Good morning, Newport! 🗓️ Today is Monday, July 21, the 202nd day of 2025. There are 163 days left in the year. Weather Forecast Today: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 9am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 9am and noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 79. South wind around 9 […]
News
Posted inCity & Government
Newport Folk Festival cyclists set to break records again as city implements enhanced safety plan
Newport is preparing for another record-breaking year of bicycle traffic to the Newport Folk Festival, with organizers implementing an enhanced safety plan to accommodate the estimated 1,600 cyclists expected daily. The city has seen remarkable growth in festival-goers choosing bicycles over cars, with cyclists now representing 16% to 18% of all attendees – the highest […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Drew and Ellie Holcomb embrace their fans at Jane Pickens Theater
The near sold-out crowd at Jane Pickens Theater hung on every word as husband-and-wife duo Drew and Ellie Holcomb delivered two sets of largely original material on Friday, July 18th. After nearly 20 years of performing separately—Drew with his band Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors, Ellie as a solo Christian artist—the couple has joined forces […]
Posted inColumns
Unseen and Unsheltered: The rising crisis of homelessness among Rhode Island’s older adults
It was just before boarding a plane to visit my grandchildren in Kentucky when my phone rang. A young woman found my name through a Google search and hoped I could help her. Her 79-year-old grandmother had recently become homeless. “She’s been sleeping outside for two nights. I can’t have her live here. I’m a […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Over 1,300 runners celebrate craft beer and fitness at ninth annual Newport Beer Run
More than 1,300 runners laced up their shoes Saturday for the ninth annual Newport Beer Run at Fort Adams State Park, combining a scenic 5K race with craft beer sampling in one of Newport’s most popular summer events. Christopher Collett of Providence dominated the men’s field, crossing the finish line in 14:51 to earn the […]
Posted inCity & Government
Regional economy stagnant, but some optimism for the future
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston reports depict a stagnant regional economy that is lagging behind the U.S. economy in some areas, but is cautiously optimistic about the future. Tariffs, economic uncertainty, AI, and rising housing prices have all had a significant impact on the region and Rhode Island’s economy, according to the Boston Fed reports. […]
Posted inNews
Morning Notes: 281 swimmers tackle two-mile Save The Bay Swim
Good morning, Newport! 🗓️ Today is Sunday, July 20, the 201st day of 2025. There are 164 days left in the year. Weather Forecast Today: Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 9am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 9am and noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 79. South wind around 9 […]
Posted inNews
Morning Notes: Summer Saturday delivers full slate of activities across Newport County
Good morning, Newport! 🗓️ Today is Saturday, July 19, the 200th day of 2025. There are 165 days left in the year. Weather Forecast Today: Sunny, with a high near 79. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. Tonight: Increasing clouds, with a low around 69. South wind around […]
Posted inCity & Government
Workshop to help Rhode Island landowners lease property for farming
Rhode Island has lost more than 80% of its agricultural land since 1940, dropping from approximately 300,000 acres in production to just 67,800 acres today—with less than 40,000 actively used for farming, according to the Rhode Island Land Trust Council. To help address this crisis, Ocean Hour Farm, Aquidneck Island Land Trust, and Land For […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Heidi List Murphy reimagines List Academy of Music to engage seniors and veterans in the healing power of music
Heidi List Murphy has been making music and teaching music for over 30 years. Born into a musical family, she is a trained pianist, music teacher, and mid-career home healthcare provider. Since founding List Academy of Music (LAM) in 1993, she has helped more than 8,000 Newport County families to pursue, and often achieve, their […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport utility system upgrade brings new features, temporary payment disruption
Newport’s Department of Utilities will launch a new billing system in mid-August that officials say will provide enhanced features and eliminate payment processing fees, but customers will face a temporary disruption in online payment options during the transition. The upgraded system promises a more intuitive interface and expanded payment options including Venmo and Google Pay. […]
Posted inNews
What’s Up in Newport County this weekend: July 18 – 20
Discover all that’s happening, new, and to do in Newport County this weekend. Are you organizing an event? Submit events to our community calendar. Weather Friday Afternoon: Mostly sunny, with a high near 81. Northwest wind 7 to 11 mph. Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 63. Southwest wind around 5 mph becoming calm in […]
Posted inNews
Morning Notes: DeBlois Gallery celebrates 41 years with Annual Members’ Show
Good morning, Newport! 🗓️ Today is Friday, July 18, the 199th day of 2025. There are 166 days left in the year. 🚨 You need to know DeBlois Gallery will mark four decades of bringing art to Newport County with its 41st Annual Members’ Show and Celebration, running August 2-31 at the cooperative’s Middletown location. […]
Posted inCity & Government
Westerly recall effort fails
An effort to recall Westerly Town Council president Chris Duhamel, a Democrat, has failed after organizers were unable to collect the required number of signatures to force a recall election, according to Westerly Town Manager Shawn Lacey. The deadline to submit the petition was 4:30 p.m. today. Lacey said the organizers needed to collect 2,600 […]
Posted inBusiness
Howard Johnson by Wyndham Newport/Middletown earns top corporate honors
A Middletown hotel has been recognized as the cream of the crop within a major hospitality brand, earning two prestigious corporate awards that highlight exceptional guest service and operational excellence. The Howard Johnson by Wyndham Newport/Middletown, located at 351 West Main Road, was honored with both the “Quality Hotel of the Year” and “Best of […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport City Council to consider Comprehensive plan contract, new utility billing system at July 23 meeting
The Newport City Council will tackle a packed agenda at its regular meeting next Wednesday, July 23, at 6:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers, located at 43 Broadway, with several significant infrastructure and planning items up for consideration. Among the key items, the council will vote on awarding a consulting contract for a comprehensive plan […]
Posted inCity & Government
Dr. Michael Fine: What’s crazy about maternity care
Kudos to everyone in Newport who turned out at the city council meeting Tuesday night, and to the city council for passing a resolution asking Brown Health to keep the maternity unit at Newport Hospital open. It’s crazy we are at this point in the US, where we have to worry about providing something as […]
Posted inNews
Morning Notes: Kenny Loggins to appear at newportFILM’s ‘Conviction of the Heart’ screening
Good morning, Newport! Today is Thursday, July 17, the 198th day of 2025. There are 167 days left in the year. 🎶 On this day in 1954, the first Newport Jazz Festival, then known as the American Jazz Festival, was held at the Newport Casino. The two-day event featured academic panel discussions and live music […]
Posted inNews
On This Day In Newport History: July 17, 1954 – First Newport Jazz Festival Held
Photo of 1954 Newport Jazz Festival via Newport Jazz Festival The first Newport Jazz Festival, known as the First Annual American Jazz Festival, was held on July 17th and July 18th, 1954 at the Newport Casino. The two day event featured academic panel discussions and live music performances from Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Lee Konitz, […]
Posted inNews, Nonprofit
Letter to the Editor: Making Newport a city for all to thrive
During the pandemic, while filming the documentary NEWPORT: In This Together, I discovered that the majority of Newporters managed to pull together, rather than apart, when faced with the challenges of COVID-19. As I conducted over 200 video interviews for the film, I realized that there are many people working in nonprofits, businesses, and government […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Audrain’s Youngtimers event exhibited retro vibes, with a special appearance by Jay Leno
“I’d like to thank the universe for this wonderful weather and great breeze,” said Donald Osborne, Audrain Automobile Museum’s Consulting Director (and recent former CEO), about the clear skies. Osborne was on hand at the Youngtimers event to oversee competition between the classic cars of tomorrow: those hot wheels from the 1980s, 1990, and 2000s. It wasn’t […]
Posted inNews, Police & Fire
Deadly Massachusetts fire highlights the minimal regulations that govern assisted-living facilities
By MICHAEL CASEY and MICHELLE R. SMITH Associated Press The Massachusetts assisted-living facility where a fatal fire killed nine people was caring for dozens of aging residents reliant on wheelchairs and oxygen tanks, but it lacked the safety measures and most of the staffing requirements that are commonplace in nursing homes. As an assisted-living center, Gabriel House in Fall River, about 50 […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Arts & Cultural Alliance celebrates local artists at annual Raise Up the Arts event
The Arts & Cultural Alliance of Newport County brought together the local arts community for its annual “Raise Up the Arts” event on Wednesday, June 25, celebrating outstanding contributions to the region’s cultural landscape. Held at the Atlantic Pavilion at the Wyndham Newport Hotel in Middletown, the evening event drew supporters from across Newport County […]
Posted inBusiness, Food & Drink, News, Nonprofit
Vermont brewery’s new IPA to benefit Rhode Island Community Food Bank
A popular Vermont brewery is bringing its charitable beer program to Rhode Island for the first time, with proceeds from a new IPA benefiting the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. Lawson’s Finest Liquids, the Waitsfield-based makers of the well-known Sip of Sunshine beer, released Cosmic Shift IPA (6.2% ABV) on Monday as part of their […]
Posted inNews
Morning Notes: St. Mary’s Parish launches $5 million capital campaign to restore historic Newport church
Good morning, Newport! Today is Wednesday, July 16, the 197th day of 2025. There are 168 days left in the year. 🚨 You need to know Saint Mary, Our Lady of the Isle Roman Catholic Church has launched an ambitious $5 million capital campaign to restore and renew its historic Newport campus as the parish […]