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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 terrifying 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

Do deportation efforts show 'a complete disrespect for the Constitution'?

STORY OF THE WEEK: If the sine qua non of President Donald Trump is about pushing boundaries, the apex of that tendency is coming front and center. The showdown over Kilmar Abrego Garcia in … more

By Ian Donnis | 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

Capt. Brandon Hagopian (right) of B-Hagz Bait and Adventures Charters (bhagzbaits@gmail.com), said he went summer flounder fishing last year after dropping off a night squid charter and caught seven double digit fluke.

NOAA budget and staff cuts bad for much more than fishing

Staff, budget, and research reductions outlined for NOAA in a Trump administration would be devastating for US agriculture, shipping, fishing, weather safety and the security of our nation as … more

By Capt. Dave Monti | 4/21/25

When life gives you lemons …

This last week, my closet decided it was time for some spring cleaning. I was taking a shower when I heard the sound of something crashing in my bedroom. Because I had music blaring … more

By Michelle Mercure | 4/18/25

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

Alaina Zhang, a senior at Portsmouth Abbey School, is researching how sugar kelp farms can serve as a sustainable solution to environmental issues.

In Portsmouth: Kelp for the environment

PORTSMOUTH — Alaina Zhang apologized profusely for being late to our interview last week. The Portsmouth Abbey School senior had been chatting online with U.S. Rep. Gabe Amo, and just before … more

By Jim McGaw | 4/16/25

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

‘Stop the Bleed’ training in Portsmouth next week

The R.I. Medical Reserve Corps (RIMRC) will be offering “Stop the Bleed” training to the public from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 23, at the CFP Arts, Wellness, and Community Center, 933 … more

4/15/25

Letter: On the paper's letters policy, and national politics

This paper’s decision, based on some opaque policy, to print letters to the editor on local issues only is their rightful business. This decision may rest on the belief that national … more

4/15/25

Letter: Remember the ladies

To the editor: I am writing regarding the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act which just passed the US House and is headed for the US Senate. I urge you to contact all senators to demand … more

4/15/25

This portrait of Julia Ward Howe was begun by John Elliott in 1910 and completed by William Henry Cotton in 1925. It hangs in the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.

Julia Ward Howe — author of America’s proud ‘Battle Hymm’

On April 12, 1861, South Carolinians opened fire on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor to begin America’s bloody Civil War and put our Union in peril. Several months later, a Rhode Island woman … more

By Patrick T. Conley | 4/15/25

Kiana Wright, 30, (In yellow) visits the aquarium frequently, listening to music while enjoying the tranquility of the sea creatures.

Sandy shores open doors at Save The Bay’s Hamilton Family Aquarium

Sand is a curious substance — soft yet gritty, smooth underfoot but rough to the touch. It’s fun to play with at the beach, yet impossible to fully shake off afterward. Now imagine a sand … more

By Michelle Mercure | 4/15/25

Portsmouth Police deal with DUI, warrant, suspended licenses

PORTSMOUTH — Here are some recent arrests made by the Portsmouth Police Department: Monday, April 7 Trinity M. Abeyllez, 20, of 196 Green Lane, Apt. 1, Middletown, was charged with … more

4/14/25

Since 2018, the Prudence Island Water District’s 328 customers have been under a boil water advisory due to the presence of total coliform in the water system.

$3.8M loan will lead to safe drinking water again on Prudence Island

PRUDENCE ISLAND — It will take a while, but Prudence Island residents can at least look forward to the return of safe drinking water. more

4/14/25

Reaction to global trade war is mostly breaking along partisan lines

1. STORY OF THE WEEK: Decades after supporters lauded the North American Free Trade Agreement as a way to add American jobs, there’s plenty of criticism of NAFTA from both the left and the … more

4/14/25

In Portsmouth High School’s production of the musical “Sister Act,” staged at Tiverton High School from April 3-5, the nuns react to Deloris (Aaliyah Turner) soon after disguising herself in their convent.

Portsmouth High takes ‘Sister Act’ on the road

PORTSMOUTH/TIVERTON — A leaky roof didn’t dampen the spirits of Portsmouth High School thespians. When a leaky roof put the Kate Grana Auditorium at PHS temporarily out of … more

4/11/25

League will start monitoring council, school board meetings

NEWPORT COUNTY — The League of Women Voters Newport County (LWVNC) is launching an initiative to attend and monitor public meetings of the city and town councils and school committees … more

4/11/25

Letter: Federal actions will impact us locally in many ways

I am writing again to express my concern about the damage that DOGE is doing to Social Security. They are now changing policies on what actions can be handled online, which will force thousands of … more

4/11/25

Booking photo of Michael Collins, 56, of Harrisville.

Man charged with soliciting a minor in Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH — A 56-year-old out-of-town man was arrested Monday, April 7, on a charge of indecent solicitation of a minor. At about 6:33 a.m. on Monday, Michael Collins, of … more

4/10/25

State Sen. Linda Ujifusa makes a point, flanked by fellow Democrats Rep. Jason Knight (left) and Rep. Susan Donovan (right), during an East Bay Chamber of Commerce “Legislators Breakfast” last Friday morning.

A shortage of houses, doctors and federal funding

The entire contingent of Bristol County legislators gathered for coffee and current affairs during a forum hosted by the East Bay Chamber of Commerce last Friday morning, April 4. They talked about … more

By Scott Pickering | 4/10/25

Lette: Citizens for Peace continues to speak out for peace and justice

Twenty-two years ago, on March 2, 2003, East Bay Citizens for Peace was born out of a sense of great urgency to stop the U.S. government from invading Iraq, and to defend our civil liberties … more

4/9/25

Home Improvement | Spring 2025

Home Improvement | Spring 2025 more

4/9/25