concrete structure on the coastline during sunset
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Good Morning! Today’s newsletter is 1,126 words — a wicked good 6-minute read.

🚧 Beginning today, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation is making several changes around the Pell Bridge Ramps Phase project. Read The Full Story

🎉 What’sUpNewp was Newport’s most-read independent news source in 2022, according to SimilarWeb. Thank you for reading and for your ongoing support.

⚓ Governor Dan McKee and General Officers will be sworn into office today. Governor McKee’s inauguration will take place at 12 pm at the Rhode Island Convention Center. At 6 pm, Governor McKee will host an inaugural celebration at the Convention Center.

🏛️ Jamestown Town Council will host its first meeting of the new year, here’s a look at what’s on the agenda → Preview: Jamestown Town Council to discuss budget and committee vacancies at Jan. 3 meeting

🚔 Middletown Town Council also will be at work this evening → Middletown Town Council to discuss intersection improvement study, purchase of police cruisers, and more at Jan. 3 meeting

💰 Reminder: Newport taxpayers can file an application anytime between January 1, 2023 and March 15, 2023 for an owner-occupied residential tax rate, which may reduce the amount you pay in real estate taxes on an annual basis. If you’re interested in learning more about the City’s new Two-Tier Residential Tax Rate, click here or contact the Tax Assessor’s Office directly at (401) 845-5365.

🚲 Tyson Bottenus, a board member for Bike Newport, writes for ecoRI News on how Bicycling Can Be Year-Round Mode of Transportation with Some Adjustments

🐶 Meet your new best friend, Herro– this week’s Adoptable Dog of the Week!

Herro is here to save the day, and your heart! Herro is an absolutely lovely dog that may be a little shy upon first meeting. With some tasty treats, he’ll warm up in no time. Herro is super sweet and loving to his favorite people.


What’s Up Today

New traffic signals, patterns coming to several intersections around the Pell Bridge Ramps project on Jan. 3

Preview: Jamestown Town Council to discuss budget and committee vacancies at Jan. 3 meeting

Middletown Town Council to discuss intersection improvement study, purchase of police cruisers, and more at Jan. 3 meeting

Newport Zoning Board to consider multiple applications for special use permits and variances at Jan. 3 meeting

Governor McKee, General Officers to be sworn in during Inauguration Ceremony on Jan. 3

☀️ Weather

  • Today: A chance of rain before 11 am, then a slight chance of rain and snow between 11 am and noon, then rain after noon. Areas of fog after 11 am. High near 50. Calm wind becoming southeast at 5 to 7 mph in the afternoon. The chance of precipitation is 100%. Little or no snow accumulation is expected.
  • Tonight: Rain likely before midnight, then areas of drizzle with a chance of showers between midnight and 2 am, then a chance of showers after 2 am. Areas of fog before 2 am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low of around 47. Southwest wind 6 to 8 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph. The chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch possible.
  • Tomorrow: A chance of showers, mainly between 2 pm and 5 pm, then a chance of rain after 5 pm. Areas of fog after 5 pm. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 51. West wind around 6 mph becoming northeast in the afternoon. The chance of precipitation is 40%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.
  • Tomorrow Night: Rain. Areas of fog before 9 pm. Low around 43. Northeast wind 6 to 11 mph. The chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
  • 7-Day Weather forecast for Newport County | 3-day Surf Forecast for Rhode Island

🛥️ Marine Forecast

  • Today: Variable winds less than 5 kt becoming SE around 6 kt in the afternoon. A chance of rain and snow before noon, then rain. Areas of fog after 11 am. Seas 1 ft or less.
  • Tonight: SSW wind 5 to 7 kt becoming WSW after midnight. Rain is likely, mainly before 2 am. Areas of fog before 2 am. Seas 1 ft or less.
  • Tomorrow: Variable winds 5 kt or less. A chance of showers, mainly after 3 pm. Areas of fog after 5 pm. Seas 1 ft or less.
  • Tomorrow Night: NE wind 5 to 10 kt. Rain. Areas of fog before 9 pm. Seas 1 ft or less.
  • Coastal Water Temperature: 41°F.

🌊 Sun, Moon, & Tide

  • Sunrise: 7:11 am | Sunset: 4:27 pm | 9 hours and 15 minutes of sun.
  • High tide at 5:10 am & 5:29 pm | Low tide at 11:37 am & 10:35 pm.
  • Moon: Waxing Gibbous. 11.2 days, 86% lighting.

🎭 Things To Do

  • No listings.
  • For more events and things to do, visit our events calendar.

🎶 Entertainment

  • Fifth Element: Randy Robbins from 7 pm to 10 pm
  • JPT Film & Event Center: The Fabelmans at 4 pm & 7:30 pm
  • Narragansett Cafe: Trivia from 7 pm to 9 pm

🏛️ City & Government

  • Jamestown: Town Council at 5:30 pm, School Committee at 6 pm
  • Little Compton: Planning Board at 7 pm
  • Middletown: Planning Board at 3:15 pm, Town Council at 6 pm, Town Council at 6:30 pm
  • Newport: Zoning Board of Review at 6:30 pm, City Council at 6:30 pm
  • Tiverton: School Building Committee at 5 pm, School Committee at 7 pm
  • See the full list of public meetings in Rhode Island here.

On What’sUpNewp

🆕 The Latest

A roundup of all the latest What’sUpNewp headlines since yesterday’s newsletter.

Adoptable Dog of the Week: Herro

7-Day Weather forecast for Newport County

3-day Surf Forecast for Rhode Island

Slajchert’s 31 lead Pennsylvania over Brown 76-68

DeBrusk scores 2 in 3rd, Bruins beat Pens in Winter Classic

Comic – Sour Grapes: Basketball

Patriots’ uneven season leads to must-win game vs Bills

Local legislators’ plans as 2023 session begins this week

Fenway Park transforms for NHL’s 14th annual Winter Classic

Newport County real estate transactions for the week ending Dec. 31

Fleets assembling in Alicante for final run towards start of The Ocean Race

Insider Q&A: Navier CEO Sampriti Bhattacharyya

❤️ Recent Local Obituaries

📈 Monday’s Most-Read

The following were the most-read What’sUpNewp stories on January 2.

  1. The Reef’s January Events: Something for everyone to enjoy
  2. Newport County real estate transactions for the week ending Dec. 31
  3. New traffic signals, patterns coming to several intersections around the Pell Bridge Ramps project on Jan. 3
  4. Local legislators’ plans as 2023 session begins this week
  5. Insider Q&A: Navier CEO Sampriti Bhattacharyya

👉 What’sUpNewp runs on the support of readers like you. If you appreciate this newsletter and/or the stories and news we bring to you on our website, please consider becoming a What’sUpNewp Supporter.

Support What’sUpNewp

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...

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