Dr. Michael Fine: What’s crazy about Medicare Part D
Viewed from one perspective, Medicare Part D is intelligent social insurance, which pools the pharmaceutical costs of a population and allows people with few needs to subsidize those with more costly needs, so everyone can afford what they need.
Rhode Island reports first West Nile virus case of 2026; infection likely acquired out of state
A Washington County resident in their 60s is recovering in the hospital. Health officials say travel history points to exposure elsewhere, and the statewide risk level has dropped to low as mosquito numbers fall off
Women’s Resource Center served more than 1,100 survivors last year across Newport and Bristol counties
The agency is marking Domestic Violence Awareness Month with the statewide “One of Us” campaign and pointing people to its 24-hour hotline
Prudence Island’s boil water notice lifted after eight years
The 2018 advisory followed E. coli in the water supply; it ends now that permanent chlorination systems have run clean for two months
Dr. Michael Fine: What’s crazy about health insurance isn’t just what it costs
This year’s cost increases aren’t the real problem
State lifts algae advisory at Lower Melville Pond in Portsmouth
Testing shows low algae levels and no detectable toxins, health and environmental officials say
Tiverton gets $1 million in federal funding for emergency water line after PFAS contamination
The USDA grant goes to the North Tiverton Fire District to start extending public water to homes with contaminated private wells
URI puts 64 years of beach survey data online
The new site shows how eight Rhode Island shorelines have grown, shrunk and rebuilt since 1962, including what storms like Sandy did to them
Public panel on kratom set for Oct. 27 in Portsmouth
Rhode Island legalized sales this spring; Massachusetts classified the plant as a Schedule I drug in August. The free event includes dinner and childcare.
Rhode Island seeing elevated rabies activity this year, mostly in raccoons and bats
The state health department says its round-the-clock exposure assessment program spares 1,800 to 2,300 people a year from unnecessary treatment that runs $11,000 to $14,000 a course
State launches men’s mental health campaign aimed at working-age Rhode Islanders
Man Therapy targets men 25 to 64, a group whose suicide rate is nearly double the state’s overall rate
Newport Hospital is first in Rhode Island with the da Vinci 5 surgical robot
The system, paid for entirely by donors, will be used for minimally invasive urology, gynecology, thoracic and general surgery
Reed, Whitehouse and Amo ask EPA for help with Tiverton PFAS contamination
More than half of the private wells tested have exceeded the state standard, with one at roughly 4,000 parts per trillion — the highest ever recorded in a Rhode Island private well
Washington County man is Rhode Island’s third Powassan virus case this year
The rare tick-borne infection has no vaccine or treatment; health officials urge continued precautions as fall hiking season begins
Rhode Island health officials urge flu, COVID and RSV vaccination ahead of respiratory season
861 people were hospitalized with flu in the state last season and 54 died; flu vaccine is available now, with community clinics starting in October
State advises avoiding all contact with Lower Melville Pond in Portsmouth over algae bloom
Swimming, fishing, boating and kayaking are all considered high risk until testing shows the bloom has cleared
This Day In History: August 31, 1881 – Inaugural US Men’s Single Tennis Championships Is Played in Newport
The inaugural U.S. National Championship took place on August 31, 1881 at the Newport Casino in Newport, Rhode Island.
On This Day In Newport History – August 27, 1995: Tiger Woods Wins 1995 U.S. Amateur Championship in Newport
At age 19, Tiger Woods became the ninth player to win back-to-back Amateur championships when he defeated Buddy Marucci on August 27th at the 1995 US Amateur at Newport Country Club.
Dr. Michael Fine: What’s crazy about COVID and flu vaccines in 2026
As we expected, the severity of Covid is trending down over the years, as more of us get more and more immune to it, and our herd immunity strengthens.
King Park Beach reopens for swimming
Bacteria counts have returned to safe levels, state health department says
Rhode Island says childhood vaccine requirements unchanged despite federal executive order
State health officials tell families and schools to continue following the existing immunization schedule as the school year approaches
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