There are only a few weeks left for individuals and businesses to take advantage of Rhode Island’s Tax Amnesty program, a way for delinquent taxpayers to save money on penalties and interest payment and avoid possible further action from the state. For the state, it is a way to collect some of the more than […]
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
Public Tour of Rogers High School Scheduled
A public tour of Rogers High School is scheduled for Saturday, February 3, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. to see firsthand the condition of the facility. Buildings in every district in the state get a failing grade in Rhode Island’s first-ever statewide, independent study of public school facilities. The Rhode Island Department of Education’s 2017 State […]
Posted inNews
Newport Tour Guides & Greeters News – #4: A season for learning
Our year-round residents revel in the laid-back, slower pace of this season. They know winter is a perfect time for reflection, reading, study, and learning. It is also a time to renew friendships and meet new people at one or more of Newport’s cultural centers’ lectures, films, or seminars. The challenge always is navigating the […]
Posted inNews
Volvo Ocean Race: Vestas 11th Hour Racing will not participate in inshore racing in Hong Kong, Leg 5 of Race
After a crash with a fishing boat last Friday, Vestas 11th Hour Racing has announced that they have notified Volvo Ocean Race that the team will not participate in the scheduled in-shore racing in Hong Kong and will not participate in Leg 5 of the race from Hong Kong to Guangzhou. The team published the […]
Posted inNews
Volvo Ocean Race partners with Twitter to live stream eight remaining In-Port Races to a global audience
The Volvo Ocean Race will live stream on Twitter the eight remaining In-Port Races from the 2017-18 edition, beginning on Saturday 27 January in Hong Kong. Fans from all around the world will be able to watch the exciting live races and join the real-time conversation via @volvooceanrace on Twitter. In addition to the live In-Port Races, @volvooceanrace will […]
Posted inCity & Government
Seaweed, dueling, testing the speed of a horse: Representative Edwards takes aim at archaic laws
Like any state that’s been around for 350 years, Rhode Island has amassed a lot of outdated, obsolete or downright archaic legislation — and House Majority Whip John G. Edwards (D-Dist. 70, Portsmouth, Tiverton) is looking to wipe them out one by one. Seaweed. The first bill (2018-H 7176) is aimed exclusively at Barrington, and […]
Posted inCity & Government
Video: Newport City Council hosts Regular Council Meeting on January 24th
Newport, RI – Newport City Council met on Wednesday, January 24th to discuss a variety of applications, ordinances, and resolutions. Those topics discussed included a possible bike share program, talking busses, event applications for the Volvo Ocean Race and much more. A popular topic that many are watching is the future of the Armory on Lower […]
Posted inCity & Government
(Updated) Newport City Council will likely discuss sale of Armory in Executive Session on Wednesday night
Newport City Council could be one step closer to selling the Armory on Lower Thames Street by the end of Wednesday night. As Newport This Week first reported on January 11th, an agreement to relocate the National Sailing Hall of Fame to the Newport Armory on Thames Street could be finalized by February. Talks of […]
Posted inPeople & Profiles
Podcast: RI Foundation on what grants and scholarships are available, our thoughts on sale of Armory, and more
Chris Barnett from Rhode Island Foundation joined us on this hodge-podge of What’sUpNewp Radio Edition on AM 1540 WADK to discuss the Foundations news that they are offering $265,000 in grants to serve Newport County residents. Frank Prosnitz and I also discuss the possible sale of the Armory on Lower Thames Street, government transparency, and […]
Posted inNews
Rhode Island Foundation offers $265,000 in grants to serve Newport County residents
Providence, RI – Nonprofit organizations that serve residents of Newport County’s six cities and towns have until Feb. 15 to apply for $265,000 in grants from the Rhode Island Foundation. “We are focused on serving the unique needs of the people in these communities. Collaborating with partners that have deep roots here gives us the resources and […]
Posted inJobs
Who’s hiring in and around Newport? 75+ companies are hiring right now
Time for a new part-time gig, new full-time job or a new career? Start your job search right here, there are more than 75 businesses hiring right now in and around Newport. All job listings have been posted within the last 7 days and are located within 5 miles of Newport. Aireserv – Residential Heating and […]
Posted inPeople & Profiles
Podcast: What’s up with Newport Wellness Week
Start the year off right by focusing on lifelong health and wellness solutions. That’s at least the goal of the Discover Newport’s inaugural Newport Wellness Week, running January 21 – 27, 2018. Andrea McHugh from Discover Newport stopped by What’sUpNewp Radio Edition on AM 1540 WADK on Tuesday with guests Meredith Ewenson and Kim Fuller […]
Posted inNews
WalletHub Study: Rhode Island Is ‘2018’s 8th Worst State to Drive in’
With U.S. traffic congestion costing the average driver $1,400 per year and the U.S. ranked 13th in the world in road quality, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on 2018’s Best & Worst States to Drive in. To determine the most driver-friendly states in the U.S., WalletHub compared the 50 states across 23 key metrics. […]
Posted inCity & Government
Governor’s Office :Nine major employers commit to Supply RI
Providence, RI – Governor Raimondo’s Office announced on Tuesday that nine of Rhode Island’s largest employers have made a public commitment to buy more products and services from local Rhode Island companies. Last week, in her State of the State address, Governor Gina M. Raimondo announced the Supply RI initiative, a new effort to help […]
Posted inNews
Women’s Fund of Rhode Island announces 2018 Grant Cycle
Providence, RI – The Women’s Fund of Rhode Island (WFRI) has announced its 2018 grant cycle. Since launching its grant program in 2001, WFRI has awarded more than $650,000 to organizations developing innovative programs that seek to promote gender equity and improve the lives of women and girls in RI. This year, the WFRI […]
Posted inArts & Culture, People & Profiles
Podcast: A conversation with Pamela Pantos, Executive Director of Newport Music Festival
When most people think about music in Newport, they imagine the storied folk and jazz festivals. But in the houses of Newport in July, the mansions that line the streets around Bellevue Avenue, the Newport Music Festival has earned a place among the world’s premier chamber music festivals. From its recent history, when members of […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Newport Jazz Festival announces ‘First Wave’ of artists
George Wein and Christian McBride today announced the First Wave of artists for the 2018 Newport Jazz Festival® presented by Natixis Investment Managers, which takes place at Fort Adams State Park and the International Tennis Hall of Fame at the Newport Casino August 3 – 5. Tickets go on sale today at 10:00 am (EST) at www.newportjazz.org. […]
Posted inNews
C-SPAN airs Cities Tour segments filmed during October 2017 visit to Newport
C-SPAN’s Local Content Vehicles (LCVs) made a stop in their “2017 LCV Cities Tour” in Newport from October 21-27, 2017, to feature the history and literary life of the community. Working with the Cox cable local affiliate, they visited literary and historic sites where local historians, authors, and civic leaders were interviewed. The following history […]
Posted inNews
Newport County YMCA’s Twice As Nice Preschool invites community to ribbon cutting on February 10th
On Saturday, February 10, 2018, from 10 to 12 PM, the Newport County YMCA’s Twice As Nice Preschool will host an Open House and Ribbon Cutting for our recently renovated facility. Registration for the 2018-2019 School Year will be open to the public during the open house. In 2017, Twice As Nice underwent an extensive remodel […]
Posted inOpinion
Op-Ed: Governor’s budget targets residential providers
Governor Raimondo and DCYF have proposed a “voluntary” cut of 12% in current residential treatment reimbursement rates for traumatized youth and a $4.4 million reduction in residential treatment funding for the new fiscal year. The Governor and her administration apparently have forgotten the fact that these rates were negotiated less than a year ago, in […]
Posted inOpinion
Op-Ed: Representative Deborah Ruggiero – Play ball! But where?
I love it when my constituents provide input on issues. The PawSox stadium has brought many emails and calls from both sides of the bench. Many have argued about the economic importance of the PawSox to our state. I’ve sat through many, many hours of testimony in the House Finance Committee and asked many questions. […]
Posted inCity & Government
McKee expects legislation to be introduced to force the PUC to rollback National Grid rate increase
Legislation urging the Public Utilities Commission to force National Grid to rollback a recent rate increase is likely to be introduced into the Rhode Island General Assembly within the next few weeks, Lt. Gov. Dan McKee said today. McKee has been leading an effort to roll back the recent National Grid rate increase and curtails […]
Posted inNews
Podcast: The Herren Project’s Purple Initiative Week
All across the United States, schools and communities are going purple to support The Herren Project’s (THP) Purple Initiative Week. THP’s Project Purple Initiative week is a nationwide celebration where communities and schools across the country GO Purple! to help support the mission of THP’s Project Purple Initiative. Ray Davis, Coordinator of Portsmouth Prevention Coalition and a […]
Posted inArts & Culture, Things To Do
20+ things to do this week in and around Newport: Jan. 22 – 27
Discover all that’s happening, new and to do in and around Newport County this week. Monday, January 22 4:45 pm & 7:30 pm – Phantom Thread at Jane Pickens Theater 5 pm to 9 pm – Newport Skating Center Open 7 pm – City of Newport Zoning Board of Review Meeting Tuesday, January 23 4:45 pm […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Newport live music and entertainment guide: Jan. 22 – 27
Our Newport Live Music and Entertainment Guide is Newport County’s premier and most comprehensive source for live music and entertainment in our area. Here’s a look at all the live music and entertainment that’s worth seeing, hearing, doing, or knowing about in Newport County this week. Monday, January 22nd Diego’s: Trivia at 9:30 pmFastnet Pub: […]