U.S. Senator Jack Reed, Salve Regina University President Dr. Kelli J. Armstrong, Salve Regina University Chancellor Dr. M. Therese Antone and Newport Mayor Charlie Holder cut the ribbon to launch Salve's new health and wellness mobile outreach program. Photo credit: Hansen Photography. Credit: Andrea Hansen

Good morning, Newport! 👋 Today is Tuesday, Sept. 23, the 266th day of 2025. There are 99 days left in the year.

🚨 You need to know

Salve Regina University unveiled a new mobile health and wellness outreach program Monday, rolling out a fully equipped 40-foot educational unit that will bring healthcare services and training to communities across Rhode Island.

The program, funded by a $1.95 million federal earmark secured by U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, aims to train the next generation of healthcare professionals while addressing healthcare access disparities throughout the state. Reed and Newport Mayor Charlie Holder joined university officials at Monday’s launch ceremony.

“Rhode Island needs more health care professionals and Salve Regina is stepping up to help train and prepare the next generation of nurses, social workers, mental health professionals, and others with hands-on experience serving Rhode Islanders in need, right in their communities,” Reed said.

The mobile unit features two private counseling rooms, one exam room with health and wellness education materials, and is Americans with Disabilities Act compliant. Students and faculty from Salve’s nursing, social work and health science programs will staff the unit, along with participants from the university’s Compass program and drivers from the Department of Public Safety.

Dr. Debra Cherubini, associate professor of nursing and director of the RN-BSN program, conceived the outreach initiative and now serves as the program’s director. The federal funding covers the mobile unit’s purchase and equipment, new simulation technology for nursing labs, and several years of operational costs.

University President Dr. Kelli J. Armstrong said the program “truly puts our mission in motion, creating exceptional learning opportunities for our students, supporting our communities and providing in-service training to our partner healthcare providers.”

The mobile unit is scheduled to begin serving communities this fall. Cherubini is coordinating with Holder and local hospitals and community organizations to determine outreach locations.

Here’s what else to know

Federal Judge Lifts Offshore Wind Halt – The Trump administration can’t continue to keep work paused on a major offshore wind farm for Rhode Island and Connecticut while it reviews national security concerns, a federal judge ruled Monday, allowing the renewable energy project to move forward.

Warren Crime Spree Suspect Charged – Jaron Monroe allegedly experienced a mental health crisis before carjacking a mother and her 9-year-old daughter after the incident began at Newport police station, highlighting public safety and mental health concerns.

High School Coach Sentenced – Superior Court Judge Melanie Wilk Thunburg sentenced a Rhode Island high school coach to a year of probation Monday for conducting inappropriate body fat tests on student athletes.

Rock the Beach Gala This Thursday – A handful of tickets remain available for Newport’s Rock the Beach Gala, offering the opportunity to take part in a night that blends elegance and energy while raising critical funds for mental health and substance use services.

Also in today’s news: Norman Bird Sanctuary’s Harvest Fair returns Oct. 4-5 with expanded sustainability focus. Nine Central Film Festival expands to two nights for its seventh year. Recent real estate sales show continued activity across Newport County with several high-end properties changing hands. Cruise ships continue arriving with Silver Shadow docking today and Thursday, plus Amedea on Thursday.

📰 The Latest from What’sUpNewp

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📈 Yesterday’s most-read

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

  1. Westerly golf course saga goes to the state Supreme Court
  2. Warren man charged after crime spree began at Newport police station
  3. What Sold: A look at 15 recent sales across Newport County (Sept. 15-19)
  4. On This Day In History – September 21: Hurricane of ’38 hits Newport
  5. Obituary: Manuel Garcia
  6. Obituary: Patrick Christopher MacDonald
  7. Rock the Beach Gala returns to Newport this Thursday
  8. Obituary: Lisa Fagan
  9. Federal judge lifts Trump administration’s halt of nearly complete offshore wind farm in New England
  10. Notes: Newport Harbor welcomes 33 more cruise ships through November in busy season finale

📅 What’s Up Today

Weather Forecast

  • Today – Mostly sunny, with a high near 75°F. Southwest wind 7 to 14 mph.
  • Tonight – A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 8 p.m. Patchy fog after 10 p.m. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a low around 65°F. Southwest wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
  • Wednesday – A chance of showers. Patchy fog before 9 a.m. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 71°F. North wind 6 to 9 mph becoming east in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
  • Wednesday Night – Showers likely, mainly after 3 a.m. Cloudy, with a low around 64°F. East wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Marine Forecast

  • Today – SW wind 6 to 9 kt increasing to 9 to 12 kt in the afternoon. Mostly sunny. Seas 1 ft or less.
  • Tonight – WSW wind 5 to 8 kt. A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 8 p.m. Patchy fog after 10 p.m. Seas 1 ft or less.
  • Wednesday – NNW wind 5 to 8 kt becoming E in the afternoon. A chance of showers. Patchy fog before 9 a.m. Seas 1 ft or less.
  • Wednesday Night – E wind around 6 kt. Showers likely, mainly after 3 a.m. Seas 1 ft or less.

Sun & Tide Information

  • Sunrise: 6:34:15 a.m., Sunset: 6:40:45 p.m. Daylight: 12 hours and 6 minutes
  • Low tides: 2:27 a.m. (past), 3:01 p.m. High tides: 9:26 a.m., 9:42 p.m.

Things To Do

Live Music & Entertainment

  • Diego’s Barrio Cantina – Born To Rise Women’s Story Night at 6:30 p.m.
  • JB On The Water – Music Bingo at 6 p.m.
  • Middletown VFW – Line Dance Classes at 6:30 p.m.
  • Narragansett Cafe – Trivia at 7 p.m.
  • Newport Craft – Indoor Cornhole Tournament at 7 p.m.
  • The JPT Film & Event Center – Downton Abbey: The Grande Finale at 4:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.

City Information & 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 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.