menus, no waitstaff, no table settings at the other tables, the chef personally preparing meals — no bill,” Anderson said.

“So, something even beyond the unusual nature of what happens in political lunches was going on here,” he added.

The issue became a scandal after the McKee administration was forced to release an email detailing the alleged behavior, following a public records battle with Target 12 and The Providence Journal.

Both former directors later came under scrutiny from the R.I. Ethics Commission, which alleged they violated the state’s ethics code.

Patten was fined $5,000 to resolve the matter, while Thorsen is contesting the allegations.

Later in the show, Kim and Eli discussed the “stories we wish we wrote,” including:

• Five years in, ‘world’s shortest’ parade is an institution by Ted Hayes, EastBayRI
• Monopoly Man? by Eli Sherman, 12 News (for Rhode Island Monthly)

• MORE MILLIONS: Seven-figure home sales spreading away from waterfront by Veer Mudambi, Providence Business News
• Investigation into alleged affair between judge and prosecutor concludes by Grace Ferguson, The New Bedford Light

Watch “Behind the Story” Thursdays at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on the WPRI 12+ TV app.

• How to download the free WPRI 12+ smart 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.

Alexa Gagosz, who covers business for the newspaper, has spent years reporting on the mall. She described it as currently being in a state of limbo.

“It’s this place that used to be a luxurious place to shop with the Nordstrom’s — with classic mall stores like The Gap, J. Crew and a lot of those have been replaced and gone,” Gagosz said. “When we say the mall is in limbo, it’s like, what is the future of this major development?”

The mall has been under court-ordered receivership, a state-level version of bankruptcy, since the former operator defaulted on millions of dollars of debt in 2024.

Gagosz and her colleague Steph Machado detailed the current state of the mall’s vendors, including a mounting number of empty storefronts alongside businesses that continue to bustle.

The duo also looked at what it would take to reinvent the struggling shopping complex, which is poised to lose a longstanding tax break with the city in 2028.

“If it failed, it would completely transform downtown Providence in such a negative way,” Gagosz said.

“luckily though, it is literally at the front door of the state House, lawmakers have to drive by it in order to go park and get into the State House and deliberate over whatever they’re going to deliberate that day,” she added. “I think the same with City Hall, and I don’t think that there is an appetite for anybody to allow this mall to fail. It just can’t.”

Later in the show, Dan and Eli talked about the “stories we wish we wrote,” including:

• Families now being affected by SNAP benefit changes by Mara Hagen-Spath, The Valley Breeze
• Jamestown boy captures world record with a spoon and his nose by Joe Tasca, Ocean State Media

• How two troubled RI lives came to an end in room 207 of a CT Super 8 by Jack Perry, The Providence Journal
• GoFundMe raising money for ‘John’ the Brown University tipster by Melanie DaSilva and Shiina LoScuiuto, 12 News

Watch “Behind the Story” Thursdays at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on the WPRI 12+ TV app.

• How to download the free WPRI 12+ smart 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.

Bekah Berger is the co-host of the morning show on 92 PRO-FM and one of the most recognizable radio voices in the region. She has been covering the rollout of “Real Housewives of Rhode Island,” which marks the network’s 20th season of the hit reality franchise.

Although the show was filmed locally and Rhode Island is featured throughout, Berger said first-time viewers will quickly learn it is more about the cast and their relationships than the setting.

“You see them at the polo tournament, you see them at Newport Vineyards, you see them at Goddard Park, you see them at all these different locations that we will recognize,” Berger said Wednesday. “But someone in Peoria isn’t going to know what beach they’re on.”

Berger, who has worked across multiple media platforms during her career, also voiced support for entertainment news and encouraged Rhode Islanders to embrace the national attention the show brings.

“My favorite thing is when I post something on social media and someone writes, ‘Well, who cares?’” she said. “I do. I care, and a lot of people do. And especially these days, you need a break. You need a mind-rot moment, and it’s fun.”

Later in the show, Kim and Eli talked about the “stories we wish we wrote,” including:

The Providence Place mall is up for sale. But is the age of the indoor mall over? by Alexa Gagosz and Steph Machado, The Boston Globe

DNA in 1988 murder a possible link to New Bedford highway killings by Frank Mulligan, The Standard -Times

As Woonsocket plans to close sludge incinerator, a regional crisis looms by Alex Kuffner, The Providence Journal

RIDOT Director Alviti insults local official on blizzard call by Brian Crandall, WJAR-TV

Watch “Behind the Story” Thursdays at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. on the WPRI 12+ TV app.

How to download the free WPRI 12+ smart 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.