You might say Brendan Kirby has been obsessed with Seinfeld, and you’d be right, leading to his latest project, publishing “Seinfeld: The Official Cookbook,” written along with co-author Julie Tremaine. Kirby will join WhatsUpNewp for a videocast on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. The book includes more than 60 recipes, from appetizers to main courses, drinks […]
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
Fixing RI’s Health Care System, and a career in literature – Dr. Fine joins WUN for a conversation, Thursday at 11 am
Dr. Michael Fine, former Rhode Island Director of Health, is passionate as a physician and advocate for community health organizations … and just as passionate for his forays into literature, a novelist and short story writer, whose most recent book is a collection of Rhode Island short stories. Dr. Fine joins WhatsUpNewp for a videocast […]
Posted inNews
School Bond issues approved across the state, while regionalization fails in Newport
Education won in Rhode Island yesterday, except perhaps in Newport. Bond issues for school construction in seven communities passed overwhelmingly. Regionalization failed in Newport, scuttling the yes votes for regionalization and school construction in Middletown. The vote against regionalization in Newport was close, 52.8 percent against regionalization with Middletown, and 47.2 percent for regionalization. Middletown […]
Posted inOpinion
Just My Opinion: Listen to ‘people who have ideas about how to fix things’
Just a couple of days before what could be among the most important elections in decades, some random thoughts. Each election, I think that perhaps negativity had run its course, only to find that the next election digs deeper in the mud, and less into ideas. “Listen to the people who are talking about how […]
Posted inColumns
Just My Opinion: World Series Trivia
As the Houston Astros and Philadelphia Phillies battle in the 2022 version of Major League Baseball’s World Series, perhaps sports ultimate championship series, we’re reminded of World Series past, from a perfect game to a not so perfect blowout. You might not recall that it wasn’t always the World Series. The first one of those […]
Posted inCity & Government
Regionalization is on our mind when Newport Schools’ Superintendent Jermain joins us on Oct. 26 for a virtual conversation
With less than two weeks to the election, many in Newport and Middletown aren’t focused as much on candidates, as they are on the referendum for regionalizing schools, which can dramatically change the course of education on Aquidneck Island for generations. Colleen Burns Jermain, Newport Superintendent of Schools, joins What’sUpNewp on Wednesday, October 26 at […]
Posted inNews
School construction projects on the ballot in several Rhode Island communities
School construction is on the ballot across Rhode Island this November, asking voters to approve nearly $1.4 billion in school construction projects. Voters in Middletown and Newport will also vote on whether to regionalize their school systems, and statewide voters are being asked to approve another $250 million school construction bond. These proposed projects, some […]
Posted inArts & Culture, Things To Do
Granite Theatre’s “Diary of Anne Frank” should not be missed
Perhaps it is hope that is the overriding message in Anne Frank’s diary, hope that Anne held for more than two years as she and seven others hid from the Nazis. The Diary of Anne Frank, the story of this young girl who hid from the invading Nazis from 1942 to August of 1944, is […]
Posted inNews
WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with James L. Lathrop, candidate for General Treasurer
James Lathrop, the Republican candidate for General Treasurer, a career financial professional, hopes to bring his experience to what is perhaps the chief financial office in state government. And that’s exactly what his campaign, saying that what’s needed in the office is a professional financier, instead of a “career politician.” Lathrop’s opponent is former Central […]
Posted inNews
Voters to consider important statewide and local referenda
When voters go to the polls in less than two weeks, they will be voting on far more than local and statewide offices. There are three statewide bond issues, totaling some $400 million, and several local referenda, from legalization of retail marijuana sales to school construction and regionalization. Early voting begins Oct. 19, with election […]
Posted inCity & Government
Nearly a third of legislators running unopposed
While the statewide Republican Party represents itself as stronger than ever, it is still failing to offer candidates in nearly a third of the state’s legislative races. In the House of Representatives, 22 legislators are running unopposed. That’s 29.3 percent of the 75 members of the House that are facing no opposition in the General […]
Posted inPolitics
WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with Zachary Hurwitz, Independent candidate for Governor
For most 18-year-olds the challenge around election time is getting them to vote – not so for Zachary Hurwitz. He’s taken it a step further, and at 18 is perhaps the youngest person ever to run for governor in Rhode Island. Zachary joined us on a WhatsUpNewp videocast on Tuesday at 2 p.m., the first […]
Posted inNews
Kalus cancels What’sUpNewp interview, doesn’t respond to requests to reschedule
When the Communications Director for GOP gubernatorial candidate Ashley Kalus asked What’sUpNewp if we could schedule Kalus for a WUN videocast we were anxious to comply. The request came shortly before the primary election, and we said we wanted to schedule the videocast after the primary, focusing our immediate coverage on what was a very […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport School Superintendent Jermain joins What’sUpNewp for a live virtual video conversation on Wednesday
In six weeks, voters in Middletown and Newport will determine the future course of the communities’ school systems, with regionalization on the ballot. Colleen Burns Jermain, Superintendent of Newport Public Schools, joins What’sUpNewp for a live virtual video conversation at 12:30 pm Wednesday, and we’ll learn whether there are more specifics of how this regionalization […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Gamm’s “Describe the Night” traces decades of Russian misinformation
Good Theater sometimes merely entertains, but at its best, it challenges. And so it is with “Describe the Night,” a play by Rajiv Joseph that spans nine decades of Russian efforts to misinform, manipulate facts, and spread conspiracy theories. Not only a window into Russia, but a window into our own society here, in the […]
Posted inPolitics
Election 2022: General election begins
General Treasurer Seth Magaziner, Democratic candidate for the second Congressional District wins support from GOP coalition, Former GOP Congresswoman Schneider and GOP coalition endorses Magaziner General Treasurer and congressional candidate Seth Magaziner has been endorsed by former Republican U.S. Congresswoman Claudine Schneider, former Republican State Senator Dawson Hodgson, former Republican State Representative Bob Nardillio, Cranston […]
Posted inNews
Elizabeth Burke Bryant to step down as KIDS COUNT executive director
From Marisa Albanese, KIDS COUNT Board Chairperson Elizabeth Burke Bryant, who over her 28 years as executive director of KIDS COUNT has made the organization Rhode Island’s premier child advocacy organization, is stepping down as executive director, the organization announced this afternoon. “During her tenure, Elizabeth has been one of Rhode Island’s most influential leaders […]
Posted inPolitics
Kalus cancels WUN videocast
Republican gubernatorial candidate Ashley Kalus has canceled her appearance today on a WhatsUpNewp videocast, which was scheduled for 3 p.m. According to campaign staffer Matt Hanrahan, there was a “change to Ashley’s schedule” that necessitate canceling the interview. We are hopeful of rescheduling but will submit some questions to her that we had planned to […]
Posted inNews
Election 2022: General election begins
When Gov. Dan McKee defeated two high-profile females for the Democratic nomination for governor it assured that Ashley Kalus, the Republican nominee, would focus on winning the female vote. Both Kalus and Republican state chair Sue Cienki came out swinging, depicting McKee as a misogynist. Meanwhile McKee won a key endorsement from a female political […]
Posted inPolitics
Election 2022: Primary election – no surprises, lackluster turnout – tough day for Progressives
The table is now set for the November election, after a primary campaign that produced few surprises, attracted few voters, was expensive, and showed Rhode Island’s Democratic Party to be more centrist than progressive. It also proved that sports and politics share one certain truth – timing. In all sports you want your team to […]
Posted inCity & Government
It’s Primary Day – Get Out and Vote
It’s Primary Election Day, and after all the rhetoric, advertising and tons of money spent to persuade voters to support one candidate or another … now, it’s the voters turn. And for the victors, then comes the big dance, the General Election, in November. Those looking for voter information, should visit the Secretary of State’s […]
Posted inColumns
Just My Opinion: Searching for the truth in a deluge of campaign rhetoric
With just a few days left before the primary election, candidates have been slinging accusations, deflecting blame, overstating achievements … and spending lots and lots of money on advertising, signs, mailers, and more. It’s hard to remember an election season like this. Five candidates vying for the Democrat gubernatorial nomination, half a dozen looking to […]
Posted inCity & Government, Politics
Many RI state legislators running unopposed in 2022
When the dust settles after next week’s primary election, more than 30 percent of legislators will be running unopposed in the General Election. In the state Senate seven of the 38 Senators will be unopposed in the General Election, and in the House of Representatives 29 of 75 candidates, most incumbents, will be unopposed. Many […]
Posted inNews
As school regionalization vote approaches, officials explore ways to address concerns
It’s still possible long-term that the facilities configuration of a merged Middletown and Newport School system results in one high school and one middle school. That’s one idea being discussed as the communities move closer to a regionalization vote in November. Newport Schools’ Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain raised the prospect in a phone interview recently […]
Posted inNews
Celebrating the real meaning of Labor Day
While many people and families celebrate Labor Day with picnics, and as simply a day off from work, while media outlets are quick to talk about current workforce statistics, there are some that recognize Labor Day’s real origins, a holiday created at a time of widespread abuse of American workers in factories across the country. […]