Newport City Manager Joe Nicholson on Tuesday signed an Executive Order that will allow all existing victualing licenses offering service at tables or at counters to offer outdoor service. During her COVID-19 press briefing on Monday, Governor Raimondo announced that restaurants will be allowed to reopen for on-premise outdoor dining beginning Monday, May 18. According […]
Coronavirus Disease
Posted inCity & Government
COVID-19 in Rhode Island – May 13: Daily Press Briefing & updates
Governor Raimondo and the Department of Health will hold their daily COVID-19 press briefing today at 2:30 pm. What’s Up Newp will carry it live, and provide updates, below as it happens. Updates From Press Briefing Gov: Press Briefing scheduled for 1 pm on Thursday and Friday. Gov: On hospitals – “they are open and […]
Posted inNews
Newport Hospital’s Frederick Henry Prince Memorial Fund awards $20,000 in grants
In response to community need and challenges brought about by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Newport Hospital’s Frederick Henry Prince Memorial Fund this week announced that it has awarded $20,000 in emergency grants to four Aquidneck Island nonprofit organizations. The funds will support increasing access to healthy foods and meals for children and youth. The organizations […]
Posted inBusiness, Food & Drink
Middletown accepting applications for outdoor dining
Middletown has passed an executive order that will permit the temporary expansion of outdoor dining at local restaurants. The Town announced on Tuesday that it will be accepting applications from restaurants to permit the service and consumption of food in outdoor portions of the licensed premises on or after May 18, 2020. Restaurants with a […]
Posted inBusiness, Food & Drink
RI Hospitality Association and RI Hospitality Education Foundation announce free training for hospitality professionals through May 31
The RI Hospitality Association (RIHA) and RI Hospitality Education Foundation (RIHEF) today announced that they wil lbe hosting free workforce training and educational opportunities for hospitality professionals through May 31st through a partnership with the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) and National Restaurant Association (NRA). The AHLA is offering a variety of complimentary training […]
Posted inCity & Government
EOHHS program earmarks $8.2M in additional wages to congregate care workers
Governor Raimondo on Tuesday announced that the state has committed $8.2 million in additional wages to congregate care workers who make less than $20 an hour, a step seen as critical to supporting and maintaining a workforce on the frontlines of the COVID-19 public health crisis. Gov. Gina Raimondo’s Workforce Stabilization Loan Program is expected […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health, News
How to get groceries without going to the grocery store
If the thought of going grocery shopping gives you major anxiety right now, it’s not unwarranted. Coronavirus outbreaks have been reported at large grocery stores and mass food production locations like industrial meat processing plants throughout the US. Fortunately, many alternatives to large grocery chain stores exist with accessible shopping and delivery options that will […]
Posted inNews
Nurses on the front lines: A history of heroism from Florence Nightingale to coronavirus
Leslie Neal-Boylan, University of Massachusetts Lowell Nurses are heroes of the COVID-19 crisis. May 12 is International Nurses Day, which commemorates the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the first “professional nurse.” The World Health Organization also named this year the “Year of the Nurse” in honor of Nightingale’s 200th birthday. To nurses everywhere, this day and […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Senator Whitehouse proposes bill to slow the spread of COVID-19 in nursing homes
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse’s office today announced that the Senator and Bob Casey (D-PA) are proposing a bill that would provide $20 billion to help states, nursing homes, and intermediate care facilities contain the spread of COVID-19. The Nursing Home COVID-19 Protection and Prevention Act would support state efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in congregate settings, […]
Posted inBusiness, Food & Drink
Restaurants can reopen for outdoor dining beginning May 18th
During her COVID-19 press briefing today, Governor Raimondo announced that restaurants will be allowed to reopen for on-premise outdoor dining beginning Monday, May 18. Starting Monday, May 18th, restaurants will be able to begin limited outdoor dining in addition to their take-out, delivery, and drive-through operations. Restaurants will be required to operate under the following […]
Posted inCity & Government
COVID-19 in Rhode Island – May 11: Daily Press Briefing & updates
Governor Raimondo and the Department of Health will hold their daily COVID-19 press briefing today at 1 pm. What’s Up Newp will carry it live here, and provide updates, as it happens. Press Briefing Updates From Press Briefing Gov: says its been a smooth start after the stay-at-home order was lifted Saturday. Weekend weather may […]
Posted inBusiness, News
Portsmouth Press receives $25,000 grant through the Facebook Journalism Project’s relief fund for local news
Last Thursday, Facebook announced that more than 200 news organizations eill receive nearly $16 million in grants that stem from $25 million in local news relief funding announced in March as part of Facebook’s $100 million global investment in local news. After receiving more than 2,000 applications for the COVID-19 Local News Relief Grant Program from newsrooms […]
Posted inBusiness
People’s Credit Union donates $20,000 to help support area food pantries
In response to the overwhelming demand for food assistance caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, People’s Credit Union today announced that they will provide $20,000 in financial support to area food pantries. “As a local credit union, we believe it’s our responsibility to support the communities that we serve in this unprecedented time,” said Sean Daly, […]
Posted inColumns
Brian C. Jones: A visitor appears in our backyard, is it a sign about COVID-19?
THE DOG notices it first. Perched atop a tall fence that separates our backyard from a neighbor’s, the creature is stuffed-toy charming – with a white face, pink nose, black ears and pinpoint eyes. But it’s also shockingly repulsive, with a long, filthy tail that suggests a new breed of super rat that’s escaped from […]
Posted inBusiness
East Providence Jeweler recognizes Miriam Hospital critical care nurses, while supporting children in need
MRT Jewelers, 927 Warren Ave., East Providence this week will show its appreciation for critical care and Intensive Care nurses at the Miriam Hospital by presenting each with a silver bracelet engraved with a very special message from Psalm 91: “No harm shall overcome you.” “My hope is that these bracelets will serve as a […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
COVID-19 in Rhode Island – May 9: Daily Press Briefing, conference call, & updates
Governor Raimondo and the Department of Health will hold their daily COVID-19 press briefing today at 1 pm. What’s Up Newp will carry it live here, and provide updates, as it happens. Updates from the press briefing Gov: No press briefing tomorrow, but Gov. and DOH will be sharing a special Mother’s Day video on […]
Posted inBusiness
Newport Stop & Shop employees test positive for COVID-19, two stores undergo deep cleaning
An employee at each Stop & Shop location in Newport has tested positive for COVID-19, What’s Up Newp has confirmed. Following up on a news tip regarding positive cases at local Stop & Shop’s, What’s Up Newp was able to confirm the cases through a company spokesperson on Saturday. “Stop & Shop can confirm that […]
Posted inBusiness, City & Government, Food & Drink
Along with packaged beer and wine, restaurants can now sell draft beer and mixed drinks with take-out food orders
As part of her twenty-ninth declaration order that was signed on Friday, Govermor Raimondo outlined and updated certain restrictions on businesses and reopening.’ A portion of the declaration focuses on “Further Relief for Restaurants” and will now allow restaurants to sell, with take-out food orders, wine, packaged beer, draft beer, and mixed drinks. After closing […]
Posted inBusiness
Not all Westerly businesses will survive COVID-19
There was a time, not too many years ago, when Westerly’s High Street, its main street, was littered with empty store fronts and vacant second floor offices, by broken streetlights, and an image of a timeworn town. But in recent years, before the coronavirus pandemic shut everything, the community had come alive. There are few […]
Posted inOpinion
Guest View – Senator Metts: What the pandemic has shown us, and where we go from here
We face unprecedented challenges because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which also revealed the alarming disparities faced by our most vulnerable populations. The old adage remains true: “When the economy gets a cold, the Black and Brown community gets pneumonia.” It’s time we examine and correct the unjust socioeconomic, structural and systemic factors that are at […]
Posted inNews
What’s Up Podcast: A convo with a spokesperson from Rhode Island Chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous
For the alcoholic these often lonely times, as we are forced from our friends, family, and work by this awful pandemic, can be devastating. A lifeline for many alcoholics over the years has been Alcoholics Anonymous, challenged in these times because in-person meetings are prohibited, but creative in developing hundreds of zoom and telephonic meetings. […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Middletown will open parking lots for some town parks on Saturday
The Town of Middletown today announced that on Saturday, May 9 they will open the parking lots of the following parks which had been closed due to the he COVID-19 public health crisis. According to the town, the following parking areas are open to the public: ● Albro Woods ● Demery Park ● Middletown Public […]
Posted inCity & Government
DEM issued COVID-19 safety guidelines as State Parks being to open on Saturday
The following was written by Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. Getting outdoors and enjoying the beauty of nature are great ways to relieve stress and important to public health. The Department of Environmental Management’s Division of Parks and Recreation recognizes the value of spending time in nature. We are committed to ensuring park visitors and […]
Posted inNews
Biking in the Time of Coronavirus: A statewide surve of people on bicycles
The following was submitted by Bar Freeman, representing Paths to Progress Coalition. Survey location: www.surveymonkey.com/r/BikingRI_coronavirus Are you seeing more people on bikes recently? Are you yourself riding more? The member organizations of ‘Paths to Progress’, Rhode Island’s statewide coalition for recreational and transportation paths are interested in your reasons for riding these days. Your input […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
What needs to go right to get a coronavirus vaccine in 12-18 months
Marcos E. García-Ojeda, University of California, Merced I, like many Americans, miss the pre-pandemic world of hugging family and friends, going to work and having dinner at a restaurant. A protective vaccine for SARS-Cov2 is likely to be the most effective public health tool to get back to that world. Anthony Fauci, director of the […]