Colleen Burns Jermain, Newport’s Superintendent of Schools, joined What’sUpNewp on Wednesday, March 29, 2023, for her monthly live virtual video conversation. During our conversation, we discuss school safety, regionalization, construction at Rogers High School, mental health, teacher shortages, and more. Watch or listen to the conversation below; http://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/271114/private/0be5d6ef-e8ee-4c47-96c5-3fe1fed967d3.rss
Frank Prosnitz
Frank Prosnitz brings to WhatsUpNewp several years in journalism, including 10 as editor of the Providence (RI) Business News and 14 years as a reporter and bureau manager at the Providence (RI) Journal. Prosnitz began his journalism career as a sportswriter at the Asbury Park (NJ) Press, moving to The News Tribune (Woodbridge, NJ), before joining the Providence Journal. Prosnitz hosts the Morning Show on WLBQ radio (Westerly), 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Monday through Friday, and It’s Your Business, also on WBLQ, Monday and Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Prosnitz has twice won Best in Business Awards from the national Society of American Business Editors and Writers (SABEW), twice was named Media Advocate of the Year by the Small Business Administration, won an investigative reporter’s award from the New England Press Association, and newswriting award from the Rhode Island Press Association.
Posted inNews
State to soon seek proposals to convert URI Providence campus for housing or commercial use
The Rhode Island Department of Administration (DOA), which in January had announced it was seeking to repurpose the Shepard Building in downtown Providence, a University of Rhode Island campus for some 23 years, is close to publicly asking for proposals for the future use of the building, which not only houses URI, but also the […]
Posted inCity & Government
Just My Opinion: Let the games begin
Who’s running, who’s not? Changes every day, and will continue to change over the next several weeks, as individuals weigh their prospects to replace Congressman David Cicilline, who announced his retirement from Congress a few weeks ago to assume the presidency of the Rhode Island Foundation. It’s great fun for pundits, and you really can’t […]
Posted inCity & Government
Shelters see a huge spike in requests for housing assistance
While legislators ponder several bills aimed at easing the state’s housing crisis, the state agencies dealing with the homeless and most marginalized populations are seeing a “huge spike” in housing needs. “There’s been a massive increase in the last 18 months,” said Russ Partridge, executive director of Westerly’s Warm Center and Wakefield’s Welcome House. Statewide, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Women’s History Month: Celebrating remarkable women
As the end of Women’s History Month get closer, we continue to recognize the incredible contributions by so many Rhode Island women in every aspect of our lives. To be sure, women have distinguished themselves in medicine and the arts, in business and athletics, in the classroom and the courtroom, in government, and, most of […]
Posted inNews
Westerly school employee accused of inappropriate activity is no longer employed in the school system
(This is an update of a story that ran earlier this morning, based on an email sent to parents this morning by School Superintendent Mark Garceau.) Westerly school officials this morning informed parents that the high school employee accused last Friday of acting inappropriately with a high school student is no longer employed in the […]
Posted inNews
Animal sanctuary survives Avian Flu, continues saving abused animals
The 70 farm animals at West Place Animal Sanctuary in Tiverton are the lucky ones. Millions of others are not as lucky. In the United States alone 10 million animals are abused to death each year, according to PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). And, according to other organizations, only a tiny fraction […]
Posted inColumns
Women’s History Month: Organizations providing significant services, primarily for women
March is Women’s History Month, and throughout the month What’sUpNewp will highlight significant women in the region, present and past, and organizations that are providing significant services, primarily for women, from support for those suffering from domestic violence to those providing specific resources for women in business. Today, we focus on those organizations providing help […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Just my Opinion: Freedom of Expression? I think so
Outside the Gamm Theater on Sunday afternoon, a group of protestors from what they said is the Rhode Island Coalition for Israel were objecting to a billboard promoting the theater’s current production, “Bad Jews.” Literature the group distributed said the theater in 2018 had canceled a production because an impersonation show raised “concerns about blackface…Double […]
Posted inHistory
Women’s History Month: Opera Singer Maria Spacagna
She is among Rhode Island’s most celebrated performers, a soprano who made Madame Butterfly her signature role, acclaimed by the La Scala Encyclopedia of the Opera “as one of the great singers of her generation.” Maria Spacagna, born in Providence, and a guest artist at the world’s most prestigious opera houses, including the Metropolitan […]
Posted inNews, People & Profiles
A conversation with Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain
Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain joined What’sUpNewp on Wednesday, March 1 for our monthly live virtual video conversation. During our conversation, we touch base on regionalization, the new Rogers High School project, mental health issues, the COVID-19 learning gap, preparing students for the Blue Economy, and much more. Watch
Posted inCity & Government
RI Department of Health begins developing suicide prevention plan amid new reports of a spike in mental health issues among teens
As suicide rates nudge upwards, the Rhode Island Department of Health is developing a suicide prevention plan, according to a leading suicide prevention advocate. This comes at a time when there is a dramatic upswing in behavioral health issues among high schoolers nationwide, with 42 percent of high school students reportedly experiencing persistent feelings of […]
Posted inCity & Government
Former Newport Casino project remains in limbo
Hailed as an exciting mixed-use development on the site of the former Newport Grand when Carpionato Group bought the property more than four years ago, the old casino still stands, vacant and surrounded by a vast parking lot that’s only inhabitants are an increasing number of weeds. Delays caused by the city’s development of a […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport City Council looks to Accessory Dwelling Units as one way to alleviate housing shortage
The Newport City Council, recognizing that housing is a critical issue in the city, tonight voted to direct various city agencies to develop standards by which the city can expand its housing stock by approving the development of Accessory Dwelling Units. The state legislature, in the last legislative session, enacted enabling legislation that allows cities […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport City Council/Legislators postpone legislative issues session
A session between Newport City Councilors and area legislators was postponed today because of the frigid temperatures, according to state Rep. Lauren Carson, D-Newport. Update – The meeting has been rescheduled for February 18. The council and legislators meet annually to explore issues that the city hopes legislators will present on the city’s behalf. In […]
Posted inBusiness
Region’s workforce shifting away from hospitality
A leading New England economist is suggesting that jobs in the region are shifting from leisure and hospitality to higher-paying industries, while job openings remain at “historic highs.” Boston Federal Reserve Bank Vice President and economist Jeffrey Thompson said he’s concerned about whether the regional workforce can fill the jobs of growing industries. He characterized […]
Posted inCity & Government
Rogers’ cosmetology and automotive programs to survive construction budget cuts
While the facilities that would house Rogers High School’s Cosmetology and Automotive programs may be on the chopping block as the system attempts to close a $20 million construction shortfall, the programs are not being eliminated. Newport Superintendent of Schools Colleen Burns Jermain, appearing on a WhatsUpNewp videocast today, said that the current Career and […]
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 inCity & Government
South County legislators focused on environment, school funding, veterans
Legislators on Rhode Island’s South Coast are focusing on climate change, shoreline access, funding for education, and veterans, among issues they hope to address during this legislative session. What’sUpNewp reached out to several South Coast legislators, as we did with Aquidnick Island legislators (published earlier), to learn their legislative priorities. We also realize that this […]
Posted inNews
Gas Crisis: Can it happen again?
It was four years ago when the gas stopped flowing to thousands of Newport and Middletown households and businesses. The frigid temperatures forced many families to flee the island, pipes burst and local officials were searching for answers. It didn’t take long for officials to place blame on a system failure, rather than extraordinary cold […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Theater Review: Gamm’s production of The Faith Healer is masterful
The Faith Healer, a masterpiece by Irish playwright Brian Friel, is performed masterfully at the Gamm Theater. It only plays through January 29 and should not be missed. The story is told in four monologues, the opening and closing by Frank (Tony Estrella), the faith healer; his loyal wife, Grace (Jeanine Kane); and manager, Teddy […]
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 inColumns
Just My Opinion: Governor McKee likely to name former Commerce Secretary as Rhode Island’s Housing Czar
We’re hearing that former Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor will likely be named the new Rhode Island Housing Secretary early this week, after the resignation last week of Josh Saal, who had been in the job for only a few months. Saal had come under criticism from Rhode Island House and Senate leadership, as Gov. Dan […]
Posted inNews
Some Homeless Shelters consider purchasing motels to combat homelessness
Some non-profit homeless shelters in Rhode Island are considering the purchase of motels and hotels to accelerate efforts to develop more short-term and permanent affordable housing, according to a prominent industry executive. Russ Partridge, longtime executive director of the WARM Center in Westerly and Welcome House in Wakefield, said that with grants and state funds, […]