The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is reminding beachgoers that “as has been the case for several years”, Scarborough South State Beach in Narragansett is now closed on weekdays since Tuesday, Aug. 15, and open weekends only for the remainder of the summer beach season. All beach facilities will close for the season the day […]
City & Government
A look at What’s Up in city and government in Newport, Rhode Island, and beyond.
Posted inBusiness
SBA offers workshops to help small businesses
The Small Business Administration has announced a series of workshops for small businesses that will help business owners with everything from their QuickBooks expertise to helping minority and women-owned businesses become certified to qualify for state contracts. To register for any of the sessions, visit the SBA’s website at https://www.sba.gov/district/rhode-island. Many of the SBA’s programs […]
Posted inCity & Government
What’s On The Agenda: Newport City Council Meeting on August 23
Newport City Council will host their next Regular City Council Meeting on Wednesday, August 23 at 6:30 pm. Due to an ongoing issue with the elevator at Newport City Hall, the meeting will occur in the Conference Hall at Innovate Newport. The meeting is open to the public. CITY OF NEWPORT DOCKET FOR THE REGULAR […]
Posted inCity & Government
Rhode Island Speaker of the House Pro Tempore Brian Patrick Kennedy to lead the National Conference of State Legislatures
STATE HOUSE — House Speaker Pro Tempore Brian Patrick Kennedy (D-Dist. 38, Hopkinton, Westerly) was elected to become the president of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) at the annual Legislative Summit in Indianapolis. He is the first Rhode Island General Assembly member to serve as president of the organization. Kennedy previously served as […]
Posted inCity & Government
Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals endorses Senator Sandra Cano for Congress
The Rhode Island Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals (RIFTHP) today announced the endorsement of Senator Sandra Cano in her effort to be elected to Congress from Rhode Island Congressional District One. The RIFTHP Executive Council, after a comprehensive vetting of many qualified candidates, voted to support Senator Cano in the primary election on Tuesday, September 5th. “For […]
Posted inCity & Government
Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over: Rhode Island Police Departments mobilize against impaired driving
The Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association (RIPCA) today announced that between August 16th and September 4th, police departments across Rhode Island are increasing patrols to identify and arrest impaired drivers. The additional patrols are part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over high-visibility enforcement campaign. “Across the […]
Posted inCity & Government
Watch: A conversation with Rhode Island’s Congressional District 1 candidates
Between July 20 – August 3, What’sUpNewp hosted live virtual video conversations with candidates for Rhode Island’s 1st Congressional district. During the interviews, we learned more about the candidates, found out why they are running in this special election, and discussed what they believe sets them apart from their opponents. A special primary for the […]
Posted inCity & Government
Governor McKee, Rhode Island Commerce Secretary Tanner to lead trade mission to Dominican Republic
Governor Dan McKee and Rhode Island Commerce Secretary Liz Tanner will lead a delegation of Rhode Island businesses and associations to the Dominican Republic on an economic development trade mission. As part of the mission, Governor McKee and Commerce Secretary Tanner will hold a series of economic development meetings focused on travel, tourism and hospitality, […]
Posted inCity & Government
RIDOH reports a case of rare tick-borne disease Powassan
The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) is reporting a confirmed case of the tick-borne Powassan virus disease (Powassan) detected in a Rhode Island resident who later died after contracting the disease. Laboratory testing was conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which confirmed the finding earlier this month. The case involved […]
Posted inCity & Government
Road Report: Schedule of lane closures and road construction projects (August 12 – 19)
The following road and lane closure notices have been scheduled by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) and Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA). Rhode Island Turnpike & Bridge Authority August 13 – 19, 2023 Newport Claiborne Pell BridgeWestbound Right Lane Closure- 8/15 to 8/18- 6 am to 2 pm Jamestown Verrazzano BridgeThere […]
Posted inNews
27 senators are up for reelection—which, if any, are 'progressive' relative to the political lean of their states?
Over the past three decades, Democratic Party voters have shifted more to the left than voters in the Republican Party have to the right, according to a report by the Brookings Institution. Gallup Poll data shows that since 1994, the share of Democratic voters self-identifying as “liberal” has more than doubled, growing from 25% to […]
Posted inCity & Government
Rhode Island key performance indicators briefing for Q2 2023 suggests economic growth has stalled
Rhode Island’s economy experienced no GDP growth and mixed results across key economic metrics, according to the Rhode Island Key Performance Indicators (KPI) Briefing for Q2 2023, released today. The Briefing, completed by The Center for Global and Regional Economic Studies at Bryant University and the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC), found slight improvement […]
Posted inBusiness
Bowen’s Wharf is among eight major projects to receive Site Readiness Awards
Governor Dan McKee today announced over $650,000 in Site Readiness Awards to eight major projects across Rhode Island. The awards will fund site-specific planning improvements at several ongoing local economic development projects and will support municipal technical assistance, helping to increase local economic activity. “From supporting local artists to preventing flooding, and expanding the growing pharma […]
Posted inCity & Government
RITBA Customer Service Center will open two evenings this month
The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority today announced that its customer service walk-in center will be open for special evening hours on Thursday, August 24th, and Thursday, August 31st, from 3:30 pm-6:30 pm. “We had a good response to our extended hours in March and wanted to add hours during the last weeks of summer […]
Posted inCity & Government
Westerly Town Council President abruptly resigns
Westerly Town Council President Ed Morrone has abruptly resigned from the council, alleging that most council members have prevented citizens from being heard on specific issues, been divisive, and “callous.” Morrone, who had previously served on the council and in the state House of Representatives and State Senate, was elected last November to the council […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport City Council to host a workshop regarding ‘Strategic Plan Consultant’ on Aug. 17
Newport City Council will host a workshop regarding “Strategic Plan Consultant,” according to a meeting notice published by the City Clerk today. The meeting will take place on August 17 at 5:30 pm in the Conference Hall at Innovate Newport. What’sUpNewp followed up with Newport Mayor Xay Khamsyvoravong for more background on the reason for […]
Posted inCity & Government
Senator Whitehouse welcomes new class of U.S. Naval War College students
U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today welcomed a new class of more than 500 graduate students to the U.S. Naval War College in Newport. Whitehouse underscored the security risks posed by the climate crisis and kleptocratic threats to the rule of law around the world. “Make no mistake: climate risk is a security risk, and democracy […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport and Middletown among recipients of $3.8 million in Learn365RI Grants
Governor Dan McKee and the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) today announced the recipients of nearly $3.8 million in Advancing Learning Beyond the 180-Day School Year grant program funding aimed to support Rhode Island communities launch or expand extended learning programming in alignment with the Governor’s Learn365RI initiative. “Our Learn365RI grants will help us […]
Posted inCity & Government
DEM planning on prescribed burns on Prudence Island and in Exeter and Coventry
The Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is announcing that depending on weather and wind conditions, it plans on conducting low-severity prescribed burns on state lands on Prudence Island and in Exeter and Coventry later this month ahead of DEM’s Forest Fire Program’s fall-prescribed fire season. Prescribed or planned, burning is a versatile tool that natural resources […]
Posted inCity & Government
What’s On The Agenda: Newport City Council Meeting on Aug. 9
Newport City Council will host its next Regular Council Meeting on Wednesday, August 9 at 6:30 pm at Innovate Newport. The meeting is open to the public. CITY OF NEWPORT DOCKET FOR THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING AUGUST 9, 2023 The following items of business, filed with the City Clerk under the Rules of the […]
Posted inCity & Government
WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with Stephen Casey, Democratic Candidate for Congressional District 1
Stephen Casey, a Democratic Candidate for Rhode Island’s Congressional District 1, joined What’sUpNewp for a live virtual video conversation at 2 pm on Thursday, August 3, 2023. During the interview, we learn more about Stephen, find out why he’s running in this special election, and discuss what he believes sets him apart from his opponents. […]
Posted inCity & Government
State Arts Council opens arts and cultural grant applications
Providence, RI—The R.I. State Council on the Arts announced today that applications are now open for grants to arts and culture organizations, folk and individual artists, and arts educators.
The deadline for Folk Arts Apprenticeships and Fellowships is on Friday, Sept. 15. The deadline for grants for arts educators, organizations and individual artists is on Monday, Oct. 2.
To assist in the application process and meet the Monday, Oct. 2, deadline, Arts Council staff members have scheduled virtual workshops and office hours throughout August and September. The online meetings will focus on best practices as well as help with budget planning. First time applicants are encouraged to attend and apply.
Upcoming Workshops:
The first Grant Workshop will be virtual on Thursday, Aug. 17, at 11 a.m.-noon.
The second one will be in person on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 6 p.m.-7:15 p.m., at the South Providence Library, 441 Prairie St., Providence.
The following grants are now accepting applications:
–Folk and Traditional Arts Apprenticeships are designed to foster artistic skills between a mentor and an apprentice. The program creates an opportunity specifically for individuals who share a common cultural heritage. Deadline: Friday, Sept. 15.
–Folk and Traditional Arts Fellowships support individual artists who demonstrate the highest level of skill and accomplishments in their craft. Deadline: Friday, Sept. 15.
–Project Grants in Education offer support to schools, non-profit organizations, arts educators and teaching artists. Recipients engage students in rich and meaningful artistic experiences in dedicated learning environments. Deadline: Monday, Oct. 2.
–Project Grants for Organizations provide up to $3,000 in support of arts and culture projects that are relevant and meaningful to R.I. communities. Deadline: Monday, Oct. 2.
–Community Engaged Project Grants offer funding of up to $3,000 for artists or groups of artists to create arts and culture projects that are directly and actively engaged Rhode Island residents. Deadline: Monday, Oct. 2.
–Make Art Grant provides grants of up to $3,000 for artists or groups of artists to create or continue specific artwork in any discipline. Projects have specific goals, although completion and public showing of the art is not required. Deadline: Monday, Oct. 2.
Posted inCity & Government
WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with Don Carlson, Democratic Candidate for Congressional District 1
Don Carlson, a Democratic Candidate for Rhode Island’s Congressional District 1, joined What’sUpNewp for a live virtual video conversation at 11:45 am on Wednesday, August 2, 2023. During the interview, we learn more about Don, find out why he’s running in this special election, and discuss what he believes sets him apart from his opponents. […]
Posted inCity & Government
Letter: Gabe Amo, Democrat for Congress!
I am writing to express my strong support for Gabe Amo, a Democrat running for Rhode Island’s First Congressional District. As a concerned citizen of Newport, I believe it is crucial to elect representatives who prioritize the needs of our community and work tirelessly to improve the lives of all residents. Gabe’s commitment to addressing […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport City Council, School Committee to host a joint workshop on Rogers High School on Aug. 7
The Newport City Council and Newport School Committee will host a joint workshop on the “Rogers High School Construction Project” on Monday, August 7, at 6:30 pm., according to a meeting notice published by the City of Newport. The meeting is open to the public and will take place in the cafeteria at Pell Elementary […]