Newport County

Rhode Islanders who owe back state taxes will be able to settle them at a discount starting Dec. 3 under a 75-day amnesty program, the state Division of Taxation announced. Taxpayers who qualify will have penalties waived and owe 75% of the interest, a 25% reduction, according to the division. To qualify, they must file […]

A new House study commission created by Rep. Terri Cortvriend will hold its organizational meeting Thursday to examine whether Rhode Island school districts could share services to cut costs. The commission, created by legislation Cortvriend sponsored, meets at 4 p.m. in Room 135 at the State House. No public testimony will be taken at the […]

The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority will carry out work on the Mount Hope Bridge from Oct. 19 through Nov. 6, closing one lane at a time during both daytime and overnight hours. Overnight alternating lane closures will run from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., Monday through Friday, according to RITBA. Daytime alternating lane […]

by Shauneen Miranda, Rhode Island Current October 13, 2026 WASHINGTON — As partisan tensions rise in advance of the fast-approaching midterm elections, students will test their knowledge Wednesday in a field that’s long enjoyed bipartisan support: civics.Fifty-two middle school students hailing from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and American Samoa, will compete at the annual […]

by Alexander Castro, Rhode Island Current October 13, 2026 A fresh round of “No Kings” events is happening across the state on Saturday, Oct. 17. This time around, organizers of at least 10 events planned so far across Rhode Island are emphasizing voting early.The focus is aligned with a push by national organizers to highlight […]

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Marine Operations Center–Atlantic is scheduled to be fully operational at Naval Station Newport by the end of January 2027, completing a move from Norfolk, Virginia, that U.S. Sen. Jack Reed spent more than a decade working to secure. Reed, D-R.I., toured the nearly completed $147 million waterfront complex Thursday, […]

The Newport City Council will hold public hearings Wednesday, Oct. 14, on creating a Waterfront Campus subdistrict within the city’s Innovation Hub and applying it to the former Navy Hospital site in the North End. The ordinance language describes the intent plainly: the subdistrict is meant “to accommodate research and development uses while providing public […]

by Nancy Lavin, Rhode Island Current October 8, 2026 The first gubernatorial debate of the 2026 general election cycle began cordially enough.Moderator Gene Valicenti asked the three candidates if their opponents had the temperament and experience to serve as governor. Republican Aaron Guckian readily acknowledged that each of them was “a smart individual,” while independent […]

by Alexander Castro, Rhode Island Current October 7, 2026 Rhode Island Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos and her Republican challenger, former state Rep. John Loughlin, met Wednesday afternoon for their second televised debate in less than two weeks, sparring over grocery stores, gas prices, and how much blame to assign to President Donald Trump for Rhode […]

Rep. Michelle McGaw and Sen. Louis DiPalma have asked Verizon to postpone discontinuing copper landline service in Little Compton until fiber optic broadband is actually available there. Verizon customers in town recently received letters saying traditional copper service would end sometime after Oct. 23, and pointing them toward fiber, cable or wireless alternatives. Two of […]

Rep. Gabe Amo began a second Blue Economy tour of Rhode Island on Wednesday at REGENT Craft, which cut the ribbon on a new factory where it builds its electric seagliders. Amo, the ranking member of the House Science Committee’s environment subcommittee, said he plans to visit workers, small businesses, researchers, educators and nonprofits across […]

Rhode Island spent more per resident on roads and bridges than almost any state over the past five years, but its state-maintained arterial roads now rank last in the country, according to a report released Wednesday by the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council. The report traces the imbalance to RhodeWorks, launched in 2016, which directed […]

The Rhode Island Department of State has published its Voter Information Handbook for the Nov. 3 general election, with copies going out by mail to every household in the state over the coming weeks. The handbook explains the three ways to vote — by mail, early in person, or on Election Day — and lays […]

Rhode Island Energy said Monday it has restored power to more than 50,000 customers who lost service during the weekend nor’easter, finishing in under 48 hours. The utility deployed more than 270 crew members and field personnel across the state. Wind gusts reached 55 mph, bringing down trees and limbs onto power lines. Crews responded […]

Construction on the eastbound span of the Jamestown Verrazzano Bridge shifts to daytime hours the week of Oct. 5, with one lane open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and delays expected through the work zone, the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority said Monday. The daytime schedule runs Monday, Oct. 5, through Friday, Oct. […]

The Portsmouth Community Electricity program has set its winter supply rates, with the default option priced below Rhode Island Energy’s residential rate and including 5 percent additional renewable energy from Rhode Island sources. The program’s standard residential rate is 16.929 cents per kilowatt-hour, against Rhode Island Energy’s Last Resort Service price of 17.029 cents from […]

State agencies spent Friday preparing for a nor’easter expected to bring heavy rain, strong winds and coastal flooding to Rhode Island through the weekend. Gov. Dan McKee was joined at a briefing by Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency Director Marc Pappas, interim Department of Transportation Director Bob Rocchio and Rhode Island Energy President Greg Cornett. […]