Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed, a West Point graduate and the leading Democrat on the Armed Services Committee, is among those in consideration for Secretary of Defense in the Biden Administration, according to a recent report from Politico. Politico listed who it sees as top candidates for all cabinet positions in a Biden administration. Reed, […]
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
Democrats likely to support a House Speaker open to reform
When Democrats support a new Speaker of the House tomorrow night at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick, it’s likely to be an individual who changes the way the House conducts business, ushering in an era that is more open and willing to bring issues to the House floor, one that embraces reform. Rep. Joseph Shekarchi […]
Posted inCity & Government
Election day is here – now it’s the people’s turn
It’s finally almost over. By sometime Tuesday night, the last votes will be in, the counting carrying on for a few more days. In some cases, there will be those who will go to bed Tuesday evening knowing they had won, but in most cases, it’s likely the outcome will remain in doubt for perhaps […]
Posted inNews
SBA celebrates National Veterans Small Business Week, Nov. 2-6
While most everyone is focused on Tuesday’s election – national, statewide and local – it’s also a week in which the Small Business Administration celebrates veteran owned small businesses. This is the seventh year, the SBA has focused on businesses owned by service veterans and members, National Guard and Reserve members, and military spouses. […]
Posted inBusiness
Discover Newport moving offices to Long Wharf Mall
Discover Newport, which for years occupied the Gateway Center as a marketing and visitors’ center, will move to smaller offices at 44 Long Wharf Mall, hoping to open the new offices in January. “We’re moving our sales and marketing office,” said Evan Smith, Discover Newport Executive Director, concentrating on what he said is the agency’s […]
Posted inNews
Just My Opinion: Those businesses most likely to survive COVID-19, are those with imagination
“The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease for ever to be able to do it.”― J. M. Barrie, Peter Pan One publication, from Scotland, ruminating on conditions for most businesses – calls it VUCA, “a world filled with volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity,” and that even before the pandemic. During this pandemic, as COVID-19 […]
Posted inNews
Turano seeks third term on Middletown Council
Dennis Turano, a businessman who was first elected to the Middletown Town Council in 2016, is running for a third term to the council in what is an extremely competitive election. Turano, 57, said he hopes, if reelected, to concentrate in this next term on affordable housing, education, and tax reform. WhatsUpNewp asked candidates throughout […]
Posted inCity & Government
Election 2020: Candidate Profile – Sen. Jim Seveney, D-Dist. 11
Sen. Jim Seveney, D-Dist 11 (Portsmouth, Bristol, Tiverton), running unopposed for re-election is promising to spend his next term concentrating on the economy, developing a health and social services safety net and working to ensure a safe and effective educational system. Seveney, 66, a retired Naval Officer, was first elected to public office in 2000 […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
State narrows budget deficit, but still projects huge shortfall
Rhode Island has apparently whittled down its projected budget deficit for the current fiscal year, once thought to be some $800 million, but just how much has been trimmed depends upon with whom you speak. The state Department of Administration, in response to a query from WhatsUpNewp, said that at the end of September the […]
Posted inNews
Affordable Housing remains elusive for thousands of Rhode Islanders
Affordable Housing remains elusive for thousands of Rhode Islanders, according to the 2020 Housing Fact Book, released today by HousingWorks RI (HWRI) at Roger Williams University. It found that more than a third of Rhode Islanders (146,000 households) are “housing cost burdened.” The wide-ranging report touches primarily on Rhode Islanders ability to afford housing, but […]
Posted inNews
Pfizer expands phase 3 COVID-19 vaccine trial, looks for end of year emergency authorization
One of the lead doctors associated with Pfizer’s efforts to develop a COVID-19 vaccine said yesterday on WBLQ’s Morning Show that Pfizer is expanding its clinical trial to include participants as young as 12, with no upper age requirement, and that the vaccine could receive emergency authorization by the end of the year. Dr. Onyema […]
Posted inCity & Government
House Speaker Mattiello flexes financial muscle in his effort to win reelection
State Representative Nicholas Mattiello, D- Cranston, speaker of Rhode Island’s House of Representatives and considered by many to be the most powerful politician on capitol hill, is in a battle for the seat he’s held for 14 years and is putting his financial resources to work. He’s been raising funds from some of the state’s […]
Posted inNews
Newport Council candidates ready for stretch run
Candidates for Newport’s three city council ward seats appear to be far more active raising and spending funds than those running for at-large seats, according to campaign finance reports filed on Oct. 6 with the state Board of Elections. The reports were due 28 days before the election. The most active fundraiser since the last […]
Posted inNews
Election 2020: Navy Veteran seeking a seat on Middletown Town Council
Gregory M. Huet, 61, a career Naval officer is running for the Middletown Town Council for the first time, saying he’ll be an advocate for affordable housing and education, among his priorities. Huet retired as a Naval Captain in 2011, after 26 years in the Navy. WhatsUpNewp has asked each of the candidates throughout Newport […]
Posted inNews
Election 2020: Hamilton seeking seventh term on Portsmouth Council
Keith Hamilton, 51, a member of the Portsmouth Town Council since 2008 is the lone Republican running for Portsmouth Council this year. WhatsUpNewp has asked each of the candidates throughout Newport County to their positions, and their vision, all helping voters to make important election day decisions. If you are a candidate for office and have […]
Posted inNews
2020 Voter Guide – Candidate Profile: Leonard Katzman, Portsmouth Town Council
Leonard Katzman, 61, Director of Business Development at Brown University for 13 years, is running for a third term on the Portsmouth Town Council. A Democrat, he was previously elected to the council in 2004, 2006 and 2018. WhatsUpNewp has asked each of the candidates in Newport County about their backgrounds, accomplishments and vision for […]
Posted inCity & Government
Covering the 2020 General Election
As we approach what promises to be among the most intriguing and important general elections in recent memory, WhatsUpNewp will be exploring races throughout Newport County and statewide. We will leave the presidential campaign to the major networks. Already we have seen some upheaval in the primary election, where progressives defeated some incumbents, including some […]
Posted inNews
Primary election today to choose candidates for Newport Council and Representative races
Voters today will be narrowing the field in spirited Newport City Council and state Representative races throughout Aquidneck Island. Polls open at 7 a.m. in all towns this morning and close at 8 p.m. It is unlikely races will be decided until all absentee and mail-in ballots are counted. Voters can refer to the Secretary […]
Posted inNews
Just My Opinion: Celebrating Labor and Labor Day
At outdoor barbeques today, at family gatherings, at the beaches and everywhere that Americans spend their Labor Day holiday, few will reflect upon the sacrifices that made this a national holiday, and on the achievements of labor over more than a century that have provided workers with a lot more than a day off at […]
Posted inNews
Primaries in three House races on Aquidneck Island
Primary election candidates in three of the five House of Representative districts in Southeastern Rhode Island are bracing for a spirited finish, with only a few days left until the election. All are Democratic primaries, and some clearly pit a growing progressive Democratic wing against more moderate Democrats. That progressive wing is also taking aim […]
Posted inOpinion
Just My Opinion: Reporting on campaign finances is a media responsibility
From local city and town council and school committee elections to the battle for the White House, fundraising has become an important element for many campaigns. Having an adequate “war chest” allows candidates to spend money on everything from advertising and political signs to campaign staff. We have seen in past elections where even council […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport Councilor takes issue with publication of campaign finance records
When WhatsUpNewp published a story recently listing campaign funds available for each of the City Council candidates, it did so only as a matter of information. The figures came directly from reports each of the candidates filed with the state Board of Elections. The reports are public records. In many elections the amount of money […]
Posted inCity & Government
Money Talks – sometimes
Money talks – often in elections. Those candidates with the most robust campaign funds can find multiple ways to reach voters and deliver their message and gain name recognition. In this era of COVID-19 you would think that a well-funded campaign could reach voters through multiple media messages, brochures, lawn signs, and the like. Door […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Election 2020: Our plan, and Newport City Council Race, Ward 1
With less than three months to the General Election, and even less to the Primary Election, What’s Up Newp begins its comprehensive coverage of not only elections in Newport County, but also key statewide legislative races. Surveys were emailed to candidates in Newport County. We have received several responses, with still more coming in. If […]
Posted inNews
Discover Newport closes Visitor Center; Concentrates efforts as a sales and marketing agency
After 32 years, the Newport Visitors Center has closed, significantly changing the way Discover Newport operates, reducing its budget and number of employees. What was once a robust $4 million budget is now $1.4 million, and only four administrative employees remain from the sales and SEO services staff, and none from the visitors’ bureau, which […]