Wondering about all the sirens throughout Newport earlier this afternoon? The caravan of firetrucks, ambulances, and police vehicles, was actually a display of support for local healthcare workers at both Newport Hospital and local nursing homes and assisted living facilities, according to a spokesperson for the City of Newport.

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...