KINGSTON, R.I.—April 16, 2026—Marc Randolph, co-founder and first CEO of streaming giant Netflix; Daniel L. Harple Jr., chair and CEO of Context Labs; and Katherine Angell Brewster, CEO of the Jonnycake Center for Hope in South Kingstown, will be awarded honorary degrees by the University of Rhode Island next month.

Each honoree will be recognized for their considerable professional and personal achievements during commencement ceremonies, May 15-17, at the Thomas M. Ryan Center on the Kingston Campus. Randolph will be awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws and serve as keynote speaker during commencement ceremonies for URI’s College of Business on Friday, May 15, at 4 p.m. Harple will receive an honorary Doctor of Science during commencement ceremonies for the College of Engineering on Saturday, May 16, at 5 p.m. Brewster will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters during ceremonies for URI’s Feinstein College of Education on Sunday, May 17, at 1 p.m.

“Each of this year’s honorary degree recipients has made a profound and lasting impact on the communities they serve,” said URI President Marc Parlange. “Through their groundbreaking work in technology, business, AI, mentorship, and social welfare, they have continually expanded the horizons of what is possible—always guided by a commitment to leave the world and their communities better than they found them. These are the values we strive to cultivate in our students every day, and I am honored to recognize their extraordinary achievements during our commencement celebrations next month.”

“It is a privilege to welcome this year’s honorary degree recipients, who have demonstrated such dedication to their work, their values, and their communities,” said Barbara Wolfe, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs. “Their impact serves as a powerful example to our students of what they too can achieve, and we look forward to celebrating their achievements at this year’s commencement ceremonies.” 

Marc Randolph

Randolph is best known as the co-founder and first CEO of Netflix. Over a career spanning more than four decades, he has built a reputation as a serial entrepreneur, founding or co-founding more than half a dozen successful startups. He has also mentored countless early-stage entrepreneurs and invested in a wide range of successful technology ventures.

Most recently, Randolph co-founded Looker Data Sciences, which was acquired by Google in 2019 for $2.6 billion. He currently serves on the board of the National Outdoor Leadership School in Lander, Wyoming; the Truckee Donner Land Trust; and Cheeze Technologies.

Randolph is the author of the international bestselling memoir “That Will Never Work: The Birth of Netflix and the Amazing Life of an Idea.” He is the entrepreneur-in-residence at High Point University, an entrepreneurship leadership fellow at MIT, and a featured investor on Entrepreneur Magazine’s “Elevator Pitch” web series. 

He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in geology from Hamilton College.

Daniel L. Harple Jr.

A technology entrepreneur and CEO for more than 30 years, Daniel L. Harple Jr. is considered an internet pioneer who has founded and built technologies, companies, and products used by billions of internet users. He has founded, grown, and merged companies with Netscape Communications, Oracle, and Sina, among others, driving at-scale global innovation and impacting users the world over. These innovations established foundational standards for internet collaboration, media streaming, and VoIP, used daily by billions across platforms such as Zoom, Skype, and YouTube.

Harple is chair and CEO of Context Labs BV, a company he founded based on his MIT research. The company delivers AI‑driven, auditable intelligence for industrial data, carbon management, and compliance. It provides AI-ready data infrastructure for global energy markets, creating context for the world’s most challenging persistent problems.

He is the recipient of numerous awards, including Inc. Magazine’s Entrepreneur of the Year, the Red Herring Watch Award, the Upside Hot Startup Award, the University of Rhode Island’s Alumni Excellence Award for Contributions to Science and Technology, and the NEA (New Enterprise Associates) President’s Award.

Harple holds an advanced degree from MIT and bachelor’s degrees in mechanical engineering and psychology from the University of Rhode Island.

Katherine Angell Brewster

Brewster has served as CEO of South Kingstown’s Jonnycake Center for Hope for more than a decade, leading the organization through a period of significant growth to become a cornerstone of support for residents facing economic hardship and providing food, financial assistance, housing and youth programming to more than 2,000 individuals.

During her tenure, Brewster has led the organization’s expansion into new initiatives, including the development of affordable housing and the creation of the Jonnycake Youth Center. Her career has spanned direct service and public policy, giving her a deep understanding of the systemic challenges facing families and the practical solutions that help communities thrive.

Prior to the Jonnycake Center, Brewster was executive director of the Economic Progress Institute, Rhode Island’s leading anti-poverty research and advocacy organization. She has also served on the boards of several prominent organizations, including the Rhode Island Community Food Bank and Thundermist Health Center.

In 2022, she was honored with the Murray Family Prize in recognition of her commitment to improving the lives of Rhode Islanders in need. Brewster holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from the University of Rhode Island and a Master of Social Work from Rhode Island College.

To learn more or to view a full schedule of ceremonies over URI’s Spring 2026 Commencement Weekend, visit: uri.edu/commencement/.

Coventry, R.I. – According to police, over the past several months, detectives with the Coventry Police Department’s Special Operations Unit initiated a narcotics investigation into a drug trafficking organization operating in and around the Town of Coventry. Through extensive surveillance and investigative efforts, detectives identified 33-year-old Richard Martin Jr., of Beach Street, Coventry, R.I., as the primary target of the investigation.

During the course of the investigation, multiple associates were identified, along with additional residences, located within the City of Warwick, frequently utilized by Martin Jr. and his associates.

On April 6th, detectives from the Coventry Police Department, in conjunction with detectives from the Warwick Police Department, executed multiple court-authorized search warrants in an effort to dismantle the organization.

During the course of a search warrant in Coventry, detectives, along with K9 Nixo, located approximately 1.8 pounds of suspected cocaine concealed within a sophisticated vehicle hide. Additionally, a 9mm handgun, a large sum of cash, along with packaging and weighing materials consistent with drug trafficking, were recovered from the residence.

As a result of the investigation, Martin Jr. has been charged with two counts of Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance, Use of a Firearm While Committing a Crime of Violence, and Controlled Substance Conspiracy.

Additionally, 40-year-old Jason Tallo, of Warwick, R.I., an alleged narcotics trafficking accomplice of Martin Jr., was taken into custody in the Town of Coventry and was subsequently charged with Controlled Substance Conspiracy.

Martin Jr. and Tallo were transported to Kent County District Court, where they were arraigned on their respective charges before a 3rd District Court judge. Martin Jr. was subsequently ordered to be held without bail, while Tallo had his bail set at $25,000 with surety.

This investigation remains ongoing and additional arrests are expected

Revs beat RIFC in penalty kicks in US Open Cup thriller at Centreville Bank Stadium

PAWTUCKET – The final result was all that eluded Rhode Island FC on this showdown Tuesday night against the New England Revolution. 

The effort over 120 minutes couldn’t be questioned. No keeper was saving the goal scored by Diego Fagundez. JJ Williams provided an equalizer in the 11^th minute of stoppage time, proof that his side never gave up hope in the second half of regulation. 

Penalty kicks were required to decide this Round of 32 meeting in the US Open Cup on April 14, and it was only there where Rhode Island FC came up shy. Donovan Parisian stopped three of the four shots against him and Tanner Beason blasted home the deciding attempt to give New England a 1-1 (3-1) victory against a regional rival. 

The Revolution are through to the Round of 16 just like at Centreville Bank Stadium last season, but this was a different sort of match entirely in front of 6,073 fans. Rhode Island FC came to life after an indifferent first half of regulation, pulled even in the 101^st minute and looked the more likely of the two sides to win it in the first 15-minute period of extra time. New England was able to stay the course and avoided an upset as the MLS entry.