Pharma Fugitive in RI Spotlight: A biotech executive tied to Immix Biopharma was arrested after decades on the run, raising fresh questions about how medical and biotech networks can mask serious criminal histories. Cranston Cannabis Licensing Fight: A proposed Cranston adult-use retail store at a former Pizza Hut site is stuck in legal limbo after the state didn’t issue a license despite approvals and a completed application, with investors now challenging the process. AI Costs vs. U.S. Rules: Chinese AI models are gaining U.S. users fast for everyday tasks, while states and regulators race to set chatbot rules. GLP-1 Access Gap: Medicaid coverage cuts are leaving Rhode Island and other states’ patients paying out of pocket for weight-loss drugs, widening a “haves vs. have-nots” divide. Shorebird Conservation Win: American oystercatchers are rebounding along U.S. coasts, including Rhode Island, after targeted conservation improved chick survival. Public Health Watch: Cyclosporiasis linked to shredded iceberg lettuce continues to spread across more states, prompting local stores to double-check recalls and push produce-washing guidance. Education Tech for Attendance: A new tool predicts which students may become chronically absent using existing attendance data, aiming to help districts intervene early. RI Policy & Research: URI-backed work supports the region’s flower industry with new growing-condition research, and Sen. Jack Reed is pushing for more funding to tackle tick-borne illness risks. Local Tech/Business: Nexstar’s stalled Providence TV expansion faces a new antitrust test tied to maintaining separation from Tegna during litigation.