More than two decades after the non-profit Newport Performing Arts Center bought the former Newport Opera House, promising to return it to its previous opulence, the building remains shuttered, while the group “reframes” the project. After years of trying to raise the $26 million it initially believed was needed to renovate the more than 150-year-old […]
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
‘Thank You,’ Leno tells cops at sold-out comedy show
At a time when laughter seems elusive and policing is often under siege – Jay Leno, the one-time king of late-night tv, brought laughter to this 90-seat Newport theater and an appreciative audience of primarily local policemen. [ Dec. 24 – ‘5 Nights of Leno’ raises $18,000 for Newport Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge #8 […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Legislative Survey: Rep. Deb Ruggiero, D-Dist. 74, Middletown, Jamestown
WhatsUpNewp reached out to Newport County legislators to get their perspective on where we have been and what they hope to achieve in this next legislative session. Rep. Deb Ruggiero, D-Dist. 74, is the second legislator to reply. Representative Ruggiero chairs the House Committee on Innovation, Internet, and Technology. She also chairs the Coastal Resource […]
Posted inPeople & Profiles
Will tourism rebound in 2022; Discover Newport’s Evan Smith joins WUN for a live interview on Wednesday
No industry has suffered more than tourism during the pandemic, and no community in Rhode Island is more reliant upon tourism than Newport. Evan Smith, executive director of Discover Newport, joins What’s Up Newp for a live virtual video interview at 2 pm tomorrow (Wednesday) to look back at 2021 and to look ahead to next […]
Posted inCity & Government, News, People & Profiles
WUN-ON-ONE: Councilor Ceglie joins WUN for monthly live interview on Wednesday
Update – Since publishing this, the Mayor’s office has made us aware that Lynn Underwood Ceglie, Vice-Chair and At-Large Councilor, will be filling in for Mayor Napolitano. Newport Vice-Chair, At-Large Councilor Lynn Underwood Ceglie, on the heels of a divisive City Council meeting over North End zoning, joins What’s Up Newp for a live virtual […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Two former mayors, likely foes in the General Treasurer race
Former Central Falls Mayor James Diossa, a Democrat, announced today that he’s running for General Treasurer, setting up a potential general election with former Cranston Mayor Alan Fung. Both former mayors were term-limited, and both have ambitions of holding statewide office. Fung, who twice ran unsuccessfully for governor, has strongly indicated his interest in running […]
Posted inBusiness
SBA calls for 2022 Small Business Award Nominations
The Small Business Administration has put out its annual call for nominees for its prestigious Small Business Awards, in which it recognizes outstanding companies or individuals in several categories. Rhode Island winners then compete regionally and nationally with company and individual winners from other regions. Awards are presented at ceremonies during Small Business Week, which […]
Posted inNews
Rhode Island Blood Center declares critical blood shortage
The Rhode Island Blood Center today declared its third blood emergency this year, with a one-to-two-day supply, well below what it said is its ideal inventory of seven days. It joins blood centers across the nation that are experiencing similar shortages, described by a Red Cross official in Tennessee of “causing hospitals to actually reconsider […]
Posted inNews
WUN-On-One: Newport School Superintendent joins WUN on Wednesday for a virtual conversation
Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain joins WUN for her monthly videocast at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Among the issues we’ll discuss: We’ll talk about the lingering impact of the pandemic and how the school system is trying to make up for lost learning. School construction projects – progress, timing, funding, and any changes to the […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
What’s Up Newp Legislative Survey: Rep. Lauren Carson
For the last few years, What’s Up Newp has reached out to Newport area state legislators in advance of the Rhode Island legislative session. This last year has been a year like none other, defined by the pandemic and divisiveness, all feeding into distrust of government on all levels. Are our local legislators up to […]
Posted inColumns
Just My Opinion: What are you thankful for in 2021?
It’s been a tough year – the pandemic, violence, a nation divided. We see state after state, district after district, attempting to enact voter suppression laws and to rewrite history in a way that erases discrimination then … and now. Tough year. Tough couple of years … or longer. So, I asked, what are you […]
Posted inNews
Abney top fundraiser among area legislators
State Rep. Marvin Abney, D-Dist. 73 (Middletown, Newport), remains the leading fundraiser among area legislators, reporting a campaign finance balance of more than $162,000 to the Board of Elections. Abney, the House Finance Chair, raised $600 from individuals and $1,700 from Political Action Committees during the third quarter, adding to his considerable campaign finance account. […]
Posted inNews
Newport Mayor Napolitano discusses city’s issues with What’s Up Newp on Monday at noon
Newport Mayor Jeanne Marie Napolitano joins WhatsUpNewp on Monday at noon for what will become a monthly videocast. We’ll be exploring numerous issues confronting the city, new programs, and important ongoing projects. On Monday, we’ll be asking the mayor about the former casino property and other north end projects, and the city’s vision for economic […]
Posted inNews
Pell School Topping-Off ceremony scheduled for Wednesday
Expansion of Newport’s Pell Elementary School moves a step closer with a Topping Off Ceremony at 12:45 p.m. Wednesday at the school, 35 Dexter Street. A topping-off ceremony is a “steel signing ceremony” at which “members of the Pell community sign their names on the steel beams used in the project,” according to school officials. […]
Posted inColumns
Just My Opinion: The dilemma – healthcare professionals and vaccinations
Spending time at the gym on Sunday morning, the television in front of the rowing machine I was on was tuned to Fox news. The interview was of a nurse, fired because she wouldn’t get vaccinated. She was staunch in her belief that whether she’s vaccinated or not, it is not the business of her […]
Posted inNews
Magaziner leads in third-quarter fundraising among governor candidates
General Treasurer Seth Magaziner, one of six Democrats vying for the party’s gubernatorial nomination, continued to be the top fundraiser among the candidates, as third-quarter financial reports were filed on Sunday with the Board of Elections. The Nov. 1 reporting deadline was for the third quarter, which ended Sept. 30. Robust fundraising is critical as […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Battle for campaign funds: third-quarter reports due Monday
While there are a half dozen Democrats vying for the party’s gubernatorial nomination, and one Republican whose campaign says he will soon announce, the campaigns are gearing up, at least when it comes to fundraising. Political insiders suggest that candidates are yet to get into heavy campaign mode, but are flexing their financial muscle, raising […]
Posted inColumns
Just My Opinion: Maybe it is time to retire the term bullpen….
Sure, it’s the World Series, but frankly there’s a much bigger issue than whether Houston or Atlanta wins. Ask PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and they’ll tell you it’s time to retire the name Bullpen. Yes, that area beyond the outfield fence where relief pitchers await a call to come into the […]
Posted inNews
Newport School Superintendent joins What’s Up Newp for a live virtual video conversation
Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain joins What’s Up Newp for her regularly scheduled monthly live virtual video interview on Wednesday, November 3 at 1:30 pm. Note – This conversation was originally scheduled for October 27 but has been rescheduled due to power outages. We’ll discuss the latest with COVID, her expectations with the prospect […]
Posted inNews
Affordable Housing remains elusive, as residents in one nearby town reject plan for mixed rent project
Stonington, CT — While most polls show that Americans strongly favor providing safe and affordable housing for all citizens, sometimes, when that prospect is in your neighborhood, opinions change. Take the case of Rhode Island’s 39 cities and towns and a state “mandate” that each city and town strive to assure that at least 10 […]
Posted inNews
Carpionato now projects starting North End project in early 2023
The Carpionato Group, which purchased the former Newport Grand property more than three years ago, is redesigning the project, hopeful of beginning work by early 2023. Initially, with plans to begin construction in 2020 on a $100 million multi-use development, the project was put on hold because of the pandemic and the city’s moratorium on […]
Posted inNews
What’s Up Newp videocast explores Rhode Island Housing Crisis
There remains a housing crisis in Rhode Island, with nearly 30 percent of homeowners and nearly 50 percent of renters unable to afford the homes in which they live. That means that families and individuals are struggling to pay their mortgage or rent, to pay for food or utilities, and foregoing on necessary medicines. Those […]
Posted inNews
Report: Affordable Housing outlook bleak
There are no communities in Rhode Island where families earning the state’s median income of $67,167 or less, can afford to buy a home, according to a critical report released today by HousingWorksRI. That same report found that only one community – Burrillville – where renters earning the renter median income of $36,078 can afford […]
Posted inCity & Government
Gubernatorial race shaping up to be an Ivy League competition
The Ivy League will be on full display in Rhode Island’s Democratic gubernatorial primary election – Brown, Harvard, Princeton, Columbia, Yale. This week’s announcement by Helena Foulkes, a former CVS top executive and former CEO of the parent company of Saks’ 5th Avenue, assured this to be among the most elite group of candidates to […]
Posted inNews
Rhode Island Democratic gubernatorial primary pits Progressives against Liberals and Conservatives
With the entrance in the Democratic gubernatorial race of Matt Brown, a former Secretary of State, a reader asks: “What’s the difference between Progressive and Liberal?” Brown is leader of a Progressive group, the Rhode Island Political Cooperative, which promises to run Progressive candidates in 50 races, from local town council and school committees, legislature, […]