Good Morning! Today is Tuesday, August 29, 2023.
⚓ On this day in 1778, the First Rhode Island Infantry regiment defeated three assaults by British Troops at the Battle of Rhode Island. The First Rhode Island Infantry regiment was the first all-black unit in the United States.
⚓ At 10:30 am today, U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse will join students and representatives of Community MusicWorks and the Newport String Project in Providence to celebrate $300,000 in federal funds to support and expand free music education and mentoring services for students from urban communities in Rhode Island. Read More
⚓ At noon today, U.S. Senator Jack Reed will join CODAC Behavioral Healthcare at CODAC Newport to help amplify the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) One Pill Can Kill Fentanyl Awareness Campaign and help spread life-saving information. Read More
⚓ Rhode Island Voter Turnout: As of 4:30 pm on Monday, 6,052 Rhode Islanders have already voted in the September 5 Special Primaries, according to the Secretary of State’s Voter Turnout Tracker.
That’s approximately a 1.6% voter turnout thus far. 3,056 have voted by mail ballot and 2,996 by early in-person voting – including 1,298 in Newport County – 308 total votes in Newport, 293 in Portsmouth, 244 in Middletown, 212 in Jamestown, 167 in Tiverton, and 74 in Little Compton.
View a sample ballot, find your polling place, and read more about the upcoming elections here.
What’s Up Today
Weather
- Rip Current Statement in effect from August 29, 06:00 AM EDT until August 29, 06:00 PM EDT
- Hazardous Weather Outlook
- Today: Showers likely, mainly after 4pm. Patchy dense fog before noon, then patchy dense fog after 1pm. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 73. Calm wind becoming east 5 to 7 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
- Tonight: Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 2am. Cloudy, with a low around 68. Southeast wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
- Forecast: 7-Day Weather | 3-day Surf
Marine Forecast
- Today: Variable winds less than 5 kt becoming E around 6 kt in the morning. Showers likely, mainly after 4pm. Patchy dense fog before noon, then Patchy dense fog after 1pm. Seas 1 ft or less.
- Tonight: Variable winds 5 kt or less. Showers likely, with thunderstorms also possible after 2am. Seas 1 ft or less.
Sun, Moon, & Tide
- Sunrise: 6:08 am | Sunset: 7:24 pm | 13 hours and 15 minutes of sun.
- High tide at 6:47 am & 7:15 pm | Low tide at 12:33 am & 12:21 pm.
- Moon: Waxing Gibbous. 12.3 days, 93% lighting.
Things To Do
- What’s Up in Newport this week: Aug. 28 – Sept. 4
- For more events and things to do, visit our events calendar.
Live Music & Entertainment
- JPT Film & Event Center: Barbie at 4:30 pm & 7:30 pm
- Landing: Jimmy & Matt from 1 pm to 4 pm, Adam Hanna from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm, John Erikson from 8 pm to 11 pm
- Narragansett Cafe: Trivia from 7 pm to 9 pm
- One Pelham East: Stu Sinclair at 9 pm
- The Fifth Element: Live music from 7 pm to 10 pm
Local Government
- Middletown: Planning Board at 6 pm, Town Council at 6 pm
- Newport: Tree Commission at 6 pm
- Portsmouth: Dog Park Operating Committee at 5:30 pm
- Tiverton: School Committee at 7 pm
- See the agendas and a complete list of public meetings across Rhode Island here.
Cruise Ships
Here’s what’s coming up on the cruise ship schedule;
- Tuesday, Aug. 29: American Constitution
- Thursday, Aug. 31: American Star & Caribbean Princess
- Friday, Sept. 1: American Eagle
On WhatsUpNewp.com
Popular Stories
- Newport Police Arrest & Dispatch Report: August 25 – 27
- Obituary: Guy E. Weston
- Letter: Just build the school
- Zach Bryan bringing ‘The Quittin Time Tour’ to Gillette Stadium in 2024
- Newport Police Arrest & Dispatch Report: August 24
The Latest
General Assembly passes Carson-Valverde bill strengthening school food waste diversion
The legislation requires school food service contracts to mandate composting or recycling of organic waste and makes schools’ waste audits public
People’s Credit Union marks 18th year sponsoring Newport Gulls’ reading program
The FANatic About Reading program sends Gulls players into Aquidneck Island elementary schools and encourages students to read over the summer
Naval War College Foundation dedicates endowed chair in leadership and ethics
A gift from the Tony and Ann Ryan Family Foundation establishes the Andrew J. Zimbelmann Chair, honoring a four-decade Electric Boat submarine veteran
Your Newport County weather forecast: 7 days on land and sea
Updated throughout the day with the latest from NOAA’s National Weather Service
CRMC approves key SouthCoast Wind permit over objections from fishing industry
Council says yes, fishing industry panel says no to $1M compensation package
Drew Rasmussen fans a career-high 13 as Rays sweep Red Sox with a 7-5 win
Drew Rasmussen struck out a career-high 13 and two-hit the Boston Red Sox over seven scoreless innings, leading the Tampa Bay Rays to a 7-5 victory Wednesday.
Sweet Berry Farm withdraws development proposal, weighs smaller-scale plan
New owners pull 13,862-square-foot plan after Land Trust raises conservation easement concerns; will weigh smaller-scale proposal
Sail Newport to dedicate racing education center in memory of Jason Titunik
The remodeled building at Fort Adams will honor a young sailor who came up through Sail Newport’s youth and racing programs before his death in 2023
Rhode Island issues another air quality alert for Thursday
Ground-level ozone is again expected to reach unhealthy levels for sensitive groups statewide, with peak concentrations from early afternoon into the evening
Narragansett Beer marks 21 years since its revival with June 24 taproom party
The brewery will celebrate the anniversary of its 2005 comeback with a birthday bash and the release of a Narragansett Cream Ale at its Providence waterfront taproom
Bike Newport names Tuni Schartner director of partnerships and philanthropy
The longtime Rhode Island nonprofit and small-business advocate joins the Newport cycling organization to lead fundraising and partnership efforts
Jane Pickens Theater to host Rhode Island premiere of ‘Mermaid’ with star Johnny Pemberton
The SXSW selection screens June 12 in Newport, followed by a Q&A with actor Johnny Pemberton and Rhode Island filmmakers the Kinnane Brothers
Pell Center survey links authoritarian attitudes to support for democratic norm violations
The national survey of more than 2,000 voters found that respondents scoring highest on a child-rearing-based authoritarian scale were most likely to back changing election rules, censoring media and ignoring court rulings
Obituary: Anthony E. “Tony” Faria
June 21, 1947 – May 31, 2026
Obituary: Ruth Bento
August 2, 1926 — June 6, 2026
This Day in RI History: June 10, 1772 – The burning of the HMS Gaspee
One of the most celebrated events in Rhode Island history happened on June 10th, 1772. The Gaspee Affair, which is still celebrated annually with festivals, a parade and a re-enactment, was a pivital moment in the lead-up to the American Revolution.
Newport City Council agenda for June 10 includes proposals on hotels, housing and tree preservation
Wednesday’s meeting also takes up special event licenses for the Newport Pride Festival and Newport Air Show, a continued resolution on a Castle Hill Inn aquaculture application, and a city manager presentation on solar at school facilities
Obituary: Joy Elliott McClintock
September 5, 1929 — June 6, 2026
Obituary: Elizabeth L Morrow
June 27, 1951 — May 27, 2026
Nick Martinez goes 7 innings, Ben Williamson and Nick Fortes hit RBI doubles, Rays beat Red Sox 4-3
Nick Martinez gave up six hits over seven innings, Ben Williamson and Nick Fortes hit RBI doubles, and the Tampa Bay Rays held on to beat the Boston Red Sox 4-3 on Tuesday night.
Further Reading
- NY congregation can evict tenants of historic Touro Synagogue, Rhode Island judge rules (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
- NUWC Division Newport engineer designs fin control method that could have military, commercial applications (NUWC)
- Ocean State Oysters Feature ‘Perfect Flavor and Body’ (ecoRI News)
