State Sen. Linda Ujifusa is urging the Portsmouth Town Council to support a moratorium on new gas hookups on Aquidneck Island, arguing it’s necessary to close a temporary liquefied natural gas facility that has operated in a residential neighborhood for nearly six years. In a memorandum sent Tuesday to both the Town Council and the […]
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ICE crackdowns intensify across Boston as sanctuary cities face Trump’s latest operation
By LEAH WILLINGHAM, MICHAEL CASEY and HOLLY RAMER Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — Immigrants are being detained while going to work, outside courthouses, and at store parking lots in Metro Boston as President Donald Trump targets so-called sanctuary cities in his effort to ramp up immigration enforcement. As families hole up in homes — afraid to […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health, News
Trump has crushed offshore wind plans, but states haven’t quite given up hope
by Alex Brown, StatelineSeptember 16, 2025 As President Donald Trump wages an all-out assault on offshore wind projects, state leaders face a dilemma: Do they pull the plug on offshore wind and look for other ways to meet their fast-growing energy needs? Or do they double down on their investments, in hopes of helping the […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Hollywood icon Robert Redford dies at 89; had deep Newport ties
Robert Redford, the golden-haired Hollywood icon whose magnetic screen presence defined American cinema for generations, died Tuesday morning at his Utah home. He was 89. The Oscar-winning actor and director maintained a special connection to Newport that spanned 42 years — from his star-making role in “The Great Gatsby” to his heartfelt 2016 thank-you letter […]
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Notes: Middletown Center development project heads to public hearing Tuesday
Good morning, Newport! 👋 Today is Tuesday, Sept. 16, the 259th day of 2025. There are 106 days left in the year. 🚨 You need to know Middletown Center Development Project Heads to Public Hearing Tuesday (Credit: Town of Middletown) The Town Council will hold a public hearing Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the Middletown […]
Posted inArts & Culture
‘Water Brother: The Sid Abbruzzi Story’ now available for digital purchase and rental
The highly anticipated documentary “Water Brother: The Sid Abbruzzi Story” is now available for purchase and rental on major digital platforms, bringing the story of Newport’s legendary surfer and skater to audiences worldwide. The 90-minute film, directed by Charles and Daniel Kinnane and produced by Kinnane Brothers studio, premiered at Fort Adams State Park in […]
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New England’s shrimp industry is struggling, with fishermen catching few in 2025
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — There’s an effort underway to bring New England shrimp back to seafood customers — but fishermen have found few of the crustaceans, and the fishing industry that harvests them may face an even longer shutdown. Fishermen have been under a moratorium on catching shrimp for more than a decade because of […]
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IYRS School of Technology & Trades earns dual national honors for student success
The IYRS School of Technology & Trades received two national honors from the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges, the school announced in a press release Monday. The Newport-based trade school earned the 2025 ACCSC Commitment to Student Success Award, the commission’s highest institutional recognition, according to the announcement. Additionally, Athena Vieira, a 2024 […]
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Notes: Newport City Council meets tonight at Pell Elementary School
Good morning, Newport! 👋 Today is Monday, Sept. 15, the 258th day of 2025. There are 107 days left in the year. 🚨 You need to know Looking at the City of Newport’s latest newsletter, two items stand out for residents: Free Composting Program Launches for Newport Residents Newport has partnered with 11th Hour Racing, […]
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URI launches study abroad program honoring late Newport resident Earl Smith
The University of Rhode Island launched its inaugural Earl N. Smith III Cabo Verde Study Abroad Program this summer, honoring a beloved former assistant dean who was a Newport resident, according to URI. Eleven URI students traveled to Cabo Verde as part of the program that celebrates Smith’s commitment to social justice and cross-cultural understanding. […]
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Newport International Boat Show announces 2025 Newport for New Products award winners
The Newport International Boat Show announced Friday the winners of its 2025 Newport for New Products awards, honoring innovation in marine products as judged by industry experts. Hinckley Yachts’ Picnic Boat 39 claimed the top prize as Best New Boat Overall and also won Best New Powerboat Under 45-feet at the awards ceremony held Sept. […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health, News
State health officials issue advisory for Portsmouth pond due to toxic algae bloom
State health and environmental officials are advising residents to avoid all contact with Lower Melville Pond after confirming the presence of a harmful cyanobacteria bloom that can cause serious health problems in humans and pets. The Rhode Island Department of Health and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management issued the advisory Friday, warning that swimming, […]
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Notes: St. Mary’s Church marks 72nd anniversary of Kennedy wedding today
Good morning, Newport! 👋 Today is Thursday, September 11, the 254th day of 2025. There are 111 days left in the year. 🚨 You need to know St. Mary’s Church will commemorate the 72nd anniversary of Sen. John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier’s wedding today with two presentations recreating their Sept. 12, 1953, ceremony at […]
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Naval War College honors 11 alumni killed in Sept. 11 attacks
The U.S. Naval War College held a remembrance ceremony Wednesday at its 9/11 Patriot Memorial to honor 11 students and alumni killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The college commemorated those who were among the nearly 3,000 people killed when hijacked planes destroyed the World Trade Center towers in New York, crashed into […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Jazz meets Shakespeare in Newport concert series
Puddingstone Music will launch a new concert series this fall combining jazz performances with Shakespeare readings, the organization announced Thursday. The “Jazz and Shakespeare” series will feature two performances at Newport venues, blending live music with dramatic readings of the playwright’s monologues and sonnets. The series opens Sept. 28 at 3 p.m. at Provence Sur […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport City Council meeting rescheduled to Monday at Pell School
The Newport City Council meeting originally scheduled for Wednesday has been rescheduled to Monday, Sept. 15, at 6:30 p.m. at the Pell School Cafeteria, 35 Dexter St. The city’s communications department announced the rescheduled meeting location and date Friday morning, noting the session was moved from its original Sept. 10 date. The meeting will be […]
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Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County names new CEO
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County has appointed Kelley Coen as its chief executive officer, the organization announced in a press release. Coen, currently the club’s chief advancement officer, will officially begin her new role Sept. 25. “I am honored to be leading the Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County,” Coen said […]
Posted inInstagram, News, Nonprofit
Sail Newport upgrades fleet with 14 new J/7 keelboats for public programs
Sail Newport announced Thursday at the Newport International Boat Show that it has purchased 14 new J/7 sailboats to replace its aging fleet and expand capacity for the nonprofit’s public sailing programs, according to a press release. The 23-foot daysailers feature enlarged cockpits that can accommodate up to six adults, nearly double the capacity of […]
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Notes: 55th Annual Newport Boat Show headlines busy weekend of events
Good morning, Newport! 👋 Today is Thursday, September 11, the 254th day of 2025. There are 111 days left in the year. 🚨 You need to know The 55th Annual Newport International Boat Show opens Thursday, anchoring a weekend filled with diverse entertainment options across the Newport region. The prestigious boat show, running through Sunday, […]
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Oracle surge briefly makes Newport mansion owner Larry Ellison world’s richest person before Musk reclaims title
Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison briefly became the world’s richest person Wednesday morning after his company’s stock surged more than 36%, but Tesla CEO Elon Musk reclaimed the title by day’s end in a dramatic wealth battle that connected Newport to Wall Street’s artificial intelligence frenzy. Ellison, who owns the historic Beechwood Mansion on prestigious Bellevue […]
Posted inCity & Government
Judge blocks a Trump policy cutting off some social services for immigrants in the US illegally
By MAKIYA SEMINERA Associated Press A federal judge on Wednesday blocked Trump administration restrictions on services for immigrants in the country illegally, including the federal preschool program Head Start, health clinics and adult education. The order from the judge in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island applies to 20 states and the District of Columbia, whose […]
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Newport International Boat Show opens Thursday for 54th annual event
The Newport International Boat Show will open its gates Thursday for its 54th annual event, kicking off the 2025 boat show season with four days of displays spanning more than 17 acres in downtown Newport. The show runs Sept. 11-14 at the Newport Yachting Center, featuring new sailboats and powerboats across six connecting show sites, […]
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Newport Elks lodge to host celebrity bartender night for Alzheimer’s fundraiser
Newport Mayor Charlie Holder will trade his gavel for a cocktail shaker next week when he joins other local celebrities behind the bar for a fundraising event benefiting the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. The Newport Elks Lodge #104 will host “Pouring for a Purpose: Celebrity Bartender Night” on Thursday, Sept. 18, from 4-7 p.m. at […]
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Visiting Nurse Home & Hospice marks 75 years of service
Visiting Nurse Home & Hospice, a cornerstone of public health in Rhode Island, is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. The non-profit, which began with just four nurses in Newport, has grown into a statewide organization with more than 200 employees, providing skilled nursing, rehabilitation and hospice care to thousands of patients annually. The organization’s […]
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Rhode Island coalition to host seventh annual stormwater innovation expo
The Rhode Island Green Infrastructure Coalition will host its seventh annual Stormwater Innovation Expo on Oct. 8, bringing together environmental professionals and community leaders to address climate resilience challenges facing the Ocean State. The day-long event, scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Roger Williams Park Casino, will focus on the theme “Climate […]