Governor Gina M. Raimondo and Dr. Alexander-Scott today made several announcements about the state’s response to the COVID-19 crisis. Travel from New York: Today the Governor signed an executive order mandating that anyone who has traveled to New York by any form of transportation must self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival in Rhode Island. This applies to anyone […]
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 inCity & Government
Town of Middletown provides updates on mobile food pantry, food distribution
The Town of Middletown is working with the Martin Luther King Center to distribute food at the Oxbow Farms apartment complex on Tuesday, March 31, 2020, from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. The MLK Center uses a mobile food pantry to distribute non- perishable items to anyone needing assistance with food necessities. Participants are encouraged to call the Middletown […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Watch: Governor, Director of Health COVID-19 update (March 26th)
Governor Gina Raimondo and Director of Health Nicole Alexander-Scott will host their daily press briefing on Rhode Island’s response to COVID-19 today at 2:30 pm. Updates as they happen; Gov: 33 new coronavirus cases in Rhode Island, brings statewide total to 165. Director of Health says they will share much more data this afternoon, but […]
Posted inBusiness, Real Estate
Festival Field Apartments sells for $33.25 million
Festival Field Apartments has been sold and plans are already in the works for a major rehabilitation of the property. The 204-unit Section 8 family apartment property, located at 90 Girard Avenue, was recently acquired by Fairstead for $33.25 million. Fairstead, a New York-based real estate investor, developer, owner and operator that “specializes in affordable, […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Coronavirus Update – March 25th: 132 positive cases in R.I., fewer than 5 in Newport
Governor Gina M. Raimondo and Dr. Alexander-Scott today announced new guidelines issued by the Department of Business Regulation for retailers and grocers as part of the state’s response to the COVID-19 public health crisis. As of 5PM tomorrow, all retailers and grocers must: Allow no more than 20% of stated fire capacity in the store at a […]
Posted inCity & Government, Food & Drink, Things To Do
RI Hospitality Association, RI Hospitality Education Foundation establish “RI Hospitality Employee Relief Fund”
The RI Hospitality Association (RIHA) and RI Hospitality Education Foundation (RIHEF) announced yesterday that it has established the RI Hospitality Employee Relief Fund to benefit statewide foodservice, lodging and tourism employees who have been laid off due to the COVID-19 situation. Rhode Island-based hospitality workers who have recently been laid off due to business closures and statewide restrictions imposed as part […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Governor plans to extend prohibition of on-premise food consumption at restaurants and food establishments
Governor Gina M. Raimondo and Director of Health Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH announced on March 16th that, effective March 17th and continuing through March 30th, there will be no on-premise food consumption for restaurants, bars, coffee shops, or other food establishments in Rhode Island. Establishments with a food license were allow to continue to conduct […]
Posted inPeople & Profiles
COVID-19: We want to hear about the ‘unsung heroes’ during these tough times
To say that we’re living in a unprecedented time would absolutely be an understatement. Most businesses are closed, the healthiest option for us is to lock ourselves in our homes, and we don’t know when any of it is going to end. But in tough times there are always those who step up, go above […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Watch: Governor, Director of Health provide COVID-19 update (March 25th), now 132 positive cases in R.I.
Governor Raimondo and Director of Health Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH provided updates to reporters about Rhode Island’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response on Wednesday, March 25th, at 2:30 p.m. Updates as they happen; Governor announced that their are 8 new cases, bring 132 positive COVID-19 cases now in Rhode Island. 5 of these 8 new […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Coronavirus Update – March 24th: 124 positive cases in Rhode Island, Child care announcements
Governor Gina M. Raimondo and Dr. Alexander-Scott today made announcements about the state’s response to the COVID-19 public health crisis. Video: Governor, Director of Health provide COVID-19 update (March 24th), 124 positive cases of COVID-19 now in R.I. First, data… Dr. Alexander-Scott announced today that Rhode Island has 18 additional cases of COVID-19. Among these […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Aquidneck Island communities: All out of state travelers, seasonal residents to self-quarantine for 14 days
The Town of Middletown, Town of Portsmouth and City of Newport are going above and beyond the Governor and Department of Health’s restrictions when it comes to self-quarantining. “The Town of Middletown is asking all out-of-state visitors, travelers and seasonal residents to self-quarantine for a period of two weeks while visiting the Town,” a press release from […]
Posted inBusiness, Jobs
Looking for a job? Here are 60+ businesses that are hiring right now in Newport, even during the COVID-19 shutdowns
Looking for a new gig, job, or career during these COVID-19 days? Well, you’re sort of in luck. There are more than sixty businesses hiring right now in Newport. For those wondering what impact COVID-19 has had on the job opportunity market, we looked at how many job opportunities that we curated at this time […]
Posted inCity & Government
Director of Health: “There are many, many patients of our 124 who have recovered”
Governor Raimondo and Director of Health Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH provided updates to reporters about Rhode Island’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response earlier today. The Governor announced that there were 18 new cases of COVID-19 in Rhode Island, bringing the total of positive cases in Rhode Island to 124. For the first time, the public […]
Posted inNews
Live Stream: Climb the Walls and Dance with Island Moving Company and Newport Academy of Ballet
Learn a few new moves while you’re physically distancing! To break out of your isolation blues and get you dancing, Island Moving Company and the Newport Academy of Ballet are offering a valuable thread of continuity and social connection with our new Climb the Walls! series. These FREE, 30-minute live micro-classes are a great way […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Video: Governor, Director of Health provide COVID-19 update (March 24th), 124 positive cases of COVID-19 now in R.I.
Governor Gina M. Raimondo and Director of Health Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH provided updates to reporters about Rhode Island’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response on Tuesday, March 24th. Updates As They Happen (refresh page for the latest updates); 18 new cases of COVID-19 in Rhode Island. Brings total to 124 positive cases in Rhode Island.Governor […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
WalletHub Study: Rhode Island is the 2nd most aggressive state vs Coronavirus
With states taking actions such as closing non-essential businesses, banning even small gatherings, and ordering people to shelter in place to fight the spread of the coronavirus, WalletHub today released updated rankings on the Most Aggressive States Against the Coronavirus. To identify which states are taking the largest actions to combat coronavirus, WalletHub compared the 50 […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
City Council votes to extend State of Emergency in the City of Newport
Newport City Councilors voted 7-0 on Monday afternoon to extend the State of Emergency in the City for another 30 days. Councilors Bova, McLaughlin, McCalla, Napolitano, Taylor, Leonard, and Ceglie voted in favor to extend the State of Emergency in the City. The meeting was held remotely in compliance with Gov. Gina Raimondo’s Executive Order […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
CCRI : Remote learning will continue for the remainder of spring semester, commencement canceled
CCRI President Meghan Hughes shared with the students, faculty and staff that the college will continue with remote learning for the remainder of the Spring semester and that commencement has been canceled. The following is the letter that was sent out; Dear CCRI community, As we approach the end of our first day of remote […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Watch Live: Governor, Director of Health provide COVID-19 update (March 23rd), 106 positive cases now in Rhode Island
Governor Gina M. Raimondo and Director of Health Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH will provide updates to reporters about Rhode Island’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response on Monday, March 23rd, at 1 p.m. What’s Up Newp will bring the conference to you live here at that time. Updates as they happen (refresh page for the latest) […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Mayor’s Update for March 22, 2020
Newport Mayor Jamie Bova shared the following email with newsletter subscribers on Sunday, March 22nd. As the COVID-19 pandemic progresses, new guidance and direction is provided daily to try to manage the spread. Click the button below for updated local, state, and federal information. Please do everything you can keep Newport safe – please STAY […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
83 Rhode Islanders have tested positive for COVID-19, 9 from Newport County
Governor Gina M. Raimondo today made several announcements about the state’s response to the COVID-19 public health crisis. But first the numbers; Number of Rhode Island COVID-19 positive (including presumptive positive) cases: 83Bristol County: 6Kent County: 7Newport County: 9Providence County: 52Washington County: 9Number of people who had negative test results: 932Number of people for whom […]
Posted inCity & Government
Watch: Governor provides updates on COVID-19, 83 cases now in Rhode Island
Governor Gina Raimondo provided updates to reporters about Rhode Island’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response on Sunday, March 22nd, at 1 p.m. Updates as they happen; 17 new cases of COVID-19 in Rhode Island. Brings total to 83. No fatalities so far in Rhode Island. Governor says no need to panic by more new cases, […]
Posted inThings To Do
What’s Up Newp Live Stream: Mel performs
What’s Up Newp’s Live Stream Entertainment Series continues on Sunday with a performance by Mel! Mel was supposed to perform at Parlor this weekend, instead we will bring her performance to you live on our Facebook Page to make sure you don’t miss her or the music, enjoy! Join in the quarantine fun & help […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
COVID-19: 66 positive cases of COVID-19 in Rhode Island, 8 in Newport County (March 21)
Governor Gina M. Raimondo and Director of Health Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH today made several announcements about the state’s response to the COVID-19 public health crisis. Dr. Alexander-Scott announced today that Rhode Island has 12 additional cases of COVID-19. These people range in age from their 20s to their 70s. Of these 12 people, three […]