The Rhode Island Department of Health is launching Man Therapy, a national campaign aimed at getting working-age men to take their mental health seriously, running through April online, on social media and on gas station ad screens. The campaign centers on a website, mantherapy.org, with resources on depression, divorce and suicide for men and the […]
Environment & Health
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Newport Hospital is first in Rhode Island with the da Vinci 5 surgical robot
Newport Hospital has become the first in Rhode Island to use the da Vinci 5, the newest version of Intuitive’s robotic-assisted surgical platform, after a year of fundraising that covered the full cost through donations. The system will be used for minimally invasive procedures in urology, gynecology, thoracic surgery and general surgery. It translates a […]
Posted inCity & Government
Reed, Whitehouse and Amo ask EPA for help with Tiverton PFAS contamination
Rhode Island’s congressional delegation is asking the Environmental Protection Agency to step in and help residents whose private wells have been contaminated with PFAS, the class of chemicals known as forever chemicals. Sens. Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Rep. Gabe Amo wrote to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin on Tuesday, calling it an urgent public […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Washington County man is Rhode Island’s third Powassan virus case this year
A Washington County man in his 60s has a confirmed case of Powassan virus, the Rhode Island Department of Health said Monday, the state’s third case of the rare tick-borne disease this year. He began showing symptoms in late August. It is the 11th Rhode Island case since the disease was first reported in the […]
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Rhode Island health officials urge flu, COVID and RSV vaccination ahead of respiratory season
The Rhode Island Department of Health is urging residents to get vaccinated against flu, COVID-19 and RSV as those viruses begin their seasonal climb. “Last year, flu, COVID-19, and other respiratory viruses sent hundreds of Rhode Islanders to the hospital,” said Director of Health Jerry Larkin. “Vaccination is your best protection.” During the 2025-26 season, […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
State advises avoiding all contact with Lower Melville Pond in Portsmouth over algae bloom
State health and environmental officials are advising people to stay out of Lower Melville Pond because of a harmful algae bloom, with all recreation — swimming, fishing, boating and kayaking — considered high risk. The Department of Environmental Management collected water samples that were tested at the Department of Health’s state laboratories. The advisory remains […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
This Day In History: August 31, 1881 – Inaugural US Men’s Single Tennis Championships Is Played in Newport
The inaugural U.S. National Championship took place on August 31, 1881 at the Newport Casino in Newport, Rhode Island. In the first year of the tennis championships only clubs that were members of the United States National Lawn Tennis Association were permitted to enter. A Men’s Singles and Men’s Doubles competition were played. The first […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health, History, Sports
On This Day In Newport History – August 27, 1995: Tiger Woods Wins 1995 U.S. Amateur Championship in Newport
In celebration of the U.S. Amateur Championship centennial, the Newport Country Club hosted the 1995 U.S. Amateur Championship. At age 19, Tiger Woods became the ninth player to win back-to-back Amateur championships when he defeated Buddy Marucci on August 27th at the 1995 US Amateur at Newport Country Club. Following an outstanding amateur and two-year college golf […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Dr. Michael Fine: What’s crazy about COVID and flu vaccines in 2026
I got a Pfizer COVID vaccine last night from Walgreens. And no, RFK Jr, I didn’t die. I didn’t feel a thing, and I feel fine now. No magnetic particles are letting extraterrestrials control my thoughts from space, at least not as far as I can tell. We are in the late summer COVID spike, […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
King Park Beach reopens for swimming
The Rhode Island Department of Health is recommending that the swimming area at King Park Beach reopen after bacteria counts returned to safe levels. The beach was closed to swimming last Thursday, Aug. 13, after elevated bacteria counts. RIDOH will continue monitoring beach water quality through Labor Day, and a beach’s status can change as […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Rhode Island says childhood vaccine requirements unchanged despite federal executive order
Rhode Island’s vaccination requirements for children entering child care and schools have not changed, Gov. Dan McKee and the Rhode Island Department of Health said Tuesday, responding to an executive order signed by President Trump on Aug. 10 calling for fewer childhood vaccines and changes to when they are administered. State officials said Rhode Island’s […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Health department recommends closing King Park Beach to swimming
The Rhode Island Department of Health is recommending that the swimming area at King Park Beach be closed due to high bacteria counts, the department announced Thursday afternoon. RIDOH will continue monitoring beach water quality through Labor Day, and a beach’s status can change as new samples come in. Current beach information is available on […]
Posted inNews
Newport County man diagnosed with rare tick-borne Powassan virus
A Newport County man in his 70s has been diagnosed with Powassan virus, a rare tick-borne illness, the Rhode Island Department of Health announced Thursday. The man began experiencing symptoms in late July. It is the state’s second confirmed Powassan case in 2026 and the tenth since Rhode Island first reported the disease in 2016. […]
Posted inNews
Newport Mental Health licensed to provide mobile crisis response for children and families across Rhode Island
Newport Mental Health has been officially licensed by the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families to provide Mobile Response and Stabilization Services, expanding access to community-based behavioral health crisis care for children, youth, and families statewide. MRSS provides 24/7 in-person crisis support, with trained clinicians responding wherever a crisis occurs — at home, […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Boil water advisory lifted for Stone Bridge Fire District customers in Tiverton
The Rhode Island Department of Health has lifted the precautionary boil water advisory issued to Stone Bridge Fire District customers, the agency announced Wednesday. The advisory was put in place July 27 following a water main break that risked causing a loss of pressure to multiple areas of the system. Stone Bridge Fire District repaired […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Boil water advisory issued for Stone Bridge Fire District customers in Tiverton
The Rhode Island Department of Health has issued a precautionary boil water advisory for customers of the Stone Bridge Fire District public water system following a water main break Monday on Lawton Ave that caused a loss of water pressure. A drop in pressure can allow bacteria to enter the system. Stone Bridge Fire District […]
Posted inNews
Dr. Michael Fine: Why it’s crazy we don’t have community paramedicine everywhere in Rhode Island
One of the things driving health care cost increases in the US is the way people use emergency rooms for routine medical care. Between 40 and 88 percent of all emergency room visits are for diseases and conditions that don’t require hospitalization – for colds and sore throats and simple sprains, headaches and back pain. […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
State agencies warn against all water contact at Lower Melville Pond in Portsmouth and Tiogue Lake in Coventry due to algae blooms
Rhode Island health and environmental officials are advising the public to avoid all contact with Lower Melville Pond in Portsmouth and Tiogue Lake in Coventry after harmful algae blooms were detected at both locations. The Rhode Island Department of Health and the Department of Environmental Management recommend avoiding swimming, fishing, boating, and kayaking at both […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Rhode Island health officials issue food safety reminder as multistate Cyclospora outbreak is linked to Taco Bell lettuce
The Rhode Island Department of Health is reminding residents to follow food safety practices as federal health officials investigate a multistate outbreak of cyclosporiasis linked to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell locations in five states. The CDC and FDA have advised consumers not to eat shredded iceberg lettuce from Taco Bell locations in […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Rhode Island is on pace to exceed its annual average for rabid animals, state health officials warn
Rhode Island health and environmental officials are urging residents to avoid contact with wild animals after the state recorded 25 rabid animals in the first half of 2026 — already surpassing the annual average of 24 reported between 2021 and 2025. The Rhode Island Department of Health and the Department of Environmental Management issued the […]
Posted inNews
Air quality alert issued for Rhode Island today as wildfire smoke moves in from Minnesota
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management has issued an air quality alert for Wednesday, July 15, as bands of heavy wildfire smoke from fires in northern Minnesota move into the region. Fine particle readings are expected to reach unhealthy levels for sensitive groups on the Air Quality Index beginning midday, with elevated readings continuing […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Rhode Island Blood Center declares blood emergency as supply falls below two-day level
The Rhode Island Blood Center has declared a blood emergency after the region’s blood supply dropped below a two-day inventory — well below the five-to-seven-day level considered healthy — as hospitals enter the height of summer trauma season. The shortage is part of a broader national crisis. America’s Blood Centers has issued a statement warning […]
Posted inColumns
Dr. Michael Fine: What’s crazy about health care in Lithuania
I’ve just returned from a brief research trip to Lithuania, which wasn’t focused on health care. But while I was there, I had the opportunity to discuss the Lithuanian health care system with a colleague who runs the district health center of a small Lithuanian city. I learned that Lithuania, like most of Europe and […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Sandy Point Beach in Portsmouth reopens after bacteria levels return to safe levels
The Rhode Island Department of Health has cleared Sandy Point Beach for swimming after bacteria counts returned to safe levels, the agency announced Thursday. Third Beach in Middletown and City Park Beach in Warwick remain under swimming advisories due to high bacteria counts. Beach status may change as new water quality data becomes available. Up-to-date […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Health department recommends against swimming at Third Beach, Sandy Point, and City Park Beach
The Rhode Island Department of Health is recommending that swimmers avoid three local beaches due to high bacteria counts: Third Beach in Middletown, Sandy Point Beach in Portsmouth, and City Park Beach in Warwick. Beach status may change as new water quality data becomes available. Up-to-date information is available through RIDOH’s beaches telephone line at […]