A Rhode Island grassroots environmental organization has thrown its support behind Providence City Council member Sue AnderBois in the 2026 race for lieutenant governor, citing her record on clean energy and climate policy as the driving force behind the endorsement. Climate Action Rhode Island announced its backing of AnderBois on Sunday, describing her as a […]
Ryan Belmore
Ryan Belmore is the owner and publisher of What's Up Newp. He took over the publication in 2012 and has grown it into a three-time Rhode Island Monthly Best Local News Blog (2018, 2019, 2020).
He was named LION Publishers Member of the Year in 2020 and received the Dominique Award from the Arts & Cultural Society of Newport County the same year. He has been awarded grants for investigative and community journalism, and continues to coach and mentor new local news publications nationwide.
Ryan is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, Online News Association, and Local Independent Online News Publishers. He is committed to the codes of ethics of these organizations: accuracy, independence, accountability, and transparency.
In Newport, Ryan served on the boards of the Fort Adams Trust and Potter League for Animals, and hosted a daily radio talk show for four years.
In 2021, Ryan moved to Alexandria, Virginia, to support his wife Jen's career. He launched The Alexandria Brief in 2025, applying what he learned in Newport to a new community. With the help of some talented on-the-ground contributors, he still runs What's Up Newp — and always will.
Contact: ryan@whatsupnewp.com.
Posted inArts & Culture
Newport Classical to present world premiere of new violin work inspired by Washington’s letter to Newport Hebrew Congregation
Newport Classical will present the world premiere of a new violin work inspired by one of Newport’s most celebrated historical documents when violinist Yevgeny Kutik and pianist Llewellyn Sánchez-Werner take the stage Friday, April 10 at 7:30 p.m. at the Newport Classical Recital Hall, 42 Dearborn St. The program features the premiere of Scattered Light, […]
Posted inInstagram
Newport Rhode Races returns April 18 with sold-out fields, 10th anniversary milestone
The Newport Rhode Races will return to the City by the Sea on Saturday, April 18, with all race distances sold out and thousands of runners expected to descend on Newport for the event’s 10th anniversary. The race features a marathon, half marathon and 5K, with all events beginning and ending at Easton’s Beach. Runners […]
Posted inNews
Middletown police department earns third state reaccreditation
The Middletown Police Department has received its third reaccreditation from the Rhode Island Police Accreditation Commission, the department announced Thursday. The reaccreditation follows a comprehensive review of the department’s policies, procedures, training and operations, measured against 230 standards established by RIPAC. Those standards cover administration, personnel, operations, prisoner services and technical support functions. Officer Jean […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Newport Pride announces full lineup of June 2026 events
Newport Pride has announced its lineup of events for Pride Month 2026, kicking off June 2 and culminating in a full weekend of festivities later in the month. The month begins with the annual Pride Flag Raising Ceremony on Tuesday, June 2. The event starts with a sidewalk parade from Equality Park — home of […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Boat House restaurant puts winning student dish on the menu
The Boat House restaurant is featuring an adaptation of the winning dish from the 14th Annual Rhode Island High School Culinary Arts, Foodservice & Hotel Management Competition on its menu through Monday. The appetizer — Asian Chicken Wonton Cups — was created by students Anthony Morales, Richard Desmarais, Tyler Hartley and Liam McGloin from the […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport City Council to take up parking overhaul, speed camera funds at Wednesday meeting
The Newport City Council meets on Wednesday, March 25, at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall, 43 Broadway, with a packed agenda that includes second readings on a sweeping residential parking program overhaul and a continued debate over how to spend speed camera revenue. The meeting opens with a proclamation recognizing Greek Independence […]
Posted inNews
Preservation Society of Newport County to host job fair March 19
Job seekers looking for part-time and seasonal work can meet with hiring managers at the Preservation Society of Newport County’s Job Fair on Thursday, March 19, from 3 to 6 p.m. at the organization’s headquarters at 424 Bellevue Ave. Available positions include tour guides, museum custodians, security guards, retail and food service associates, special events […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Salve Regina professor to explore legacy of Ireland’s Blasket Islands at Newport Irish History lecture
The Museum of Newport Irish History will present the fifth and final talk of its 24th Annual Lecture Series on Monday, March 23, at 6 p.m. at the Wyndham Newport Hotel, 400 Aquidneck Ave., Middletown, and via Zoom. Dr. Sean O’Callaghan, an associate professor at Salve Regina University, a native of Ireland and an Irish […]
Posted inNews
Rhode Island sees spike in drug overdoses, health officials issue statewide alert
Rhode Island health officials are warning the public after a spike in non-fatal drug overdoses last week surpassed a statewide threshold for the first time since 2023. The Rhode Island Department of Health reported 55 people received care at emergency departments for suspected drug overdoses between March 10 and March 16 — exceeding the state’s […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Preservation Society of Newport County announces plan to sell, transfer parts of its collection
The Preservation Society of Newport County announced Wednesday a deaccession initiative aimed at strengthening its permanent collection by removing items that no longer align with the organization’s interpretive mission. The initiative covers the organization’s wide-ranging permanent collection, which includes paintings, sculpture, furniture, ceramics, silver, textiles, tapestries, photographs and period dress housed across its 11 historic […]
Posted inNews
Sail Newport steps aside as St. Pete-Clearwater named next North American stopover of The Ocean Race
St. Pete-Clearwater, Fla., will serve as the North American stopover of The Ocean Race 2027, race organizers announced Wednesday, with Sail Newport confirming it chose not to pursue the bid. Sail Newport, Rhode Island’s Public Sailing Center — which hosted the race in 2015 and 2018 under the Volvo Ocean Race name and again in […]
Posted inPortsmouth
Obituary: Paul W Lally
Paul William Lally, 89, of Portsmouth, RI, died on March 14, 2026, in hospice care with his family by his side. Born in Scranton, PA on January 25, 1937, he was the son of Thomas and Esther (Kerrigan) Lally. Paul honorably served our country in the U.S. Army Reserve. He was attached to Fort Dix […]
Posted inCity & Government
Edwards again pushes bill to shift coastal oversight from CRMC to DEM
For the second consecutive year, a Tiverton lawmaker is pushing to strip the Coastal Resources Management Council of its authority and hand coastal oversight to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. Rep. John G. Edwards (D-Dist. 70, Tiverton) introduced legislation this session — bill 2026-H 7996 — that would abolish the CRMC and replace […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Arts Around the Fire to welcome new Newport Classical executive director March 18
The Arts and Cultural Alliance of Newport County will welcome Oliver Inteeworn, the newly appointed executive director of Newport Classical, as its featured guest at the next Arts Around the Fire networking event on Wednesday, March 18, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Sardella’s Restaurant, 30 Memorial Blvd. West. Inteeworn comes to Newport Classical from […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport’s budget season kicks off with series of city council workshops
The city’s annual budget process is getting underway this month, with the Newport City Council set to hold a series of special budget workshops beginning later this month. The sessions will take place in the second-floor council chamber at Newport City Hall beginning at 5:30 p.m. and are open to the public. All workshops will […]
Posted inBusiness
Newport International Boat Show reports $22.5 million in economic impact for Rhode Island during 2025 event
The Newport International Boat Show generated more than $22.5 million in economic impact for Rhode Island during its 2025 event, according to a newly released economic impact study. The show, which took place Sept. 11-14, 2025, at the Newport Yachting Center in downtown Newport, drew 30,000 attendees from across the country and around the world. […]
Posted inCity & Government
McKee visits Newport to push for elimination of Rhode Island’s tax on Social Security benefits
Gov. Dan McKee visited the Edward King House senior center Monday to promote his proposal to eliminate Rhode Island’s tax on Social Security benefits, joining AARP Rhode Island State Director Catherine Taylor and Office of Healthy Aging Director Maria Cimini to make the case directly to older adults. “Many people here have been paying taxes […]
Posted inNews
16 motorists arrested for impaired driving during regional enforcement campaign on parade day
A regional law enforcement campaign targeting impaired drivers on Saint Patrick’s Day Parade day resulted in 16 arrests across Aquidneck Island and South County, Newport Police Chief Ryan Duffy announced Monday. Officers from the Tiverton, Portsmouth, Middletown, Newport, Jamestown, North Kingstown, South Kingstown and Narragansett police departments, along with Rhode Island State Police, participated in […]
Posted inNonprofit
Newport Mental Health adds five new members to board of directors
Newport Mental Health has appointed five new members to its board of directors, the organization announced Monday, adding community leaders with backgrounds spanning real estate law, product management, mental health advocacy and nonprofit work. Sue Metzger, John Toracinta, Ruth Ellen Scott, Patrick Barry-Nolan and Joshua Blumen join the board at what the organization describes as […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Judy Collins to bring farewell tour to Jane Pickens Theater in June
Folk legend Judy Collins will bring her farewell tour to the Jane Pickens Theater on Sunday, June 14, with showtime set for 7 p.m., Spectacle Live announced Monday. Tickets go on sale Friday, March 20, at 10 a.m. at janepickens.com or by calling 1-800-657-8774. The Newport show is part of Collins’ “Sweet Judy Blue Eyes” […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Jane Pickens Theater to screen three noir classics in 4K, paired with pinot noir tastings this spring
The Jane Pickens Theater is inviting film lovers to step into the shadows this spring with a series of three landmark noir and neo-noir films screening in 4K restorations, each paired with a curated pinot noir tasting in the lobby before showtime. The series kicks off March 24 with the 50th anniversary screening of Martin […]
Posted inInstagram
Open containers, disorderly conduct top charges as Newport police issue 46 citations and arrests on parade day
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect corrected figures provided by the Newport Police Department. An initial arrest log sent to media Sunday morning listed 26 entries. Capt. Joseph C. Carroll later clarified that the department’s new records system had difficulty separating custodial arrests from municipal court citations, and that the correct totals […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Newport Historical Society offers limited-edition flags to mark America’s 250th anniversary
The Newport Historical Society is inviting residents and property owners to show their civic pride ahead of the nation’s 250th birthday with the purchase of a limited-edition “witness flag” — a handcrafted pennant honoring the city’s outsized role in the American Revolution. The flags, locally made by Maritime Tribes of Fall River, bear the semiquincentennial […]
Posted inNews
Multi-agency impaired driving enforcement campaign set for Newport St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Local and state law enforcement from across Aquidneck Island and South County will join forces Saturday for a high-visibility impaired driving enforcement campaign coinciding with the 70th annual Newport St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Officers from the Middletown, Newport, Portsmouth, Tiverton, Jamestown, North Kingstown and South Kingstown police departments, along with Rhode Island State Police troopers, […]