What's Up in Newport County Today: Thursday, February 18
Snow-related parking bans, closures, and updates are rolling in.
Good Morning!
~ In less than two weeks, Rhode Islanders will be asked to vote on seven referenda, $400 million in spending to improve higher education, transportation, affordable housing, and several other areas. Can we afford it? Can we afford not to approve all seven? Helping us understand the referenda and whether we can afford them will be General Treasurer Seth Magaziner when he joins us for a live virtual video conversation this afternoon at 3 pm. Watch here.
~ Rhode Island Department of Health yesterday provided their weekly update on the number of people COVID-19 tested, positive tests by city and town. In the last week, 164 residents of Newport County have tested positive. 58 were in Newport, 38 in Tiverton, 31 in Middletown, 21 in Portsmouth, 13 in Jamestown, and 3 in Little Compton.
~ Rhode Island Department of Health will host their weekly COVID-19 press briefing at 1 pm today. We’ll carry it live on whatsupnewp.com as it happens.
~ Newport City Council’s COVID-19 crisis update scheduled for this afternoon at 4:30 pm has been canceled.
~ Newport Musical Festival’s newly appointed executive director Gillian Friedman Fox announced yesterday during a live virtual video conversation with What’s Up Newp that the 2021 Music Festival will be happening in July!
~ Soon-To-Be Govenor McKee was at the opening of Portsmouth’s vaccination site at Raytheon yesterday. Here’s some reporting from that event;
ABC 6 - McKee speaks out at Portsmouth vaccination site for first time since criticizing vaccine rollout
WPRI - McKee says he plans to make changes to RI’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout
WJAR - McKee says he wants to improve vaccine distribution in remarks at Portsmouth site
~ Portsmouth and Middletown are among the communities to already announce a parking ban ahead of the incoming snowstorm. For the latest - LIVE BLOG | Snow-Related Cancellations, Closures, and Delays
What’s Up in Newport County Today
Happy Birthday today to Josie Moore, Ethan Maytum, Paula Schneid, and Peter Bramante!
Weather Forecast
Winter Weather Advisory in effect from February 18, 12:00 PM EST until February 19, 07:00 PM EST
Today - Snow likely, mainly after 1 pm. Cloudy, with a high near 29. North wind 7 to 9 mph. The chance of precipitation is 70%. Total daytime snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.
Tonight - Snow likely. Cloudy, with a low around 29. Northeast wind 10 to 14 mph. The chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
Friday - Snow likely, mainly before 3 pm. Cloudy, with a high near 35. Northeast wind around 14 mph. The chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
Friday Night - A chance of snow, mainly before 2 am. Cloudy, with a low around 28. North wind around 10 mph. The chance of precipitation is 50%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.
Marine Forecast
Today - NNE wind 6 to 8 kt becoming ENE in the afternoon. Snow likely, mainly after 1 pm. Seas 1 ft or less.
Tonight - NE wind 9 to 12 kt. Snow likely. Seas 1 ft or less.
Friday - NE wind around 12 kt. Snow likely, mainly before 3 pm. Seas 1 ft or less.
Friday Night - NNE wind around 9 kt becoming NNW after midnight. A chance of snow, mainly before 2 am. Seas 1 ft or less
The current water temperature in Newport is 37°F.
Sun, Moon, & Tide
Sunrise: 6:35 am | Sunset: 5:23 pm
High tide at 12:19 pm | Low tide at 5:26 am & 5:24 pm
Moon: Waxing Crescent, 6 days, 34% lighting
Things To Do
10 am to 5 pm – Bowen’s Wharf Winter Sale Days
5 pm – The Future of Living History: A Virtual History Space Discussion with Newport Historical Society
5:30 pm – Healthy Soil, Healthy Plants with Norman Bird Sanctuary
JPT Film & Event Center Virtual Screening Room - All Weekend
City & Government
4 pm - Newport Public Library
4:30 pm – Newport City CouncilThis has been canceled.
7 pm – Tiverton Budget Committee
7 pm - Little Compton Town Council
Live on WUN (watch on our Facebook Page and website) - Nothing Scheduled
1 pm – LIVE ON WUN: Rhode Island Department of Health’s weekly COVID-19 update (Feb. 18 at 1 pm)
3 pm – General Treasurer Seth Magaziner to discuss upcoming bonds on WhatsUpNewp videocast on Thursday
The Latest WUN Headlines
LIVE BLOG | Snow-Related Cancellations, Closures, and Delays
Agenda for Newport City Council meeting on February 24
AARP demands a COVID Vaccination that works for all Rhode Islanders
Aquidneck Island Climate Caucus will host a virtual conversation on Question 2
Department of Health releases updated COVID-19 data by city, town
Club Passim’s Global Roots Series Introduces Audiences to Music from Around the World
Newport Music Festival to return July 4 – 20
Newport City Council’s COVID-19 Crisis update scheduled for Feb. 18 has been canceled
For the very latest news and information, visit www.whatsupnewp.com. Our website is updated 24/7/365.
COVID-19 in Rhode Island
Data as of Feb. 17. More data here - COVID-19 in Rhode Island: The latest data
Elsewhere
Rhode Island Monthly - The Mental Health Load is Heavy for Rhode Island's Public-Facing Restaurant Staff
Town of Middletown - Townwide Street Parking Ban Announced
Town of Middletown - More Meetings To Be Featured On “Middletown TV”
Town of Middletown - Short-Term Rental Conversation Gets Focused
One More Thing
We’re a couple of days behind this week, but we’ll have a full roundup of available job opportunities in the are up on whatsupnewp.com around lunch today. If you know of an available opportunity, let us know - ryan@whatsupnewp.com.
Thanks for reading,
~ Ryan