The Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank has closed on a $100,000 loan with full principal forgiveness for the Prudence Park Water Association to install new pressure tanks and a flow meter, officials announced Thursday. The grant will fund critical infrastructure improvements for the small, nonprofit public drinking water system on Prudence Island’s west side. The system […]
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Posted inCity & Government
Tiverton police launch online crime mapping tool
The Tiverton Police Department has launched a new community crime mapping page on its website, providing residents with an interactive tool to view recent police activity and general crime trends. The department announced the launch Wednesday on its Facebook page, describing the initiative as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen transparency, public engagement and awareness […]
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Newport welcomes Shimoda sister city delegation with week of cultural events
The City of Newport will host a delegation from its sister city of Shimoda, Japan, this week for a series of cultural exchange events open to the public, including ninth-grade students who will tour the new Rogers High School. The Newport Sister City Commission is coordinating the visit, which begins Thursday with a welcoming reception […]
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Family rescued after being stranded on small island off Cape Cod after boat caught fire
WOODS HOLE, Mass. (AP) — A family was rescued Wednesday by the Coast Guard off Cape Cod after their 30-foot pleasure boat caught fire and they were forced to swim to a small island where they sheltered in a barn for almost two days. When the mother, father and their son didn’t return as expected […]
Posted inCity & Government
Rhode Island in recession since December, economist says
Rhode Island is in a recession … and likely has been since last December, according to University of Rhode Island economist Leonard Lardaro. “The time for equivocation has come to an end,” Lardaro wrote, commenting on his monthly Current Conditions Index. “RHODE ISLAND IS IN A RECESSION.” His view may not be shared regionally and […]
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Rhode Island food pantries slammed as SNAP beneficiaries brace for funding to run dry
Six hundred dollars can’t cover an entire month of groceries for Yolanda Robertson’s family of five. But it’s a critical piece of how the 36-year-old single mom can put food on the table. Or at least, it was. Robertson is among the 42 million low-income people nationwide, including 140,000 Rhode Islanders, who stand to lose […]
Posted inBusiness
Middletown Self Storage to celebrate grand opening of Valley Road location
Middletown Self Storage will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its newest location at 101 Valley Road on Monday, Oct. 27, at noon. The event, held in partnership with the Newport Chamber of Commerce, will feature facility tours, light refreshments and giveaways. The company is offering first month free to all new customers who rent a […]
Posted inCity & Government
Record 29.4 million visitors traveled to Rhode Island in 2024, spent $6 billion
Rhode Island welcomed 29.4 million visitors in 2024, marking a 3.7% increase over the previous year and representing a new record for the state, according to data released Wednesday by Governor Dan McKee and Rhode Island Commerce. The visitors spent $6 billion throughout the state, a 7% increase from 2023, according to research conducted by […]
Posted inFood & Drink, Instagram, News, Things To Do
22 Bowen’s to host Italian winemaker dinner on Newport waterfront
22 Bowen’s Wine Bar & Grille will host Italian winemaker Stefano Gagliardo for a five-course wine-pairing dinner Nov. 1 at 5:30 p.m. Gagliardo, owner and winemaker of Poderi Gianni Gagliardo, will present wines from his family’s Piedmont winery alongside dishes prepared by Executive Chef Justin Garcia. The dinner costs $185 per person, plus tax and […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Gov. McKee opens applications for $81M in housing bond programs
Governor Dan McKee and Housing Secretary Deborah Goddard on Tuesday announced the opening of applications for the first wave of programs funded by Rhode Island’s $120 million housing bond, with $81 million now available to municipalities and developers. The bond, approved by voters in 2024, aims to address the state’s housing crisis by expanding homeownership […]
Posted inNews, Nonprofit
Rhode Island youth climate conference set for Nov. 8 at Roger Williams Park Zoo
Rhode Island teenagers will gather at Roger Williams Park Zoo on Nov. 8 for a daylong climate action conference designed to empower young leaders to tackle environmental challenges in their communities. The Rhode Island Youth Climate Conference, hosted by the Rhode Island Environmental Education Association, will run from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and is […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Ringling Bros. circus returns to Providence in May 2026
The circus is coming back to town. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey announced Tuesday that “The Greatest Show On Earth” will return to Providence for six performances at Amica Mutual Pavilion from May 29-31, 2026. Tickets are now on sale for the reimagined production, which promises a high-energy, music-driven experience featuring 65 world-class performers […]
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One of the world’s rarest whales that makes the Atlantic its home grows in population
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — One of the rarest whales on the planet has continued an encouraging trend of population growth in the wake of new efforts to protect the giant animals, according to scientists who study them. The North Atlantic right whale now numbers an estimated 384 animals, up eight whales from the previous year, […]
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Rhode Island man arrested in Scotland and convicted of Utah rape gets at least 5 years in prison
By HANNAH SCHOENBAUM and MEAD GRUVER Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A Utah judge on Monday sentenced a man who appeared to fake his death and flee the United States to avoid arrest on rape charges to anywhere from five years to life in prison. Nicholas Rossi, 38, is “a serial abuser of women” and […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Rail Explorers celebrates one-millionth rider with lesson in aging well
On Friday, October 17, a simple, joy-filled celebration took place in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, as Rail Explorers marked its one-millionth ride. This achievement represents more than a milestone–it reflects how we can still find wonder in new experiences, the beauty of nature, and the shared happiness that comes from doing something together in the open […]
Posted inInstagram, News, Sports
Brad Read captures DF95 National Championship in Newport sibling showdown
Brad Read of Middletown outlasted his younger brother Ken in a three-day battle to win the DF95 National Championship on Sunday, completing 14 races of remote-controlled sailing at Sail Newport. The victory came down to the final day of competition, with Brad holding off Ken by three points. Brian Shores of Lakewood, Texas, finished third, […]
Posted inBusiness
International Tennis Hall of Fame adds eight to Board of Governors
The International Tennis Hall of Fame announced Monday it will welcome eight new members to its Board of Governors in 2026, bringing diverse expertise from business, philanthropy and the tennis industry. Three current board members were also appointed to the 24-member Executive Board, which helps guide the nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving tennis history and […]
Posted inArts & Culture
New PBS docuseries ‘Ocean State’ explores Rhode Island’s marine wonders
Rhode Island’s coastal waters are getting the nature documentary treatment they deserve. Ocean State Media and The Nature Conservancy announced Friday that filming has begun on “Ocean State,” a four-part PBS docuseries showcasing the remarkable marine ecosystems off Rhode Island’s coast, with special attention to the biodiversity hotspot surrounding Block Island. The series, produced by […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Jamestown Arts Center to screen rare David Lynch short films Oct. 29
The Jamestown Arts Center will present a collection of rarely shown short films by director David Lynch on Wednesday, Oct. 29, offering audiences a chance to experience the filmmaker’s early experimental work on the big screen. Doors open at 6 p.m., with screenings beginning at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 for general admission. The event […]
Posted inArts & Culture
JPT Film & Event Center honors Robert Redford with eight-film retrospective
The Jane Pickens Theater & Event Center is launching a film series this month honoring the late Robert Redford, showcasing eight of the actor and filmmaker’s most celebrated works over the coming months. Redford died Sept. 16 at age 89. “Remembering Robert Redford” kicks off Sunday, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m. with a screening of […]
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Obituary: Patricia McGough McMahon
W. Patricia “Pat” McMahon, 89, of Middletown, RI, passed away peacefully on October 14,2025, in Newport, RI. Pat was born in Newport, RI to Winifred and Joseph McGough on January 1, 1936. She attended high school at St. Catherine’s Academy in Newport and graduated in 1953. She began teaching at Sacred Heart in Pawtucket, RI […]
Posted inBusiness
Newport Vineyards celebrates 30 years
Settled on over 100 acres of farmland, family-owned and operated Newport Vineyards, celebrating 30 years in business, allows visitors the chance to experience farm-to-table dining, Sunday brunch, wine and cheese classes, live music, daily tours and tastings, and more. Open to all ages, the indoor marketplace and outdoor space give guests the chance to embrace […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Only Newport achieves affordable housing threshold
Only Newport among Newport County communities achieves the state’s goal of 10 percent housing classified as affordable, despite the state legislature’s creative revision to how it counts affordable housing units. That revision was meant to add housing units to those counted as “low and moderate income,” but still only eight of Rhode Island’s 39 cities […]
Posted inCity & Government, News
Newport opens applications for 2027 community grant programs
The City of Newport announced Friday the launch of its newly revised community grant programs, opening funding opportunities for local nonprofit organizations serving the community’s most vulnerable residents. Applications for fiscal year 2027 grants will be accepted through an online portal opening Nov. 13, with a firm deadline of Dec. 5. The initiative represents a […]
Posted inInstagram, News, Nonprofit
Newport Mental Health gala raises nearly $220,000 for behavioral health services
Newport Mental Health’s 11th annual “Rock the Beach” gala raised nearly $220,000 for behavioral health programs in Newport County during a Sept. 25 event at the Newport Beach House. The fundraiser drew 250 guests for an evening featuring a live auction, paddle raise and entertainment by Purple Honey. “What moved me most at this year’s […]