FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The fate of World Cup games set to be played in Massachusetts this summer is no longer in limbo. For weeks, the town of Foxborough — home to the NFL’s New England Patriots and their Gillette Stadium site scheduled to host seven World Cup tournament matches in June and July — had been […]
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Newport Tree Conservancy opens applications for community tree planting program
The Newport Tree Conservancy is accepting applications for its annual Community Tree Program, which provides residents with free or subsidized trees to plant at their homes. The program aims to plant around 120 trees each year to offset losses from damage, decay and disease. Trees are free for residents living within Newport’s Health Equity Zone […]
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Newport City Council advances parking permit overhaul, delays short-term rental rules
The Newport City Council voted March 11 to advance a sweeping overhaul of the city’s long-strained residential parking permit program while sending a years-in-the-making package of short-term rental restrictions back to a workshop — two decisions that exposed the competing pressures shaping daily life in one of Rhode Island’s most visited cities. A Parking System […]
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How doula support enhances the pregnancy journey
Considering Doula support for your pregnancy journey? Join us for Meet the Doulas at South County Health. Register Today > For many expectant parents, preparing for birth involves choosing an obstetric provider, attending prenatal visits, and creating a plan for delivery. Increasingly, families are also considering the support of a doula—a trained professional who provides […]
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Flanked by labor and Democratic leaders, RI Secretary of State Gregg Amore kicks off reelection bid
by Alexander Castro, Rhode Island CurrentMarch 11, 2026 Democratic Rhode Island Secretary of State Gregg Amore launched his reelection campaign on his home turf Wednesday in the company of his many friends in high places, from General Assembly leaders to local union and party bosses. Also present: the GOP opponent Amore beat in the 2022 […]
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Some states are reviving a push to tax the rich
By KIMBERLEE KRUESI, GEOFF MULVIHILL and CEDAR ATTANASIO Associated Press PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Chuck Collins figures he won life’s lottery by inheriting vast sums of money through his great-grandfather Oscar Mayer’s processed meat company, but rather than fight to protect every dime Collins has helped push to hike taxes on the ultrarich like himself. […]
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RIPTA to detour three Newport bus routes Saturday for St. Patrick’s Day Parade
The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority will detour three bus routes in Newport on Saturday, March 14, to accommodate the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Routes 60, 63 and 67 will operate on modified paths between 8:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. All three routes will bypass the parade route along Thames Street and America’s Cup Avenue, […]
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City of Newport warns residents and businesses of permit payment scam
The City of Newport is warning residents and businesses of a sophisticated scam targeting individuals with pending or current applications before the city. The scam involves fraudulent emails containing fake invoices requesting payment for permit review or Planning Commission application fees. The emails use official city branding and direct recipients to send wire transfers to […]
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Portsmouth historian to lead lecture series marking 250th anniversary of American Revolution
Local historian Fred Zilian, Ph.D., will lead a series of lectures across Rhode Island this spring and summer marking the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, with a particular focus on the state’s role in the conflict. Zilian, founder of Pegasus Enrichment Services in Newport, will kick off the series March 21 with “Caty and […]
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Drivers urged to use caution near Jamestown Verrazzano Bridge work zone beginning March 17
The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority will begin work “on a small bridge” on the westbound side of the Jamestown Verrazzano Bridge on Monday, March 17, with alternating lane closures in effect from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. Drivers are urged to slow down and pay attention through the work zone.
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Rhode Island Senate passes Jamestown senior property tax relief bill
The Rhode Island Senate has approved legislation that would expand property tax relief for senior residents of Jamestown, sending the bill to Gov. Daniel McKee for consideration. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Dawn Euer (D-Dist. 13, Newport, Jamestown), extends Jamestown’s existing sliding-scale property tax exemption program for seniors to include those with incomes between 220% […]
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MLK Community Center to open food pantry in Newport’s North End this spring
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center plans to open a satellite food pantry in Newport’s North End later this spring, bringing hunger relief services closer to residents who have faced transportation barriers accessing the organization’s downtown location. The new pantry will be located at 120 Hillside Ave. near Miantonomi Park. Once open, the […]
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Newport City Council sends stern message to McKee: No cruise ship fee hike
by Christopher Shea, Rhode Island CurrentMarch 10, 2026 Newport city officials say Gov. Dan McKee never consulted them in crafting his plan to raise fees on visiting cruise ships, a move they say could put the city by the sea at a serious disadvantage compared to other regional ports competing for tourism dollars. That’s why […]
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Norman Bird Sanctuary kicks off spring with lineup of hikes, lectures, and family events
The Norman Bird Sanctuary is welcoming spring with a series of events designed to connect the community with the natural world, from geology hikes and stargazing to wildlife encounters and family open houses. The season kicks off Thursday, March 19, with a Golden Hour Geology Hike from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., exploring the ancient rock […]
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IYRS launches new runabout restoration course in Newport
IYRS School of Technology & Trades has announced the launch of a new Runabout Restoration Course, a 9-month hands-on program designed for experienced boatbuilders, classic runabout enthusiasts and those looking to break into the boatbuilding trade. The pilot course offers students the opportunity to work through the full restoration process of a classic mahogany Chris-Craft, […]
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Charter Books to host NYT bestselling author Julian Sancton for book talk March 29
Charter Books and the Newport Historical Society will host New York Times bestselling author Julian Sancton for a discussion of his newly released book, “Neptune’s Fortune: The Billion-Dollar Shipwreck and the Ghosts of the Spanish Empire,” on Sunday, March 29, from 5 to 6 p.m. The event at Charter Books, 8 Broadway, is free and […]
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Rhode Island Foundation offering $270,000 in grants to Newport County nonprofits
Nonprofit organizations serving Newport County residents have until March 26 to apply for more than $270,000 in grants from the Rhode Island Foundation. The Newport County Fund offers grants of up to $10,000 to develop new programs, strengthen or expand established programs and support municipal planning or leadership. Applicants should focus on significant problems or […]
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Newport’s St. Patrick’s Day parade marks 70th anniversary Saturday
Newport’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade celebrates its 70th anniversary Saturday, March 14, with thousands expected to line the streets of downtown for the annual tradition. The parade steps off promptly at 11 a.m. in front of City Hall, rain, snow or shine, winding through Washington Square, down America’s Cup Avenue and Thames Street before finishing […]
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RIPTA launches on-demand transit service in Newport, Middletown
Residents of Newport and Middletown now have a new way to get around without a car. The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority launched its Flex On Demand microtransit service Monday in five communities across the state, including a new zone covering Newport and Middletown. The service allows riders to book on-demand, curb-to-curb trips for $2 […]
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This Day in RI History: March 9 – Jeffrey Osborne is born
Born in Providence, Jeffrey Osborne is a Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and musician who hails from a legendary RI musical family. Osborne began his career in 1970 as lead vocalist for L.T.D., a popular R&B band founded in the early 1970’s. He later began a solo career, where he was nominated for several Grammy Awards. Osborne […]
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Sweet Berry Farm’s new owners seek planning board approval for major development
Less than a year after Sweet Berry Farm quietly changed hands following 45 years under the same family, the property’s new owners are seeking approval for a major land development project that would transform the 51-acre Mitchell’s Lane farm with a new 13,862-square-foot complex — including a relocated farmstand, café and a barn designed to […]
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In search of affordability: How Rhode Island ranks for cost of living
If there’s one issue that every single American is dealing with these days, it’s that costs are going up. Food, shelter, energy — the bills just keep getting bigger, and the affordability of daily life is being strained. But here’s some surprising math you might not be aware of: Affordability can be extremely different depending […]
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‘Wicked’ at PPAC is spellbinding, start to finish
When I interviewed Jessie Davidson last month, I asked her if the two “Wicked” movies helped or hindered the stage version of the show, in which she’s playing Elphaba. “The movie brought ‘Wicked’ to so many.” She said she meets young people at the stage door after performances who say seeing “Wicked” live was their […]
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Newport City Council to hold special meeting on residential parking permit changes
The Newport City Council will hold a special meeting Thursday, March 12, at 7 p.m. at City Hall to take up on second reading a proposal that would significantly overhaul the city’s residential parking permit program. The special session follows a first reading scheduled for the regularly scheduled City Council meeting Wednesday, March 11. If […]
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URI Watershed Watch seeks volunteers to monitor Rhode Island’s ponds, streams, and coasts
The University of Rhode Island’s Watershed Watch program is seeking volunteer water quality monitors to help collect data on lakes, ponds, streams, and coastal waters across southern New England this spring. A URI Cooperative Extension program, Watershed Watch has tracked water quality data for four decades, with volunteers helping researchers understand how snowy winters, stormwater […]