by Nancy Lavin, Rhode Island CurrentSeptember 20, 2024 In the end, the much-maligned winter electric rate hikes won’t be as burdensome as initial calculations suggested, thanks to a nearly $27 million refund distributed to Rhode Island Energy customers. Still, the 500,000 state residents who opt to get their electricity from Rhode Island Energy — rather […]
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Meet Bubbles: A cat with a captivating charm that’s looking for a forever home
This week’s adoptable cat of the week is Bubbles, a domestic shorthair cat at the Potter League for Animals in Middletown. She’s 4 years old and 8 months old, and weighs 7 pounds. “Bubbles is a captivating cat with just the right touch of mystery! She might take a little time to warm up, but […]
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Newport Police Report: One arrest on Thursday, no other major incidents
According to the latest police and dispatch logs, the Newport Police Department reported a single arrest in the 24-hour period from Thursday morning to Friday morning. A 34-year-old Portsmouth, Rhode Island, man was taken into custody at 8:30 pm on Thursday on a charge of Obstructing Officer in Execution of Duty. In Rhode Island, obstructing […]
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Newport Art Museum unveils new exterior place maker
The Newport Art Museum (NAM) unveiled a new exterior place marker today at a celebratory event to thank the Board of Trustees, members, donors, and public partners who helped make the project possible. The Steel Yard Public Projects, a Providence-based metal art shop, created the work of art. The Van Beuren Charitable Foundation provided funding, […]
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Middletown receives $250,000 grant through COPS Hiring Program to add new officers
The Town of Middletown has been awarded $250,000 in COPS Hiring Program (CHP) funds from the U.S. Department of Justice to add two new police officers. The COPS grant program provides federal funds to state and local law enforcement agencies to help pay for hiring and retaining officers or for new equipment and initiatives to […]
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Newport City Council to consider resolution that would restore, relocate carousel
Newport Mayor Xay Khamsyvoravong and Councilor Mark Aramli are set to introduce a resolution at the Newport City Council’s Regular Meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 25, addressing the restoration and relocation of the beloved Easton’s Beach carousel. The resolution directs the City Manager to obtain cost estimates for restoring the carousel horses and related elements, as […]
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Newport Mayor Xay Khamsyvoravong elected to leadership role for R.I. League of Cities and Towns
Newport Mayor Xay Khamsyvoravong has been elected as a vice president of the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns, positioning the city to have a stronger voice in statewide municipal affairs. The League announced its new slate of officers at its 56th annual meeting on Sept. 18, with East Providence Mayor Bob DaSilva taking […]
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Congressman Amo calls for ceasefire between Israel and Hamas
On Thursday, September 19, 2024, Congressman Gabe Amo spoke about the destabilizing influence of Iran in the region and the urgent need for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. “For decades, support for regional proxies has been central to Iranian foreign policy. It has funded armed groups and terrorist organizations — including Hamas in Gaza, […]
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New York Yacht Club to host Team Racing Worlds in 2025
The New York Yacht Club, which sparked the keelboat team racing revolution with the creation of the Hinman Masters Team Race in 2000, will see this discipline attain the highest competitive level in the sport when it hosts the World Sailing 2025 Team Race World Championship, May 28 to June 1, at Harbour Court in […]
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Newport Police report multiple arrests, including domestic incident
The Newport Police Department logs reveal several arrests and incidents between Wednesday and Thursday morning. A 35-year-old woman faces multiple charges following a series of events early Wednesday morning. At 12:45 a.m., officers arrested her for violating a no-contact order. Less than an hour later, at 1:39 a.m., she was taken into custody again, this […]
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Boaters alerted to Charlestown Breachway hazards
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management is advising boaters to use caution when passing through the Charlestown Breachway after storm damage caused a crack in the wall. The DEM said the breach is currently two to three feet deep at low tide, and sediment is being pulled from the channel by the force of […]
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URI receives $795K for Secure Computing Upgrades
The University of Rhode Island will receive $795,000 in federal funding to improve its secure computing and data infrastructure capabilities. The funding, which was announced by U.S. Senator Jack Reed and U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner, will be used to upgrade high-performance computing (HPC) for researchers, scientists, professors, and students. The upgrades are expected to help […]
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Rhode Island set to receive $5.35 million for law enforcement
The New England State Police Information Network (NESPIN) will receive $5.35 million in federal funding, to assist law enforcement in 1,015 jurisdictions in New England combat organized and violent crime, gang activity, drug activity, hate crimes, terrorism and violent extremism. The funding announcement was made on Thursday, September 19, 2024, by the office of U.S. […]
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JetBlue will imitate bigger and more successful rivals by opening airport lounges at JFK, Boston
JetBlue Airways will open its first airport lounges next year in New York and Boston in a bid to compete with larger airlines for premium travelers. The airline said Thursday that it will open an 8,000-square-foot lounge at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York late next year, followed shortly by an 11,000-square-foot one at […]
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Teachers Association of Newport instructs members to skip upcoming open houses
The Teachers Association of Newport (TAN) is urging its members to engage in a “dynamic work to contract” action, according to an email obtained by What’sUpNewp from a source who is a member of TAN. TAN President Jennifer Hole sent the email to all association members this week, outlining a series of steps designed to […]
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Senator Reed urges Senate action on Veterans Benefits Funding
The House of Representatives has passed a $3 billion supplemental appropriations bill to ensure that veterans and their survivors receive their monthly benefits, with the bill now moving to the Senate for consideration. The bill, which was approved by the House, is needed to fill a multibillion-dollar hole in veterans benefits funding. U.S. Senator Jack […]
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People’s Credit Union employees donate time and talent during ‘Day of Purpose’
People’s Credit Union (PCU) recently partnered with Farm Fresh RI and other nonprofit organizations across the state for a ‘Day of Purpose’ to highlight food insecurity in our communities and the importance of making nutritious fresh produce accessible for all in need. All PCU offices were closed on Thursday, September 12th, for employees to volunteer […]
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Salve Regina University’s Pell Center releases new national poll
Americans overwhelmingly reject efforts to overturn elections for political gain and to ban books from public libraries, but they are split on partisan and ideological lines over voter suppression and presidents being above law, new national polling from Salve Regina University’s Nationhood Lab found. Two nationwide polls “stress tested” Americans’ commitment to democratic values by asking if […]
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North Kingstown named WWII Heritage City
The U.S. National Park Service has named North Kingstown a World War II Heritage City, recognizing the town’s contributions to the war effort. This week, the Town of North Kingstown was one of eight communities nationwide to earn the distinction of being named an American World War II Heritage City. The award is part of […]
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Lawsuits buffet US offshore wind projects, seeking to end or delay them
By WAYNE PARRY Associated Press BRIGANTINE, N.J. (AP) — Opponents of offshore wind around the U.S. are pelting projects with lawsuits seeking to cancel them or tie them up for years in costly litigation. The court cases represent another hurdle the nascent industry must overcome, particularly along the East Coast where opposition to offshore wind […]
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Senate Passes resolution to protect Nation’s Estuaries
A bipartisan resolution to protect and restore the nation’s estuaries, which are threatened by climate change, rising sea levels and pollution has passed the Senate. The resolution calls for the protection and restoration of the National Estuary Program, which was established in 1987 to protect and restore estuarine habitats threatened by pollution, overdevelopment, and other […]
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Fed cuts interest rates for first time in 4 years
After hiking interest rates eleven times following the coronavirus outbreak, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) announced Wednesday that it will lower the benchmark borrowing rate by half of a percentage point. The move, which is the first rate cut in over four years, is expected to support further job creation while lowering costs for […]
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Tiverton Library to host ‘Opening the Oyster: African American Foodways in Rhode Island, 1726-Present’
“Opening the Oyster: African American Foodways in Rhode Island, 1726-Present” will be held at the Tiverton Public Library on Tuesday, October 1, at 6:30 pm. The event is free and open to the public. The event will be held at the library on 34 Roosevelt Avenue in Tiverton, RI. “Opening the Oyster” is a presentation […]
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‘We Made a Mistake’: Newport City Council will likely rescind sewer fee hike, revert to previous rate structure
Newport City Council is poised to rescind a controversial sewer fee increase that has outraged residents, particularly those with low water consumption. The council held a workshop on Wednesday morning to address the issue after receiving numerous complaints about steep bill hikes. During the nearly two-hour meeting, many residents shared that they saw their sewer […]
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2024 Voter Information Handbook now available online, will be delivered to residences in October
Secretary of State Gregg M. Amore and the RI Department of State Elections Division today announced that the 2024 Voter Information Handbook is now available online and will be delivered to residences in early October. “The RI Department of State is committed to ensuring voters have the information they need to cast an informed ballot […]