News

City Preparing for St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Tuesday, March 11, 2025

Parking Restrictions, Stepped Up Police Presence in Place
 
The Newport St. Patrick’s Day parade will be this Saturday, 3/15/25. The parade kicks off at 11:00 a.m. from Newport City Hall, 43 Broadway. Staging will begin at 9:00 a.m. The route will go down Broadway and into Washington Square. Read more »

Newport, Middletown, and Portsmouth Request Comments for Draft Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan 

Friday, February 28, 2025

NEWPORT, R.I. -- The Towns of Portsmouth and Middletown, and the City of Newport have drafted the first of its kind multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan for Aquidneck Island.

The regional effort, funded by a Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), is being conducted by Providence-based consultant Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB) in conjunction with a Regional Hazard Mitigation Committee consisting of municipal staff, fire and police chiefs, Naval Station Newport liaisons, and community representatives. Read more »

RIPUC TO VOTE ON NEW WATER RATES

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

First Rate Increase since 2019 Expected for Aquidneck Island Customers

NEWPORT, R.I. (TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2025) – The Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission (RIPUC) will be holding a Public Hearing on Thursday, Feb. 20th on a proposed rate increase plan for Newport Water Division customers.

If approved, it would mark the first time that water rates for operations and maintenance have been changed since 2019 and follows a debt service-related rate increase in 2022.

And while the increase would lag behind the rate of inflation over the same period, Newport Water Division customers in Middletown, Newport, and Portsmouth should expect to see an increase in their water bills beginning later this Spring.

The proposed new rates are part of a multiyear plan detailed in RIPUC Docket No. 24-30-WW, which was originally filed in 2024 and can be found in its entirety at https://ripuc.ri.gov/Docket-24-30-WW. Read more »

NEWPORT LAUNCHES NEW SHORT TERM RENTAL PORTAL

Tuesday, February 4, 2025

New System to Aid with Registration and Enforcement
 
NEWPORT, R.I. (TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2025) – The City of Newport launched a new online Short Term Rental (STR) portal this week which aims to streamline registration and compliance of the City’s roughly 360 recorded short-term rentals.

Powered by GovOS, the new system is designed to make it easier for property owners to properly register their units and for City staff to enforce Newport’s existing STR ordinances. Read more »

NEWPORT’S RESIDENT TAX RATE RENEWAL PERIOD SET TO BEGIN

Tuesday, December 3, 2024

Renewals, Applications Accepted Jan. 2 – March 15, 2025

NEWPORT, R.I. - Residential property owners currently enrolled in the City’s Two-Tier residential tax rate program will be able to apply for re-enrollment in the resident friendly, money-saving program beginning January 2nd.

Approved applications that are received in the re-enrollment period, which runs from Jan. 2nd until March 15th, 2025, will be valid for the next three (3) tax years – 2025, 2026 and 2027.  For those already enrolled in the program, forms for re-enrollment will be mailed in mid-December and will be available online on the City’s website along with hard copies in the Tax Assessors office.
  Read more »

SCAM ALERT

Wednesday, November 27, 2024

NEWPORT, R.I. (WEDNESDAY, NOV. 27, 2024) -- The Newport Police Department has received additional reports of phone scams where the caller identifies themselves as a Newport Police Sergeant, Lieutenant, Constable, or Deputy.

These callers are using actual names of our officers that may be familiar.  They say they have “legal documents” that need to be signed.  They often reference an incident involving a sexual assault case where a failure to appear warrant has been issued. 

To cancel the warrant, they then instruct people to purchase a gift card or Bit Coin and provide the codes over the phone. 

Please keep in mind, at no time would the Newport Police Department, City of Newport or any other Law Enforcement or Government Agency request personal information over the phone or have someone purchase a gift card, Bit Coin or any other form of payment.
 
These people are using a computer program called “spoofing”, to make their caller ID appear to be coming from the Newport Police Department.  One of the numbers they have spoofed is 401-847-1306.  This number is listed on-line and does come back to the Newport Police Department. 

The Newport Police Department does not have Deputies and we do not employ the services of Constables.
If anyone receives these calls, we are asking that they please hang up and call 401-847-1306 to report the matter.  A Newport Police employee will answer the phone and will take a report.
  Read more »

NEWPORT FIRE, POLICE SET TO ESCORT SANTA THROUGH NEWPORT’S NEIGHBORHOODS AGAIN THIS YEAR

Wednesday, November 27, 2024

Annual Santa’s Ride to Kick Off Tuesday, Dec. 10th
   
NEWPORT, R.I. (TUESDAY, NOV. 26, 2024) – With the holiday season officially upon us, the City of Newport is once again busy preparing for the return of Santa’s nightly rides.

Santa is scheduled to meet up with Newport’s Fire and Police Departments beginning Tuesday, Dec. 10^th for his annual tour of Newport’s neighborhoods. Read more »

NEWPORT NAMES NEW DEPUTY CITY MANAGER

Friday, November 15, 2024

Longtime Public Servant Michael A. Caruolo Set to Fill New Role
 
NEWPORT, R.I. (FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2024) –The City of Newport on Friday announced the hiring of Michael A. Caruolo as its first Deputy City Manager.

A seasoned public servant with over 32 years of experience, Caruolo spent the first 22 years of his career  with the Newport Police Department, retiring in 2014 with the rank of Lieutenant. For the past decade, he has been the Director of Public Safety and Community Relations at Salve Regina University, where he managed a $1.3 million budget and a team of 32 public safety professionals.
  Read more »

DIXON STREET TO BE REVERSED NOV. 1st

Monday, October 21, 2024

New Traffic Pattern Set to Take Effect
  
NEWPORT, R.I. (MONDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2024) – Dixon Street between Thames and Spring Streets will be reversed for motor vehicle traffic beginning November 1^st.

Motorists are advised that new directional signage is being added and road striping will be taking place in advance of the change.

Traffic traveling toward Bellevue Avenue or Spring Street that originates from Thames Street or Wellington Avenue will be re-routed to alternate routes including Narragansett Avenue. Read more »

 Important Utilities Billing Update 

Tuesday, October 15, 2024

Following several weeks of delays caused by the transition to a new third-party billing provider, Newport Water Division customers began receiving SEPTEMBER BILLS in the mail this week.

While September bills do not reflect changes made to the Base Sewer Use charge, OCTOBER BILLS  are expected to follow shortly and WILL include credits to all customers impacted by the recently repealed fee.

In sum:
 SEPTEMBER BILLS DO NOT REFLECT BASE SEWER USE CHARGE REPEAL
 CREDITS ARE BEING APPLIED TO OCTOBER BILLS
 SEPTEMBER + OCTOBER BILLS AREN'T DUE UNTIL NOVEMBER 13TH Read more »