March is Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate the contributions of women in all aspects of our society. WhatsUpNewp reached out to successful women in several professions, asking just a few questions. We will run their responses throughout the month. Linda Levin, retired chair of the journalism program at the University of Rhode Island […]
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 inArts & Culture, Things To Do
Extraordinary Women of the East Bay: Exhibit opening reception, Women’s Suffrage panel coming to Jamestown on March 9
The traveling exhibition “Extraordinary Women of the East Bay” opens at the Jamestown Philomenian Library on March 9 with a reception and panel discussion, “Women’s Suffrage 100 Years Later.” The reception from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and panel discussion, beginning at 6:30 p.m., are sponsored by the library in conjunction with the Jamestown Historical […]
Posted inColumns, People & Profiles
Celebrating Women’s History Month: ‘I learned that women are leaders’
March is Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate the contributions of women in all aspects of our society. WhatsUpNewp reached out to successful women in several professions, asking just a few questions. We will run their responses throughout the month. Rep. Lauren H. Carson, D – District 75 (Newport) WUN: What one, two or three […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Grow Smart RI Power of Place Summit focuses on key statewide development issues, including Aquidneck Island growth
Grow Smart RI, the Ocean State’s leading advocate for sustainable and equitable economic growth, will focus on critical development issues, including Aquidneck Island’s future growth, at its biennial Power of Place Summit on March 27. The Summit, held at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence, addresses cissues, from transportation to sustainability through general sessions […]
Posted inColumns, People & Profiles
A Bridge to the Future: Irma Valdez – ‘we need love in this world’
When you meet Irma Valdez, you hear in her voice an excitement about the opportunities that her children now have, about a commitment to her country and community, and about appreciation, adulation for a father who more than 20 years ago courageously left the fields of Veracruz, Mexico coming to the United States in search […]
Posted inCity & Government, Columns, News
Westerly, Newport wrestle with school construction needs
Nearly three years ago, a Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) study, the Jacobs Report, identified schools throughout the state needing hundreds of millions of dollars in improvements just to bring them to a safe level, and billions to make them safe and ready for 21st century learning. The report underscored what many communities already […]
Posted inCity & Government
Portsmouth receives grant from Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank
Portsmouth will receive a $339,000 grant from the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank, among programs sharing $1 million in grants to implement climate resilience plans they developed as part of the bank’s Municipal Resilience Program. According to the Infrastructure Bank, Portsmouth will use its grant for rehabilitation and stabilization of the Melville Dam, and three flood […]
Posted inCity & Government
Under The Dome: Representative Dennis Canario
With the start of the legislative session, I reached out to the area’s legislative delegation to survey what legislation is important to each of them, the challenges ahead, and their perspective on the upcoming legislative session. Initially, I expected to wrap the answers into a single story. But the responses were so extensive and informative […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Under The Dome: Senator James Seveney
With the start of the legislative session, I reached out to the area’s legislative delegation to survey what legislation is important to each of them, the challenges ahead, and their perspective on the upcoming legislative session. Initially, I expected to wrap the answers into a single story. But the responses were so extensive and informative […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Leading economist believes recession likely in Rhode Island in 2020
Rhode Island has a better than 50-50 chance of dipping into a recession by the end of this year, according to a leading Rhode Island economist whose monthly index tracks the strength of the state’s economy. Lardaro A slowing Rhode Island and national economy, jobs reports that mask true employment, and growing deficits are among […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Under The Dome: Rep. Deborah Ruggiero
With the start of the legislative session, I reached out to the area’s legislative delegation to survey what legislation is important to each of them, the challenges ahead, and their perspective on the upcoming legislative session. Initially, I expected to wrap the answers into a single story. But the responses were so extensive and informative […]
Posted inCity & Government
One Year Later: Gas Crisis – ‘A perfect storm of errors’
A year after more than 7,000 gas customers on Aquidneck Island were left without heat on a day that saw temperatures drop to 2 degrees, legislators are resolute to find solutions that will assure there will be no repeat of the outage that lasted several days. Even though some corrective steps were taken, some legislators […]
Posted inOpinion
Just My Opinion: Remembering Martin Luther King Jr.
This story was originally written on Jan. 15, 2016. Tomorrow – Sunday – is Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, celebrated on Monday as a federal holiday. How far have we come as a nation since Dr. King’s memorable “I have a Dream” speech in the late summer of 1963? It has always been my hope […]
Posted inBusiness, Columns
What’sUpNewp, What’sUpRhodeIsland expanding coverage, adding columnists
With the new year comes a new look for What’sUpNewp and What’sUpRhodeIsland, as we welcome new columnists, add features, and increase our commitment to provide readers more stories that inform, entertain and challenge. We’re excited as our growing readership … and support … gives us the resources to do more, to add value for every […]
Posted inCity & Government, News, People & Profiles
Under The Dome: Senator Lou DiPalma
With the start of the legislative session, I reached out to the area’s legislative delegation to survey what legislation is important to each of them, the challenges ahead, and their perspective on the upcoming legislative session. Initially, I expected to wrap the answers into a single story. But the responses were so extensive and informative […]
Posted inCity & Government
Gov. Raimondo’s State of the State promises numerous initiatives, from education reform to a hike in minimum wage
Gov. Gina Raimondo promised robust programs to improve transportation, education, housing, the environment, increasing the minimum wage, while offering tax cuts and no solution to the state’s $200 million deficit, in her State of the State Address to both houses of the General Assembly tonight. The address, a vision of what could be, will now […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Common Cause focuses on the 2020 Census and changing how the state draws Legislative and Congressional district lines
Common Cause of Rhode Island, a leading watchdog organization, is determined to assure that every Rhode Islander is counted in the upcoming census, hopeful the state can retain two seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. “We’re on the cusp of losing a Congressional seat for the first time since 1789,” said John Marion, executive […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Under The Dome: Representative Terri Cortvriend
With the start of the legislative session, I reached out to the area’s legislative delegation to survey what legislation is important to each of them, the challenges ahead, and their perspective on the upcoming legislative session. Initially, I expected to wrap the answers into a single story. But the responses were so extensive and informative […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Under The Dome: Representative Lauren Carson
With the start of the legislative session, I reached out to the area’s legislative delegation to survey what legislation is important to each of them, the challenges ahead, and their perspective on the upcoming legislative session. Initially, I expected to wrap the answers into a single story. But the responses were so extensive and informative […]
Posted inNews, Opinion
Just My Opinion… Seeking the truth
Facts are always important and determining what is fact and what is fiction has always been challenging. It will be an even greater challenge this year as the presidential election – primary and general – heats up, as local legislators, councilors, school committee members run for office. It’s a big election year. Fake news has […]
Posted inArts & Culture, City & Government
Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea Celebrates 100 Years of Women’s Suffrage in Rhode Island
Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea will host a ceremony at 10 a.m., Monday at the State House Library, 82 Smith St., Providence to recognize the 100th anniversary of Rhode Island’s ratification of the 19th Amendment, which granted American women the right to vote. To commemorate the centennial, Secretary Gorbea will announce a number of […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Newport seeks to make roadways safer for pedestrians, cyclists
Making streets safer for pedestrians and bicyclists has become a priority for the city of Newport, according to the city’s mayor, Jamie Bova. The council, Bova said, is establishing a working group of civic organizations and city officials to draft an ordinance that would require any road construction – new or upgraded roadways– to be […]
Posted inArts & Culture, News
Navigating politics at the Thanksgiving table
“It is a holiday dinner and all hell is about to break out in the dining room,” writes Brookings Vice President Darrell West. “One of your relatives asks what you think about the President Donald Trump impeachment proceedings. There is silence around the table because your family is dreading what is about to happen. Everyone […]
Posted inPeople & Profiles
Podcast: A conversation with Chuck Flippo, General Manager of Loeb Center
When Ambassador Loeb developed the Loeb Visitor Center a decade ago as a gateway to Newport’s Touro Synagogue, the nation’s oldest synagogue, he did so as not only in celebration of that institution, but of religious freedom everywhere. Its centerpiece is the famed letter from George Washington. Its importance today is as a powerful statement […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
With cold weather not far off, reports on last winter’s gas outage still not released
With the cold winter months not far off, Newport officials are frustrated, concerned, and impatient as promised reports on the specific cause of the massive gas outage nine months ago have yet to surface. Update (October 30th) -Report details causes of January natural gas outage Much of the city and parts of Middletown were left […]