The flame from Chanukah’s first candle flickers, the star atop a Christmas tree sheds its light elegantly, and the candles of Kawanzaa’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 this 2016 – Chanukah beginning on Christmas eve, and […]
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
Poll Favors Restrictions on Panhandlers
While some legislators and city and town officials from Providence to Newport explore ways to curb panhandling in Rhode Island, many of you, in a WhatsUpNewp and WhatsUpRhode Island poll, have made it clear that you want to see panhandlers disappear from city and town street corners. Overwhelmingly you said that panhandlers pose a safety […]
Posted inNews
WJAR-TV Parent Reportedly Made Pro-Trump Agreement
The parent company of WJAR TV (Channel 10) in Providence, Sinclair Broadcasting Group, reportedly made a deal with Donald Trump’s presidential campaign that resulted in greater access to the candidate in exchange to broadcast the interviews without commentary. This is not unusual for the broadcasting group, which is described as conservative and which was apparently […]
Posted inNews
Your Suggestions: Future of Newport Grand Property
Ask area residents what they hope happens to the Newport Grand property, and they’ll likely tell you it should be retained as some sort of recreation, tourist or entertainment center. It’s a question that will need to be answered, as Newport Grand’s owners, Twin River Management Group, prepares to move the slots parlor to Tiverton, […]
Posted inNews
POLL: What Are Your Experiences With Panhandling In Newport
As most of you know, panhandling has become an issue for some in elective office in Newport. Now, it’s becoming an issue statewide as two legislators are preparing to introduce legislation that could essentially eliminate panhandling. As in Newport, the two legislators believe it’s a safety issue. [os-widget path=”/ryanbelmore/panhandling-poll” of=”ryanbelmore” comments=”false”]
Posted inNews
Coalition Proposing Reforms to Reduce State’s Prison Population
A coalition that includes the Rhode Island State Council of Churches will once again try to convince legislators to approve a series of justice reforms aimed at reducing the prison population. Rev. Dr. Don Anderson, executive minister of the Council of Churches, said in an interview this week that the group expects to have introduced […]
Posted inOpinion
Just My Opinion: What We should Cherish on Thanksgiving … Part II
A few days ago we posted my original to be thankful list, and since then I’ve had a couple of new entries that I wanted to share. First here’s the premise and then the responses In a couple of days we’ll gather with family and friends to participate in the one holiday that is truly […]
Posted inOpinion
Just My Opinion: What We Should Truly Cherish This Thanksgiving
“Thanksgiving is more than eating, Chuck… Those early Pilgrims were thankful for what had happened to them, and we should be thankful, too. We should just be thankful for being together. I think that’s what they mean by ‘Thanksgiving,’ Charlie Brown.” From A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving by Charles M. Schulz (1922-2000) In a couple of […]
Posted inStyle & Shop
POLL: Holiday Spending and Shopping
We’d like to know what you’re thinking. Beginning today, WhatsUpNewp and WhatsUpRhodeIsland will initiate weekly polling on a variety of topics. By participating you’ll be sending an important message to decisions, from your local city or town government to federal elected officials. With the holiday season upon us, we’re interested to measure whether shoppers will […]
Posted inCity & Government
Just my opinion: Winners and Losers – Election 2016
Sitting around the day before this BIG election. Tired of watching the political broadcasts. Dizzy from looking at polls that don’t mean a heck of a lot. Liar this, crook, unfit, inappropriate, FBI who … my head is spinning. And that doesn’t include statewide or local candidates and issues. So, I decided to develop my […]
Posted inCity & Government
The November Ballot: Question 7 – $50 million bond Affordable Housing
With projections of a need for 35,000 additional affordable housing units over the next decade, voters are being asked to approve a $50 million bond issue next week that will fund building 800 housing units, while rehabilitating numerous others. Voters, since 2006, have approved bonds that have resulted in building nearly 2,000 housing units, still […]
Posted inCity & Government
The November Ballot: Question 6 – $35 million Green Economy Bonds
Characterizing Rhode Island’s natural resources as among its greatest strengths, proponents of the Green Economy Bonds see passage of the $35 million referendum as an investment in Rhode Island’s future. The multi-faceted bonds provide funds for improvements in historic state parks, state bikeway development, storm water pollution prevention, land acquisition, and matching grant programs for […]
Posted inCity & Government
The November Ballot: Question 4 – $45.5 million Education Bond
Touting that a $45.5 million higher education bond will attract high-paying, high-tech jobs, state and education officials called approval of this referendum “critical” in the growth of the state’s economy. Specifically, the bond provides funding to continue an overhaul of URI’s engineering school facilities, and the development of a URI affiliated Innovation Campus. “Approval of […]
Posted inCity & Government
The November Ballot: Question 3 – $27 Million Bond for Construction of New Veterans Home and Maintenance to Existing Facility
A $27 million bond issue that provides funds for the completion of a new Veterans Home, is on next week’s ballot, one of seven statewide bond issues. The new home replaces the current Veterans Home in Bristol that was originally built more than 60 years ago, with several additions built over the next several years. […]
Posted inNews
The November Ballot: Question 1 – Tiverton Casino
Once again Rhode Island voters are being asked to approve building a full-scale casino, this time in Tiverton, near the Massachusetts border. This casino would replace the slots parlor now operating in the shadow of the Newport Bridge in Newport. The issue will appear on the ballot statewide and also in Tiverton. It must pass […]
Posted inCity & Government
The November Ballot: Question 5 – $70 Million Bond Port Infrastructure Projects
A $70 million bond issue that would fund improvements at the Port of Davisville at Quonset and Providence Port, is expected to add cargo traffic and jobs at both ports, according to a coalition that is supporting the bond. “This bond issue is about the future success of our ports, adding jobs and bringing more […]
Posted inCity & Government
If Voters Approve Tiverton Casino, Twin River and City will Partner in Redeveloping Newport Grand Property
If voters statewide and in Tiverton approve what amounts to a relocation of Newport Grand to Tiverton, it could open up significant development in that part of Newport and recapture acres of land that now sits useless at the base of the Newport Bridge. The City and Twin River Worldwide Holdings are committed to working […]
Posted inNews
The November Ballot: Question 2 – Ethics, ACLU Opposes Referendum
WhatsUpNewp is profiling each of the statewide referenda, in what promises to be a spirited election from the presidency to local public offices and local issues. ICYMI, here are two previous stories that we’ve published – The November Ballot: Question 1 – Tiverton Casino & The November Ballot: Question 2 – Ethics. While it may appear that […]
Posted inNews
The November Ballot: Question 2 – Ethics
Only a third of Rhode Islanders have confidence in their state government, 49th in the nation, according to a 2015 Gallup Poll. Only Illinois ranked worse. Now, Rhode Islanders have a chance to do something about that by approving a referendum this November that once again brings the state legislature under the scrutiny of the […]
Posted inCity & Government
Election 2016 Focuses on Offices and Numerous State and Local Bond Issues
When voters go to the polls in less than two months they will not only be voting to fill offices, from local school committee to the president, but will consider numerous bond issues, potentially adding millions of dollars to the state and local debt, and potentially significantly changing how government operates in some communities. Traditionally, […]
Posted inCity & Government
Rhode Island Economy Rebounds
The Rhode Island economy rebounded in July, after a dismal performance the previous month, according to University of Rhode Island Economic Professor Leonard Lardaro’s Current Conditions Index. For July, Lardaro’s CCI index was 58, up from 42 the previous month. If the CCI is below 50 it means that the economy is contracting. Above 50 […]
Posted inCity & Government
Rhode Island’s Economy is Shrinking, a Major Shift in its Position From May
Rhode Island’s Economy is Projected to Shrink in the Second Quarter of 2016 at an Annualized Rate of 1.2 percent This story originally appeared on www.whatsuprhodeisland.com. Rhode Island’s economy is shrinking, according to the latest economic briefing from the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council and Center for Global and Regional Economic Studies at Bryant University, […]
Posted inNews
Rhode Island News Briefs: September 2, 2016
Rhode Island News Briefs, Sept. 2, 2016 Westerly Hospital affiliation with Yale New Haven Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Kilmartin and Health Director Nicole Alexander-Scott have approved transferring control of Westerly Hospital to Yale-New Haven Health Services. The approval comes amid mounting losses by Westerly Hospital and its parent, Lawrence and Memorial Hospital of New […]
Posted inNews
Rhode Island News Briefs: September 1
A round-up of what’s happening, new and to do in and around Rhode Island right now. Rhode Island economy slowing Last April, the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council was suggesting that the Rhode Island economy was growing – not robustly – but growing at a rate slightly faster than the region. That, according to the […]
Posted inNews
Drought Beginning To Have An Impact on Local Farms and Resources
The drought of 2016 … continues. And with cloudless blue skies and rising temperatures, it’s likely to get worse. Already considered severe along Rhode Island’s south coast and throughout much of Massachusetts, water authorities worry it will get worse without a sustained period of substantial rain. Farmers are feverishly watering crops from private wells, while […]