Good morning, Newport. I'm Ryan Belmore, publisher of What'sUpNewp.

Rhode Island is among six states sued by the U.S. Justice Department Tuesday over its refusal to turn over detailed voter registration data. Attorney General Peter Neronha called the lawsuit "the latest example of the weaponization of the Department of Justice," vowing his office will defend the state and prevail. Meanwhile, the Newport City Council meets in executive session tonight to discuss the Rogers High School assault investigation as the community awaits answers. On a lighter note, the holiday season is in full swing with the Newport Nutcracker Ballet returning to Rosecliff and the JPT hosting a free documentary screening with Rhode Island Historian Laureate Keith Stokes.

Here's what you need to know today.

Skies will clear through the morning Wednesday, giving way to a sunny afternoon with a high near 42 degrees. North winds of 6 to 15 mph will keep a chill in the air, with tonight bringing partly cloudy skies and a low around 33 degrees.

The Newport Nutcracker Ballet returns to Rosecliff with performances at 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., while Holidays at the Newport Mansions continues to draw visitors throughout the day. Nature lovers have several options at Norman Bird Sanctuary, including a free afternoon walk at 3 p.m. and a December Owl Prowl at 6:30 p.m. For those seeking evening entertainment, Ochre Court hosts "Take the Risk" jazz lounge at 6:30 p.m., and the Gardiner House kicks off its Festive Fête at 6 p.m.

City business is on the agenda as the Newport City Council meets at 5:30 p.m., alongside sessions of the Beach Commission and Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Commission. Across the county, Jamestown's Planning Commission convenes at 6:30 p.m. and Portsmouth's Harbor Commission meets at 7 p.m.

Matthew Gray, owner of Gray Matter Marketing and Ragged Island Brewing Company, has been elected chair of the Board of Directors of Discover Newport. Gray, who represents Portsmouth on the board, has served since 2019 and previously chaired the finance committee as treasurer. He also served on the organization's recent CEO search committee.

Gray founded Gray Matter Marketing in 2012, producing events including the Amica Newport Marathon and the Citizens Pell Bridge Run. He is also founding partner and president of Ragged Island Brewing Company, a farm brewery in Portsmouth. Beyond his business ventures, Gray serves as vice chair of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center board and president of the Rhode Island Brewers Guild.

"As a local kid, it is truly an honor to represent my fellow small business owners and the residents of our nine incredible coastal communities," said Gray, who grew up in Newport's Fifth Ward and graduated from Newport Public Schools. He said his focus will be increasing visitation during the off-season and on weekdays while maintaining quality of life for residents. His term begins immediately.

The U.S. Justice Department sued Rhode Island and five other states Tuesday over their refusal to turn over detailed voter registration information. The lawsuit is part of an ongoing federal campaign to obtain voter data from states, with the department portraying the effort as necessary to ensure election security. Democratic officials have raised concerns about how the data will be used and whether privacy laws will be followed.

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha called the lawsuit "the latest example of the weaponization of the Department of Justice to further the Trump administration's unlawful whims." He said his office will defend the secretary of state and predicted the state will prevail. "Lawsuits concerning lawful conduct are largely unsuccessful," Neronha said. "But I'm not surprised that this administration is confused about what it means to behave lawfully."

The Justice Department has requested voter data from at least 26 states, according to an Associated Press tally, and has now sued at least 14. While some states have provided redacted versions of voter lists, the department has also requested copies containing personally identifiable information, including voters' names, birth dates, addresses and driver's license numbers or partial Social Security numbers.

The Newport City Council will meet in executive session tonight at 5:30 p.m. to discuss the recent incidents at Rogers High School and the ongoing investigations. The closed-door meeting at City Hall comes as both a criminal investigation and an independent review proceed following the assault of a special needs student.

The Newport School Committee voted last week to hire an independent investigator to conduct a full review of the assault. "I am outraged at what I saw in those videos," School Committee Chair James Dring said. "The disturbing behavior depicted is wrong at any time, in any place — and especially in our schools." He said he expects to provide a full accounting to the community by the end of December between the police investigation and the independent review.

Four Rogers High School students have been arrested since Nov. 22 in connection with the locker room assault: two 16-year-olds, a 17-year-old and a 14-year-old. The first student arrested faces two counts of felony assault on persons with severe impairments after investigators determined he assaulted the victim on two separate occasions. The district ended the football season immediately after becoming aware of the incident.

The JPT Film & Event Center will host a free screening tonight of "Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America," a documentary featuring criminal defense and civil rights lawyer Jeffrey Robinson. Rhode Island Historian Laureate Keith Stokes will deliver opening remarks. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the presentation beginning at 6:30 p.m.

The 2021 documentary interweaves lecture, personal anecdotes, interviews and historical revelations as Robinson draws a timeline of anti-Black racism in the United States, from slavery to the modern myth of a post-racial America. The film examines the lived experience of Black Americans shaped by a legacy the country has largely forgotten.

The JPT's calendar also includes "Wicked for Good" running through Dec. 11, a live performance by Irish band Lúnasa on Thursday, and a screening of "The Holdovers" with live music by Avi Jacob on Dec. 11.

Small Business Collective has launched in Middletown to support Rhode Island entrepreneurs, announcing the appointment of Mollie Frazer Williams as its executive director. (What'sUpNewp)

Newport Restaurant Group will host holiday events at The Mooring and Boat House, including a Tiverton toy drive benefiting the police department and a Newport breakfast featuring Santa. (What'sUpNewp)

Santa will tour Newport County neighborhoods throughout December with first responder escorts in Portsmouth, Jamestown, Newport and Middletown. (What'sUpNewp)

Irish traditional music group Dervish, recipients of a 2019 BBC Lifetime Achievement Award, will perform at the JPT Film & Event Center in March. (What'sUpNewp)

Portsmouth Councilor Mary McDowell defended her motion to reconsider disc golf at Glen Park in a letter to the editor, citing contradictions in testimony and safety concerns. (What'sUpNewp)

A North Kingstown man was charged with DUI after crashing into a South Kingstown coffee shop; police say the driver refused a breathalyzer test. (What'sUpNewp)

The Patriots head into their bye week on a 10-game winning streak after a 33-15 win over the Giants; Drake Maye leads the NFL with 3,412 passing yards. (What'sUpNewp)

Jason Edwards scored 24 points off the bench as Providence rolled past Fairleigh Dickinson 94-64. (What'sUpNewp)

Ty Tabales scored 18 points to lead Bryant past Stonehill 77-65. (What'sUpNewp)

Jaylen Brown scored a season-high 42 points as the Celtics held off the Knicks 123-117 in a rematch of last season's Eastern Conference semifinal. (What'sUpNewp)

Moritz Seider had a goal and two assists as the Red Wings snapped a four-game losing streak with a 5-4 win over the Bruins. (What'sUpNewp)

RI Rep pre-files anti-hazing bill in General Assembly following alleged Smithfield, Newport incidents (WLNE)

The Hotel Viking is preparing for its centennial (Travel Weekly)

Guess the 5-letter word of the day that’s related to a recent story from WUN.

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