Newport Buzz — Newport, RI Local News, Breaking Stories & Community Coverage

Richard Sardella, Patrick Fitzgerald and Kevin Fitzgerald at Sardella’s Newport

What She’s Having: Sardella’s, the 45-Seat Bistro That Grew Into a Newport Institution

Blurred still image from October 17 locker room incident at Rogers High School in Newport, Rhode Island

Principal Placed on Leave After Locker Room Assault at Rogers High; Investigation Finds Systemic Failures

Sunset over Second Beach highlights Rhode Island, ranked the most romantic vacation destination in the U.S.

Study Names Rhode Island the Most Romantic Vacation Destination in the United States

Exterior of Cappy’s Hillside Cafe on Memorial Boulevard in Newport, Rhode Island

Cappy’s Hillside Cafe Partners With Kitchen Companion to Launch KC at Cappy’s

“Mary E. ‘Betty’ Silvia of Middletown, Rhode Island”

Obituary: Mary E. “Betty” Silvia (1933-2026)

Castle Hill Inn in Newport, Rhode Island

Newport’s Castle Hill Inn Targets March Reopening, Memorial Day Dining Return After Devastating Fire

Gilded Age Orchestra of Newport performing in the Rosecliff ballroom

Gilded Age Orchestra to Celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary at Rosecliff

RI State House

General Assembly Weekly Roundup: Disabled Voters, Veterans, Repealing Slavery, and Legalizing Super Bowl Squares and March Madness Pools

“Snow-covered street in Newport during mandatory parking ban”

City of Newport Issues Mandatory Parking Ban From 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday

Cast of The Real Housewives of Rhode Island from Bravo’s new reality TV series

Bravo Sets Premiere Date for “Real Housewives of Rhode Island”

Firefighters respond to overnight fire at Castle Hill Inn in Newport

Two-Alarm Fire Damages Newport’s Castle Hill Inn; Guests Evacuated, No Injuries Reported

Authorities allege stolen identities were used to obtain SNAP benefits in Mass. and R.I.

Four Charged in $1 Million SNAP & Pandemic Aid Fraud Spanning Rhode Island and Massachusetts

Sailboats competing in the Ida Lewis Distance Race off Fort Adams in Newport, Rhode Island

Ida Lewis Distance Race Returns to Newport August 12th for 24-Hour Offshore Challenge

Hayley Williams & Friends to Perform at Newport Folk Festival 2026

Paramore’s Hayley Williams & Friends to Perform at 2026 Newport Folk Festival

Jerry Kirby honored at the MLK Community Center annual meeting in Newport, Rhode Island

Buzzing Around Newport: MLK Center Honors Jerry Kirby as a Keeper of the Dream

Portrait of Janet M. Watkinson, longtime Newport nurse, educator and Trinity Church volunteer

Obituary: Janet M. Watkinson (1946-2026)

Newport Folk Fest 2026 Tickets

2026 Newport Folk Festival Sells Out in Under One Second — Again

The Washington Bridge over the Providence River as Rhode Island transportation leadership changes amid ongoing reconstruction work.

Road to Nowhere: Rhode Island DOT Boss Peter Alviti Finally Out

Nathaniel David Anderson of Newport, Rhode Island, remembered for his humor, love of family, cooking, and beach adventures.

Obituary: Nathaniel David Anderson (1957-2026)

Eugene R. Bob Pattison Jr.

Obituary: Eugene R. “Bob” Pattison Jr. (1976-2026)

Rhode Island House Speaker Joe Shekarchi announcing he will not run for governor

R.I. House Speaker Shekarchi Opts Out of Governor’s Race

Rosecliff mansion in Newport, Rhode Island, host site for an America 250 preservation panel discussion.

Panel at Rosecliff to Explore Rhode Island’s Role in America’s 250th Anniversary

Elizabeth “Betty” Whisler of Newport, Rhode Island, smiling, longtime teacher, Navy wife, artist and golfer

Obituary: Elizabeth L. “Betty” Whisler (1945-2026)

Parked cars buried in snow in Newport neighborhood during parking ban

Newport Orders Parking Bans in Fifth Ward, Yachting Village, Kerry Hill and The Point Ahead of More Snow

Front exterior of luxury home at 14 Kay Boulevard in Middletown RI

Discover 14 Kay Boulevard: A Turnkey Coastal Compound Worth Experiencing in Person

Historic cottage at 88 Washington Street in Newport RI

Only in Newport: Cottage Addition Triggers Waterfront Fight on The Point

Kenneth K. Libby, Air Force veteran and former Newport, Rhode Island resident

Obituary: Kenneth K. Libby (1942-2026)

Washington Bridge Providence

Rhode Island Lawmakers Eye RIPTA Cash Boost, Put RIDOT Spending Under the Microscope

Marilla (Whitty) Cervasio of Newport, Rhode Island and Orlando, Florida

Obituary: Marilla Whitty Cervasio (1959-2026)

Rhode Island lottery ticket and cash representing a $32,000 Wild Money jackpot win

Newport Man Claims $32,000 Lottery Prize Just Days Before Ticket Expired

Patriots quarterback Drake Maye in snow game vs Broncos during 10–7 AFC Championship victory.

Patriots Beat Broncos 10–7 in Snowy AFC Championship, Advance to Super Bowl LX

Rhode Island State House exterior on a clear day

Rhode Island Lawmakers Advance Bills on Campus Safety, Maternal Health, and Taxes

Portrait of Donna Rose of Newport, Rhode Island, poet and devoted mother, remembered for her love of animals and the written word.

Obituary: Donna Rose (1945-2026)

Band performing during Newport Folk Festival at Fort Adams during a summer performance

Newport Folk Festival 2026 Tickets Go on Sale Feb. 4 — Expect Them to Sell Out In Seconds

Exterior of just listed coastal home at 8 Lookout Lane in Portsmouth RI

Open House: Modern Coastal Home Hits the Market in Portsmouth’s Aquidneck Village

Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance announce they are expecting their fourth child, a baby boy, due in July.

Vice President JD Vance and Usha Vance Announce They’re Expecting a Baby Boy

Map showing best and worst states to start a business in 2026, with Florida ranked first and Rhode Island ranked last

Florida Ranks #1 for Starting a Business in 2026 as Rhode Island Finishes Last

Martin Luther King Jr. speaking at the 1963 March on Washington, delivering his “I Have a Dream” speech

Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: A Legacy of Justice and Equality

RI State House

From the Budget to Minimum Wage to ICE Criticism: Key Takeaways From This Week at the R.I. General Assembly

Kayak Dinghy Space Newport RI

Newport Residents Can Apply for Dinghy and Kayak Rack Lottery Starting Feb. 1

Mount Hope Bridge undergoing dehumidification system installation

Lane Closures Ahead as Mount Hope Bridge Gets Dehumidification System

From left to right: Chief Thomas F. Oates III, Vanessa Javery, Lieutenant David Galligan, Chief Mark Vieria, and David DeCesare

Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association Names 2025 Scholarship Recipients

Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee delivers State of the State address focused on affordability

McKee Unveils ‘Affordability for All’ Agenda in State of the State Address

Linda McMahon touring Rhode Island history classroom during History Rocks initiative

U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon Visits Exeter-West Greenwich Schools to Highlight History, Workforce Education