Former WPRO talk host DePetro back on the air at WADK

NEWPORT, R.I. -- John DePetro, the radio talk-show host who abruptly announced his departure from Providence's WPRO-AM in December, will begin hosting a four-hour afternoon show Wednesday on Newport's WADK-AM, the station owner announced Tuesday.

Bonnie Gomes, president and owner of WADK's parent company, 3G Broadcasting, told The Providence Journal that she picked up DePetro after he left WPRO because it has been her goal since buying the station in 2013 to have a completely live and local lineup.

Gomes, who said she's known DePetro for 30 years, since they both worked at Providence's WHJJ, said DePetro hopes his stint at WADK can be a launching pad. "He's looking toward bigger things," she said. "He's hoping to start syndicating in a couple of years."

Gomes said DePetro will broadcast a right-leaning talk show Monday through Friday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at 1540 on the AM dial. He will also have a weekend week-in-review show on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. His weekday show will replace a syndicated talk show and a one-hour local pop culture show.