☀️ What's Up Today: Thursday, May 15 (Updated)

Newport swears in new K9 Officer Bo; Newport’s $92 million budget put on hold after unexpected City Council vote; and more

Author

Ryan Belmore
May 15, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 10 minutes

Good Morning, Newport! Today is Thursday, May 15, the 135th day of 2025. There are 230 days left in the year.

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.

THE LATEST ON WUN

10-week-old chocolate lab joins community policing unit, will serve in public schools

4-3 council vote calls for ordinance changes to address housing availability and affordability issues

Lewis Pugh has followed an unspoken rule during his career as one of the world’s most daring endurance swimmers: Don’t talk about sharks. But he plans to break that this week on a swim around Martha’s Vineyard, where “ Jaws” was filmed 50 years ago.

Justyn-Henry Malloy hit a pinch-hit single in the ninth to end the game and give the Detroit Tigers a 6-5 win over the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night.

Derrick White had 34 points, including seven 3-pointers, to lead the Celtics to a 127-102 Game 5 win over the New York Knicks on Wednesday night that kept them alive in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

For businesses and individuals tax issues can sometimes become overwhelming, which is why the state Division of Taxation is holding tax compliance days for businesses in both Newport and Narragansett over the next few days.

City Council approves amendments to prohibit use of marijuana and e-cigarettes in public spaces, citing health concerns and community feedback

Biennial budget for FY2026-2027 put on hold after motion to table passes without debate

Six casting calls taking place in Rhode Island.

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center today (May 14) announced the expansion of its Produce to the People program, which offers weekly fresh produce to anyone in Newport County free of charge.

Rhode Island’s leading medical aesthetics provider celebrates expansion with open house event on May 29, featuring tours, giveaways, and local wellness vendors

Grant will support enhanced local food access and expanded garden and compost programs

We were lucky to get a preview of the meticulously crafted changes, and here’s what we loved.

Local groups join forces to protest social benefit cuts, tariffs, and other controversial actions

September 30, 1947 — May 4, 2025

WHAT’S UP TODAY

Next up on the cruise ship schedule: The Europa 2 on Friday, May 30

  • 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%.

  • 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.

  • 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.

Things To Do

Live Music & Entertainment

Newport County Public Meetings

EXTRA! EXTRA!

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