Posted inNews, Sports

Genie Bouchard, Christina McHale and Anna Frey announced as Hall of Fame Open WTA wildcards

The Hall of Fame Open has awarded its first WTA main draw wildcards to former world No. 5 Genie Bouchard and American Christina McHale, while rising star Anna Frey has accepted a qualifying wildcard. “We are thrilled to welcome accomplished players like Genie Bouchard and Christina McHale, and rising star Anna Frey, to Newport,” said Brewer Rowe, Tournament Director. “Hosting […]

Posted inNews, Weather

NOAA’s 2025 hurricane forecast warns of a busy season – a storm scientist explains why and what meteorologists are watching

Colin Zarzycki, Penn State U.S. forecasters are expecting an above-normal 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, with 13 to 19 named storms, and 6 to 10 of those becoming hurricanes. Every year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other forecasters release preseason outlooks for the Atlantic’s hurricane season, which runs June 1 through November 30. So, […]

Posted inCity & Government

Cliff Walk restoration, Easton’s Beach concessions on Newport City Council’s May 28 docket

The Newport City Council will take up a diverse agenda at its May 28 meeting, including contracts for beach concessions, utilities supplies, and pavement marking, along with several ordinance amendments addressing smoking regulations throughout the city. The Council is set to award a one-year agreement to Rhody Surf, Inc. of Newport for umbrella and chair […]

Posted inNews, Weather

Rare May nor’easter brings rain and chance of snow to New England before Memorial Day

By PATRICK WHITTLE and ISABELLA O’MALLEY Associated Press SCARBOROUGH, Maine (AP) — An unusual May nor’easter soaked New England on Thursday and threatened to bring snow to higher elevations as the states prepared for the Memorial Day holiday weekend. Nor’easters usually arrive in the end of fall and winter and bring high winds, rough seas and precipitation […]

Posted inNews

Massachusetts construction company to pay $11M in illegal dumping case

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island’s top legal chief announced Wednesday that a Massachusetts construction company has agreed to pay $11 million to settle criminal charges that it illegally dumped thousands of tons of contaminated fill in the Ocean State’s Capitol city during a highway construction project. According to Attorney General Peter Neronha’s office, Barletta […]

Posted inArts & Culture, Business, News

Audrain’s 1952 Pegaso Z-102 wins first in class at Lugano Elegance

The Audrain Collection’s 1952 Pegaso Z-102 lightweight competition coupe has just won First in Class at the Lugano Elegance event in Switzerland. This prestigious win came in the Sports Cars of the ’50s and ’60s category. The Audrain Collections acquired this historic vehicle, chassis 0115, in 2020. It’s one of only three lightweight competition coupes […]

Posted inInstagram, News

Sold-out Rosecliff forum unites experts to save Newport’s iconic trees

Earlier this month, more than 200 passionate community members filled the ballroom at Rosecliff mansion to hear from local experts on the challenges facing Newport’s urban forests and arboretums, specifically the causes and treatment strategies for beech leaf disease (BLD). The free forum, “Iconic Trees of Newport II,” brought together an impressive coalition of tree […]

Posted inThings To Do

Providence to host nearly 2,000 top athletes for USA Gymnastics Championships in June; tickets now on sale

Nearly 2,000 Olympic-level athletes, top gymnasts, and up-and-comers from around the country will gather in Providence for the USA Gymnastics Championships June 16-21, and tickets to watch the competition live are now on sale. The USA Gymnastics Championships is the national championship event for athletes in rhythmic, trampoline, tumbling, and acrobatic disciplines. Spectators are invited to watch […]

Posted inCity & Government

DEM: Wave hello to state beach season

Memorial Day weekend kicks off state beach season with all state beaches, with the exception of Roger Wheeler, open daily with lifeguards, beach staff, concessions, and restrooms starting Saturday, May 24 until Labor Day.  Roger Wheeler will open Saturday, June 14 due to an upgrade project. To provide more options during the delayed opening, Scarborough South will open for Memorial […]

Posted inJobs

Movies and TV shows casting in Rhode Island

The glitz and glam of Hollywood captures the attention of Americans starting from an early age. Beyond celebrities’ Instagram Stories and red carpet poses, there are actors out there paying their dues and honing their craft in pursuit of a sustainable career or a fulfilling sideline. Submitting to casting calls is a big part of […]

Posted inNews, Nonprofit

Susan Jacobsen named President and Chief Executive Officer of Child & Family Services of Newport County

Child & Family Services of Newport County, one of Rhode Island’s oldest and most comprehensive human service organizations, has announced the appointment of Susan Jacobsen, MA, LMHC, as its new President and Chief Executive Officer. Ms. Jacobsen brings two decades of leadership in behavioral health, nonprofit management, philanthropy, and health equity initiatives across Rhode Island. […]

Posted inNews

Newport Festivals Foundation launches charity license plate to support music education

The Newport Festivals Foundation, producers of the Newport Folk Festival and Newport Jazz Festival, is rolling out an official Rhode Island license plate to boost music education for students across the state. Money from each plate will go towards providing free music lessons for Rhode Island students through the Newport Festivals Foundation’s Free Music Lessons […]

Posted inSports

Nathan Sena of Middletown takes home $15,000 and bragging rights in national APA 8-Ball Championship

Nathan Sena, a Middletown resident, has clinched the 2025 APA 8-Ball Classic Pool Championship in Las Vegas, walking away with a $15,000 prize package. Sena beat out nearly 6,000 competitors from across North America to win the Orange Tier of the championship. The tournament, part of the American Poolplayers Association’s (APA) Poolplayer Championships, took place […]

Posted inBusiness

Fire damages Matunuck Oyster Bar

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (AP) — One of Rhode Island’s most famous restaurants has been damaged after a fire broke out early Tuesday morning. Union Fire District Steve Pinch says firefighters arrived at 3:45 a.m. to find heavy smoke and flames coming from the Matunuck Oyster Bar in South Kingstown. The cause of the fire was […]

Posted inBusiness

Big Weather Gear officially opens on Thames Street

Newport’s retail landscape has a new—but familiar—face. Local entrepreneur and longtime Thames Street fixture Jay Lasky has launched Big Weather Gear, a fresh retail concept rooted in his decades-long passion for outdoor and marine apparel. This new venture brings together top performance brands and lifestyle wear under one roof, offering something for everyone who lives, […]

Posted inNews

High school coach who did naked fat tests found not guilty of child molestation, sexual assault

By KIMBERLEE KRUESI Associated Press PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A jury has found a former Rhode Island high school basketball coach not guilty of second-degree child molestation and second-degree sexual assault after he spent decades asking hundreds of male student-athletes if they were “shy or not shy” before asking them to get naked so he could check […]

Posted inArts & Culture

newportFILM to screen Sally Ride documentary at Casino Theatre

newportFILM is set to screen a documentary about trailblazing astronaut Sally Ride in Newport next week. The organization, teaming up with Newport Out and NASA Rhode Island Space Grant Consortium, will show “SALLY” at the Casino Theatre on May 22. This Sundance Film Festival selection dives into Ride’s professional achievements and personal life. Tam O’Shaughnessy, […]

Posted inNews

Endangered whales gave birth to few babies this year as population declines

SCARBOROUGH, Maine (AP) — A vanishing species of whale gave birth to few babies this birthing season, raising alarms among scientists and conservationists who fear the animal could go extinct. The whale is the North Atlantic right whale, which numbers only about 370 and has declined in population in recent years. The whales give birth to calves […]

Posted inNews

Strike averted as submarine designers in Connecticut agree to contract with Electric Boat

GROTON, Conn. (AP) — The union for about 2,500 submarine designers at Electric Boat in Connecticut has tentatively agreed to a new contract with the company, averting a strike that would have begun Monday. The Marine Draftsmen’s Association-United Auto Workers of America, Local 571, essentially the workers responsible for designing the U.S. Navy’s nuclear submarine […]

Posted inCity & Government

RIPEC analysis finds Rhode Island’s Housing Resources Commission in need of reform 

The Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC) today released a policy brief highlighting issues with the design and operations of Rhode Island’s Housing Resources Commission (HRC). RIPEC found that the HRC has wide statutory authority over housing policy and programming and shares many of the same top-line responsibilities with the Department of Housing. Conducting a […]

Posted inNews

Salve Regina University graduates inspired to put their mercy mission in motion at 75th Commencement

Today, on the oceanside campus of Salve Regina University, Dr. Kelli J. Armstrong, president, conferred 508 bachelor’s degrees upon the Class of 2025 at the University’s 75th Commencement. A separate ceremony was held Thursday, May 15 for recipients of graduate degrees — 206 master’s degrees, 18 doctoral degrees and 11 Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees.  In an […]

Posted inInstagram, Real Estate

On the Market: A look at 62 homes hosting Open Houses this weekend in Newport County (May 17 – 18)

After a long stretch of low inventory and limited options, the real estate market in Newport County is in full Spring season. This weekend marks the busiest Open House schedule of the year and that’s great news for buyers and sellers alike. For months, many buyers have been sitting on the sidelines waiting for the […]

Posted inArts & Culture

Newport Restoration Foundation unveils new Doris Duke Fashion Gallery

The Newport Restoration Foundation is opening a new gallery at Rough Point Museum on June 12, dedicated to Doris Duke’s fashion collection. This Doris Duke Fashion Gallery will feature rotating exhibits that explore Duke’s collection and highlight her support for the arts, design, and preservation. The first exhibit, “Women Designers of the 20th Century,” showcases […]

Posted inBusiness

‘Little Clam’ to open at Wayfinder Newport

Little Clam, a “New England coastal restaurant”, is opening at Wayfinder Newport this summer. According to its website, Little Clam will bring “a fresh take on New England coastal dining, celebrating local farmers, fishermen, and timeless seaside flavors”. You’ll find the restaurant inside the Wayfinder Newport hotel at 151 Admiral Kalbfus Road. Chef Antonio Wormley […]

Posted inArts & Culture

Charles L. Roberts: Newport can follow ancestors’ footsteps, learn their stories

I’ve always been inspired by James Baldwin’s quote – and perspective – “We carry our history with us. We are our history.” Baldwin argues that history is not a distant, finished event, but a living force that shapes our lives and informs our present reality. It’s not something that we can ignore, leave behind, or take for […]

Posted inCity & Government

Senate approves Senator DiPalma’s bill to lower prescription drug prices for Rhode Islanders

The Rhode Island Senate on Thursday (May 15) approved legislation (2025-S 0468aa) sponsored by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Louis P. DiPalma that would significantly lower the price of many common prescription drugs for struggling Rhode Islanders. “Prescription drug costs are astronomical. Year after year, in the greatest country on earth, we pay so much more […]

Posted inBusiness

US cable giants Charter and Cox, under assault by streaming services, pursue $34.5 billion merger

By MICHELLE CHAPMAN AP Business Writer Charter Communications has offered to acquire Cox Communications, a $34.5 billion merger that would combine two of the top three cable companies in the U.S. Cox is the third largest cable television company in the country, with more than 6.5 million digital cable, internet, telephone, and home security customers. […]

Posted inArts & Culture, Music & Entertainment

Reach thousands of Newporters: Promote your event on What’sUpNewp!

Looking to attract more people to your upcoming local gathering? Submit it to What’sUpNewp’s event calendar and connect with locals searching for things to do in our community. Thousands of Newport residents turn to our calendar when planning their activities. What’sUpNewp offers options to fit your promotional needs. Free basic listings help spread the word […]

Posted inCity & Government

Newport swears in new K9 Officer Bo

Newport’s newest four-legged officer, a 10-week-old chocolate Labrador named Bo, has joined the city’s community policing unit. Bo and his handler, Officer Nick St. Lawrence, were sworn in at Newport City Hall by Mayor Charlie Holder on Wednesday (May 14), with about 50 community members there to witness the pup’s big moment. This young K9 […]

Posted inCity & Government

Newport City Council takes aim at non-owner occupied short-term rentals

The Newport City Council voted at their Regular Council Meeting on Wednesday (May 14) to request ordinance changes that would prohibit all new non-owner-occupied short-term rentals in the city. The resolution, which passed with a 4-3 vote, directs the city administration and solicitors to present a plan, including ordinance changes and administrative policies, by the […]

Posted inCity & Government, News

Tax Compliance Days comes to Newport next week

Tax issues can sometimes become overwhelming for businesses and individuals, which is why the state Division of Taxation is holding tax compliance days for businesses in Newport and Narragansett over the next few days. Neena Savage, Rhode Island’s tax administrator, said these are individual sessions meant to help taxpayers become compliant. The tax compliance events, […]

Posted inJobs

Movies and TV shows casting in Rhode Island

The glitz and glam of Hollywood captures the attention of Americans starting from an early age. Beyond celebrities’ Instagram Stories and red carpet poses, there are actors out there paying their dues and honing their craft in pursuit of a sustainable career or a fulfilling sideline. Submitting to casting calls is a big part of […]

Posted inInstagram, Sports

Veronica Bruno: The elegant, stunning transformation of ITHF’s museum

On Wednesday, May 14, the International Tennis Hall of Fame (ITHF) has officially reopened its museum after a multimillion-dollar renovation, funded by a portion of the $12M Tennis Forever Capital Campaign. These were the first renovations to the ITHF Museum since 2015, unveiling a modernized tribute to the sport’s most iconic athletes and historic moments. […]

Posted inCity & Government

Jurors deliberate fate of high school basketball coach who conducted naked fat tests

By KIMBERLEE KRUESI Associated Press WAKEFIELD, R.I. (AP) — Jurors began deliberating Tuesday in the child molestation trial of a former Rhode Island high school basketball coach who asked hundreds of male student-athletes to take off their underwear so he could check their body fat. Defense attorneys contend Aaron Thomas conducted the tests because he was focused […]

Posted inNews, People & Profiles

Newport students commit to high-demand careers at ‘Signing Day’ event

Newport Area Career and Technical Center recently celebrated 22 graduating seniors at its annual National Signing Day event. The ceremony, held with SkillsUSA, recognized students committing to careers in high-demand fields like construction, culinary arts, engineering, cosmetology, and IT. Students signed letters of intent for their next steps, including jobs, apprenticeships, technical training, military service, […]

Posted inCity & Government, Opinion

Letter to the Editor: Comments by Middletown Town Council Member Mrs. VonVillas overlook crucial concerns 

Mrs. VonVillas’s comments at the April 28th Affordable Housing presentation came across as dismissive, implying that residents’ concerns were driven by a possible indifference to others, based on an assumption made that those already living in the Berkeley-Peckham and Oliphant Road neighborhoods must be more fortunate. This approach likely alienated many. With such enormous demand […]

Posted inObituaries

Obituary: Richard Kissell

With sadness and gratitude, we share the passing of Richard Kissell on May 11, 2025, at age 82. Born February 20, 1943, in Bayonne, New Jersey, Richard was a man who led with laughter and kindness. He loved deeply and expressed it in quiet, joyful ways-his face lit up whenever he saw his devoted wife, […]

Posted inCity & Government

Newport County teens recognized as Rhode Island’s future leaders

Three Newport County students were among those honored at the Young Leader Awards ceremony at the Rhode Island State House on May 9, 2025. General Treasurer James A. Diossa hosted the event, recognizing outstanding high school juniors’ academic success, community involvement, and entrepreneurial spirit. The local winners include Kira Pearson from Rogers High School in […]

Posted inCity & Government

DEM ramping up patrols and education during National Safe Boating Week

Environmental Police Officers from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) are teaming up with boating safety advocates across the U.S. and Canada to promote safe, responsible boating and encourage life jacket use during National Safe Boating Week, taking place May 17-23. Throughout the week, DEM’s Division of Law Enforcement (DLE) will increase water patrols, conduct additional […]

Posted inCity & Government

Senator Euer introduces bill to protect ratepayers from rising costs related to utility company spending

Senator Dawn Euer has introduced legislation to limit which public utility company costs are born by ratepayers and to cap increases to their capital spending plans. “This bill sets down in law a list of costs to utilities that should not be passed on to the ratepayers,” said Senator Euer (D-District 13, Newport, Jamestown). “Some of these […]

Posted inCity & Government

As US doubles down on fossil fuels, communities will have to adapt to the consequences − yet climate adaptation funding is on the chopping block

Bethany Bradley, UMass Amherst; Jia Hu, University of Arizona, and Meade Krosby, University of Washington It’s no secret that warming temperatures, wildfires and flash floods are increasingly affecting lives across the United States. With the U.S. government now planning to ramp up fossil fuel use, the risks of these events are likely to become even […]

Posted inSports

Salve Regina Baseball crowned NEWMAC Champions

10th-ranked and top-seeded Salve Regina University baseball swept three games in the 2025 NEWMAC Championships with the final coming against third-seeded MIT, 6-5, as graduate student Tyler Petrosino delivered a walk-off single to left center with the bases loaded to plate Shane Williams, who had opened the bottom of the tenth tripling to center, with the winning run. […]

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