By KIMBERLEE KRUESI Associated Press PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — It’s been no small potatoes that Rhode Islanders have been able to choose the image of Mr. Potato Head as a specialty license plate for decades. Yet with Hasbro’s decision to move its headquarters from the smallest state in the U.S. to Boston, two lawmakers say it’s time to hash […]
News
Posted inNews
What you can buy on Aquidneck Island for under $500,000
Affordability is one of the biggest hurdles facing homebuyers who want to live on Aquidneck Island. For many families and first-time buyers, the math simply hasn’t worked, pushing them to explore nearby markets where their dollar stretches further. Communities like Tiverton, Warren, Bristol, North Kingstown, and South Kingstown have all seen increased interest as buyers […]
Posted inNews
Rogers boys finish fifth at Sullivan Meet in Providence
Rogers, Tiverton, and Middletown athletes competed at the Sullivan Meet at Providence Career & Technical Academy on Tuesday, with the Vikings boys team finishing fifth overall with 44 points. North Kingstown dominated the meet, winning both the boys and girls team titles with 186.5 and 207 points, respectively. Several local athletes earned top finishes in […]
Sponsored
Menopause and Beyond: Whole-person care for every stage of a woman’s life
For many women, menopause marks a turning point—but not an endpoint. It’s a phase that can bring physical changes, emotional shifts, and new questions about long-term health. Yet too often, women feel unprepared for what’s ahead or unsure where to turn for guidance. At the South County Health Center for Women’s Health—now welcoming patients in […]
Posted inBusiness
Gift from late Newport resident helps MVYRADIO exceed $600,000 fundraising goal
MVYRADIO has surpassed its $600,000 Bridge The Gap fundraising goal, allowing the public radio station to move forward with financial security after Congress and the administration moved to defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting last summer. The CPB had provided community service grants to MVYRADIO — which broadcasts at 88.7 FM on Cape Cod and […]
Posted inNews
What Sold: A look at 16 homes that changed hands last week in Newport County (Jan. 12-16)
The Newport County real estate market continues to be off to the races with a roaring start in the first quarter of the year, with strong and consistent activity across a wide range of price points and property types. From entry-level condominiums to Gilded Aged legacy estates, buyer demand remained steady and competitive last week […]
Posted inCity & Government
Middletown woman charged with DUI after striking marked Newport police vehicle, fleeing scene
A 38-year-old Middletown woman is facing DUI and hit-and-run charges after allegedly striking a marked Newport police vehicle early Saturday morning and fleeing the scene, according to a press release from the Newport Police Department. The incident occurred at approximately 12:10 a.m. on Jan. 18 at the intersection of Eustis Avenue and Bliss Road, where […]
Posted inCity & Government
CRMC approves Jamestown oyster farm expansion
by Nancy Lavin, Rhode Island Current January 16, 2026 A Jamestown oyster farm is poised for expansion, after receiving unanimous approval from the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council on Tuesday. The council’s swift stamp of approval lets Rocky Rhode Oyster Co. owner Brad Boehringer add 3.5 acres to his existing, 7.8-acre oyster farm in […]
Posted inCity & Government
Rhode Island tax changes for 2026 include new short-term rental levy, higher estate tax threshold
Several tax changes took effect in Rhode Island on Jan. 1, including a new tax on whole-home short-term rentals and inflation adjustments to the estate tax threshold, the state Division of Taxation announced this week. The changes affect short-term rental operators, homebuyers, estate planning and several business tax credits. Short-term rentals Owners of short-term rentals […]
Posted inNews
This Day in RI History: January 17, 1942 – Coldest temperature ever recorded in Rhode Island
Yes, we’ve had a few cold days lately, but nothing like the frigid air we saw 83 years ago today. On January 17, 1942, the temperature reached -28°F in Richmond, RI. (Note: A -25°F temperature reading was recorded at T.F. Greene Airport on February 5, 1996, where official readings are kept.) Meanwhile, the lowest reading […]
Posted inInstagram
Seaview Terrace sells for $16 million, marking Newport’s highest sale since 2021
Seaview Terrace, the largest privately owned mansion from the Gilded Age, has sold for $16 million, according to Lila Delman Compass. The sale of the estate at 207 Ruggles Ave. is the highest in Newport since 2021, according to Rhode Island Statewide MLS data. Kimberly Doherty of Lila Delman Compass’s Newport office represented the buyers […]
Posted inCity & Government
Judge allows a third offshore wind project to resume construction as the industry challenges Trump
A federal judge ruled Friday that work on a Virginia offshore wind project could resume, the third project this week to successfully challenge the Trump administration in court. The administration announced last month it was suspending leases for at least 90 days on five East Coast offshore wind projects because of national security concerns. Its announcement […]
Posted inCity & Government
Letter to the Editor: More affordability and money for everyone, except for kids in state care
Last year, I brought up the fact that the Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) was taking money from kids in state care. It is the long-standing department policy to take federal benefits, like Social Security or veterans’ benefits, from children in state care to fund administrative costs and sustain DCYF’s bottom line. Our […]
Posted inNews
On the Market: A look at every home hosting an Open House this weekend in Newport County (Jan. 17-18)
This weekend’s lineup of open houses is an early indicator of how active and engaged the market already feels as we head toward spring. Buyer interest has picked up noticeably, showings are consistent, and many conversations are happening earlier than we typically see at this point in the year. For buyers, open houses offer a […]
Posted inMartha's Vineyard
Sharks are famous for fearsome teeth, but ocean acidification could make them weaker
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Sharks are the most feared predators in the sea, and their survival hinges on fearsome teeth that regrow throughout their lives. But changes in the ocean’s chemistry could put those weapons at risk. That is the takeaway from a study performed by a group of German scientists who tested the effects of a […]
Posted inPolice & Fire
Middletown father and son arrested on child sex assault charges
A father and son were arrested Thursday morning on charges related to a sexual assault investigation, according to the Middletown Police Department. Members of the Middletown Police Department, with assistance from the Rhode Island State Police Violent Fugitive Task Force, executed a court-authorized search warrant at 33 Beacon St. at approximately 6:30 a.m. as part […]
Posted inCity & Government
Kayak rack lottery application window opens Feb. 1
Kayakers and dinghy owners take note: The Newport Harbormaster’s Office will accept applications for dinghy and kayak rack spaces at the King Park and Willow Street dinghy racks beginning Sunday, Feb. 1, through Feb. 28. Spaces will be determined through a lottery system, with a drawing held in March at the Newport Harbormaster’s Office. Applications […]
Posted inCity & Government
Dehumidification work to begin on Mount Hope Bridge; lane closures expected through April
The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority announced Thursday that work will begin on the first phase of installing a dehumidification system on the Mount Hope Bridge starting Jan. 20. The project is expected to continue through April 2026. Alternating lanes will be closed Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Fridays […]
Posted inNews
Aquidneck Community Table expands Food Explorers program to Thompson Middle School
Aquidneck Community Table has partnered with Thompson Middle School to bring its Food Explorers garden education program to students in the school’s Life Skills Program, the nonprofit announced Thursday. The curriculum-integrated program, which launches this month, will provide hands-on garden education and STEM learning focused on food literacy, the organization said. “Food is power. It […]
Posted inSports
Rogers honors legendary coach Jim Psaras with scoreboard dedication, defeats rival Middletown 48-41
A sold-out crowd packed Rogers High School’s gymnasium Tuesday night for far more than a basketball game. Before the Vikings tipped off against island rival Middletown, the Rogers community gathered to honor Jim Psaras, the legendary coach who led the program for 26 seasons and passed away in July 2022 after a battle with cancer. […]
Posted inArts & Culture
The Breakers to offer free admission on Martin Luther King Jr. Day
The Preservation Society of Newport County will offer free admission to The Breakers on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The Gilded Age mansion, a National Historic Landmark built from 1893 to 1895 as the summer home of railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt II and his family, will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, with […]
Posted inInstagram
Rose Island Lighthouse & Fort Hamilton Trust launches first-ever endowment fund
The Rose Island Lighthouse & Fort Hamilton Trust has established its first-ever permanent endowment fund in partnership with the Rhode Island Foundation, marking a major milestone for the organization that preserves Newport Harbor’s historic island landmarks. The endowment has been seeded with a $250,000 founding gift, an amount that symbolically aligns with the nation’s upcoming […]
Posted inSports
Left-hander Ranger Suárez and Boston Red Sox agree to $130 million, 5-year contract, AP source says
Left-hander Ranger Suárez and the Boston Red Sox agreed Wednesday to a $130 million, five-year contract, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not been announced. An All-Star in 2024, Suárez had spent his entire professional career with […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Movies and TV shows casting in Rhode Island
The glitz and glam of Hollywood captures the attention of Americans starting from an early age. Beyond celebrities’ Instagram Stories and red carpet poses, there are actors out there paying their dues and honing their craft in pursuit of a sustainable career or a fulfilling sideline. Submitting to casting calls is a big part of […]
Posted inNews
Middletown police chief’s daughter among Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association scholarship recipients
Emily Ryan, daughter of Middletown Police Chief Jason Ryan, is among five students to receive scholarships from the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association. Ryan is attending Colby College in Maine, where she is studying biology and pre-health. The association announced the 2025 scholarship recipients this week, recognizing children of active sworn law enforcement officers pursuing […]