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 […]
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: 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 […]
Posted inNews
Rhode Island’s signators to the Declaration of Independence
Rhode Island’s two signators to the Declaration of Independence, could not, in many ways, be more different. One, Stephen Hopkins, was brought up in the agricultural community of Scituate, son of a farmer. He was self-educated, became a farmer himself, was a slave owner, a businessman and later, a politician. William Ellery was brought […]
Posted inCity & Government
Democrats in Senate Race Actively Fundraising; Lining up Support From Prominent Dems around RI
The latest financial disclosure forms filed by candidates vying for the Senate seat in Newport held until this Spring by M. Teresa Paiva Weed, has found all four Democrats in the race actively fundraising, indicating a wide range of support throughout the state’s Democratic party. Meanwhile, the Republican, Green Party and Independent candidates, in papers […]
Posted inArts & Culture, People & Profiles
A Conversation with Christian McBride, Artistic Director of Newport Jazz Festival (Part 5 of 5)
The challenge of dwindling public funds to support the arts in school has inspired Christian McBride to join with his wife, Melissa Walker, founder of Jazz House Kids, to provide young musicians an opportunity to develop and grow as artists. And, with public funding for the arts in jeopardy, McBride believes musicians will not be […]
Posted inArts & Culture, People & Profiles
A Conversation with Christian McBride, Artistic Director of Newport Jazz Festival (Part 4)
You could say about Christian McBride that the bass was in his blood – and it was. From a father and great uncle who played bass, to Julliard in New York City to study classical bass, to the stages of the most significant jazz clubs and festivals in the world – that’s Christian McBride. He […]
Posted inArts & Culture, People & Profiles
A Conversation with Christian McBride, Artistic Director of Newport Jazz Festival (Part 3)
An amazing bass player, band leader and composer, Christian McBride, the Newport Jazz Festival’s new artistic director, brings profound respect for the festival, and a keen sense of those who should be playing at it. He’s also not afraid to showcase young talent. “Some of it you just get excited by something that you hear, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
A Conversation with Christian McBride, Artistic Director of Newport Jazz Festival (Part 2)
George Wein calls it artistry – that something special that sets musicians apart – that ingredient that Wein would look for when booking an act for the Newport Jazz Festival. Now it’s Christian McBride who is in search of that artistry, finding a balance, “the best of every branch of the tree of jazz.” Artistry, […]
Posted inArts & Culture, People & Profiles
A Conversation with Christian McBride, Artistic Director of the Newport Jazz Festival (Part 1)
It was more than 25 years ago that Christian McBride played his first Newport Jazz Festival. Now, five Grammys later and considered among the best jazz bass players on the planet, McBride is taking on a huge challenge, following in the footsteps of festival founder George Wein and assuming the mantle as the festival’s Artistic […]
Posted inNews
Newport Polo Recap: USA vs Peru (June 3, 2017)
With its regular field at Glen Farm made unplayable by constant rains, and draining from the upper fields to the polo grounds, Newport Polo moved its playing field to the upper field for yesterday’s (Saturday) match against first-time visitors, Peru. While Newport Polo could move a field, it couldn’t budge a Peru team, all from […]
Posted inOpinion
Just My Opinion: ‘Send in the Clowns’
What I remember most of my one big day as a clown in Ringling Brothers was the look on the faces of the kids as I climbed into the seats at the old Washington Arena with Frosty, the boss clown. Wide eyes and broad smiles, the kids didn’t know I was just a one-day clown, […]
Posted inCity & Government
Campaign Fundraising Heats up in Race for Paiva Weed’s Seat
The race to replace Teresa Paiva Weed in the State Senate (District 13) is on, and if you’re scoring by money in the bank, Newport Councilman and businessman John Florez takes the early lead, and if you’re scoring by grassroots donors, the winner is lawyer Dawn Euer. That, according to the May 1 financial filings […]
Posted inNews
North Providence Mayor Promises Overhaul of Town’s Police Department
NORTH PROVIDENCE – Mayor Charles Lombardi is promising to seriously consider a reorganization of the town’s police department, after an investigation into accusations of sexual harassment found the claims legally “unfounded,” but that police officers regularly made vulgar comments and lewd jokes. Mayor Charles Lombardi “What we’ve uncovered is unfortunate, it’s embarrassing,” Lombardi said yesterday […]
Posted inNews
Two Rhode Island Employers are among finalist for prestigious Defense Department Employer Support Award
Two Rhode Island employers are among 30 finalists nationwide for the 2017 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, the highest recognition given by the Defense Department to employers for their support of National Guard and Reserve members. Aspen Aerogels of East Providence and National Grid of Providence were selected as finalists from among more […]
Posted inNews
RI’s 30,000 Undocumented Immigrants are Living in Fear
With President Trump poised to issue another order banning travel from selected Muslim dominated Mideastern countries, and with heightened deportations nationwide, communities of undocumented immigrants are fearful of deportation back to sometimes hostile and oppressive societies. Many in Rhode Island’s undocumented immigrant communities are looking to friends to drive them to work, or school, or […]
Posted inNews
Poll: The News Media and President Trump
President Trump has called the media the “Enemy of the American People,” while the media fights back, emphatically saying that it is “not the enemy.” President Trump and those around him in the White House refer to any negative news as “Fake News,” while being called out for false representation of certain situations or making […]