On this edition of What’sUpNewp Radio Edition on AM 1540 WADK Newport I discussed the process the Newport City Council used to fulfill the vacant Council seat, I brought you the audio from Monday night’s meeting where the decision was made, chatted about my decision to file an Open Meeting Action violation with the Attorney […]
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 inJobs
75+ companies 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. A1 Pizza – Assistant Team […]
Posted inBusiness
Aloha Cafe at Seamen’s Church Institute closes
Aloha Cafe at Seamen’s Church Institute has confirmed that they have permanently closed. “The Aloha Cafe has closed after many great years serving local Newporters and visitors alike. Stay tuned for an exciting new chapter for Seamen’s we promise a great change ahead!,” the Cafe posted on Facebook on January 5th. Before closing, The Aloha […]
Posted inBusiness, Environment & Health
Gray Matter Marketing rolls out new race series
Gray Matter Marketing announced on Tuesday the latest in their new events, the New England 10 Miler Series. The three-event series will allow runners to earn an exclusive medal and t-shirt upon completion, while also receiving a discount for all events when purchased together. The series will open in Portland, Maine on April 22nd, then continue in […]
Posted inCity & Government
National Grid, Newport Police Department respond to two gas leaks in Newport
National Grid and Newport Police Department were on the scene of two “Grade 1” emergency gas main repairs in Newport this afternoon. The gas leaks in the gas main’s occurred at Bellevue Avenue at Parker Avenue and on Thames Street at Holland Street, according to Newport Police Department (NPD). It is unclear whether the two leaks […]
Posted inNews
Warming Center at Seamen’s Church provided for 75 during frigid two-week stretch
Over an eleven-day period beginning December 27, 2017, Seamen’s Church Institute opened its doors to clients in need as an Overnight Warming Center for ten evenings. This extended Warming Center is unprecedented in the history of Seamen’s, in the past, they have done no more than 3-4 nights, and not consecutively. This monumental task was […]
Posted inOpinion
Op-Ed: Revving up broadband in Middletown
Broadband is the 21st century highway of our information economy. Broadband is wide-bandwidth data transmission and refers to high-speed Internet access. Today, we see broadband as a utility — much like electricity and water — needed for schools, libraries, government and business to effectively operate. Downloading a movie from Netflix requires a different amount of […]
Posted inCity & Government, People & Profiles
RI GOP gubernatorial candidate Morgan focusing on corruption, economy, and education
Characterizing herself as tough, informed and with a vision to root out corruption and spark the economy, state Rep. Patricia Morgan, R-West Warwick, is focused on becoming Rhode Island’s next governor. She is among three Republicans who will battle in a primary election for the right to challenge incumbent Gov. Gina Raimondo, a Democrat seeking […]
Posted inNews
Coast Guard repositions buoy, clears path for large commercial ships on Providence River
Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team Bristol towed a buoy that was blocking a portion of the Providence River shipping channel back to its proper position using a Buoy Utility Stern Loading (BUSL) boat on Tuesday. The buoy was knocked off station by ice and was blocking the deep draft channel. The team’s successful repositioning of […]
Posted inCity & Government
Senator Whitehouse to Join Senate Finance Committee
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer today announced the Senate Democratic committee memberships for the 2nd Session of the 115th Congress. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) will join the powerful Senate Finance Committee. Whitehouse released the following statement on his new assignment: “I thank Senator Schumer for his confidence in me. It will be an honor to serve on […]
Posted inCity & Government
Rhode Island ranked 32nd in WalletHub’s ‘2018’s States with the Most Racial Progress’
With Martin Luther King, Jr. Day around the corner and 92 percent of blacks saying whites benefit a great deal or a fair amount from advantages not available to blacks – versus 46 percent of whites who agreed with that statement – the personal-finance website WalletHub conducted an in-depth analysis of 2018’s States with the Most […]
Posted inBusiness, Jobs
Electric Boat filling hundreds of jobs at Quonset Facility
Electric Boat, among the region’s largest employers, is actively looking for hundreds of new employees as it prepares to fulfill a recently awarded $5.1 billion contract from the U.S. Navy to complete the design of the Columbia-class submarine. Working in collaboration with Skills for Rhode Island’s Future, a non-profit affiliated with the Rhode Island Department […]
Posted inCity & Government
What’s On The Agenda: January 10th Newport City Council Meeting
The following items of business will go before the Newport City Council at its first regular meeting on the new year on January 10, 2018, at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber at Newport City Hall. To see the full agenda that includes links to applications and more documents, click here. CONSENT CALENDAR. (THE CONSENT […]
Posted inArts & Culture, Things To Do
Newport Art Museum’s Second Saturday to celebrate Lunar New Year
The Newport Art Museum will welcome parents and children to the galleries for the popular monthly Second Saturday program on Saturday, January 8 at 10:30 am. Always enriching and inspiring, the Newport Art Museum’s monthly family program this month will honor Chinese New Year traditions with the talented youth performers of the Rhode Island Kung Fu & Lion Dance […]
Posted inCity & Government
Marco Camacho to fill vacant seat on Newport City Council
The six-remaining Newport City Council members voted 4 – 2 in favor of appointing Marco Camacho to fill the remaining current Council term (January 9 through December 1, 2018) that was vacated by John Florez. Councilor At-Large John Florez announced in November that he would be stepping down from Council effective January 9th for business reasons. Ten residents applied […]
Posted inNews
Podcast: Brad Read previews the 2018 Volvo Ocean Race Newport Stopover
The Race Village at the 2018 Volvo Ocean Race Newport Stopover will open four months from today at Fort Adams State Park. Brad Read, Executive Director of Sail Newport, joined me today on What’sUpNewp Radio Edition on AM 1540 WADK Newport to preview the Stopover and to let us know all that’s happening, new and […]
Posted inFood & Drink
What’s Open, What’s Closed: When restaurants are taking time off this winter (Updated)
It’s beginning to look a whole lot more like the off-season around Newport, RI. Many restaurants have already permanently/temporarily closed or are preparing to do so over the next few weeks. Temporarily Closing This story was originally published on January 2nd, it will be updated as more information is received and confirmed. Aloha Cafe: Closed until […]
Posted inCity & Government, People & Profiles
Congressman Cicilline’s Jan. 13 Town Hall will focus on Democrats’ economic initiative: “A Better Deal”
Congressman David N. Cicilline, D-RI, will focus on what he characterized as the Democrats “bold economic agenda,” a program with a goal of creating 10 million good paying jobs, at a “BetterDeal Town Hall” at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, at the Pell Elementary School, 35 Dexter Street, Newport. The Congressman emphasized that he views […]
Posted inCity & Government, Opinion
Letter From The Editor: City Council process to fill vacant seat hasn’t been open enough
While following the process to fill the vacant Newport City Council seat, there have been several steps during the last month that have done more than make me raise my eyebrows and question why and how things were happening the way they were. It is my belief that there has been some violations of the […]
Posted inArts & Culture, Things To Do
Newport Car Museum among ‘America’s 10 Best New Attractions for 2017’
Portsmouth, RI – USA Today has named Newport Car Museum to America’s 10 Best New Attractions for 2017. The national newspaper announced its 10 Best on January 5 after a public poll determined the winners. Newport Car Museum was the only nominee from New England on an original list of 20 attractions selected by a panel of travel experts. It also […]
Posted inArts & Culture, Things To Do
What’s up for this week: January 7 – 13
Discover all that’s happening, new and to do this week. Sunday, January 7th 10 am – Motors & Mimosas at Audrain Automobile Museum 12 pm to 5 pm – Newport Skating Center Open 2 pm, 4:45 pm & 7:30 pm – The Shape Of Water at Jane Pickens Theater Monday, January 8th 11 am – Summer Job Fair at Naval Station […]
Posted inArts & Culture, Things To Do
Newport live music and entertainment guide: January 7 – 13
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. Sunday, January 7th Atlantic Resort (Middletown): The Mac Chrupcala Jazz […]
Posted inArts & Culture, Things To Do
Congregation Beth David to premiere “Cuba’s Forgotten Jewels,” a haven in Havana
Congregation Beth David will host the Rhode Island premiere of a powerful film that tells the story of Jewish immigrants who fled to Cuba to avoid the Holocaust. “Cuba’s Forgotten Jewels: A haven in Havana” will be shown on Saturday, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. at Congregation Beth David, 102 Kingstown Road, Narragansett, RI 02882. […]
Posted inNews
Newport Tour Guides & Greeter News – #1: Weekend of Coaching, special tours, what’s new for 2018, and more
The following is a new weekly column about upcoming events, exhibitions, personnel, jobs, and associated topics relating to the tour guide and greeter industry in Newport County. This column is written by Kenneth Proudfoot, Author of The Official 2018 Newport Tour Guides & Greeters Handbook. The Official 2018 Newport Tour Guides & Greeters Handbook is a fully-illustrated handbook […]
Posted inArts & Culture, Things To Do
25+ events in 2018 that you shouldn’t miss
Call them the “biggest”, “best”, “most popular”, “top” or whatever else you want – we think these are the events you shouldn’t miss in 2018! Start marking those calendars. (In chronological order) 1. 30th Annual Newport Winter Festival – February 16 – 25: Featuring over 150 events, the Festival offers a unique winter experience combining food, […]