New
in Newport
Friday, April 24th, 2026
Good morning, Newport. Here's your local news at a glance for Friday, the 24th of April.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ Newport teen Grace Muenter, a junior at Roger's High School, is running a home diaper bank in her unused closet that she started in fall 2024 to help local moms. The project has donated over 1,000 diapers on Aquidneck Island and accepts requests via text. WJAR NBC 10
- ➤ Aquidneck Park now blooms with thousands of tulips as 10,000 bulbs planted last November are set to brighten spring and summer winds. The public services team added new walking paths and elephant sculptures behind the library, and a proposed city budget will bring playground improvements. Newport This Week
- ➤ Emerson DuVally Bessinger, 20, of Jamestown, died unexpectedly on April 12 and his celebration of life will be held tomorrow at 10 a.m. at St. Columba’s The Berkeley Memorial Chapel in Middletown (with a reception at Beech Restaurant in Jamestown). Newport This Week
- ➤ The League of Women Voters Newport County is accepting nominations for the Joan C. Arnold Award to honor the late activist by recognizing work that has improved life in Newport County. Nominations will close on May 15. Newport This Week
ACCIDENTS NEWS
- ➤ Firefighters responded after 11:00 p.m. Wednesday night to Watson Farm in Jamestown when a fire damaged a historic barn, leaving the full extent of the 265-acre property unclear. WJAR NBC 10
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Artists are invited to join the Newport 250 celebration by painting fire hydrants as colonial era figures — the project partners with the Edward King Senior Center and Newport Historical Society to add QR codes telling each figure’s story; contact Penny Fitch at 401-808-4739 to join. Newport This Week
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ Graduation season in Rhode Island features a diverse lineup of speakers from Providence College to Rhode Island School of Design. Notable names include Matthew Slater (football star) at Providence College and Ashley Judd (actor) at New England Institute of Technology, with ceremonies continuing through May 17. The Newport Daily News
- ➤ The Newport School Committee reversed its earlier plan and voted 5-2 on April 15 to keep fifth-grade students at Thompson Middle School for the 2026-27 year, after a 4-3 vote in January. School leaders cited staffing shortages, transportation issues, and disproportionate enrollments (challenges) as reasons for the decision. Newport This Week
- ➤ Forum Lodge #391 invites Aquidneck Island seniors of Italian descent with a B average to apply for three $1,000 Anna M. Ripa Scholarships for June graduates entering college in fall. Applicants must submit an essay on their heritage and return applications by May 1 to Diane McCaffrey in Portsmouth. Newport This Week
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ Offshore wind turbines off our coast sent clean electricity yesterday as Revolution Wind nears 90% completion and Sunrise Wind is half built; the projects will soon power nearly 1 million homes in our region (including views from Block Island). What's Up Newp
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ Sen. Dawn Euer introduced legislation (bill 2026-S 2380) that requires state review before any closure or service reduction occurs at a local birthing center, responding to community concerns after cut threats. A companion measure by Rep. Lauren H. Carson joins the effort to protect the Noreen Stonor Drexel Birthing Center. What's Up Newp
HEALTH NEWS
- ➤ A Providence County resident infected with measles took JetBlue flight 470 from Fort Lauderdale and passed through Logan Airport’s Terminal C late on April 13 into April 14 — travelers there may have been exposed. He visited local sites on April 15 and is now recovering at home. The Newport Daily News
- ➤ Salve Regina University launched a nursing employment pathway program in 2025 that helps students reduce education costs by offering employer-sponsored loan repayment in return for a three-year work commitment at local hospitals (Southcoast Health and Women Infants Hospital); the program has already provided more than $240,000 to six scholars. Newport This Week
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Arbor Day Festival and Bristol Community Day
10 AM – 4 PM — Blithewold Manor, Gardens & Arboretum — Free entry — Celebrate the 100th anniversary of the arboretum with family-friendly nature crafts and scavenger hunts.
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The British Invasion Years Live Tribute
7-10 p.m. — The JPT Film & Event Center — Ticket info not provided — Experience a lively tribute to the 1960s musical revolution featuring classic hits from The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.
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Northern Italy to Tuscany Wine Dinner
6:30 p.m. – 12:30 a.m. — The Coast Guard House Restaurant — $— Explore the exquisite food and wine from Northern Italy and Tuscany.
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A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie Concert
8-9:30 p.m. — Ryan Center — Last-minute tickets available — Catch A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie live in Kingston, RI.
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Duane Betts and Palmetto Motel Concert
7-10 p.m. — The Greenwich Odeum — Tickets available — Experience the Southern rock evolution led by Duane Betts, the son of legendary guitarist Dickey Betts.
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Boss Tenors Quintet Performance
6-9 p.m. — Pump House Music Works — Ticketed event — Experience the electric homage to jazz legends Sonny Stitt and Gene Ammons with Dan Moretti and Greg Abate.
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Wooden Spoon Carving Workshop
9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. — Blithewold Manor, Gardens & Arboretum — Cost not specified — Craft your own wooden spoon with expert guidance from Steve Emma using native hardwoods.
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Comedy Night featuring Tyler Hittner
8-10 p.m. — Galactic Theatre — Tickets required — Enjoy a night of comedy with Tyler Hittner at a highly-rated venue.
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Paul Gilbert & Greg Koch Concert
4-6 PM — The Greenwich Odeum — Ticket prices vary — Experience guitar mastery and celebrate the release of Paul Gilbert's new album WROC.
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Dueling Pianos Friday - Early Show
7:30 p.m. — Dueling Pianos Bar at Top Of Pelham — Check with the venue for ticket prices — Experience a night of audience-requested tunes and beautiful harbor views with live dueling pianos.
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