diff --git a/apps/routerconsole/java/src/net/i2p/router/news/NewsManager.java b/apps/routerconsole/java/src/net/i2p/router/news/NewsManager.java
index e85e23208..2b5af405d 100644
--- a/apps/routerconsole/java/src/net/i2p/router/news/NewsManager.java
+++ b/apps/routerconsole/java/src/net/i2p/router/news/NewsManager.java
@@ -172,6 +172,23 @@ public class NewsManager implements ClientApp {
         return parseNews(newsContent, false);
     }
 
+    /**
+     *  The initial (welcome to i2p) news
+     *
+     *  @return entry with first-installed date stamp, or null
+     *  @since 0.9.28
+     */
+    public NewsEntry getInitialNews() {
+        List<NewsEntry> list = parseInitialNews();
+        if (list.isEmpty())
+            return null;
+        NewsEntry rv = list.get(0);
+        long installed = _context.getProperty("router.firstInstalled", 0L);
+        if (installed > 0)
+            rv.updated = installed;
+        return rv;
+    }
+
     private List<NewsEntry> parseInitialNews() {
         NewsEntry entry = new NewsEntry();
         File file = new File(_context.getBaseDir(), "docs/initialNews/initialNews.xml");
diff --git a/apps/routerconsole/java/src/net/i2p/router/web/NewsFeedHelper.java b/apps/routerconsole/java/src/net/i2p/router/web/NewsFeedHelper.java
index 5eaa3e362..89928da89 100644
--- a/apps/routerconsole/java/src/net/i2p/router/web/NewsFeedHelper.java
+++ b/apps/routerconsole/java/src/net/i2p/router/web/NewsFeedHelper.java
@@ -50,8 +50,15 @@ public class NewsFeedHelper extends HelperBase {
         ClientAppManager cmgr = ctx.clientAppManager();
         if (cmgr != null) {
             NewsManager nmgr = (NewsManager) cmgr.getRegisteredApp(NewsManager.APP_NAME);
-            if (nmgr != null)
+            if (nmgr != null) {
                 entries = nmgr.getEntries();
+                NewsEntry init = nmgr.getInitialNews();
+                if (init != null) {
+                    // crude check to see if it's already in there
+                    if (entries.size() != 1 || !DataHelper.eq(entries.get(0).title, init.title))
+                        entries.add(init);
+                }
+            }
         }
         if (!entries.isEmpty()) {
             DateFormat fmt = DateFormat.getDateInstance(DateFormat.SHORT);