AGP Executive Report

Corrections & Workforce Funding: Rhode Island Department of Corrections won $1.7M in federal earmarks to modernize its aging transportation fleet and expand Rhode Island Correctional Industries job training. Transportation Infrastructure: RIDOT will open a new Route 1 (Post Road) North to Route 37 West ramp in Warwick on Sept. 11, while closing the old looping on-ramp as bridge demolition continues. Energy Reliability Planning: Block Island Utility District discussed how extreme summer demand hit peak loads and how winter spot-market needs can spike costs when contracted power isn’t available. Local Politics to Watch: Six Rhode Island General Assembly primaries are drawing attention next week, including Senate District 8’s Urso vs. Gena Felix matchup. Statewide Governance: Rhode Island’s Ethics Commission dismissed a complaint against Senate President Lawson, clearing the way for her to stay in the spotlight without that case moving forward. Elections & Mail Voting: AG Nick Brown and a coalition secured a court order blocking USPS from enforcing parts of a rule that would have disrupted vote-by-mail systems. Business & Transit: RIPTA unveiled 50 new Frontrunner paratransit vans to replace aging vehicles and expand service capacity. Industry Leadership Change: Peckham Industries, which has sites in Newport, named John R. Peckham interim CEO as leadership transitions.

Federal Drug Policy: Iowa moves to restrict kratom after officials warn it can cause severe medical emergencies, adding to a growing list of states that have banned or limited the substance. Healthcare Costs in Rhode Island: A URI poll finds 72% of Rhode Islanders worry about healthcare costs, and 29% skipped doctor-recommended care due to affordability—despite strong access rankings. Housing Production: The McKee administration announced $38.7M to support the production of 147 new affordable homes statewide through the 2026 “One Stop” funding round. Aerospace & Maritime Innovation: REGENT completed its first crewed Viceroy Seaglider flight over Narragansett Bay, a milestone toward commercial short-haul service. Energy & Tech: Rhode Island Energy launched a real-time electricity monitoring app for customers, while ChargePoint reported Q2 FY2027 revenue up 18% on higher demand. Food & Supply Chain: American Seafood Partners expanded into West Coast squid by buying Cal Marine Fish Co. Big Tech Legal Pressure: Rhode Island joins a multi-state FTC-led lawsuit against Amazon over alleged secret ad surcharge pricing.

Housing Funding: Gov. Dan McKee’s administration announced $38.7 million in “One Stop” awards to build 147 new affordable homes statewide, including multiple Newport projects. Aerospace/Maritime Innovation: REGENT completed its first crewed Viceroy Seaglider flight over Narragansett Bay, a milestone toward commercial service for the all-electric craft. Broadband Expansion: ConnectRI is bringing faster internet to downtown Newport, with GoNetSpeed’s fiber rollout expanding access to thousands of locations by 2027. Local Land Use: Newport’s zoning board approved an alternate plan to rehabilitate and convert a Coggeshall Avenue carriage house into condominiums, adding features like a garage and pool. Food & Safety: A major tofu recall linked to possible ink contamination includes Rhode Island among 29 states. Consumer/Tech Legal: Rhode Island Attorney General Jeffrey N. Jackson joined the FTC and a coalition of states suing Amazon over alleged secret ad-pricing surcharges. Elections & Politics: The Democratic primary for RI House District 36 pits incumbent Tina Spears against challenger Leah Boisclair, with coastal resilience and affordability at the center.

Regent’s Seaglider Milestone: Regent Craft says its full-scale Viceroy all-electric wing-in-ground effect prototype completed its first crewed flight off Narragansett Bay, a 30-second hop that the company frames as a step toward late-2027 deliveries. Energy & Rates: Rhode Island Energy rolled out a real-time electricity monitoring app for customers, while the PUC signed off on $170 million in energy bill credits for ratepayers. Water Infrastructure: Westerly secured the first $45 million loan for wastewater upgrades through the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank, kicking off an $85 million modernization plan. Housing Debate: A Rhode Island commentary calls out campaign “units vs. homes” language that blurs what gets built and who it serves. Local Business & Finance: Washington Trust in Westerly marked its long history as the country’s oldest community bank, and Amica announced Acel Silva will succeed retiring Sean Welch as chief claims officer. Workforce & Education: URI celebrated more than 4,000 graduates at its 2026 commencement, including students in industrial and systems engineering. Policy Pressure on Data Centers: PIRG is urging a two-year statewide pause on large data centers (50 MW+), pointing to costs, siting decisions, and grid upgrades.

Defense & Manufacturing: Regent Craft says its all-electric seaglider prototype, Viceroy, completed its first human-crewed flight on Narragansett Bay, starting final sea trials toward commercial and military hydrofoiling WIG craft. Energy & Utilities: Rhode Island Energy rolled out a new Sense Home app for eligible customers to monitor electricity use in real time, and the PUC approved more than $170M in energy bill credits tied to a settlement, bringing relief directly onto customer bills. Data Centers & Power Planning: RIPIRG is pushing a two-year statewide pause on new data centers of 50 MW or more, pointing to grid costs and local siting fights as Rhode Island Energy’s delivery tariff takes effect. Healthcare Policy: A coalition led by AG William Tong challenges federal efforts to block Medicaid funding for gender-affirming care for low-income transgender youth. Local Business & Jobs: Millstone Medical Outsourcing named Matt Weber director of business development as it supports medtech OEM launch programs. Food Safety: Hodo recalled more than 10,000 cases of chili crisp lightly fried tofu across 29 states, including Rhode Island, due to possible ink migration from packaging. Sports Tech/Policy: The NBA penalized the Clippers over a salary-cap circumvention case involving Kawhi Leonard. Courts & Local Governance: Rhode Island Superior Court dismissed Burrillville’s counterclaim against a resident over an artificial turf project, citing anti-SLAPP protections.

MedTech & Manufacturing: Millstone Medical Outsourcing named Matt Weber director of business development, betting on his 14+ years in MedTech launch and supply-chain execution to help OEMs speed new product introductions. Defense & Undersea Tech: Composite Energy Technologies (Bristol) was selected for NATO DIANA’s 2026 Mission Track, advancing its HADALUS modular autonomous underwater vehicles and scaling production for defense and commercial missions. Broadband & Local Infrastructure: GoNetspeed announced an $8 million, fully funded plan to bring 100% fiber to Carteret, N.J., targeting up to 6 Gbps symmetrical service for 6,300+ homes and businesses. Food Industry & Community: Stop & Shop kicked off its annual School Food Pantry Campaign, raising funds via customer roundups to support school pantries across Rhode Island and neighboring states. Consumer Safety: Hodo, Inc. recalled more than 10,000 cases of chili crisp lightly fried tofu after ink from printed packaging may have migrated into the product. Regulation & Big Tech: The FTC and 22 states, including Rhode Island, sued Amazon over alleged “secret ad surcharge” practices that regulators say overcharged advertisers by $20B+ over seven years. RI Research & Wetlands: LSU and URI won a $4M NSF grant to expand wetland science, linking Louisiana delta work with Rhode Island salt marsh ecosystems to improve restoration planning.

Amazon Ad-Fraud Lawsuit: The FTC and 22 state attorneys general, including Rhode Island AG Peter Neronha, sued Amazon alleging it secretly manipulated ad auctions and overcharged advertisers by more than $20 billion since 2018—Amazon denies wrongdoing. Clean-Energy Politics in RI: A clean energy super PAC is spending $500,000 on attack ads targeting Gov. Dan McKee, arguing his affordability plan undermines the clean energy transition. Local Labor: Teamsters Local 251 says a strike could begin as early as Sept. 2 at First Student, after talks stalled over supplemental agreements for school bus workers across multiple Rhode Island communities. RI Infrastructure: RIDOT scheduled bridge closures and reopenings in Woonsocket starting Sept. 11, including a six-week Wood Avenue Bridge shutdown and a River Street Bridge closure through year-end. Research & Industry: URI and LSU won a $4M NSF grant to expand wetland science, linking Louisiana delta wetlands with Rhode Island salt marshes. Public Safety Tech: Rhode Island’s 60-day review of license-plate readers keeps existing cameras running while other states move to pull permits. Food Safety: Hodo recalled 10,000+ cases of tofu across 29 states after ink from packaging may have migrated into the product. Community & Service: Vietnam veterans in Rhode Island push a long-awaited Vietnam memorial project forward.

Amazon Ad Lawsuit Hits Rhode Island: The FTC and 22 state attorneys general, including Rhode Island AG Peter Neronha, sued Amazon over allegations of a “secret ad surcharge” scheme that allegedly inflated sponsored ad prices for more than 1 million advertisers, with claims of tens of billions in overcharges. Local Rail Tech in Action: In Westerly and Pawcatuck, Amtrak’s contractor used low-flying helicopters to inspect railroad infrastructure and power lines along the Northeast Corridor, with work expected to continue through the week. Ocean Tech Comes to Newport: Ocean Business USA will debut in Rhode Island in 2027, bringing ocean science and technology exhibitions, training, and on-water demos to Safe Harbor New England Boatworks in Newport. Manufacturing Quality Update: A Rhode Island-focused industry note looks ahead to ISO 9001:2026, emphasizing changes around leadership, risk management, and managing organizational change. Healthcare Affordability Pressure: A URI poll finds 72% of Rhode Islanders are very worried about healthcare costs, and many say they’re skipping recommended care. Education Funding Boost: Community 2000 in the Chariho area marks 25 years by raising scholarships to $2,500 for the 2027-28 school year. URI Food for Students: URI’s free farmers market returns Sept. 10, with weekly produce from URI farms for students through late October.

Amazon Ad-Auction Lawsuit: The FTC and 22 states, including Rhode Island, sued Amazon alleging it secretly inflated sponsored ad prices for more than 1 million advertisers over seven years, potentially costing tens of billions; Amazon denies wrongdoing. RI Utility Rates: Rhode Island Energy customers face higher distribution fees starting Sept. 1 after a $138 million revenue plan approved by the Public Utilities Commission, adding to the year’s bill volatility. RI Food Safety: FDA recall alerts include Hodo Chili Crisp Lightly Fried Tofu (ink contamination risk) distributed in Rhode Island and a separate wave of buffalo chicken recalls tied to inspection problems. Workforce & STEM Pipeline: URI will lead a $4.6 million NSF S-STEM consortium with CCRI and New England Tech to expand engineering pathways, scholarships, and internships for students with financial need. Maritime Tech in RI: Robosys Automation won a top on-water demo award at BlueTIDE 2026, showcasing an autonomous landing craft and navigation integration for uncrewed operations. Energy Prices Watch: AAA reports Rhode Island gas prices rose 9 cents to about $4.13 per gallon.

Cannabis & Politics: Rhode Island’s cannabis legalization rollout is back in the spotlight as attorney general candidates Keith Hoffmann and Kim Ahern trade sharp attacks over stalled retail licensing and lead-safety claims tied to a rental property. Defense Manufacturing: Anduril is ramping up production of its autonomous undersea drones at its Quonset Point, R.I. facility, aiming for maximum capacity by end of 2027 and pushing a second, extra-large vehicle line this year. Energy & Grid: Maine regulators revived a major wind-and-transmission plan led by Central Maine Power’s parent, Avangrid—an effort that will also affect Rhode Island’s regional power costs and politics. Solar Policy: Rhode Island’s $49M low-income solar program remains stuck in limbo after EPA terminated the federal Solar for All effort, with litigation still unresolved. Workplace Safety: Hospital strikes tied to violence against healthcare workers and staffing shortages continue to spread, with Rhode Island named among affected states. Food Industry: USDA and partners recalled nearly 25,000 pounds of frozen buffalo chicken products sold in Rhode Island after inspection failures. Local Community: Peace Dale Library in South Kingstown reopened its renovated second floor, launching a Community Learning Center to expand local resources.

RI Attorney General race: A tight Democratic primary pits Keith Hoffmann against Kim Ahern, with both sides trading sharp attacks over lead-safety signoffs, cannabis licensing decisions, and potential conflicts tied to litigation. Defense & manufacturing: Anduril is ramping up undersea drone production at its Quonset Point, RI facility—aiming to max out the Dive-LD line by end of 2027 and finish a second, extra-large DIVE-XL line by year’s end. Energy policy: Rhode Island’s $49M low-income solar plan remains stuck after EPA terminated the Solar for All program; the grant is still tied up in unresolved litigation. Workforce & safety: Hospital strikes are being fueled by violence against healthcare workers and staffing shortages, with Rhode Island among the states seeing walkouts. Food industry: USDA and FDA recall nearly 25,000 pounds of frozen buffalo chicken products sold in RI and other states due to inspection failures. Tech & privacy: The FTC finalized orders over “Active Listening” ads, saying companies sold mailing lists instead of voice-targeting. Local community: Peace Dale Library in South Kingstown reopened a renovated second-floor Community Learning Center.

Food Safety: USDA/FSIS recalled about 24,900 pounds of frozen buffalo chicken products from Shanghai Ravioli Corp. after inspection lapses; shipments went to food-service sites in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont, with officials warning of possible undeclared allergens or harmful bacteria. Energy & Utilities: Rhode Island’s $49M low-income solar plan remains stuck after EPA terminated the Solar for All program in 2025; litigation is ongoing and the state’s rollout never moved past planning. Housing & Public Works: South Kingstown’s Peace Dale Library reopened with a renovated second floor creating a Community Learning Center, expanding local learning space in a historic 1891 building. Tech & Consumer Protection: The FTC finalized orders against Cox Media Group and two marketing firms over an “Active Listening” ad product that, he says, didn’t use voice data; the companies must pay $930,000. Workforce & Health Care: Hospital strikes are being fueled by violence against healthcare workers and staffing shortages, with Rhode Island among states seeing walkouts. Local Industry: REGENT’s electric seaglider push continues with new funding aimed at scaling manufacturing.

Energy & Policy: Rhode Island’s $49.33M low-income solar plan is still stuck in limbo after EPA terminated the Solar for All program in 2025, with litigation unresolved and the state plan never fully moving forward. Local Development: Pawtucket’s redevelopment agency is advancing three competing proposals for the long-shuttered Apex site, aiming for a mix of housing, hotels, and retail at the 20-acre “Downtown Gateway” property. Workforce & Industry Growth: REGENT’s electric seaglider push keeps scaling—its Series B funding tops $240M as the company ramps manufacturing for high-speed ocean robotics. Housing & Community Services: South Kingstown’s Peace Dale Library reopened with a renovated second floor Community Learning Center, expanding learning space across the state’s growing network. Food Safety: USDA recalled nearly 25,000 pounds of frozen buffalo chicken shipped to RI and other states after inspection lapses and false inspection marks were found. Tech & Public Safety: New Hampshire’s debate over Flock-style license-plate camera use highlights growing concerns about data sharing and retention. Regional Environment: New Englanders are increasingly turning invasive green crabs into premium food products and even whiskey, aiming to reduce ecological damage while creating new markets.

Solar Policy Standoff: Rhode Island’s $49.33M low-income solar expansion is still stuck after the EPA terminated the “Solar for All” program in August 2025, leaving the state in unresolved litigation and a plan that never moved past the planning phase. Civic Learning Upgrade: Peace Dale Library in South Kingstown reopened its renovated second floor as a new Community Learning Center, adding more space for programs while preserving the 1891 building’s historic character. Workforce & Training: Electric Boat and the New England Institute of Technology are expanding shipbuilding training in Warwick to prepare thousands of new workers, with a focus on scaling Rhode Island’s talent pipeline. Redevelopment Watch: Pawtucket’s redevelopment agency advanced three proposals for the long-shuttered Apex site, with plans that could bring new housing, hotels, and retail to the 20-acre “Downtown Gateway” area. Food Safety Alert: USDA issued a Class I recall for nearly 25,000 pounds of frozen buffalo chicken products shipped to Rhode Island after inspection marks were found to be false.

Food Safety Watch: USDA/FSIS issued a Class I recall of nearly 25,000 pounds of frozen buffalo chicken products made by Shanghai Ravioli Corp., citing a lapse in inspection and false inspection marks; shipments went to food-service locations in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont, and officials warn some items may still be in freezers. Energy & Consumer Impact: Rhode Island regulators closed Rhode Island Energy’s rate case with one year of increases (not two), no profit-rate hike, and accelerated bill credits worth more than $170 million that begin showing up in October. Local Development: Pawtucket’s Redevelopment Agency advanced three proposals to reimagine the long-shuttered Apex department store site, with plans for future housing, hotels and retail at the 20-acre “Downtown Gateway” area. Transit & Infrastructure: RIPTA board action and planning updates continue around Providence’s bus hub/transit center work, with design and relocation decisions moving forward. Public Policy: A coalition of states won a temporary restraining order blocking a USPS rule that would have disrupted vote-by-mail systems ahead of the Nov. 3 midterms. Tech & Privacy Debate: Flock automated license-plate reader use remains a flashpoint, with Rhode Island-area attention focused on how quickly the technology is spreading and what oversight should look like.

Utility & Energy Costs: Rhode Island regulators closed Rhode Island Energy’s rate case with one year of increases (not two), no profit-rate hike, and accelerated electric bill credits starting in October, tied to a 2022 tax dispute. Tech & Consumer Protection: Rhode Island is set to receive at least $49.4M (up to $64.5M) from the Meta teen-safety settlement, which would automatically apply new Instagram/Facebook limits for ages 13–17 and tighten age identification. Maritime Manufacturing & Defense: REGENT Craft, the Rhode Island seaglider startup, announced a $240M Series B to scale production in-state and pursue defense-linked unmanned projects. Food Safety: USDA/FSIS issued a Class I recall for nearly 25,000 pounds of frozen buffalo chicken products shipped to RI and other New England states after false inspection marks were found. Transit & Downtown Planning: RIPTA board action to advance Providence’s Transit Center design phase has reignited debate over moving the bus hub away from Kennedy Plaza. Housing: Warren’s “Penny Lane” affordable housing project is reported 25–30% complete and still targeting summer 2027 delivery despite weather delays.