by Nancy Lavin, Rhode Island Current May 5, 2026 Brown University Health made a hazy promise to keep Newport Hospital’s birthing center open if it can secure an extra $4.9 million in state and philanthropic aid. But lawmakers aren’t ready to deliver any taxpayer money without assurances.“We don’t just take what somebody puts on a […]
News
Posted inEnvironment & Health
DEM closes Lower Providence River shellfish area after 800,000-gallon sewage discharge in East Providence
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management has closed the Lower Providence River conditional shellfish area, known as Area 16E, after a break in an East Providence sewage line discharged roughly 800,000 gallons of untreated sewage into the river. The closure took effect immediately and will remain in place until further notice, DEM said in […]
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REGENT CEO Billy Thalheimer to deliver commencement address at IYRS graduation May 30
Billy Thalheimer, co-founder and CEO of North Kingstown-based REGENT, will deliver the commencement address at IYRS School of Technology & Trades’ 28th annual Graduation & Launch Day on Saturday, May 30. The ceremony begins at 10 a.m. in Restoration Hall at IYRS, 449 Thames St. REGENT is pioneering maritime mobility through high-speed hydrofoiling wing-in-ground effect […]
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Your Newport County weather forecast: 7 days on land and sea
Whether you’re heading out on the water, planning a weekend event, or just trying to dress for the day, here’s your full 7-day forecast for Newport County — pulled live from NOAA’s National Weather Service and refreshed automatically. Weather Forecast Marine Forecast
Posted inCity & Government
Reed marks 250th anniversary of Rhode Island’s break from King George III at Old State House reopening
U.S. Sen. Jack Reed joined community leaders and the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission on Monday to mark the 250th anniversary of Rhode Island Independence Day at the newly reopened Old State House, the building where the General Assembly voted on May 4, 1776 to sever ties with King George III. The vote […]
Posted inRhode Island
Endangered whale protections may be delayed to 2035 under Trump-backed plan
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — For roughly 380 right whales left in the North Atlantic, which can die after getting tangled in fishing ropes or hit by ships, the Trump administration said this month it wants to delay new protections by almost a decade in favor of commercial fishing interests. The sleek black whales, which weigh as much as a […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport superintendent says new urban district designation could unlock state grant funding
Newport’s formal designation as one of Rhode Island’s five core cities for child poverty, announced at Monday’s Kids Count breakfast in Providence, is a long-overdue recognition of data Newport has been “bumping” the state’s traditional urban districts on for years and could help the city tap new state grant funding, Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain said. […]
Posted inSports
Olympic medalist Lijia Xu to compete in inaugural Women’s International Championship in Newport
Two-time Olympic medalist Lijia Xu of China will be among 20 international skippers competing in the inaugural New York Yacht Club Women’s International Championship this September at Harbour Court. The regatta will be sailed Sept. 12-19 using the club’s fleet of 20 identical IC37 yachts. The 37-foot keelboat, designed by Mark Mills to a brief […]
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Kids Count: Newport among leaders in child poverty in Rhode Island
The disparities between the haves and have nots among Rhode Island’s youth impacts everything from education to safety to mental health and economic opportunity. It’s all contained in the annual Kids Count Factbook being released this morning at the annual Kids Count event. Among the major changes is that Newport has been added to a […]
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Aquidneck Island National Police Parade marches through Middletown and Newport for 41st year
Police departments, honor guards, bands and community organizations marched two miles from Middletown into Newport on Sunday for the 41st Aquidneck Island National Police Parade. The procession stepped off at 11:50 a.m. in front of the Hampton Inn and Suites at 317 West Main Road in Middletown, heading south on West Main Road and continuing […]
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41st Aquidneck Island National Police Parade steps off Sunday in Middletown and Newport
The 41st Aquidneck Island National Police Parade is set to step off Sunday, with participants marching two miles from Middletown into Newport in honor of law enforcement. The parade begins at 11:50 a.m. in front of the Hampton Inn and Suites at 317 West Main Road in Middletown. Marchers will head south on West Main […]
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RIPTA launches third annual ‘No Pollute Commute’ bike challenge for May
The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority kicked off its third annual No Pollute Commute Bike to Work Challenge on Friday, inviting commuters across the state to swap car trips for bike rides throughout May in recognition of National Bike Month. The free challenge, organized by RIPTA’s Commuter Resource RI team, runs through May 31. Participants […]
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Rhode Island FC suffers first home loss of 2026, falling 3-1 to Birmingham Legion FC
Rhode Island FC suffered its first home loss of the 2026 season Saturday, falling 3-1 to Birmingham Legion FC on Star Wars Night at Centreville Bank Stadium despite dominating possession and the shot count. Birmingham (2-3-2) struck less than three minutes in, when Dawson McCartney tore down the left wing and crossed into the box […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Dr. Michael Fine: What’s crazy about dental cleanings and prevention
I’m a big fan of prevention, understanding that everyone dies of something, and not all health problems are preventable. That said, it’s crazy how our fears about illness and death overwhelm our better judgment from time to time, and how people with a service to sell sometimes let their ambition get in front of the […]
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Newport community gives back to longtime advocates with new roof for Jimmy and Barbara Winters
Jimmy and Barbara Winters, founders of the Newport Housing Hotline, are being recognized for more than 45 years of helping others with a brand-new roof for their Newport home, courtesy of a community partnership that came together on Thursday. Middletown-based A1 Roofing & Construction led the project alongside the Newport County Board of Realtors Charities […]
Posted inCity & Government
Assembly passes Finkelman, Cortvriend bill bringing property tax relief to Middletown veterans
The Rhode Island General Assembly has passed legislation that would clear the way for property tax relief for Middletown veterans, sponsors announced. The bill, 2026-H 7662, was introduced by Rep. Alex S. Finkelman, D-Dist. 74, Jamestown, Middletown, in partnership with Rep. Terri Cortvriend, D-Dist. 72, Portsmouth, Middletown, and the Middletown Town Council. It passed the […]
Posted inCity & Government
Former Newport City Councilor Angela Lima launches Senate District 13 campaign
Angela Lima, a former three-term member of the Newport City Council, announced Thursday that she is running for the Rhode Island Senate’s District 13 seat representing Newport and Jamestown. The announcement sets up a Democratic primary against Sen. Dawn Euer, who launched her own reelection campaign earlier this week and has held the seat since […]
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Newport’s parking season begins Friday, May 1
The city’s paid parking and residential permit programs return Friday, May 1, with metered pay-by-plate parking, residential parking restrictions and beach access for residents all back in effect for the summer season. Newport residential parking pass holders will again be entitled to three free hours of parking in every metered space across the city, as […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Smoke House opens for summer season
Smoke House, the Southern-style barbecue restaurant on America’s Cup Avenue, has reopened for the summer season, bringing back its slow-smoked meats alongside a refreshed cocktail list and several new menu additions. The restaurant, located at 31 Scott’s Wharf, is open Sunday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 11:30 […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport Public Schools facing $2M shortfall, with restructuring and possible layoffs ahead
Newport Public Schools are facing a roughly $2 million budget shortfall heading into the 2026-2027 school year, Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain said in her weekly update to families Wednesday evening — a gap she said the district is trying to close without cutting staff, but that will likely require restructuring. The figure marks a shift […]
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Newport Public Schools draw about 12 applicants for interim superintendent
About a dozen people have applied to serve as Newport’s interim superintendent of schools, Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain said Wednesday, with the school committee on track to name her one-year successor next month. Jermain, who announced in October that she will step down June 30 after more than 12 years leading the district, said the […]
Posted inCity & Government
RIPEC report says Rhode Island economy is losing ground
Rhode Island’s economy slipped against the rest of the country over the past decade, weighed down by lower-productivity industries and heavy reliance on government spending, according to a new report released Tuesday by the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council. RIPEC’s Economic Prosperity Scorecard uses six measures drawn from federal economic data to compare Rhode Island’s […]
Posted inCity & Government
Edwards files 10 bills seeking housing carve-outs for Tiverton
Rep. John G. Edwards has introduced a package of 10 bills aimed at giving Tiverton more local control over how new housing is built, arguing the state’s recent housing laws have not accounted for the town’s geography or demographics. Edwards, D-Tiverton, testified on the bills before the House Committee on Municipal Government and Housing. “The […]
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Man who killed Brown students, MIT professor targeted symbolic victims tied to grievances, FBI says
By LEAH WILLINGHAM Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — Federal investigators say they believe the man who carried out a mass shooting at Brown University and later killed a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor did not act randomly. Instead, former Brown student Claudio Neves Valente, 48, appeared to target places and people for what they represented in his […]
Posted inCity & Government
Smyth seeks second term on Newport City Council
Newport City Councilor Steph Smyth announced Wednesday she will run for a second term in the At-Large seat on the Newport City Council. Smyth, whose surname is pronounced sm-EYE-th, was elected in 2024 as Newport’s second-highest vote earner. She is framing her re-election bid around a first-term record she says is built on transparent budgeting, […]