Len Lardaro, the University of Rhode Island economist who produces a monthly Current Conditions Index, is encouraged by the sustained growth of the state’s economy. Lardaro, who has been following the Rhode Island economy for years and has often been critical of its performance, now believes it is showing some real strength.

Lardaro joins What’sUpNewp’s Frank Prosnitz on this edition of The Open Forum on AM 1540 WADK.

Ryan Belmore is the owner and publisher of What's Up Newp. He took over the publication in 2012 and has grown it into a three-time Rhode Island Monthly Best Local News Blog (2018, 2019, 2020). He was named LION Publishers Member of the Year in 2020 and received the Dominique Award from the Arts & Cultural Society of Newport County the same year. He has been awarded grants for investigative and community journalism, and continues to coach and mentor new local news publications nationwide. Ryan...