By RALPH D. RUSSO AP College Sports Writer Former Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker did a 30-minute interview with The Associated Press just days before he officially began his new job as NCAA president. He laid out goals for his first 100 days, including bringing in an independent firm to conduct a review of the NCAA, and touched […]
People & Profiles
Posted inPeople & Profiles, Sports
New NCAA president says NIL rules could protect athletes
By RALPH D. RUSSO AP College Sports Writer As Charlie Baker takes over as NCAA president, he brings a different way of thinking about one of the most important and polarizing issues in college athletics: regulating how student-athletes monetize their fame. To Baker, athletes such as quarterback recruit Jaden Rashada and Miami basketball players Hanna […]
Posted inArts & Culture
4Qs with Deanna J. Conheeny: President of the Board of Directors for the Museum of Newport Irish History on 46th Annual Newport Irish Heritage Month
March is Irish Heritage Month, and Newport is gearing up to celebrate its rich Irish heritage and culture. The Museum of Newport Irish History, a non-profit organization established in 1996, is leading the effort to compile and sponsor the March calendar of community-wide events on its website. In a recent interview with What’sUpNewp, Deanna J. […]
Posted inPeople & Profiles
Dave Rosenberg reflects on the 35th Annual Newport Winter Festival
The Newport Winter Festival celebrated its 35th annual event from February 17 to 26, 2023, and Dave Rosenberg, Director of the Newport Winter Festival, was thrilled with the outcome. Fresh off the end of the festival, What’sUpNewp caught up with Rosenberg today for our “4Qs with” series. In the interview, Rosenberg reflected on this year’s […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment, People & Profiles
Director of Marketing for Spectacle Live discusses the success of shows at The JPT and future plans
In a recent interview as part of the “4Qs with” series, Dan Berube, the Director of Marketing for Spectacle Live, discussed the success of the company’s shows at The Jane Pickens Theater and Event Center (The JPT) and its plans for the future. When asked about the decision to bring shows to Newport, Berube emphasized […]
Posted inNews, People & Profiles
Newport Police Chief Gary Silva reflects on his 40-year career and offers advice to future officers
In a recent interview with Newport Police Chief Gary Silva, he reflected on his 40-year career as a Newport police officer and his 12-year tenure as Chief. As part of our “4Qs with” series, Chief Silva answered questions about his proudest moments, advice for future police officers, and his retirement plans. When asked about his […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
Ticket Giveaway: We interview Teddy Thompson, playing Newport Live show Friday, Feb. 24
Singer-songwriter Teddy Thompson is coming to Newport’s La Farge Arts Center (at the Newport Congregational Church) on Friday, February 24. Thanks to sponsor Newport Live, we’ve got a pair of tickets to the concert to give away. To enter, just e-mail Ken Abrams at mrabrams11@gmail.com by Wednesday, February 22 at 5PM with “Thompson Tickets” in […]
Posted inArts & Culture
What’s Up Interview: Julie Knitel of ‘Come From Away,’ playing PPAC this week
When we chatted, Julia Knitel and the cast of “Come From Away” was in Philadelphia. It was Super Bowl weekend, and the Philadelphia Eagles were in the big game. She laughed about that. “I’m not a sports fan by any stretch. I didn’t even know they were in the Super Bowl.” Knitel’s been with “Come […]
Posted inArts & Culture
WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with Dave Rosenberg, Newport Winter Festival
After taking a couple of years off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Newport Winter Festival returns for its 35th edition from February 17-26, 2023. Dave Rosenberg, organizer of the Newport Winter Festival, will join What’sUpNewp for a WUN-ON-ONE conversation at 7:30 pm on Wednesday, February 15, 2023. During our discussion, Dave will chat with […]
Posted inPeople & Profiles
WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with Jay Sweet and Dan Swain, Newport Festivals Foundation
Jay Sweet and Dan Swain, the Executive Director and Development Director of Newport Festivals Foundation, joined What’sUpNewp today for a conversation about the Foundation, the Newport Folk Festival, Newport Jazz Festival, and more. You can listen to our conversation here, or watch and listen below. More About The Newport Festivals Foundation Newport Festivals Foundation is […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
What’s Up Interview: Andrew Marlin of Watchhouse – duo coming to United Theatre in Westerly March 2
Roots/folk music fans should be looking west these days, at least as far as Westerly, RI. First up, keep an eye out for Watchhouse, coming to the United Theatre on March 2. (We’ll have previews of other shows scheduled there soon too!) The band consists of husband-wife team Andrew Marlin (vocals, mandolin, guitar, banjo) and […]
Posted inSports
AP Interview: Moltzan catching up to US teammate Shiffrin
By ANDREW DAMPF AP Sports Writer MERIBEL, France (AP) — When Paula Moltzan finished second behind Mikaela Shiffrin for the U.S. ski team’s first 1-2 finish in a women’s World Cup slalom in more than half a century, it was easy to assume that her more successful teammate was her main inspiration. Actually, it’s another American skier who Moltzan […]
Posted inPeople & Profiles
WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with G. Wayne Miller, Ocean State Stories
G. Wayne Miller, an award-winning journalist who recently retired from The Providence Journal after 41 years, joined What’sUpNewp on Tuesday, February 7 at 1 pm for a live virtual video conversation, where he shared a glimpse into his next journalistic project. Miller, the author of 20 books and a host on the Pell Center’s “Story […]
Posted inArts & Culture
What’s Up Interview: RI’s The Benji’s to release new album ‘Kitty Pills’ on February 14
A band that’s been percolating on the local scene over the past several years is especially excited to be releasing their new EP later this month. The Benji’s, who first played together in LA in 2014 and were Motif Magazine’s “Favorite Breakthrough Rock Act” in 2019, will release Kitty Pills, on February 14. I learned […]
Posted inPeople & Profiles
WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with Newport Mayor Xay Khamsyvoravong
What’s the latest with the Pell Bridge Ramps project? Is school regionalization between Newport and Middletown still being discussed? What are members of Newport City Council focusing on and what can we expect to change in 2023? Newport Mayor Xay Khamsyvoravong joined What’sUpNewp this afternoon to answer those questions and discuss much more. Listen or […]
Posted inPeople & Profiles, Sports
WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with Brad Read, Sail Newport and The Ocean Race Newport Stopover
The Ocean Race fleet is expected to arrive in Newport on or around May 10-12, 2023, following an approximately 17-day trek from Itajai, Brazil. Before reaching the shores of the United States, the sailors will have completed 28,650 nautical miles, which is approximately 89% of the global race, which began on January 15, 2023. The […]
Posted inArts & Culture
What’s Up Interview: Meet Chris Swan, playing Daddy Warbucks in PPAC’s ‘Annie’
You could call Chris Swan a road warrior. Since 2014, he’s been traveling the road in one Broadway production or another. “The first was ‘A Christmas Story,’ where I played The Old Man,” said Swan recently. “That was the big one that got me into touring.” Next week, Swan comes to the Providence Performing Arts […]
Posted inPeople & Profiles
WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with Evan Smith, President & CEO of Discover Newport
Update: Feb. 14 – This interview is being rescheduled at Smith’s request. We’ll update this story when a new time has been agreed upon. What’s ahead for travel and tourism in 2023? Just how bad or good was 2022 for the tourism industry? Evan Smith, President & CEO of Discover Newport, will join What’sUpNewp for […]
Posted inCity & Government
WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain
With construction underway at Rogers High School, regionalization with Middletown in limbo, and growing concerns in schools across the country about behavioral health issues – What’sUpNewp welcomes back Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain for her regular WUN videocast at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. We took a break over the holidays, but […]
Posted inPeople & Profiles
Podcast: A conversation with University of Rhode Island Economist Len Lardaro
University of Rhode Island Economist Len Lardaro, author of a monthly Rhode Island economic index, believes there is a 60 percent chance of what he calls a “vanilla” recession in 2023 and 70 percent in 2024. In this interview, he touches on immigration and its impact on employment, the economic importance of affordable housing, and […]
Posted inPeople & Profiles
Podcast: A conversation with former URI President Robert L. Carothers
Robert L. Carothers came to the University of Rhode Island, in the worst of times, and when he left 18 years later, URI and the state of Rhode Island were much better for his having been there. We catch up with Bob Carothers, as he now contemplates a second retirement, this one from College Unbound, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Ticket Giveaway: We interview Chris Spedding, coming to Newport’s Casino Theater Friday, January 20
A rock and roll mainstay will be headlining a rare live show at the Casino Theater in Newport on Friday, January 20. Guitarist Chris Spedding, best known for his studio work supporting just about every major artist to pass through the UK music scene since the late 1960s, will lead a trio of equally talented […]
Posted inArts & Culture
What’s Up Interview: Kara McKee, awarded Passim Iguana Award, to record first album
A year and a half ago, Kara McKee quit her job in the corporate world to chase down her dream of being a full-time musician. After years of gigging at small clubs around New England, the daughter of RI Governor Dan McKee finally received some national attention when she appeared on NBC’s The Voice last […]
Posted inCity & Government, News, People & Profiles
Newport Mayor Xay Khamsyvoravong joins What’sUpNewp for a live conversation on Dec. 28
Newport Mayor Xay Khamsyvoravong joined What’sUpNewp for a live virtual video conversation on Wednesday, December 28 at 2 pm. Over thirty minutes, What’sUpNewp’s Ryan Belmore chats with the Mayor about the Mayor’s first month on the job, what solutions he has for the Pell Bridge ramps construction project, what he sees as the latest with […]
Posted inCity & Government
The AP Interview: Vermont Sen. Leahy ponders his legacy
By WILSON RING Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Patrick Leahy lingered on a narrow balcony on the west side of the U.S. Capitol, soaking in a panoramic view of the National Mall, the Washington Monument and, beyond, the Lincoln Memorial. “Now this I will miss,” he said. As Leahy closes out a Senate career […]