Rhode Island
2 hospitalized after explosion at Block Island home
Two people were flown to a hospital after a house on Block Island collapsed with five people inside following an apparent explosion on Saturday.
Police in New Shoreham, Rhode Island, say they started receiving calls around 7:40 p.m. after people on the island reported hearing a “loud noise” come from a home on West Beach Road, according to NBC affiliate WJAR.
First responders arrived on scene to find a severely damaged home with three people trapped inside, WJAR reported.
“Material from one side of the building came in, across the room and pinned individuals into the kitchen area,” Block Island Volunteer Fire Chief Chris Hobe said. “We had a refrigerator on top of a woman, we had a China closet, etcetera, all this stuff on top of people.”
It took about 45 minutes for first responders to safely remove everyone from the home, according to WJAR. Two people were treated at the Block Island Medical Center being flown in a Coast Guard helicopter to Rhode Island Hospital.
One person suffered a broken femur, while another sustained second-degree burns, WJAR reports. Both are expected to survive, according to Block Island Police Chief Paul Deane.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office was on Block Island Sunday morning to investigate and determined that the explosion was caused by propane, WJAR reports.
The homeowners reportedly called the propane company on Memorial Day weekend after noticing they did not have propane, and they were told their tank was off. When they returned for Father’s Day weekend, they went to turn on the propane, causing an explosion to occur involving an unsecured propane line underneath the home, according to the State Fire Marshal’s Office.
Rhode Island
Steps from the Sand — A Classic Weekapaug Cottage Offered for $3,300,000 – Newport Buzz
43 Noyes Neck Road | Westerly, RI 4 Bedrooms, 3 Full Bathrooms, 1 Half Bathroom | 2,431 Sq. Ft. | 0.35 Acres | Walk to Beaches | Community Tennis & Pickleball | Offered by Robin Knisley of Mott & Chace Sotheby’s International Realty for $3,300,000.
Nestled in one of Rhode Island’s most cherished seaside enclaves, 43 Noyes Neck Road in Westerly offers the rare chance to call Weekapaug home — a place defined by sandy paths, ocean breezes, and a lifestyle centered around community and coastal serenity. This sun-filled cottage, set on a beautifully maintained 0.35-acre lot with exceptional privacy, blends classic charm with thoughtful updates, creating an inviting retreat just moments from the shoreline.
Spanning 2,431 square feet across three levels, the home features four bedrooms and three-and-a-half baths, along with a flexible bonus space ideal for a home office, gym, sunroom, or private guest quarters. The interior is bright and welcoming, with an easy flow designed for relaxed living. A freshly updated kitchen with new appliances adds modern convenience, while the back porch — overlooking a peaceful, expansive yard — offers the perfect setting for morning coffee, evening cocktails, or effortless summer entertaining.
Recent improvements, including a brand-new roof, new AC pump, and upgraded systems, enhance comfort throughout the seasons. Central air conditioning and electric heat provide ease for both summer enjoyment and off-season stays.
Living in Weekapaug is a lifestyle unto itself: walk to two beloved beaches, enjoy community tennis, pickleball, and croquet, and explore the opportunity to join the Weekapaug Yacht Club — a hub for sailing, boating, and seasonal events that define this storied coastal village.
With its blend of privacy, charm, and proximity to the water, 43 Noyes Neck Road is more than a home — it’s an invitation to experience Weekapaug at its most timeless.
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Rhode Island
URI’s use of artificial intelligence in research, teaching, and innovation on display at ‘Discovering AI @ URI Day’
KINGSTON, R.I. – Dec. 8, 2025 – Artificial intelligence (AI) is here to stay and students, faculty, and staff at the University of Rhode Island have been using the evolving technology for research, teaching, and innovation purposes.
The effective and creative ways AI has been applied across the University will be discussed and displayed at “Discovering AI @ URI Day,” on Dec. 10 from 4-7:30 p.m., in rooms 040 and 045 of URI’s Fascitelli Center for Advanced Engineering, 45 Upper College Road, on the Kingston Campus.
The free event will feature guest speakers, panel discussions, and poster presentations. Refreshments will be provided. The URI community is welcome to share their AI success stories. Those interested in attending the event are encouraged to RSVP.
“As Rhode Island’s flagship R1 research university, URI has the responsibility to lead in the development and thoughtful application of AI across higher education,” said URI Assistant Vice President for Research Computing Gaurav Khanna. “By leveraging advances in AI, URI will expand discovery, prepare students for an AI-shaped workforce, and drive innovations that benefit Rhode Island and beyond.”
Khanna is also the director of URI’s Institute for AI and Computational Research. The institute supports and promotes high-level interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary computational research, including AI-related research.
Guest speakers at Discovering AI @ URI Day will include:
- Victoria Gu, chair of the Rhode Island Senate Committee on Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technology and representative of District 38 in the Rhode Island Senate
- URI Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Barbara Wolfe
- URI Chief Information Officer and Associate Vice President for Information Technology Gabriele Fariello
- Yan (Lindsay) Sun, certified AI strategist and co-director of URI’s Center for Cyber-Physical Intelligence and Security (CYPHER), which she founded
“Artificial intelligence touches nearly every aspect of higher education,” said Sun. “What makes the Discovering AI @ URI event special is that it reflects this full ecosystem. We’ll hear not only from faculty and students, who always showcase remarkable innovation, but also from staff whose work keeps the University running behind the scenes.”
A faculty panel discussion, moderated by Karen Lokey, associate director of URI’s ITS Innovation Services, will include:
- Travess Smalley, assistant professor in the Department of Art and Art History
- Ying Zhang, professor in the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology
- Megan Chiovaro, part-time teaching professor in the Department of Electrical, Computer, and Biomedical Engineering
- Peter Cornillon, emeritus professor in the Graduate School of Oceanography
- Abdeltawab Hendawi, associate professor in the Department of Computer Science and Statistics
Sun will moderate the staff panel discussion, which will feature:
- Ryan Gardiner, chief business officer for the College of Engineering
- Chelsie Sullivan, CYPHER Research Center coordinator
- Lisa Chen, teaching and learning support for Information Technology Services
- Brian Blanchette, director of Systems and Technology for the URI Foundation
Jim McGwin, adjunct professor in the College of Business, will facilitate a panel discussion of undergraduate and graduate students representing a diverse range of majors and interests.
There is plenty of support and technology available at URI for students to gain hands-on experience with AI. The Library Innovation Labs, led by Keith Ranaldi, director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, is considered a collaborative hub, connecting people ideas, and resources across disciplines. Ranaldi and his staff were largely responsible for coordinating the Discovering AI @ URI event.
“We helped coordinate efforts among departments and colleges, ensuring that the hard work being done in AI research and application was visible to the entire campus community,” said Ranaldi.
The application of AI by faculty, students, and staff at URI will be on full display at the Discovering AI @ URI event.
Rhode Island
Another bitter blast to start the workweek in Southern New England
A cold front is bringing another arctic blast to start the workweek across Southern New England.
The cold frontal passage Sunday night will usher in much colder-than-average temperatures for Monday. Low temperatures on Monday morning will be in the low 20s, with afternoon highs in the upper 20s, but it will feel like the teens all day due to the wind chill on Monday.
The coldest weather arrives for Tuesday morning as lows drop near 10 degrees in many spots with the feels-like wind chill in the single digits.
It turns a little less cold on Tuesday afternoon with highs back above freezing in the mid-30s.
Wednesday will be the mildest day of the week with highs in the mid-to-upper 40s. As temperatures climb above freezing, we could see a few light rain showers Wednesday afternoon into Wednesday evening.
Colder temperatures return again on Thursday and Friday with highs back into the 30s.
We’ll be watching next weekend for the potential of a coastal storm trying to develop, but at this point it looks likely to stay offshore and bring minimal impacts to Southern New England. Check back for updates with Storm Team 10.
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