Representative Daniel P. Reilly (R-District 72 Middletown, Portsmouth) has introduced legislation (H-7964), which would require that toll rates and the location of tolling facilities require General Assembly approval prior to the collection of any tolls or the construction of any tolling facilities. “My proposed legislation is a companion bill, to legislation submitted by Senator Marc […]
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 inThings To Do
Newport’s Island Moving Company Will Perform at Vets Memorial Auditorium in Providence
Island Moving Co, Newport’s contemporary ballet company, will make its premiere at the beautiful Vets Memorial Auditorium at 7:30pm on Saturday, April 23, 2016. Now in its 34th season, IMC has performed on tour and regularly in Newport but has never performed a full evening at the Vets. For this evening, entitled “Moment to Moment,” Artistic Director Miki Ohlsen […]
Posted inNews
Representative Abney (D-Dist. 73, Newport, Middletown) Tours St. Clare’s Facility Expansion on Spring Street
Rep. Marvin L. Abney recently toured the under-construction expansion of the St. Clare skilled nursing facility in Newport. St. Clare’s currently is a 47-bed skilled nursing facility on Spring Street. The expansion and renovation will add 13 skilled nursing beds, 40 new independent/assisted-living units, an adult day care program, a memory care unit and a […]
Posted inThings To Do
Third Annual Newport Night Run Set to Take Place on Friday, April 1
Gray Matter Marketing and the Newport Public Education Foundation will present the Newport Night Run, Newport’s only nighttime road race, on Friday, April 1. This family-friendly event begins at 7:30 p.m., starts and finishes at Rogers High School, totaling 3.1 miles (5 kilometers) and is open to runners or walkers. Student priced registration is also […]
Posted inNews
Newport Opera House Theater and Performing Arts Center Receives Rhode Island Cultural Bond Grant of $1.01 million
The Newport Opera House Theater and Performing Arts Center has received its first check for $1,016,800 in cultural bond grants passed by Rhode Island voters in 2014. This first payment is part of the $4.2 million dedicated to the Opera House Theater from the Rhode Island Creative and Cultural Economy Bond measure approved by the statewide ballot measure […]
Posted inThings To Do
Best Things To Do This Week In and Around Newport (March 28 – April 1)
Discover the best events, activities and things to do during March in and around Newport, RI. (In chronological order) 1 – Battle Chefs Tuesday at 8pm at The Revolving Door Restaurant Rhode Island’s best chefs go toe to toe weekly and are dealt an exotic secret ingredient and 45 minutes to impress the crowd and […]
Posted inThings To Do
16 Can’t-Miss Events Happening This Spring Around Newport County
Discover Newport has provided us with the following preview of what’s ahead for our area this spring. Spring is just around the corner and with it comes brilliant blooms (more than half a million daffodils planted in Newport and Bristol alone), a return of warmer weather and a robust events calendar celebrating the best of […]
Posted inCity & Government
City of Newport Will Host Two Strategic Planning Community Forums
The City Of Newport is invited the public to help shape our city’s future by participating in one of two Public Forums. What are the most important issues the City should be addressing during the next five years to make it even better than it is today? What goals should the City Council pursue? This […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Rosemary & Thyme Cafe Will Soon Offer Dinner Service
Starting April 8th, Rosemary & Thyme Cafe will be expanding its hours to include dinner service on Friday and Saturday evenings. The evening service will be a bistro style menu that will include communal starters , desserts, BYOB service, and additional seating. The new menu will include both table service and takeout items. The kitchen […]
Posted inJobs
Now Hiring: 50+ Companies Currently Offering Employment in Newport (March 27)
Looking for a job in Newport, RI? Here’s our weekly roundup of job opportunities that are currently available in and around Newport, RI. In case you missed it, here’s our list from last week – Now Hiring: 50+ Companies Currently Hiring in Newport (March 20) All jobs have been posted in the last week. [the_ad id=”9856″] Russel Moring […]
Posted inNews
VIDEO: AOH Pipes & Drums Perform in Dublin at 100th Anniversary of Ireland’s 1916 Easter Rising
Newport’s Ancient Order of Hibernian’s Pipes and Drums are currently in Dublin and participating with other pipe bands to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Ireland’s 1916 Easter Rising. The parade is one of many events to commemorate this important event in Irish history. The parade is being organized to honor those who fought for Ireland’s independence during […]
Posted inNews
Car Crashes Into Mama Leone’s on Friday Night
A car crashed into the front of Mama Leone’s on J.T. Connell Highway late Friday night. There were no reported injuries. NBC 10 has reported that A Jacksonville, Florida man has been issued a citation after driving into the front of the restaurant. Cindy at Mama Leone’s told us over the phone that the restaurant will be […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Where to Dine Out for Easter Brunch and Dinner in Newport
(Photo of Castle Hill Inn via Newport Restaurant Group) Easter is quickly approaching, it’s March 27th for those who don’t know, and if you plan on dining out it’s time to make those plans and reservations. If you’re looking for a normal brunch on Easter, here’s Where To Brunch In Newport. Be sure to call ahead to […]
Posted inCity & Government
Rep. Abney (D-Dist. 73, Newport, Middletown) Delivers $2,000 Grant to RhodySquash Program for Underprivileged Youth
Rep. Marvin L. Abney recently presented the RhodySquash organization with a legislative grant of $2,000 to be used for new equipment for the program that caters to underprivileged youth of Newport. “The RhodySquash program is an invaluable resource to the youth of Newport and it is my pleasure to support this most worthy program,” said […]
Posted inNews
Newport Will Host a TEDx Event in June
What’sUpNewp has learned that Newport will play host to a an independently organized TEDx event on June 18th. The location and speakers for the TEDx event have not been announced.The event is being organized by Alyssa Mae and at this time the event is invite-only. In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Newport Folk Festival Adds Lady Lamb to 2016 Lineup
In their ongoing rolling lineup announcement ways, Newport Folk Festival announced today that Lady Lamb has been added to their 2016 lineup. Aly Spaltro, better known by her stage name Lady Lamb (formerly called Lady Lamb the Beekeeper) is an American songwriter and musician from Brunswick, Maine. The first Lady Lamb recordings were home recordings distributed in handmade packages to the […]
Posted inNews
Newport Man Named Named State Director of “Trump for President” Campaign
The Donald J. Trump for President campaign has selected Dave Chiokadze from Newport, RI as the State Director for Rhode Island. The announcement was made this week by Rhode Island for Donald Trump 2016, a “grassroots organization for Rhode Island residents to help elect Donald Trump for President”. According to the announcement, Chiokadze has worked as […]
Posted inThings To Do
Best Things To Do This Weekend (March 25 – 27)
Discover the best events, activities, entertainment, live music and things to do this weekend in and around Newport! 1 – Barrel Of Laughs Comedy Show Friday at 6:30pm at Newport Vineyards Join Newport Vineyards for an evening of wine and merriment as comedians Nick Lavallee, Marie Forster and Jeremy Furtado get the crowd going for […]
Posted inNews
National Grid Begins Tree Trimming Program in Newport
With spring underway, National Grid is beginning its routine maintenance tree trimming program starting the first week of April in Newport. As part of its focus on providing safe and reliable electric service to Rhode Island customers, National Grid invests annually in trimming trees that are overgrown and have the potential to cause service interruptions. […]
Posted inCity & Government
House Oks Representative Carson’s (D-Dist. 75, Newport) Bill to Ban Powdered Alcohol
The House today approved legislation sponsored by Rep. Lauren H. Carson to ban powdered alcohol in Rhode Island. The legislation is aimed at protecting Rhode Islanders, particularly youth, from a substance with an unknown potential for danger and abuse. “Most of the powdered drinks that are available today are largely marketed toward children — things […]
Posted inNews
Shepherd’s Men Announce 2016 Run from Boston to Atlanta Will Stop in Newport
On March 26, 2016, Shepherd’s Men will begin a run from Boston to Atlanta through 10 cities to benefit the SHARE Military Initiative at Atlanta’s Shepherd Center and raise awareness of the suicide epidemic plaguing veterans of the U.S. armed forces. Shepherd’s Men is a fundraising group comprised of 14 men who will make the […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Del McCoury and David Grisman Added to 2016 Newport Folk Festival Lineup
Del McCoury and David Grisman (Del & Dawg) will be heading to Newport, R.I. to play the 2016 Newport Folk Festival on Saturday, July 23rd. Del McCoury and David Grisman are old friends and are considered Bluegrass Legends. The announcement was made by Newport Folk Festival on their social media accounts on March 23rd. The entire 2016 Newport Folk Festival is […]
Posted inNews
NBC 10: Salve Regina, others report on safety of students in Belgium
NBC 10 News has reported that Salve Regina University is working to make contact with a 2015 graduate student who is pursuing her graduate degree in Brussels. Salve is trying to determine if the student and a Fulbright TA from Belgium are safe, according to Matt Boxler, spokesman for Salve Regina. READ MORE: Salve Regina, others report […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Ben Jaffe Joins Newport Folk Festival’s Board of Advisors
The Newport Folk Festival announced today that Ben Jaffe has been added to the festival’s Board of Advisors. Ben Jaffe is the Creative Director of Preservation Hall and plays tuba and upright bass with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, on March 21st it was announced that the Preservation Hall Jazz Band would play at the 2016 […]
Posted inNews
Salve Regina’s Student-Run Film Production Club Will Premiere ‘The Final Cut’ on April 1
“The Final Cut,” a horror-slasher short film – the first produced by Salve Regina’s student-run film production club – will premiere on Friday, April 1. Free and open to the public, the screening will be presented at 6 p.m. in Bazarsky Lecture Hall, located in O’Hare Academic Center on Ochre Point Avenue. The film is a found-footage style […]