U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse today invited Rhode Island organizations to submit grant applications to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s (NFWF) National Coastal Resilience Fund. Whitehouse created the National Coastal Resilience Fund to restore and strengthen the natural infrastructure that protects coastal communities, while safeguarding wildlife habitats, according to a press release from Whitehouse’s office. […]
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 inNews
Grammy-nominated string band Della Mae will perform at JPT Film & Events Center on July 27
All-female bluegrass group Della Mae is coming to Newport! The GRAMMY-nominated all-woman Boston string band will perform at the JPT Film & Event Center on Wednesday, July 27 at 8 pm. The band includes lead vocalist/guitarist Celia Woodsmith, 2-time Grand National champion fiddle player Kimber Ludiker, guitarist Avril Smith, bassist Vickie Vaughn, and mandolinist Maddie Witler. […]
Posted inWeather
Newport County weather forecast for Wednesday, March 30
According to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service, today will be partly sunny, with a high near 46 degrees. 7-Day Forecast The following is the National Weather Service 7-day weather forecast, centered on Newport State Airport; This Afternoon Partly sunny, with a high near 46. West wind around 8 mph. Tonight Mostly cloudy, […]
Posted inThings To Do
Newport Classical announces 2022 lineup, will host 24 concerts over 18 days in July
On Tuesday, Newport Classical (formerly Newport Music Festival) announced its 2022 Newport Classical Music Festival, running from July 1-17, 2022. For its 54th season, Newport Classical Music Festival will present 24 concerts over 18 days, and will return for the first time since 2019 to the stunning interiors of Newport’s historic mansions and venues including The Breakers, Blithewold Mansion, The Elms, Castle Hill Inn, Chinese Tea House, Great […]
Posted inNews
Guster’s ‘On The Ocean Weekend’ returns to Portland August 12 – 14
After a two-year break due to the pandemic, Guster returns to Maine from August 12th to August 14th for On The Ocean weekend, three days of music and intimate fan experiences. The fourth annual festival will feature a special kickoff concert, a full day of music, food and fun for the whole family, and an incredible experience as […]
Posted inNews
Beach Road Weekend will kick off with Lord Huron and Bully at Boch Center Wang Theatre
Boston, MA – Beach Road Weekend music festival just announced a kickoff concert at Boston’s Boch Center Wang Theatre featuring indie rockers Lord Huron and Bully. The Beach Road Weekday show will be the official pre-festival concert leading up to the Beach Road Weekend music festival on Martha’s Vineyard. The Lord Huron and Bully show […]
Posted inNews
LeAnn Rimes to perform at Boch Center Shubert Theatre in Boston on June 11
Boston, MA – LeAnn Rimes will bring her “the story…so far tour” to Boston with a stop at the Shubert Theatre on Saturday, June 11, 2022. Tickets start at $49.50 plus applicable fees and go on sale Friday, April 1 at 10:00 AM online at www.bochcenter.org. Tickets are available at the Boch Center Box Office, www.bochcenter.org, by […]
Posted inNews
Newport Festa Italiana hiring a paid event planner, seeking volunteers
The Newport Festa Italiana Committee today announced some initial dates for their annual celebration of Italian Heritage month in Newport and the need for a paid event planner and volunteers. Newport Festa Italiana originated as a way to bring together its Italian community to celebrate the accomplishments of Italian-American immigrants and to share all that […]
Posted inNews
Newport, Middletown explore the feasibility of combining administrative functions under a new regionalized school district
The City of Newport and Town of Middletown has reopened the conversation surrounding regionalization once again. According to both municipalities, this unified school district would allow both communities to retain their existing schools. City of Newport Here’s what the City of Newport had to say in a press release on Tuesday; Municipal leaders from the […]
Posted inNews
Barcelona to host 37th America’s Cup in 2024
Emirates Team New Zealand and the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron today announced Barcelona, in the region of Catalonia, as the Host Venue for the 37th America’s Cup to be held in September and October of 2024.“We are thrilled with the Defender’s selection of Barcelona for the 37th America’s Cup,” said Terry Hutchinson, Skipper and President of Sailing […]
Posted inNews
Interpol, Spoon, and The Goon Sax to perform at Bold Point Park
This fall, Interpol and Spoon will join forces for the “Lights, Camera, Factions” tour, a coast-to-coast run of North American co-headline dates that will also feature openers The Goon Sax, making it a Matador Records triple bill. Waterfront Concerts presents Interpol & Spoon on their Lights, Camera, Factions Tour to Providence, RI on Sunday, August 28th with special guest […]
Posted inNews
Elton John announces final North American dates for his final tour, includes a second show at Gillette Stadium
On the heels of Elton John’s 75th birthday and his triumphant return to the stage this year, the iconic superstar and tour promoter AEG Presents announced the remaining North American dates for “Elton John Farewell Yellow Brick Road The Final Tour.” These eleven dates mark the final shows added to his North American tour. Newly announced North […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Newport Garden Club celebrates the bi-centennial of Frederick Law Olmsted
The year 2022 marks the bi-centennial of the birth of Frederick Law Olmsted, the “father of landscape architecture and the designer of countless parks, estates and civic landscapes throughout the United States”. Newport Garden Club this week announced that it will present a yearlong celebration of Olmsted in 2022, including lectures, an exhibit at the […]
Posted inNews
Leadership program looking for future leaders of color in Rhode Island
The Rhode Island Foundation is accepting applications for the 2022 class of its Equity Leadership Initiative (ELI). The deadline to apply is Friday, April 15. The goal is to build a pipeline of leaders of color for positions of influence across the state. “ELI seeks to advance people of color in greater leadership and decision-making positions within […]
Posted inJobs
Wyatt Detention Facility to host a job fair on April 13 for Corrections Officers and Medical Staff openings
The Wyatt Detention Facility (WDF) will host a job fair on Wednesday, April 13, 2022, from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the WDF Training Facility located at 935 High Street, Central Falls, RI. Approximately 45 full-time and part-time positions are available, including corrections officers, IT professionals, registered nurses, phlebotomists, medical aids, and others. The […]
Posted inNews
DEM will conduct a controlled burn on Dutch Island on Tuesday
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) confirms it will conduct a one-day prescribed burn on part of Dutch Island, a state property located in Narragansett Bay between Jamestown and North Kingstown. The burn, to be held tomorrow, Tuesday, March 29, weather permitting, will be led by DEM’s Divisions of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) and Agriculture and Forest Environment. […]
Posted inThings To Do
What’s Up in Newport County this week: March 28 – April 3
Discover all that’s happening, new, and to do in and around Newport County this week. Monday, March 28 Things To Do 10 am to 12 pm – Nature Mandala Series with Beth Adoette at Blithewold5:30 pm to 6:30 pm – Fix-A-Flat-Clinic at Bike Newport Entertainment Celtica: Music Bingo at 7:30 pmThe Fastnet Pub: The Ubiquitones […]
Posted inNews
Aquidneck Land Trust names Dr. Jaime Palter as a speaker for its 2022 Donner Climate Lecture
Aquidneck Land Trust (“ALT”) has announced the speaker for the 2022 Donner Climate Lecture, a free event to be held on Monday, April 25, 2022, at 5:30 pm. Dr. Jaime Palter, associate professor at URI’s Graduate School of Oceanography, will present a talk titled, “The Ocean and Climate in a Rapidly Changing World,” via Zoom. Dr. […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Gamm Theatre announces its 2022-23 season
The Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre (The Gamm), under the leadership of Artistic Director Tony Estrella and Managing Director Amy Gravell, this week announced its 2022-23 season of bold and compellingly human plays. Featuring five works for its intimate 185-seat theater, Season 38 starts in September with back-to-back Obie Award and Pulitzer Prize winners, followed by three more plays. The lineup also includes a limited run of It’s A […]
Posted inBusiness, News
BayCoast Bank establishes student scholarship at West Place Animal Sanctuary in Tiverton
BayCoast Bank this week announced the establishment of the BayCoast Bank Scholarship at West Place Animal Sanctuary, a non-profit organization located in Tiverton. The scholarship will be awarded to a student enrolled in West Place’s Educational Internship Program, which provides local high school and college students with an immersive, hands-on experience working with rescued farm animals […]
Posted inNews
Most-read What’sUpNewp stories of the week: March 20 – 26
Here are the most-read What’sUpNewp stories of the past week. 1 – Theater Review: ‘Oklahoma!’ fails to impress at PPAC 2 – Mykono Pub opens in Middletown 3 – DEM: 1,000 free trees to R.I. residents this spring through the Energy-Saving Trees program 4 – Now Hiring: 169 companies hiring right now in the Newport […]
Posted inNews
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island certifies eight new LGBTQ Safe Zones
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island (BCBSRI) this week announced that it has newly certified eight organizations as BCBSRI LGBTQ Safe Zone facilities. This new cohort – including hospice and palliative care, behavioral health services for young adults, breast health services, senior living facilities, and outpatient rehabilitation services – joins 45 other locations statewide providing safe, […]
Posted inNews
Portsmouth Police to provide drug recognition training to educators of Newport County
The Portsmouth Police Department, in collaboration with the Newport County Prevention Coalition (NCPC) will be providing a Drug Impairment Training for Educators on Thursday, April 7, 2022, from 4 pm-6 pm at the Portsmouth Police Department. This training is being provided to Newport County school personnel in an effort to help educators become familiar with […]
Posted inUncategorized
What’s Up this weekend: March 26 – 27
Good Morning! Today is Saturday, March 26, and here’s the latest update from What’sUpNewp. We’re able to provide you with this daily dose of news, info, and journalism because of the support of readers like you. Pitch in here! ⛵ Flo’s Clam Shacks in Middletown and Portsmouth are now open for the season. ⛵ Frosty Freez’s […]
Posted inJobs
Now Hiring: 169 companies hiring right now in the Newport area
Looking for a new gig, job, or career in or around Newport? Here’s a roundup of some of the companies that are hiring right now in the Newport area. The opportunities listed below were provided to us or curated from hiring websites. All opportunities were available in the last seven days and are located within […]