Undersea Defense Tech: Raytheon and Composite Energy Technologies (CET) demonstrated Hadalus, a low-cost, long-endurance unmanned undersea vehicle, completing submerged at-sea launch missions for the U.S. Navy—an early step toward end-to-end autonomous undersea operations. Local Privacy & Cameras: Charlestown, R.I. says a stolen public beach camera was wrongly rumored to be an automatic license plate reader; the town stresses it was for live coastal conditions and public access. Cybersecurity for Utilities: Cyberattacks on water systems are renewing calls for enforceable security rules, as lawmakers weigh whether EPA can set minimum standards for drinking water and wastewater. Climate Extremes: NOAA reported July 2026 as the hottest month on record for the contiguous U.S., underscoring how heat waves are intensifying and lasting longer. Community Science in RI: URI highlights how volunteers help researchers track Rhode Island environments, from long-running water monitoring to new citizen science projects. Digital IDs: States expand phone-based driver’s licenses and passports for faster airport and checkpoint processing. Military Strategy: The U.S. Naval War College hosted Newport’s Future Warfighting Symposium, focusing on remote autonomous systems, space, deterrence, and joint operations. Health Tech Limits: Drug-checking can detect contamination but can’t determine whether a substance is safe to take. Tick Diagnostics: Tick Solutions Global launched TiCK TEST, a rapid at-home Lyme tick diagnostic that analyzes the tick in about 10 minutes. RI Courts & Housing: A federal judge struck down Johnston’s property seizure tied to an affordable housing plan, saying the town lacked legal authority.