Margie O'Brien: 16 to Watch in 2016 in RI

Margie O'Brien: 16 to Watch in 2016 in RI

The former WJAR and Fox 25 reporter, who has been a producer at RI PBS for the past three years and host of RI Classroom, will be the new face of the Rhode Island State House starting in January.  

“I will be the Host/Program Manager of Capitol TV at the Rhode Island State House. Stay tuned for an interesting 2016 Legislative Session. Please like my new FB page: Margie O'Brien, RI Capitol TV and stay tuned for how pending and passed legislation will affect Rhode Islanders,” said O’Brien on her Facebook page on December 20.  

O’Brien will replace longtime “Straight From the Gavel” host Dave Barber, who passed away in 2015.  Herb Weiss wrote of Barber’s legacy in April, “For those who tuned into this cable program, they learned the mysteries of political sausage making, specifically how bills became enacted into law. During seven and a half years, he hosted 390 episodes of “Straight from the Gavel," and about 600 five minute Capitol Spotlights, interviewing members of the state’s General Assembly.  His replacement will find that Dave has very big shoes to fill.”

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Look to see the direction that O’Brien and the State House team take Capitol TV in the post-Barber era.