The Newport City Council will meet on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall to address a packed agenda featuring holiday event approvals, infrastructure investments, and traffic planning initiatives. Holiday events dominate consent calendar The council will consider permits for several seasonal celebrations as Newport prepares for the busy holiday season. […]
Newport
Posted inObituaries
Obituary: Myiesha Saunders
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Myiesha Saunders, who passed away on October 30, 2025. Born on January 26, 1977 in Newport, Myiesha was a bright light to all who knew her, embracing life with warmth and kindness. Myiesha loved spending time with her family and friends, especially her grandkids. She also […]
Posted inCity & Government
Middletown council, school board to meet on Newport regionalization proposal
The Middletown Town Council and School Committee will hold a joint meeting in the coming weeks to discuss Newport’s recent invitation to restart school regionalization conversations, according to the Town of Middletown. During Tuesday night’s Town Council meeting, officials emphasized that agreeing to the discussion should not be interpreted as endorsing or rejecting regionalization. Instead, […]
Posted inInstagram, Real Estate
What Sold: A look at 21 recent sales across Newport County to round out August (Aug. 25 – 29)
Last week’s “What Sold” is highlighted by a $10,000,000 transaction in Jamestown at 2 Fort Wetherill Road, one of the largest residential sales we’ve seen statewide this year, along with 21 total residential closings published in the statewide MLS. From high-end estates to more modest single-family homes and condominiums, the sales reflect the full range […]
Posted inCity & Government
New Rogers High School celebrates grand opening with ribbon-cutting ceremony
NEWPORT, R.I. — Under perfect August skies, Newport celebrated a milestone decades in the making as community leaders, students and residents gathered Friday morning to officially open the new Rogers High School with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. U.S. Sen. Jack Reed and Rep. Gabe Amo joined Newport Mayor Charles Holder, School Committee members and City Council […]
Posted inNews, Things To Do
Newport International Boat Show announces full slate of activities
The Newport International Boat Show will feature expanded activities and educational programs when it returns to downtown Newport for its 54th year Sept. 11-14. The show, presented by BankNewport, will span 17 acres at the Newport Yachting Center Marina and showcase 350 new sailboats and powerboats, including some making their U.S. debuts. This year’s event […]
Posted inNews, Nonprofit
Newport Historical Society wins national education award from Park Service
The Newport Historical Society has been selected as the national winner of the 2024 Excellence in Education Program Award by the National Park Service. The award recognizes the society’s Women on the Water program, which engages female students in grades 6-12 in STEM education, maritime history and career exploration. The society will be celebrated as […]
Posted inReal Estate
What Sold: A look at 14 recent property sales in Newport County (Aug. 4 – 8)
August is always a transitional month in coastal Rhode Island. Between back-to-school preparations, late-summer vacations, and steady tourism in our towns, it’s easy to assume the real estate market slows down. The reality is that well-prepared and appropriately priced properties are still moving quickly, and in some cases, faster than many might expect. According to […]
Posted inInstagram, Sports
Sharks force game 3 with 14-5 victory over Gulls
OAK BLUFFS, Mass. — The Martha’s Vineyard Sharks stayed alive in dramatic fashion Tuesday night, overcoming an early deficit to defeat the Newport Gulls 14-5 and force a decisive Game 3 in their New England Collegiate Baseball League semifinal series. The Sharks erupted for 11 runs in the sixth inning to break open what had […]
Posted inSports
Gulls take game one over Sharks, 14-7
NEWPORT — The Newport Gulls erupted for 10 runs over two innings to defeat the Martha’s Vineyard Sharks 14-7 in Game 1 of their New England Collegiate Baseball League semifinal series Monday night, moving within one victory of returning to the championship series for a third consecutive season. Aiden O’Connell of Duke made his first […]
Posted inBusiness
BankNewport awards $10,000 grant to Sail Newport’s Youth Education Program
The BankNewport Charitable Foundation has awarded a $10,000 grant to Sail Newport to support its 4th Grade Science and Sailing Program, a free experiential learning initiative that combines sailing instruction with environmental science education for students at Pell Elementary School. The program, now in its eighth year since launching in 2017, serves more than 120 […]
Posted inHistory
On This Day In Newport History – June 28, 1969: Newport Bridge opens for first time
The Claiborne Pell Bridge, commonly known as the Newport Bridge, opened on this day in 1969. The main span of the Newport Bridge is 488 metres (1,601 ft), ranking it number 87 among the longest suspension bridges in the world, and making it the longest suspension bridge in New England. The bridge was constructed from […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Grammy winner Karen Slack to perform ‘African Queens’ at Newport Classical Festival
This summer, the Newport Classical Music Festival welcomes soprano Karen Slack for a performance of “African Queens,” a new work that’s generating buzz in the classical music world. Set for July 12, 2025, at 8 p.m., Slack will take the stage at The Breakers mansion. It’s one of the highlights of the festival’s 56th season, […]
Posted inReal Estate
Home Of the Week: 17 Dearborn Street — A rare opportunity in Newport’s downtown Yachting Village
They say the three most important words in real estate are location, location, location and 17 Dearborn Street delivers on all three. Just three doors from Thames Street and tucked into the heart of Newport’s famed Yachting Village, this historic property known as The Owen Greelish House offers an extraordinary blend of character, flexibility, and […]
Posted inNews
Pell Elementary’s Sybil Grayko named Newport District Teacher of the Year
Sybil Grayko, a second-grade teacher at Pell Elementary School, has earned the title of Newport Public Schools’ Teacher of the Year for 2025-2026. With 21 years of experience in the district, Grayko stands out for her innovative approach to teaching environmental sustainability through hands-on projects. “Newport and our students are very lucky to have such […]
Posted inNews
Newport Public Schools face $900K shortfall amid layoffs and funding cuts
Newport Public Schools confronts a $900,000 budget shortfall for the upcoming school year, despite implementing 10 staff layoffs and after receiving reduced funding from the city council, Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain announced during her monthly interview with What’sUpNewp on Wednesday, June 18. The district balanced its budget by reducing the out-of-district special education line; however, […]
Posted inNews, People & Profiles
Rev. Meaghan K. Brower named new Rector of Trinity Church
Trinity Church announced in an email to subscribers and supporters on Tuesday (June 17) that it will soon welcome Reverend Meaghan Kelly Browers as its new Rector. Norris Commodore, Senior Warden at Trinity Church, shared the following in a letter. To the members and friends of Trinity Church, Newport: It is with great excitement that […]
Posted inBusiness
New eco-friendly shuttle service launches in Newport
Newport is welcoming a new eco-friendly transportation option to its streets. Freedom Express, an on-demand electric shuttle service, has just launched with a fleet of low-speed electric vehicles dubbed “Coastal Cruisers.” These shuttles are now zipping around downtown Newport, the harbor area, and popular tourist spots. The service operates on a simple wave-and-ride system. Passengers […]
Posted inNews
Uzo Aduba, Angela Kinsey join lineup for Hall of Fame induction celebration
Tickets for the International Tennis Hall of Fame’s 2025 Induction Ceremony honoring Maria Sharapova and Bob and Mike Bryan are now on sale, along with single-event tickets to the 2025 Induction Celebration’s multi-day lineup of new and returning programming, including Courting Fashion, Fitz and the Tantrums concert, and the first ever Hall of Fame Celebrity […]
Posted inCity & Government
Letter to the Editor: Community stakeholders must be at the center of Newport-Middletown merger talks
As conversations about merging Newport and Middletown school districts continue, we urge decision-makers to lead with something more meaningful than efficiency: community and legacy. Like the preservation work of Doris Duke—who didn’t just save buildings but safeguarded the spirit of a place—our public schools deserve the same care. They carry the hopes and values of […]
Posted inArts & Culture
For Safer Streets: Ocean Drive swaps cars for bikes again at ‘Elliot’s Ride for Everyone’
On Saturday morning, June 7, Newport’s iconic Ocean Drive will close to cars and open to people – biking, walking, rolling, strolling, and enjoying the coastline car-free. It’s Elliot’s Ride for Everyone, Bike Newport’s annual open-road celebration of safe cycling and community fun! Everyone is welcome – people of all ages, abilities, and wheels – including […]
Posted inHistory
This Day in RI History: May 25, 1725 -Colonial Governor Samuel Ward born in Newport
Samuel Ward was an American farmer, politician, Supreme Court Justice, Governor of Rhode Island and a delegate to the Continental Congress. Born in Newport, he was the son of Rhode Island Governor Richard Ward. Ward got his start in politics as a delegate from Westerly and was elected Governor in 1758. He was defeated by […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Ida Lewis, “America’s Bravest Woman,” to be honored in Newport ceremony
On May 24, the Newport Historical Society is teaming up with the U.S. Coast Guard and other groups to honor Ida Lewis, a legendary lighthouse keeper, at a graveside ceremony. The event takes place at the Common Burying Ground on Farewell Street, celebrating Lewis’s life and her 50-plus years of service at Light Station Lime […]
Posted inInstagram, Real Estate
On the market: A look at 43 homes hosting Open Houses this weekend (May 10 – 11)
As we head into the heart of the Spring market and Mother’s Day weekend, 43 properties across Newport County are opening their doors to prospective buyers this weekend. From first-time purchases to second homes and investment opportunities, there’s no shortage of options for active buyers but there’s even more opportunity for sellers and homeowners considering […]
Posted inColumns, History
This Day in RI History: May 9, 1861 -U.S. Naval Academy moved to Newport
The U.S. Naval Academy was established in Annapolis, Maryland on October 10, 1845 with Commander Franklin Buchanan its first superintendent. The first class was comprised of 50 students and 7 professors. When the Civil War broke out in 1861, then superintendent Captain George S. Blake made the decision to move the Academy to Newport. Although […]