The Newport Historical Society will open a new exhibition next week exploring the three military occupations of Newport during the Revolutionary War. “Occupied! Newport and the Fight for Independence” debuts Thursday, Feb. 19, in the Richard I. Burnham Resource Center. The exhibition, which is part of the society’s ongoing programming to commemorate the 250th anniversary […]
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Posted inCity & Government
Hegseth touts speed and innovation in tour of Quonset Point facilities
by Christopher Shea and Laura Paton, Rhode Island CurrentFebruary 9, 2026 NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. — On his first official visit to Rhode Island Monday morning to celebrate and inspire workers at America’s shipyards and defense manufacturing facilities, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth kept about 250 of them standing around waiting for him. Hegseth was […]
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Puddingstone returns to Belmont Chapel with “From Salon to Tango” performance
Puddingstone Music will return to Belmont Chapel next month with a program that spans centuries of musical tradition, from the refined elegance of 18th century salons to the fiery passion of the modern tango. Harpist Amanda Romano Foreman and flutist Clint Foreman will perform “From Salon to Tango” on Sunday, March 8, at 3 p.m. […]
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Newport Art Museum launches the Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney Society
The Newport Art Museum has launched the Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney Society, a new fund designed to support dynamic and ambitious exhibition programming at the Bellevue Avenue institution. The initiative, first previewed at the opening of the Members’ Show Exhibition, will be shared with the broader museum community at the upcoming Julie Keyes Gallery Pop Up […]
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Bill would update references to ‘elderly’ in state law
Rep. Lauren H. Carson has introduced legislation to update state laws to eliminate outdated terms describing older Rhode Islanders. The legislation would initiate a review of state laws for references to “elders” and “elderly person(s),” to enable the drafting of legislation next year to replace those terms with the phrase “older adults.” The bill, which […]
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Trump ends Obama-era restrictions on commercial fishing in protected area off New England
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Friday reopening a huge swath of protected sea in the Atlantic Ocean to commercial fishing. Trump said the order would reestablish fishing in Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument off the New England coast, a nearly 5,000-square-mile preserve east of Cape Cod that was created […]
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Dr. Michael Fine: What’s crazy about getting into medical school. Part 1.
Ok. We are somewhere between 50,000 and 300,000 doctors short. Probably more, given our current approach to immigration, because 25 percent of all doctors in the US come from other countries – because we don’t send enough of our own students to medical school. Instead, we import our doctors from elsewhere, from places who need […]
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Newport, Middletown, Portsmouth and Tiverton issue parking bans ahead of weekend snow and dangerous cold
The City of Newport has issued a mandatory citywide parking ban for Saturday from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in anticipation of winter storm conditions, joining Middletown, Portsmouth and Tiverton in restricting on-street parking ahead of this weekend’s snow. Vehicles parked on restricted streets 30 minutes after the ban begins may be towed, according to […]
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Castle Hill Inn fire under investigation; restaurant could reopen ‘in coming months,’ Newport Restaurant Group says
Updated Feb. 6 at 3:25 p.m. The Newport Restaurant Group said Friday afternoon that damage from the overnight fire at Castle Hill Inn was “significant” but expressed confidence that the iconic Ocean Drive property would be restored. “We are in the process of assessing the damage from last night’s fire. While significant, we are confident […]
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Hayley Williams & Friends announced as first act in 2026 Newport Folk Festival lineup
The Newport Folk Festival unveiled the first act in its rolling 2026 lineup Thursday, announcing that Hayley Williams & Friends will perform on the opening day of the three-day event. Williams, the Paramore frontwoman, is set to take the stage Friday, July 24, at Fort Adams State Park, where the iconic festival will celebrate its […]
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Newport City Council to hold public hearing on five-year capital plan at Feb. 11 meeting
The Newport City Council will hold a public hearing on the city’s fiscal year 2027-2031 Capital Improvement Program when it meets Wednesday evening, headlining a packed agenda that includes infrastructure projects, new ordinances and a resolution recognizing Black History Month. The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 43 Broadway. The capital plan […]
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Rhode Island awards $1.23 million in grants to protect 174 acres of open space
The Town of Tiverton will receive the largest share of $1.23 million in state grants announced Thursday to protect open space across Rhode Island, with a $500,000 award to conserve 49 acres of land overlooking Mount Hope Bay. The grant will fund the acquisition of a conservation easement over the property, known as the Hicks […]
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Underwater drone catches fire on Route 24 in Tiverton; lithium-ion batteries prompt HazMat response
Tiverton fire and police responded Tuesday afternoon to the Route 24 southbound on-ramp from Main Road for a reported vehicle fire that turned out to be a 12-foot underwater drone on a trailer. Crews arrived at approximately 2:53 p.m. and found the drone actively on fire, according to a press release from the Tiverton Fire […]
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McKee: URI Medical School possible by 2030
It is possible that a medical school could open on the campus of the University of Rhode Island by 2030, with the expectation that 70 percent of graduates would remain in Rhode Island, helping address the state’s primary care physician shortage, according to Gov. Dan McKee. McKee said on WBLQ’s Morning Show that the study […]
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White Horse Tavern named among America’s top romantic restaurants
The White Horse Tavern has been named one of the top 100 romantic restaurants in America by OpenTable, the online reservation platform announced in its 2026 rankings. The historic restaurant at 26 Marlborough St. earned a 4.8 rating from diners and was one of just two Rhode Island establishments to make the national list. Boat […]
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Newport issues parking ban for Off-Broadway neighborhood for snow removal
The city has issued a neighborhood parking ban for portions of the Off-Broadway neighborhood Thursday as crews continue snow removal operations following last week’s storm. Residents of the affected streets must move their vehicles to off-street parking Thursday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. No parking signs have been posted in the area, and vehicles […]
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Sabina Matos announces re-election bid for lieutenant governor
Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos formally launched her re-election campaign Wednesday, rallying more than 100 supporters at Farm Fresh Rhode Island as she pitched herself as a champion for working families in an increasingly turbulent political climate. Matos, a Democrat who took office in 2021, framed her candidacy around her personal story as a working-class immigrant […]
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Rhode Island Good Neighbor Energy Fund seeing rising demand for heating assistance as cold deepens
More Rhode Island households are turning to the Good Neighbor Energy Fund for help paying their heating bills this winter as persistent high costs for essentials like food and rent compound the strain of cold weather, United Way of Rhode Island said Tuesday. United Way, which administers the fund, is reminding residents facing temporary financial […]
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RE/MAX Results opens new office in North Kingstown
RE/MAX Results, a full-service real estate brokerage, has opened a new office in North Kingstown, expanding its statewide presence to three locations. The new office joins existing locations in Middletown and Warwick, creating what the brokerage described as a convenient hub for agents and clients throughout South County and beyond. “Expanding into North Kingstown allows […]
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SENEDIA names Rhode Island National Guard chief of staff as next executive director
SENEDIA, the Middletown-based alliance for defense technology, talent and innovation, has named Col. Stephen Guertin as its next executive director, the organization announced Wednesday. Guertin, who most recently served as chief of staff for the Rhode Island Army National Guard, brings more than two decades of experience in defense and government to the role. He […]
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Newport Dems to host Secretary of State Gregg Amore for evening on voting rights
The Newport Democratic City Committee will host Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amore for a public event focused on voting rights and election integrity later this month. “An Evening with Secretary of State Gregg Amore” is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 18, at the Elks Lodge, 141 Pelham St. Doors open at 6:45 p.m., with […]
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Shekarchi opts out of governor’s race
by Nancy Lavin, Rhode Island CurrentFebruary 3, 2026 After more than a year of hinting at a possible gubernatorial run, House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi released three paragraphs to explain why he decided against it. “The best way for me to serve the people of Rhode Island is to continue my work as Speaker of […]
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R.I. Supreme Court rules Newport, Cumberland not required to reimburse DCYF for general education costs of children in residential placements
The Rhode Island Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that municipalities, including Newport, are not obligated to reimburse the Department of Children, Youth, and Families for the cost of general education for children placed by DCYF in residential treatment programs who are not receiving special education services. The decision, written by Associate Justice Erin Lynch Prata, […]
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Panel of R.I. preservation leaders to discuss ‘America 250 and Beyond’ at Rosecliff
Six of Rhode Island’s top preservation and history leaders will gather at Rosecliff on Thursday, Feb. 12, to explore how the nation’s semiquincentennial will shape commemorative activities, inclusive storytelling and preservation efforts across the Ocean State. “America 250 and Beyond: Perspectives from Preservation Leaders,” hosted by The Preservation Society of Newport County, will run from […]
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Home of the Week: Thoughtful design and elevated living at 2269 East Main Road, Portsmouth
Tucked just off East Main Road along a quiet, tree-lined drive, 2269 East Main Road in Portsmouth offers the best of both worlds: space and convenience in one of Rhode Island’s most treasured coastal communities. Built in 2003, this beautifully renovated Cape-style residence combines classic New England character with refined modern design, creating a home […]