The International Yacht and Athletic Club has presented a $13,000 check to Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island from donations collected at its 2026 Rhody Regatta. The May 31 race sent boats from 30 to 66 feet on an 18-nautical-mile circumnavigation of Conanicut Island. Organizers had set a $10,000 target. Joe Brito’s J/121 Incognito, out […]
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Newport Historical Society lands $245,000 federal grant to digitize Revolutionary-era documents
The Newport Historical Society has received a $245,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to rehouse, catalog and digitize 2,000 documents from its 18th and 19th century collections. The award comes through the NEH’s “Rediscovering Our Revolutionary Tradition” initiative, and the society is one of two Rhode Island recipients. The project, called Newport’s […]
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BankNewport grants $22,000 to Star Kids and FabNewport
The BankNewport Charitable Foundation has awarded $15,000 to the Star Kids Scholarship Program and $7,000 to FabNewport’s Healthy Meals Program, the bank announced Tuesday. The Star Kids grant supports tutoring, supervised after-school and summer programs, school transportation, textbooks and uniforms. The program works with low-income students who have a parent with a history of incarceration […]
Posted inFood & Drink
“Chopped” judge Maneet Chauhan headlines Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival, Sept. 18-20
Maneet Chauhan, the “Chopped” judge and two-time “Tournament of Champions” winner, will headline the 21st Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival at Rosecliff from Sept. 18 to 20. Chauhan hosts the Vintner Dinner, a collaboration with festival Culinary Director Kevin Des Chenes, Adam Greenberg of Sparrow Restaurant in New Milford, Connecticut, and Adam Young of […]
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Classic yachts parade through Newport Harbor Sunday morning
A fleet of classic sail and motor yachts will parade through Newport Harbor at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 6, as part of the 47th Newport Classic Yacht Regatta. The parade starts at the south end of Goat Island and runs a circuit of the harbor, passing the wharves, IYRS, King Park, Ida Lewis Yacht Club […]
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Man taken into custody after hours-long standoff on Dudley Avenue, police say
A 32-year-old man was arrested Monday night after a standoff of nearly four hours at a Dudley Avenue residence, Newport police said. Officers went to 12 Dudley Ave. at 3:45 p.m. on a report that Khaleel Mills had assaulted a man and threatened to shoot him with a pistol, according to a release from the […]
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Blood center asks for donors over Labor Day weekend after a thin summer
The Rhode Island Blood Center is asking for donors over the Labor Day weekend, saying donations typically fall off around holidays just as travel and back-to-school schedules pull people away. During Labor Day week last year, the center collected more than 40 percent fewer donations than the 2,100 it needs weekly to meet hospital and […]
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New York Yacht Club challenges America’s Cup governing body
The New York Yacht Club, whose Harbour Court clubhouse sits on Halidon Avenue, has asked the New York attorney general’s Charities Bureau to examine whether the newly created America’s Cup Partnership can be reconciled with the Deed of Gift, the charitable trust that has governed the trophy since the 19th century. Commodore Clare Harrington announced […]
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RENEWport volunteers return to Pell for a second year of morning greetings
RENEWport volunteers will be back outside Claiborne Pell Elementary School Wednesday morning, welcoming students on the first day of the 2026-27 school year for the second year of the group’s morning greeter program. The greeters are at the Dexter Street school daily from 8 to 8:30 a.m. Volunteers also help open the Pell library before […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport spends more per resident on police and fire than any other Rhode Island community
Newport spent more per resident on police and fire protection in fiscal 2024 than any other city or town in Rhode Island, according to a report released this week by the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council. The city spent $746 per capita on police, the highest in the state and nearly three times the $266 […]
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Easton’s Point home sells for $6.2 million, Middletown’s highest since 2023
A home on Easton’s Point has sold for $6,245,000, the highest residential sale in Middletown since 2023, according to Gustave White Sotheby’s International Realty. The property at 592 Tuckerman Ave. sits across from Purgatory Chasm and near Second Beach. Jessica Chase of Gustave White represented the seller; Libby Kirwin of Lila Delman Compass brought the […]
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Roger Federer brought to tears during his induction into International Tennis Hall of Fame
By KEN POWTAK Associated Press NEWPORT, R.I. (AP) — Roger Federer was brought to tears numerous times during his induction speech at the International Tennis Hall of Fame on Saturday. As sunset crept in at Newport’s grass horseshoe court at the entrance of the Hall, the 45-year-old Federer, dressed in a tan suit, strolled up […]
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Roger Federer heads to the Tennis Hall of Fame and says he ‘had the best time’ during his career
By BRIAN MAHONEY AP Sports Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Roger Federer loved to win, of course, and at the peak of his career almost always did. All those victories and trophies he piled up alone would have made Federer remembered forever in tennis, but they were only part of the reason he enjoyed playing. He liked traveling to […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport’s Senate District 13 primary pits a progressive incumbent against a progressive challenger
by Nancy Lavin, Rhode Island Current August 28, 2026 At 47 years old with nine years in elected office, Sen. Dawn Euer is hardly the most seasoned lawmaker in a chamber where many members are retirees with multiple decades in their seats.But her Democratic primary opponent — her first since winning office in a 2017 […]
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Newport Public Education Foundation names 2026 award recipients
The Newport Public Education Foundation has announced the recipients of its 2026 Noreen Stonor Drexel Education Awards, to be presented Oct. 22 at Innovate Newport during the foundation’s annual fundraiser. FabNewport receives the Friend of Education award. Founded in 2013 as a fab lab in the North End, it has grown into a youth development […]
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Newport County voters have cast more than 1,300 primary ballots so far
More than 1,300 Newport County residents have voted in the Sept. 9 statewide primary, a week into a three-week early voting period, according to the Secretary of State’s turnout tracker. As of noon Thursday, 1,331 ballots had been cast across the county’s six communities — 948 in person at early voting sites and 383 mail […]
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Newport police identify man killed in officer-involved shooting in harbor
Newport Police have identified the man killed in Wednesday morning’s officer-involved shooting in Newport Harbor as Brendan Norris, 27, of Clinton Ave. in Newport. The Rhode Island State Police and Newport Police, coordinating with the Rhode Island Office of the Attorney General, are continuing to investigate, the department said in a news release Wednesday evening. […]
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Sold-out Pell Bridge Run brings road closures to Newport and Jamestown Sunday morning
The Citizens Pell Bridge Run returns Sunday, Aug. 30, bringing rolling road closures to both ends of the bridge during the early morning hours. The 4-mile run and walk starts at 7 a.m. on Conanicus Avenue in Jamestown and finishes in downtown Newport. It is the only day of the year pedestrians are allowed on […]
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What’s next for contentious Tiverton oyster farm proposal? More meetings.
by Nancy Lavin, Rhode Island Current August 26, 2026 The more than six-year saga of an oyster farm proposed for Tiverton’s Sapowet Cove continues with no end in sight, after a state coastal lawyer rejected neighbors’ attempt to scrap the project.A small crowd packed the second-floor state office where the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management […]
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Route 67 returns to fall schedule Saturday; rides stay free through October
RIPTA’s Route 67, which runs along Bellevue Avenue and serves Salve Regina University, returns to its fall and winter schedule Saturday, Aug. 29, with trips every 30 minutes throughout the day. The route remains free to ride through Oct. 31, courtesy of Discover Newport. The change is part of RIPTA’s fall service adjustments, which the […]
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Invasive green crabs are bad for the environment so New Englanders are starting to eat more of them
By MICHAEL CASEY Associated Press YORK, Maine (AP) — As a morning fog lifted over Maine’s York River, Mike Masi and his two interns stood on a dock sorting through a mound of one of the region’s most despised crabs and hoped to find a few that would end up on a gastronome’s plate somewhere […]
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Dolly Parton’s Newport legacy: one unforgettable appearance at Fort Adams, and a book in the mail every month
Dolly Parton, who died Tuesday in Nashville at 80, left two very different marks on Newport: a single surprise appearance at Fort Adams that people still talk about, and a program that has quietly mailed books to thousands of local children every month for six years. Her family asked that donations be made in her […]
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IYRS launches Maritime Leadership Institute, names Kristin Urbach managing director
IYRS School of Technology & Trades announced Wednesday the launch of a Maritime Leadership Institute and named Kristin Urbach its managing director. The institute will offer leadership development for maritime professionals, with programs aimed at building teams, managing change and problem-solving in maritime workplaces — an extension of the school’s technical training into management. “The […]
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Conexión Latina Newport receives Rhode Island Foundation’s Community Leadership Award
Conexión Latina Newport has received the Rhode Island Foundation’s 2026 Community Leadership Award, the foundation’s highest honor for community leadership. The award was presented at a recent Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra performance. The award recognizes an individual or organization demonstrating innovation, impact, commitment and leadership in one of the foundation’s priority areas. Conexión Latina runs […]
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McKee narrows gap but still trails Foulkes by 15 points in new WPRI poll
by Nancy Lavin, Rhode Island Current August 25, 2026 Gov. Dan McKee is finally gaining ground among Democratic primary voters, but remains 15 points behind challenger Helena Buonanno Foulkes, according to a new WPRI-TV 12 poll published Tuesday.The survey of 1,000 likely voters, conducted Aug. 21 and Aug. 22 by Emerson College Polling, marks the […]
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Newport projects among 10 statewide Rhody Award winners for historic preservation
NEWPORT — Three Newport-connected honorees are among the 10 recipients of Preserve Rhode Island’s 2026 Rhody Awards for Historic Preservation, announced Tuesday. Agassiz Mansion at Castle Hill Inn receives a Community Impact Award for its restoration after the Feb. 5 fire that tore through the third-floor attic of the Ocean Drive landmark. The State Fire […]
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Texans acquire WR Kayshon Boutte from Patriots to fill void after Jayden Higgins’ injury
HOUSTON (AP) — The Houston Texans acquired wide receiver Kayshon Boutte from the New England Patriots on Monday. Boutte confirmed the deal on social media before either team announced it. According to multiple reports, Houston sent safety Jaylen Reed and a 2028 seventh-round draft pick to the Patriots. The move comes after No. 2 receiver […]
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Newport Mansions offering free admission to county residents in September and November
The Preservation Society of Newport County will offer free admission to Newport County residents on two weekends this fall: Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 12-13, and Nov. 14-15. The offer covers residents of Newport, Middletown, Portsmouth, Jamestown, Tiverton and Little Compton, along with personnel stationed at Naval Station Newport and their immediate families and Salve Regina […]
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Tickets still available for Bike Newport’s 10-Spot Ride this Saturday
Bike Newport’s 10-Spot Ride returns Saturday, Aug. 29, and tickets remain available for the 5½-hour citywide ride connecting 10 locations, 20 live music acts and 16 chefs and restaurants. The locations stay secret until event day. Riders choose their own route and visit as many of the first nine stops as they like before everyone […]
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RIDOT shifting traffic on South County Trail bridge over Route 4 in East Greenwich
RIDOT will shift all traffic to the newly rebuilt northbound side of the South County Trail bridge at the Route 4 interchange starting Friday night, Aug. 28. The two-lane configuration in place during construction becomes permanent — one lane each direction with a center turning lane, connecting to the existing road diet south of the […]
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MLK Community Center collecting adult clothing donations through Sunday
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center is collecting new and gently used adult clothing through Sunday, Aug. 30, for a giveaway open to Newport County residents the following day. Donations are being taken at two Newport churches. Channing Memorial Church, 131 Pelham St., accepts drop-offs anytime. St. John’s the Evangelical Church, 61 Poplar […]
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Newport Sings opens fall enrollment for teen and adult choruses
Newport Sings is enrolling teens and adults for two fall choral programs on Aquidneck Island, both free or offered on a sliding scale with no audition required. The programs are Aquidneck Singers, a multigenerational treble chorus for sopranos and altos, and Quorus, which the organization describes as the first and only LGBTQIA+ all-voices chorus in […]
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On This Day In Newport History: August 23, 2000 – Newport’s Richard Hatch Wins Survivor
Survivor: Borneo, the first season of CBS’s Survivor, hosted its finale on August 23, 2000. After 39 days of competition, Richard Hatch, a corporate trainer from Newport, was named the Sole Survivor and became Survivor‘s first millionaire. Nielsen reported that 125 million people watched at least some part of the finale. The show was filmed from […]
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Today In Newport History: August 22, 1762 – Ann Franklin Takes Over Newport Mercury, Becomes First Female Editor in U.S.
Ann (Smith) Franklin became the sole editor and publisher of the Newport Mercury on August 22nd, 1762, making her the first female editor in the United States. The Newport Mercury dates back to 1758 and until recently was considered one of the oldest newspapers still operating in the country. Newport Mercury announced in April 2018 that […]
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Newport Pell Bridge lane closures start Monday; work continues on Mount Hope and Jamestown bridges
The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority will close the right eastbound lane of the Newport Pell Bridge on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. beginning Monday, Aug. 24, through Friday, Sept. 4. Work continues on two other bridges in the meantime. On the Mount Hope Bridge, the ongoing dehumidification project means alternating lane […]
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Tiverton library opens StoryWalk trail with Sept. 19 celebration
The Tiverton Public Library will hold a grand opening for its new StoryWalk on Saturday, Sept. 19, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. StoryWalk mounts the pages of a children’s picture book on signs along a walking path, so visitors read the story a page at a time as they move through the trail. The […]
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Under financial pressure, Brown University Health mum on Newport Hospital birthing center
by Nancy Lavin, Rhode Island Current August 21, 2026 Brown University Health is back in the black, but its financial forecast remains grim as costs associated with uncompensated care, insurance denials and federal Medicaid restrictions take hold.“If you’re sitting at zero, you’re not where you need to be,” Peter Markell, executive vice president and chief […]
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MLK Community Center hosting free karaoke competition Tuesday
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center will hold a karaoke competition on Tuesday, Aug. 25, from 5 to 7 p.m. Each singer performs one song for the judges, with a second song prepared in case of a tiebreaker. First place wins a prize. Sing Your Heart Out Co. will emcee. The event is […]
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Salve students learn on the job at the Newport Folk and Jazz festivals
For more than 70 years, Newport has held a distinctive place in American music history as the host city of world-renowned jazz and folk festivals. This summer, Salve Regina University rising seniors Grace Kasten and Topher Weber experienced that history from behind the scenes as interns with Newport Festivals Foundation. From stage production and artist support […]
Posted inCity & Government
PUC cuts Rhode Island Energy’s rate request, approves $170 million in bill credits
The Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission on Friday approved roughly $170 million in customer bill credits and rejected significant portions of Rhode Island Energy’s request to raise electric and gas distribution rates. The credits stem from a commitment PPL Corporation made when it acquired The Narragansett Electric Company in 2022, agreeing to hold Rhode Island […]
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Newport police and firefighters to meet at Cardines Field for charity softball game
Newport Police and Newport Fire will face each other in a charity softball game at Cardines Field on Friday, Sept. 11, raising money for a first responder memorial planned for Barker Memorial Park. Doors open at 5 p.m. and the game starts at 6. Admission is donation-based, payable in cash or through the Betterworld platform. […]
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More than 70 maritime and defense companies to demonstrate technology at Sail Newport next week
More than 70 companies from five countries will bring maritime and defense technologies to Sail Newport on Thursday, Aug. 27, for the third annual BlueTIDE, an event organized by Polaris Tech Bridge. The day opens with an in-water Collaborative Integration Opportunity from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., putting previously qualified technologies to work in a […]
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RIPTA board advances Providence transit center to design phase
The RIPTA Board of Directors voted Thursday to advance a proposed Providence Transit Center into design, engineering and pricing, moving the state’s bus hub out of Kennedy Plaza toward a site beside the Providence train station. RIPTA identified space within Station Park, west of the station, as the preferred location after evaluating sites and running […]
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First Newport homes go live on GoNetspeed fiber Wednesday
The first Newport customers will be ready to connect to GoNetspeed’s fiber network on Wednesday, the company will tell the City Council at its meeting that evening. Heidi Mahoney, GoNetspeed’s manager of government affairs, will brief councilors on the fiber-to-the-premises build, which is advancing in partnership with Rhode Island Commerce through the ConnectRI program. Construction […]
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City floats “Park Newport,” a single brand for all municipal parking
The city’s parking operations would consolidate under a single public-facing brand called Park Newport under a proposal going before the City Council on Wednesday. In an Aug. 18 memo, Superintendent of Parking Stathis Manousos describes bringing parking operations, customer service, permits, payment, wayfinding and enforcement together under one identity — part of what he calls […]
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Early voting begins for Sept. 9 primary; state officials point voters to rights guide
Early voting for the statewide primary opened Thursday in the second-floor conference room of Newport City Hall, 43 Broadway, and continues during regular business hours until 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 8. Emergency mail ballots are available in the Canvassing Office over the same period. Extended hours are set for Wednesday, Aug. 26, when early […]
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Providence Place sold to ownership group led by former Mayor Joe Paolino and the mall’s original developer
Providence Place has been sold to a partnership of Paolino Properties, Pyramid Management Group and DW Partners, the group announced Thursday morning at a press conference at the mall with Mayor Brett Smiley. The ownership brings the property back to figures involved in its creation. Joseph R. Paolino Jr., CEO and managing partner of Paolino […]
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Waterfront home on The Point sells for $3.4 million
A waterfront home in Newport’s Historic Point neighborhood has sold for $3,400,000, the highest sale in the neighborhood since April 2024, according to Lila Delman Compass. The property at 4 Van Zandt Ave., on a corner lot at Washington Street, sold for 13.3% above its asking price. Kara Malkovich of Lila Delman Compass’s Newport office […]
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New state housing dashboard shows 658 units backed across Newport County
A new state housing dashboard launched Thursday shows Newport County has 14 developments totaling 658 housing units in predevelopment, under construction or completed with state support since 2021. Newport accounts for the largest share, with five developments and 321 units. Middletown has four developments and 169 units, Portsmouth two and 94, Tiverton two and 62, […]
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This Day In Newport History: August 20, 1915 – Miramar mansion inaugurated
On this day in Newport history, Miramar Mansion was inaugurated on August 20th, 1915. Located at 646 Bellevue Avenue, it was intended as a summer home for the George D. Widener family of Philadelphia. George and his son, Harry, Widener lost their lives aboard the RMS Titanic. Eleanor Elkins Widener, George’s widow, who was rescued in a lifeboat […]
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Reed helps launch South Kingstown’s new $500,000 harbor patrol vessel
U.S. Sen. Jack Reed joined state and local officials dockside Wednesday to launch South Kingstown’s new harbor patrol vessel, funded almost entirely with $500,000 in federal money. The 27-foot SAFE Boats T-Top vessel carries a 600-horsepower engine and is equipped for emergency response and search and rescue, with an aluminum hull and expanded deck space. […]
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Newport Playhouse to close after 43 years
The Newport Playhouse & Cabaret Restaurant will close on Dec. 31 after 43 years, president Jonathan Perry announced Tuesday in a letter to patrons posted on the theater’s Facebook page. The Playhouse will continue performing through the end of the year. “We still have several months of performances ahead of us, audiences to entertain, stories […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
King Park Beach reopens for swimming
The Rhode Island Department of Health is recommending that the swimming area at King Park Beach reopen after bacteria counts returned to safe levels. The beach was closed to swimming last Thursday, Aug. 13, after elevated bacteria counts. RIDOH will continue monitoring beach water quality through Labor Day, and a beach’s status can change as […]
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Reed breaks ground on $46 million Army Aviation Readiness Center at Quonset
U.S. Sen. Jack Reed joined federal, state, local and military officials Tuesday to break ground on a new Army Aviation Readiness Center at Quonset Point, funded with $46 million he secured across two federal budget cycles. The facility will house the Rhode Island Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment and five supporting companies. […]
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Potter League waives adoption fees for adult dogs and cats this weekend
The Potter League for Animals will waive adoption fees for all available dogs and cats over six months old from Friday, Aug. 21, through Sunday, Aug. 23, as part of NBCUniversal Local’s Clear The Shelters campaign. Fees for puppies and kittens under six months will be half off. The waived fees are covered by a […]
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Rhode Island says childhood vaccine requirements unchanged despite federal executive order
Rhode Island’s vaccination requirements for children entering child care and schools have not changed, Gov. Dan McKee and the Rhode Island Department of Health said Tuesday, responding to an executive order signed by President Trump on Aug. 10 calling for fewer childhood vaccines and changes to when they are administered. State officials said Rhode Island’s […]
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McKee calls for statewide pause on new license plate reader cameras
Gov. Dan McKee has called for a statewide pause on installing or activating new automated license plate reader cameras and ordered a 60-day review aimed at setting uniform standards for the technology and the data it collects. “Automated license plate readers can be an important tool for law enforcement to solve crimes, recover stolen vehicles, […]
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People’s Credit Union donates $2,500 to Butler Basketball Club
People’s Credit Union has donated $2,500 to the Butler Basketball Club as a presenting sponsor of the club’s 10th annual golf tournament. “Our belief in what the Butler Basketball Club represents goes far beyond the game itself,” said Courtney Hunter, head of community development at People’s Credit Union. “Butler Basketball Club is about building upon […]
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Middletown Family Day returns to Second Beach on Sept. 12
The Middletown Prevention Coalition will host its 17th annual Family Day at Second Beach on Saturday, Sept. 12, from 4 to 8 p.m. The event is free, with a rain date of Sunday, Sept. 13. Activities include a rock climbing wall, bouncy house, inflatable obstacle course, pickleball, old-fashioned games, touch-a-truck, face painting and a balloon […]
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Pell Center survey: Foulkes leads McKee by 20 points; former Newport mayor within two points in LG race
Helena Foulkes leads Gov. Dan McKee 48% to 28% in the Democratic primary for governor, according to a survey released Monday by the Pell Center at Salve Regina University. Twenty-two percent of Democratic primary voters remain undecided — enough to swing the race either way. Foulkes drew her strongest support among voters under 50 (58%), […]
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Jamestown Verrazzano Bridge joint work shifts to eastbound lanes tonight
Joint replacement work on the Jamestown Verrazzano Bridge moves to the eastbound lanes tonight, the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority announced Tuesday. Westbound work is complete. Crews begin on the eastbound side at the North Kingstown end at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18. Work will run overnight, Sunday through Thursday, from 7 p.m. to […]
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$13.5 million in federal funding headed to Providence Ferry Terminal
The Rhode Island congressional delegation has steered $13.5 million in federal funding to upgrade the Providence Ferry Terminal, the northern end of the seasonal ferry route connecting Newport, Bristol and Providence. The money goes to the Rhode Island Department of Transportation for work at the terminal at 25 Portugal Parkway in Fox Point, which currently […]
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Middletown police identify man killed crossing Coddington Highway
Police have identified the 80-year-old Middletown man who died Sunday night after being struck by a vehicle while crossing Coddington Highway as Ronald Moore. Middletown Police and Fire personnel responded to the intersection of Coddington Highway and Underwood Lane at approximately 8:10 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16, for a reported collision involving a pedestrian. First responders […]
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New York Yacht Club takes fifth straight Hinman Masters at Harbour Court
The New York Yacht Club won its fifth consecutive Hinman Masters Team Race over the weekend, taking the best-of-five championship series 3-1 against Eastport Yacht Club of Annapolis, Md., at Harbour Court. The 24th edition ran Aug. 14-16. NYYC Levesque and Eastport were the class of the round robin, with the host team going 16-2 […]
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Today In Newport History: August 17, 1790 – George Washington Arrives In Newport
On the morning of August 17th, 1790 George Washington arrived in Newport. He was accompanied by Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, Governor George Clinton of New York, U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Blair of Virginia, and U.S. Congressman William Loughton Smith of South Carolina. The following recount of this historic visit is from the Touro […]
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McKee ceremonially signs bill creating Dominican heritage license plate
Gov. Dan McKee ceremonially signed legislation Friday creating a special charity license plate supporting the Dominican Independence Heritage Award Committee of Rhode Island. The bills, H833 and S3362, were sponsored by Rep. Grace Diaz and Sen. Ana Quezada, both Providence Democrats. McKee was joined at the signing by Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos, Treasurer James A. […]
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Rhode Island opens applications for new federal Workforce Pell Grant program
Rhode Island has opened applications for training providers seeking to participate in Workforce Pell, a new federal program extending Pell Grant aid to short-term workforce training, Gov. Dan McKee and the Office of the Postsecondary Commissioner announced Friday. Providers can apply for state-level approval from Friday through Sept. 14. To qualify, programs must run 8 […]
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Rhode Island Foundation awards $290,000 to Newport County nonprofits
More than 50 nonprofits serving Newport County will share $290,000 in grants from the Rhode Island Foundation, the organization announced Friday. The grants come through the Foundation’s Newport County Fund, which awards up to $10,000 per organization to expand established programs, support advocacy, fund new projects or build partnerships. Funding decisions were made with an […]
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On the Market: Late summer brings opportunity across Newport County
We are heading into another summer weekend in Newport County, and the open house schedule is decidedly Saturday-heavy, with dozens of properties available to tour across the area and a lighter schedule on Sunday. That timing creates a good opportunity for buyers. Mid-to-late August is traditionally a bit of a lull in our local market […]
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UTIC names Donald McCormack board chair as founding chair Debbie Proffitt retires
The Undersea Technology Innovation Consortium has elected Donald McCormack as chair of its board of directors following the retirement of Debbie Proffitt, a founding board member who led the board through the organization’s first decade. McCormack is senior consultant to McLaughlin Research Corporation and brings more than 40 years of experience with the Navy’s research, […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Health department recommends closing King Park Beach to swimming
The Rhode Island Department of Health is recommending that the swimming area at King Park Beach be closed due to high bacteria counts, the department announced Thursday afternoon. RIDOH will continue monitoring beach water quality through Labor Day, and a beach’s status can change as new samples come in. Current beach information is available on […]
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Newport County man diagnosed with rare tick-borne Powassan virus
A Newport County man in his 70s has been diagnosed with Powassan virus, a rare tick-borne illness, the Rhode Island Department of Health announced Thursday. The man began experiencing symptoms in late July. It is the state’s second confirmed Powassan case in 2026 and the tenth since Rhode Island first reported the disease in 2016. […]
Posted inCity & Government
Same arguments, new insults: McKee and Foulkes clash in first TV debate
by Nancy Lavin, Rhode Island Current August 13, 2026 Familiar arguments over opioids, infrastructure and who cares more about everyday Rhode Islanders dominated the first televised Democratic gubernatorial debate of the 2026 election cycle.Yet Gov. Dan McKee and his challenger, Helena Buonanno Foulkes, still managed to infuse their usual talking points with fresh insults during […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport City Council calls Saturday special meeting on city manager’s employment
The Newport City Council will hold a special meeting Saturday, Aug. 15, at 10 a.m. at City Hall to meet in executive session regarding City Manager Colin K. Kennedy’s employment. According to the docket released Wednesday afternoon, the council will meet in the city solicitor’s office “to discuss issues involving the City Manager’s employment with […]
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Aquidneck Resilience seeks public input on islandwide climate plan at four listening sessions
Aquidneck Resilience is inviting island residents to help shape an islandwide Climate Resilience Plan through a series of community listening sessions beginning Aug. 25. The plan is intended as a guidebook for reducing the island’s climate risks — flooding, extreme heat and cold, and severe storms that cross town lines. Aquidneck Resilience has engaged more […]
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IYRS to host international STEM clinic connecting women to marine tech careers
IYRS School of Technology & Trades will host one of two international Ocean Racing STEM Clinics on Aug. 24-25, a program aimed at drawing women into technical careers in the sailing and marine industries. The clinic is a partnership between The Magenta Project, a global initiative working to expand opportunities for women in sailing and […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Dave Matthews Band coming to Providence in November, months after Newport Folk surprise
Dave Matthews Band will play the Amica Mutual Pavilion on Nov. 9 as part of a fall tour announced Tuesday, bringing the frontman back to Rhode Island less than four months after his unannounced solo appearance at the Newport Folk Festival. Matthews made his Newport Folk debut on July 26, joining Nathaniel Rateliff & Friends […]
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Rhode Island seeking paid poll workers for September primary, November general election
The Rhode Island Board of Elections is recruiting paid poll workers for the Sept. 9 primary and the Nov. 3 general election, with local boards of canvassers hiring across the state. Poll workers set up polling places, greet voters, verify registrations and issue ballots. They also help voters navigate the process by demonstrating voting equipment […]
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Newport International Boat Show expands education lineup with on-water training, new fishing village
The 55th Newport International Boat Show will offer one of its most extensive educational lineups yet when it returns to the waterfront Sept. 17-20, with programming ranging from free walk-up seminars to on-water instruction with certified captains. The Cruisers Classroom, presented by the Annapolis School of Seamanship, returns with complimentary interactive sessions running all four […]
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Bike Newport’s 10-Spot Ride returns Aug. 29 with a new finale stop
Bike Newport’s 10-Spot Ride returns Saturday, Aug. 29, for its seventh year, with riders pedaling between secret locations across the city over 5.5 hours. The event pairs ten properties with 15 chefs and restaurants and 20 live musical performances, all reached by bicycle. Participants pick their own order and route and decide how long to […]
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Today In Newport History: August 11, 1866 – First roller skating rink opens to the public in U.S.
Roller skates in the United States around 1905 James Plimpton, inventor of the modern quad roller skate, and the New York Roller Skating Association (NYRSA) leased The Atlantic House Hotel in Newport and converted the dining room into a skating area on August 11th, 1866. This was the first roller skating rink open to the public in the […]
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Raytheon, Portsmouth-based Composite Energy Technologies demonstrate new undersea drone
Raytheon and Composite Energy Technologies have successfully demonstrated the undersea launch capabilities of HADALUS, a new long-endurance unmanned undersea vehicle, the companies announced Monday. The vehicle completed a series of at-sea missions on a Navy undersea test range during a recent exercise, launching while submerged. According to Raytheon, it marks the first time the Navy […]
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79th George Washington Letter Reading set for Sunday at Old Colony House
The 79th annual reading of George Washington’s letter to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport takes place Sunday, Aug. 16, at 1 p.m. at the Old Colony House, the second consecutive year the event has been held there rather than at Touro Synagogue. Keith Stokes will read the letter. Stokes is vice chair of TSF Newport, […]
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Hundreds turn out for Newport Skatepark bash held in memory of Davey Rogers
Hundreds of skateboarders and fans filled Newport Skate Park on Saturday for the Friends of Newport Skatepark’s second annual Summer Bash, held in memory of Davey Rogers, a professional skateboarder for Beer City Skateboards who lived in Newport and died last year. The day’s message centered on mental health and the importance of taking care […]
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Newport firefighters knock down rooftop fire at Brenton Hotel
Newport firefighters responded to a rooftop fire at the Brenton Hotel on Friday night after a chiminea-style fire pit malfunctioned, closing part of America’s Cup Avenue and prompting the evacuation of the hotel. The hotel announced the reopening in a video posted online Saturday afternoon, thanking A1 Roofing & Construction for getting the space back […]
Posted inArts & Culture
newportFILM screens Newport Folk Festival documentary at Miantonomi Park on Aug. 13
Days after both the Newport Folk Festival and Newport Jazz Festival sold out again this summer, newportFILM will screen a documentary about the folk festival’s most consequential years. “Newport & the Great Folk Dream” plays Thursday, Aug. 13, at Miantonomi Memorial Park, 120 Hillside Ave. The venue opens at 5 p.m., with live music from […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport lands $70,000 in latest round of Learn365RI grants
The City of Newport will receive $70,000 in the fifth round of Learn365RI grants, part of $1.629 million awarded statewide to expand afterschool, summer and out-of-school learning programs, Gov. Dan McKee and Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green announced Friday. Newport’s award is among the largest in the round, matched by Pawtucket, Cranston, Warwick, Woonsocket and Central […]
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Boating advisory issued for Narragansett Bay on August 8 for Save The Bay Swim
Boaters on Narragansett Bay should plan ahead for August 8, when a portion of the East Passage will be temporarily closed to vessel traffic for the Save The Bay Swim. The closure runs from 8 to 11 a.m. and covers the area between Gould Island and Conanicut (Jamestown), extending to the Pell Newport Bridge. Vessel […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport City Council to weigh $11M federal grant for $23M Cliff Walk restoration
The City Council meets Wednesday, Aug. 12, at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall, 43 Broadway, with a docket headlined by a federal grant agreement for the Cliff Walk restoration, a recommended site for the city’s public health vending machine, and a push for state action on Memorial Boulevard. Cliff Walk restoration Councilors […]
Posted inBusiness
Middletown’s Undersea Technology Innovation Consortium marks 10 years, unveils new brand
The Undersea Technology Innovation Consortium is marking its 10th anniversary with a refreshed brand identity, capping a decade in which the Middletown-based organization grew from a regional initiative into an internationally recognized consortium. UTIC brings together government, industry, academia and nonprofit partners to move undersea technologies from concept to capability more quickly. The consortium says […]
Posted inNonprofit
Edward King House director Carmela Geer stepping down after 13 years
Carmela Geer, who has led the Edward King House Senior Center since 2013, will step down as executive director on Sept. 11 to become health services coordinator for the Town of Middletown. Under Geer’s leadership, the center expanded its programs and services, earned national accreditation through the National Institute of Senior Centers, and strengthened its […]
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Appeals court says fishermen’s claim in lobster defamation suit raises First Amendment questions
SCARBOROUGH, Maine (AP) — A federal appeals court signaled that it might not allow a lawsuit brought by fishing industry businesses and trade groups against a California aquarium to proceed because of the case’s potential impact on free speech. The New England-based plaintiffs sued the Monterey Bay Aquarium for defamation after the aquarium’s Seafood Watch conservation program […]
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Newport police identify second suspect in July 19 double shooting
Newport Police have identified a second suspect in the July 19 double shooting near Park Holm and have obtained an arrest warrant for him, the department announced Wednesday. Nasydi Brown, 18, was located at the same Chestnut Avenue residence in Newport News, Va., where members of the U.S. Marshals Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force […]
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MLK Community Center, Four Hearts Foundation host back-to-school clothing drive and giveaway
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center and the Four Hearts Foundation are teaming up for a back-to-school kids’ clothing drive and giveaway, collecting gently worn clothing for children of all ages in Newport County. The Four Hearts Foundation will host the donation portion Sunday, Aug. 9, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at the […]
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Biking to Newport Folk and Jazz festivals hits record numbers across all six days in 2026
Cycling to the sold-out Newport Folk and Jazz festivals reached new highs across all six days of this year’s events, with Newport Jazz Festival seeing its most dramatic surge yet — up 34% over 2025 and 70% over 2024, according to Bike Newport. Combined totals for the two weekends: 5,144 bikes over Folk Fest (Friday […]
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Newport Hospital’s Vanderbilt Rehabilitation Center ranked No. 1 in Rhode Island by U.S. News & World Report
The Vanderbilt Rehabilitation Center at Newport Hospital has been named the top rehabilitation center in Rhode Island and the Providence metro area in U.S. News & World Report’s 2026-2027 Best Hospitals rankings, released today. The ranking places the Vanderbilt Rehabilitation Center among the top 27 percent of rehabilitation centers in the nation. Rankings are based […]
Posted inBusiness
Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority refinances bonds, generating $11.6 million in savings
The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority has completed a bond refinancing that will generate approximately $11.6 million in gross savings, money the authority says will be redirected toward capital improvements across its bridge system. The transaction, which closed July 9, refunded $86.19 million in outstanding Series 2016A Motor Fuel Tax Revenue Bonds and produced […]
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Democratic challengers Foulkes and Khamsyvoravong widen cash leads over incumbents in Q2
by Rhode Island Current staff, Rhode Island Current August 3, 2026 With less than a month before early voting begins for Rhode Island state and local primaries, candidates are pounding the pavement and packing in the public events in the hopes of gaining voters’ support — and potentially, donations. Second-quarter campaign finance reports were due to […]
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Tiger shark caught off Massachusetts could be sign of warming waters
Nate Rouette and his brother Nelson went shark fishing on Cape Cod hoping for an exciting catch, but were shocked by what they reeled in — a tropical species of shark with a reputation for eating everything it can swallow. The brothers, longtime sport fishermen who live in Massachusetts, released a juvenile tiger shark in late July […]
Posted inBusiness
Nitro Bar to open fourth Rhode Island location on Providence’s East Side by end of summer
Nitro Bar, the Rhode Island coffee brand with two Newport locations, is expanding to the East Side of Providence after the sale of 134 Ives Street for $850,000, with plans to open by the end of summer. The purchase marks the fourth brick-and-mortar location for founders Audrey Finocchiaro and Sam Lancaster, who started making coffee […]