BOSTON (AP) — The developers of an offshore wind farm and three environmental organizations announced Monday that they have reached an agreement to further protect rare North Atlantic right whales during construction and operation of the energy-generating project. The agreement involving Orsted and Eversource — developers of South Fork Wind off the coast of New England […]
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Newport Historic Spring receives $100,000 contribution from BankNewport, fall 2022 groundbreaking planned
BankNewport today announced that it has made a $100,000 charitable contribution to the Newport Historic Spring to “advance the effort to install a public park on the site of the original town spring and the birthplace of Newport”. This represents the largest corporate contribution to the project to transform the former Coffey’s gas station into […]
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Ben Tuff is back for another record-setting swim of Narragansett Bay, this time from Providence to Newport
On July 22, Jamestown resident Ben Tuff will swim 25 miles from Providence to Newport, in an endurance effort to raise money for Clean Ocean Access. This marks the third marathon swim for Tuff, who has raised more than $160,000 to date for Clean Ocean Access, an Aquidneck Island-based environmental non-profit. In August 2020, Tuff swam around […]
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James Dring will seek reelection on Newport School Committee
James Dring will seek relection on Newport School Committee in November. “I am a parent with kids in the Newport Public Schools and I am finishing my first term as a school committee member and although we have had many challenges coming out of covid, we also have had many accomplishments,” Dring shared with What’sUpNewp […]
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What’s Up Today: June 27
Good Morning, today is Monday, June 27. 🌊 On this day in 1898, Joshua Slocum completed the first solo circumnavigation of the globe in Newport. 🌊On this day in 1966, Dark Shadows, an American Gothic soap opera that used Carey Mansion as “Collinwood Mansion”, premiered on ABC. 🌊 There will be a lot of political […]
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Louisa Boatwright will seek reelection on Newport School Committee
Louisa Boatwright will seek another term on Newport School Committee. Boatwright provided What’sUpNewp with the following statement; Today I, Louisa Boatwright, am announcing that I will be running for 2 more years on the Newport School Committee (NSC). Currently I’m finishing my 4th year on the Committee and have learned a great deal. I’ve worked […]
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Off-duty Providence Police officer charged with assault at abortion protest
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A Rhode Island police officer accused of punching a woman at an abortion protest while he was off-duty has now been charged in connection with Friday’s demonstration at the State House. In a Saturday evening news release, state police said Providence patrolman Jeann Lugo, 35, was charged with simple assault and disorderly conduct. […]
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Concert Recap and Photos: The Doobie Brothers rock it down the highway at the Xfinity Center
One of classic rock’s most enduring bands, the Doobie Brothers finally got to play in front of an enthused crowd at the Xfinity Center in Mansfield, MA Saturday, June 25. The band had previously scheduled their “50th Anniversary Tour” for the summer of 2020 – it was canceled twice due to the pandemic. What made […]
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What’s Up Today: June 26
Good Morning, today is Sunday, June 26. 🌊 Pride returned to the streets of downtown Newport Saturday afternoon June 25. The celebration included the Newport Pride Festival and Marketplace, held at the Great Friends Meeting House along with a colorful bike “ride for pride” that drew support from allies and onlookers. Dozens of community agencies […]
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Providence Police Officer suspended for off-duty actions at abortion protest
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A Rhode Island police officer accused of punching a woman at an abortion protest while he was off-duty was suspended from his job with pay Saturday while the Providence Police Department conducts a criminal investigation into his actions. Jennifer Rourke, Rhode Island Political Cooperative Chairwoman and a state Senate candidate, told […]
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Newport Celebrates Pride with Festival and “Ride for Pride”
Pride returned to the streets of downtown Newport Saturday afternoon June 25. The celebration included the Newport Pride Festival and Marketplace, held at the Newport Friends Meeting House along with a colorful bike “ride for pride” that drew support from allies and onlookers. Dozens of community agencies and vendors took part in the festivities which […]
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What’s Up Today: June 25
Good Morning, today is Saturday, June 25. 🌊 Just six years after being transformed from the Hyatt Regency Newport to Gurney’s Newport Resort & Marina, the popular Goat Island destination has a new owner. The hotel sold this week for $174 million. 🌊 On the market for a new home? Check out these 31 open […]
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‘A revolutionary ruling – and not just for abortion’: A Supreme Court scholar explains the impact of Dobbs
Morgan Marietta, UMass Lowell The Supreme Court’s decision to reverse 50 years of constitutional protection for the right to get an abortion is more than 200 pages long. Morgan Marietta, a political scientist at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, and editor of the annual SCOTUS series at Palgrave Macmillan, studies the ideas and ideology of […]
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Road Report: RIDOT, RITBA schedule of lane closures, road construction projects (June 25 – July 2)
The following road and lane closure notices have been scheduled by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) and Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA). All schedules are weather-dependent and subject to change. RITBA Weekly Lane Closure Updates June 26 – July 2 Newport Claiborne Pell Bridge There are currently no lane closures planned […]
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Highlights from this week at the Rhode Island General Assembly
Here are the highlights from news and events that took place in the Rhode Island General Assembly this week. This recap was put together by the Rhode Island General Assembly Legislative Press Bureau. For more information on any of these items visit www.rilegislature.gov/pressrelease Assembly approves 2023 state budget bill The General Assembly approved a $13.6 billion […]
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Newport Flower Show winners announced
The 2022 Newport Flower Show filled Rosecliff with displays of color and creativity from June 17 through 19. Hundreds of gardeners submitted floral arrangements, botanical arts creations and horticultural specimens that were displayed in the Salon, Ballroom, Dining Room and Terrace. Photo by Dave HansenPhoto by Dave HansenPhoto by Dave HansenPhoto by Dave HansenPhoto by […]
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Gurney’s Newport Resort sells for $174 million
Gurney’s Newport Resort has sold, according to a press release from Pebblebrook Hotel Trust. Bethesda, Maryland-based Pebblebrook Hotel Trust on Friday announced that on June 23, 2022, it acquired the 257-room hotel and resort in Newport for $174.0 million. “We are very excited to acquire this extremely unique premier resort within the vibrant, high barrier […]
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Election 2022: Candidates respond to Supreme Court’s ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade
Gubernatorial and Congressional candidates were quick to condemn the U.S. Supreme Court’s action this morning to overturn Roe v. Wade. The Ruling The Supreme Court today, as expected, released its ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade that some 50 years ago established the right to abortion in the United States. The vote was 6 to […]
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Conservation organizations advise public of recent waterbird deaths on RI coast
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM), and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) are advising the public of recent waterbirds (gulls, cormorants, shearwaters, terns, seabirds, shorebirds) found dead along the Rhode Island coast. A relatively small number of seabirds and other waterbirds washing up dead on beaches is normal […]
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Roe overturned: What you need to know about the Supreme Court abortion decision
Linda C. McClain, Boston University and Nicole Huberfeld, Boston University After half a century, Americans’ constitutional right to get an abortion has been overturned by the Supreme Court. The ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization – handed down on June 24, 2022 – has far-reaching consequences. The Conversation asked Nicole Huberfeld and Linda […]
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What’s Up Today: June 24
Good Morning, today is Friday, June 24. 🌊 The calendar barely turned from spring to summer, but the climate surely began heating up in Rhode Island’s very competitive Democratic primary for governor. A television as by Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea, among the gubernatorial candidates, generated some quick retorts from Gov. Dan McKee and Helena […]
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House moves toward sending gun violence compromise to Biden
By ALAN FRAM Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — A modest but wide-ranging gun violence measure moved within an eyelash of House approval Friday, a vote that would send the measure to President Joe Biden and illustrate progress on the long-intractable issue and a deep-seated partisan divide that persists. The Democratic-led chamber was on track to pass the […]
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Assembly approves bills to help address housing crisis
STATE HOUSE – The General Assembly today approved a package of 10 bills to address the state’s housing crisis. The legislation was backed by House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi and Rep. June S. Speakman, chairwoman of the Special Legislative Commission to Study the Rhode Island Low and Moderate Income Housing Act. The bills aim to […]
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Assembly approves bill seeking major offshore wind energy development
STATE HOUSE – Rhode Island would open the door to significantly more renewable energy for the state under legislation passed by the General Assembly today seeking the development of 600 to 1,000 megawatts of new offshore wind capacity. The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Dawn Euer and Rep. Arthur Handy at the request of Gov. Daniel […]
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CDC updates COVID-19 Community Levels for Rhode Island counties
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has updated the COVID-19 community levels for Rhode Island’s counties. Case and hospitalization metrics for all Rhode Island counties are now designated as “low.” All five Rhode Island counties previously had the “medium” designation. Each week the CDC identifies the COVID-19 community level in every county in the country as “low,” […]