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What’s Up In Newport County Today
Thursday, December 17
By Ryan M. Belmore

Good Morning,

~ The latest Winter Storm Warning (3:53 am this morning) says that there could be additional snow accumulations of up to 5 inches this morning in parts of Rhode Island. The Winter Storm Warning continues until 1 pm.

~ We have a full roundup of closings, delays, and parking bans here.

~ Luckily, there haven’t been many power outages due to the storm. National Grid at 6:25 am is reporting just 55 customers across the state are without power. 54 of those are in Narragansett, 1 is in West Warwick.

~ With heavy snow and high winds impacting Rhode Island, Governor Gina M. Raimondo has issued a proclamation prohibiting tractor-trailer trucksfrom all state highways through 9 a.m. Thursday, December 17

~ Angélica M. Infante-Green, the Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education for the State of Rhode Island, has notified all public school districts in the states that the earliest students may return after the upcoming holiday break is Thursday, January 7 for health and safety concerns. Middletown and Portsmouth are scheduled to return on January 8, while Newport was slated to return on January 4. Here’s Newport’s updated schedule.

~ Blackstone Caterers, Angles & Insights, Flat Waves, Fab Newport, Norman Bird Sanctuary, Newport Cycling, and Tall Ships America were among 200+ small businesses, organizations to receive grants to support business adaptation, remote work, and hospitality, arts, and tourism activities from the Raimondo Administration this week. 

~ Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island and United Way of Rhode Island are among 384 organizations that are recipients of more than $4.158 billion in gifts from MacKenzie Scott. Scott was formerly married to Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, and is currently ranked as the 18th richest person in the world.

~ NUWC Division Newport selects Rebecca Chhim, a resident of Tiverton, as new director of cybersecurity for undersea warfare~ Happy Birthday today to Susan Denice, Laura Sullivan, Joseph Farias III, John Monllos, and Anne Solano! 

COVID-19 in Rhode Island

~ RIDOH reported yesterday 953 new positive cases, 20 new fatalities, and 469 hospitalizations.

~ The latest town-by-town data has been released from the Rhode Island Department of Health. In Newport County, there were an additional 326 positive cases of COVID-19 since last Wednesday, with Newport leading the way with 98 positive cases.

~ Newport City Council will receive their weekly COVID-19 update from City Manager Joe Nicholson on today at 4:30 pm. We’ll carry it live as it happens.

~ All state-run COVID-19 testing sites will be closed today.

Today’s Forecast & Conditions

Weather

  • Winter Storm Warning until December 17, 01:00 PM EST
  • Hazardous Weather Outlook
  • Today – Rain and snow before 2pm, then a slight chance of snow between 2pm and 3pm. Patchy fog before 3pm. Temperature falling to around 27 by 4pm. Windy, with a north wind 21 to 29 mph, with gusts as high as 41 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
  • Tonight – Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22. North wind 11 to 17 mph.

Marine

  • Gale Warning until December 17, 03:00 PM EST
  • Hazardous Weather Outlook
  • Today – N wind 22 to 25 kt becoming N 18 to 21 kt in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 36 kt. Rain and snow before 2pm, then a slight chance of snow between 2pm and 3pm. Patchy fog before 3pm. Seas 1 ft or less.
  • Tonight – N wind 10 to 15 kt, with gusts as high as 23 kt. Mostly cloudy. Seas 1 ft or less.
  • The current water temperature in Newport is 49°F

Sun & Moon

  • Sunrise: 7:07 am | Sunset: 4:17 pm
  • High tide at 9:36 am and 10:01 pm | Low tide at 2:25 am & 3:30 pm
  • Moon: Waxing Crescent, 3 day, 7% lighting

 Happening In Newport County Today

Things To Do

JPT Film & Event Center Virtual Screening Room 

City & Government

Live on WUN (on our Facebook Page and website)

The Latest From What’s Up Newp


Winter Storm Warning in effect until 1 pm on Thursday

LIVE BLOG | Snow-Related Cancellations, Closures, and Delays

Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green: Earliest students may return after holiday break is Jan 7.

Raimondo Administration announces additional grants to 200+ small business and organizations

Newport County Families Eligible for Free Books from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

What’s Up at the Movies: We Review “The Library That Dolly Built”

Town of Middletown announces storm-related closures, delays

National Grid increases staffing for upcoming winter storm

All state-run COVID-19 testing sites will be closed on Thursday

Department of Health releases updated COVID-19 data by city, town

COVID-19 in Rhode Island: The latest data

Coronavirus Live Updates: COVID-19 in Newport County and Rhode Island

Meals on Wheels of R.I., United Way of R.I. among organizations to receive a donation from MacKenzie Scott

Obituary | Katelin Rose Pimental

WUN Author Series continues with award-winning author Ted Delaney (Dec. 16 at 1 pm)

For the very latest news and information, visit www.whatsupnewp.com.

Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for this newsletter? Get in touch: ryan@whatsupnewp.com.

We’ll See You Out There

Annie’s annual holiday contest is underway! Stop in and guess how many ornaments are hanging from their ceiling and win a $50 gift card. They are currently open Thursday- Monday 7a-1p closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Dine-in or takeout available. ???? Annie’s

Tag your photos with #whatsupnewp on Instagram for a chance to see your photo featured here.

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