City & Government

Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed joined Governor Gina M. Raimondo today at Rogers High School for an assembly with the school’s students, according to a press release from the State of Rhode Island General Assembly.The Senate President and Governor talked with the students about the importance of continuing their education after graduation and discussed […]

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) announced in a press release that starting on Wednesday, March 1st it is beginning the process of removing the old Sakonnet River Bridge. The bridge was closed in 2012 with the opening of the new Sakonnet River Bridge. “We’re pleased to inform citizens on both sides of the […]

The Rhode Island Departments of Environmental Management (DEM) and Health (RIDOH) has announced today via a press release that areas of Rhode Island Sound, lower Narragansett Bay south of the Newport Pell and Jamestown Verrazzano Bridges, and lower Sakonnet River will be closed to shellfish harvesting beginning at sunrise on Wednesday, March 1, until further […]

The Newport  Police Department announced on Tuesday afternoon that they will need to close Thames Street on Tuesday evening. “Due to unforeseen circumstances Thames Street will be closed tonight, 02/28/17, starting at 8 pm. between Memorial Blvd and Young Street. National Grid Gas will be conducting repairs to the gas main on Thames Street requiring […]

Exterior construction work on the Newport Transportation and Visitors Center (Newport Gateway Center) has been temporarily stopped due to soil tests that showed results of arsenic, lead and at least one petroleum byproduct. “Work at the site has stopped temporarily due to the findings of some soil samples that were taken to ensure proper disposal […]

The Rhode Island Commerce Corporation announced today in the following press release that it has selected three vendors to execute its upcoming tourism campaign. At this month’s meeting, the Commerce Corporation Board voted to authorize the Commerce Corporation to enter into agreements with NAIL Communications, the RDW Group, and NJF, an MMGY Global company. Under […]

Here is what’s happening for road work, closures and detours in and around Newport, RI this week. Roadwork scheduled by Rhode Island Department Of Transportation:  Tiverton and Portsmouth: Rte. 24 North and South, from West Main Rd. to the Massachusetts state line, partial right lane closure for sweeping, Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to […]

Concerned about the performance and cost overruns of several public works projects involving computers, Sen.  James A. Seveney (D-Dist. 11, Portsmouth, Bristol, Tiverton) plans to introduce legislation that would require certification of software engineers. The legislation would create a professional designation and registration criteria for professional software engineers with the subsequent purpose of requiring professional […]

U.S. Naval War College (NWC) Library has announced initial implementation of TRIREME digital repository and preservation system. The name TRIREME comes from the ancient Mediterranean maritime vessels with three banks of oars. It stands as a metaphor for the three institutions of higher education involved in the initial pilot project: the Naval Postgraduate School in […]

The following items of business came before the Newport City Council at its regular meeting to be held on February 22, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. No residents signed up to speak at the citizen’s forum. COUNCIL LIAISON UPDATES 1. PUBLIC HEARING- Recommended FY2018-2022 Capital Improvement Program. A copy for review is on file in the […]

After months of public meetings and discussion, the proposed plastic bag ordinance and implementation plan will go in front of Newport City Council on Wednesday, February 22nd. Update: At the February 22nd Newport City Council meeting, the resolution was continued to the March 8th meeting for a vote, because the ordiance had to be voted […]

Where does your drinking water come from? Where does your wastewater end up? Why does it all cost so much?   The Alliance for Livable Newport (ALN) will host a Community Forum and Information session featuring Julia Forgue, Director of the Newport Utilities Department, and her staff who will explain their department’s responsibilities and operations. The […]

Here is what’s happening for road work, closures and detours in and around Newport, RI this week. Roadwork scheduled by Rhode Island Department Of Transportation: 2/18-2/24 Weekday Newport: Gladys Carr Bolhouse Rd. (Goat Island Causeway) East and West, from Washington St. to Goat Island Rd., alternating one-way traffic with a partial right lane closure for a […]

Newport Police Department has announced that Officer Brittany Foster will be instructing Rape Aggression Defense classes, a women’s self-defense course, in March. The Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) Basic Personal Defense System is a national program of realistic self-defense tactics and techniques taught for women only. All courses are taught by nationally certified R.A.D. Instructors. The […]

As part of her “Aging in the Community” package of legislation, Rep. Deborah Ruggiero (D-Dist. 74, Jamestown, Middletown) has introduced legislation that would reform property tax relief for Rhode Island’s elderly community by increasing the property tax credit for low-income seniors. Rep. Deborah Ruggiero (D-Dist. 74, Jamestown, Middletown) The bill (2017-H 5458) would amend the […]

Speaker Nicholas A. Mattiello (D-Dist. 15, Cranston) has announced that Rhode Island has been ranked as the fifth best state in the country for laws protecting animals by the Animal Legal Defense Fund in the group’s eleventh annual year-end report.  Last year, Rhode Island was ranked seventh in the country. “This is a true honor for […]

The Newport Police Department is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying possible suspects in a larceny investigation. Newport Police Department posted the following on their Facebook Page on Thursday morning.  

The following items of business will go before the Newport City Council at their next regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, February 22nd. [pdf-embedder url=”https://whatsupnewp.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/DocumentViewer.pdf”]

One person suffered non-life-threatening injuries in a multi-car crash that forced the closure of the eastbound lanes of traffic on the Newport/Pell Bridge just before 9 a.m. today, according to the Rhode Island State Police. The victim, whose name was not released, was taken to South County Hospital. State Police Capt. Matthew Moynihan said the […]

Sen. Louis P. DiPalma (D-Dist. 12, Middletown, Little Compton, Newport, Tiverton) has introduced legislation (2017-S 0210) that would gradually increase the state’s contribution to the teachers’ retirement system, while reducing the municipal contribution, which would eventually result in the contributions being shared equally between the state and municipalities. “This legislation will provide meaningful tax relief […]

The Southeastern New England Defense Industry Alliance (SENEDIA) and the Undersea Technology Innovation Center (UTIC) are launching a series of technology talks to explore and share defense and undersea technologies, applications and opportunities.  The Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport (NUWC Division Newport) is the first to conduct several technology talks that highlight upcoming opportunities, […]

Here is what’s happening for road work, closures and detours in and around Newport, RI this week. Roadwork scheduled by Rhode Island Department Of Transportation: 2/4-2/10 Newport: In order to accommodate construction work at the Newport Transportation and Visitors Center, motorists will experience a right lane closure on America’s Cup Ave., from Gladys Carr Bolhouse Rd. […]

How is the City Of Newport doing with snow removal and plowing on city streets? Take our poll, and then let us know in the comments what the situation is on your street. [polldaddy poll=9662530]

There will be a “Parking Ban” in effect at 12:00 PM (noon) Thursday, February 9, 2017, until Thursday February 9, 2017 at 11:59 pm., due to the forecasted snow storm. Motor vehicles parked on such a street one-half hour after the public ban has been announced may be towed. Residents can utilize the following parking […]