Westerly Town Council President Ed Morrone has proposed initiatives that he hopes can preserve forest land, provide for alternative energy sources, and protect the town in the event of drought and severe storms that result from climate change. He’s asked town officials to explore the possibility of developing a solar farm at the site of […]
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 inCity & Government
DiPalma to focus on issues of identity theft, artificial intelligence, technology
For state Sen. Lou DiPalma, D-12 (Middletown, Little Compton, Newport, and Tiverton), the 2023 legislative session will be an opportunity to focus on a number of technology-related issues. Senator DiPalma His focus on technology is hardly unexpected, as his bachelor’s degree from the University of Bridgeport is in computer engineering and his master’s degree is […]
Posted inCity & Government
Legislators Ujifusa, McGaw focus on environmental issues
The environment is among the top priorities for both Representative Michelle E. McGaw, D-Dist. 71 and newly elected Sen. Linda Ujifusa, D-Dist. 11, during the legislative session that began this week. The two legislators are among those Representatives and Senators to whom What’sUpNewp reached out in the Newport County area and on the South Shore, […]
Posted inCity & Government
Legislators Carson, Finkleman share plans for 2023 legislative session
With the 2023 legislative underway, hundreds, maybe thousands of bills will be introduced with the intention of solving some of the state’s most pressing issues. What’sUpNewp reached out to legislators from the Newport County area and on the South Shore, asking for their vision for this upcoming legislative session. There are clearly similarities in the […]
Posted inCity & Government
Local legislators’ plans as 2023 session begins this week
As legislators prepare for the start of the legislative session this week, many are looking to complete work left unfinished from the last session, with legislators on both the East and West Bay focusing on climate and shoreline access among their key issues. What’sUpNewp reached out to legislators from the Newport County area and on […]
Posted inNews
Big winner in RI in 2022 – School building projects
After all the votes were counted in 2022, from the governor’s race to dog catcher (actually I don’t think anyone elects a dog catcher), the most impactful outcomes were likely the billion dollars in school construction projects that voters authorized across Rhode Island. The result is an infusion of not only dollars but enthusiasm and […]
Posted inCity & Government
Millions left in legislators’ campaign accounts
Rhode Island politicians, fresh from expensive primary and general elections, still have millions of dollars left in their campaign accounts. And those in powerful legislative positions are leading the way. Speaker of the House Joseph Shekarchi, D-Dist. 23 has amassed a robust campaign fund of nearly $1.7 million, according to the latest campaign finance report. […]
Posted inCity & Government
Shoreline access expected to be among legislatures top priorities when it convenes in January
When the Rhode Island State Legislature convenes on Jan. 4, it’s certain that shoreline access will be among its top priorities. In the 2022 session, the House of Representatives unanimously approved a shoreline access bill, only to see the Senate fail to consider the legislation. The shoreline access bill did not pass the House until […]
Posted inColumns
Just My Opinion: Three celebrations, one underlying message
The flame from Chanukah’s first candle flickers, the star atop a Christmas tree sheds its light elegantly, and the candles of Kwanzaa’s kinara speak of hardship and hope. Light. It seems to unite these three celebrations, the first of which begins on Sunday, December 18 with the lighting by Jews worldwide of the first (of […]
Posted inCity & Government
Lt. Gov. Matos joins What’sUpNewp on Dec. 14 for a discussion of her priorities as she enters her first full term in office
When Sabina Matos was a candidate for her first full term as lieutenant governor, she set her priorities as affordable housing, broadband, and tourism. Now, we’ll ask her how she hopes to address each of these issues during a 4 pm videocast on Wednesday, December 14. Matos was appointed as the 70th Lieutenant Governor of […]
Posted inCity & Government
Ethics in Rhode Island? Common Cause executive director, joins WUN for a live conversation on Thursday
Since its founding in Rhode Island more than 50 years ago, Common Cause Rhode Island has consistently been at the forefront of ethics reform, serving as a significant watchdog over local and state government in Rhode Island. John Marion, Common Cause executive director, joins WUN for a 4 p.m. videocast on Thursday, December 8. We’ll […]
Posted inNews
Newport Performing Arts Center Board hires national consultant, hopeful of reviving fundraising effort
The board of the Newport Performing Arts Center has hired a national theater consultant, hopeful of revitalizing its fundraising efforts to restore the historic Opera House on Washington Square to its former opulence. The restoration project has been ongoing for more than two decades, a massive project that once was projected to cost $26 million, […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport School Superintendent Jermain joins WUN for a conversation on Wednesday
For Colleen Burns Jermain, Newport’s School Superintendent, it has been a challenging time — from the failed regionalization vote to revelations of expected substantial cost overruns for the Rogers High School construction project. Colleen joins WhatsUpNewp at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow (Wednesday) for her monthly live virtual video conversation with us. Is regionalization dead? Or does […]
Posted inBusiness
Deadline Dec. 8 for SBA Award nominations
Nominations for the prestigious Small Business Administration’s annual awards is slightly more than a week away (Dec. 8), with awards given on a local, regional, and national level. The SBA presents awards in several categories, meant to celebrate small businesses across the country, and locally. Specific information about the nomination process is available at sba.gov/nsbw […]
Posted inNews
Pete and Ron Cardi join WUN on Nov. 22: Giving back to the community
When Pete, Ron and Nick Cardi’s father opened a small furniture store in Cranston decades ago, he could have never imagined the dynamic growth of the store into one of the leading furniture stores nationwide, and the impact Cardi’s has had in its support of numerous non-profit organizations. With the holidays upon us, Cardi’s is […]
Posted inReal Estate
Home sales off 40 percent in two years
The number of single-family homes sold in Rhode Island in October was nearly 40 percent less than two years ago, while house prices remained relatively steady this year, although up more than 17 percent from October 2020, according to the Rhode Island State-Wide Multiple Listing Service. According to the organization’s data, over the last three […]
Posted inCity & Government
Progressives had tough elections in Rhode Island in 2022
It would appear that one major takeaway from the 2022 election – nationally, statewide and locally – is that the extremes did not do very well. In Rhode Island, while Democrats took all statewide general officer positions and again solidly maintained control of the state Senate and state House of Representatives, members of the Rhode […]
Posted inArts & Culture, Things To Do
Gamm Theatre’s ‘Sweat’, a mirror into economic hardship, race, and disintegrating friendships
Sweat, now playing at the Gamm Theatre in Warwick, is a powerful play that explores friendships and friendships gone awry, race, economy, all set in the troubled community of Reading, Pennsylvania. Lynn Nottage won a Pulitzer for Sweat, and the play was nominated for Tony awards on Broadway for Best Play, and two of its […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Author of ‘Seinfeld: The Official Cookbook’ joins WUN for a conversation on Thursday
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 […]
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 […]