Frank Prosnitz

The Providence Journal is raising its monthly subscription rates by nearly 33 percent, according to a letter it has sent to its “loyal subscribers,” asking them for their support, while touting the paper’s dedication to producing “in-depth stories and compelling journalism.” The undated letter did not explain the monthly increase from $43.77 to $58 a […]

As the nation emerges from the pandemic, and the restrictions it brought with it, blood collectors nationwide, and in Rhode Island, are concerned that “cabin fever” will lead to “a really bad case of spring fever” followed by an even more difficult summer for blood collection, according to a Rhode Island Blood Center spokeswoman. To […]

We’ll be running Rhode Island News Briefs regularly, featuring interesting stories from around the state, gathered from various news organizations, and other sources from business, government, and non-profit organizations. Vartan Gregorian, former Brown President and “savior” of New York City’s Public Library, Dies Vartan Gregorian, who served as Brown University’s president from 1989-1997, and credited […]

In a little over two weeks, Rhode Islanders will be asked to vote on seven referenda, $400 million in spending to improve higher education, transportation, affordable housing and several other areas. Can we afford it? Can we afford not to approve all seven? Helping us understand the referenda and whether we can afford them will […]

Gavin Black, president of the Rhode Island Ports Coalition, joins WhatsUpNewp for a videocast on Tuesday, Feb. 16 at 2 p.m. to talk about the $60 million Industrial Facilities Infrastructure bond issue that is part of the $400 million March 2nd bond referenda. If approved, the Industrialization bond will provide $40 million to “replicate Quonset’s […]

Christine Lajewski, a horror novelist and short story writer, joins WhatsUpNewp for a videocast in its authors’ series at 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday (Feb. 17).  Born in Flint, Michigan, Christine lives in Cumberland, Rhode Island close to her adult daughter and son. She is a writer, a retired alternative high school teacher, a naturalist at […]

While Lt. Gov. Dan McKee is poised to assume the governorship upon Gov. Gina Raimondo’s confirmation as U.S. Secretary of Commerce, it will only add more intrigue to what assuredly will be a spirited campaign for governor. With the mayor of Providence and all general officers – except attorney general – term limited at the […]

Christine Lajewski, a horror novelist and short story writer, joins WhatsUpNewp for a videocast in its authors’ series at 11 a.m. on Wednesday (Feb. 10).  Please note – Feb. 10: Due to unforeseen circumstances, this conversation has been postponed. We’ll update this story with the new date and time as soon as possible. What’s Up […]

The Rhode Island Secretary of State’s website is a treasure trove of information, connecting Rhode Islanders with important documents about people and events in Rhode Island history. In this, Black History Month, the website offers another important resource, chronicling “the history of the African American experience in Rhode Island.” We reached out to Secretary of […]

The news was a bit startling – a former Providence Councilman, convicted of embezzlement just a few years ago, lands an important government job in Central Falls, while also still owing the state Board of Elections more than $50,000 in fines for some 60 citations of failing to file campaign finance reports, or filing them […]

Friday was Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, which we celebrate on Monday as a federal holiday. It comes on the heels of the storming of the U.S. Capitol that took lives, caused physical damage to a building revered as a symbol of our Democracy, and raised questions of whether our form of government can survive.  […]

With Gov. Gina Raimondo headed to Washington and a spot in the Biden administration, and Lt. Gov. Dan McKee poised to become governor, Aquidneck Island state Senator Lou DiPalma is hoping to fill the lieutenant governor’s position. Senator DiPalma currently represents Senate District 12, which includes portions of Little Compton, Middletown, Newport and Tiverton. Raimondo […]

Any local, statewide news in 2020 was clearly overridden by national and international events – a pandemic that remains with us, an assault on our Democracy. As we enter 2021, these same issues will dominate the news sites, pages, and airwaves for months. It is impossible to separate the events of 2020 from the vision […]

As this bizarre year ends, we have compiled our top lists. To help us, we asked some current legislators, current and former general officeholders, retired journalists, and individuals active in some of the state’s most connected non-profits. Over the next few days, we will list, beginning today, the people to watch statewide in 2021 (yesterday), […]

As this bizarre year ends, we have compiled our top lists. To help us, we asked some current legislators, current and former general officeholders, retired journalists, and individuals active in some of the state’s most connected non-profits. Over the next few days, we will list, beginning today, the people to watch in 2021 (today), the […]

While Gov. Gina Raimondo was touting how well Rhode Islanders had done during the two-week “pause,” the AARP was painting a more ominous picture, reporting an alarming post-Thanksgiving spike in COVID – 19 cases and deaths at the state’s long-term care facilities. Additionally, the AARP was urging the governor to rollback an executive order that […]

Paul F. Caranci, the author of 12 books, some chronicling Rhode Island’s most notorious episodes of political corruption, joins WhatsUpNewp for a videocast in its authors’ series at 3:30 p.m. today (Thursday). In 2015, Paul was awarded the Margaret Chase Smith American Democracy Award for Political Courage, the highest honor awarded by the National Association […]

We continue our authors’ series with a 1 p.m. videocast today (Wednesday) with Edward J. Delaney, an award-winning author, journalist, filmmaker, playwright, and educator. UPDATE: This conversation has had to be rescheduled. We will provide an update on when the conversation will happen.     His books include the novels Broken Irish, Warp & Weft and Follow the Sun, […]

Thanksgiving is fast approaching, as is Black Friday, as is Small Business Saturday, as is Cyber Monday, and a holiday season that has many small retailers hoping for survival during a raging pandemic. Predictions have been grim. Many experts anticipate several small business and restaurant closures. While others suggest survival, and even prosperity, wrests with […]

While most everyone is focused on Tuesday’s election – national, statewide and local – it’s also a week in which the Small Business Administration celebrates veteran owned small businesses.             This is the seventh year, the SBA has focused on businesses owned by service veterans and members, National Guard and Reserve members, and military spouses. […]

“The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease for ever to be able to do it.”― J. M. Barrie, Peter Pan One publication, from Scotland, ruminating on conditions for most businesses – calls it VUCA, “a world filled with volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity,” and that even before the pandemic. During this pandemic, as COVID-19 […]

Dennis Turano, a businessman who was first elected to the Middletown Town Council in 2016, is running for a third term to the council in what is an extremely competitive election. Turano, 57, said he hopes, if reelected, to concentrate in this next term on affordable housing, education, and tax reform. WhatsUpNewp asked candidates throughout […]

Affordable Housing remains elusive for thousands of Rhode Islanders, according to the 2020 Housing Fact Book, released today by HousingWorks RI (HWRI) at Roger Williams University. It found that more than a third of Rhode Islanders (146,000 households) are “housing cost burdened.” The wide-ranging report touches primarily on Rhode Islanders ability to afford housing, but […]

Candidates for Newport’s three city council ward seats appear to be far more active raising and spending funds than those running for at-large seats, according to campaign finance reports filed on Oct. 6 with the state Board of Elections. The reports were due 28 days before the election. The most active fundraiser since the last […]

Gregory M. Huet, 61, a career Naval officer is running for the Middletown Town Council for the first time, saying he’ll be an advocate for affordable housing and education, among his priorities. Huet  retired as a Naval Captain in 2011, after 26 years in the Navy. WhatsUpNewp has asked each of the candidates throughout Newport […]

Keith Hamilton, 51, a member of the Portsmouth Town Council since 2008 is the lone Republican running for Portsmouth Council this year. WhatsUpNewp has asked each of the candidates throughout Newport County to their positions, and their vision, all helping voters to make important election day decisions.  If you are a candidate for office and have […]

Leonard Katzman, 61, Director of Business Development at Brown University for 13 years, is running for a third term on the Portsmouth Town Council.  A Democrat, he was previously elected to the council in 2004, 2006 and 2018.  WhatsUpNewp has asked each of the candidates in Newport County about their backgrounds, accomplishments and vision for […]

Voters today will be narrowing the field in spirited Newport City Council and state Representative races throughout Aquidneck Island. Polls open at 7 a.m. in all towns this morning and close at 8 p.m. It is unlikely races will be decided until all absentee and mail-in ballots are counted. Voters can refer to the Secretary […]

At outdoor barbeques today, at family gatherings, at the beaches and everywhere that Americans spend their Labor Day holiday, few will reflect upon the sacrifices that made this a national holiday, and on the achievements of labor over more than a century that have provided workers with a lot more than a day off at […]

Primary election candidates in three of the five House of Representative districts in Southeastern Rhode Island are bracing for a spirited finish, with only a few days left until the election. All are Democratic primaries, and some clearly pit a growing progressive Democratic wing against more moderate Democrats. That progressive wing is also taking aim […]

After 32 years, the Newport Visitors Center has closed, significantly changing the way Discover Newport operates, reducing its budget and number of employees. What was once a robust $4 million budget is now $1.4 million, and only four administrative employees remain from the sales and SEO services staff, and none from the visitors’ bureau, which […]

What had once been expected to be a robust cruise ship season in Newport, with more than 100 ships visiting the harbor, has now likely ended.  Discover Newport has been notified by Destinations North America, a leading provider of a variety of services to cruise ships that it is canceling “all reservations we have with […]

Keith Stokes says it is time to “reach across the aisle and learn from one another.” It is something he has said often while advocating for better race and religious relations. He is hopeful that in the aftermath of protests, sparked by the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis policeman, that people turn those […]