Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo, who last December was elected chair of the Democratic Governors Association, is seen as a rising star within the party, according to a vice president for the Brookings Institute, a private organization devoted to analyzing public policy issues nationally. While Darrell West, who heads Brookings’ Governance Studies, doesn’t believe […]
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
Affordable Housing: The solution wrests in our “Political Will”
This is the final story in WhatsUpNewp’s in-depth look at affordable housing in Rhode Island. Of course, we’ll continue to follow up on leads and stories on this subject. “Political Will.” That’s what housing advocate after housing advocate suggests it will take to begin resolving what has been described as an affordable housing crisis. “Political […]
Posted inCity & Government
With less than a month to the election, incumbents have huge financial advantage
Heading into the final days of the 2018 election – locally and statewide – incumbents hold a strong edge financially, as candidates look to solidify their voter bases and assure supporters turn out at the polls. Expect candidates to accelerate efforts to get their message out. Voters across the state will be inundated with advertisements, […]
Posted inNews
Affordable Housing – Part 2: More than a thousand RIers are homeless
On any given day, more than a thousand Rhode Islanders are living on the streets – in cars, in bus or train stations, in shelters, or sleeping on the floor at the home or apartment of a relative or friend. On any given day, thousands of Rhode Islanders are clinging to civility, living in housing […]
Posted inNews
After nearly three decades since mandating affordable housing minimums, only five of Rhode Island’s 39 cities and towns achieve standards
(Note: Over the next few weeks, WhatsUpNewp will explore affordable housing issues. We’ll define the problem, speak with leading politicians and housing officials, listen to the homeless, and explore successful programs elsewhere.) The headline reads: “It’s the New Form of Affordable Housing … more people are living in their cars.” Or, as Russ Partridge at […]
Posted inNews
Local, statewide races highlight Wednesday’s primary election
Debates with empty chairs, negative television advertisements, sometimes inflated claims of prosperity by incumbents, and equally inflated claims of despair by opponents. Add to that polling by legitimate sources that so far nationally in this campaign have been considerably flawed, and polls by special interest groups trying to skew the results in favor of candidates […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Newport Polo: USA victorious over England in one most competitive matches of the 2018 season
In one of the most competitive matches of this year’s Newport Polo Season, the home team, USA, squeaked out a victory over visiting England, 10 to 9 on Saturday. USA took a quick 5 to 0 lead, before England, playing on borrowed horses, began chipping away at the lead, but never able to do more […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Nearly half of Rhode Island Ethics Commissioners serving beyond their expired terms
“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it” – Warren Buffett Hailed by many as among the strongest Ethics Codes and Commissions in the nation, the Rhode Island Ethics Commission itself is violating its own code, with nearly half the commission members serving beyond the expiration of their five-year-terms, […]
Posted inCity & Government
Westerly Town Council tries to reverse voters mandate to create a town ethics commission
“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it” – Warren Buffett Nearly a year ago, voters in Westerly, RI approved a charter revision that established a local ethics commission. The Town Council was mandated to create that commission, but in the months since have debated the merits of the […]
Posted inBusiness
SBA accepting nominations for 2019 National Small Business Awards
The U.S. Small Business Administration is now accepting nominations for its 2019 National Small Business Week Awards, including the annual Small Business Person of the Year. Since 1963 the SBA has recognized outstanding small businesses in several categories and on three various levels – district, region and nationally. Nominations must be filed by Jan. 9, […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Competitive Governor and Lt. Governor races top Rhode Island’s statewide elections
The characters are in place. Political declarations are in, nomination papers have been filed and accepted, and today (July 31) candidates must file their second quarter financial reports. And what’s shaping up is a busy, complicated, and sometimes bizarre election season, from the Governor’s race to the Senate to local races. There’s a U.S. Senate […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Award winning jazz saxophonist Greg Abate brings his quintet to the Newport Playhouse
Greg Abate, who is listed in Downbeat Magazine’s latest critics poll as among jazz music’s top rising stars, brings his uptown jazz quintet for a high powered night of music at the Newport Playhouse, Thursday, August 2. Known for his straight-ahead jazz and bee-bop style, Abate’s performance is part of Bridgefest, linking the folk and […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Newport Playhouse launches comedy series Thursday with LA Comedy Festival winner Ray Harrington
Ray Harrington, winner of the Los Angeles Comedy Festival, brings his irreverent and improvisational comedy to the Newport Playhouse at 102 Connell Highway, Newport, opening the theater’s comedy series at 8 p.m., Thursday (July 19). Harrington headlines an evening that also features Rob Greene, a semi-finalist at Boston’s Comedy Festival, and Marie Forster, a Rhode […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Three-Time Grammy Winner Tom Chapin to perform in Narragansett on July 28
Three time Grammy winner Tom Chapin, described in the New York Times as “one of the great personalities in contemporary folk music,” comes to the Narragansett Community Center, 53 Mumford Road, Narragansett, for a 7:30 p.m. performance on Saturday, July 28. The performance is part of Congregation Beth David’s summer entertainment series, which concludes on […]
Posted inArts & Culture, Business
A hidden gem: The Newport Playhouse
Set in what is best described as an industrial area, far from the glamorous houses of Newport and beachfront bistros, is a theater that for 35 years has claimed its place among the most beloved attractions on Aquidneck Island. Overcoming recessions and adversities like a burst pipe in mid-winter this year, the Newport Playhouse has […]
Posted inCity & Government
Election 2018 taking shape from the State House to City and Town Halls
Election 2018 in Rhode Island promises to be as competitive as any in recent history, from the State House to city and town halls. Voters will be challenged to learn about a plethora of candidates, and candidates will be challenged to get their message in front of voters. As with many elections, campaign finances will […]
Posted inCity & Government
Candidates file declarations of candidacy
Beginning tomorrow (Monday, June 25) candidates for statewide and local office will begin filing their declarations of candidacy, a process that runs through Wednesday (June 27) for local candidates and Thursday for federal and statewide general officeholders.. It is the first major step in a process that will culminate in the General Election on November […]
Posted inCity & Government
Roselli withdraws from Dem Gubernatorial Primary, giving his support to former Sec. of State Matt Brown
With Paul Roselli’s exit from the Democratic gubernatorial primary race, the field has narrowed somewhat as the deadline approaches for candidates to officially file if they intend on running for office in the upcoming election. All candidates must file declarations of candidacy on either June 25, 26 or 27. The Secretary of State’s website has […]
Posted inCity & Government
Summer: A time of hunger for many children
For a kid, summer should be a time for fun, for sports and camps, for swimming and family barbeques, for family vacations and carefree afternoons. But for many children in Rhode Island and across this nation, summertime, and with it the end of school lunch programs, is instead a time of hunger. Consider a third […]
Posted inNews
One in five Rhode Island children live in poverty
While finding some reasons to be hopeful, the 2018 Kids Count Factbook says nearly 20 percent of children in Rhode Island are living in poverty, and large disparities exist when it comes to minorities – Native Americans, Hispanic and Black Children – and Asian and White Children. Kids Count also found that the average rent […]
Posted inCity & Government
Gov. Raimondo seeks support for a billion-dollar school reclamation program and $48.5 million Green Economy and Clean Water bond
Gov. Gina Raimondo called upon Rhode Island’s civic, business and government leaders to get behind her efforts to rebuild the state’s aging public schools – a five-year $1 billion investment – and a $48.5 million Green Economy and Clean Water bond issue. Both need approval from the state legislature before going to voters in the […]
Posted inOpinion
Just My Opinion: Freedom is stronger than fear
On this weekend, when we celebrate both Passover and Easter, we are reminded of those who today – in our country and around the world – are struggling for freedom. I think the words of Elie Wiesel in the preface to his Passover Haggadah are particularly relevant today and equally applicable to both Jews and […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport’s Visitors Center wins Grow Smart RI Award
Newport’s Transportation and Visitors Center was among several award winners at Grow Smart RI’s Power of Place Summit earlier today (Thursday, March 29). The awards were presented at Grow Smart’s Power of Place Summit, held at the Rhode Island Convention Center and attended by some 500 business, civic, and elected leaders. The Visitors Center was […]
Posted inNews
Podcast: John Marion, Common Cause Rhode Island
John Marion, Executive Director of Common Cause in Rhode Island, joined me on The Open Forum on AM 1540 WADK to discuss important voting and ethics issues before the General Assembly, and issues of transparency at the local level. Specifically, he talks about bills that would allow for early voting, require independent redistricting, and reforming the […]
Posted inCity & Government
Secretary of State Gorbea to run for a second term
Rhode Island Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea is running for reelection. “Absolutely, I’m definitely going to run again,” she said, in answer to a question during an appearance on WADK’s Open Forum. “It’s been a blessing to be Rhode Island’s Secretary of State.” No other candidates have announced for Secretary of State. In Rhode Island, […]