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Members of the Class of 2024 walk away from Portsmouth High School one last time as they make their way to the athletic field to begin commencement exercises Friday night.

‘Embrace the unexpected with an open heart’

PORTSMOUTH — Olivia Chaves said she values “cohesion, efficiency, and structure” as a classroom English teacher at Portsmouth High School. more

By Jim McGaw | 6/9/24

Rep. Terri Cortvriend, Sen. Linda L. Ujifusa, and Rep. Michelle McGaw, all from Portsmouth, will host an energy efficiency session on Monday, June 10.

Portsmouth lawmakers host fuel efficiency session Monday

PORTSMOUTH — Three state lawmakers from Portsmouth invite local residents to join them and the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources for an upcoming local event to learn about a vast array of … more

6/7/24

Mary Rainey throws a pitch during the Patriots D-2 semifinals game against Westerly at RIC on Thursday. The Bulldogs kept the Patriots outfielders busy, clubbing 11 hits and scoring 11 runs off Rainey, who walked just 3 batters.

Westerly drubs Patriots' softball team, 11-1 in semis

Westerly drubbed the Portsmouth softball team 11-1 in 5 innings, during the Division 2 semifinals at Rhode Island College on Thursday night. The Bulldogs clubbed 11 hits and scored 11 runs off … more

Photos and story by Richard W. Dionne, Jr. | 6/7/24

Legislation requiring safe firearms storage passes full General Assembly

PROVIDENCE — With final votes in the Senate, Thursday night, June 6, the General Assembly has approved legislation sponsored by Rep. Justine Caldwell and Sen. Pamela J. Lauria to require safe … more

6/7/24

Assembly passes e-bike regulations – Yes to some, no to others

PROVIDENCE — The General Assembly voted on Thursday, June 6, to approve legislation from East Bay Rep. Jennifer Boylan and Sen. Dawn Euer to expand the legal use of electric bicycles in Rhode … more

6/7/24

RIPTA will not move forward with service reductions

PROVIDENCE — The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority, RIPTA, will not move forward with previously proposed service reductions, which were scheduled to go into effect on Saturday, June 15, as … more

6/6/24

Portsmouth High’s Sean Wilkey spikes the ball through the arms of a Tolman defender during Tuesday night’s Division III semifinal matchup. The Patriots lost, 3-1.

Portsmouth eliminated in D-3 boys’ volleyball semis

PORTSMOUTH — In just its second season of competitive play, the Portsmouth High School boys’ volleyball team made it all the way to the Division III semifinals. more

6/6/24

Steven Peterson (center) as he appeared in Newport Superior Court on Tuesday. The former executive director of Be Great for Nate was found not guilty of a charge of indecent solicitation of a minor on Wednesday.

Peterson found not guilty of indecent solicitation of a minor

PORTSMOUTH — A jury of seven women and five men found former Be Great for Nate (BG4N) Executive Director Steven Peterson not guilty of indecent solicitation of a minor just a few hours after … more

By Jim McGaw | 6/5/24

Defendant Steven Peterson, the former executive director of Be Great for Nate, listens to testimony in Newport Superior Court on Tuesday.

State rests case against former Be Great for Nate director, awaiting verdict

“Stop asking me about my dick.” That’s what a 15-year-old boy attending Portsmouth High School said to his mentor and 26-year-old neighbor, Steven Peterson, during a late-night … more

By Jim McGaw | 6/5/24

Is R.I. healthcare ‘on the precipice of a disaster’?

STORY OF THE WEEK: During a fiery speech last Tuesday in the House of Representatives’ chamber at the Statehouse, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha warned of the growing healthcare … more

By Ian Donnis | 6/4/24

Portsmouth High’s Gyselle Mairs contains a La Salle opponent along the sideline during last week’s semifinal Division I lacrosse matchup.

Portsmouth edged by Rams, 14-13, in semifinal heartbreaker

PORTSMOUTH — It couldn’t have been any closer. The Portsmouth High girls’ lacrosse team battled as hard as they could, but La Salle scored just one more goal to win an epic … more

6/3/24

Portsmouth High’s Aiden Chen won the gold in the high jump during the Rhode Island State Track and Field Championships at Conley Stadium in Providence on Saturday. He was the only competitor to clear 6 feet, 4 inches on his first attempt.

Portsmouth's Chen, Gray champions at R.I. track meet

PORTSMOUTH — The Rhode Island track and field championships at Conley Stadium in Providence Saturday featured some outstanding performances from Portsmouth High School athletes. Aiden … more

6/3/24

Portsmouth High’s Megan Malone connects with the first pitch of the game while battling Ponaganset during the Division II winners’ bracket final on Sunday at Rhode Island College.

Ponaganset cools off red-hot Portsmouth softball team

PORTSMOUTH — The Portsmouth High softball team won seven in a row before entering the Division II state championship tournament. Then they won two more, as the No. 5-seeded Patriots … more

6/3/24

In Melville Elementary School’s recent production of “Beauty and the Beast,” Natalie (center), as Belle, is feted by servants in The Beast’s castle: Ari, Nate, Oonagh, Reese, Harper, and Mae.

Beauty is wooed by ‘The Beast’ at Melville

PORTSMOUTH — The assembly room at Melville Elementary School was filled with life-sized teapots, forks, knives, clocks and more during its recent production of the musical, “Beauty and … more

6/3/24

Martha Arbuthnot and her daughter, Tally, 3 (foreground), and Debbie Chappell and her granddaughter, Margaux Rando, almost 2, enjoy the Sway Fun ride. Chappell’s niece is Kateri Chappell Buerman, who heads up the Four Hearts Foundation which raised funds for the playground.

‘This is a great day for Portsmouth!’

PORTSMOUTH — As she looked over at all the young tykes climbing, sliding, swinging and running from station to station at the new Portsmouth Community Playground Saturday, Kateri Chappell … more

By Jim McGaw | 6/3/24

Letter: If you don’t trust ballot box, be a poll worker

To the editor: The upcoming election is all about “saving democracy,” either from government overreach by Democrats or authoritarian Republicans. I’ve been thinking a lot about … more

6/3/24

Portsmouth High School student Kiera Daly feels the weight of a British musket at Turkey Hill-Heritage Park, where Seth Chiaro of the Battle of R.I. Association (BoRIA) talked about the Battle of Rhode Island — also known as the Battle of Quaker Hill — between the Hessians and American revolutionists in 1778.

Portsmouth: History is right in our backyard

PORTSMOUTH — It’s one thing to open up a dusty U.S. history book to read a rather dry account of Revolutionary War skirmishes from a classroom desk chair. It’s quite another to be … more

By Jim McGaw | 6/3/24

Jeff Sullivan with a monster fluke caught on light tackle with one of his squid rigs.

Follow these pro tips to find the big fluke

As the spring migration of striped bass starts to slow, anglers begin to focus their attention on catching summer flounder (fluke). This year, like the past three years, has gotten off to a slow … more

By Capt. Dave Monti | 6/3/24

On R.I. healthcare: Keep fiddling while Rome is burning

Legend has it that while a fire destroyed the city of Rome, then Emperor Nero played his violin, thus revealing his total lack of understanding of what was happening during a crisis. If Nero headed … more

By Arlene Violet, Esq. | 6/3/24

Letter: Wishing Len and Jhodi sincere wishes going forward

To the editor: I was a Portsmouth resident for 30 years before moving to nearby Swansea in December. I had the privilege of covering politics for The Newport Daily News for 33 years. … more

5/30/24

Portsmouth High’s Charlie Cord connects with a pitch while battling La Salle Academy in the Division I playoffs on Wednesday. The Patriots were eliminated by a score of 4-1.

Portsmouth eliminated from playoffs by La Salle, 4-1

PORTSMOUTH — The Portsmouth High School boys’ varsity baseball team’s season came to an end Wednesday after falling to La Salle Academy on the road by a score of 4-1. The … more

5/30/24

Leonard Katzman’s last meeting as a member of the Portsmouth Town Council was Tuesday night.

Citing wife’s illness, Katzman resigns Town Council seat

PORTSMOUTH — In a brief but emotional address Tuesday night, Leonard Katzman resigned his seat on the Town Council in order to provide “care and support and love” to his wife of … more

By Jim McGaw | 5/28/24

Stephen Farrea as he appeared in his police booking photo.

Portsmouth man charged with possession of child porn

PORTSMOUTH — A 34-year-old local man who was arrested two years ago after posting white nationalist recruiting flyers in East Providence is in trouble again. more

5/28/24

Police booking photo of Heather Marie Joseph.

Police: Portsmouth woman charged with DUI had kids in car

PORTSMOUTH — A 44-year-old Portsmouth woman who was charged with driving under the influence (DUI) on Saturday had children ages 6 and 9 as passengers, according to police. more

5/28/24

A masterful depiction of a wartime heroine

‘The Women’ By Kristin Hannah Kristen Hannah has done it again with “The Women,” which has been #1 on Best-seller lists for weeks. Author of “The … more

By Donna Bruno | 5/28/24