George Pierce Baker (1866-1935) was a Professor of English at Harvard and Yale and author of Dramatic Technique, a codification of the principles of drama. Born in Providence in 1866, Baker graduated from Harvard University in 1887 and went on to teach in the English Department there until 1924. While there, he established the “47 Workshop,” to provide a forum […]
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Newport Hospital birthing center will stay open. But it needs another $4.9M a year to survive.
by Nancy Lavin, Rhode Island CurrentApril 3, 2026 Newport Hospital’s Noreen Stonor Drexel Birthing Center will remain open, Brown University Health announced on Friday. The commitment comes amid doubts over the award-winning labor and delivery unit’s future, which appeared in jeopardy due to decreasing births on Aquidneck Island and financial strain across the health care […]
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Treasurer Diossa brings financial literacy program to Thompson Middle School
General Treasurer James A. Diossa on Friday announced the expansion of the Financial Capabilities Consortium Program to Thompson Middle School in Newport, bringing financial literacy education to more than 100 eighth graders as part of Financial Literacy Month. Students participating in the program will receive in-classroom financial literacy coursework through the FLY Initiative, the opportunity […]
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Newport Hospital’s Noreen Stonor Drexel Birthing Center will remain open, but needs $4.9 million in new annual funding to survive
The Noreen Stonor Drexel Birthing Center at Newport Hospital will remain open, the hospital announced Friday — but its future depends on securing $4.9 million in sustained new annual funding from state and philanthropic sources. The announcement caps months of intense community advocacy that began last summer when Brown University Health first signaled the center […]
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15th annual Citizens Pell Bridge Run moves to August 30 due to planned Pell Bridge maintenance
The 15th annual Citizens Pell Bridge Run will take place Sunday, August 30 at 7 a.m., a departure from its traditional October date to accommodate significant maintenance and improvements planned for the Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge this fall. The 4-mile run and walk begins in Jamestown and finishes in downtown Newport, offering participants a rare […]
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Newport City Council to consider Ann Street Pier expansion, Easton’s Beach contracts and more at Wednesday meeting
The Newport City Council will meet on Wednesday, April 8, at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall, 43 Broadway, with an agenda that includes infrastructure contracts, beach concessions, board appointments, and a number of upcoming special events. Among the most significant items, the council will consider awarding contracts for the expansion of Ann […]
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League of Women Voters Newport County to host public discussion on Rhode Island elections and security on April 23
Rhode Island’s top election officials will join the League of Women Voters Newport County later this month for a public forum on how elections are conducted in the state, security measures in place and key legislative developments on the horizon. Secretary of State Gregg Amore and Deputy Secretary of State Rob Rock will lead the […]
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Ken Block is running for governor again. This time as an independent.
by Christopher Shea, Rhode Island CurrentApril 2, 2026 A Barrington software engineer who searched for voter fraud on behalf of the Trump campaign — and found none — is making his third attempt to run for the governor’s office. This time, Ken Block is running as an independent candidate. “My flavor of politics doesn’t align […]
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Newport’s 2026 cruise ship season kicks off this month, with a busy fall stretch ahead
Newport’s 2026 cruise ship season is underway, with dozens of vessels scheduled to call on the city between April and November, according to the latest schedule from Discover Newport and the Office of the Newport Harbor Master. The season was set to open Sunday with the Valiant Lady, but the ship canceled its Newport port […]
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Newport Restaurant Group donates more than $81,000 to local nonprofits through 2025 gift card program
Newport Restaurant Group has donated $81,314 to seven local nonprofits through its annual gift card donation program, surpassing last year’s total and bringing the program’s cumulative giving to more than $366,000 since its launch in 2019. Through the program, $2 from every gift card purchase is directed to area nonprofits fighting food insecurity. The 2025 […]
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Rhode Island General Treasurer James Diossa announces re-election campaign
Rhode Island General Treasurer James A. Diossa announced Thursday he is seeking re-election, releasing a campaign video featuring his children and partner while highlighting his first-term record of fiscal management and programs aimed at working families. “As Treasurer, my job has always been about more than numbers — it’s about people,” Diossa said. “Every investment […]
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East Providence mayor endorses Matos in lieutenant governor’s race
East Providence Mayor Roberto “Bob” DaSilva on Thursday endorsed Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos in her bid for a second term, lending the incumbent a prominent local voice as the Democratic primary for Rhode Island’s second-highest office grows more competitive. “Sabina fights tirelessly for everyday Rhode Islanders and always prioritizes the needs of our local communities,” […]
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National Sailing Hall of Fame announces Class of 2026, to be inducted in Newport this fall
The National Sailing Hall of Fame has announced its Class of 2026, a group of six sailors whose careers span Olympic podiums, record-setting ocean passages and pioneering roles for women in the sport. Induction festivities will take place over two days in Newport. A welcome cocktail party is set for the evening of Tuesday, October […]
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NOSOLO Giveback Foundation brings ‘Off to the Races’ Derby back to Newport on May 2
The NOSOLO Giveback Foundation will mark five years of mental health advocacy with a night at the races. The Middletown-based nonprofit, a registered 501(c)(3), will host Off to the Races: NOSOLO Foundation Derby on Saturday, May 2, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Salve Regina University’s Young Building. The Kentucky Derby-themed event features a live […]
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401Gives surpasses $5 million goal, setting records across the board for Rhode Island nonprofits
Rhode Islanders delivered. 401Gives, the statewide day of giving powered by United Way of Rhode Island, surpassed its $5 million fundraising goal by the time giving closed at 6 p.m. Wednesday, setting new records for donors, gifts and participating organizations in the initiative’s seven-year history. Over 36 hours, 20,112 donors made 32,544 gifts to benefit […]
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401Gives enters final hours with $3.5 million raised and two matching gift opportunities still ahead
401Gives is in its home stretch, and Rhode Islanders still have time to make their donations count. As of 11 a.m. Wednesday, the statewide day of giving had surpassed $3.5 million raised — more than $3.521 million from 22,431 gifts by more than 14,500 individual donors — pushing toward its $5 million goal with seven […]
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Rogers High School juniors launch ‘Donut or Donate’ fundraiser with a community twist
The Rogers High School Class of 2027 is giving Newport a reason to feel good about their next sugar fix. The junior class has launched a “Donut or Donate” fundraiser, selling dozens of Krispy Kreme donuts for $15 each — with a charitable option baked in. Buyers can choose to keep their donuts, have them […]
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Judge rules that HUD effort to change criteria for homeless funding is unlawful
By MICHAEL CASEY Associated Press A federal judge in Rhode Island ruled on Tuesday that the Trump administration’s effort to dramatically change the criteria to get tens of millions of dollars in funding to aid homeless people was unlawful. Several nonprofits filed a lawsuit last year accusing the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development of changing the rules […]
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Newport City Council confronts $925,000 public safety overrun as budget season opens
In the opening round of a citywide budget workshop series, Newport’s City Council pressed department heads and finance officials Monday night over a nearly million-dollar public safety spending gap, deferred fire station maintenance and an ambitious proposal to reshape how the city manages its parking operations — all against a backdrop of union contracts, supply […]
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401Gives tops $2.5 million in less than 12 hours, already halfway to its goal
The momentum behind 401Gives shows no signs of slowing down. By 5:17 p.m. Tuesday, the statewide day of giving had surpassed $2.5 million raised — more than halfway to its overall goal — with more than 15,860 donations pouring in from over 10,200 individual donors in less than 12 hours. A record 658 nonprofits have […]
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PPAC reveals its 2026/2027 season — and all six Broadway shows are new
On Tuesday morning, the management team at the Providence Performing Arts Center unveiled its 2026/2027 season in the theater’s grand lobby. Alan Chille, PPAC’s new president and CEO, first announced the Broadway season, sponsored by The Taco and The White Family Foundation. Chille was excited that all six of these shows are new: Operation Mincemeat […]
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The High Kings bring Rocky Road Tour to The JPT in July
Ireland’s leading folk group, The High Kings, are coming to Newport this summer as part of their Rocky Road Tour 2026. Spectacle Live will present the concert at The JPT Film & Event Center on Thursday, July 16, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets go on sale Friday, April 3, at 10 a.m. and are available at […]
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Newport International Boat Show sets dates for 55th annual event this September
The Newport International Boat Show will mark its 55th year this fall, with organizers announcing the event will take place September 17-20, 2026, at the Newport Yachting Center in downtown Newport. “We are so excited to announce the dates for our 55th annual show,” said Lisa Knowles, show director. “Every year we add more to […]
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401Gives surpasses $1 million in just hours as Rhode Islanders rally behind local nonprofits
Rhode Islanders didn’t wait long to open their wallets. 401Gives, the statewide day of giving powered by United Way of Rhode Island, surpassed $1 million in donations by 9:42 a.m. Tuesday — just a few hours after giving began — with more than 3,700 donors contributing to 602 nonprofits. The Haitian Project led all organizations […]
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Messenger’s late goal lifts Tiverton past Rogers in girls lacrosse thriller, 8-7
Addaline Messenger saved her best for last. The senior midfielder scored three goals Monday evening, capping the performance with the game-winner in the final minutes to lift Tiverton past Rogers 8-7 in a girls lacrosse game played at Tiverton High School. The contest was decided within one or two goals the entire game, with neither […]