While Lt. Gov. Dan McKee is poised to assume the governorship upon Gov. Gina Raimondo’s confirmation as U.S. Secretary of Commerce, it will only add more intrigue to what assuredly will be a spirited campaign for governor. With the mayor of Providence and all general officers – except attorney general – term limited at the […]
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
WhatsUpNewp’s Authors’ Series continues with novelist Christine Lajewski
Christine Lajewski, a horror novelist and short story writer, joins WhatsUpNewp for a videocast in its authors’ series at 11 a.m. on Wednesday (Feb. 10). Please note – Feb. 10: Due to unforeseen circumstances, this conversation has been postponed. We’ll update this story with the new date and time as soon as possible. What’s Up […]
Posted inNews
Secretary of State’s Website offers a window into the state’s Black History
The Rhode Island Secretary of State’s website is a treasure trove of information, connecting Rhode Islanders with important documents about people and events in Rhode Island history. In this, Black History Month, the website offers another important resource, chronicling “the history of the African American experience in Rhode Island.” We reached out to Secretary of […]
Posted inNews
Just My Opinion: Time to get serious about campaign finance reporting
The news was a bit startling – a former Providence Councilman, convicted of embezzlement just a few years ago, lands an important government job in Central Falls, while also still owing the state Board of Elections more than $50,000 in fines for some 60 citations of failing to file campaign finance reports, or filing them […]
Posted inSports
Former Pawsox Manager Ron Johnson dies of COVID-19
Former Pawtucket Red Sox Manager and Boston Red Sox first base coach, Ron Johnson, has died of complications from COVID-19 in Tennessee, according to the Virginia-Pilot. The newspaper said family sources confirmed his death. Johnson, 64, was a former major league first baseman and popular minor league manager with a career record of 1,752 wins […]
Posted inColumns
Just My Opinion: Will Rhode Island change the way it chooses its lieutenant governor?
When Gov. Gina Raimondo heads to Washington in the next few weeks – or less – to become President Biden’s Commerce Secretary, she’ll leave a state struggling to find adequate vaccine supplies to bring COVID-19 under control, the state’s economy ravaged by the virus, and a state budget with a projected deficit of hundreds of […]
Posted inNews
Just My Opinion: The words and lessons of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Friday was Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, which we celebrate on Monday as a federal holiday. It comes on the heels of the storming of the U.S. Capitol that took lives, caused physical damage to a building revered as a symbol of our Democracy, and raised questions of whether our form of government can survive. […]
Posted inNews
AARP calls on Governor Raimondo to prioritize Rhode Islanders 50 and older for COVID vaccine and increase COVID vaccination transparency
The AARP in Rhode Island is asking the state to prioritize residents over the age of 50 to receive COVID-19 vaccinations, giving greater weight to not only those in extended care facilities, but also those receiving long-term support in their homes. Additionally, the association is calling for more transparency, urging the state to consistently post […]
Posted inNews
Feds reopening Paycheck Protection Program for thousands of small businesses on Jan. 11
Local businesses next week will be able to apply for funds under the federal Paycheck Protection Program, which is reopening January 11, according to a posting on the local Small Business Administration website. The program, according to the announcement, will be open to new borrowers and certain existing PPP borrowers. The effort, according to the […]
Posted inNews
Magaziner, Gorbea congratulate Raimondo on her nomination as Commerce Secretary
General Treasurer Seth Magaziner and Secretary of state Nellie Gorbea both issued statements praising Gov. Gina Raimondo, congratulating her on her nomination by President Elect Joe Biden to be U.S. Secretary of Commerce. President-elect Biden announces Governor Raimondo as nominee for Secretary of Commerce Lt. Gov. Dan McKee will become governor, once Raimondo is confirmed […]
Posted inNews
With Raimondo to Washington, McKee to the governorship, DiPalma eyes lieutenant governor’s position
With Gov. Gina Raimondo headed to Washington and a spot in the Biden administration, and Lt. Gov. Dan McKee poised to become governor, Aquidneck Island state Senator Lou DiPalma is hoping to fill the lieutenant governor’s position. Senator DiPalma currently represents Senate District 12, which includes portions of Little Compton, Middletown, Newport and Tiverton. Raimondo […]
Posted inNews
A Look Back, A Look Ahead: Top stories of 2020, top issues of 2021
Any local, statewide news in 2020 was clearly overridden by national and international events – a pandemic that remains with us, an assault on our Democracy. As we enter 2021, these same issues will dominate the news sites, pages, and airwaves for months. It is impossible to separate the events of 2020 from the vision […]
Posted inNews
People to Watch in 2021 – Newport County
As this bizarre year ends, we have compiled our top lists. To help us, we asked some current legislators, current and former general officeholders, retired journalists, and individuals active in some of the state’s most connected non-profits. Over the next few days, we will list, beginning today, the people to watch statewide in 2021 (yesterday), […]
Posted inNews
Top This: People to Watch in 2021 – statewide
As this bizarre year ends, we have compiled our top lists. To help us, we asked some current legislators, current and former general officeholders, retired journalists, and individuals active in some of the state’s most connected non-profits. Over the next few days, we will list, beginning today, the people to watch in 2021 (today), the […]
Posted inNews
Alarming spike in COVID-19 cases and deaths at state’s long-term care facilities
While Gov. Gina Raimondo was touting how well Rhode Islanders had done during the two-week “pause,” the AARP was painting a more ominous picture, reporting an alarming post-Thanksgiving spike in COVID – 19 cases and deaths at the state’s long-term care facilities. Additionally, the AARP was urging the governor to rollback an executive order that […]
Posted inNews
WhatsUpNewp’s Authors’ Series continues with non-fiction writer Paul Caranci
Paul F. Caranci, the author of 12 books, some chronicling Rhode Island’s most notorious episodes of political corruption, joins WhatsUpNewp for a videocast in its authors’ series at 3:30 p.m. today (Thursday). In 2015, Paul was awarded the Margaret Chase Smith American Democracy Award for Political Courage, the highest honor awarded by the National Association […]
Posted inCity & Government
Governing – Legislative Outlook 2021: Representative Lauren Carson
Wow, what a year. Last year when we sent out a legislative survey, no one could have imagined the impact or even the existence of a virus that would, at times, bring the world to a virtual standstill. Add to that the chaos in Washington, the reluctance of President Trump to concede to former Vice […]
Posted inNews
WUN Author Series continues with award-winning author Ed Delaney
We continue our authors’ series with a 1 p.m. videocast today (Wednesday) with Edward J. Delaney, an award-winning author, journalist, filmmaker, playwright, and educator. UPDATE: This conversation has had to be rescheduled. We will provide an update on when the conversation will happen. His books include the novels Broken Irish, Warp & Weft and Follow the Sun, […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Survey: How well are you following COVID-19 recommendations?
With COVID-19 raging in Rhode Island and throughout the country and states implementing tougher rules, we wanted to see how well you are following basic recommendations. Loading…
Posted inCity & Government
Governing – legislative outlook 2021: Rep. Deborah Ruggiero
Wow, what a year. Last year when we sent out a legislative survey, no one could have imagined the impact or even the existence of a virus that would, at times, bring the world to a virtual standstill. Add to that the chaos in Washington, the reluctance of President Trump to concede to former Vice […]
Posted inBusiness
Survey | COVID-19: How well are you doing as an individual, as a business owner?
With COVID-19 raging in Rhode Island and throughout the country, and states implementing tougher rules, we wanted to see how well you are doing, and whether you are accepting the government regulations. Answers to this survey may appear in a story on What’s Up Newp in the coming days. Loading…
Posted inArts & Culture
What’s Up Newp continues its author series this week
Read a good book lately? This week, What’s Up Newp continues its authors series, videocasts, with three Rhode Island authors, each very different. Whether it’s tales of the sea, a thriller, or a true mafia story, you’ll find something to your liking. On Monday at 2 p.m. we meet Don Deluca, whose fascination with boat […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Just My Opinion: Even in a year of COVID, political turmoil, and racial strife – there is reason to be thankful (Part 3 of 3)
As we approached Thanksgiving, in what at best can be considered a chaotic year, I wanted to know what it was for which we are grateful. We are amid a raging pandemic that is keeping families apart during this holiday season. Our country is divided, struggling to find our footing after a bitter election, a […]
Posted inColumns
Just My Opinion: Even in a year of COVID, political turmoil, and racial strife – there is reason to be thankful (Part 2)
This Thanksgiving it might seem difficult to find those things for which we are thankful. We are amid a raging pandemic that is keeping families apart during this holiday. Our country is divided, struggling to find our footing after a bitter election, a growing racial divide, and more Americans struggling to even put food on […]
Posted inColumns
Just My Opinion: Even in a year of COVID, political turmoil, and racial strife – there is reason to be thankful (Part 1 of 2)
Tomorrow will be Thanksgiving and it might seem difficult this year to find those things for which we are thankful. We are amid a raging pandemic that is keeping families apart during this holiday. Our country is divided, struggling to find our footing after a bitter election, a growing racial divide, and more Americans struggling […]