As the final meal of its 2023 program year, the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center is offering a free holiday lunch on Friday, December 22nd from 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, 12 Marlborough St in Newport. The meal is being donated by McGrath’s Clambakes & Catering. “We […]
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10 old-school Christmas traditions that are no longer practiced
Leaving out cookies for Santa, caroling in the snow, and drinking hot cocoa are all familiar ways to herald the Christmas season. But what about hiding pickles, telling ghost stories, or crowning a lord of mischief? Christmas is a blended event that mixes traditions from pagan winter festivals, the Christian commemoration of the birth of […]
Posted inCity & Government
UPDATE: RITBA lifts bridge restrictions
Update: 12:35 pm on Dec. 18 All bridges are open for normal travel, according to RITBA. Update: 8:01 am on Dec. 18 The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) has restricted access to the Newport Pell and Jamestown-Verrazzano Bridges to additional vehicles. Only automobiles, pickup trucks, flatbed trailers, and commercial buses are permitted to cross the Newport Pell and Jamestown-Verrazzano […]
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Greenlove Foundation donates water bottle filling station to Forest Avenue Elementary School
On Sunday, Greenlove Foundation announced its water bottle filling station donation to Forest Avenue Elementary School in Middletown, Rhode Island. The hydration station donation aligns with the school’s commitment to sustainability and environmental consciousness in a world where single-use plastic has become a serious environmental threat, according to the Greenlove Foundation. Why Forest Avenue […]
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2 Tiverton men arrested by State Police on larceny charges
A barracks investigation into receiving stolen goods led to the arrests of two Tiverton men, Rhode Island State Police shared on Sunday. Troopers arrested Clayton Manchester, 43, of Tiverton, at 10:06 am on charges of larceny of more than $10,000 and conspiracy to receive stolen goods, state police said. Grant Manchester, 39, of Tiverton, was […]
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Newsletter – What’s Up in Newport: Monday, December 18
Good Morning! Today is Monday, December 18, 2023. The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority has restricted access to the Newport Pell and Jamestown-Verrazzano Bridges for certain vehicles due to high-speed winds. House trailers/RVs, empty enclosed trailers, or any vehicle that, in the opinion of law-enforcement personnel, may not safely cross the bridge will be prohibited. Motorists […]
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Jaylen Brown’s big 4th quarter carries Celtics to 114-97 win over Magic for 14-0 start at home
By KEN POWTAK Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — Boston Celtics center Kristaps Porzingis has a message for teams coming into TD Garden. “For a visiting team to come into this building and beat us, its got to be a special night for them and we totally believe that,” he said after the Celtics beat the […]
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A1 Roofing & Construction opens new headquarters
A1 Roofing & Construction, founded in 2007, recently celebrated the opening of its new headquarters at 1133 West Main Road in Middletown, RI. Formerly the site of the Hyundai of Newport auto dealership, the building has been completely renovated to accommodate A1’s growing team, provide a spacious showroom for customer displays, and streamline equipment maintenance. […]
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Davis’ 26 help Delaware knock off Rhode Island 67-56 at Holiday Hoopfest
ELMONT, N.Y. (AP) — Jyare Davis scored 26 points as Delaware beat Rhode Island 67-56 on Saturday night at Holiday Hoopfest. Davis had three steals for the Fightin’ Blue Hens (8-3). Jalun Trent was 4 of 11 shooting and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line to add 12 points. Niels Lane was 2-of-3 shooting […]
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Gerry Goldstein: Angling for some seasonal wisdom
Since we’re deep into the Christmas buying season – the season when long ago three wise men were wending their way to Bethlehem – it seemed appropriate that on Facebook recently, a shopper begged for sage advice. A vintage bamboo fly-fishing rod and reel had captured his fancy in an antiques shop, but before committing […]
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Boston Tea Party turns 250 years old with reenactments of the revolutionary protest
BOSTON (AP) — Patriotic mobs and harbor tea-dumping returned to Boston on Saturday as the city marked the 250th anniversary of the revolutionary protest that preceded America’s independence. The commemoration of the Boston Tea Party included scheduled reenactments of the throwing of tea leaves into the city’s harbor and community meetings that preceded the defiant […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Brett Goldstein adds second show at PPAC
Brett Goldstein has added a second show of his stand-up performance, “The Second Best Night of Your Life,” at the Providence Performing Arts Center. The 7 p.m. performance on Friday, March 29, 2024, was added due to overwhelming demand, according to PPAC. Goldstein is best known for his role as Roy Kent on the Apple […]
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RITBA waives fee for E-ZPass transponders, extends service hours
The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) on Friday announced that it will waive the $10 fee for an E-ZPass transponder for new account holders, now through January 5, 2024. “We are working with every level of government to mitigate the impacts of the situation at the Washington Bridge. There are numerous legal, operational […]
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Weekend Weather Forecast: Rain, thunderstorms possible Sunday night
After a mostly sunny day on Saturday, rain, with thunderstorms also possible, is expected Sunday night, according to the National Weather Service. The weather service said skies will be partly sunny on Sunday with a high near 54 and a 60 percent chance of rain, mainly after 3 p.m., with new precipitation amounts of less […]
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Rhode Island Road Report: Dec. 16 – 23
Here are the weekly road construction reports from the Rhode Island Turnpike & Bridge Authority (RITBA) and Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT). All schedules are weather-dependent. Rhode Island Turnpike & Bridge Authority December 17 – 23, 2023 Newport Claiborne Pell BridgeUpcoming improvements in the roadway between the old toll plaza and the bridge which are […]
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Providence man convicted of murder in Pawtucket cigar bar shooting
A Providence man faces a murder charge for his role in a fatal shooting outside of a Pawtucket cigar bar that took place earlier in 2022. According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office, 31-year-old Trequan Baker was found guilty of second-degree murder for killing 36-year-old Qudus Kafo. The shooting took place on January 23, […]
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Phase I restoration of Rough Point Museum awarded a 2023 AIA Honor & Design Citation for Historic Preservation
The Phase I restoration at Rough Point has been awarded a 2023 AIA Honor and Design Citation from the American Institute of Architects, Rhode Island. The nomination for the award was submitted by the architects and NRF’s partners on the project, DBVW Architects. One of only two citations given for Historic Preservation, the award recognizes […]
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Stock the Box Fly Tying Expo coming to Newport
The Saltwater Edge, New England’s premier saltwater fishing retailer, announced today the Stock the Box Fly Tying Expo, a two-day event designed to unite local anglers and experts in the art of fly tying. The event will occur January 20-21, 2024, at the Newport Hotel & Marina in Newport, RI. This first-of-its-kind expo will allow […]
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What’s Up in Newport: Friday, December 15
Good Morning! Today is Friday, December 15, 2023. The Rhode Island Department of Transportation opened two bypass lanes for I-195 West traffic from East Providence to Providence early this morning. This temporary traffic pattern will allow two lanes of travel westbound and two lanes of travel eastbound – all operating on the eastbound Washington Bridge. Read […]
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RIDOT opens I-195 West Bypass Lanes
The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) early this morning opened two bypass lanes for I-195 West traffic from East Providence to Providence. This temporary traffic pattern will allow two lanes of travel westbound and two lanes of travel eastbound – all operating on the eastbound Washington Bridge.
RIDOT will reopen most ramps that had been closed. However, the Gano Street off-ramp (Exit 1D) will remain closed as will the on-ramps to I-195 West from Veterans Memorial Parkway and Taunton Avenue. RIDOT will continue to maintain passage on the westbound bridge for emergency vehicles only.
With the bypass lane opens, RIDOT expects it will help alleviate congestion but there will still be delays. Motorists may continue to find one detour route or the other more effective for them. As traffic becomes accustomed to the change with the bypass lanes open, RIDOT expects congestion levels to even out and create more predictable traffic flow and travel times.
RIDOT has posted estimated travel times for each detour route on the Washington Bridge closure page at www.ridot.net/WashingtonBridgeClosure and will update this information continuously.
The following recommended detours and alternate routes may be used:
Local traffic in East Providence: Use the Henderson Bridge and rejoin I-195 West at Gano Street.
Southeast Massachusetts west of Fall River, MA: Take Massachusetts Exit 1 and follow Route 114A to Route 44 West. Follow onto Route 114 (Pawtucket Avenue) or Route 1A (Newport Avenue) to I-95. This is the preferred routes for trucks.
Southeast Massachusetts east of Fall River, MA (including traffic coming from Cape Cod and the New Bedford Area): Take Massachusetts Exit 14B to Route 24 North. Follow to I-495 North to I-95.
The Washington Bridge carries 96,000 vehicles daily.
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E-scooter battery fire in Newport apartment prompts fire safety warning
A fire sparked by an e-scooter battery in a Newport apartment has prompted fire officials to warn of the risks of the increasingly popular devices. Newport Fire Deputy Chief Christopher Mariotti said the fire at Donovan Manor, which led to one resident being taken to hospital with difficulty breathing, underscored the need for people to […]
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Coat drives near Providence
For the first time since 2010, the poverty rate in America shot up dramatically in 2022, according to data from the Census Bureau. That means more Americans can’t afford basic needs like food, clothing, shelter, and utilities than has been the case in more than a decade. But the situation isn’t just affecting Americans living […]
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Chiefs head to New England with hopes of avoiding more travel in the playoffs
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — Travis Kelce could be spending some more time on the road in 2024 — and not just to see Taylor Swift in concert. The diva-dating tight end and the rest of the Kansas City Chiefs (8-5) are in an unexpected fight for the division title and might have to play their […]
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Eastern RI Conservation District : Top 8 environmental wins from 2023
By Eastern RI Conservation District 2023 – what a year it’s been! We here at Eastern Rhode Island Conservation District (ERICD) continue to be so thankful for our wonderful Rhode Island community, which supports our programming and allows us to grow every year. From our day-to-day conservation work with farmers to educating about soil health […]
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Cliff Walk now blooms with Maher Center creativity
Newport’s Cliff Walk Commission has partnered with The James L. Maher Center to create and sustain beautiful gardens at the entrance of the Cliff Walk’s famed Forty Steps. The site welcomes more than 1.3 million visitors annually. Maher Center team members Troy Reininger and Jack Cicchelli, along with talented gardeners from Newport in Bloom and […]