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 […]
News
Posted inCity & Government
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 […]
Posted inCity & Government
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 […]
Posted inCity & Government
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 […]
Posted inBusiness
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 […]
Posted inCity & Government
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 […]
Posted inCity & Government
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. […]
Posted inThings To Do
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 […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
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 […]
Posted inCity & Government
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 […]
Posted inCity & Government
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 […]
Posted inNews
$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 […]
Posted inSports
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 […]
Posted inCity & Government
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. […]
Posted inNews
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 […]