Progressive David Segal running for second Congressional seat Former state Rep. David Segal, who has participated in national Democratic progressive events, today officially announced he’s running for Rhode Island’s second Congressional seat. The current Congressman, James Langevin, is not running for reelection. “People are frustrated,” Segal said, “and they should be frustrated because government should […]
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 inColumns
Gov. candidate Gorbea releases 10 years of tax returns
Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea, a Democratic candidate for governor, this week released 10 years of tax returns, challenging all other gubernatorial candidates to do the same. “Rhode Islanders deserve nothing less than full transparency from their elected officials—especially from anyone who is seeking to lead the state,” Gorbea said. “This shouldn’t be complicated,” she […]
Posted inColumns
Just My Opinion: Passover: A story of hope, persistence, and freedom
As we gathered as a family around the seder table, celebrating Passover, we once again were reminded how fragile it is, this thing we call freedom. There was solemnity as we re-told the story of the Jews exodus from more than 400 years of enslavement in Egypt, three thousand years ago. We experienced the symbols […]
Posted inNews
Election 2022: Magaziner raises nearly triple raised by his Congressional rivals
General Treasurer Seth Magaziner, a Democrat who is running for Congress in the second Congressional District, raised more than $1.4 million in the first quarter of this year, according to his campaign’s quarterly report, filed with the Federal Election Committee. That’s nearly triple what any other Congressional candidate raised during the quarter, Democrat or Republican. […]
Posted inNews
Watch: Rep. Deborah Ruggiero joins What’sUpNewp to talk about her campaign for Lt. Governor
State Rep. Deb Ruggiero, who announced last week that she was running for lieutenant governor, joined What’sUpNewp for a live virtual video conversation today at 1:30 pm. Ruggiero, who represents District 74 (Jamestown and Middletown), is aligned with the House leadership. She’ll face incumbent Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos and State Sen. Cynthia Mendes in a Democratic […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport City Council to consider issues ranging from outdoor dining to the city’s transportation network
The Newport City Council tonight will consider items that could extend outdoor dining on Broadway, award contracts for projects at Innovate Newport and for roadwork, and receive a transportation master plan that suggests that “none of Newport’s current transportation services are working well.” Several other items on the agenda will address licenses, events, and other […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Lt. Governor candidate State Rep. Ruggiero joins What’sUpNewp for a live virtual video conversation
State Rep. Deb Ruggiero, who announced last week that she was running for lieutenant governor, joins What’sUpNewp for a live virtual video conversation on Monday at 1 p.m. Note – This conversation has been moved to 1:30 pm on Wednesday, April 13. Ruggiero, who represents District 74 (Jamestown and Middletown), is aligned with the House […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Election 2022: Cicilline backs union drive, praises Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson; Magaziner, McKee add electrifying endorsements
Cicilline supporting union drive at Starbucks U.S. Rep. David Cicilline, who is running for reelection in the first district, tweeted his support for workers at a Warwick Starbucks that have joined the wave of unionization efforts at the upscale coffee shop chain. “Union built the middle class, and they’re going to help us build a […]
Posted inBusiness
Casby Harrison to lead Rhode Island Black Business Association
Casby Harrison, who was a partner in a prominent Providence law firm before leaving that practice to open his own office in South Providence’s multi-cultural community, was recently elected chairperson of the board of the Rhode Island Black Business Association. Harrison has been a full-time lawyer for more than 35 years, a career that included […]
Posted inNews
Election 2022: Magaziner raises $1 million plus, and wins another labor endorsement
Magaziner has successful fundraising quarter General Treasurer Seth Magaziner, a candidate for the second Congressional seat, said today on a WhatsUpNewp videocast that he raised $1.4 million in the quarter that ended March 31. Official reports are not due until the end of the month. Magaziner said he was pleased that 70 percent of the […]
Posted inCity & Government
VIDEO: A conversation with Seth Magaziner, Candidate for Congress
In a crowded Congressional race, Gen. Treasurer Seth Magaziner hopes to stand out from the crowd running on his record as Treasurer, and his advocacy for education and labor. He joined What’sUpNewp for a live virtual video conversation on Tuesday. During our conversation, we ask Magaziner about his priorities if elected to Congress, how he […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Magaziner joins What’sUpNewp for a live virtual video conversation on Tuesday
In a crowded Congressional race, Gen. Treasurer Seth Magaziner hopes to stand out from the crowd running on his record as Treasurer, and his advocacy for education and labor. He joins a What’sUpNewp videocast tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. Magaziner has been compiling an impressive list of union endorsements, with several labor leaders noting Magaziner’s support […]
Posted inCity & Government
Jamestown-Middletown Rep. Ruggiero is running for Lieutenant Governor
State Rep. Deb Ruggiero, who has represented Jamestown and Middletown in the state legislature since elected to the House in 2008, today announced she’s running for lieutenant governor. Her announcement sets up a three-way race for the Democratic nomination. She’s the first candidate without ties to a specific gubernatorial candidate. State Sen. Cynthia Mendes of […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport Charter Commission considering term limits, four-year terms for Councilors
Term limits, four-year terms for city councilors, a strong mayor system – all items under consideration by the Newport Charter Commission, as it prepares to present its recommended charter revisions to the City Council next month. The commission has been meeting since last December, with considerable input from the public, reviewing the charter, provision by […]
Posted inCity & Government
Election 2022: Foulkes wants tax relief, waiting for Neary, the lineup
Foulkes calls for a one-time middle-class tax cut Democratic gubernatorial candidate Helena Buonanno Foulkes is calling on Gov. Dan McKee to give a one-time $500 tax cut to anyone earning less than $100,000. “Our state is seeing an unprecedented surplus, but Rhode Islanders’ budgets are tighter than ever,” Foulkes said. “Every day I talk to […]
Posted inCity & Government
Mayor Napolitano will join What’sUpNewp to answer your questions on Thursday
When Mayor Jeanne-Marie Napolitano joins WhatsUpNewp’s Thursday noontime videocast, we’ll explore all the questions you’ve sent to us, plus get her take on what appears to be renewed interest in merging Newport and Middletown Schools. We’ll also want to know all about her recent trip to Newport’s sister city in Ireland, and how these relationships […]
Posted inCity & Government
Merger talks on again? We’ll ask when Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain joins us Wednesday for her monthly videocast
It appears school merger talks are on again between Middletown and Newport officials, and now we’d like to learn more. Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain joins WhatsUpNewp for her monthly videocast tomorrow (Wednesday) at 1:30 p.m. We’ll ask for particulars as the two systems move toward what is being called a merger of “organizational […]
Posted inCity & Government
Election 2022: FBI investigation, candidate arrested in Ohio, end of financial reporting period nears, inside polls (?)
Typically, the headlines have been about endorsements and policy statements. Then, of course, there are candidates’ accusations about opponents. Lots of claims, lots of noise. But what isn’t typical, is one candidate being arrested in Ohio, and the FBI investigating what has been labeled a “controversial education contract.” FBI reported investigation education contract This week […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Newport Performing Arts Center scraps re-design plans; focusing on fundraising
Faced with escalating costs, the non-profit Newport Performing Arts Center has abandoned plans to streamline its initial design, and instead is looking for ways to trim its budget, without sacrificing the audience’s experience. John Cratin, the organization’s board chair, said the contractor is “very focused” on infrastructure and utilities, hopeful of finding savings to offset […]
Posted inCity & Government
Election 2022: Kalus enters gubernatorial race; Pacheco exits congressional race; Diossa names campaign manager
GOP has a gubernatorial candidate – Ashley Kalus Ashley Kalus, a transplant from Illinois, as expected officially kicked off her campaign today to become the Republican nominee for governor. Kalus, 39, who moved to Newport less than a year ago and registered to vote in Rhode Island in January, promised to “run a campaign of […]
Posted inNews
Choice Wineries says an apple winery is Rhode Island’s best
When choosing Rhode Island’s best wineries, you begin, of course, with the grapes. The quality of the grapes. Unless it’s apples. The Tapped Apple in Westerly was just named Rhode Island’s top winery by Choice Wineries, an online publication that ranks the best wineries in each state. The Tapped Apple, which produces apple wines and […]
Posted inCity & Government
Election 2022: de la Cruz enters CD2 race; Magaziner wins nurses endorsement; GOP head warns Dems ‘no Democratic seat is safe’
State Sen. de la Cruz formally announces candidacy Republican state Sen. Jessica de la Cruz kicked off her Congressional campaign, announcing Wednesday at a campaign event in Cranston. She described herself as an alternative to “millionaires” and “career politicians.” The race for the U.S. House of Representatives has attractive several candidates from both the Republican and Democratic […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Celebrating Florence K. Murray on this St. Patrick’s Day and Women’s History Month
As we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day today, and as we celebrate Women’s History Month, no one exemplifies the accomplishments of women and the Irish more than Florence K. Murray, who distinguished herself in the military, in government, and in the courtroom. During this month, we have been highlighting women who have played significant roles in […]
Posted inCity & Government
Election 2022: Matos, Magaziner, Diossa win endorsements; Gorbea wants to suspend gas tax
Building Trades Council Endorses Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos for Re-election The Rhode Island Building & Construction Trades Council (RIBCTC) has endorsed Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos for reelection. The endorsement comes just days after the council endorsed Gov. Dan McKee for reelection. McKee and Matos have been campaigning as a team. Both took office about a […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Muralists celebrating the relationship of beer and farming at Exeter’s Tilted Barn Brewery
Bringing nature indoors and celebrating the importance of farming in the development of … BEER!! That’s the goal of two California muralists who will be at Exeter’s Tilted Barn Brewery beginning Monday March 14 through Wednesday March 16. They will be painting a 200 square foot mural that they say will capture the essence of […]