City & Government

This story was originally published on May 15th. It has been updated. The Providence to Newport Ferry is experiencing mechanical problems and won’t be operating on Friday, its first day of the 2019 season. “Please do not book tickets for tomorrow, as a substitute ferry will only go to Bristol,” RIDOT posted on Twitter on […]

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announced today it will be administering an additional conditional Surf Lifeguard Certification test next week.  This test is being held because several candidates have expressed difficulty in getting to earlier tests due to their school schedules. Lifeguard positions at all beaches in Rhode Island require certification and […]

The City of Newport announced this afternoon in a press release that free wifi is coming to Easton’s Beach this summer. Visitors to one of Aquidneck Island’s most popular beaches will be able to enjoy free WiFi connectivity this summer courtesy of the City of Newport. With beach season beginning on Saturday, May 25, 2019, […]

The Department of Environmental Management (DEM) has announced that the concrete boat ramp at Gull Cove in Portsmouth has reached the end of its useful life and will be removed this summer. Located on the south side of Route 24 between exits 2 and 3, just west of the Sakonnet River Bridge, the boat ramp […]

Senator Louis P. DiPalma’s legislation (2019-S 0715) that changes the way in which new, fully reflective registration plates would be issued, starting December 1, 2019, passed the Senate this week. The legislation would replace the wave-design license plates upon the renewal of the registration so that, over the course of a two year period, all […]

This story was originally published on April 25th. It has been updated to reflect the Newport City Council vote on May 23rd. At their May 23rd Regular Council Meeting, Newport City Council voted 5-0 to approve Ordinance Amending Chapter 1.14 entitled, “Specific Penalties for Certain Violations” (First Reading). This ordinance amendment would increase parking ticket […]

This story was originally published on May 17th, it has been updated to reflect Newport City Council’s Regular Council Meeting on May 23rd. At their May 23rd Regular Council Meeting, Newport City Council members voted to receive and adopt Action Item #5854/19 – RE:  Ordinance Amendment Chapter 2.120.010 – General Fee Schedule-Easton’s Beach (w/accompanying  ordinance) and […]

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) has announced that seasonal shellfish area closures will take effect at sunrise on Saturday, May 25, and will remain in place until Tuesday, October 15. Consistent with federal requirements, DEM closes some local waters to the harvesting of shellfish every year at this time due to potential […]

This story was originally published at 4:47 pm onMay 15th. It has been updated. Been vocal or upset about the Fourth of July fireworks being moved from July 4th to July 13th in 2019? Newport City Council and City Hall have heard you loud and clear. City Council members will vote at their Regular Council […]

Newport Public Schools announced on Wednesday that two local students were recently honored by Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea. The Announcement Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea honored Colin McCabe and Mackenzie Palmer from Rogers High School this month with the 2019 Rhode Island Civic Leadership Award. The award is given annually to recognize high […]

Rep. David A. Bennett (D-Dist. 20, Warwick, Cranston) , chairman of the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee, has introduced legislation that would ban Rhode Island food service establishments from using disposable polystyrene foam containers and plastic stirrers. The legislation (2019-H 6126), introduced Thursday, is aimed at eliminating waste that is generally not recycled in […]

The City of Newport is reminding residents that the Waste Management Transfer Station will be closed on Monday, May 27 for the Memorial Day Holiday. Monday through Friday collection services will be delayed one day. For a yearlong schedule of holiday trash pickup, be sure to download a .pdf copy of the City’s Holiday and […]

The Newport Police Department has passed along the following information regarding road construction happening this week on Bellevue Avenue. Road Construction will be taking place on Catherine Street at Bellevue Avenue on Tuesday, May 21st. Wednesday, May 22, and Thursday, May 23, 2019.  Work will consist of the final concrete restoration from previous work done […]

President Meghan Hughes conferred more than 2,300 degrees and certificates to Community College of Rhode Island’s (CCRI’s) Class of 2019 last Thursday– the largest graduating class in more than 20 years – including the first cohort to complete the Rhode Island Promise Scholarship program. Included in those 2,300 degrees, were 105 Aquidneck Island residents! Congratulations […]

Here’s what’s on tap for road construction and traffic this upcoming week. Of note, RITBA: Deck Project on Newport Pell Bridge has resumed Rhode Island Department of Transportation The following road and lane closure notices are effective for the week of May 18-24, 2019. All schedules are weather-dependent and subject to change. Visit RIDOT’s Travel Advisories website for […]

The Senate Finance Committee this week took testimony on legislation sponsored by Sen. Dawn Euer (D-Dist. 13, Newport, Jamestown) to protect student loan borrowers and establish oversight of student loan servicers operating in Rhode Island. The legislation (2019-S 0737), titled the Student Loan Bill of Rights, sets standards for student loan servicing, both prohibiting predatory […]

The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) hosted two community information sessions this week that allowed individuals and the community to learn more about Deck Project on Newport Pell Bridge. Here is a copy of the presentation that was shared at the public information meetings. Please allow a moment for the slides to load. More […]

Newport School Committee met for approximately 1 hour and 44 minutes on Tuesday, May 14th. Newport Public Schools has made the following video available from that meeting.

The following press release and information was provided by Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. Environmental Police Officers from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) are teaming up with boating safety advocates across the United States and Canada to promote safe and responsible boating and consistent life jacket wearing duringNational Safe Boating Week. […]

With boating season just around the corner, the City of Newport announced today that the Harbormaster’s Office is rolling out a new dinghy permitting program designed to help reduce the number of unattended vessels at the King Park Stone Pier. Earlier this month, the City Council gave their approval to a new dinghy permitting program […]

The City of Newport has published the agenda for Newport City Council’s next Regular Council Meeting. Scheduled for Wednesday, May 22 at 6:30 pm, here’s what City Council will discuss. The agenda and any updates, can best be viewed here. CITY OF NEWPORT DOCKET FOR THE COUNCIL MEETING MAY 22, 2019 THE MEETING WILL BE […]

School projects of more than $375 million that are designed to repair or replace deteriorating school buildings in six school districts were approved Tuesday night by the Rhode Island Department of Education’s Council on Elementary and Secondary Education. The projects are all slated to receive state aid under the $250 million school facilities bond approved […]