>> TONIGHT ON RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY, REMEMBERING BILL RAPLEY.

>> YOU COULDN'T GET MAD AT HIM.

I JUST ADORED HIM.

HE WAS THE SMARTEST PERSON IN THE ROOM AND NEVER LET YOU KNOW IT.

HE WAS THE BEST WAS A CHARACTERS WE ALL KNOW HE'S A GREAT JOURNALIST.

HE WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT TELLING FAIR AND BALANCED STORIES AND GETTING AT THE TRUTH AND THAT'S WHY WE HIRED HIM.

I THINK HIS GREATEST PASSION WAS HIS FIVE GIRLS.

HE LOVED TO WATCH HIS DAUGHTER PLAY HOCKEY.

>> IF I HAD AN INKLING THAT I HAD A STORY, I WOULD RUN IT BY BILL.

WE ARE THINKING OF HIM AND PRAYING FOR HIS FAMILY.

>> AT THE AGE OF NINE, RHODE ISLAND'S YOUTH POETRY AMBASSADOR WITNESSED SOMETHING DRAMATIC.

>> I WOULD HEAR GUNSHOTS OUT THE WINDOWS.

I CAME BACK WITH SEVERE PTSD.

>> GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO THIS SPECIAL VIRTUAL EDITION OF RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

I'M MICHELLE SAN MIGUEL.

OUR FIRST STORY TONIGHT IS ONE OF ALL OF US AT RHODE ISLAND PBS HAD HOPED WE NEVER HAD TO REPORT.

OUR FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE BILL RAPPLEYE DIED ON JANUARY 7 AFTER BATTLING CANCER FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.

BILL'S CAREER AS A JOURNALIST HERE IN RHODE ISLAND WAS LONG AND DISTINGUISHED.

A SERIOUS, DOGGED AND TOUGH REPORTER, RAPPLEYE OR RAP AS HE WAS KNOWN ALWAYS SEEMED TO STRIKE THE RIGHT TONE IN A WORLD WHERE FAIR AND BALANCED HAD BECOME HARD-TO-FIND.

BILL'S REPORTING INSTINCTS AND HIS NATURAL DETERMINATION TO FIND THE TRUTH NEVER FALTERED.

>> YOU ARE IN MY HOUSE NOW.

>> THEY WANTED TO THROW ME OUT OF THERE.

AFTER THE NEWS CONFERENCE, I REMINDED HIS PRESS SECRETARY, IT ISN'T KYL MARTIN'S HOUSE.

>> AFTER NEARLY TWO DECADES AS A POLITICAL REPORTER, RHODE ISLAND PBS WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE HIM BRING HIS MANY TALENTS TO THE STATION.

>> OUR MISSION IS TO SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH THROUGH FULL, FAIR AND CONTEXTUAL REPORTING.

>> BILL WAS INTEGRAL TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS NEWSMAGAZINE BROADCAST AND HIS ENTHUSIASM AND DEDICATION TO ITS SUCCESSFUL ONSHORE INFECTIOUS.

HE LOVED TO TELL STORIES AND EACH PIECE HE DID SHOWED JUST WHAT A GREAT STORYTELLER AND REPORTER HE WAS.

>> HOW WILL YOU MAKE IT UP TO YOUR MOM?

>> I WILL NEVER MAKE IT UP TO MY MOM.

I CAN'T.

>> YOU CAN LOVE HER.

AND TELL HER.

>> HIS JOURNALISTIC CURIOSITY BROUGHT HIM NOT JUST RECOGNITION FOR HIS WORK, BUT IT ALSO HELPED MAKE HIM ONE OF THE MOST WELL-KNOWN AND RESPECTED JOURNALISTS IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND.

WHATEVER THE ASSIGNMENT, HE GAVE IT HIS BEST.

>> LITTLE KIDS, IN THE DAY YOU WOULD GET SNOW.

THERE IS A THING CALLED A SNOW ANGEL.

LET ME SHOW YOU HOW TO HAVE FUN.

YOU JUST LAY DOWN AND MAKE AN ANGEL LIKE THIS.

AND WHEN YOU GET UP, YOU HAVE LEFT SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL IN THE SNOW.

>> WE WANTED TO SHARE SOME MEMORIES OF HIM FROM FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES.

>> HE WAS A CLOSE FRIEND.

THIS IS THE SHOT OF THE TWO OF US ON THE WAY TO BLOCK ISLAND.

HE LIKED TO PLAY HOCKEY WITH SOME OF OUR PHOTONICS.

HE LIKED TO SKI.

HE LIKED TO JUST HANG OUT WITH US.

GREAT GUY AND WE ARE GOING TO MISS HIM.

>> I WANT TO SHARE A STORY ABOUT THE FIRST TIME I MET ILL RAPPLEYE.

WE STARTED AT RHODE ISLAND PBS ABOUT THE SAME WEEK AND HE WAS CURIOUS TO SEE SOME OF MY PIECES.

I SENT HIM A PIECE I HAD DONE ON VIETNAM VETERANS.

HE CAME IN THE NEXT DAY AND SAID I'M SO HAPPY I WATCHED AT HOME, I WAS WEEPING.

IT SAID SO MUCH TO ME ABOUT BILL AND HIS SENSITIVITY AND EMPATHY AND JOURNALISTIC INSTINCTS WHICH WERE VERY STRONG.

HE WAS A TENACIOUS WONDERFUL JOURNALIST AND HUMAN BEING.

>> ONE OF HIS FINAL PIECES FOR THE BROADCAST WAS FOR OUR GREEN SEEKER SERIES ON THE ENVIRONMENT.

FOR CENTURIES, THE AMERICAN FISHING INDUSTRY HAS BEEN A DOMINANT AND ADAPTABLE WORKFORCE.

THE INDUSTRY IS NOW FACING WHAT IT SEES AS ITS GREATEST CHALLENGE.

AS THE FIRST STATE IN THE COUNTRY TO HAVE AN OFFSHORE WIND FARM, RHODE ISLAND HAS BEEN CELEBRATED AS A TRAILBLAZER INTO THE FUTURE OF CLEAN RENEWABLE ENERGY.

FOR MANY COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN AND WOMEN, THIS NEW FORM OF ENERGY PRODUCTION WILL HAVE DEVASTATING EFFECTS.

BILL WORKED N THIS STORY WITH CONTRIBUTE AND PRODUCER JOHN SMITH.

-- CONTRIBUTING PRODUCER JOHN SMITH.

>> I DON'T SEE MASSIVE INDUSTRIAL CONSTRUCTION OF THE OCEAN AS BEING REALLY VERY ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY.

I BELIEVE THERE ARE WAYS WE COULD DO BETTER.

>> MEGAN IS A FISHING REPRESENTATIVE WHO HAS WORKED IN THE INDUSTRY FOR MOST OF HER LIFE.

>> THERE IS A WAY TO DO INDUSTRY THAT IS NOT DAMAGING TO THE ENVIRONMENT.

>> ONE OF HER BIGGEST CONCERNS IS THE WAY IN WHICH AREAS ARE LEAST TO TURBINE COMPANIES.

>> THEY WERE SIGHTED AND LEASED TO THE WIND COMPANIES BEFORE THEY TOOK INTO ACCOUNT ANY PRE-EXISTING USES.

A LOT OF THE LEASES ARE CITED ON TOP OF PRODUCTIVE FISHING GROUNDS.

ONLY WHEN THE LEASES IS IN ITS FINAL STAGES OF PERMITTING WITH THE GOVERNMENT, THAT'S THE FIRST TIME COMMERCIAL FISHING IS CONSIDERED IN THE PROCESS.

>> WE HAD TO GET INPUT FROM INDUSTRY LEADERS.

>> JOHN O'KEEFE, THE HEAD OF MARINE AFFAIRS AT OR STEAD WHICH HAS PROPOSALS TO INSTALL OTHER WIND, SAYS EVERYONE IS INCLUDED IN THE PLANNING PROCESS.

>> WE STARTED THAT PRETTY EARLY.

YOU MEET, YOU GET OUT ON THE DOCKS.

THEN WE STARTED TO BUILD A STAFF OF COMMERCIAL FISHERMEN.

PEOPLE WITH COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL FISHING BACKGROUNDS SO THAT WE WEREN'T COMING IN BLIND.

>> THAT SUGGESTS THE FISHERMEN HAVE HAD SOME INFLUENCE ON HOW THIS NEW INDUSTRY IS GOING TO START UP HERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THERE IS AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF INFLUENCE FROM ALL FISHERMEN COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL AS WELL AS ALL THE OTHER FOLKS IN THE MARITIME INDUSTRIES.

THERE'S COMMERCIAL SHIPPING, THE U.S. COAST GUARD READ EVERYONE HAS TO HAVE INPUT INTO HOW THE PROJECT COMES TOGETHER.

>> BUT GETTING CONSTRUCTIVE INPUT FROM THE COMMERCIAL FISHING INDUSTRY HAS BEEN EASIER SAID THAN DONE.

>> IT'S NOT EASY TO GET ALL THE COMPETITORS IN THE SAME ROOM AND START DISCUSSING HARD TOPICS LIKE THAT AND TO ACTUALLY AGREE.

SO I WON'T LIE TO YOU, IT WAS NOT AN EASY ROAD.

IT TOOK A LONG TIME.

>> ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT ISSUES WAS HOW THOSE TURBINES WOULD BE POSITIONED.

RATHER THAN A WIND OPTIMIZED DESIGN WHERE TURBINES ARE INTERMITTENTLY SPACED, THE DECISION WAS MADE TO LAY THEM OUT IN A GRID PATTERN TO ALLOW FOR SAFER TRANSIT FOR FISHERMEN.

BUT SHE SAYS THIS DESIGN PLAN DOES NOT ADDRESS OTHER SAFETY CONCERNS.

>> UNFORTUNATELY WIND TURBINES BECAUSE MARINE RADAR INTERFERENCE.

IF YOU CAN'T RELY ON YOUR RADAR TO GET THROUGH AN AREA, THEN YOU'VE GOT TO GO AROUND IT UNLESS IT IS ABSOLUTE PERFECT CONDITIONS.

I HAVE HEARD FROM MANY CAPTAINS THAT THEY WILL NOT GO IN THERE BECAUSE IF ONE THING HAPPENS, YOUR ENGINE CUTS OUT OR THERE IS SOME KIND OF PROBLEM, ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU ARE JUST GOING TO RUN UP AGAINST A WIND TURBINE AND THEY DON'T WANT TO TAKE THAT RISK.

>> DO YOU THINK THIS IS A LIFE AND DEATH BATTLE?

>> I DO.

>> WE ARE NOT GOING TO PROMOTE A LAYOUT THAT IS NOT SAFE.

WE HAVE COMMERCIAL AND RECREATIONAL FISHERMEN.

YOU HAVE ALL THE OTHER MARINERS INVOLVED.

THAT'S WHY WE ARE VERY CAREFUL IN HOW WE CONSTRUCT AND FOCUS IS ALWAYS ON SAFETY AND NAVIGATION.

I WILL SAY THIS IS THE LARGEST SPACING IN THE WORLD CURRENTLY WE ARE PROPOSING.

>> EVEN BEYOND THE PHYSICAL SPACE AND SAFETY CONCERNS, THERE ARE ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS THAT MANY FISHERMEN SAY ARE THE MOST SERIOUS OF ALL.

>> IT'S GOING TO DECIMATE US.

>> CAPTAIN MARK PHILLIPS BELIEVES THE ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS GENERATED BY THE UNDERWATER CABLES CAN HAVE DEVASTATING EFFECTS, ESPECIALLY TO HIS MAIN SUPPLY, SQUID.

>> IT HAS SCARED A LOT OF THE COMMERCIALLY VALUABLE SPECIES AWAY AND IT'S THE LOW-FREQUENCY VIBRATIONS.

WE KNOW THAT THEY KILL SQUID.

>> AS SOON AS THEY START DRILLING AND HAMMERING THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN, THAT LARGE OF ELECTROMAGNETIC CURRENT GOING THROUGH THE OCEAN, NOBODY KNOWS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THE FISH BECAUSE THEY ARE SO SENSITIVE TO THAT KIND OF THING.

>> A STUDY CONCLUDED THAT ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO NEGATIVELY AFFECT COMMERCIALLY AND RECREATIONALLY IMPORTANT FISH SPECIES IN SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND.

CAPTAIN PHILLIPS DISAGREES.

>> IT MESSES WITH THEIR BRAIN.

IT CAUSES LESIONS ON THEM.

IN ADDITION TO KILLING THEM, IT'S GOING TO DESTROY THE BOTTOM THAT THEY SPAWN ON.

>> THE BUCKEYE WINDFARM HAS BEEN A PILOT PROJECT FOR THIS NATION AND IT'S GRAT TO HAVE AN EXPERIMENT WHERE RESEARCH WAS DONE FOR, DURING AND AFTER CONSTRUCTION.

>> DAVE MUNCY, A CHARTER CAPTAIN AND FISH ADVOCATE IS A PROPONENT OF RESEARCH-BASED WINDFARM INSTALLATIONS.

HE SAYS WINDFARMS CAN INCLUDE -- IMPROVE MARINE LIFE.

>> U.K. SCIENTISTS DID A META-ANALYSIS OF ALL THE STUDIES THEY COULD FIND IN EUROPE THAT WERE PEER-REVIEWED THAT STUDIED FISH ABUNDANCE IN A WINDFARM AREA AND THEN A CONTROL AREA OUTSIDE OF THE WINDFARM.

>> THAT STUDY PUBLISHED BY FISHERIES SCIENCE AND AQUACULTURE CONCLUDED THAT FISH ABUNDANCE WAS ACTUALLY GREATER WITHIN WINDFARM ARRAYS THAN OUTSIDE THEM.

THIS IS BECAUSE WINDFARMS HAVE BEEN FOUND TO CREATE ARTIFICIAL REEFS.

>> REEFS ARE A NATURAL SOURCE OF HABITAT FOR LIVING ORGANISMS.

MUSCLE GROWTH, CRABS ETC.

AND THEN FRESH -- FISH FEED OFF OF THE REEF.

AND THAT'S THE IMPACT OF THE WINDFARM TURBINE HERE AT BLOCK ISLAND.

>> THE SHORT-TERM PLAN WILL CREATE ADVERSE LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES.

>> THESE PROJECTS HAVE A LIFESPAN OF GIVE OR TAKE 20 YEARS.

YOU'RE GOING TO TAKE THE OCEAN FLOOR AND PAVE IT FOR A 20 YEAR PROJECT.

WHAT DO YOU DO ONCE IT IS DONE AND ALL THIS STUFF IS LEFT OUT THERE?

I THINK THERE ARE BETTER WAYS.

>> FOR NOW THERE IS NO PLAN TO ABANDON THOSE TURBINES.

>> THEY CAN BE RECOMMISSIONED AND A NEW CONTRACT NEGOTIATED WHICH DEBTS INTO POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENTS.

OR THERE DECOMMISSION.

>> RIP UP ALL THE FOUNDATIONS.

>> PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD PROCESS.

IT IS TAKEN DOWN JUST LIKE IT IS PUT UP.

>> THE FISHERMEN HAVE TO REALIZE WE HAVE TO DO POWER PRODUCTION.

THEY HAVE TO REALIZE WE HAVE TO SUSTAIN FISHERIES.

>> KURT SPALDING IS A PROFESSOR AT BROWN UNIVERSIT.

>> WE HAVE A CHALLENGE IN THIS REGION AND IN RHODE ISLAND.

>> HE BELIEVES A CHANGE IN ADVOCACY STYLE WILL GO A LONG WAY.

>> ADVOCACY HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT SELF-INTEREST.

AT TIMES THEY RESIST WHAT WOULD BE ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND CHANGES TO WHAT THEY DO.

BUT WHEN AS IT IS NOW THAT THEY ARE SEEING A THREAT TO THEIR INDUSTRY, THEY START USING ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES TO SUSTAIN THEMSELVES.

FRANKLY AS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME, IT'S A BIT MADDENING TO SEE THIS CONTRADICTION IN EFFECT.

>> FIRST SPALDING, SCIENCE NEEDS TO BE THE LEADING FACTOR IN DECISION-MAKING.

>> FISHERMEN FOR YEARS HAVE TAKEN ON A PRETTY AGGRESSIVE POSTURE IN ALL THINGS.

WHETHER IT IS OVERFISHING REGULATION, ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION.

THEY ARE NOT ALWAYS HAPPY WITH ENVIRONMENTALISTS AND THAT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM OVER THE YEARS IN FISHING.

THEY WILL DENY THE GOVERNMENT SCIENCE AND THEN SAY THEY HAVE THEIR OWN SCIENCE.

CAN WE COLLABORATE ON THE SCIENCE.

YES, WE SHOULD DO THAT.

BUT WE'VE GOT TO LISTEN TO SCIENCE.

IF YOU DON'T LIKE WHAT IT SAYS, YOU CAN'T DENY IT.

>> BILL RAPPLEYE WAS A SUPERB REPORTER AND HE WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY PERSON.

HE ASKED TOUGH AND FAIR QUESTIONS AND ALLOWED YOU TO RESPOND.

HE WAS A PARADIGM OF A GREAT JOURNALIST.

IN ADDITION, HE WAS A WONDERFUL PERSON.

ONCE THE CAMERAS STOPPED ROLLING, YOU COULD CHAT, YOU COULD SHARE SOME THOUGHTS.

YOU UNDERSTOOD WHAT A DECENT MAN AND A MAN OF GREAT INTEGRITY HE WAS.

MY CONDOLENCES GO OUT TO HIS FAMILY AND ALL OF HIS FRIENDS.

WE HAVE BEEN DIMINISHED BY HIS LOSS, BUT WE ARE MADE SO MUCH BETTER BY HIS LIFE.

THANK YOU.

>> FOR OUR PREMIER BROADCAST IN NOVEMBER, BILL DID A PROFILE OF RHODE ISLAND'S YOUTH POETRY AMBASSADOR.

HER POETRY COULD BOTH INSPIRE AND TO GENERATE CHANGE.

AND IN 2018 AT THE AGE OF 15, SHE FIRED UP THE CROWD AT THE WOMEN'S DAY RALLY IN PROVIDENCE.

>> HOW MANY PARENTS HAVE LOST THEIR CHILDREN?

HOW MANY MORE WILL DIE FIGHTING FIRE WITH FIRE WILL ONLY CAUSE MORE FIRE.

TO ALLOW MORE GUNS IS TO ALLOW MORE DEATHS.

WAKE UP.

>> HALIMA IBRAHIM'S PASSION THAT DAY CAPTURED THE ATTENTION OF THE STATE POET LAUREATE.

>> SHE'S INCREDIBLY SELF-POSSESSED AND THERE'S A LITTLE FIRE BURNING IN THERE.

THERE'S A DETERMINATION TO USE HER EXPERIENCE, SHARE IT WITH THE WORLD AND ACT ON IT.

THOSE ARE REMARKABLE QUALITIES FOR A YOUNG PERSON.

>> HALIMA LIVES IN EAST GREENWICH WITH HER AMERICAN MOTHER, EGYPTIAN FATHER AND YOUNGER SISTER.

SHE AND HER FAMILY WERE IN EGYPT.

BUT IN THE STREETS, THE COUNTRY WAS CONVULSED IN REVOLUTION.

>> I WOULD HEAR GUNSHOTS OUTSIDE OF THE WINDOWS SO I CAME BACK WITH EXTREMELY SEVERE PTSD.

>> THOSE MEMORIES AWAKENED IN EAST GREENWICH.

>> I REMEMBER IN FIFTH GRADE WE HAD A LOCKDOWN DRILL AND IT HAD TRIGGERED SO MUCH ANXIETY FOR ME BECAUSE WE JUST ESCAPE AN ALMOST WAR-TORN COUNTRY AND NOW I WAS REALIZING THAT I WASN'T SAFE HERE EITHER.

>> WHILE SHE IS NOT ALONE ABOUT HER NONVIOLENCE ANXIETY IN SCHOOLS, SHE SAYS SHE BEGAN TO FEEL ISOLATED WHEN HER HEALTH DESERTED HER AND THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY NOT BELIEVE HER.

>> I HAD NURSES COME INTO ME AND ASKED ME, WHY DO YOU FEEL YOU NEED TO TAKE ILLNESS TO GET YOUR PARENTS ATTENTION.

>> WHAT KIND OF STRAINED THAT PUT ON YOU?

>> IT WAS A FIGHT.

I HAD TO CONVINCE THEM.

>> SHE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A RARE NEUROLOGICAL CONDITION THAT LEFT HER UNABLE TO WALK.

>> A NEUROPSYCH DISORDER THAT AFFECTS MY BRAIN CHEMISTRY.

MY IMMUNE SYSTEM BEGIN ATTACKING MY BRAIN.

>> HALIMA BEGAN TO WRITE.

>> I WRITE POETRY TO PROCESS MY EMOTIONS AND MY THOUGHTS IN A WAY THAT I CAN VERBALIZE THEM AND THE GOOD THING ABOUT THEM IS WHEN I SHARE IT, EVEN THOUGH PEOPLE MAY NOT NECESSARILY GO THROUGH THE EXACT SAME SITUATION I WENT THROUGH, THEY CAN STILL TAKE SIMILARITIES AND THE EMOTIONS AND THE FEELINGS THAT I WAS FEELING.

IT'S A WAY TO HELP ME HEAL OR PROCESS MY ANGER OR MY SADNESS OR MY ANXIETY BUT CAN ALSO HELP MAKE OTHERS FEEL LIKE THEY ARE NOT ALONE IN THAT EMOTION.

>> I AM AFRAID THAT MY DECOMPOSING BODY WILL FIND ITSELF BACK IN THE GROUND FOR ALL OF THE HORRORS OF MY BODY SENDING CHILLS DOWN MY SPINE FEAST AND I AM LEFT WRAPPED IN BANDAGES LIFELESS AGAIN.

I AM BUT A WALKING CORPSE MASQUERADED AS THE LIVING.

>> WHEN YOU READ HER POETRY, DOES IT MAKE YOU SAD?

>> YES.

IT MAKES ME CRY ACTUALLY.

IT MAKES ME CRY WHEN SHE TALKS ABOUT HER SICKNESS.

I DIDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW SHE WAS SUFFERING.

IT REALLY HURTS TO ME BECAUSE I WAS FOCUSING ON TAKING CARE OF HER.

EVEN TAKING CARE OF HER AS MY FAMILY, I MISSED THE SUFFERING.

>> TODAY SHE IS ABLE TO WALK, BUT SHE STILL NEEDS A WEEKLY INFUSION OF BLOOD PLASMA.

>> I'M SO PROUD OF HOW MUCH SHE ACCOMPLISHED DESPITE THE CHALLENGES.

I'M PROUD OF HER.

>> HER RELATIVES ON HER MOTHER'S SIDE DISSENT FROM RHODE ISLAND'S EARLIEST SETTLERS.

>> SHE TOLD US THAT HER MOTHER RAISED HER TO BE A REVOLUTIONARY.

>> WE WERE JUST DISCUSSING THAT MY DNA IS PART OF THE RHODE ISLAND STORY.

I HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT IT IS SUPER IMPORTANT FOR MY KIDS TO UNDERSTAND THAT EQUITY AND JUSTICE IS A REALLY IMPORTANT THING.

WE HAVE SPENT MANY HOURS DOING MARCHES, GOING TO THE STATEHOUSE, BEING ACTIVE WITH OUR LOCAL POLITICIANS.

SO SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IS A BIG PART OF WHO I AM AND I HAVE DEFINITELY TAUGHT THAT TO MY KIDS.

>> HER OLDEST DAUGHTER HAS CERTAINLY EMBRACED THOSE LESSONS.

JUST LOOKING AT WHAT YOU WROTE ABOUT YOURSELF, UNAFRAID TO TACKLE CONTROVERSIAL NUANCED TOPICS SUCH AS GUN VIOLENCE, CHRONIC ILLNESS, ISLAMOPHOBIA, STRUGGLES OF BEING BIRACIAL IN AMERICA.

BUT THAT DOESN'T LIMIT YOUR TOPICS.

>> IT'S WHATEVER I AM ANGRY OR THINKING ABOUT AT THAT MOMENT THAT I CAN'T STOP THINKING ABOUT THAT I NEED TO SAY THIS BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SAY IT.

>> RECENTLY SHE TOOK ON RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION HEAD-ON.

>> IF SOMEONE IS SAYING ISLAM A PHOBIC OR SOMETHING THAT IS HATEFUL OR NON-RESPECTFUL ABOUT MY RELIGION, THEY ARE NOT JUST SAYING IT TO ANYONE.

THEY ARE SAYING IT TO ME AND THEY KNOW THEY ARE SAYING IT TO ME.

THEY KNOW THERE IS A MUSLIM IN THE ROOM.

>> IS THE SCARF MY SHIELD OR IS IT YOUR PROTECTION?

AREN'T I HEAVENLY STRENGTH?

AREN'T I DIVINE?

THANK ME FOR THE VEIL THAT'S COVERS -- COVERS MY HEAD.

DON'T TEST ME SO THE TOWEL HAD -- SO THE MOHAMED-IST, SAID THE EXTREMIST, SAID THE ISLAMIST, SAID THE MONSTER IN YOUR CLOSET, SAID YOU'RE WAKING NIGHTMARE FOR THE NEXT TIME ASK WHAT IS UNDER MY SCARF, I WILL ANSWER, YOUR DOOM.

>> THE STATES POET LAUREATE WAS CAPTIVATED BY HALIMA'S WILLINGNESS TO CONFRONT TOUGH ISSUES.

>> I COULD SEE THIS KIND OF CORE OF GRID IN HER IN THIS KIND OF RESILIENCE.

AND A COMPLETE OPENNESS ABOUT HER STRUGGLE.

ALL OF THOSE THINGS COMBINED WITH THE EXCELLENT WRITING AND THE LETTERS THAT PEOPLE WROTE IN SUPPORT OF HER CAME TOGETHER TO SAY THIS IS A PERSON WHO IS PROBABLY GOING TO COME UP WITH SOME GOOD IDEAS.

>> BEING ABLE TO SHARE AND MY POETRY AND HOPEFULLY INSPIRE OTHER KIDS TO START WRITING, IT GIVES ME HOPE FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS AND HOPE FOR OTHER KIDS DEALING WITH TRAUMA.

DEALING WITH STRUGGLE.

THAT THEY ARE NOT WORTHLESS AND THEIR VOICES DO MATTER.

>> BILL IS A CHARACTER AND WE KNOW HE'S A GREAT JOURNALIST.

HE IS PASSIONATE ABOUT TELLING FAIR AND BALANCED STORIES.

HAT'S WHY WE HIRED HIM.

I THINK HIS GREATEST PASSION WAS HIS FIVE GIRLS.

HE LOVED TO PLAY HOCKEY AND HE LOVED TO WATCH HIS YOUNGEST DAUGHTER PLAY HOCKEY.

WE HAD A LONG CONVERSATION AFTER HIS DIAGNOSIS AND HE SAID IT WAS OK.

HE SAID ALL OF HIS GIRLS HAD COME HOME AND THEY WERE HAVING CONVERSATIONS THEY OTHERWISE WOULDN'T HAVE HAD HE SAID HE WAS SURROUNDED BY LOVE.

THAT'S ULTIMATELY WHAT ALL OF US WANT AND HE HAD THAT.

>> I WAS BILL RAPPLEYE'S INTERN TURN MORE THAN THREE DECADES AGO HERE IN BOSTON AND HE TOOK ME UNDER HIS ARM BUT HE ALWAYS TOLD PEOPLE NOT TO BLAME HIM FOR MY CAREER.

HE WAS A FUNNY GUY.

I WAS THINKING I WAS STILL HIS INTERN UP TO THIS DAY.

HE TAUGHT ME HUMILITY, TO FIGHT FOR THE LITTLE GUY AND DO IT WITH A SENSE OF HUMOR.

MY THOUGHTS GO OUT TO HIS FIVE DAUGHTERS AND THEIR MOTHER.

>> ONE OF BILL'S MANY FRIENDS WAS POLITICAL COMMENTATOR SCOTT MCCAIN.

WE ASKED HIM TO SHARE SOME MEMORIES OF BILL.

>> BILL RAPPLEYE WAS THAT RARE REPORTER WHO COULD COVER ANY STORY.

JANUARY NOR'EASTER OR JULY HEAT WAVE.

ON AIR HE EVOKED EMPATHY OR HUMOR.

HE COULD EXPLAIN THE GRIM HORROR OF THE STATION NIGHT CLUB FIRE OR DON A FUNNY HAT FOR AN ROMP IN THE SNOW.

HE WAS BEST AT POLITICAL REPORTING.

HE WAS BEST CHRONICLING AND INTERPRETING POLITICAL EVENTS WHETHER IT WAS THE LATEST FROM SMITH HILL OR HUNKERED DOWN AT A NATIONAL POLITICAL CONVENTION.

HE HOSTED WJR'S PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAM, MODERATED DEBATES FOR THE HIGHEST OFFICES AND FILLED HIS CALLING WITH A COMPASSIONATE RIGOR.

ALWAYS PRESSING FOR THE TRUTH WHILE MAINTAINING A STANCE OF REASON AND RESPECT.

HE WAS AN ELOQUENT EVERYMAN.

A REPORTER WITHOUT PRETENSE.

HE ATTENDED YALE UNIVERSITY.

HE WAS AN INSIGHTFUL JOURNALIST WITH A STRONG SENSE OF PLACE IN HISTORY.

HE WAS WITTY.

AT THE STATEHOUSE, HE WAS ACCOSTED IN THE MARBLE CORRIDOR BY A GOOD GOVERNMENT ADVOCATE WHO GROUSED ABOUT HOW BAD THE LAWMAKERS WERE.

HE DEADPANNED, YOU THINK THEY ARE BAD, YOU OUGHT TO SEE WHO THEY BEAT.

OVER THE YEARS, HE CHAFED UNDER CHANGES IN THE COMMERCIAL TELEVISION NEWS BUSINESS.

HE BEMOANED SENSATIONALISM AND THE SHIFT TO SHORT STORIES RIFT OF INTERPRETATION.

WHICH IS WHY HE WAS SO HAPPY TO RETREAT FROM THE DAILY GRIND AND MOVED TO RHODE ISLAND PBS FOR THE CHANCE TO CAP HIS CAREER REPORTING IN-DEPTH STORIES.

HE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A HORRIBLE CANCER.

HIS ATTITUDE AND COURAGE IN THE FACE OF THIS SCOURGE WAS REMARKABLE.

A FEW WEEKS AGO HE TEXTED ME THAT HE WAS DOING WELL.

MY DAUGHTERS ARE WAITING ON ME HAND AND FOOT AND MY COORDINATION IS IMPROVING DAILY.

THE CLICHE IS THAT THE CEMETERIES ARE FILLED WITH PEOPLE WHO CAN'T BE REPLACED.

THAT ISN'T TRUE THIS TIME.

>> THROUGHOUT HIS ILLNESS, WHEN ANY OF US WOULD ASK HOW HE WAS DOING, HE WOULD TELL US THAT ALL OF HIS GIRLS, HIS FIVE DOLLARS ARE THERE WITH HIM AND HE WAS FEELING THE LOVE.

-- DAUGHTERS ARE THERE WITH HIM AND HE WAS FEELING THE LOVE.

SHORTLY BEFORE HE PASSED AWAY, HIS DAUGHTER GOT MARRIED.

GEORGIA COMMENTED ABOUT HOW HAPPY SHE WAS THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO SHARE THIS MOMENT TOGETHER.

SHE CALLED HER FATHER THE COOLEST GUY SHE KNEW.

WHEN BILL WAS RECORDING HIS LAST PIECE FOR THE BROADCAST, SOME PHOTOS OF BILL AND HIS FAMILY THROUGH THE YEARS.

I'M MICHELE SAN MIGUEL.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND PLEASE STAY SAFE.

>> HOWEVER, A 2019 STUDY CONDUCTED BY THE BUREAU OF OCEAN ENERGY MANAGEMENT CONCLUDED THAT ELECTROMAGNETIC -- ELECTRO MAGGOT -- 3, 2, AND ONE.

♪