Robert McCall is the new chief of the Middletown Fire Department. (via Town of Middletown)

Good Tuesday morning, Newport!

Here’s our daily rundown of what’s happening out there today, plus all that you need to know; enjoy!

Weather Forecast

  • Today: Increasing clouds, with a high near 58. North wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
  • Tonight: Patchy drizzle after 2 am. Cloudy, with a low around 49. Northeast wind 9 to 11 mph.

Marine Forecast

  • Today: N wind 9 to 12 kt, with gusts as high as 21 kt. Increasing clouds. Seas 1 ft or less.
  • Tonight: NNE wind 8 to 10 kt. Cloudy. Seas 1 ft or less.
  • The coastal water temperature is 57 degrees.

Sun, Moon & Tide

  • Sunrise at 5:21 am. Sunset at 8:03 pm. 14 hours & 42 minutes of sun.
  • High tide at 1:48 am & 2:24 p.m. Low tide at 7:35 am & 7:59 pm.
  • The lunar phase is a Waning Gibbous.

🚨 You need to know

Robert McCall is the new chief of the Middletown Fire Department.

Fulfilling a lifelong dream, McCall was named to the department’s top spot Monday night by the Town Council during a well-attended ceremony in Town Hall after a national search.

McCall, a close to 20-year veteran of Middletown Fire and close to 30 years in the field, said he never could have imagined becoming chief when he was hired in July 2005. 

The Town of Middletown has much more on McCall and his new position.

Here’s what else you need to know

As we head into Memorial Day Weekend, it’s clear the real estate market across Newport County is waking up. After a slow start to the year, we’re finally seeing some momentum, and for buyers and sellers alike, it’s a good time to pay attention. Tyler Bernadyn has a look at What Sold.

Join internationally celebrated author and critic Peter Brooks at Charter Books this evening at 6 pm as he discusses his latest book, Henry James Comes Home.

The League of Women Voters of Newport County will host Rhode Island Supreme Court Justice Melissa A. Long tonight for a discussion on advancing civil rights in the state’s courts. The event, “Justice for All: Advancing Civil Rights in Rhode Island’s Courts,” is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. at The JPT.

Middletown beach stickers are available daily until Memorial Day weekend from 12 pm to 4 pm at Second Beach.

Congratulations to the Portsmouth High School Sailing team who captured the RI State Championship this past weekend!

📈 Yesterday’s most-read

The following were yesterday’s most-read What’sUpNewp articles.

  1. Obituary: Bruce McCarter
  2. What to expect in the second half of the 2025 real estate market in Newport County
  3. Dr. Michael Fine: What’s crazy about the Surgeon General of the United States
  4. Things to do this week in Newport: May 19 – 25
  5. What Sold: A look at 21 recent sales in Newport County (May 12 – 16)
  6. High school coach who did naked fat tests found not guilty of child molestation, sexual assault
  7. Obituary: Anthony Agostinelli
  8. Salve Regina University graduates inspired to put their mercy mission in motion at 75th Commencement
  9. Coast Guard’s plan to remove 38 R.I. buoys raises concerns among mariners
  10. Morning Notes: ‘Jaws’ returns to The JPT this Memorial Day Weekend

📅 Upcoming events

Here is what’s happening today in Newport.

Things To Do

Live Music & Entertainment

Newport County Public Meetings

Ryan Belmore is the owner and publisher of What's Up Newp. He took over the publication in 2012 and has grown it into a three-time Rhode Island Monthly Best Local News Blog (2018, 2019, 2020). He was named LION Publishers Member of the Year in 2020 and received the Dominique Award from the Arts & Cultural Society of Newport County the same year. He has been awarded grants for investigative and community journalism, and continues to coach and mentor new local news publications nationwide. Ryan...