Labor Day Weekend is here, and after a quieter stretch in late August, the local real estate market picked up noticeably this week. With kids heading back to school and families settling back into their routines, we saw a refreshed pool of buyers re-engage with the market. Showings increased, activity in the market picked up, […]
Newport County
Posted inCity & Government
Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee faces rematch with Helena Foulkes amid turmoil over Washington Bridge
By KIMBERLEE KRUESI Associated Press PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Four years ago, Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee was celebrating his narrow victory in the Democratic primary surrounded by supporters, when someone handed him phone — it was his opponent simply calling to concede. “That’s not going to happen,” he said, waving the phone away. “Hang […]
Posted inNews
Portsmouth blanks Rogers 7-0 in Injury Fund opener
Portsmouth beat Rogers 7-0 on Thursday night in the Injury Fund game, with Silas MacMillan’s run providing the only points of a night belonging to both defenses. Portsmouth kept Rogers out of rhythm all evening, holding the Vikings to 12 rushing yards on six carries. Quarterback Rafael Palencia completed 4 of 8 passes for 18 […]
Posted inThings To Do
Rosecliff lecture looks at how Newporters used the Revolution to argue for their own
Nicole Williams, curator of collections for the Preservation Society of Newport County, will give a public lecture at Rosecliff on Thursday, Sept. 10, on how Newporters repeatedly turned the War for Independence into an argument for change in their own time. The talk, “Revolution Reimagined: Memory and Freedom Struggles from 1976 to 2026,” runs from […]
Posted inCity & Government
Middletown Prevention Coalition wins $240,000 federal grant for opioid prevention work
The Middletown Prevention Coalition has received a federal grant of close to $240,000 to expand its prevention work to opioids, counterfeit pills and fentanyl awareness. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration award is a supplement to the coalition’s existing Strategic Prevention Framework-Partnership for Success grant, bringing total funding under that program to $489,089. […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Candlelight tour of Belcourt to benefit Middletown library’s new building
The Middletown Public Library is holding an after-dark candlelight tour of Belcourt of Newport on Friday, Oct. 2, as a fundraiser for its new building project. Guides will lead visitors through the Bellevue Avenue mansion by candlelight, covering its Gilded Age history and architecture along with the ghost stories the property has collected over the […]
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Boat show adds a fishing village with a 50-foot casting pond this year
The Newport International Boat Show is adding a fishing village to this year’s show, a dedicated section for anglers with exhibits, seminars and a casting pond, running all four days from Sept. 17 to 20 on the downtown waterfront. Access is included with general admission. The village sits on the south side of the show […]
Posted inReal Estate
Home of the Week: A move-in-ready, first-floor, 2-bedroom condo in Newport under $500K
For this week’s Home of the Week, we’re heading to 125 Van Zandt Avenue #201, a move-in-ready, first-floor condo at Pier Landing that offers something increasingly difficult to find in Newport: two bedrooms, outdoor space, off-street parking, central air, single-level living, and an incredibly convenient location for under $500,000. There is a lot to like […]
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Rhody Regatta raises $13,000 for Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island
The International Yacht and Athletic Club has presented a $13,000 check to Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island from donations collected at its 2026 Rhody Regatta. The May 31 race sent boats from 30 to 66 feet on an 18-nautical-mile circumnavigation of Conanicut Island. Organizers had set a $10,000 target. Joe Brito’s J/121 Incognito, out […]
Posted inOpinion
Op-Ed: Rhode Island’s LGBTQ+ community needs proven leaders in the General Assembly
RI General Assembly Needs Proven Leaders for LGBTQ+ Community By Senator Tiara Mack In previous legislative sessions, legislators from Woonsocket to Westerly have overwhelmingly voted to protect LGBTQ rights and healthcare. The stakes this year were higher than ever, but I can’t help but ask: Did we do everything we could to protect trans kids […]
Posted inSports
Federer gets his Hall of Fame ring at the US Open, two days after his Newport induction
Roger Federer received his International Tennis Hall of Fame ring Monday night at the US Open, capping a week that began on the grass courts on Bellevue Avenue. Hall of Fame Co-President Kim Clijsters presented the ring during the night session in Arthur Ashe Stadium, joined on court by ITHF CEO Dan Faber, Co-President Patrick […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Newport Classical opens its chamber season Sept. 18 with a quartet that plays banjos and mandolins too
Newport Classical opens its sixth full-season Chamber Series on Friday, Sept. 18, with the Austin-based quartet Invoke, the first of twelve concerts running through early June at Newport Classical Recital Hall, 42 Dearborn St. Invoke is a string quartet that doesn’t stay one — the group plays banjo and mandolin alongside the usual strings and […]
Posted inColumns
For a party-loving, sailor’s paradise, Aquidneck Island offers a discreet – yet active – treasure trove of supportive resources for people and families in recovery
It’s no secret that substance abuse and addictive behavior come in many forms and has had a deleterious effect on many individuals and families since well before the days when opium was first known to be extracted by the Sumerians in 3400 B.C. These Mesopotamian people called the poppy plant Hul Gil, which translated to […]
Posted inNews
Blood center asks for donors over Labor Day weekend after a thin summer
The Rhode Island Blood Center is asking for donors over the Labor Day weekend, saying donations typically fall off around holidays just as travel and back-to-school schedules pull people away. During Labor Day week last year, the center collected more than 40 percent fewer donations than the 2,100 it needs weekly to meet hospital and […]
Posted inCity & Government
Letter: Keith Hoffmann is the best candidate for Rhode Island Attorney General
To the Editor; We are proud to endorse Keith Hoffmann for Rhode Island Attorney General because we trust Keith to fight for all Rhode Islanders. Keith has deep experience across the civil and criminal divisions of the Attorney General’s Office and rose from trial attorney and prosecutor to Chief of Policy and Senior Counsel to […]
Posted inNews
RENEWport volunteers return to Pell for a second year of morning greetings
RENEWport volunteers will be back outside Claiborne Pell Elementary School Wednesday morning, welcoming students on the first day of the 2026-27 school year for the second year of the group’s morning greeter program. The greeters are at the Dexter Street school daily from 8 to 8:30 a.m. Volunteers also help open the Pell library before […]
Posted inObituaries
Obituary: John F. Andrews
It is with profound sadness that we announce the parting of John Andrews of Portsmouth, Rhode Island; a beloved husband, father, grandfather, gardener, and friend, who passed away on Monday, August 24, 2026. He was the devoted husband of Deborah (Timberlake) Andrews with whom he shared 44 wonderful years of marriage. Throughout their life together, […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport spends more per resident on police and fire than any other Rhode Island community
Newport spent more per resident on police and fire protection in fiscal 2024 than any other city or town in Rhode Island, according to a report released this week by the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council. The city spent $746 per capita on police, the highest in the state and nearly three times the $266 […]
Posted inHistory
This Day in History – August 31, 1954: Hurricane Carol makes landfall in Newport
On August 31st, 1954, Hurricane Carol came ashore on the coast of Newport, RI with a massive surge and winds of 115 mph. In one hour, Carol destroyed 3,800 homes, sank or damaged 2,000 boats and yachts, and leveled almost all of the island’s powered and telephone lines. While the storm was less powerful than […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
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. In the first year of the tennis championships only clubs that were members of the United States National Lawn Tennis Association were permitted to enter. A Men’s Singles and Men’s Doubles competition were played. The first […]
Posted inSports
Austin Wells homers twice in 9-run eighth, Heliot Ramos homers in fifth as Yankees rout Red Sox 16-1
By LARRY FLEISHER Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Austin Wells homered twice in a nine-run eighth inning, Heliot Ramos hit a three-run homer in the fifth and the New York Yankees widened their lead in the AL wild-card race and clinched the season series against the Boston Red Sox with a 16-1 victory on […]
Posted inObituaries
Obituary: Sarah Chandler McColloch
Sarah Brooks Chandler McColloch, 76, died peacefully on Friday, August 14, 2026 at home in Portsmouth, RI, with family by her side. She was the beloved wife of John K. McColloch for 47 years and devoted mother to daughters Elizabeth and Jennifer McColloch. Sarah, known fondly as Brookie by her family and friends, was born in Boston, MA on […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Teton Gravity Research ski film screens at the Jane Pickens on Nov. 11
Teton Gravity Research will screen its 31st annual ski film, “Actually, It Is Rocket Science,” at the Jane Pickens Theatre on Wednesday, Nov. 11. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the 120-minute film at 7:30. The film was shot across Bute Inlet in British Columbia, Haines in Alaska, Japan, Finland, Andorra, Montana, Jackson Hole and […]
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Easton’s Point home sells for $6.2 million, Middletown’s highest since 2023
A home on Easton’s Point has sold for $6,245,000, the highest residential sale in Middletown since 2023, according to Gustave White Sotheby’s International Realty. The property at 592 Tuckerman Ave. sits across from Purgatory Chasm and near Second Beach. Jessica Chase of Gustave White represented the seller; Libby Kirwin of Lila Delman Compass brought the […]
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Roger Federer brought to tears during his induction into International Tennis Hall of Fame
By KEN POWTAK Associated Press NEWPORT, R.I. (AP) — Roger Federer was brought to tears numerous times during his induction speech at the International Tennis Hall of Fame on Saturday. As sunset crept in at Newport’s grass horseshoe court at the entrance of the Hall, the 45-year-old Federer, dressed in a tan suit, strolled up […]
Posted inSports
Newport meets Palm Beach at BD Field Saturday, with an all-white dress code and a Barbados trip hidden in the turf
Newport Polo hosts Palm Beach at BD Field on Saturday, Aug. 29, the 15th meeting between the two resort towns since the City Series began in 2011. The match is set for 5 p.m., with gates opening at 1. It falls during the club’s 150th anniversary season and closes out the August schedule. Palm Beach’s […]
Posted inReal Estate
On the Market: The last weekend in August brings opportunity across Newport County (Aug. 29 – 30)
We are closing out August with Labor Day Weekend around the corner, and while many people are focused on squeezing in one or two last summer weekends, there is still plenty happening in the Newport County real estate market. Saturday carries the heavier open house schedule this weekend, with opportunities across Jamestown, Little Compton, Middletown, […]
Posted inObituaries
Obituary: Ed Smith
Edward J. “Ed” Smith, a sixth generation and lifelong Newporter, former Newport City Councilman, businessman, husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and devoted friend, passed away peacefully with family at his side on August 26, 2026 at the age of 78. Born and raised in Newport, Ed was the son of Truman E. Smith and Evelyn […]
Posted inSports
Roger Federer heads to the Tennis Hall of Fame and says he ‘had the best time’ during his career
By BRIAN MAHONEY AP Sports Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Roger Federer loved to win, of course, and at the peak of his career almost always did. All those victories and trophies he piled up alone would have made Federer remembered forever in tennis, but they were only part of the reason he enjoyed playing. He liked traveling to […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport’s Senate District 13 primary pits a progressive incumbent against a progressive challenger
by Nancy Lavin, Rhode Island Current August 28, 2026 At 47 years old with nine years in elected office, Sen. Dawn Euer is hardly the most seasoned lawmaker in a chamber where many members are retirees with multiple decades in their seats.But her Democratic primary opponent — her first since winning office in a 2017 […]
Posted inNews
Invasive green crabs are bad for the environment so New Englanders are starting to eat more of them
By MICHAEL CASEY Associated Press YORK, Maine (AP) — As a morning fog lifted over Maine’s York River, Mike Masi and his two interns stood on a dock sorting through a mound of one of the region’s most despised crabs and hoped to find a few that would end up on a gastronome’s plate somewhere […]
Posted inNews
Dolly Parton’s Newport legacy: one unforgettable appearance at Fort Adams, and a book in the mail every month
Dolly Parton, who died Tuesday in Nashville at 80, left two very different marks on Newport: a single surprise appearance at Fort Adams that people still talk about, and a program that has quietly mailed books to thousands of local children every month for six years. Her family asked that donations be made in her […]
Posted inNews
IYRS launches Maritime Leadership Institute, names Kristin Urbach managing director
IYRS School of Technology & Trades announced Wednesday the launch of a Maritime Leadership Institute and named Kristin Urbach its managing director. The institute will offer leadership development for maritime professionals, with programs aimed at building teams, managing change and problem-solving in maritime workplaces — an extension of the school’s technical training into management. “The […]
Posted inCity & Government
McKee narrows gap but still trails Foulkes by 15 points in new WPRI poll
by Nancy Lavin, Rhode Island Current August 25, 2026 Gov. Dan McKee is finally gaining ground among Democratic primary voters, but remains 15 points behind challenger Helena Buonanno Foulkes, according to a new WPRI-TV 12 poll published Tuesday.The survey of 1,000 likely voters, conducted Aug. 21 and Aug. 22 by Emerson College Polling, marks the […]
Posted inSports
Bermuda Race organizers to review scoring system after error report
Organizers of the Newport Bermuda Race say they will review whether to continue using forecast-based scoring, following an investigation into the error that scrambled results in June. The Bermuda Race Organizing Committee and US Sailing released a 14-page report Tuesday tracing the error to two causes: conflicting weather files left active in routing software on […]
Posted inNews
Newport projects among 10 statewide Rhody Award winners for historic preservation
NEWPORT — Three Newport-connected honorees are among the 10 recipients of Preserve Rhode Island’s 2026 Rhody Awards for Historic Preservation, announced Tuesday. Agassiz Mansion at Castle Hill Inn receives a Community Impact Award for its restoration after the Feb. 5 fire that tore through the third-floor attic of the Ocean Drive landmark. The State Fire […]
Posted inObituaries
Obituary: Robert Anson
Captain Robert Anson Jr. USN (Ret) left his homeport on the outgoing tide for the last time on August 19th, 2026, bound for another great voyage. Raised in Newport’s 5th Ward, Bob is the son of the late Robert and Sarah (Sadie) Anson, who both served in Newport’s mansions and estates. Educated at Rogers High […]
Posted inReal Estate
Home of the Week: 481 Oliphant Lane offers space, location and rental potential in Middletown
MIDDLETOWN, RI – If you were to put a pin in the middle of Aquidneck Island, 481 Oliphant Lane would not be far from it. New to the market today, this five-bedroom, two-bath Colonial sits on a half-acre lot in one of the more convenient locations on Aquidneck Island. With plenty of space, a valid […]
Posted inCity & Government
RIDOT shifting traffic on South County Trail bridge over Route 4 in East Greenwich
RIDOT will shift all traffic to the newly rebuilt northbound side of the South County Trail bridge at the Route 4 interchange starting Friday night, Aug. 28. The two-lane configuration in place during construction becomes permanent — one lane each direction with a center turning lane, connecting to the existing road diet south of the […]
Posted inObituaries
Obituary: Peter A. Gerard
Peter A. Gerard, 80, passed away on August 17, 2026, after a brief illness. Melinda, his loving wife of 52 years, and his daughter Jennifer were with him for his final moments. To say that Peter was “larger than life” not only described his tall, distinguished, presence, but also how he chose to live and […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Dr. Michael Fine: What’s crazy about COVID and flu vaccines in 2026
I got a Pfizer COVID vaccine last night from Walgreens. And no, RFK Jr, I didn’t die. I didn’t feel a thing, and I feel fine now. No magnetic particles are letting extraterrestrials control my thoughts from space, at least not as far as I can tell. We are in the late summer COVID spike, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Jamestown Community Theatre holding auditions for Sondheim’s “Merrily We Roll Along”
Jamestown Community Theatre will hold auditions for “Merrily We Roll Along” on Thursday, Sept. 3, at the Jamestown Recreation Center, opening the company’s 36th season. The musical, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by George Furth, follows composer Franklin Shepard, who achieves professional success at steep personal cost. The story unfolds […]
Posted inNews
MLK Community Center hosting free karaoke competition Tuesday
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center will hold a karaoke competition on Tuesday, Aug. 25, from 5 to 7 p.m. Each singer performs one song for the judges, with a second song prepared in case of a tiebreaker. First place wins a prize. Sing Your Heart Out Co. will emcee. The event is […]
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Salve students learn on the job at the Newport Folk and Jazz festivals
For more than 70 years, Newport has held a distinctive place in American music history as the host city of world-renowned jazz and folk festivals. This summer, Salve Regina University rising seniors Grace Kasten and Topher Weber experienced that history from behind the scenes as interns with Newport Festivals Foundation. From stage production and artist support […]
Posted inCity & Government
PUC cuts Rhode Island Energy’s rate request, approves $170 million in bill credits
The Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission on Friday approved roughly $170 million in customer bill credits and rejected significant portions of Rhode Island Energy’s request to raise electric and gas distribution rates. The credits stem from a commitment PPL Corporation made when it acquired The Narragansett Electric Company in 2022, agreeing to hold Rhode Island […]
Posted inObituaries
Obituary: Anne Marie Wolfe
Anne was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother, whose greatest joy was her family. As the wife of a Navy serviceman, she was often called upon to run the household and raise her children while Jack was away. She did so with love, patience, strength, and gladness, creating a home where her children […]
Posted inNews
More than 70 maritime and defense companies to demonstrate technology at Sail Newport next week
More than 70 companies from five countries will bring maritime and defense technologies to Sail Newport on Thursday, Aug. 27, for the third annual BlueTIDE, an event organized by Polaris Tech Bridge. The day opens with an in-water Collaborative Integration Opportunity from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., putting previously qualified technologies to work in a […]
Posted inCity & Government
First Newport homes go live on GoNetspeed fiber Wednesday
The first Newport customers will be ready to connect to GoNetspeed’s fiber network on Wednesday, the company will tell the City Council at its meeting that evening. Heidi Mahoney, GoNetspeed’s manager of government affairs, will brief councilors on the fiber-to-the-premises build, which is advancing in partnership with Rhode Island Commerce through the ConnectRI program. Construction […]
Posted inCity & Government
City floats “Park Newport,” a single brand for all municipal parking
The city’s parking operations would consolidate under a single public-facing brand called Park Newport under a proposal going before the City Council on Wednesday. In an Aug. 18 memo, Superintendent of Parking Stathis Manousos describes bringing parking operations, customer service, permits, payment, wayfinding and enforcement together under one identity — part of what he calls […]
Posted inCity & Government
Early voting begins for Sept. 9 primary; state officials point voters to rights guide
Early voting for the statewide primary opened Thursday in the second-floor conference room of Newport City Hall, 43 Broadway, and continues during regular business hours until 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 8. Emergency mail ballots are available in the Canvassing Office over the same period. Extended hours are set for Wednesday, Aug. 26, when early […]
Posted inBusiness
Providence Place sold to ownership group led by former Mayor Joe Paolino and the mall’s original developer
Providence Place has been sold to a partnership of Paolino Properties, Pyramid Management Group and DW Partners, the group announced Thursday morning at a press conference at the mall with Mayor Brett Smiley. The ownership brings the property back to figures involved in its creation. Joseph R. Paolino Jr., CEO and managing partner of Paolino […]
Posted inOpinion
Letter: Perrotti Park’s deed deserves an answer
To the Editor: Newport is considering a major expansion of the Harbormaster facility at Perrotti Park. There are plenty of arguments about the design, size, cost and merits of the project. But there is a more fundamental question the City has yet to answer publicly: Can Newport legally use this land for the proposed expanded […]
Posted inCity & Government
New state housing dashboard shows 658 units backed across Newport County
A new state housing dashboard launched Thursday shows Newport County has 14 developments totaling 658 housing units in predevelopment, under construction or completed with state support since 2021. Newport accounts for the largest share, with five developments and 321 units. Middletown has four developments and 169 units, Portsmouth two and 94, Tiverton two and 62, […]
Posted inThings To Do
Newport Playhouse to close after 43 years
The Newport Playhouse & Cabaret Restaurant will close on Dec. 31 after 43 years, president Jonathan Perry announced Tuesday in a letter to patrons posted on the theater’s Facebook page. The Playhouse will continue performing through the end of the year. “We still have several months of performances ahead of us, audiences to entertain, stories […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Groove Merchants close out NIMFest season at King Park on Sunday
Groove Merchants headline the final NIMFest concert of the 2026 season on Sunday, Aug. 23, from 3 to 6 p.m. at the King Park Gazebo, 125 Wellington Ave. The show is free and open to the public, weather permitting. The Newport-based six-piece plays a funk-inflected take on pop and jazz, moving between laid-back grooves, hard-hitting […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
King Park Beach reopens for swimming
The Rhode Island Department of Health is recommending that the swimming area at King Park Beach reopen after bacteria counts returned to safe levels. The beach was closed to swimming last Thursday, Aug. 13, after elevated bacteria counts. RIDOH will continue monitoring beach water quality through Labor Day, and a beach’s status can change as […]
Posted inNews
Reed breaks ground on $46 million Army Aviation Readiness Center at Quonset
U.S. Sen. Jack Reed joined federal, state, local and military officials Tuesday to break ground on a new Army Aviation Readiness Center at Quonset Point, funded with $46 million he secured across two federal budget cycles. The facility will house the Rhode Island Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment and five supporting companies. […]
Posted inReal Estate
What Sold: A look at 17 homes that changed hands last week in Newport County (Aug. 10 – 14)
Seventeen properties changed hands across Newport County last week. The highlight of the week was the $4,500,000 sale of the Samuel Durfee House at 352 Spring Street in Newport, marking the highest multi-family sale in Newport year-to-date and the largest multi-family transaction in the city since 2022. The sale was a particularly meaningful one for […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Comedian Juston McKinney coming to the JPT in November
Spectacle Live will present comedian Juston McKinney on Saturday, Nov. 14, at 7:30 p.m. at The JPT Film & Event Center. McKinney has made multiple appearances on “The Tonight Show” under both Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien, and has released two Comedy Central specials and two Amazon Prime specials, including “Parentally Challenged.” He has performed […]
Posted inCity & Government
Pell Center survey: Foulkes leads McKee by 20 points; former Newport mayor within two points in LG race
Helena Foulkes leads Gov. Dan McKee 48% to 28% in the Democratic primary for governor, according to a survey released Monday by the Pell Center at Salve Regina University. Twenty-two percent of Democratic primary voters remain undecided — enough to swing the race either way. Foulkes drew her strongest support among voters under 50 (58%), […]
Posted inSports
Red Sox overwhelm Diamondbacks 11-1 as all 9 starters drive in a run
BOSTON (AP) — Willson Contreras and Mickey Gasper homered, all nine Boston starters drove in at least one, and the Red Sox dismantled the Arizona Diamondbacks 11-1 on Monday night in the first game of a three-game series. Boston, which scored in six straight innings, did not have a strikeout in the game and finished […]
Posted inSports
Light air and long calms test fleet in 21st Ida Lewis Distance Race
Forty-six boats set spinnakers for a downwind start off Rose Island on Friday morning, opening the 21st Ida Lewis Distance Race with a run past Castle Hill onto Rhode Island Sound and an overnight test of seamanship that not every crew finished. “This year’s challenges included lighter-than-predicted winds and periods of calm that lasted longer […]
Posted inNews
$13.5 million in federal funding headed to Providence Ferry Terminal
The Rhode Island congressional delegation has steered $13.5 million in federal funding to upgrade the Providence Ferry Terminal, the northern end of the seasonal ferry route connecting Newport, Bristol and Providence. The money goes to the Rhode Island Department of Transportation for work at the terminal at 25 Portugal Parkway in Fox Point, which currently […]
Posted inNews
Middletown police identify man killed crossing Coddington Highway
Police have identified the 80-year-old Middletown man who died Sunday night after being struck by a vehicle while crossing Coddington Highway as Ronald Moore. Middletown Police and Fire personnel responded to the intersection of Coddington Highway and Underwood Lane at approximately 8:10 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16, for a reported collision involving a pedestrian. First responders […]
Posted inObituaries
Obituary: David McLean Bethune
David McLean Bethune, 85, of Newport, RI, passed away on August 11, 2026, after a prolonged illness. David was born in Birmingham, AL, to Margaret Bethune (née Brock) and James Bethune on August 7, 1941. They moved to Easton, PA, while he was in high school. He obtained a bachelor’s degree from Moravian College and […]
Posted inObituaries
Obituary: Graeme Smith
As sudden as the summer fog rolls in, Graeme John Wilson Smith left us to join the stars on August 8,2026. Born in Glasgow, Scotland to James White Smith and Joyce Sutherland Smith, Graeme was the true definition of a Renaissance Man. Educated at the Jordanhill College School in Glasgow and the Polytechnic of Central […]
Posted inCity & Government
McKee ceremonially signs bill creating Dominican heritage license plate
Gov. Dan McKee ceremonially signed legislation Friday creating a special charity license plate supporting the Dominican Independence Heritage Award Committee of Rhode Island. The bills, H833 and S3362, were sponsored by Rep. Grace Diaz and Sen. Ana Quezada, both Providence Democrats. McKee was joined at the signing by Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos, Treasurer James A. […]
Posted inSports
Lowe, Flores homer to power the Pirates over the slumping Red Sox, 8-4
By JOHN PERROTTO Associated Press PITTSBURGH (AP) — Brandon Lowe hit a three-run home run and rookie Rafael Flores Jr. homered for the third time in two days to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to an 8-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Friday night. Lowe’s homer came in the fifth inning off Jovani Moran […]
Posted inNews
Rhode Island Foundation awards $290,000 to Newport County nonprofits
More than 50 nonprofits serving Newport County will share $290,000 in grants from the Rhode Island Foundation, the organization announced Friday. The grants come through the Foundation’s Newport County Fund, which awards up to $10,000 per organization to expand established programs, support advocacy, fund new projects or build partnerships. Funding decisions were made with an […]
Posted inBusiness
UTIC names Donald McCormack board chair as founding chair Debbie Proffitt retires
The Undersea Technology Innovation Consortium has elected Donald McCormack as chair of its board of directors following the retirement of Debbie Proffitt, a founding board member who led the board through the organization’s first decade. McCormack is senior consultant to McLaughlin Research Corporation and brings more than 40 years of experience with the Navy’s research, […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Health department recommends closing King Park Beach to swimming
The Rhode Island Department of Health is recommending that the swimming area at King Park Beach be closed due to high bacteria counts, the department announced Thursday afternoon. RIDOH will continue monitoring beach water quality through Labor Day, and a beach’s status can change as new samples come in. Current beach information is available on […]
Posted inColumns
Gerry Goldstein: Dark side of the Fifties gets a replay
They’re gone now, but they provided our culture with enduring gifts. Folk singer Burl Ives left us his version of a bouncy holiday song, “A Holly Jolly Christmas.” Sultry Lena Horne left us her classic recordings of “Stormy Weather.” Banjo-playing Pete Seeger left a catalogue of music, much of it anti-war, as in “Where Have […]
Posted inNews
Newport County man diagnosed with rare tick-borne Powassan virus
A Newport County man in his 70s has been diagnosed with Powassan virus, a rare tick-borne illness, the Rhode Island Department of Health announced Thursday. The man began experiencing symptoms in late July. It is the state’s second confirmed Powassan case in 2026 and the tenth since Rhode Island first reported the disease in 2016. […]
Posted inCity & Government
Same arguments, new insults: McKee and Foulkes clash in first TV debate
by Nancy Lavin, Rhode Island Current August 13, 2026 Familiar arguments over opioids, infrastructure and who cares more about everyday Rhode Islanders dominated the first televised Democratic gubernatorial debate of the 2026 election cycle.Yet Gov. Dan McKee and his challenger, Helena Buonanno Foulkes, still managed to infuse their usual talking points with fresh insults during […]
Posted inObituaries
Obituary: Ray Damico
Today, a force of nature left us. He was a husband, a father, a brother, a grandfather, and a great-grandfather. He was fun as hell. He said exactly what he thought, whether people wanted to hear it or not. He did things most people would call crazy-and he didn’t care. He worked hard building and […]
Posted inObituaries
Obituary: James Johnson
James Johnson, 84, who resided in Newport, Rhode Island, for most of his life, passed away on Sunday, August 9, 2026 in Bristol, RI, surrounded by loved ones. Jim was born in Providence to Joseph and Loretto (Gardner) Johnson on September 9, 1941. He went to high school at La Salle Academy and went on […]
Posted inObituaries
Obituary: William “Bill” A. Kopelcheck
William “Bill” A. Kopelcheck, 68, of Jamestown, RI passed away peacefully on August 3, 2026, surrounded by his loving family after a courageous battle with cancer. Born and raised in West Hartford, Connecticut, Bill spent his childhood summers in Westbrook, where he enjoyed time at the beach with his parents, the late William T. and […]
Posted inSports
Blue Jays erupt for 5 runs in the eighth to beat Red Sox 6-4, extend Boston’s skid to 5
TORONTO (AP) — Kazuma Okamoto hit the go-ahead RBI single and Myles Straw had a two-run double in a five-run eighth inning, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat Boston 6-4 on Wednesday night, handing the Red Sox their fifth consecutive loss. José Soriano, making his second start with Toronto, allowed one run and four hits […]
Posted inNews
Aquidneck Resilience seeks public input on islandwide climate plan at four listening sessions
Aquidneck Resilience is inviting island residents to help shape an islandwide Climate Resilience Plan through a series of community listening sessions beginning Aug. 25. The plan is intended as a guidebook for reducing the island’s climate risks — flooding, extreme heat and cold, and severe storms that cross town lines. Aquidneck Resilience has engaged more […]
Posted inSports
Record 75-boat fleet turns out for Safe Harbor Race Weekend
Seventy-five teams raced across 10 classes at the 2026 Safe Harbor Race Weekend, a record fleet for the regatta, organizers said. Narragansett Bay delivered light to moderate breezes of 8 to 14 knots for the nine classes racing there, while five Superyachts found a sportier 14 to 17 knots on Block Island Sound. Friday’s traditional […]
Posted inObituaries
Obituary: Richard W. Allphin
Richard W. Allphin, 92, formerly of Jamestown, Rhode Island, passed on July 30, 2026 with family by his side. Richard was predeceased by his wife, Joyce Kusic Allphin of Jamestown. Richard was born in Andover, Ma. to Willard and Catherine Washburn Allphin. Richard and his older brother, Kendall, were fortunate to spend their childhood and […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
Newport Classical brings audience-driven concerts to Dearborn Street in October
Newport Classical will present Ensemble Mélange in two free concerts on Sunday, Oct. 18, at 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. at the Newport Classical Recital Hall, 42 Dearborn St. The concerts hand the programming over to the audience. The ensemble arrives with a menu of more than 30 selections spanning classical, jazz, Latin and Broadway, […]
Posted inNews
IYRS to host international STEM clinic connecting women to marine tech careers
IYRS School of Technology & Trades will host one of two international Ocean Racing STEM Clinics on Aug. 24-25, a program aimed at drawing women into technical careers in the sailing and marine industries. The clinic is a partnership between The Magenta Project, a global initiative working to expand opportunities for women in sailing and […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Chicago tribute act Beginnings coming to the JPT in November
Spectacle Live will present Beginnings – A Celebration of the Music of Chicago on Saturday, Nov. 28, at 7:30 p.m. at The JPT Film & Event Center. Tickets go on sale Friday, Aug. 14, at 10 a.m. at JanePickens.com or by phone at 1-800-657-8774. The tribute act performs the catalog of Rock and Roll Hall […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Dave Matthews Band coming to Providence in November, months after Newport Folk surprise
Dave Matthews Band will play the Amica Mutual Pavilion on Nov. 9 as part of a fall tour announced Tuesday, bringing the frontman back to Rhode Island less than four months after his unannounced solo appearance at the Newport Folk Festival. Matthews made his Newport Folk debut on July 26, joining Nathaniel Rateliff & Friends […]
Posted inNews
Rhode Island seeking paid poll workers for September primary, November general election
The Rhode Island Board of Elections is recruiting paid poll workers for the Sept. 9 primary and the Nov. 3 general election, with local boards of canvassers hiring across the state. Poll workers set up polling places, greet voters, verify registrations and issue ballots. They also help voters navigate the process by demonstrating voting equipment […]
Posted inBusiness
Newport International Boat Show expands education lineup with on-water training, new fishing village
The 55th Newport International Boat Show will offer one of its most extensive educational lineups yet when it returns to the waterfront Sept. 17-20, with programming ranging from free walk-up seminars to on-water instruction with certified captains. The Cruisers Classroom, presented by the Annapolis School of Seamanship, returns with complimentary interactive sessions running all four […]
Posted inNews
Bike Newport’s 10-Spot Ride returns Aug. 29 with a new finale stop
Bike Newport’s 10-Spot Ride returns Saturday, Aug. 29, for its seventh year, with riders pedaling between secret locations across the city over 5.5 hours. The event pairs ten properties with 15 chefs and restaurants and 20 live musical performances, all reached by bicycle. Participants pick their own order and route and decide how long to […]
Posted inNews
Today In Newport History: August 11, 1866 – First roller skating rink opens to the public in U.S.
Roller skates in the United States around 1905 James Plimpton, inventor of the modern quad roller skate, and the New York Roller Skating Association (NYRSA) leased The Atlantic House Hotel in Newport and converted the dining room into a skating area on August 11th, 1866. This was the first roller skating rink open to the public in the […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Soul City brings horn-driven dance party to King Park for NIMFest on Aug. 16
Soul City headlines the next NIMFest concert on Sunday, Aug. 16, from 3 to 6 p.m. at the King Park Gazebo, 125 Wellington Ave. The show is free and open to the public, weather permitting. The horn-driven party band has been playing since 1988 and has built a reputation across New England for packed dance […]
Posted inNews
Raytheon, Portsmouth-based Composite Energy Technologies demonstrate new undersea drone
Raytheon and Composite Energy Technologies have successfully demonstrated the undersea launch capabilities of HADALUS, a new long-endurance unmanned undersea vehicle, the companies announced Monday. The vehicle completed a series of at-sea missions on a Navy undersea test range during a recent exercise, launching while submerged. According to Raytheon, it marks the first time the Navy […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Garrison Keillor at 84: ‘I could go on doing this for a while’
The schedule called for fifteen minutes with Garrison Keillor. It ended up being a half-hour private concert. Keillor brings “Garrison Keillor Tonight” to the Jane Pickens Theater on September 20. “I’m doing pretty well,” he said at the start of the conversation. “I’m making progress on a new book. As long as one has a […]
Posted inSports
New York Yacht Club wins Morgan Cup at Harbour Court, ending 11-year drought
The New York Yacht Club won its Morgan Cup Team Race for the first time in more than a decade Sunday, taking the best-of-five final against Larchmont Yacht Club at Harbour Court. Team captain Pete Levesque was part of the club’s last winning crew in 2015 and has sailed every edition since. “It’s been a […]
Posted inSports
Max Muncy’s tiebreaking RBI lifts A’s past Red Sox for their first series win since mid-June
By KEN POWTAK Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — Max Muncy hit a tiebreaking RBI double off the Green Monster against closer Aroldis Chapman in the ninth inning and the Athletics rallied past the Boston Red Sox 4-3 for their first series win after losing 12 straight. Jeff McNeil collected his 1,000th career hit with an […]
Posted inArts & Culture
newportFILM screens Newport Folk Festival documentary at Miantonomi Park on Aug. 13
Days after both the Newport Folk Festival and Newport Jazz Festival sold out again this summer, newportFILM will screen a documentary about the folk festival’s most consequential years. “Newport & the Great Folk Dream” plays Thursday, Aug. 13, at Miantonomi Memorial Park, 120 Hillside Ave. The venue opens at 5 p.m., with live music from […]
Posted inObituaries
Obituary: Jean L. Moore
Jean L. Moore, 87, of Newport, Rhode Island, formerly of South Africa, died on July 29, 2026 with her daughter by her side. She was the wife of the late Harman Moore. Born in Port Shepstone, South Africa on October 9, 1938, She was the daughter of the late Harold and Gladys (Kippen) Dennis. She […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport lands $70,000 in latest round of Learn365RI grants
The City of Newport will receive $70,000 in the fifth round of Learn365RI grants, part of $1.629 million awarded statewide to expand afterschool, summer and out-of-school learning programs, Gov. Dan McKee and Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green announced Friday. Newport’s award is among the largest in the round, matched by Pawtucket, Cranston, Warwick, Woonsocket and Central […]
Posted inReal Estate
On the Market: A look at every Open House in Newport County this weekend (Aug. 8 – 9)
If you’ve been following the local real estate market this summer, you’ve probably noticed things have settled into a more familiar rhythm. That’s typical for this time of year. August is often a bit of a lull as families squeeze in vacations, spend time on the water or at the beach, and make the most […]