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 […]
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
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 […]
Posted inNews
2019 Housing Fact Book finds many Rhode Islanders are “housing cost burdened”
More than a third of Rhode Island households are considered housing cost burdened, spending more than 30 percent of their income on housing, according to the 2019 Housing Fact Book released today by HousingWorks RI (HWRI) at Roger Williams University. And of the 140,000 households, nearly half are spending more than 50 percent of their […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
School bond likely on 2020 ballot
Newporters are likely to be voting on a substantial school bond referendum next fall (2020), following a School Building Committee vote last week that approved the concept of building a $101 million high school to replace Rogers High School. “The goal is to have a bond referendum on the 2020 ballot – the impact on […]
Posted inBusiness, People & Profiles
Podcast: A conversation with Colin Kane, Founding Partner of Peregrine Group
Colin Kane is a founding partner of the highly successful Peregrine Group, real estate advisors and project managers. The company has offices in Newport and Rumford, Rhode Island and Boston, Massachusetts. Our conversation ranges from the impact of climate change, liquor licenses, a proposed moratorium for construction in what is being called Newport’s innovation district, […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Parents seek changes in Newport’s Private School bus schedule
Parents of private school pupils in Newport will likely have to wait until October for the School Committee to address concerns about busing policies that now have some private school pupils spending more than two and a half hours a day on the school bus. Additionally, some pupils are walking to new drop-off points (depots), […]
Posted inNews
Parents verbal abuse causing shortage of high school sports officials
Faced with a shortage of officials for various high school sporting events, the Rhode Island Interscholastic League is blaming overzealous parents for verbally abusing officials, leading to many younger officials quitting rather than continue to subject themselves to what the Interscholastic League described as “verbal beating.” In a letter to media outlets, accompanying a longer […]
Posted inPeople & Profiles
Podcast: A Bridge To The Future – Al Kamara, Rising from poverty in Liberia
Al Kamara was born in a tiny impoverished village in Liberia — no utilities, no running water, no schools, no hospitals. One of 21 children, his mother arranged for his “adoption” by a businessman at the age of 10. He entered a world where he would learn to read and write, travel with “foster parents” […]
Posted inPeople & Profiles
Podcast: Opening Act – Paul Wayne
For more than 30 years Paul Wayne has been the opening act for many top stars, including Jay Leno, Patti LaBelle, Richie Havens, and so many more. He shares his story, songs, and anecdotes about his experiences over what has been a very successful career.
Posted inCity & Government, News
URI economist suggests RI could enter a recession by the end of 2019, well ahead of the rest of the nation
With many economists projecting a likely national recession by the end of 2020, a local economist is suggesting that Rhode Island could lead the way and go into recession as early as late 2019. University of Rhode Island Economist Len Lardaro, author of a monthly Current Conditions Index that measures the health of the Rhode […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Newport’s City Council and School Committee schedule workshop to discuss school building project
The Newport City Council and School Committee will hold a joint workshop tomorrow at 6 p.m. in the council chambers, 43 Broadway, to discuss the prospective school building project and debt service, a cost that could exceed $200 million. Newport Councilwoman Jeanne Napolitano said today that the council has just received a 600-page document from […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Podcast: A Bridge to the Future – Dr. Nadia Duvilaire
Brought up in Haiti, Dr. Nadia Duvilaire’s journey from Haiti was one that began with her mother’s original journey to New York City, leaving Nadia and her brother to be brought up by their grandmother. During the 10 years until they were reunited in New York City, Nadia’s mother suffered homelessness, living at times in the […]