Frank Prosnitz

When we speak with Newport Superintendent of Schools Colleen Burns Jermain at 1:30 pm today we’ll be halfway through the schools’ open houses and know whether teachers have adhered to their union’s instructions to boycott the open houses. In her recent message to families, Jermain recognized the “labor disagreements,” but was hopeful that “all our […]

Despite an effort at mediation over the summer, the dispute between the Newport teachers’ union and school administration that began in late winter has spilled over into the early days of the new school year, with little indication that it will be resolved soon.  Over these several months, the teachers have voted no confidence in […]

For Newport to fill critical public and private industry jobs within the city, it needs to focus on development of workforce and middle-income housing in a city that is more than 90 percent developed. That’s the assessment of Mayor Xaykham (Xay) Khamsyvoravong, who when asked if the lack of workforce and middle-income housing is causing […]

As New England’s population ages, the number of nursing homes in the region is declining rapidly, and it’s having its impact on the economy.  More of the region’s elderly are “aging in place,” with state programs and family members often providing care, according to the Boston Federal Reserve’s report on nursing home closures that was […]

Educators chase down water leaks at Richmond Elementary School, at times forcing the school to close. Some classes at Ashaway elementary are held in a trailer. At Charlestown Elementary, occupational therapies and other similar programs are held in hallways for lack of space. All three schools are more than 75 years old and are part […]

In a sweeping statistical profile of children and youth in Rhode Island, Kids Count found that while the Ocean State’s population has increased slightly, its 18 and under population is declining, and large disparities exist based on wealth, poverty, race and ethnicity. Kids Count’s annual Factbook is being presented this morning to a collection of […]

Leadership has its benefits – at least when it comes to campaign finances in Rhode Island. Just ask Speaker of the Rhode Island House of Representatives K. Joseph Shekarchi, D-Warwick, who reported on April 30 that his campaign fund had raised over $200,000 in the first quarter of 2024, leaving a fund balance of nearly […]

Newport’s Rogers High School has among the highest percentage of poor students in Rhode Island, and it is reflected in test scores.  It is also reflected in high levels of absenteeism, something schools statewide are trying to resolve, including Newport.  Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain joins WUN tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. for our live virtual video […]

While kids were on their winter break, Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain remained focused on a myriad of issues, including strategic planning, the budget, and Rogers High School construction. She joins WUN for her monthly videocast on Wednesday, February 28, at 1:30 p.m. to discuss these and other issues in Newport schools. These are […]

Voters in November, besides a host of contested political races and statewide and local referenda, will be voting to determine whether the state holds a constitutional convention.  If approved, it will be the state’s third constitutional convention since 1973, and first since 1986. The 1986 constitutional convention was the last held by any state in […]

After a couple of months navigating the state bureaucracy, officials now say a 12-family homeless shelter at the University of Rhode Island is expected to open on Tuesday. “It’s a go, we’re excited and overwhelmed,” says Russ Partridge, executive director of Westerly’s WARM Center, which will manage the facility. The shelter will finally open after […]

With the start of Rhode Island’s legislative session now a few weeks in, we reached out, as we have these past few years, to the area’s legislative delegation with a brief survey looking at their initiatives in the past session, and what they hope to accomplish in the 2024 session. We also asked about their […]

With the start of Rhode Island’s legislative session underway, we reached out, as we have these past few years, to the area’s legislative delegation with a brief survey looking at their initiatives in the past session and what they hope to accomplish in the 2024 session. We also asked about their perceptions of the state’s […]

As a state legislative commission explores ways to regulate the growing short-term rental industry, the city of Newport has launched its own effort to crackdown on what it considers illegal short-term rentals, primarily in residential areas. A compliance officer was hired, and the city is determined to rid itself of illegal short-term rental units that […]

When Gov. Dan McKee presents his state budget proposal to the General Assembly in about three weeks, he promises it will be “more constrained” than in the past, not include any broad tax increase, while seeking bond approval to build a permanent state archive. Appearing on the Morning Show with Frank Prosnitz on WBLQ radio, […]

With the start of Rhode Island’s legislative beginning on Tuesday, January 2, we reached out, as we have these past few years, to the area’s legislative delegation with a brief survey looking at their initiatives in the past session and what they hope to accomplish in the 2024 session. We also asked about their perceptions […]

With the start of Rhode Island’s legislative session just a few days away, we reached out, as we have these past few years, to the area’s legislative delegation with a brief survey looking at their initiatives in the past session, and what they hope to accomplish in the 2024 session. We also asked about their […]

With the start of Rhode Island’s legislative session just a few days away, we reached out, as we have these past few years, to the area’s legislative delegation with a brief survey looking at their initiatives in the past session, and what they hope to accomplish in the 2024 session. We also asked about their […]

With the start of Rhode Island’s legislative session just a few days away, we reached out, as we have these past few years, to the area’s legislative delegation with a brief survey looking at their initiatives in the past session and what they hope to accomplish in the 2024 session. We also asked about their […]

Voters in the Chariho Regional School District will likely be asked to consider a significant bond issue as soon as this Spring, to renovate or replace three of its four elementary schools. The fourth would be closed. School Superintendent Gina Picard said the schools were “for a very different time,” and each has considerable infrastructure […]