AGP Executive Report

Rhode Island Ethics & Energy: Top House leaders disclosed which 2026 General Assembly votes they recused from, including measures affecting grocery restrictive covenants, self-checkout limits, and a budget energy article that backed hydro and nuclear as “clean.” Healthcare Leadership: Wood River Health added four board members with healthcare, compliance, and finance experience, including two who are patients. Public Health Research: A new study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society found BMI and waist size don’t tell the same story for older adults—waist circumference linked to higher mortality even when BMI is considered. Local Emergency Response: First responders in Sandwich raced to save an 18-year-old trapped in sinking sand at Scusset Beach, calling in heavy rescue teams. Privacy & Surveillance: A new NYU Policing Project scorecard found no state’s automated license plate reader laws fully pass privacy tests—Rhode Island is among those flagged. Business & Gambling: Bally’s, which runs two Rhode Island casinos, told regulators it has “substantial doubt” about staying financially stable. Community & Culture: Splendor of Florence is heading to Italy, and Rhode Island’s festival roots are part of the story.

Girls sports: Rhode Island is officially adding girls flag football to the varsity high school slate, with RIIL sanctioning the sport for spring 2027 after 16 schools petitioned—another step for more girls getting school-based competition and potential college pathways. Heat and fishing: NOAA reports July was the warmest on record in 132 years, and Rhode Island-area waters stayed unusually hot, pushing fish deeper and changing local fishing patterns. License plate reader fight: Westerly heard public pushback over Flock-style cameras, and Gov. Dan McKee has ordered a pause on new installations while state police review the tech; similar debates are spreading in multiple towns. Local rivalry: Cumberland and Lincoln are branding their cross-sport matchups as the “Battle of the Blackstone,” with points tracked across the year. Casinos: Bally’s, operator of Rhode Island’s two state casinos, warned investors about “substantial doubt” tied to liquidity problems, sending shares down sharply. Health & community: King Park Beach reopened for swimming after bacteria levels returned to safe ranges.

State Government & Privacy: Gov. Dan McKee ordered a 60-day statewide pause on installing or activating new automated license plate reader cameras and directed the Department of Public Safety to set uniform rules on privacy, data use, transparency, and local consultation. Local Housing & Homelessness: A University of Rhode Island study estimates 5,641 Rhode Islanders experienced “doubled-up” homelessness from 2020 to 2024—people excluded from federal counts. Public Safety & Health: Residents near a Tiverton fire station are pressing for answers after PFAS readings were found in private wells, tied to past use of firefighting foam. Transportation Infrastructure: Work on the Jamestown Verrazzano Bridge joint replacement shifts to eastbound lanes overnight starting 7 p.m. Tuesday, with drivers urged to slow down. Business & Community: FeedRI’s Field to Fork Farmers Market fundraiser pairs chefs with local farms to support the Feed the Future school pantry program. Sports: Rhode Island FC forward JJ Williams is set to join Hearts in Scotland after a transfer deal.

Surveillance Backlash in RI: Rhode Island towns are weighing Flock license-plate cameras as privacy concerns keep spreading, with officials citing data governance worries and residents pushing back on more monitoring. Barrington Community Boost: Barrington held a grand re-opening for the renovated Bay Spring Community Center, tied to a growing grant and new services for tele-health and job interviews. Workforce Funding: Rhode Island opened applications for Workforce Pell Grant providers, aiming to make short-term training programs more affordable for students. School Attendance Push: Gov. Dan McKee and Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green launched Attendance Matters RI, touting a fourth straight year of declining chronic absenteeism and millions of recovered instructional hours. Cannabis Licensing Update: A federal court order cleared the way for Rhode Island’s cannabis retail license process to restart under updated rules. Public Safety Incident: A bomb and shooting threat at South County Hospital in South Kingstown was found unfounded after police and bomb dogs searched the site. Local Business & Culture: Rhode Island signed legislation creating a Dominican heritage license plate, and Portsmouth is set to host a traveling American Revolution exhibit. Data Breach Alerts: National law firms are investigating major CSC and Paylogix data breaches that may affect Rhode Island residents.

Surveillance Backlash: Flock Safety is tightening privacy rules for its nationwide license plate reader network after more than 50 agencies canceled or paused contracts this year, with critics citing data sharing and misuse concerns. Local Safety: A Middletown man, 80, died after being struck while crossing Coddington Highway, according to police. State Politics & Community: Gov. Dan McKee ceremonially signed legislation creating a Dominican heritage charity license plate for Rhode Island. Environment & Wildlife: Rhode Island DEM is rolling out free fall programs, including “Bat Mythbusters” and “Bear Necessities,” plus hunter education offerings. Housing Market: Redfin reports U.S. homebuyers fell to a record low in July, shifting leverage toward buyers. Courts & Rights: Defense attorneys are seeking dismissal of a sweeping Rhode Island racketeering indictment, arguing the U.S. attorney’s authority was invalid.

Surveillance Scrutiny: Flock Safety is tightening privacy rules for its automated license plate reader network after dozens of Rhode Island and other local contracts were paused or canceled, including Providence’s $160,000-a-year system under review as the company moves to shorten data retention and limit data sharing. Local Politics: Gov. Dan McKee heads into the Sept. 9 Democratic primary without party backing, trailing Helena Foulkes while voters rate his roads, cost of living and economy performance poorly. Courts & Public Safety: Defense attorneys are seeking dismissal of a sweeping Rhode Island racketeering indictment, arguing the U.S. attorney’s office lacked proper authority after an interim term expired. Consumer Watch: Rhode Island shoppers may see fewer options in disputes as Amazon reinstates binding arbitration and a class-action waiver, while the state weighs right-to-repair bills that would make it easier to fix owned devices. Health & Environment: A Tiverton private-well test found PFAS “forever chemicals” at more than 20 times the state limit, raising fears about how long contamination may have gone unnoticed.

PFAS Water Scare in Tiverton: A Providence Journal test found PFAS in a private well at more than 20 times Rhode Island’s safety limit, raising fears about how long contamination may have gone unnoticed and what nearby families could be facing. Flock Camera Backlash: Rhode Island communities continue to question automated license plate readers as privacy and data-sharing concerns drive contract cancellations and tighter safeguards nationwide, with Rhode Island towns including Glocester, Narragansett, and South Kingstown pulling back. Right to Repair Push: Rhode Island lawmakers are weighing bills that would let consumers fix more of what they own, following a national surge in right-to-repair laws. Democratic Primary Watch: Gov. Dan McKee heads into the Sept. 9 Democratic primary without party backing, trailing Helena Foulkes amid low ratings on roads, bridges, and the cost of living. Blue Economy Defense Investment: L3Harris opened a new 50,000-square-foot Providence facility at ProvPort to support undersea training systems for the U.S. Navy and allied forces. Local Business Recovery: Pat’s Pastured is back at the farmers market after a truck fire destroyed inventory and equipment, with community donations helping the farm rebuild.

Flock Safety Backlash: Rhode Island towns and cities keep pulling back from automated license-plate cameras as privacy concerns grow; Foster tabled a move to remove its two cameras pending a company appearance, while Providence’s contract is set to expire in October and the company says it’s tightening rules like shorter data retention and limits on data sharing. Blue Economy Boost: L3Harris opened a new 50,000-square-foot Providence facility at ProvPort to build undersea training systems for the U.S. Navy and allied forces. Dem Primary Watch: Gov. Dan McKee heads into the Sept. 9 Democratic primary without party backing, trailing Helena Foulkes in polling and facing low marks on roads, bridges, and the cost of living. Energy Bills Fight: Attorney General Peter Neronha urged the Public Utilities Commission to reject Rhode Island Energy’s request to raise its profit margin as part of a major rate increase. Local Recovery: Pat’s Pastured is back at the farmers market after a truck explosion destroyed its refrigerated delivery vehicle and about $150,000 in inventory. Consumer/Finance: Amazon reinstated binding arbitration and a class-action waiver for Rhode Island shoppers, while Graduate PLUS is phased out for new borrowers, pushing more students toward private loans.

Surveillance Scrutiny: Flock Safety says it’s tightening privacy rules for its automated license plate reader network, including cutting data retention to seven days and adding limits on data sharing as more towns question the cameras. Local Governance: Foster tabled a move to remove its two Flock cameras after residents pushed for answers on where data goes and how long it’s kept. Consumer Rights: Amazon reinstated binding arbitration and a class-action waiver in Rhode Island, shifting many disputes away from court while small claims still remain available up to the state’s $5,000 cap. Public Health: Rhode Island confirmed West Nile Virus in mosquito samples in Cranston, Providence, and North Providence, with no human cases reported so far. Energy & Rates: AG Peter Neronha urged the PUC to reject Rhode Island Energy’s request to raise its profit margin as part of a major rate increase. Transportation Planning: Amtrak’s New Haven-to-Providence rail capacity study will hold a public comment stop at Scarborough North State Beach Sunday. Environment: Tiverton residents are facing PFAS contamination concerns after private wells tested at extremely high levels. Community & Culture: Gov. Dan McKee signed a bill creating a Dominican heritage charity license plate.

Surveillance & Privacy in RI: Foster tabled a plan to remove its two Flock Safety license-plate reader cameras after residents pressed for answers on where data goes and how long it’s kept; Cumberland also approved a stricter school phone policy with device searches limited to administrators. Public Safety: West Nile Virus was confirmed in mosquito samples from Cranston, Providence, and North Providence, with the state risk level staying high. Energy & Cost of Living: AG Peter Neronha urged the Public Utilities Commission to reject Rhode Island Energy’s request to raise its profit margin to 10.75% in a major rate case. Housing & Community: Block Island’s Housing Board outlined a phased plan to build eight modular buildings and sell the first 10 units to fund the rest. Health & Policy: A report highlights how Medicaid income caps can cost disabled workers the home care that makes their jobs possible. Local Events: Amtrak’s New Haven-to-Providence rail capacity study team will hold a public Q&A at Scarborough North State Beach Sunday.

Flock Cameras Backlash: Rhode Island’s use of automated license plate reader cameras is under fresh scrutiny as more towns nationwide cancel or let Flock contracts lapse, citing privacy and data control worries. Local Housing Push: Quonset Development Corp. and Moran Properties plan 140 workforce housing units at Quonset Business Park, aiming to ease a housing shortage that’s hurting hiring and retention. Pawtucket Revitalization: Dexter Street Commons in Pawtucket opens after a $55 million mixed-use build, adding 150 all-electric apartments near transit with middle-income set-asides. Workforce & Cost of Living: A new federal analysis finds grocery workers are heavily reliant on Medicaid and SNAP, with Rhode Island and Maine showing especially strong links between grocery jobs and the safety net. Back-to-School Help: Providence Place and partners will hand out 300+ free backpacks and supplies Aug. 15. Elections & Federal Pressure: Democrats across states are preparing for possible federal interference in November voting, as election-security concerns ramp up.

Flock Safety Fallout in RI: South Kingstown’s council demanded state police remove a license-plate camera they say they only learned about from a news story—after the town ended its own Flock contract, joining Glocester and Narragansett in canceling deals amid privacy backlash. Local Governance & Public Safety: Foster’s council is set to debate its remaining Flock cameras as the controversy spreads across Rhode Island. Gun Policy Ripple: The DOJ won’t appeal a Texas ruling that deregulates parts of the federal silencer/suppressor process, leaving states like California in limbo. Providence Politics: The Providence Teachers Union election was overturned over notice and proxy voting issues, sending the union back to the drawing board. Energy & Industry: Ørsted says Connecticut’s Revolution Wind is over 95% complete and on track for full operation by end of 2026. Health: RIDOH recommends closing King Park Beach swimming due to high bacteria counts. Business & Defense: L3Harris opened a new ProvPort maritime production facility for undersea training systems. Culture & Community: Newport is getting a harm-reduction vending machine with free supplies, including Narcan and fentanyl test strips. Sports & Local Pride: Tuxpan Taqueria in Central Falls made The New York Times’ list of top Mexican restaurants in New England.

State Courts: Gov. Dan McKee nominated Superior Court Judge Luis Matos to the Rhode Island Supreme Court, skipping former House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi; lawmakers say they won’t consider any nominee until after the Nov. 3 election. Local Governance & Privacy: Flock Safety’s license-plate reader business is losing municipal contracts as cities cite privacy and data-ownership concerns, adding fuel to Rhode Island’s ongoing surveillance-camera debate. Economy & Health: A GAO report says major grocery retailers, including Walmart, employ thousands of workers who rely on SNAP and Medicaid—raising fresh questions about “starvation wages” and taxpayer support. Public Health: Foodborne illness coverage is spiking nationwide, with experts pointing to multiple outbreaks of Cyclospora and other pathogens as summer headlines intensify. RI Business & Defense: L3Harris opened a $6 million Rhode Island facility at ProvPort in Providence to produce undersea training systems for the Navy and allied forces. Community Events: The Washington County Fair returns in Richmond with livestock, country music, and family attractions, while Kinney Azalea Gardens launches “Kids @ Kinney” nature learning for children.

Local Courts & Justice: Gov. Dan McKee nominated Superior Court Judge Luis Matos to the Rhode Island Supreme Court, while the state’s attorney general race heats up with four Democrats facing voters in a live TV debate. Public Safety & Crime: Rhode Island State Police Dive Team searched the Blackstone River in Woonsocket tied to a homicide case involving Gabriela Vallejo. City Hall Watch: Newport City Council set a special Saturday executive session on City Manager Colin Kennedy’s employment. Tech, Privacy & Surveillance: Flock Safety is losing municipal contracts as privacy and data-governance concerns mount, including a reported LAPD contract expiration over data ownership and sharing disputes. Economy & Jobs: L3Harris opened a new maritime production facility in Providence to build undersea training systems for the Navy and allies. Environment & Research: URI researchers are studying a parasitic wasp as a potential natural control for the spotted lanternfly. Sports & Culture: A one-of-one Cooper Flagg rookie card tied to Rhode Island surfaced in New England, with offers and auction buzz swirling. Community & Events: URI showcased land- and sea-research for local legislators and municipal leaders.

Solar Eclipse (RI): Rhode Island will see a partial solar eclipse today, with the sun about 14% covered at peak. In Providence, it should start around 1:03 p.m. ET, hit maximum around 1:55 p.m., and end about 2:45 p.m. ET—plus safe viewing tips if you don’t have eclipse glasses. Local Business/Industry: TYSON 2.0 is expanding into Rhode Island through Reborn Roots, bringing adult-use and medical products statewide. Housing/Taxes: Rhode Island’s new Non-Owner-Occupied Property Tax Act—dubbed the “Taylor Swift tax”—kicks in July 1, hitting seasonal out-of-state owners with quarterly state property tax bills. Public Safety/Privacy: Rhode Island’s license-plate camera debate continues as Flock Safety loses municipal contracts elsewhere over privacy and data-ownership concerns. Education: Rhode Island students more than doubled AP scores qualifying for college credit over five years, with preliminary 2026 results showing 10,400+ qualifying scores. Community & Culture: TSF Newport will hold its 79th George Washington Letter reading on Aug. 16 at Old Colony House, honoring religious freedom.

Learn365RI Grants: Rhode Island officials announced $1.62M in new Learn365RI funding to expand after-school and other out-of-school learning, with awards going to Providence, Central Falls, Cranston, Newport, Pawtucket, Warwick, Woonsocket and more. AP Gains: Preliminary state data shows Rhode Island students more than doubled the number of AP exam scores earning college credit (3+), reaching 10,400+ in 2026. URI Study Abroad: Three URI students won Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarships for international study and internships in Denmark, Spain and Tajikistan. Flock Cameras Backlash: New Bedford temporarily suspended its Flock automated license plate reader use as privacy and oversight concerns grow; Glocester also voted to end its Flock program. Local Politics: In Rhode Island’s GOP CD2 primary, Vic Mellor declined a debate with Dr. Stephen Skoly, leaving no joint stage before voting starts. Sports Cards: A rare 1-of-1 Cooper Flagg rookie patch card was pulled in Rhode Island, with online estimates valuing it in the millions. Food Access: Central Falls launched a new Mobile Food Pantry to bring fresh food to neighborhoods, citing high SNAP reliance and transportation barriers.