Evan Smith, President & CEO of Discover Newport, joins What’s Up Newp’s Ryan Belmore to chat about the impact COVID-19 has had on tourism, travel, and hospitality. Discover Newport, a non-profit destination management organization, is dedicated to the promotion of the City of Newport and its eight surrounding townships in Newport and Bristol Counties. In […]
Coronavirus Disease
Posted inNews, Sports
Newport Polo hopes governor accepts its proposal that would change the experience for spectators and players
Polo is hoping that a proposal it gave to Governor Raimondo a few days ago will allow the popular event to hold its summer series – but if it does, it will look a lot different than in past years. According to Agnes Keating, wife of Dan Keating, president of the polo association, Newport Polo […]
Posted inArts & Culture, News, Things To Do
newportFILM forced to cancel 2020 Outdoors season
newportFILM is the latest organization that has been forced to change their plans for the upcoming spring and summer season. In an email signed by Becca Bertrand, Executive Director and Andrea van Beuren, Co-Founder and Artistic Director, newportFILM announced, “We are heartbroken to have to announce the cancellation of the 2020 newportFILM Outdoors season. Following […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
COVID-19 Daily Update – May 1: Daily press briefing & update
Governor Raimondo and Dr. Alexander-Scott will hold their daily coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) press briefing today at 1 pm. What’s Up Newp will carry it live, and provide updates, as it happens below. Press Briefing – Video Press Briefing – Updates Gov: Cases are still not in a decline, but “we’ll take the plateau”. Gov: […]
Posted inNews, Sports
Tennis Hall Of Fame: Regular execution of the Hall of Fame Open and Induction Ceremony in July will not be possible
In light of Governor Gina Raimondo’s announcement this week regarding large events in Rhode Island this summer, the International Tennis Hall Of Fame (ITHOF) shared with fans and ticket holders on Thursday that “a regular execution of the Hall of Fame Open and Induction Ceremony in July will not be possible”. In the letter to […]
Posted inNews
Wickford Art Festival and Charlestown Seafood Festival fall victim to COVID-19
Two more of Rhode Island’s iconic summer events – the Charlestown Seafood Festival and Wickford Art Festival — canceled yesterday (Thursday), the latest victims of COVID-19. Heather Paliotta, executive director of the Charlestown Chamber of Commerce, announced that the 36th annual Seafood Festival, scheduled for August 7-9, was being canceled in the aftermath of Governor […]
Posted inArts & Culture, News
“Quaranstreaming”: 22 films with Rhode Island ties
With this week’s cancellation announcements of many of our favorite cultural events in Rhode Island this summer, the reality hit hard that we’re going to have to keep entertaining ourselves at home for awhile longer. To give you some fresh movie ideas and celebrate our home state, we put together this list of 22 films […]
Posted inThings To Do
Boots on the Ground for Heroes Memorial won’t take place at Fort Adams this year
Operation Stand Down Rhode Island today announced that it is canceling this year’s Boots On The Ground For Heores Memorial and Gold Star Gala due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Both events were scheduled to take place at Fort Adams State Park this Memorial Day Weekend (May 22 – 25). “Operation Stand Down has been closely […]
Posted inNews
MLK Center helps thousands during the pandemic, expecting need to rise through the fall
For Heather Strout, executive director of the Dr. Martin Luther King Community Center in Newport, it’s the stories from people lining up for the center’s food pantry that are heartbreaking, people “who have never had to come to a food pantry before.” Over these last six weeks as they have seen their jobs disappear to […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
COVID-19 Daily Update – April 30: Governor Raimondo hosts student press conference
Governor Raimondo held a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) “Student Press Conference”, with a live Q&A session for Pre-K to 12th grade students, on Thursday. The Latest Local Data April 30: 8,621 positive cases, 339 currently hospitalized (85 in ICU, 54 on ventilator), 266 total associated fatalities. More from the Governor, DOH today; The Rhode Island […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Governor Raimondo, Congressional Delegation, and state leaders host Violence Prevention Town Hall
Governor Raimondo, Rhode Island Congressional Delegation and advocates hosted a Violence Prevention Town Hall on Thursday morning to discuss how all Rhode Islanders can prevent domestic violence.
Posted inArts & Culture, News
How Apple and Google will let your phone warn you if you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus
Johannes Becker, Boston University and David Starobinski, Boston University On April 10, Apple and Google announced a coronavirus exposure notification system that will be built into their smartphone operating systems, iOS and Android. The system uses the ubiquitous Bluetooth short-range wireless communication technology. There are dozens of apps being developed around the world that alert […]
Posted inBusiness, News
Middletown now accepting micro-enterprise grant applications from small businesses
The Town of Middletown today announced that it is participating in the Microenterprise (MicroE) Stabilization Grant Program offered through the state’s Office of Housing and Community Development for small businesses impacted by COVID-19 pandemic. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds are available to offer grants of $5,000 to qualifying small businesses located in Middletown, according […]
Posted inBusiness, Food & Drink, News
New temporary license will allow commercial fisherman to sell certain types of seafood directly to consumers, retailers
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) today announced that it has enacted a new, no-cost Direct Sale Dealer License. DEM says that this action will “help foster the continued viability of the Rhode Island commercial seafood industry during the COVID-19 public health crisis”. According to DEM, this authorizes commercial fishermen in Rhode Island to […]
Posted inNews
Governor: Highly unlikely that groups of more than 50 people will be able to gather at any point this summer
While public health guidance around the exact number of people allowed to gather will change in the coming months, Governor Raimondo today during her press briefing made it clear that it is highly unlikely that groups of more than 50 people will be able to gather at any point this summer. She recommended that anyone […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Governor, Congressional Delegation highlight uses for coronavirus relief funding
Governor Raimondo was joined on a conference call at 11:30 am this morning by U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline as they discussed ways the state can utilize federal stimulus dollars. Here’s what the Governor’s office shared after the call regarding the call and relief funding; Since […]
Posted inNews
2020 Newport Folk Festival, Newport Jazz Festival cancelled amid COVID-19 concerns
Two more events have fallen victim to COVID-19 – the 2020 Newport Folk Festival and 2020 Newport Jazz Festival. Governor Raimondo made the news official during her daily press briefing this afternoon when she announced that she doesn’t see it possible in any way to hold large events this summer. The Governor said in her […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
COVID-19 Daily Update – April 29: 8,247 positive cases, 269 currently hospitalized
Governor Gina M. Raimondo and Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH, the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH), provided updates about Rhode Island’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response today at 2:30 pm. What’s Up Newp will carry it live then, and provide updates, below as it happens. Press Briefing Updates From Press Briefing Gov: […]
Posted inArts & Culture, Things To Do
Newport Music Festival not proceeding as planned, working on a “floating season”
The Newport Music Festival, where some of the world’s most accomplished classical musicians and new and exciting talent perform in the houses of Newport, has fallen victim this summer to the coronavirus. In a letter on the Music Festival’s website, posted today, Suzanna Laramee, president and chief executive officer announced the 52-year-old festival was cancelling […]
Posted inNews
Hazard pay for developmental disability workers on its way
Private employers of congregate care workers – including those in group homes for adults with developmental disabilities – began applying April 28 for COVID-19 hazard pay that could be in the paychecks of their employees as early as next week. Over the weekend, Governor Gina Raimondo announced the Congregate Care Workforce Stabilization Fund to temporarily […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Newport City Council receives weekly COVID-19 update from City Manager
Members of Newport City Council received their weekly COVID-19 update from Newport City Manager Joe Nicholson today at 4:30 pm. The update was via Zoom and the call was open to the public to listen in. No public comment was welcome during the call. Updates from the City Manager Nicholson: Reviewed latest statewide data.Nicholson: Delayed […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
COVID-19 Daily Update – April 28: 218 new cases, 6 new fatalities; Press briefing updates
Governor Gina M. Raimondo and Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH, the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH), provided updates about Rhode Island’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response today at 1 pm. Press Briefing Updates From Press Briefing Gov: Says it’s vital to obey the stay at home order, she wants to be able […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Rhode Island offers 3rd most coronavirus support in country, study says
With 89 percent of adults hospitalized with COVID-19 having some sort of pre-existing condition, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on the States Offering the Most Coronavirus Support. The report seeks to examine how states care for people who are at risk both health-wise and financially. To identify which states offer the most support […]
Posted inBusiness, City & Government, News
Reopening RI: Governor rolls out strategy to reopen the economy in a phased approach
At her daily press briefing today, Governor Gina Raimondo rolled out her strategy to reopen Rhode Island’s economy in a phased approach. Raimondo announced a three-phase plan for gradually loosening restrictions, assuming the state continue to make progress in flatting the curve. Reopening Timeline This timeline covers several weeks and goes well into June. To move […]
Posted inCity & Government
COVID-19 Daily Update – April 27: 269 new positive cases, 7 new fatalities; Plans to reopen Rhode Island
Governor Gina M. Raimondo and Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH, the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH), provided updates to reporters about Rhode Island’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response today at 1 pm. The Latest Data April 27: 7,708 positive cases, 266 currently hospitalized (81 in ICU, 56 on ventilator), 233 new fatalities. […]