Mike DeSousa (right), program manager of K-12 Outreach at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport, watches Stephanie Williams (center) of Cohasset High School, Massachusetts, drive her team’s remotely operated vehicle (ROV), as teammates Kyle Bell (from left) of Washington International School in Washington, D.C., and Rhode Island students AraOluwa Adetunji of East Greenwich High School, and Gabriella “Gabby” DiCecco of South Kingstown High School, look on, during a competition held on July 23, 2025. The competition was part of the Undersea Technology Apprentice Program, which welcomed 50 high school students to explore building, programming and operating ROVs over two three-week sessions held in July in August. (Photo by David Stoehr, Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport)

Good morning, Newport! 👋 Today is Thursday, Aug. 28, the 240th day of 2025. There are 125 days left in the year.

🚨 You need to know

The Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport welcomed 50 high school students from six states and Washington, D.C., to build and program remotely operated vehicles during two three-week sessions in July and August.

The Undersea Technology Apprentice Program provided rising sophomores, juniors and seniors with hands-on experience in science, technology, engineering and math careers. Students from Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and the nation’s capital participated in sessions running July 7-24 and July 28-Aug. 14 at the Newport facility.

Participants received SeaPerch kits containing parts to build basic underwater vehicles, then added motors, controllers, circuit boards, cameras and screens throughout the program. Students took turns soldering components, programming Raspberry Pi computers and operating their vehicles in water tank tests while maintaining detailed engineering notebooks.

“I feel like this program made me want to work in the engineering field,” said Mirolla Saleb, a rising junior from Tiverton, Rhode Island. “This program helps guide you to discover which area of engineering you like. It has made me excited to want to be an engineer.”

The program concluded with competition days where teams maneuvered their vehicles through simulated shipwreck obstacles. Winners were determined by challenge performance, engineering documentation and final reports, emphasizing the importance of proper scientific methodology and record-keeping in STEM careers.

Full story available here

Here’s what else you need to know

🏫 Newport Public Schools faces a projected $1.6 million budget shortfall for the upcoming academic year, Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain revealed during Wednesday’s monthly “Ask the Superintendent” community forum, just one week before classes begin.

The gap stems primarily from special education and out-of-district costs, Burns Jermain explained during the session hosted by What’sUpNewp. Read More/Watch

🆕 After nearly four decades of nurturing Newport’s urban forest, the Newport Tree Conservancy has secured a permanent home for its tree propagation efforts.

📺 Rhode Island state representatives Lauren Carson and Terri Cortvriend will host a special Zoom meeting Tuesday, Sept. 2, at 6:30 p.m. to address the federal government’s sudden decision to halt construction of the Revolution Wind project.

🎶 Get our full rundown of all the events, live music, and entertainment happening this Labor Day weekend in and around Newport here.

📰 The Latest from What’sUpNewp

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📈 Yesterday’s most-read

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

  1. Audrain Newport Concours unveils Jay Leno, Ford CEO for seminars
  2. Historic Westerly venue sells for $4.5M in state’s second-largest commercial deal
  3. Rhode Island prosecutor put on unpaid leave after warning ‘You’re gonna regret this’ during arrest
  4. Irish music duo to close Friends of the Waterfront summer concert series
  5. Notes: Historic Jamestown regatta returns for 98th year this weekend
  6. Rhode Island economy ‘on a recession precipice’
  7. Rhode Island health officials close two Middletown beaches due to high bacteria levels
  8. Obituary: Kathleen Souza
  9. ITHF Induction highlights: Tennis Wave at Bowen’s Wharf was awesome!
  10. Obituary: James Reise

📅 What’s Up Today

Weather Forecast

  • Today: Increasing clouds, with a high near 71. Light and variable wind becoming south 8 to 13 mph in the morning.
  • Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 67. South wind 11 to 13 mph.

Marine Forecast

  • Today: Variable winds less than 5 kt becoming SSW 6 to 11 kt in the afternoon. Increasing clouds. Seas 1 ft or less.
  • Tonight: SSW wind around 11 kt. A slight chance of showers after 5am. Seas 1 ft or less.
  • The coastal water temperature is 69 degrees.

Sun, Moon & Tide

  • Sunrise at 6:07 am. Sunset at 7:24 pm. 13 hours & 17 minutes of sun.
  • High tide at 12 pm. Low tide at 4:45 am & 5:25 pm.
  • The lunar phase is a Waxing Crescent.

Things To Do

Live Music & Entertainment

Newport County Public Meetings

Organizing an event? Submit your event to What’sUpNewp’s Event Calendar.

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 is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, Online News Association, and Local Independent Online News Publishers. He is committed to the codes of ethics of these organizations: accuracy, independence, accountability, and transparency.

In Newport, Ryan served on the boards of the Fort Adams Trust and Potter League for Animals, and hosted a daily radio talk show for four years.

In 2021, Ryan moved to Alexandria, Virginia, to support his wife Jen's career. He launched The Alexandria Brief in 2025, applying what he learned in Newport to a new community. With the help of some talented on-the-ground contributors, he still runs What's Up Newp — and always will.

Contact: ryan@whatsupnewp.com.