AGP Executive Report

Rhode Island policy & economy: Gov. Dan McKee signed a law letting cities and towns extend bar and restaurant hours during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with alcohol service allowed until 3 a.m. and businesses potentially open until 4 a.m. between June 11 and July 3—aimed at boosting late-night revenue for local hospitality. Workforce & community investment: Citizens Financial Group is putting more than $1.65 million into Rhode Island workforce development and financial education, including a tuition-free banking training pathway with CCRI and an information security apprenticeship effort. Local nonprofit support: Centreville Bank Charitable Foundation awarded $562,000 in grants across Rhode Island and Connecticut, including $50,000 for Meals on Wheels to address storm-driven emergency food access. Workforce training expansion: Electric Boat is expanding training capacity at the Westerly Education Center, increasing the number of trainees by 40% as it ramps up hiring. Public health & safety: NASA confirmed a meteor “as heavy as an elephant” caused the double boom heard across New England, including Rhode Island, after a fireball broke up high in the atmosphere. Courts & accountability: The Rhode Island Senate is set to vote on a clergy sex abuse bill that would open a “revival window” for previously expired claims, with a July 1, 2026 start and a two-year closing date.

World Cup Economy & Local Hospitality: Providence is leaning into the tournament with a fan zone, discounted charter buses to Gillette Stadium, and thousands of Scottish supporters expected to stay in Providence-area hotels and dorms—while other states, including Rhode Island, have approved extended bar and restaurant hours to keep fans spending later. Federal Courts & DOJ Conduct: A Rhode Island judge sharply criticized Justice Department lawyers for misleading the court in a case involving a Rhode Island hospital and requests for gender-transition treatment records, adding to a broader run of judicial rebukes of federal attorneys. Retirement Savings Fight: Rhode Island’s AG Jay Jones joined a coalition of states opposing a Trump administration proposal that would loosen rules for retirement plan fiduciaries, potentially steering more money into riskier assets like crypto. Higher Ed Leadership: Roger Williams University named Dr. Brian G. Williams as interim president, tasking him with stabilizing the institution and advancing student success and academic priorities. Professional Services: Five New England CPA societies, including Rhode Island’s, are merging into the New England Society of CPAs effective July 1. Energy Costs: Rhode Island Energy is urging “whole home” cooling upgrades and offering no-cost home energy assessments to help residents cut peak-season bills.

Newport Hospital Funding: The Noreen Stonor Drexel Birthing Center won a $1.6 million state investment after Brown University Health said it was considering closing it, keeping the only Aquidneck Island birthing option open through at least FY27. Local Health Workforce: The R.I. Life Science Hub teamed with the Pawtucket Foundation on a Life Sciences Career Awareness Program aimed at underrepresented communities in Pawtucket, Central Falls and Woonsocket. Tech & Jobs: NVIDIA and Microsoft unveiled a new AI-focused class of Windows PCs, pitching the computer as a “teammate” rather than just a tool. Business & Development: Work begins June 1 on The Bellevue Newport Hotel’s infrastructure upgrades, with phased construction planned while the retail plaza stays open. Sports: Woonsocket High’s Villa Novans rolled to Division III baseball finals again after a no-hitter and 9-0 win. Community & Culture: Providence launched the “House of Portugal” Pavilion for World Cup programming, with events running June 3 through Aug. 1. Weather Watch: A meteor explosion over New England triggered a loud sonic boom heard across Rhode Island and beyond.

Cancer Care Breakthrough: A real-world study presented at the ASCO meeting suggests combining GLP-1 drugs with immune checkpoint cancer therapy could boost long-term survival and lower immune side effects for patients on PD-1/PD-L1 or CTLA-4 treatments. RI Health Watch: HHS launched a federal tick initiative as Rhode Island heads into peak Lyme season, with officials pointing to rising tick-bite ER visits nationwide and urging prevention and faster care. Meteor Over New England: NASA confirmed a meteor exploded over northeastern Massachusetts and southeast New Hampshire, sending a sonic boom that shook homes and triggered calls across Rhode Island and beyond. Local Business Leadership: UniBank welcomed Ed Augustus as CEO, highlighting his community banking push and ties to regional partnerships. Consumer Complaint With RI Connection: A Middletown couple says a $640 Trump-branded watch arrived missing the “T,” leaving “RUMP,” and they’re demanding a fix and apology. Local Governance: North Kingstown’s charter commission is restarting debate over whether to create a directly elected mayor and redraw voting districts.

Offshore Wind Fight: Rhode Island’s energy future is getting another headache as the Trump administration proposes steep new inspection fees for offshore wind, with proposed charges that could run into the tens of millions annually for large projects. RI Budget Watch: The Rhode Island House Finance Committee advanced a revised FY27 budget topping $15.2B, including a phased-in millionaires tax and a new inspector general office—now headed to the full House. Local Governance: North Kingstown’s charter commission is debating whether the town should elect a mayor and redraw into voting districts, with officials split on whether either change is needed. Health Care Leadership: Heywood Healthcare named UMass Memorial’s Dr. Kavita Babu as its new chief medical officer, signaling continued focus on community care and opioid response. State Hospital Site: Rhode Island’s long-planned replacement for the Zambarano campus is shifting into deeper planning, with Cranston’s Pastore Center emerging as a top option and raising local revenue questions. Community & Culture: WaterFire Providence is set for its 500th lighting, a major milestone for the city’s arts scene as World Cup visitors arrive. World Cup Economy: Rhode Island lawmakers passed a law letting bars and restaurants extend hours during World Cup matches, if local licensing boards approve. Prediction Markets: Federal regulators are pushing back hard on state rules for prediction markets, and Rhode Island is in the middle of the fight.

State Budget Showdown: Rhode Island House Finance advanced a revised FY27 budget totaling $15.2B, keeping the millionaire’s tax but phasing in the top rate increase over three years and scrapping a two-cent gas tax enacted last year; the plan also sets up an Office of Inspector General with $1.3M and 12 staff, sending the package to the full House June 5. Governor’s Race: Incumbent Dan McKee and challenger Helena Foulkes both launched early TV ads in the Democratic primary fight, with McKee attacking Foulkes’ CVS record and opioid-related claims while Foulkes counters on her own record. Prediction Markets Clash: The CFTC moved to intervene in Rhode Island’s lawsuit fight over whether the state can enforce its gambling laws against federally regulated prediction markets, escalating a broader federal-vs-state authority battle. World Cup Late-Night Law: A new Rhode Island measure lets municipalities approve temporary extended bar and restaurant hours during World Cup matches—until 4 a.m. for service and liquor until 3 a.m.—with local licensing boards deciding. Health Care Access: CVS Caremark reversed course and will restore Zepbound coverage on its formulary starting Oct. 1, after earlier exclusions sparked backlash.

Prediction Markets Fight: The CFTC has moved to intervene in Rhode Island’s lawsuit over whether the state can enforce its gambling laws against federally regulated prediction market platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket, arguing it alone controls the space. State Budget Watch: Rhode Island’s House Finance Committee is set to vote on Gov. Dan McKee’s nearly $15 billion budget, including the controversial millionaire’s tax and questions about whether an inspector general proposal makes it in. World Cup Late Hours: McKee signed a law letting municipalities temporarily extend bar and restaurant hours during World Cup matches—up to 4 a.m. for service and liquor until 3 a.m.—if local licensing boards approve. Health Care Leadership: Heywood Healthcare named Dr. Kavita Babu as its new chief medical officer and vice president of medical affairs. Higher Ed Investment: A new URI medical school is framed as a long-term bet on Rhode Island’s clinician pipeline and economy. Local Health Tech/Access: CVS Caremark will restore coverage of Zepbound later this year, potentially expanding access to GLP-1 weight-loss drugs. Marine Research: URI graduate researchers are studying how offshore wind structures affect Jonah crabs and local fisheries. Local Human Story: A Providence man detained by ICE for 56 days after a shoplifting arrest later dismissed is suing Cranston police and others.

Prediction Markets Clash: The CFTC moved to intervene in Rhode Island’s fight over whether the state can enforce gambling laws against federally registered prediction market operators like Kalshi and Polymarket, escalating a jurisdiction battle that’s already drawn multiple states into court. Housing Costs Scrutiny: A RIPEC report says Rhode Island’s housing strategy is producing too few units at too high a cost, arguing recent “enormous” investments aren’t translating into meaningful affordability gains for most residents. Local Governance & Development: North Kingstown’s Quonset Development Corporation board saw a new community member stress he won’t be “pushed around,” as major decisions set the stage for Electric Boat expansion and runway conversion planning. Medicaid Spending Watch: New data show Pawtucket Medicaid claims for ambulance and other transport services hit $512,793 in 2024, up sharply from 2023. State Policy & Public Safety: Rhode Island issued a statewide drought advisory, urging voluntary water conservation as precipitation deficits and low groundwater/stream flows persist. Elections & Privacy: Attorney General Jay Jones joined opposition to the federal KIDS Act, warning it could weaken child online protections and shift enforcement away from states.

Prediction Markets Clash: The CFTC moved to intervene in Rhode Island’s lawsuit against Kalshi and Polymarket, arguing federal regulators—not states—should control event-contract wagering, as the legal fight over Rhode Island’s authority keeps escalating. White House Construction Fight: About 150 Democrats filed a brief saying Trump can’t demolish or build on White House property without explicit congressional consent and funding, with Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse among the signers. Rhode Island Housing Impact Debate: RIPEC says the state’s more than $644 million in housing investment since 2021 isn’t translating into enough production, while the housing executive office disputes parts of the report. VA Mental Health Trial: The VA is launching an MDMA-assisted therapy trial for veterans with PTSD and alcohol use disorder, enrolling 80 across Rhode Island and Connecticut. Energy Costs Watch: Federal forecasts warn summer 2026 electricity bills could rise as demand climbs, with some states facing especially high-cost markets. Medicaid Spending: Woonsocket Medicaid claims for ambulance and transport services jumped 51.2% in 2024, and Cumberland saw a 20.6% increase for alcohol and drug abuse treatment. Housing Affordability: Mortgage payments for new buyers rose in April, with the median monthly payment climbing to $2,152 as rates edged higher.

Cybersecurity & State Workers: Beacon Mutual says a January ransomware attack exposed data tied to about 132,000 Rhode Islanders, including roughly 4,500 current and former state employees, with the state stressing its systems weren’t at risk. Local Government & Privacy: Warren is moving toward a first-in-the-state ordinance to regulate private use of automatic license plate reader cameras, aiming to curb unregulated collection of vehicle location data. Politics & Cannabis: Gov. Dan McKee nominated Michelle Reddish, the state’s top cannabis administrator, to chair the Cannabis Control Commission; the pick now heads to the Senate. Sports Betting Oversight: A coalition led by Ohio AG Dave Yost urged federal regulators to keep sports-related prediction markets under state control, arguing platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi function like sportsbooks. Health Care Workforce: New Mexico expanded its physician loan repayment program to tackle doctor shortages—an example that highlights how Rhode Island’s own smaller program compares. Public Safety & Housing: Rhode Island’s governor race ad battle heats up as McKee attacks CVS-linked opponent Helena Foulkes, while housing reports show more renters negotiating deals this spring.

Public Safety & Courts: A federal judge ordered Matthew Farwell to stay jailed pending trial for the 2021 killing of Sandra Birchmore and her unborn child, calling the government’s case “very strong, if not overwhelming.” Rhode Island Politics: Gov. Dan McKee launched his first TV ad of the campaign attacking Democratic challenger Helena Foulkes over her CVS record, while Foulkes’ team calls him a liar. Housing & Development: The R.I. Senate is set to vote on a faith-based affordable housing bill that would let faith groups build on their own land with streamlined approvals and statewide standards. Coastal Oversight: The R.I. Senate confirmed five of Gov. McKee’s six nominees to the downsized Coastal Resources Management Council, with one still awaiting action. Health Care: Care New England is cutting more than 30 leadership and nonclinical jobs to close an estimated $20 million FY26 budget gap. Local Economy: Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket rolled out expanded 2026 food options, including a new partnership with Green Line Apothecary for Rhode Island FC’s official ice cream. Tech & Education Connectivity: Mobile Beacon announced a national partnership with The Quilt to expand access to affordable wireless services for schools and libraries. Veterans Mental Health: The VA launched a Providence-area trial testing MDMA-assisted therapy for veterans with severe PTSD and alcohol use disorder.

Tick Season Warning: Rhode Island is seeing a spike in ER visits for tick bites, and the state’s own TickEncounter Resource Center at URI is pushing practical prevention tips as Lyme cases typically peak in July. Family Budgets Under Pressure: A new look at how teens order takeout and delivery with little thought for fees is fueling parent worries about spending habits and food culture. Politics, Up Close: In the race for R.I. governor, Dan McKee’s team is leaning on negative contrast as polls keep Helena Foulkes ahead—while local media scrutiny and Memorial Day remarks keep turning into campaign fuel. Local Governance: Richmond’s Town Council moved forward on a social media policy and a grant application to prep sites for future development. Health Care Crunch: Care New England says it’s cutting 30+ leadership and nonclinical jobs amid a $20 million budget gap and Medicaid reimbursement pressure. Civil Rights: The ACLU settled its Pawtucket lawsuit over a 2019 arrest of a 13-year-old honors student, with $5,000 in damages and changes to incident reporting.

Primary Care Crunch: A new HealthDay/Harris Poll finds 58% of Americans with a family doctor can’t get care when they need it—often because appointments are booked out or patients can’t even reach the office. World Cup Costs: Fans heading to the 2026 tournament are hitting “transit sticker shock,” with some rail trips priced far above what NFL fans typically pay, adding to already-high ticket, flight, and hotel costs. Rhode Island Health Cuts: Care New England says it’s eliminating more than 30 leadership and nonclinical jobs amid “unprecedented economic challenges.” Maine Politics Meets Sports: Maine Senate nominee Graham Platner doubled down on an ad accusing Red Sox owners of being harmed by private equity after the network pulled it mid-game. Courtroom Fight: A federal judge signaled she’s likely to deny a request for an evidentiary hearing in the Sandra Birchmore death case involving former Stoughton detective Matthew Farwell. Insurance AI Scrutiny: An insurer AI discrimination fight is expanding as regulators and courts press for fairness in automated claims and pricing.

Car Costs, Reimagined: Americans are paying more to own a car in 2026, with insurance alone averaging nearly $2,700 a year and traditional buying or leasing locking drivers into multi-year commitments—now newer, more flexible options like month-to-month leasing models are gaining attention. Energy & Grid Politics: New England governors, including Rhode Island’s Dan McKee, have urged federal regulators to reject a proposal that could raise electricity transmission rates, arguing it would hit ratepayers and weaken regional affordability. Local Business & Community: Rockland Trust is expanding its Providence investment management presence, while Coastal1 Credit Union donated 1,000 soccer balls statewide and BankFive marked a veterans flagpole ceremony with a $75,000 gift. Health & Legal Watch: A Rhode Island ethics ruling says clients are entitled to their client file materials, but not an attorney’s work product, and a separate national piece highlights new scrutiny of medical group governance rules. Memorial Day in Rhode Island: Ceremonies and tributes continue across the state, including a Portuguese and Luso-American veterans observance and other local remembrance events.

Airline Shake-Up: JetBlue says it will cut “underperforming” routes this summer and redeploy planes to grow Fort Lauderdale service—ending flights from New Hampshire’s Manchester-Boston, trimming Providence and Hartford routes, and reducing Newark flights. Memorial Day in Rhode Island: A Portuguese and Luso-American veterans ceremony is set for Monday, building on Rhode Island’s permanent Portuguese and Luso-American Veterans Memorial in Exeter. Flood Recovery: FEMA approved $182,000 for Chester, plus nearly $3.4 million across New England for public assistance and hazard mitigation after disasters. Health Care Leadership: Brown University Health is reorganizing Massachusetts leadership as it integrates underperforming Saint Anne’s and Morton hospitals. Local Food & Schools: CHS Urban Farming made its first lettuce delivery to a school cafeteria, turning a long-running garden into hands-on student nutrition. Tech & Fraud: Two U.S. executives pleaded guilty in a tech-support scam tied to India-based call centers. Brown Honors: Brown awarded honorary doctorates to six leaders at its 258th Commencement, including an AI pioneer.

AI Data Centers and Utility Costs: Consumer advocates are warning that the fast spread of AI data centers could push up electricity bills, hitting older Rhode Islanders and other fixed-income residents first. Local Schools and Power-Sharing: As Providence Public Schools move back toward local control, a coalition of students and families says the shift must include real community voice—not just a change of who holds the pen. Memorial Day in Rhode Island: The day’s ceremonies and flag-lowering tributes are set to mark remembrance across the state, including a Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery program Monday. Tech-Support Fraud Crackdown: Two former executives pleaded guilty in a U.S. case tied to India-based tech support scams that targeted vulnerable Americans. Housing Pressure: A new Zillow look at the hottest rental markets puts Providence at the top, with rents rising and concessions scarce.