In accordance with the announcement Thursday by Governor Gina Raimondo that students will continue distance learning for the remainder of the 2019-20 school year because of the COVID-19 public health threat, the Rhode Island Interscholastic League today announced that the 2020 Spring Sports Season has been cancelled. “In our original statement, we said that we would […]
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Governor, DEM award $5.79 million in matching grants to 21 local municipalities
Governor Gina M. Raimondo and the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) today announced that they have awarded $5.79 million in matching grants to 21 local municipalities to develop or renovate recreational facilities in their communities. The grants will fund 27 projects across the state including new athletic fields, playgrounds, splash parks, bike paths, walking trails, […]
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Experts will host a free webinar on caring for children with developmental disabilities during COVID-19
By Matt Boxler, Salve Regina University Families facing the challenge of caring for children with developmental disabilities while sheltering at home during the COVID-19 crisis are the inspiration behind a free informational webinar being hosted next week by expert faculty in the psychology and applied behavior analysis programs at Salve Regina University. The webinar, “Caring […]
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On this Arbor Day, DEM urges Rhode Islanders to take a moment to appreciate state’s tree resources
by Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RI DEM) Today marks the 133rd anniversary of Arbor Day in Rhode Island, and the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is encouraging residents to connect with nature and appreciate Rhode Island’s bounty of trees. Trees play an important role in cooling streets and homes, filtering air, and sequestering carbon. “Even though […]
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Greenlove Foundation donates water bottle filling donation to Pell Elementary School and Gaudet Middle School
The following is by Greenlove Foundation In celebration of Earth Day’s 50th Anniversary and as a participant of Aquidneck Island Earth Week, Greenlove announced the donation of two water bottle filling stations, one to the Pell Elementary School in Newport and another to Gaudet Middle School in Middletown. In the spirit of giving back and caring […]
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RIDOH receives $5.4 million in CARES Act funds to expand COVID-19 testing and contact tracing
U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, along with Congressmen Jim Langevin and David Cicilline, today announced that $5.4 million in funding from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act has been distributed to the Rhode Island Department of Health to boost the state’s COVID-19 testing and contract tracing infrastructure. “This latest installment […]
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MLK Center’s Mobile Pantry will distribute food at two Middletown locations on April 30th
On Thursday, April 30, the Martin Luther King Center will distribute food at two Middletown locations, according to a press release received today from the Town of Middletown. Food will be distributed to residents from 12:00 noon to 12:45 p.m. on Ludlow Terrace near the entrance to Calvary Baptist Church, 4 Ludlow Terrace. From 1:30 […]
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Why there isn’t a one-size-fits-all plan for states to reopen their economies
Hilary Godwin, University of Washington Editor’s Note: How and when states reopen their economies will look different from one state to the next state depending, in part, on where that state is in the trajectory of its coronavirus illnesses. In this Q&A, Hilary Godwin, dean of the University of Washington School of Public Health, explains […]
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Boston Globe: Rhode Island schools will continue distance learning for the rest of the school year
Rhode Island “State officials plan to announce Thursday that they are extending closures through the end of the school year,” according to the Boston Globe. Read the full story – When it comes to online learning, two New England neighbors take wildly divergent paths NEW: Rhode Island will continue distance learning for the rest of […]
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Cox Communications extends coronavirus response offer for Connect2Compete with free service for students until July 15
Recognizing that students will remain home to finish out the school year, Cox Communications today announced that it has extended free Connect2Compete service, the company’s low-cost internet offer for families with a K-12 student at home until July 15. Remote service support is also extended to ensure ease of implementation while students continue to learn […]
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Discover Newport lays off staff, consolidates services
These are tough times if you are in the tourism industry. Toughest if, perhaps, you head an agency that oversees one of America’s most popular tourist destinations. Ask Evan Smith. He’s executive director of Discover Newport, the tourism group that coordinates and oversees much of the tourism industry in a city that has been ranked […]
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PPAC Announces Winners of 2020 ARTS Scholarships
Providence, RI – Jo-Ann Ragosta, Chairperson of the ARTS Scholarships 2020 program, along with the members of the Community Outreach Committee of the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC), are pleased to announce the winners of the ARTS Scholarships 2020 program, sponsored by Textron Charitable Trust, with support from PPAC Annual Fund Donors and Ocean State […]
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Recap: Newport City Council hosts virtual council meeting
Newport City Council hosted a regular council meeting via Zoom on Wednesday evening. All members of City Council and the City Manager were present for the virtual meeting. While the public was able to listen in by phone, there was not any opportunity for the public to watch or participate in any way. Here’s a […]
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COVID-19 Daily Update – April 22: 270 currently hospitalized, 181 have died
Governor Gina M. Raimondo and Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH, the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH), will provide updates to reporters about Rhode Island’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response today at 2:30 pm. Press Briefing Updates From The Press Briefing Gov: In regards to data, at the moment, we’re “hovering at a […]
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City of Newport: Be cautious of online and phone scams
The City of Newport is urging residents to be cautious of online and phone scams soliciting donations on behalf of the Newport Police Department. According to a press release form the City, “It has come to our attention that residents of Aquidneck Island and other nearby communities may have received phone solicitations from individuals asking […]
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Opinion: Everyone’s talking about Tiger King for the wrong reasons
Hey all you cool cats and kittens. I bet you’re tired of hearing that cringey greeting by now – I know I am. But since it’s Earth Week, I thought it was worth talking about a few things that got largely overlooked in online discussions about the pandemic era’s most buzzworthy Netflix show: Tiger King. […]
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Cracks in COVID-19 treatment reveal need to bolster primary care
Tuba Agartan, Providence College Every day the COVID-19 crisis reveals just how unprepared the U.S. health care system was. But it’s not only the shortage of masks, tests and ventilators, nor our chaotic and contradictory public health response, evident across every level of government. COVID-19 has also brought into sharp relief how fragmented and disorganized […]
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Senator Whitehouse: Additional funding for small businesses, health care, testing in $484-billion bipartisan emergency deal was worth the wait
U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse is applauding a $484-billion bipartisan emergency deal to rescue small businesses, support hospitals, and expand testing amid the coronavirus pandemic. The legislation passed the Senate this evening by unanimous consent and heads to the House of Representatives. Whitehouse released the following statement: “This bipartisan compromise is much better than the bill […]
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Recap: Newport City Council receives weekly COVID-19 update from City Manager
Newport City Council held a workshop on Tuesday afternoon in order to receive their weekly COVID-19 update form Newport City Manager Joe Nicholson. Present for the meeting; City Manager Joe Nicholson,Newport Fire Chief Brian Dugan, Communications Officer Tom Shevlin, City Solicitor Chris Behan, Jamie Bova, Lynn Ceglie, Kathryn Leonard, Jeanne-Marie Napolitano, Susan Taylor, Justin McLaughlin, […]
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Governor provides guidance, advice for how businesses can be prepared for the ‘new normal’
Following Governor Raimondo’s press briefing today, What’s Up Newp asked, “What can restaurants, stores, and other non-essential customer facing businesses do right now (while closed) in order to be best prepared for the new normal/for when you do give them some kind of green light?” If you’d prefer to watch the Governor respond to the […]
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COVID-19 Daily Update – April 21: Total positive cases grows to 5,500, fatalities up to 171
Governor Gina M. Raimondo and Nicole Alexander-Scott, MD, MPH, the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH), provided updates to reporters about Rhode Island’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response today at 1 pm. The latest data Press briefing Updates from the press conference Updates from the press conference Governor says misinformation on social […]
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Sailing documentary ‘Sea of Dreams’ launches online
Some good news for those who love sailing and have already watched everything on Netflix: The sailing documentary Sea of Dreams was released for online viewing this week and can be watched for free. Sea of Dreams (1) from Apsu Limited on Vimeo. The film, which focuses on Nick Moloney’s solo trip around the world […]
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How much coronavirus testing is enough? States could learn from retailers as they ramp up
Siqian Shen, University of Michigan As states develop plans to restart their economies, the big fear is that coronavirus cases will surge again. To keep the pandemic under control, strategic testing systems will be needed, and they will need to be scaled up fast. But how many people should be tested? Who should be tested? […]
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Global tourism industry may shrink by more than 50% due to the pandemic
Faizan Ali, University of South Florida and Cihan Cobanoglu, University of South Florida CC BY-SA Due to the coronavirus, people around the world have canceled their travel plans. Governments and health officials have warned the public to avoid boarding cruise ships and long flights. Major events like conferences, trade shows and the Olympics have been […]
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Friends of Newport Hospital launch “Our Health Care Heroes” campaign to raise funds for Newport Hospital’s response to COVID-19
Friends of Newport Hospital, a group comprised of community leaders dedicated to the support of Aquidneck Island’s only hospital, today announced that it has launched the “Our Health Care Heroes” campaign to raise funds for Newport Hospital’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 epidemic. The effort is organized through a new website, FriendsOfNewportHospital.org, and invites all in […]