Good morning, Newport! Today is Monday, July 7, the 188th day of 2025. There are 177 days left in the year.

🚨 You need to know

Newport’s International Tennis Hall of Fame takes center stage today as ESPN’s flagship program SportsCenter broadcasts live from the historic grass courts during the 6 p.m. edition, marking Rhode Island’s featured stop in the network’s ambitious “50 States in 50 Days” summer tour. Anchor Amina Smith will report from overlooking the courts as part of ESPN’s coast-to-coast initiative celebrating local sports stories and traditions across America.

The timing couldn’t be more perfect, as today marks the tournament’s designated “Women in Sports Day” – a fitting coincidence given ESPN’s planned focus on the historic return of women’s professional tennis to Newport. This year’s Hall of Fame Open represents the first time women competitors have participated in the tournament since 1990, a milestone that ESPN will highlight during its coverage alongside the upcoming induction of tennis superstar Maria Sharapova into the International Tennis Hall of Fame later this summer.

Today’s action-packed schedule begins with gates opening at 10 a.m., followed by tennis matches starting at 11 a.m. across six courts. The centerpiece event comes at 12:30 p.m. with a Women in Sports Q&A on the Ryl Iced Tea Lawn, hosted by Blair Henley and featuring players and representatives from local professional teams including the Connecticut Sun (WNBA), Boston Legacy FC (NWSL), Boston Fleet (PWHL), and Boston Renegades (WFA). Tennis fans can also enjoy museum access from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with guided tours available at 2 p.m.

The ESPN broadcast will leverage Newport’s unique appeal as the only professional grass court venue in the United States, while also teasing content from Wimbledon, which runs concurrently on the network. Both men’s and women’s draws at the Hall of Fame Open feature equal prize money of $200,000, reflecting the tournament’s commitment to gender pay equity. The national exposure provides Newport an opportunity to showcase both the historic venue and Rhode Island’s broader sports culture to a nationwide audience during peak summer tourism season.

Here’s what else you should know

🎾 The International Tennis Hall of Fame witnessed a piece of history Sunday as the qualifying round of the 2025 Hall of Fame Open began with 16 matches in front of a record-breaking crowd, marking the first time in 35 years that professional women’s tennis has returned to Newport’s hallowed grass courts. Day 1 Recap & Photo Gallery

📺 The International Tennis Hall of Fame will serve as the backdrop for a national television spotlight today at 6 pm as ESPN’s flagship program SportsCenter makes a stop in the City by the Sea as part of its ambitious “50 States in 50 Days” summer tour.

🏇 Team Italy got their redemption Saturday evening at Glen Farm Polo Grounds, defeating the USA 12-7 in a thrilling match that had the crowd on their feet until the final chukker. Recap & Photo Gallery

👉 The Newport City Council will convene on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at 43 Broadway for their regular meeting. The agenda is packed with summer event approvals, licensing matters, and several ordinance revisions.

🪁 The Newport Kite Festival is set to return to Brenton Point State Park this weekend, bringing spectacular aerial displays and family-friendly activities back to one of Newport’s most scenic locations.

📰 The Latest from What’sUpNewp

Letter to the Editor: Our island home

On April 8, Newporters had a chance to hear how one visionary can make a huge difference in the wellbeing of an island community.

Beyond the Labels: How the Rhode Island state Ombudsman helps keep the person at the center of care

I recently had the opportunity to meet with Lori Light, Rhode Island State Long Term Care Ombudsman, to better understand the role and why it matters to residents, families, caregivers, and all of us as we navigate the aging journey and consider what it means to keep the person at the center of care. At its core, the work is deeply human and centered on the individual.

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📈 Yesterday’s most-read

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

  1. Obituary: Remi Walter Vassallo
  2. Obituary: Pauline Davis
  3. Obituary: Robert “Bob” Helmbrecht
  4. On this day in RI history: July 6, 1949 Soap star James Kiberd born in Providence
  5. What’s on the Docket: Newport City Council meeting on July 9
  6. Morning Notes: Hall of Fame Open returns to Newport with historic combined format
  7. Photo Gallery: Italy storms back for convincing 12-7 victory over USA in Newport Polo Series
  8. Obituary: Robert Hurley
  9. Obituary: David Vincent Rogers
  10. Morning Notes: Newport Kite Festival returns to Brenton Point State Park July 12-13

📅 What’s Up Today

Weather Forecast

  • Today: A chance of showers before 8 am, then a slight chance of showers after 2 pm. Patchy fog before 8 am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. South wind 8 to 14 mph. The chance of precipitation is 30%.
  • Tonight: A chance of showers before 11 pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11 pm and 5 am, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 5 am. Patchy fog after 10 pm. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 70. South wind 8 to 10 mph. The chance of precipitation is 60%—new rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts are possible in thunderstorms.

Marine Forecast

  • Today: SSW wind 7 to 12 kt. A chance of showers before 8 am, then a slight chance of showers after 2 pm. Patchy fog before 8 am. Seas 1 ft or less.
  • Tonight: SSW wind 7 to 9 kt. A chance of showers before 11 pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 11 pm and 5 am, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 5 am. Patchy fog after 10 pm. Seas 1 ft or less.
  • The coastal water temperature is 69 degrees.

Sun, Moon & Tide

  • Sunrise at 5:19 am. Sunset at 8:21 pm. 15 hours & 2 minutes of sun.
  • High tide at 6 am & 6:26 pm. Low tide at 11:13 am.
  • The lunar phase is a Waxing Gibbous.

Things To Do

Live Music & Entertainment

  • Firehouse Theater: Nee Jam at 7 pm
  • Landing: Justin Pomfret at 12:30 pm, Mark Flynn at 4 pm, Okie & The Bandits at 8 pm
  • Newport Craft: Bingo at 6 pm
  • Newport Harbor Island Resort: Music Bingo at 6:30 pm
  • Newport Pickleball Club: The Newport Groove Merchants at 6:30 pm
  • One Pelham East: Bruce Jacques at 9 pm
  • Perro Salado: John Monllos at 5:30 pm
  • The Fastnet Pub: The Ubiquitones at 10 pm

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...