Rhode Island
How a Newport cemetery became the final resting place for some EgyptAir crash victims
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On Oct. 31, 1999, a flight from Los Angeles made a scheduled stopover at JFK International Airport, taking off from the runway to continue its journey to Cairo, Egypt, at 1:20 a.m. Just half an hour later, though, and minutes after the plane reached its cruising altitude, the commercial aircraft plummeted into the Atlantic Ocean, 60 miles south of Nantucket, killing all 217 people on board.
EgyptAir Flight 990 was the deadliest aviation disaster in the history of EgyptAir and the second-deadliest aviation disaster involving a Boeing 767. However, though the flight originated in Los Angeles, took off from New York and was headed to Egypt, the remains of six unidentified passengers were interred at Newport’s own Island Cemetery and the official memorial sits at Brenton Point State Park, overlooking the very body of water where those passengers perished.
The reason behind the location of the memorial is remarkably simple. A short written account from Island Cemetery’s records, obtained by The Newport Daily News through Records Manager Zachary Russell, indicated that Newport had been used as the U.S. incident command center in the immediate aftermath because it was the closest city large enough to accommodate the investigators and families of the victims. A heartbreaking report from The Standard Times in New Bedford, Massachusetts, on the unlikelihood that the investigation would recover intact remains also indicated Newport was the coordination center for search efforts and the families housed in a Newport hotel.
A New York Times report published at the time states that wreckage from the crash, as well as the bodies of victims, were brought to Naval Base Newport for investigation and identification, though the 2002 Aircraft Accident Brief from the National Transportation Safety Board makes no mention of the city, instead stating that containers of the wreckage were initially stored in a former Naval air hangar at Quonset Point.
Still, Newport served at least as the gathering site for those in mourning. An interdenominational memorial service was held at Brenton Point State Park that November, alongside members of the U.S. Coast Guard, Red Cross, Salvation Army, National Transportation Safety Board and several public officials.
The granite memorial would be erected a year later, rough-hewn on three of its four sides to represent the mourners’ pain, according to an article on the memorial by AP reporter David Rising, also stored in Island Cemetery’s records. The inscription reads, “They are not gone from us,” in French, Arabic and English.
The incident itself was under investigation for two years by the National Transportation Safety Board, which determined the probable cause of the incident lay in the actions of the relief pilot, First Officer Gameel Al-Batouti, who was left in charge of the cockpit while Captain Ahmed El-Habashi went to the bathroom. It concluded that Al-Batouti, a former Egyptian Air Force major and chief flight instructor, manually disengaged the plane’s autopilot during this time, causing it to begin a nosedive. Though El-Habashi had returned and attempted to recover the plane, the NTSB’s investigation into the Cockpit Voice Recorder and Flight Recorder indicated that Al-Batouti did nothing to help the situation, only calmly repeating a phrase in Arabic that translates to “I rely on God.” When El-Habashi managed to pull the plane’s nose up, the report states that Al-Batouti was putting in opposite inputs to turn the plane’s nose down again.
Though initially deferring responsibility of the investigation to the NTSB, the Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority disputed the NTSB report’s conclusion as the result of a “flawed and biased” investigation. It launched a separate investigation in the following weeks, which argued that the probable cause for the incident was not Al-Batouti’s actions, but instead a mechanical failure.
In a later interview with former NTSB Director of Aviation Safety Bernard Loeb, conducted by the Canadian TV series “Mayday,” Loeb said none of the mechanical failure scenarios presented by the Egyptian investigation matched the flight profile and that the evidence showing the plane had been intentionally flown into the ocean was irrefutable “to anyone who knows anything about investigating airplane accidents.”
Rhode Island
GoLocalProv | Politics | Providence On Sunday Is One of the Sites for a National Protest Against ICE
Saturday, January 10, 2026
Protest in Providence in June against ICE PHOTO: GoLocal
Organizers in Rhode Island and across the country are mobilizing against ICE after a pair of shootings in the past few days.
Organizers locally said, “Rhode Islanders will gather on Sunday to honor the life lost, make visible the human cost of ICE’s actions, and demand that state and federal leaders reject local contracts with ICE, take every action possible to stop ICE from operating in Rhode Island, and hold ICE agents accountable when they break the law.”
The RI event begins at 2 PM at the State House on Sunday.
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Nationally, it was a announced on Friday that, “A broad national coalition, including Indivisible, MoveOn Civic Action, the American Civil Liberties Union, Voto Latino, United We Dream, 50501, the Disappeared in America Campaign of the Not Above the Law coalition, and partner organizations across the country, is calling for a coordinated ICE Out For Good Weekend of Action.
“The mobilization comes in response to the escalation of ICE violence in our communities, the killing of Renee Nicole Good, a 37-year-old wife and mother of three, and the months-long pattern of unchecked violence and abuse in marginalized communities across America. Across the country, communities will gather in nonviolent, lawful, and community-led actions to honor the life lost, demand accountability, and make visible the human cost of ICE’s actions,” said organizers.
Organizers added, “Good and the Portland victims are part of a broader and deeply alarming pattern of unchecked violence and abuse by federal immigration enforcement agencies. In September, ICE reportedly shot and killed Silverio Villegas González, a father and cook from Mexico living in Chicago. In 2025 alone, more than 30 people have reportedly died in ICE detention.”
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Rhode Island
Rhode Island General Assembly Begins 2026 Session With Focus on Affordability – Newport Buzz
PROVIDENCE — Rhode Island lawmakers opened the 2026 legislative session this week with a focus on health care affordability, housing costs and economic stability, as leaders in both chambers warned of uncertainty tied to federal budget changes.
House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi outlined House priorities centered on expanding access to health care while lowering costs, calling it the chamber’s top agenda item for the year. He also said lawmakers will continue addressing housing shortages and rising home energy costs, emphasizing the need for community input as policy decisions move forward.
In the Senate, President Valarie J. Lawson convened the chamber by urging bipartisan cooperation and announcing plans to introduce legislation supporting education, small businesses and the state’s health care system. Stabilizing hospitals and strengthening the primary care workforce were identified as key goals.
Both chambers paused to honor victims of the Dec. 13 shooting at Brown University, passing resolutions recognizing the victims and commending first responders. Lawmakers also observed a moment of silence.
New legislation introduced by Rep. Joseph M. McNamara would require the Department of Education to adopt a zero-tolerance hazing policy in partnership with the Rhode Island Interscholastic League, mandating clear and consistent discipline statewide.
Meanwhile, Reps. David Morales and Jennifer Stewart called on Gov. Dan McKee to fully fund public libraries in the upcoming state budget.
Speaker Shekarchi also announced several committee leadership changes, appointing Rep. Carol Hagan McEntee as chairwoman of the House Judiciary Committee and Rep. Mary Ann Shallcross Smith as chairwoman of the House Small Business Committee.
The week also marked the first Senate session for Sen. Stefano V. Famiglietti, who received committee assignments following his election to fill a vacant seat.
Legislative leaders capped the week by joining faith leaders at the 18th annual Rhode Island Interfaith Poverty Vigil at the State House, calling attention to legislation aimed at reducing poverty statewide.
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The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 8, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Jan. 8 drawing
05-12-13-39-48, Lucky Ball: 13
Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Numbers numbers from Jan. 8 drawing
Midday: 9-9-1-3
Evening: 0-9-6-6
Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Wild Money numbers from Jan. 8 drawing
01-07-12-30-35, Extra: 26
Check Wild Money payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize
- Prizes less than $600 can be claimed at any Rhode Island Lottery Retailer. Prizes of $600 and above must be claimed at Lottery Headquarters, 1425 Pontiac Ave., Cranston, Rhode Island 02920.
- Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot winners can decide on cash or annuity payment within 60 days after becoming entitled to the prize. The annuitized prize shall be paid in 30 graduated annual installments.
- Winners of the Lucky for Life top prize of $1,000 a day for life and second prize of $25,000 a year for life can decide to collect the prize for a minimum of 20 years or take a lump sum cash payment.
When are the Rhode Island Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
- Lucky for Life: 10:30 p.m. ET daily.
- Numbers (Midday): 1:30 p.m. ET daily.
- Numbers (Evening): 7:29 p.m. ET daily.
- Wild Money: 7:29 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Rhode Island editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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