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 […]
Rhode Island
Posted inArts & Culture
Movies and TV shows casting in Rhode Island
The glitz and glam of Hollywood captures the attention of Americans starting from an early age. Beyond celebrities’ Instagram Stories and red carpet poses, there are actors out there paying their dues and honing their craft in pursuit of a sustainable career or a fulfilling sideline. Submitting to casting calls is a big part of […]
Posted inSports
Derrick White has 27 points and 7 blocks to lead Celtics past Jazz 129-119
By MATTHEW COLES Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Derrick White scored 13 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter and added a career-high seven blocks in a one-of-a-kind performance Tuesday night that carried the Boston Celtics to a 129-119 win over the Utah Jazz. White became the 13th player in NBA history […]
Posted inNews
RIPTA to operate on holiday schedule New Year’s Day
The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority will operate all fixed-route bus service on a Sunday/holiday schedule on New Year’s Day. All RIPTA offices will be closed Thursday, and flex services will not be available. The RIde paratransit program will operate on a holiday schedule. The reservation line will not be staffed, but passengers can leave […]
Posted inObituaries
Obituary: Kenneth A. Zammer
Kenneth Allan Zammer, lovingly known as Papa, passed away on Christmas Eve peacefully, having lived a life rooted in love, family, generosity, and quiet strength. Papa was born and raised at 82 Third Street in Newport, Rhode Island, the home of his parents, Muriel Morgan and Joseph Zammer and it was in this very same […]
Posted inNews
Cities with the fastest-growing home prices in Rhode Island
The real estate frenzy spurred by the coronavirus pandemic continues, though at a slower pace. Buyers are still competing for a limited supply of housing, driving up prices for affordable properties. The typical home value in the United States was $360,782 in November, 0.2% higher than the year before. Increasing mortgage rates have slowed growth, […]
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 inNews
What’s up in Newport County: Tuesday, December 30
Discover all that’s happening for live music, entertainment, and events in Newport County. Organizing an event? Add it to What’sUpNewp’s event calendar. Weather Forecast Tuesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 30. Breezy, with a west wind 20 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 43 mph. Tuesday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around […]
Posted inNews
Legislative Outlook: Finkelman – the economy and environment critical issues in 2026
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 Rep. Alex Finkelman, D-Dist. 74, He is […]
Posted inReal Estate
The 13 most affordable communities in Rhode Island to buy a house
Homeownership is fundamental to the American dream. It offers wealth, security, community, and countless other benefits. Yet for many Rhode Island residents, the dream feels increasingly out of reach—even as incomes rise and mortgage rates fall. Near-record prices have made homes hard to come by and often even harder to afford, leaving buyers and sellers […]
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 inObituaries
Obituary:Mary Cecilia Belli
Mary Cecilia (Moitozo) Belli, 89, of Middletown, RI, died on December 28, 2025. She was the beloved wife of Joseph Angelo Belli, whom she married May 30, 1959. Born in Newport, RI on March 5, 1936, she was the daughter of the late Antonio G. and Nancy R. (Thomas) Moitozo.She was educated in Newport Schools […]
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: Charles J. Bodemann, Jr.
Charles Edgar Bodemann, Jr., age 92 of Tiverton, RI passed away peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, December 27, 2025. Charles (Charlie) was born on March 25,1933 in Jersey City, NJ. He was the only son of Augusta Henrietta Horn and Charles Edgar Bodeman, Sr. He graduated from Fort Lee High School in 1951 and […]
Posted inColumns
A 2026 Market Prediction from the President of the Newport County Board of Realtors
As we head into 2026, there is no shortage of opinions about where the housing market is going. What I want to offer here is not a national headline or a one-size-fits-all forecast, but a grounded, local perspective rooted in experience. I have a front-row seat to how buyers, sellers, and renters are actually behaving […]
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 inSports
Jaylen Brown scores 30 points and the Celtics make 20 3-pointers to beat the Pacers 140-122
By PHILLIP B. WILSON Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Jaylen Brown scored 30 points and the Boston Celtics made 20 3-pointers in a 140-122 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Friday night. The All-NBA forward, who is averaging 29.4 points, shot 13 of 20 from the field and made two 3-pointers. Payton Pritchard added 29 […]
Posted inInstagram
On the Market: A look at 13 homes hosting Open Houses this weekend in Newport County (Dec. 26-27)
As we head into the home stretch of the year, this marks the last weekend of Open Houses for 2025. Coming off the Christmas holiday, it’s completely natural for many sellers to pause. With family in town, travel schedules, and the general chaos that comes with the holidays, hosting open houses often takes a back […]
Posted inColumns
Dr. Michael Fine: What’s crazy about the work we ask healthcare workers to do
I spent the last few weeks studying and taking tests so I can continue my Board Certification (in Family Medicine). Physicians and other health care workers are licensed by the State of Rhode Island and must pay a hefty fee for that privilege, as well as show evidence that we have studied the new developments […]
Posted inColumns
Gerry Goldstein: A dose of good medicine, free
An ancient Jewish proverb asserts, “As soap is to the body, so laughter is to the soul.” As we anticipate the start of a new year after an old one fraught with dysfunction, this provides us grist for a crucial resolution: to make time for laughter. The soap analogy is particularly fitting for our time, […]
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 […]