Morning Notes: Newport wants your ideas for Open Space Plan Update
Good Thursday morning, Newport!
Here’s our daily rundown of what’s happening out there today, plus all that you need to know; enjoy!
Weather Forecast
- Today: Scattered showers and thunderstorms before 8 am, then isolated showers. Patchy fog before 7 am. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 62. Southeast wind 6 to 8 mph. The chance of precipitation is 40%—new precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts are possible in thunderstorms.
- Tonight: Isolated showers before 10 pm. Areas of fog. Otherwise, cloudy, with a low around 58. Southeast wind is around 5 mph and becoming calm in the evening. The chance of precipitation is 20%.
Marine Forecast
- Today: ESE wind 5 to 7 kt. Scattered showers and thunderstorms before 8 am, then isolated showers. Patchy fog before 7 am. Seas 1 ft or less.
- Tonight: Variable winds 5 kt or less. Isolated showers before 10 pm. Areas of fog. Seas 1 ft or less.
- The coastal water temperature is 54 degrees.
Sun, Moon & Tide
- Sunrise at 5:25 am. Sunset at 7:57 pm. 14 hours & 32 minutes of sun.
- High tide at 10:17 am & 10:28 p.m. Low tide at 3:51 am & 3:32 pm.
- The lunar phase is a Waning Gibbous.
🚨 You need to know
Newport is asking residents to help shape the future of its parks and green spaces.
A public workshop to update the city’s 2017 Tree, Park, and Open Space Master Plan is set for May 28, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Innovate Newport Conference Hall.
The event aims to gather input from community members, local groups, and stakeholders on what they want to see in Newport’s open areas.
Attendees will be able to share their thoughts and ideas during hands-on activities and group discussions.
The workshop will start with a quick overview of how the 2017 plan has progressed, followed by interactive sessions to identify and prioritize current and future needs.
The Newport Open Space Partnership, a group of five organizations working together since 2015, is leading this effort.
NOSP includes the Aquidneck Island Land Trust, Newport Tree Conservancy, Aquidneck Island Planning Commission, City of Newport’s Department of Parks, Grounds and Forestry, and the Newport Tree and Open Space Commission.
If you’re interested in attending the workshop, you can RSVP by emailing [email protected].
Light snacks will be available at the event.
Here’s what else you need to know
Newport’s newest four-legged officer, a 10-week-old chocolate Labrador named Bo, has joined the city’s community policing unit. Bo and his handler, Officer Nick St. Lawrence, were sworn in at Newport City Hall by Mayor Charlie Holder on Wednesday (May 14), with about 50 community members there to witness the pup’s big moment.
But, it wasn’t all puppies and belly rubs at City Hall last night.
City Council tabled its vote on the proposed biennial budget for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 in a surprise procedural move that halted discussion on the financial plan.
City Council voted (4-3) to request ordinance changes that would prohibit all new non-owner-occupied short-term rentals in the city.
The City Council approved on first reading amendments that would ban cannabis use and vaping in places where tobacco smoking is already not allowed.
📈 Yesterday’s most-read
The following were yesterday’s most-read What’sUpNewp articles.
- Obituary: Philip Rondina
- Letter to the Editor: Comments by Middletown Town Council Member Mrs. VonVillas overlook crucial concerns
- Newport’s $92 million budget put on hold after unexpected City Council vote
- Obituary: Donna Pimental-Levesque
- Obituary: Richard Kissell
- Obituary: Ernest “Bud” W. Ritchie III
- Newport City Council takes aim at non-owner occupied short-term rentals
- What Sold: A look at 13 recent sales across Newport County (May 5-9)
- Morning Notes: Newport Dems to host rally against President Trump’s ‘harmful actions and policies’ on Saturday
- Governor McKee allocates $1.5 million to Portsmouth, Middletown, and Jamestown for affordable housing projects
📅 Upcoming events
Here is what’s happening today in Newport.
Things To Do
Live Music & Entertainment
Newport County Public Meetings
Organizing an event? Submit it to What’sUpNewp’s event calendar.
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