Privacy & Public Safety: Narragansett council voted to end its Flock surveillance camera program, joining a wider Rhode Island and New England backlash over license-plate tracking and data retention. Policy & Health: CDC data show U.S. shooting deaths fell in 2025 for a fourth straight year, but gun suicides hit a record high—an important split for public-health planning. Education & Tech Access: Rhode Island reported a major jump in AP exam participation and college-credit-qualifying scores, while Providence faces 30 teacher vacancies ahead of the school year under local control. Clean Energy & Courts: Clean energy nonprofits sued the EPA over canceled Solar for All grants, arguing the cuts disrupt committed savings and grid resilience. Biotech & Local Connections: Brown-trained physician Dr. Erica G. Schwartz was confirmed to lead the CDC, bringing biomedical engineering and federal public health experience. Business & Water Tech: Pentair agreed to buy Taco Group Holdings in a $1.4B deal, expanding smart hydronic and water solutions. Defense Tech & Industry: Commentary highlights how state industrial policy and venture-backed defense startups could reshape federal procurement—sometimes at the cost of long-term innovation.