Grocery Retail & Jobs: Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee signed the Self-Service Checkout Stations Act, making the Ocean State the first to require staffing ratios at self-checkout: one manually staffed cashier lane for every three self-checkout stations, with the self-checkout monitor barred from other duties and at least one ADA-accessible station. Workforce Development: Rhode Island Commerce opened applications for its Innovation Voucher Program, offering up to $75,000 for R&D partnerships between small businesses and local knowledge providers like colleges, hospitals, and research institutions. Accounting & Professional Services: McKee also signed a CPA bill into law that adds an alternative “bachelor’s plus two” path to licensure without the usual 150-credit requirement, aligning Rhode Island’s rules with the Uniform Accountancy Act. AI Transition: A new $500 million initiative, RAISE US, backed by former Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and former Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb, aims to retrain workers for an AI-driven economy. Offshore Wind Training: Nunez Community College sent students and instructors to Rhode Island and Massachusetts offshore wind farms to strengthen its Wind Energy Technology curriculum with hands-on industry exposure. Veterinary Access on Block Island: New Shoreham’s council approved zoning changes to allow veterinary services via trailers, supporting expanded on-island care.