Posted inObituaries

Obituary: Robert Young

Robert C. Young, 77, passed away peacefully on January 1, 2026, at his home in Naples, Florida. A devoted husband, father, grandfather, coach, and lifelong public servant, Bob dedicated his life to service-both to his community and to his family. He proudly served in the Army National Guard as a Military Police officer, an experience […]

Posted inObituaries

Obituary: Douglas Levesque

Douglas Kenneth Levesque, affectionately known as “Kenny Levesque,” passed away on January 4, 2026, at his home in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. He was 76 years old. Kenny was born on August 27, 1949, in Fall River, Massachusetts. A lifelong resident of Portsmouth, he was deeply rooted in the community he loved and proudly called home. […]

Posted inObituaries

Obituary: Elizabeth M. Nutt

Elizabeth “Betty” Mable Nutt died peacefully at home, surrounded by family, on January 5, 2026, in Newport, Rhode Island, after a long journey with breast cancer. She was 83. Born July 31, 1942, in New York, Betty lived a life marked by quiet strength and grace. She welcomed all, stood up for those who could […]

Posted inObituaries

Obituary: Carrigan Nelson

Carrigan McCorrie-Raine Nelson, 24, of Portsmouth, RI, passed away peacefully on Christmas Day, at Boston Children’s Hospital after a courageous epic seven-year battle with Osteosarcoma bone cancer. Surrounded and embraced by love and her dedicated medical team in her final moments, Carrigan’s life was a testament to resilience, creativity, and compassion. Born on February 8, […]

Posted inArts & Culture

Save The Bay opens registration for summer camps on Narragansett Bay

Registration opened Thursday for Save The Bay’s BayCamp, a week-long summer program that immerses young people in the marine environment of Narragansett Bay. The camps, offered for students who have completed grades K-12, take place in Providence, Newport, Wickford and Bristol. They focus on environmental and marine sciences while allowing campers to explore shorelines and […]

Posted inSports

Brazil to play friendlies against France and Croatia in the US ahead of the World Cup

Brazil will play friendlies against France and Croatia in the U.S. as it prepares for this year’s World Cup. The Brazilians will face France at Foxborough, Massachusetts, on March 26 and Croatia five days later at Orlando, Florida, the promoters announced Thursday. In addition, Croatia will face Colombia at Orlando on March 26 and Colombia […]

Posted inEnvironment & Health

Rhode Island urges vaccinations as flu, COVID-19 hospitalizations climb

Health officials are urging Rhode Islanders to get vaccinated and take precautions as respiratory virus activity reaches high levels across the state. This flu season, 496 people have been hospitalized with influenza and seven have died from flu-related causes, according to the Rhode Island Department of Health. An additional 297 people have been hospitalized with […]

Posted inCity & Government

Federal judge grants RI and CT attorneys general request to join Revolution Wind developers’ lawsuit

by Nancy Lavin, Rhode Island Current January 8, 2026 Rhode Island and Connecticut attorneys general and the Revolution Wind developers are now taking on the Trump administration under one lawsuit rather than two. Senior Judge Royce C. Lamberth of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia on Wednesday granted the request made two […]

Posted inArts & Culture

Bruno Mars announces first headline tour in nearly a decade, including Gillette Stadium stop

Bruno Mars is hitting the road for his first full headline tour in nearly a decade, and New England fans will get a chance to see the global superstar when he performs at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Saturday, Sept. 5. The tour, announced Thursday, will support Mars’ long-awaited fourth solo album, “The Romantic,” […]

Posted inCity & Government

Trump’s offshore wind project freeze draws lawsuits from states and developers

Offshore wind developers affected by the Trump administration’s freeze of five big projects on the East Coast are fighting back in court, with one developer saying its project will likely be terminated if they can’t resume by the end of next week. Norwegian company Equinor and the Danish energy company Orsted are the latest to sue, with […]

Posted inArts & Culture

New docuseries exploring Rhode Island’s coastal ecosystem premieres Friday

A new documentary series celebrating Rhode Island’s coastal wildlife and conservation efforts premieres Friday on Ocean State Media. “Ocean State: Rhode Island’s Wild Coast” debuts with its first episode, “Secrets of the Seagrass,” at 8 p.m. Jan. 9 on WSBE. The episode will be followed by a re-run of “Chasing Fins,” a short documentary about […]

Posted inCity & Government

RIPTA winter service changes coming Jan. 17 include Newport, Tiverton route adjustments

The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority will implement winter service changes on Saturday, Jan. 17, including adjustments to routes serving Newport County. Two routes directly serving Newport County are among the 14 affected by the changes: Route 24L, which connects Newport, Fall River and Providence, and Route 61x, the Tiverton/East Bay Park & Ride express. […]

Posted inNews

Shooter who killed Brown students and MIT professor planned attack for months, says DOJ

LEAH WILLINGHAM and MICHAEL CASEY BOSTON (AP) — The man identified as the shooter who killed two Brown University students and an MIT professor planned the attack for years and left behind videos in which he confessed to the murders but gave no motive, according to information released Tuesday by the U.S. Department of Justice. Claudio Neves […]

Posted inNews

Rhode Island Foundation awards $750,000 grant to launch statewide girls coalition

A collaborative of five Rhode Island nonprofits has been awarded a $750,000 grant to launch the state’s first coalition focused on supporting girls and gender-expansive youth. The Rhode Island Foundation awarded the three-year Catalyst Grant to Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England, which will lead the effort in partnership with Women’s Fund of Rhode Island, […]

Posted inCity & Government

RI, CT attorneys general move to join forces with Revolution Wind developers in case against feds

by Nancy Lavin, Rhode Island Current January 6, 2026 Rhode Island and Connecticut attorneys general in legal filings Monday asked to consolidate their federal lawsuit against the Trump administration with a separate complaint lodged by the developers of the Revolution Wind project.  Both lawsuits were initially filed in the wake of an Aug. 22 stop […]

Posted inCity & Government

GoNetspeed begins construction on fiber internet network in Newport

Construction is underway on a new fiber-optic internet network that will bring speeds of up to two gigabits to Newport homes and businesses. GoNetspeed, the Northeast’s largest independent fiber-optic network builder, announced Monday that initial construction work has begun on the project, which will serve more than 8,200 residences and businesses. Newport marks the company’s […]

Posted inObituaries

Obituary: Richmond Farias

Richmond Farias, 84, passed away on December 21, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of hard work, laughter, and a lifelong love of classic cars. Born on August 26, 1941, Richmond was the son of the late Adelia Payton and Jake Farias. He was a devoted father to his son, Michael Farias, a proud grandfather to Barry, Ryan, Christen, […]

Posted inArts & Culture

Emmy award-winning ocean explorer Richard Vevers to speak at Sail Newport on Jan. 15

Sail Newport will host Emmy award-winning storyteller and ocean explorer Richard Vevers for “An Ocean (RE)Introduction” on Thursday, Jan. 15, as part of its Challenger Lecture Series presented by Hinckley Yacht Services. Vevers, who played the lead role in the Netflix documentary “Chasing Coral,” will share the surprising reality of the ocean and how it’s […]

Posted inColumns

Adequoyah Kamali Josephine Mathews on growing whole thoughts on the cost of silence

“Now is the time to step up, speak out, and lead with conviction. Be the change. Be the voice. Be the difference.”  The call is timeless; the voice behind it belongs to 17-year-old Rhode Islander, Adequoyah Kamali Josephine Mathews. As our conversation unfolded it became clear to me that she doesn’t look at life through […]

Posted inReal Estate

What Sold: A look at 12 recent sales across Newport County (Dec. 22-Jan. 2)

As the calendar turns each year, the final two weeks of December are almost always a quiet period for real estate. Between holiday travel, family commitments, and law offices/title companies operating on reduced schedules or closing altogether, the normal rhythm of transactions tends to slow considerably. This year was no exception. From December 22, 2025, […]

Posted inNews

Rhode Island Foundation panel urges R.I. to rewrite school funding formula, boost state share

by Alexander Castro, Rhode Island Current January 5, 2026 Boosting Rhode Island’s share of funding to K-12 public schools could relieve some pressure on municipal property taxes, according to a commission calling for an overhaul of the state allocation to local school districts. The group convened by the Rhode Island Foundation found the state only […]

Posted inNews

Revolution Wind developers seek second court order against Trump administration

by Nancy Lavin, Rhode Island CurrentJanuary 4, 2026 The year is new, but the argument is the same: The Trump administration has no constitutional authority to halt work on a major offshore wind project nearing completion south of Rhode Island’s coastline. Hundreds of pages of legal filings submitted in federal court on Jan. 1 and […]

Posted inCity & Government

City of Newport seeking public input on stormwater funding

The city is asking residents for feedback as it explores how to fund its growing stormwater infrastructure needs. An online survey is now available at www.surveymonkey.com/r/Y8KWCW8. The city recently completed installation of a tide gate under King Park, which has dramatically reduced stormwater flooding along Wellington Avenue in the Fifth Ward. However, stormwater issues continue […]

Posted inCity & Government

Middletown Town Council to consider license plate reader cameras, capital improvement plan Monday

The Middletown Town Council will tackle a lengthy agenda Monday, Jan. 5, including consideration of a license plate recognition camera network and receipt of the town’s five-year capital improvement program. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. at Town Hall, 350 East Main Road. Virtual access is available via Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89688800569 or by phone […]

Posted inCity & Government

Newport City Council to kick off capital improvement planning process Wednesday

The Newport City Council will meet Wednesday, Jan. 7, to begin discussions on the city’s annual Capital Improvement Plan. The meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. at Innovate Newport and is open to the public. The capital improvement planning process covers a range of projects, from playgrounds to seawalls and resiliency-related initiatives. The process […]

Posted inArts & Culture

Puddingstone to present internationally acclaimed Sitkovetsky Trio at Rough Point

Coming off a sold-out holiday double-header concert at Redwood Library, the Puddingstone chamber music series returns to Rough Point mansion on Jan. 27 with a performance by the internationally celebrated Sitkovetsky Trio. Known as one of today’s foremost piano trios, violinist Alexander Sitkovetsky, cellist Isang Enders and pianist Wu Qian have earned critical acclaim and […]

Posted inCity & Government

R.I. lawmakers are back in action on Tuesday. Here’s what awaits them.

by Nancy Lavin, Rhode Island CurrentJanuary 2, 2026 Heading into his sixth year leading the chamber, Rhode Island House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi has mastered the art of satisfying a flurry of funding requests despite an ever-present budget deficit. This year feels different.  “It’s going to be a challenging year,” Shekarchi, a Warwick Democrat, said […]

Posted inArts & Culture

‘Full Circle’ exhibition to reunite Monumenta artists at Rosecliff

A new exhibition opening in February will revisit one of the world’s first large-scale outdoor sculpture shows through the work of artist Richard Fleischner and his contemporaries. “Full Circle: Richard Fleischner with David Smith, Christo, Claes Oldenburg, Barnett Newman, & other Monumenta Artists” runs Feb. 6 through May 3 at Rosecliff. The exhibition marks 51 […]

Posted inNews

Tatiana Schlossberg, the granddaughter of the late President John F. Kennedy, has died at 35

By MARC LEVY and SARAH BRUMFIELD Associated Press Environmental journalist Tatiana Schlossberg, one of three grandchildren of the late President John F. Kennedy, has died after she was diagnosed with leukemia last year. She was 35. Schlossberg, daughter of Kennedy’s daughter, Caroline Kennedy, and Edwin Schlossberg, revealed she had terminal cancer in a November 2025 essay in […]

Posted inBusiness

Rose Island Lighthouse trust launches executive director search ahead of milestone 2026 season

Rose Island Lighthouse & Fort Hamilton Trust announced Monday the launch of a regional search for a new executive director as the organization prepares for a landmark 2026 season marking both its 40th anniversary and the United States Semiquincentennial. The full-time position offers an annual salary of $70,000 to $75,000 and is suited to mid-career […]

Posted inCity & Government

Legislative Outlook: DiPalma sees healthcare, affordability and transparency as critical issues

With the Rhode Island General Assembly session scheduled to begin on Jan. 6, WhatsUpNewp has reached out to the area’s legislators to learn what they see as the most pressing issues facing Rhode Island in 2026, and legislation they are planning to introduce. Today, we focus on State Sen. Lou DiPalma, D-Dist. 12, who holds […]

Posted inObituaries

Obituary: Jake Cathers

Jacob Andrew Cathers passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on December 25, 2025 after a heroic battle with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Born in Newport, Rhode Island on November 1, 1969 to James and Caroline Cathers. In life, Jake was rooted in the communities of Newport and Middletown, where he devoted each day to […]

Posted inSports

Samuelsson’s three-point game leads Sabres to 8th straight win, 4-1 over Bruins

By JOE YERDON Associated Press BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Mattias Samuelsson had a goal and two assists as the Buffalo Sabres beat the Boston Bruins 4-1 on Saturday night for their eighth straight victory. Samuelsson’s three-point night came together in a three-goal second period with assists on goals by Ryan McLeod and Peyton Krebs. Josh […]

Posted inNews

What’s up this weekend in Newport County: Dec. 26-28

Discover all that’s happening for live music, entertainment, and events this weekend in and around Newport. Organizing an event? Add it to What’sUpNewp’s event calendar. Live Music & Entertainment Friday, December 26 Busker’s Irish Pub: Live music at 8 p.m. Johnny’s Restaurant: Briana White at 7 p.m. Narragansett Cafe: The Sunshine Melodies at 8 p.m. O’Brien’s […]

Posted inNews

What Sold: A look at 21 recent sales across Newport County (Dec. 15-19)

The fourth quarter of 2025 has been one of the most active and meaningful stretches I have experienced in my career, both professionally and personally. Across Newport, Middletown, Portsmouth, Jamestown, and Tiverton, we’ve seen consistent buyer activity, steady demand across price points (2 sales in Portsmouth over the last week surpassed the $4m threshold!), and […]

Posted inOpinion

Letter to the Editor: Middletown’s fee structure is working against housing

Over the past several years, I have raised concerns during Planning Board discussions about the rising cost of building housing in Middletown, particularly single-family homes. Unfortunately, those concerns have not gained much traction, even as the Town continues to emphasize housing affordability and supply. Recently, I compiled a table comparing development impact fees and other […]

Posted inBusiness

IYRS names Ostrand first recipient of Glo Tech Scholarship Fund

IYRS School of Technology & Trades has named Marie Ostrand of Newport as the inaugural recipient of the Glo Tech Scholarship Fund. Established in February 2024, the scholarship honors the legacy of Gloria Aurora Borrego, a trailblazer in the marine industry whose career spanned high-performance marine systems, motorsports and major expeditionary projects including the Whitbread […]

Posted inHistory

This Day In Newport History: Sunny von Bulow is Found Comatose on December 22, 1980

Pictured: Clarendon Court via Zillow Martha Sharp Crawford von Bülow, known as Sunny von Bülow was an American heiress and socialite. On June 6, 1966, Sunny married Claus von Bülow, a former aide to oilman J. P. Getty, and they had a daughter, Cosima von Bülow, in 1967. By 1979, significant stresses and tensions had developed in their marriage, and […]

Posted inReal Estate

On the Market: A look at every Open House happening in Newport County this weekend (Dec. 20-21)

As the holiday countdown begins and Christmas approaches in less than a week, the local real estate market is easing into its seasonal slowdown, but it has not stopped. For buyers who still have home shopping on the agenda, this weekend presents a strong selection of opportunities across Newport County. One standout is 13 Vanderbilt […]

Posted inNews

How 1 anonymous tipster cracked the Brown University shooting case

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Information from a tipster who had a strange encounter with another man on a sidewalk outside Brown University was key to police identifying the suspect they believe killed two students at the school and then two days later gunned down a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor. Known only as “John” in a Providence […]

Posted inNews

Newport School Superintendent discusses school safety, regionalization progress

Newport Public Schools Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain provided updates on multiple district initiatives during her monthly conversation with What’sUpNewp Thursday, including ongoing safety measures following a recent incident at Rogers High School and progress toward potential regionalization with Middletown. Burns Jermain confirmed that an independent investigation into an assault at Rogers High School remains ongoing, […]

Posted inNews

Police are investigating link between Brown shooting and killing of MIT professor, AP sources say

By KIMBERLEE KRUESI, ALANNA DURKIN RICHER and ERIC TUCKER Associated Press PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Authorities said Thursday that they’re looking into a connection between last weekend’s mass shooting at Brown University and an attack two days later near Boston that killed a professor at another elite school, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. That is according to […]

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