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    Portrait of former Providence RI Mayor Buddy Cianci

    Remembering Buddy Cianci 10 Years After His Death: Providence’s Most Unforgettable Mayor

    University of Rhode Island campus where a legislative commission recommended creating a public medical school to address Rhode Island’s primary care physician shortage.

    Legislative Commission Recommends New Medical School at URI to Tackle Rhode Island Doctor Shortage

    Washington Bridge Providence

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

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    University of Rhode Island campus where a legislative commission recommended creating a public medical school to address Rhode Island’s primary care physician shortage.

    Legislative Commission Recommends New Medical School at URI to Tackle Rhode Island Doctor Shortage

    Spring Street in Newport RI covered in snow

    Newport Parking Ban on Thames and Spring Streets Runs Tuesday Night into Wednesday Morning

    Architectural rendering of new student residence halls planned for the University of Rhode Island Kingston Campus housing expansion.

    URI to Break Ground on Major Student Housing Expansion at Kingston Campus

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    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

    President Donald Trump signs executive order targeting Wall Street investment in single-family homes

    Trump Signs Executive Order to Stop Wall Street from Buying Single-Family Homes

    511 Ocean Avenue Newport RI

    Ocean Drive Estate Offers Ultimate Newport Summer Rental for $200,000 a Month

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

    Obituary: Kenneth K. Libby (1942-2026)

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

    Obituary: Marilla Whitty Cervasio (1959-2026)

    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)

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

    Obituary: Marilla Whitty Cervasio (1959-2026)

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

    Obituary: Kenneth K. Libby (1942-2026)

    Jessica Jarrett Answer Zola

    Jessica and Jarrett tell their sides of the Zola story

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Newport City Hall as City Council considers a buyer-paid 5% real estate transfer tax

Here We Go Again: Newport’s City Manager Takes Aim at Homebuyers With a New 5% Tax

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

Providence City Hall as City Council considers rent control proposal

Providence City Council’s Rent-Control Plan Sparks Backlash as Mayor Smiley Signals Veto

President Donald Trump signs executive order targeting Wall Street investment in single-family homes

Trump Signs Executive Order to Stop Wall Street from Buying Single-Family Homes

Providence Mayor Brett Smiley signs executive order restricting ICE use of city property without a judicial warrant at City Hall.

Providence Mayor Smiley Designates City Property Off-Limits for ICE Enforcement

State Rep. Joseph Solomon announces his candidacy for Rhode Island attorney general in 2026.

State Rep. Joseph Solomon Announces Run for Rhode Island Attorney General

Girl Scout Troop 602 members receive firearm safety instruction at Newport Rifle Club in Middletown Rhode Island

Newport Rifle Club Hosts Firearm Safety Class for Local Girl Scouts

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

Aquidneck Island Police and Fire Hockey Club hosts benefit game for Mary Jane Milici at St. George’s Ice Rink

Aquidneck Island Police & Fire to Host Benefit Hockey Game for MJ Milici, Portsmouth Woman Battling Rare Disease

Aerial view of Seaview Terrace, a Gilded Age mansion in Newport RI

Newport’s Seaview Terrace Sells for $16M, Highest Sale Since 2021

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A legislative commission is recommending Rhode Isl A legislative commission is recommending Rhode Island take a major step toward solving the state’s worsening primary care shortage: create a public medical school at the University of Rhode Island. After more than a year of study, the commission recommended establishing an MD-granting school at URI as part of a broader strategy to build a long-term pipeline of doctors trained and retained in Rhode Island. Commission leaders said pairing a medical school with expanded in-state residencies, loan forgiveness, scholarships tied to service in Rhode Island and higher primary care reimbursement rates could make it easier for young physicians to enter primary care — and stay. “Rhode Island is deep in a primary care crisis,” said Sen. Pamela J. Lauria, the commission’s co-chair. She noted Rhode Island is among the last states without a public medical school, limiting access for local students and contributing to physician shortages. A feasibility study by consulting firm Tripp Umbach found a URI medical school is realistic and a strong investment. The proposal calls for a $20 million initial state investment and about $150 million in private fundraising, with the first class enrolling in 2029. The consultant projected the school would be financially stable by its third year and, once fully operational, generate $196 million in annual economic activity, support about 1,334 jobs and bring in $4.5 million a year in state and local tax revenue. URI President Marc Parlange, also a commission co-chair, called the school a “natural and strategic extension” of URI’s research and public health work, saying it would strengthen both health care and the economy. The report says a state medical school would help reduce student debt that often pushes graduates toward higher-paying specialties, while boosting diversity in the physician workforce by recruiting locally. Still, commissioners said a school alone will not fix the crisis. They also recommended more residency slots, reimbursement reforms and the creation of a new Primary Care Commission to coordinate retention efforts. #uri #rhodeisland #newportbuzz
Rhode Island transit funding and highway spending Rhode Island transit funding and highway spending are headed for a showdown at the State House. Sen. Samuel D. Zurier is pushing a pair of bills he says would stabilize RIPTA’s shaky finances — and put RIDOT under the microscope. Zurier (D-Dist. 3, Providence) wants to double the share of state Highway Maintenance Account money going to the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority, bumping it from 10% to 20% starting July 1, 2026. That shift would cut the Rhode Island Department of Transportation’s slice from 90% to 80%. “Last summer’s efficiency study showed that RIPTA operates at least as efficiently as its peer organizations,” Zurier said, noting lawmakers left the transit agency with a nearly $10 million gap that triggered service cuts. He argues more funding and a closer look at RIDOT’s books could reveal savings to cover the difference. Rep. Terri Cortvriend (D-Dist. 72, Portsmouth, Middletown) is set to introduce a House companion. Transit advocates are cheering the move. Providence Streets Coalition board president Liza Burkin said boosting RIPTA’s share to 20% — in line with the federal Highway Trust Fund standard — would help undo what she called generations of underfunding and support economic, environmental and education goals. A recent coalition report said service cuts tied to the budget shortfall led to lost riders and stranded passengers. Zurier’s second bill orders the Department of Administration to commission an independent efficiency and performance audit of RIDOT. He points to a 2025 Reason Foundation report ranking Rhode Island 30th in cost efficiency per highway lane-mile for capital and bridge work — behind the rest of New England — and to a Nov. 13, 2025 oversight hearing where RIDOT Director Peter Alviti Jr. couldn’t say if contractors tied to the Washington Bridge failure were still working for the state. “With a billion dollars a year in construction activities,” Zurier said, “we should apply the same standards of fiscal prudence to RIDOT that we apply to RIPTA.” #rhodeisland #newportbuzz
Snow crews are rolling — and parked cars are in th Snow crews are rolling — and parked cars are in the way. City officials have issued an emergency overnight parking ban for two of Newport’s busiest streets as snow removal efforts ramp up following the winter storm. The ban hits Thames Street and Spring Street starting 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, and runs through 8 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28. This isn’t citywide — but it’s targeted where it matters most. Crews need a clear path to clear snow from two major arteries that see constant traffic. Where you CAN’T park: * Thames Street: Poplar Street to Morton Avenue * Spring Street: Morton Avenue to Bull Street/Broadway Cars still sitting there 30 minutes after the ban begins risk getting towed. Officials say the move is critical to speed up plowing and keep downtown streets safe and passable as cleanup continues. Drivers looking for a spot can use free off-street parking at: * Gateway Center * Mary Street lot * Touro Street lot Meanwhile, daytime snow removal continues citywide as crews work to dig Newport out and restore normal traffic flow. #newportri #newportbuzz
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