AGP Executive Report

URI Ocean Tech: University of Rhode Island held a ribbon-cutting for its new Ocean Robotics Laboratory at the Narragansett Bay Campus, featuring a large indoor testing tank for ROVs and autonomous underwater vehicles—part of a broader $300M Bay Campus modernization. State Housing Tech & Policy: Gov. Dan McKee and the Rhode Island Executive Office of Housing launched the $5.2M Housing 2030 Municipal Neighborhood Revitalization Program, using 2024 bond funds to help municipalities acquire blighted properties and prep mixed-use, affordable housing redevelopment. Water Risk Watch: Rhode Island issued its first statewide Drought Watch since 2002, citing precipitation deficits plus historically low groundwater and stream flows as summer demand ramps up. Federal Grants Governance: Rhode Island readers get a national policy signal as House and Senate Democrats warn OMB’s proposed grants rewrite could shift federal funding decisions toward political appointees, raising delays and uncertainty for research and health programs. Blue-Economy Tech Contract: NOAA awarded a major technology upgrade and maintenance contract for the NOAA Ship Henry B. Bigelow, aimed at modernizing shipboard systems to keep East Coast fisheries research cutting-edge. Local STEM/Workforce: At ISTE Live 26, Rhode Island’s education commissioner urged districts to “protect what works” amid tighter budgets—focusing on literacy, curriculum updates, and smarter spending rather than chasing new tech.

Ocean Tech Boost: URI just opened its new Ocean Robotics Laboratory at the Narragansett Bay Campus, complete with a large indoor testing tank for ROVs and autonomous underwater vehicles—built as part of a $300M Bay Campus modernization and backed in part by $145M in bond funding. Workforce & Learning: Rhode Island Commerce launched a new Wavemaker Fellowships round to keep STEM, healthcare, and education grads in-state, plus more Innovation Voucher grants for R&D partnerships. Public Safety Tech: A Rhode Island diver used sonar to search the Seekonk River after a deadly crash, saying he could have located the vehicle faster if authorities had let him help. Policy Watch: Rhode Island became the first state to require staffing ratios for supermarket self-checkouts, with the law taking effect Jan. 1, 2027. Blue-Economy Pipeline: SENEDIA’s New England Submarine Shipbuilding Partnership hit 10,000 trained across the region, with Rhode Island tied to the maritime defense talent push. History Recovered: The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency identified Rhode Island 1st Lt. Franklin H. McKinney, missing since 1944, nearly 82 years later.

Workforce & Innovation: Rhode Island Commerce launched a new Wavemaker Fellowships round to keep STEM, healthcare, and education grads in-state, offering refundable $6,000 annual tax credits for four years, plus Innovation Voucher grants that require partnerships with local knowledge providers. Ocean Tech & Defense Training: URI spinout Juice Robotics secured venture investment and licensed four URI technologies to advance underwater sensing and communications, while SENEDIA’s New England Submarine Shipbuilding Partnership in Middletown surpassed 10,000 trained for submarine careers. Public Safety Tech: A Rhode Island diver used sonar to search the Seekonk River after a deadly crash, saying he could have located the vehicle faster if allowed to assist. Retail Tech Regulation: Rhode Island became the first state to require staffing ratios for supermarket self-checkout kiosks—one employee per three kiosks—starting Jan. 1, 2027, with other states watching. Climate & Water: Gov. McKee issued Rhode Island’s first statewide drought watch since 2002, citing low precipitation, groundwater, and stream flows. AI Skills in Finance: Bryant helped Navigant Credit Union train leaders on practical, responsible AI adoption for the financial world.

Local Water Policy: Gov. Daniel McKee issued Rhode Island’s first statewide drought watch since 2002, citing precipitation deficits dating back to June 2025 plus historically low groundwater and stream flows, and urging conservation ahead of peak summer demand. AI Workforce & Training: Former Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb and Gina Raimondo are co-leading RAISE US, a $500M+ effort to retrain workers for an AI-driven economy, with early partnerships in several states and ties to major AI and tech firms. Housing Funding Court Fight: A Rhode Island federal judge ruled HUD violated federal law in 2025 Continuum of Care funding notices, vacating the November and December 2025 rules and restoring the prior framework. Retail Tech & Consumer Impact: Rhode Island’s new self-checkout staffing law (SB 2342) requires grocery stores to maintain staffed lanes alongside kiosks, with ADA compliance and anti-theft monitoring rules. Research in Narragansett Bay: A new study links water quality and gear type to Eastern oyster growth in Narragansett Bay, supporting more data-driven aquaculture decisions. Public Safety Tech: Bristol’s July 4 concerts return to Independence Park with new vehicle-stopping “Meridian Archer” barriers funded by a federal grant.

URI Medical School Push: URI trustees approved the next phase of a public medical school development, including a national search for a founding dean and curriculum planning, backed by a $5M state investment aimed at easing Rhode Island’s physician shortage. Defense & Jobs: Gov. Dan McKee announced $8M in incentives, including $6.2M in tax credits for Raytheon’s Portsmouth expansion tied to air-and-missile defense testing and 150 new jobs. Maritime Research Contract: JAG Ketchikan won a $99.6M NOAA contract to extend the service life of the Rhode Island-based fisheries survey ship Henry B. Bigelow, with work starting June 6 and running into 2029. Public Safety Tech: Bristol’s Fourth of July concerts returned to Independence Park with new vehicle-stopping barriers funded by a $192,700 federal grant. Healthcare Access: Brown University Health is ending its Medicare Advantage contract with UnitedHealthcare, affecting about 1,900 seniors and people with disabilities, with a CMS special enrollment window offering limited options. Housing First Legal Update: A Rhode Island federal judge ruled HUD’s homelessness grant changes violated federal law by not adequately considering consequences, though the funding cuts weren’t fully blocked. Water & Health Monitoring: EPA’s draft drinking-water monitoring plan drew backlash for omitting microplastics from UCMR 6. Workforce Training: VMEC promoted an advanced manufacturing CNC boot camp open house and training track for job-ready skills. Library Policy: Jefferson-Madison Regional Library will drop most overdue fees starting July 1, unfreezing many accounts.

Medicare Access in RI: A Rhode Island federal judge blocked part of HUD’s push away from Housing First, warning the change could worsen homelessness; separately, Brown University Health is ending its Medicare Advantage contract with UnitedHealthcare, leaving about 1,900 seniors and disabled residents scrambling for new providers. State Tech & Business: Gov. Dan McKee announced $8M in business incentives, including $6.2M in tax credits for Raytheon’s Portsmouth expansion tied to 150 new jobs. Education Spend vs Results: RIPEC says Rhode Island’s K-12 spending is among the nation’s highest, but student outcomes are only middling, with limited oversight of how funds are used. Cyber & Robotics Pipeline: CCRI Newport is offering free week-long robotics and cybersecurity summer camps for grades 7–10 using CyberPatriot-style hands-on training. Marine Tech: URI opened its Ocean Robotics Laboratory with an underwater ribbon cutting, boosting local research capacity. Energy & Regulation: California AG Bonta urged DOE to withdraw its proposed “Sunset Rule,” while EPA faced backlash for a drinking-water monitoring plan that omits microplastics. Community & Daily Life: Jefferson-Madison Regional Library will drop most overdue fees starting July 1, and a new Rhode Island-related self-checkout law forces staffing and ADA-compliant lane rules for retailers.

URI Ocean Robotics Laboratory: The University of Rhode Island cut the ribbon on a new Ocean Robotics Laboratory at its Narragansett Bay Campus, part of a $300M revitalization, with underwater robotics demos and a test tank built to support sea-ready instruments and public-private research. Workforce Tech Pipeline: CCRI Newport is launching free, week-long robotics and cybersecurity summer camps for grades 7–10, using hands-on CyberPatriot-style training and a robotics-cybersecurity track. Marine Tech Leadership: Navtronics named Gary Morrissette Northeast Sales Manager, expanding sales leadership across its seven New England locations serving boat owners and OEMs. Health & Aging Research: Brown University researchers report the shingles vaccine may lower dementia risk in older adults, with one in 17 dementia cases potentially preventable. Ocean Life Watch: Atlantic Shark Institute researchers documented great white sharks feeding on a dead whale near Block Island, highlighting how carcasses create rare feeding hotspots. Policy Fight Over Care: A coalition of states sued the Trump administration over Medicaid work requirements, challenging how CMS defines the “medically frail” exemption. Local Tech/Community: PACE-RI appointed Dr. Katharine Darland as chief medical officer as it expands integrated care for older adults.

Ocean Tech & Research: URI opened its Ocean Robotics Laboratory at the Narragansett Bay Campus, with a new test tank and robotics gear meant to support sea-based science alongside NSF’s regional research vessel. Public Health & Aging: Brown researchers report the shingles vaccine may lower dementia risk in older adults, estimating up to 1 in 17 cases potentially prevented. Environment & Health: Multiple studies link microplastics to health concerns, while new work highlights plastics-laden plaque in neck arteries may raise stroke and heart risk. Local Science Monitoring: URI tagged four bobcat kittens with help from state wildlife partners, using GPS-collared mothers to track the spring litter. STEM & Learning: Rhode Island Commerce is accepting applications for Innovation Voucher Grants, aimed at helping businesses work with research partners. Policy & Energy: The IRS updated its “energy community” maps for clean-energy tax credits, which could change project economics for developers in qualifying areas. Weather Alert: A “mega heat dome” is expected to drive extreme heat and dangerous overnight conditions across much of the U.S., including the Northeast. Higher Ed Integrity: A Brown professor says AI cheating on an exam at the university is widespread, raising alarms about academic integrity.

Emergency Communications: INDIGITAL’s MEVO platform earned third-party recognition for keeping 911 call handling running during major outages, including Starlink-backed continuity during Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Public Health & Environment: Vermont became the first state to ban paraquat, a weed killer tied to Parkinson’s concerns, while New England faces a surging tick-borne virus spotlighted via a Powassan link traced back to a 1958 death. RI Health Leadership: PACE-RI named Dr. Katharine Darland as its new chief medical officer as the organization expands integrated care for more than 500 enrolled older adults. RI Science in Action: Volunteers pulled invasive water chestnuts from Lake Quinsigamond, and URI tagged four bobcat kittens in partnership with state and wildlife groups. Higher Ed & AI Integrity: A Brown University professor says mass AI cheating hit an exam, raising alarms about academic integrity. Coastal Data Tools: Block Island launched its first CoastSnap station so residents can photograph shoreline changes over time. Water Supply Watch: Rhode Island issued its first statewide drought watch since 2002, urging conservation as groundwater and streamflows remain historically low.

Wildlife & Research: URI tagged four bobcat kittens in spring, born May 8–10 to two GPS-collared female bobcats, with residents invited to submit sightings/photos. Environmental Science: A new method measures PFAS-linked “microfluoroplastics,” extracting and identifying fluoropolymer microplastics from dust, suspended particles, and sediment using reference spectra. Public Health & Climate: Rhode Island issued its first statewide “Drought Watch” since 2002, citing low precipitation, groundwater, and streamflow heading into peak summer demand. Coastal Tech for Citizen Science: A new CoastSnap station on Block Island’s Crescent Beach lets people use a phone to upload shoreline photos for long-term change tracking. Higher Ed & AI Integrity: Brown professor Roberto Serrano alleges mass AI cheating on an exam, raising concerns about academic integrity. Healthcare Workforce: URI trustees authorized the next phase of a public medical school, including a national dean search and curriculum planning, after Rhode Island’s $5M startup funding. Local Tech/Policy: Rhode Island Commerce is opening applications for Wavemaker innovation fellowship grants.

AI & Academia: Brown University is facing a major academic integrity shake-up after a professor says AI-fueled cheating on a math economics midterm involved at least 50 students, raising alarms that “academic integrity is at risk.” Public Health: A tick-borne virus tied to a 1958 Ontario death is showing up more often in New England, with researchers pointing to changing tick patterns and harder-to-diagnose cases. Local Tech & Research: URI marked a milestone at its Narragansett Bay Campus with a ribbon cutting for the new Ocean Robotics Laboratory, boosting hands-on ocean research and training. State Policy & Water: Rhode Island issued its first statewide “Drought Watch” in 24 years, citing low precipitation, groundwater, and streamflow heading into peak summer demand. Workforce & AI: Former Gov. Gina Raimondo and Eric Holcomb launched RAISE US, a $500M-backed effort to retrain workers for an AI-driven economy. Healthcare Infrastructure: URI trustees authorized the next phase of developing a public medical school, including hiring leadership and starting curriculum planning. Privacy Compliance: Connecticut’s expanded data privacy law takes effect July 1, tightening requirements for businesses handling sensitive data. Innovation Funding: Rhode Island Commerce opened applications for Innovation Voucher grants, offering up to $75,000 for R&D partnerships with local knowledge providers.

Coastal Science on Block Island: URI and Rhode Island Sea Grant installed the first CoastSnap station on Crescent Beach, letting anyone upload shoreline photos from a fixed spot to track change over seasons and storms. Blue Economy + Robotics: URI held a ribbon cutting for its new Ocean Robotics Laboratory at the Narragansett Bay Campus, backed by state bond funding, with a test tank and underwater ROV work. Healthcare Workforce: URI Trustees authorized the next phase of a public medical school at URI, including hiring a project manager and starting curriculum planning after a feasibility study. State Innovation Funding: Rhode Island Commerce opened applications for Innovation Voucher grants (up to $75,000) to support R&D partnerships between small businesses and local knowledge providers. Workforce + AI Training: Former Gov. Eric Holcomb and Gina Raimondo launched RAISE US with $500M+ to pilot state-and-employer programs helping workers transition to an AI economy. Drought Watch: Gov. McKee issued Rhode Island’s first statewide Drought Watch since 2002, citing low precipitation, groundwater, and streamflow. Offshore Wind Career Prep: Nunez Community College students toured Rhode Island/Massachusetts offshore wind farms to feed lessons into its Wind Energy Technology curriculum. Privacy Compliance Deadline (Regional): Connecticut’s expanded data privacy law takes effect July 1, raising immediate enforcement risk for businesses handling sensitive data. AI in Courts (Regional): A Connecticut decision held expert-witness AI prompts can be discoverable methodology under Rule 26, with the order stayed pending review.

URI Ocean Tech: URI held a ribbon-cutting for its new Ocean Robotics Laboratory at the Narragansett Bay Campus, featuring an underwater ribbon cut with Rhody and signaling more research and workforce training for Rhode Island’s “blue economy.” Coastal Science: A new CoastSnap station on Block Island’s Crescent Beach lets residents use a phone to upload shoreline photos, building a long-term record of how storms and sea-level rise reshape the coast. Water & Climate: Gov. Dan McKee issued Rhode Island’s first statewide “Drought Watch” in 24 years, citing low precipitation, groundwater, and streamflow metrics and urging conservation. Workforce AI: RAISE US—backed by $500M+ and co-led by Gina Raimondo and Eric Holcomb—aims to retrain workers for an AI-driven economy with state and employer partnerships. Health & Training: URI trustees authorized the next phase of developing a public medical school, including hiring a project team and starting curriculum planning. Local Innovation Funding: Rhode Island Commerce opened applications for Innovation Voucher grants up to $75,000 for R&D partnerships with local knowledge providers. Renewables Skills: Nunez Community College students toured offshore wind farms to strengthen its Wind Energy Technology curriculum with real-world industry experience.

CoastSnap on Block Island: URI and Rhode Island Sea Grant installed the island’s first CoastSnap station at Crescent Beach, inviting residents and visitors to photograph the shoreline from a fixed spot and upload updates to track how storms and sea-level rise reshape the coast. AI workforce push with RI ties: Former Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo and Eric Holcomb launched RAISE US, a $500M-backed nonprofit aimed at retraining workers for an AI-driven economy, with pilots planned alongside major employers and states. RI innovation funding: 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 universities and hospitals. Offshore wind training in RI: Nunez Community College students toured South Fork and Revolution offshore wind farms to plug real-world lessons into its Wind Energy Technology curriculum. Ocean and climate pressure on RI fishing: A report highlights how warming waters and shifting ecosystems are complicating Rhode Island commercial fishing and quota management. Health innovation pipeline: NEMIC launched the next Health Innovator Pathways Program cohort, expanding free training for Rhode Island innovators building digital health, biotech, and medical devices.

AI Workforce Push: Former Gov. Gina Raimondo (RI) and Eric Holcomb (IN) launched RAISE US, a $500M-backed nonprofit aiming to help workers transition to an AI economy through state pilots, employer incentives, and retraining—backed by major tech and philanthropy partners including OpenAI, Anthropic, Amazon, and Microsoft. Local Research & Training: Brown University’s Watson School is standing up a Workforce Development Policy Lab to measure which training programs actually improve long-term wages and employment, and it’s partnering with RAISE US. RI Tech Education: Newport Area Career and Technical Center instructor Anthony Hanos was named Rhode Island’s 2026 Computer Science Teacher of the Year for leading a cybersecurity P-TECH pipeline linking high school students to community college and tech employers. Climate & Fisheries: Rhode Island’s commercial fishing faces mounting uncertainty as warming waters and shifting ecosystems complicate quotas and species management. Environment & Water: Warren restarted its oyster cultivation effort, seeding upwellers with 100,000+ spat, while Rhode Island issued a drought watch based on precipitation, groundwater, and streamflow metrics. Health Tech/Policy: A new look at Medicare Advantage highlights how “extra benefits” drive enrollment, while a separate report warns many retirees may outlive savings in 41 states.

AI Workforce Push: Former Gov. Gina Raimondo and Eric Holcomb launched RAISE US, a $500M-backed nonprofit aiming to retrain workers for an AI-driven economy, with major tech partners and initial state pilots. Local Research & Training: Brown’s Watson School unveiled a Workforce Development Policy Lab to measure which job programs actually improve wages and employment, partnering with RAISE US. Energy Policy Clash: Gov. Dan McKee vetoed Rhode Island bills that would have required large buildings to benchmark and report energy use, citing compliance burdens. Privacy Rules: New state privacy requirements would force businesses to assess high-risk data activities and tighten how sensitive data is disclosed. Health Tech & Data: A new report explains what Medicare Advantage ads promise—and what “extra benefits” can mean for seniors choosing Part C plans. RI Environment: Rhode Island’s brook trout stocking debate is heating up as wild populations decline and advocates argue over hatchery impacts. URI Science Spotlight: URI’s corpse flower bloom drew thousands in person and a record-setting livestream audience.