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 […]
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
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, […]
Posted inNews
In wake of failed merger talks, South County Health promises a “major new program”
South County Health is expected to make an announcement within a month of a “major new program,” said CEO Louis Giancola in the wake of the collapse of merger talks between the hospital and Yale New Haven Health, the parent of Westerly Hospital. The announcement of the breakdown of talks that began some 10 months […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
For Willie Rios, and thousands of aspiring major leaguers, it’s the season of ‘sweet optimism’
It begins, of course, in the Spring. The evenings grow lighter The air sweeter and all the world is filled With sweet optimism. – John F. McCullagh And so, it was yesterday, and in the few days ahead, as major and minor leaguers filter into their Spring training camps – major leaguers by today, minor […]
Posted inCity & Government
Paiva Weed files campaign finance report (Updated)
This story was originally published at 13:52 on February 12th, it has been updated (where indicated). Former state Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed filed her campaign finance report Sunday evening, several hours after WhatsUpNewp reported that her campaign had not met the Jan. 31 deadline to file for the last quarter of 2017. The Board […]
Posted inCity & Government
Paiva Weed joins those missing campaign finance reporting deadline (Updated)
Update: According to Board of Election records, Teresa Paiva Weed’s campaign filed its report on Sunday, Feb. 11, after the publication of this article. An update to this story can be found here – Paiva Weed files campaign finance report Former state Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed has joined the ranks of those failing to file […]
Posted inCity & Government
In race for lieutenant governor, Aaron Regunberg wants to become the “people’s lobbyist”
At 27 and in only his second term in the state House of Representatives, Aaron Regunberg, a progressive Democrat, has seen enough. He sees a Statehouse dominated by wealthy and influential lobbyists, with no one advocating for the common Rhode Islander, a job he thinks should be assumed by the lieutenant governor. He wants to […]
Posted inOpinion
Just My Opinion: Three Celebrations, One Underlying Message
The flame from Chanukah’s first candle flickers, the star atop a Christmas tree sheds its light elegantly, and the candles of Kwanzaa’s kinara speak of hardship and of hope. Light. It’s the light that seems to unite these three celebrations that have all come together in 2017 – Chanukah ended on December 20th, Christmas takes […]
Posted inNews
Kids Count calls on Rhode Island legislature to increase foster care age to 21
Kids Count, the statewide children’s policy organization, today called upon the Rhode Island State legislature to restore foster care services to youth from 18 to 21, a population that Kids Count believes is at significant risk for failure in schools and the workplace, and more likely to engage in criminal activity. The recommendation was among […]
Posted inNews
Are Rhode Island’s Campaign Finance Laws tough enough?
Over the last 15 years, since enactment of legislation levying fines in Rhode Island for delinquent campaign finance filings, only a small fraction of the fines has been paid, leaving in question the effectiveness of the process. There appears to be little incentive for delinquent filers to make good on the fines, or even a […]
Posted inBusiness
Artificial Intelligence to dominate the workplace; revolutionize education
Don’t feel too secure in your job. It might not be there in a few years. Frame that diploma? Maybe, but the college you went to might also disappear over the next several years. The technological revolution is changing the way we learn, the way we work, the way we play, and the way we […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Podcast: A conversation with Doug Key, founder of Rogue Island Comedy Festival
“Comedy, we may say, is society protecting itself – with a smile.” – J.B. Priestley There will be plenty of smiles later this week with the start of the annual Rogue Island Comedy Festival. Doug Key, the festival’s founder, and director joined me on AM 1540 WADK Newport on October 3rd to talk about the […]
Posted inArts & Culture, Things To Do
Rogue Island Comedy Festival features TJ Miller, sometimes known as the “Mucinex Man”
So how is it that someone can go from earning a degree in psychology, to becoming the most famous ball of mucus on the planet? Well, that’s been comic TJ Miller’s journey, and it’s one that’s taking him to Newport’s Jane Pickens Theater on Sunday (October 8) as the headliner of this year’s Rogue Island […]
Posted inArts & Culture, News
Gladstone Elementary fifth graders receive instruments from Festivals Foundation
Sevastien Emmanuel carefully lifts the violin out of its case, holds it to his ear, plucking the strings. Around him, other fifth graders at Cranston’s Gladstone Elementary School cradle trumpets, clarinets, flutes, and one cello. The look on their faces tells it all. In the background, clarinetist Ben Marcoux, Newport Jazz Assembly Band Leader, plays […]
Posted inNews
Podcast: Discussion with Chris Maxwell, President of Rhode Island Trucking Association
Chris Maxwell, President of the Rhode Island Trucking Association, join me today on AM 1540 WADK to update us about the opposition to the truck only tolls that state officials believe will go into effect later this year. He continues to anticipate the national trucking association will eventually file suit that will either derail the […]
Posted inNews
Podcast: A conversation with Richard Price
Richard Price is an educator, a survivor, and among the hidden treasures of Rhode Island’s rich musical scene. A former lead trumpet player with the legendary Lionel Hampton, played with the Count Basie Orchestra, and is often called upon at major events to play his very special version of the National Anthem. He’s also a […]
Posted inNews
Podcast: A conversation with Javier Juarez – DACA program
Javier A. Juarez, like many college students, is a dreamer – but in a different sense. He is among those nearly 800,000 people protected by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, enacted by President Obama and now threatened by President Trump. If Congress doesn’t act within the next several months Javier and the […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Podcast: Discussion with Brenda Nienhouse, Executive Director of the Newport Opera House Theater & Performing Arts Center
Sparks fly as a welder works on the stage; construction workers dig where an elevator will take patrons to a second-floor lobby. As layers of facade are removed, treasures are found in what was and will be the Newport Opera House, a vibrant performing arts venue. Brenda Nienhouse is executive director of the Newport Opera House […]
Posted inCity & Government
Green Party Senate District 13 candidate misses campaign finance filing deadline
Gregory Larson, the Newport resident who had filed to run as the Green Party candidate for the state Senate seat that was vacated by M. Teresa Paiva Weed this spring, has failed to file his final campaign finance report, required seven days before the August 22 election. Larson also has not returned phone calls or […]
Posted inCity & Government
RI Board of Elections likely to collect only small portion of $3.6 million owed in campaign fines
The likelihood of the Rhode Island Board of Elections collecting even a small portion of the $3.6 million owed in election fines is slim, according to a Board of Elections official. “Much of that is bad debt, not collectable,” said Richard Thornton, the board’s Director of Campaign Finance. As of July 31, according to Board […]
Posted inCity & Government
Campaign fundraising sluggish in race for Paiva Weed’s Senate Seat
With the special election to fill the state Senate seat vacated by M. Theresa Paiva Weed just a few weeks away (August 22), the four remaining candidates have been slow to raise funds, according to reports their campaigns filed with the state Board of Elections at the end of July. Dawn Euer, the progressive Democrat […]
Posted inArts & Culture, Things To Do
Podcast: A Conversation with Swati Bhise, Choreographer of Newport Bridgefest’s ‘A Bridge Together’
Bringing a blend of Indian, African and American dance and music, an exciting group of musicians and dancers will present a free concert this evening at Fort Adams, as part of Newport Bridgefest, the celebration that spans the week between Newport Folk and Newport Jazz Festivals. Swati Bhise, conductor and choreographer for the orchestra and […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Podcast: A Conversation with George Burton Before His Newport Jazz Festival Debut
George Burton, who was brought up on classical violin and viola, who didn’t discover jazz until his high school years…and since then it has been an exciting journey. Piano because of his instrument, and for a decade he was a sideman to leading jazz musicians. Now, with his inaugural album as a leader receiving great […]
Posted inCity & Government
Democratic Candidates Spending Increases in the Days Before the Senate District 13 Primary Election
There were no surprises in the latest financial filings of the four candidates for the Democratic nomination for the Senate District 13 seat, with each candidate left with a reasonable cash balance for the last few days of the campaign, and each showing expenditures outpacing contributions. Candidates are required to file a financial report seven […]