News

The salty air pushed the boat like a knife through the cold Rhode Island bay as seagulls and the sound of waves crashing against the hull filled the harbor. A 12 year-old girl commandeers the Bris de Mer – French for “summer breeze” – a 22-foot long sail boat that belongs to her mother, an […]

A luxurious waterfront penthouse condominium with stunning views of Newport Harbor sold for $1,400,000, marking the highest price for a condominium at Coddington Landing in 10 years. The condo is one of only three units that have sold for over $1 million in Newport within the past 12 months, according to data from the Rhode […]

Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin announced that Raymond Ramsey (age 51), of Portsmouth, RI, pleaded guilty today before Superior Court Justice Stephen P. Nugent to the September 8, 2015 murder of his girlfriend, 42-year-old Yolanda McArdle.  Under the terms of the plea, Ramsey was sentenced to life in prison for the charge of second degree […]

Alverna Pauline Olson 94, died Sunday, January 15, 2017, at the Village House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Newport. Born on May 13, 1922, she was the daughter of the late Charles and Emma Tricka. She grew up in Queen’s Village, New York and moved to East Northport, New York after her marriage to the […]

Based in the American Velvet Mill, Beer’d Brewing has been brewing their own beer for the past four years out of Stonington, CT. Their concept to begin with was to brewing beer for neighborhood friends. Just celebrating four years at the brewery, you can taste some of the favorites are Double IPA’s and American Pale Ales. […]

The Chase Michael Anthony Kowalski (CMAK) Foundation Sandy Hook Memorial Foundation, Inc has announced that it will be expanding the Race4Chase Kids Triathlon Program to 19 locations in 2017 — 14 in Connecticut, four in South Carolina, and two in Rhode Island, including Newport. Race4Chase, a youth triathlon program founded by Rebecca and Stephen Kowalski’s CMAK […]

Florence Twomey, 92, of Portsmouth, died Wednesday, January 18, 2017 at Royal Middletown Nursing Center of Middletown, RI. She was the wife of the late William Earl Twomey, CWO, USN (Ret). Born on September 13, 1924 in Providence, RI, she was the daughter of the late Edward and Eva Vadnais. Florence was raised in Providence, […]

An article co-authored by Dr. JD Swanson and two of his students that examines and compares injuries sustained in the martial arts versus other NCAA contact sports has been published today in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. The goal of the researchers is to help alleviate concerns from a risk management perspective for collegiate clubs. “Comparison […]

The movie that took Aquidneck Island by storm in March, April and May of 2016 will make its World Premiere at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival tomorrow. In the lineup of Premiere’s, “A showcase of world premieres of some of the most highly anticipated narrative films of the coming year.”, The Discovery is expected to make […]

Hi my name is Bobby Forster, I am a 27-year-old Newport resident living with ALS. I have been incredibly lucky to have the love and support of the Newport and Aquidneck island community. As a result, I have been trying to figure out a way to give back to the community that I love so […]

Jim Quinn, a retired Newport police sergeant and a co-owner of Hungry Monkey and the Newport Blues Cafe, is reportedly suing the City of Newport and the Newport Police Department for wrongfully barring him from working traffic details after he spoke publicly about The Hungry Monkey being victimized by a scam. The Providence Journal with […]

Donald Vacchi, 80, died on January 13, 2017 in Providence. Originally from Plymouth, Massachusetts, Don was born on November 26, 1936, the son of Eleanor Manfredi of Kingston, Massachusetts, and Luigi Vacchi of Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. He received his primary and secondary education in the Plymouth public schools, and he was a graduate of Northeastern […]

Cafe Parley is a new weekly series sponsored by CRU Cafe where we sit down with a Newport citizen and discuss a divisive issue they feel strongly about. Do you have a unique opinion on a local, state, national or global issue that you want to share? Send an email to ryan@whatsupnewp.com with your thoughts. [the_ad id=”28036″] […]

Matthew Spring, a Junior in the Advertising ~ Design & New Media program at the Newport Career and Technical Center & Rogers High School, won First Place in the Statewide Lindsey Ann Burke Foundation Bookmark design contest. The theme was healthy respectful dating relationships, where tudents had to design the front of a bookmarker that shows […]

Save Tiverton, a group of local residents and property ownersconcerned about the land use impacts of the proposed Twin River casino, sent a letter to the casino operator on December 8, 2016 seeking a peer review of their environmental applicationto the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM).The letter, from Karen Augeri Benson, a local […]

Alison M. Shakarian, PhD, 51, of Tiverton, professor of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Salve Regina University, died at home Tuesday, January 10, 2017. A 13th generation Portsmouth native and granddaughter of Armenian Genocide survivors, Dr. Shakarian graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1983, received a B.S. in Biology, Magna Cum Laude, from Salve Regina University, […]

The Jamestown Police Department has announced a new partnership with Day One of Rhoe Island. Day One is an agency in Rhode Island that provides support and advocacy for the victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. Recently the Jamestown Police Department has partnered with Day One in order to establish a law enforcement advocacy […]

At a press conference at the Breakers this morning, The Preservation Society of Newport County and state tourism officials announced that the Newport Mansions surpassed more than one million tours in 2016, making it the first museum in New England outside of Boston to reach that milestone. Speakers at the press conference included CEO & […]

After nearly two decades of transformative leadership, Newport Restoration Foundation executive director Pieter Roos has informed the board of directors he will be stepping down at the end of February, NRF Board Chair Roger Mandle announced today. “During his tenure, Pieter’s leadership transformed the NRF from a sleepy preservation entity with few staff whose main […]

Cluny School will hold an Open House for the public on Sunday, January 29th from 11am- 1pm and on Wednesday, February 1st from 10am- 12 noon. In addition to the open houses, Cluny School will commemorate National Catholic Schools Week, from January 29th to February 3rd, with breakfast events for students and parents, a celebration of mass, […]

William Heinrich Eibel, 67, of Jamestown died Sunday, January 8, 2017, at Newport Hospital. He will be laid to rest at the Veterans Cemetery. He was the husband of Jean Marie (Larosee) Eibel Born on September 13, 1949, in Providence, RI, he was the son of the late Julius and Lillian (Charette) Eibel. Mr. Eibel […]

The Rhode Island Supreme Court today rejected an appeal by a neighborhood association, bringing closer the Newport Preservation Society’s plans to build a $5.2 million visitor center at the Breakers, a 70 – room mansion that has been called the “crown jewel” of Newport’s summer cottages. In a 15-page decision the Supreme Court saw no […]

The Pell Center at Salve Regina University will broadcast new weekly episodes of “Story in the Public Square” on Rhode Island PBS and nationally on satellite radio provider SiriusXM P.O.T.U.S. channel 124, according to a news release from Salve Regina University. The new series will begin the weekend of January 14, 2017. Hosted by Pell Center Executive Director Jim Ludes and G. […]

Snow. That’s this week’s photo feature theme. Show us your best snow storm photos by tagging them with #whatsupnewp and you could be featured here in our feed, our email newsletter and on our site. Show us your best snow storm photos by tagging them with #whatsupnewp and you could be featured on our site, […]

Newport, R.I. – 12-18″ snow continues and cold temps have hit our area, here’s the latest; The National Weather Service in Taunton canceled the Winter Storm Warning for our area around 11 p.m. this evening. Related Links: Parking Ban Info: https://whatsupnewp.com/?p=29089 | Snow-Related Closures & Delays: http://bit.ly/2hZz5V6 Detailed Forecast: Today A slight chance of snow showers […]

The National Weather Service forecasted 12-18″ of snow in our area on Saturday, cancellations, delays and parking bans from across Rhode Island are be;pw. For more information on the forecast, visit Winter Storm Warning: 12-18″ of Snow Likely for Aquidneck Island on Saturday There is a parking ban in Newport from noon on Saturday, until 8am on […]

The Rhode Island Commerce Corporation, through its Re-Build RI tax credit program, has awarded The Innovate Newport project $2.1 million, completing the capitalization stage and paving the way for final design and construction bidding, according to Scott A. Gibbs, president of The Economic Development Foundation of Rhode Island. Innovate Newport, Gibbs said, involves the rehabilitation […]

Crosspoint Church & RID2 Challenger have announced that they will serve as one of the more than 300 churches around the world that will host Night to Shine sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation simultaneously on Friday, February 10, 2017. Locally, Night to Shine which will be held in Newport Marriott’s Grand Ballroom on Americas […]

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory and Winter Storm Watch for southeast coastal Rhode Island and south coastal Massachusetts. Update (1/6/17 3 p.m.): The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for our area, 8 – 12″ of snow is likely for our area on Saturday. With accumulating snow of […]

Discover Newport, the official destination marketing organization for Newport and Bristol counties, will launch its 2017 monthly marketing meeting schedule onWednesday, January 11, at 11 a.m., at Rosecliff in Newport. Following a short industry briefing, professional stylist Jill Marinelli will present, “The Power of Personal Style: How to Make a Memorable First Impression While Boosting Your […]

If you haven’t made it to Connecticut yet, now is the time to go. Over the past few years, towns such as Middletown and New Haven have become some of the most popular towns for craft beer bars in the region. Take Eli Cannon’s for example, this spot has been around for over 20 years […]

Well, we’re well into 2017 already – memories are being made. But most of all, we’re entering a year of great uncertainty on a national level, with considerable ramifications for states and local communities. We’re wondering how you view the year ahead. [os-widget path=”/ryanbelmore/the-year-ahead-your-opinion” of=”ryanbelmore” comments=”false”]

The Middletown Police Department recently received the Silver Traffic Safety Award for 2015 from AAA Northeast, according to a new release issued on January 5th, 2017 from the Middletown Police Department. This award recognized the efforts of the police department to increase the safety of the nearly 40,000 motorists that travel through Middletown on a […]

The RI Hospitality Association (RIHA) recently honored several Newport residents, and people who work at Newport-based establisments, at its “Stars of the Industry” Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony at Twin River Casino. The Stars of the Industry Awards recognize the outstanding achievements of members of the hospitality, foodservice and tourism industries.  Award recipients were chosen […]

There’s at least two storm systems that could bring snow to Aquidneck Island this weekend, according to the National Weather Service. The first chance of snow is between Thursday evening at 7 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Friday evening. the National Weather Service is forecasting that Newport will likely see 2″ of snow, but there […]

Portsmouth is the best city to buy a home in Rhode Island thanks to its solid median household income, according to a story published on Business Insider on January 2nd by GOBankingRates. GOBankingRates.com determined the best city to buy a home in every state, taking into account various factors, including school districts, property tax bills, […]

The Undersea Technology Innovation Center, a Middletown, Rhode Island-based hub for undersea technology excellence, has announced that they have welcomed two new members to its Steering Committee. Dr. Raymond Wright, Dean of Engineering for the University of Rhode Island and Jeffrey Grybowsky, CEO of Deepwater Wind have agreed to join the eight other Steering Committee […]

Maureen F. (Knowles) LaChance, 63, of Newport died Tuesday, January 3, 2017 at home in Newport. She was the wife of the late Raymond LaChance. Born on October 21, 1953 in Detroit, MI, she was the daughter of the late Dr. Richard Robert Knowles and Colleen Patricia (O’Connell) Knowles. Maureen was an avid reader, gardener, […]

The Newport Art Museum has received a gift of nearly $5 million. This transformative gift, which has been donated to the Newport Art Museum by an anonymous benefactor, recognizes and supports the value of the Museum’s century-long dedication to serving its community through the arts, education, outreach initiatives, and historic preservation. Sandra Craig, the Museum’s […]

Aquidneck Island will appear at least four times this month on HGTV’s Island Life. The show that follows everyday families” in search of their own slice of paradise, and prove that fantasy can be reality” recently followed a family who wanted to move from the mainland to Aquidneck Island and a couple who was looking […]

It’s a girl! The first baby to be born in Newport in the new year arrived at 10:01 p.m. on January 1st, according to Newport Hospital. Bailey Raine Libbey is the daughter of Richard and Michelle Libbey of Newport, Bailey weighed in at 7 lbs., 5.2 oz. “Bailey Raine, with your first breath you took […]

The FBI wants to know if you know the location or have information on Adam C. Emery, an individual who is wanted for a second-degree murder in 1990. Emery was convicted of second-degree murder in Rhode Island State Superior Court in Providence on November 10th, 1993. The conviction stemmed from an incident which occurred in August […]

Every New Year’s Day, the Newport Polar Bears invite anyone crazy enough to join them at Easton’s Beach for a swim in the frosty North Atlantic Ocean. Hundreds of brave individuals took advantage of the invite and embarked into the 40 degree water off of Easton’s Beach on Sunday at noon.  All proceeds and donations […]

More than 50,907 separate individuals read stories on whatsupnewp.com during the past 31 days, according to Google Analytics statistics, and their most favored stories constitute What’sUpNewp’s top (or most-read) stories of  December 2016. These choices were settled by our readers, who voted with their eyes and whose opinion matters most. 10. Your Suggestions: Future Of […]

(Photo by Larry Hart Bettencourt) Before you know it New Year’s Day will be here and area “polar bears” will be making their annual plunge into the frigid waters off Easton’s Beach. While taking a dip in near-freezing water might not necessarily benefit your health, this is certainly a party with a purpose and worth doing. […]

Craft Beer Corner is a regular column on What’sUpNewp, it is sponsored by The Wharf Pub. Each story is written by Sarah Fimple, Beverage Manager of The Wharf Pub. As the holiday season and 2016 ends, so does a lot of great seasonal beer. We at The Wharf Pub have had everything from Barrel Aged […]

When I sat down to write this editorial, I honestly had no clue where to start. For many of us, this past year has been a whirlwind, to say the least. Personally, 2016 was a year that marked a lot of change in my life, both good and bad. I was able to travel and […]

Unsurprisingly, the majority of the most-read stories on What’sUpNewp this year were fires, accidents and breaking news. Despite readers flocking to our site to find out the latest during breaking news, numbers show that our readers really enjoy events, brunch, dining and counting on us to point them in the right direction on what events, […]

At 1:30 p.m., a heavy show snow squall was along a line from near Wellesley to Bellingham in Massachusetts and Foster Rhode Island to just north of Hartford Connecticut, according to the National Weather Service. This snow squall will “This snow squall will briefly reduce visibilities to less than a quarter of a mile and […]

The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Advisory for all of Rhode Island, the Advisory is in effect from 7 p.m. on Thursday evening until 6 a.m. on Friday morning. Winds will blow 20 to 30 mph out of the west, with gusts up to 50 p.m. The National Weather Service forecast for Newport […]

A Tiverton man claimed a winning $50,000 PowerBall ticket from the December 21st drawing, according to the Rhode Island Lottery. The ticket was purchased for last Wednesday’s drawing and remained unclaimed until December 24th. The winner learned he won when he went to the store to play PowerBall for the Christmas Eve draw. When he […]

More than a decade ago the Newport Historical Society (NHS) began what is now an endowed program to bring young history scholars to the NHS each summer for research and training in the public side of history practice. The Buchanan-Burnham Summer Internship, funded by Helen Buchanan and Richard and Fanchon (Monty) Burnham, was visionary on […]

Sinclair Broadcast Group, the parent company of WJAR TV Channel 10 in Rhode Island, has vehemently denied allegations that they provided then presidential candidate, now president-elect Donald Trump with preferential treatment in interviews on several of their local affiliates. Politico and other media outlets reported that Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, told a business group at […]

A $50,000 PowerBall ticket was sold in Newport County for Wednesday night’s drawing. The winning ticket, which was sold in Tiverton, matched four numbers and the PowerBall number to win $50,000. The winner did not purchase the PowerPlay feature, which would have multiplied the prize by 5, the PowerPlay number for Wednesday night’s draw, to […]

As Newport welcomes the New Year, fireworks will be bursting in air. A private wedding, scheduled to take place at Belle Mer on Goat Island on December 31st, has plans to host a firework display as the clock hits midnight. Atlas PyroVision Entertainment Group will shoot off the fireworks somewhere between 11:59 p.m. – 12:15 a.m. […]

The owner of Middletown’s Bridge to Fitness, athletic facility at 951 Aquidneck Avenue accepts a dare to dress up as an elf all day on December 19th to raise contributions benefitting the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center Holiday drive.   Over $3,000 was raised for the MLK Jr. Center located at 20 Dr. Marcus […]

Panera Bread Newport, located at 49 Long Wharf North, is doing its part to make the holidays brighter for local families by collecting toys for 10 children served by Children’s Friend based in Providence Rhode Island. The toys were collected by Panera employees and customers and delivered by Newport Panera Bread General Manager Danielle Natale […]

More than 160 7th graders from Thompson Middle School traveled to the Newport Art Museum on December 19, to explore the Museum and learn about the life and career of esteemed architect Richard Morris Hunt, designer of the Historic N.A. Griswold House. This is the fourth year that the Art Department of the Newport Public […]

Soon after beginning their cleanup of a fume-filled tanker car at an Omaha, Neb., rail maintenance yard, Adrian LaPour and Dallas Foulk were dead. An explosion that April 2015 afternoon trapped LaPour in a flash fire inside the car and hurled Foulk out the top to his death. Six months later their employer, Nebraska Railcar […]

While some legislators and city and town officials from Providence to Newport explore ways to curb panhandling in Rhode Island, many of you, in a WhatsUpNewp and WhatsUpRhode Island poll, have made it clear that you want to see panhandlers disappear from city and town street corners. Overwhelmingly you said that panhandlers pose a safety […]

The parent company of WJAR TV (Channel 10) in Providence, Sinclair Broadcasting Group, reportedly made a deal with Donald Trump’s presidential campaign that resulted in greater access to the candidate in exchange to broadcast the interviews without commentary. This is not unusual for the broadcasting group, which is described as conservative and which was apparently […]