Good morning, Newport.

The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center will host a free karaoke competition on Tuesday, Aug.

25 from 5 to 7 p.m. at 20 Dr. Marcus Wheatland Blvd. Twenty spots are available, so call 401-846-4828 ext. 124 or email [email protected] to register (snacks will be provided for spectators).

More than 70 maritime and defense companies will demonstrate advanced technology on Thursday, Aug.

27 at Sail Newport. The day includes in-water testing from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., shoreside demonstrations from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and award presentations starting at 4 p.m.

After 43 years of local shows, the Newport Playhouse & Cabaret Restaurant will close on Dec.

31. President Jonathan Perry, who has run the venue since it opened in 1983, said he plans to focus on family and end the business on his own terms.

Jamestown Community Theatre will hold auditions for Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along on Thursday, Sept.

3 at the Jamestown Recreation Center, opening its 36th season. Auditions are by appointment + open to adults, teens, and children in grade 5 and up.

Radio duo Paul and Al hosted a retirement party at Track 15 on Friday, Aug.

21. They celebrated with fans and featured an AC/DC tribute band + Dirty Deeds as they marked the end of their long run at 94 HJY.

This summer, two Salve Regina University rising seniors interned with Newport Festivals Foundation, working behind the scenes at the folk and jazz festivals (gaining hands-on experience with stage production, artist support and music education).

Their work underscored diverse career paths in music connecting classroom learning and live events.

Rhode Island Energy will raise gas and electric distribution rates following a vote by the state Public Utilities Commission (PUC) on Aug.

21 to cover rising costs while offering quicker bill credits to buffer price hikes. A new discount program for low-income customers will start this winter to support state climate policy.

Mark Anderson of Save Perrotti Park questions the City’s plan to demolish the harbormaster building for a larger municipal facility when the 1973 deed clearly designates the park for public use – he urges the City to explain the change before spending public funds.

Brown University Health is facing financial challenges as it seeks to cover a $4.9 million gap needed to keep Newport Hospital's award-winning birthing center open amid rising insurance denials and tighter Medicaid funding.

The hospital is planning fundraising with state help while local advocates ask for clearer communication on its future.

Newport homeowners are urged to update security with smart locks, video doorbells and emergency kits — measures that help prepare homes for fall storms and holiday travel.

Newport Polo will host the 27th USA-Jamaica polo match today at 5 p.m. at BD Field during its 150th anniversary season, and Visit Jamaica is offering a four-day, three-night stay giveaway for two at a local beachfront resort.