Among the most daunting issues facing Rhode Island is affordable housing. Housing costs – home ownership and rental – continue to rise, and available single family and rental units are sometimes scarce and expensive. Lack of affordable housing, according to all experts, negatively impacts our society from homeless to the economy. We wanted to know […]
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 inCity & Government
Election 2022: Poll: Tight race for Democrat gubernatorial nomination; Magaziner has big lead in race for Congress 2 nomination; candidates, GOP react
Poll Results A WPRI TV/Roger Williams University Poll, completed a few days ago, showed a tight race for the Democratic nomination for governor, while in the Second Congressional District, General Treasurer Seth Magaziner holds a wide lead. In both races, there are a large number of potential voters who said they are undecided. The poll […]
Posted inNews
Election 2022: EMILY’s list endorses Gorbea; Foulkes TV ad campaign begins
Nellie Gorbea wins EMILY’s List endorsement; Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea has won the endorsement of EMILY’s List, among 11 gubernatorial candidates to receive the organization’s endorsement. “EMILY’s List is backing Nellie Gorbea in the race for governor of Rhode Island because she’s a proven leader and a tireless advocate for reproductive rights,” the organization […]
Posted inBusiness
Outdoor dining is back on Broadway
Did you enjoy dining outside last summer? Well, you can count on it again, at least for this year. Newport’s City Council is developing an ordinance that will establish guidelines for restaurants that want to offer outdoor dining. But it doesn’t come without some pushback. According to Mayor Jeanne Marie Napolitano, some restaurants on Thames […]
Posted inNews
Neary drops from second Congressional race
Michael Neary, a Democratic candidate for the second Congressional district has reportedly dropped out of the race, only weeks since his arrest in Ohio on menacing and drug possession charges. Neary, who never filed a campaign finance report with the Federal Election Commission for the first quarter of 2022, said he was dropping out of […]
Posted inCity & Government
Election 2022: Kalus accuses “insiders” of bribing businesses to come to RI; Gorbea endorsed by Steelworks’ union
GOP gubernatorial candidate says RI bribing “businesses to come here” Republican gubernatorial candidate Ashley Kalus, in an email to potential contributors, has accused “insiders” of bribing businesses to come to Rhode Island. “Rhode Island isn’t meeting its potential,” she said in the letter. “We’re lagging behind when we should be leading. “That’s because the insiders […]
Posted inCity & Government
School regionalization faces critical votes on Monday
Newport and Middletown are moving closer to a school regionalization vote, but considerable work must be done for the proposal to go to voters in both communities in November. The Newport City Council was expected to vote on a document that would have approved sending a request to the state legislature for permission to include […]
Posted inNews
Election 2022: GOP has a Treasurer candidate; Magaziner wins another union endorsement
No. Kingstown Finance Director running for Treasurer North Kingstown Finance Director James Lathrop of Wakefield, is expected to announce his candidacy for Rhode Island General Treasurer late this month, according to an email distributed by the Rhode Island Republican Party. Lathrop, a CPA, also filed his papers with the state Board of Elections establishing his […]
Posted inBusiness
Employee compensation grew 5.6 percent over the last year
Employee compensation for private industry workers in the Boston Metropolitan Area, which includes Rhode Island, grew by 5.6 percent in the last year, nearly 1 percent above the national average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Actual wages and salaries, the largest component of the compensation category, rose 6.1 percent for the region, […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Election 2022: Longtime legislator retires, Congressional endorsements
South County legislator Dennis Algiere to retire State Senate Minority Leader Dennis Algiere, R-Dist. 38, (Westerly, Charlestown and South Kingstown) is not seeking re-election, according to the Republican Party. Algiere, who has served in the Senate for 30 years, will not seek re-election in November, according to a statement issued by the state GOP. The […]
Posted inNews, What's Up Newp Live Stream
Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain joins What’sUpNewp for a live virtual video conversation on Thursday
With school unification on the table, a city budget nearing approval, and reports nationally that students are still struggling to make up for lost learning as a result of the pandemic – well, we have a few things to talk about with Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain when she joins WhatsUpNewp tomorrow (Thursday) at […]
Posted inCity & Government
Mayor Napolitano: Newport/Middletown moving forward with school unification
“We’re going to make it work.” Those are the words of Newport Mayor Jeanne Marie Napolitano in anticipation of both the Newport and Middletown Councils agreeing to a plan to “unify” the school systems, and then seek voter approval in November. The Newport City Council and School Committee are meeting tomorrow (Thursday) in executive session […]
Posted inNews
Westerly/Wakefield homeless shelters combine
Westerly’s WARM Center, which has been serving the homeless population in Rhode Island’s Washington County for nearly 35 years, has bought Welcome House in Wakefield, a similar organization that had been struggling financially over the last few years. The WARM Center, which has 19 emergency shelter beds for the homeless, adds Welcome House’s 17 units, […]
Posted inCity & Government
Aquidneck legislators report first-quarter finances
State Rep. Marvin Abney, D-Dist. 73 (Middletown, Newport), chair of the state House of Representatives Finance Committee, had the most robust campaign fund among Aquidneck Island’s state legislative delegation. Abney reported a fund balance of $186,806 as of March 31, according to his first-quarter campaign finance report. Abney, who had been mentioned as a potential […]
Posted inCity & Government
Gorbea, Segal weigh in on likelihood Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade
Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea, a gubernatorial candidate, and Congressional candidate David Segal, expressed outrage after reports of a leaked draft of a U.S. Supreme Court initial decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Both statements were released before a rally at the State House tonight at 8. The reaction from Segal and Gorbea were consistent […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Governor’s Race: Foulkes tops first quarter fundraising
Helena Buonanno Foulkes, the former CVS executive who is running for governor in Rhode Island, raised more than $900,000 in the first quarter of 2022, nearly doubling of any other gubernatorial candidate. Yesterday was the reporting deadline for candidates to file their first quarter financial reports to the Rhode Island Board of Elections. Most gubernatorial […]
Posted inCity & Government
Mayor Napolitano will join What’sUpNewp for a live virtual video conversation on Tuesday
There’s no shortage of major issues facing the Newport City Council as it prepares for a busy tourism season, and perhaps a busier election year. Newport Mayor Jeanne Marie Napolitano joins What’sUpNewp for a live virtual video conversation tomorrow (Tuesday) at noon where we’ll explore many issues. Update – Mayor Napolitano wasn’t able to make […]
Posted inBusiness
National Small Business Week takes place May 1 – 7, here’s what’s on tap through the SBA
This week, May 1-7, is National Small Business Week, celebrated by the Small Business Administration, with virtual seminars and various programs under the banner of “Building a Better America through Entrepreneurship.” Here’s some of what the SBA is offering: The 2022 National Small Business Week Virtual Summit “Building a Better America Through Entrepreneurship,” kicks off on […]
Posted inArts & Culture, News
Nine to be inducted into RI Heritage Hall of Fame
They come from every corner of the state, representing all kinds of professions, and all contributing to what makes up the unique character of Rhode Island – this is the 57th class to be inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame, the Class of 2022. The nine newest Hall of Fame members will […]
Posted inNews
Election 2022: Gubernatorial poll, Fung announces, unions weigh in on Fung candidacy
Gorbea: Poll has her leading in Dem. Governor race Secretary of State and candidate for Governor Nellie Gorbea’s campaign today released a poll memo that they say shows Gorbea leading in the Democratic race for governor. According to the campaign, Gorbea leads the crowded Democratic gubernatorial field with 30 percent. McKee placed second with 24 […]
Posted inCity & Government
Climate change, a threat to local tourism
Climate change, with its rising and warming seas, more frequent and severe storms, poses an increasing threat to shoreline tourism communities, like Newport and Rhode Island’s south coast, according to a leading Rhode Island tourism official. “People are drawn to the water,” says Evan Smith, executive director of Discover Newport, and a 30- year veteran […]
Posted inNews
Election 2022: Senate passes voter act, GOP critical; women in support of Magaziner; DaSilva running again for EP mayor
Secretary of State Gorbea praises Senate passage of Let RI Vote Act Secretary of State and gubernatorial candidate Nellie M. Gorbea today praised the state Senate’s passage of the Let RI Vote Act. “The act of casting a ballot is foundational to our democracy,” Gorbea said. “At a time when we see states working to restrict voting […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Embattled Westerly Democratic Chair reportedly resigns
Westerly Democrats months ago had asked embattled party chairman Robert Ritacco to resign, according to Town Councilman Chris Duhamel. Ritacco, Duhamel said, resigned yesterday after being charged with two counts of first-degree sexual assault. Ritacco, a former town councilman and zoning board member, was indicted by a statewide grand jury Monday. He also served as […]
Posted inCity & Government
Transportation Master Plan – Part I: Climate Change threatens historic, commercial, and residential neighborhoods
Climate change, from rising sea levels to dramatically more severe storms, has the potential to significantly impact historic and residential areas in Newport over the coming decades, according to a comprehensive Transportation Master Plan recently submitted to the City Council. That Master Plan, the first in two decades, gives a comprehensive view of all things […]
Posted inCity & Government
Election 2022: Sen. Warren weighs in on RI Congressional race; Fung to formally announce; candidates out for money
Sen. Elizabeth Warren endorses Segal for Congress Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren is supporting David Segal, a Democratic and progressive candidate for Rhode Island’s second Congressional district seat. Segal joined a crowded field this week of candidates looking to replace Congressman James Langevin, who is not seeking reelection. According to Segal’s campaign, Warren endorsed Segal, saying […]