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Rhode Island Environmental Police Officer Anthony Sullivan patrolling Rhode Island waters. May 17-23 is National Safe Boating Week.

DEM ramping up water patrols and education

Whether you’re on the high seas or just cruising the bay, navigate the water safely and wear your life jacket. Environmental police officers from the R.I. Department of Environmental … more

5/12/25

Portsmouth council debates line items while fine-tuning $77M budget

PORTSMOUTH — The Town Council is expected to provisionally approve a total municipal budget for fiscal year 2026 of just under $77 million at its meeting Monday night, May 12. more

By Jim McGaw | 5/7/25

Confined to bed, driven to give back to children battling illnesses

It typically takes about two decades from birth to reach the milestone of college graduation — a major turning point in most people’s lives. Many are in their lower to mid-twenties … more

By Michelle Mercure | 5/7/25

Portsmouth High's Oliver Melanson catches a pass during Friday’s game against East Greenwich.

Portsmouth edges E. Greenwich in OT, improves record to 8-1

PORTSMOUTH — Sophomore Rafferty Dionne lifted the Portsmouth High School boys’ varsity lacrosse team to a big overtime win over top-ranked East Greenwich in Division II play last … more

5/6/25

Portsmouth Water and Fire District raises rates

PORTSMOUTH — Customers of the Portsmouth Water and Fire District can expect to pay more for their water in the new fiscal year, which began May 1. The District has announced a 1.61-percent … more

5/6/25

A car uses the narrow access road as it leaves the peninsula at Gull Cove. The R.I. Department of Environmental Management is holding a public information session regarding plans for the fishing access area at the cove on May 20.

New briefs: Gull Gove, tree recognition, ferry terminal

PORTSMOUTH — Here are a few odds and ends around town: DEM to host meeting on Gulf Cove fishing The R.I. Department of Environmental Management (DEM) has scheduled a public … more

5/6/25

Angela McPherson looks on as Allyssa Boutin tosses a bag during a round of cornhole at Sunday’s fund-raiser for the Dare to Dream Ranch at the VFW Post 5390 in Common Fence Point.

In Portsmouth, a day of fun to help veterans

PORTSMOUTH — Veterans struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were the beneficiaries of a fund-raiser held Sunday at the VFW Post 5390 in Common Fence Point. All proceeds … more

5/5/25

Staff Sgt. Christopher Potts deployed to Iraq in March 2004 and was tragically killed during combat operations in Taji on Oct. 3, 2004, which was his birthday.

Assembly OKs bill to rename the Sakonnet River Bridge

PORTSMOUTH/TIVERTON — It’s a mouthful, but if Gov. Daniel McKee approves, the Sakonnet River Bridge will have a new name: The Staff Sergeant Christopher Potts Sakonnet River Bridge. … more

5/5/25

Domestic assaults, weapons violations top Portsmouth Police report

PORTSMOUTH — Here are some recent arrests made by the Portsmouth Police Department: Wednesday, April 30 Felix Josue Ruiz Ocasio, 28, of 2368 East Main Road, Apt. H4, was charged with … more

5/5/25

May Day rally organizer Mark Johnson (left) and Grace Dotson (center) join others in protesting Trump administration policies at the corner of East Main Road and Turnpike Avenue Thursday afternoon. “I’m worried that the country is just not what it used to be,” Johnson said.

A mayday distress signal — sounded on May Day

PORTSMOUTH — Flashing signs reading “Trumpers, Are You Feeling it Yet?,” “Time to Take Our Country Back,” “Gov’t for the People,” and “Engaged … more

By Jim McGaw | 5/2/25

“Celeste” by Chris Plaisted has been shown for the last year near the East Bay Bike Path in town at the corner of Child Street and Railroad Avenue as part of the Warren Arts and Cultural Commission's Rotating Sculpture Program.

Warren Arts and Culture Commission issues artists call

The Warren Arts and Cultural Commission (WACC) is issuing its next call for a second sculpture to be showcased along the East Bay Bike Path in town at the corner of Child Street and Railroad Avenue. … more

5/1/25

Where your tax dollars go: Table highlights the town’s expenditure priorities by magnitude under the $77.2 million budget proposed for fiscal year 2026. (Source: Town Administrator Richard Rainer, Jr.’s proposed budget.)

Proposed Portsmouth budget calls for 1.49% hike in tax rate

PORTSMOUTH — A homeowner with property assessed at $500,000 would pay an additional $99 in property taxes next year should Town Administrator Richard Rainer Jr’s proposed municipal … more

By Jim McGaw | 4/30/25

Valarie Lawson, a lifelong Townie and member of the Senate since 2018, was elected by a majority of her Senate peers to succeed the late Dominick Ruggerio to become the next President of the Rhode Island Senate on Tuesday, April 29.

East Providence's Valarie Lawson elected President of Rhode Island Senate

Lifelong Townie and Rhode Island Senator since 2018, Val Lawson has completed her ascendance to one of the state's most powerful political positions. more

By Ethan Hartley | 4/29/25

Nathan Mathias (right) applies a tourniquet to Jason Helger of Tiverton during a “Stop the Bleed” training session that Mathias organized last week at the CFP Arts, Wellness, and Community Center in Common Fence Point.

In Portsmouth: ‘Don’t be a bystander — be a by-doer’

PORTSMOUTH — You’re in your home and a family member suddenly slips in the shower, sending her crashing through the glass door. There’s blood everywhere and a deep gash on her leg. … more

By Jim McGaw | 4/29/25

Portsmouth High lacrosse players Margaux Boneu (left) and Addison Lima react with their teammates after Margaux was awarded a scholarship in honor of her late mother, Patricia Grace Carellas, during a match against Prout on Friday. Carellas passed away in December of breast cancer and the lacrosse team raised awareness and funds for breast cancer research during the game.

Portsmouth High lacrosse team raises money for Dana Farber

PORTSMOUTH — They didn’t win their game against Prout at home last Friday, but members of the Portsmouth High girls’ lacrosse team accomplished something more important: Raising … more

4/28/25

Portsmouth Police deal with B&E, disorderly conduct, DUIs, trespassing

PORTSMOUTH — Here are some recent arrests made by the Portsmouth Police Department: Monday, April 14 Katherine Brown, 58, of 103 Canton Ave., was charged with driving under the … more

4/28/25

Chris Burns (facing camera) attempts to slow down powerful Maine arm-wrestler Kurt Howgate during their match, with referee Bill Caldwell looking on. Howgate and Burns took first and second place, respectively, in both the open left-hand heavyweight/super division, and the open right-hand super heavyweight division.

Flexing some muscle for veterans’ hall in Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH — Some strong-armed men and women turned out to the VFW Post 5390 hall in Common Fence Point recently. more

4/25/25

Boat ends up high and dry on Metacom

A Barrington boater's season got off to a rough start when an Albin fishing boat fell from its trailer following an accident near the Bristol and Warren line about 3 p.m. Wednesday. The Albin … more

4/23/25

Booking photo of Nicholas Antoniou of Cranston.

Man charged with possessing child porn, circulating indecent material

PORTSMOUTH — A 36-year-old Cranston man was arrested last week following an investigation by the Portsmouth Police Detective Division into a report of electronically disseminating indecent … more

4/23/25

Sen. Jack Reed, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, and Rep. Gabe Amo (from left) listen to a constituent’s question during a congressional town hall sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Newport County at Portsmouth Middle School Monday night.

A night to vent about the Trump administration

PORTSMOUTH — The sound reverberating through the Portsmouth Middle School auditorium on Monday night was a powerful and resounding rebuke of the direction President Donald Trump intends to lead … more

By Jim McGaw | 4/22/25

Little Compton resident Jennifer McDowell has HSP, a rare genetic wasting disorder that will likely take her life.

Dying with dignity in Little Compton

The hardest part for Jennifer Hopkins McDowell isn’t the isolation that will consume her — not the physical decline, not the cognitive deterioration and not the stripping away … more

By Ted Hayes | 4/22/25

The overgrown “3-S property” on the south side of Sandy Point Avenue was purchased by the town more than 20 years ago for recreational purposes, but there’s since been no efforts to establish any athletic fields there.

Portsmouth gets ‘ball rolling’ on sports fields at ‘3S’ property

PORTSMOUTH — The property was first purchased by the town in 2004 and was pitched as an ideal spot for two sports fields when voters approved a recreational bond in 2007. Now 18 years have … more

By Jim McGaw | 4/21/25

An extreme high tide in October 2024 completely flooded an access road at Gull Cove, off Route 24.

Coastal photos needed of Saturday’s king tide

Get your cameras ready! Extreme high tides will return to Rhode Island coastlines on Saturday, April 26, at 7:33 p.m. The University of Rhode Island is asking Rhode Islanders to join … more

4/21/25

Professor Bernardo Motta sits with his students, engaging in one-on-one conversations about environmental issues.

The call of the wild in the East Bay — calls for environmental advocacy

“Waaah” is a sound not sought by most, but there are some who seek it nightly. They head outside, after sunset, specifically listening for a low pitched “Waaah” sound. It is … more

By Michelle Mercure | 4/17/25

Former NUWC employee charged with making threats

PROVIDENCE — A former employee of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Middletown appeared in U.S. District Court in Providence on Tuesday, April 15, charged with transmitting a threat in … more

4/16/25