AGP Executive Report

NIH Funding Boost for RI Research: Brown University is set to receive a $26M NIH grant to expand its Advance Rhode Island Clinical and Translational Research hub, strengthening a statewide pipeline from lab discoveries to patient care. Housing Data Reliability: A new analysis says tenant screening reports are failing landlords, with inaccurate or misleading eviction and court data potentially blocking renters unfairly. AI Safety Debate Hits RI: Rhode Island College’s Jim Langevin weighs in as AI-company critics warn of catastrophic risks, calling for more oversight and safeguards. Climate Courts Under Fire: A report details how a climate-education effort aimed at judges may be aligned with one side of climate litigation, raising questions about neutrality. Connected Vehicle Claims Tech: Agero and MOTER Technologies partner to use connected-vehicle data to speed roadside response and claims triage. Public Health After Birth: A Harris Poll report finds major gaps in postpartum mental health support, with Rhode Island tied to the broader debate via the Lindsay Clancy case. RI Coastal Restoration: Work begins on Ninigret Barrier Beach to restore dunes and marsh habitat by removing invasive plants and reopening tidal creeks. Local Tech & Community: URI’s free Science Saturday returns with ocean robotics and interactive exhibits on Narragansett Bay Campus.

AI & Safety: A Rhode Island College cybersecurity leader, Jim Langevin, weighed in on new “AI could kill us all” warnings, calling for faster oversight and more safeguards as Anthropic expands in the region. Health Tech & Research: URI researchers reported that waist circumference and BMI together better predict mortality risk in older adults, using long-term national health data. Local Health Care: Findley Dermatology in East Providence added Meighan Dingle Blanco, a nurse practitioner focused on medical and cosmetic dermatology, to expand access across Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. Cancer Fundraising: Swim Across America RI’s Narragansett event raised about $323,970 for Women & Infants Hospital cancer research, with nearly 1,000 swimmers and a total of $3.3M over 17 years. Climate & Courts: A new analysis argues climate-science training for judges was shaped by a coordinated campaign tied to climate litigation strategy. Coastal Resilience: Rhode Island’s Ninigret Barrier Beach restoration is underway to remove invasive trees and restore tidal creeks for wildlife and recreation. Connected Vehicles: Agero partnered with MOTER Technologies to speed connected-vehicle claims triage using real-time risk and data tools. Public Health & Maternal Care: A national study highlights gaps in postpartum mental health support, with Rhode Island tied to the Lindsay Clancy case. Invasive Species: Spotted lanternflies are spreading across 22 states, with Rhode Island among areas urging residents to kill on sight.

AI & Safety: Rhode Island College’s Jim Langevin says the “AI could kill us all” claim is worth taking seriously, calling for more oversight and safeguards as Anthropic prepares to expand in Massachusetts. Public Health & Care Access: A Harris Poll finds major postpartum mental health support gaps, with Rhode Island tied in through the Lindsay Clancy case. Agriculture & Invasive Species: Spotted lanternflies have spread to 22 states, including Rhode Island, and officials urge residents to kill them on sight to protect vineyards and other plants. Coastal Resilience: RIDEM, U.S. Fish and Wildlife, and Save the Bay begin restoring dune and marsh habitat at Ninigret Barrier Beach by removing invasive trees and restoring tidal creeks. URI Research: URI researchers report waist size and BMI together better predict mortality risk in older adults, using national data from 2011–2024. Maritime Tech: CSBC and Rhode Island-based Havoc partner to develop autonomous surface vessels for Taiwan, aiming to integrate Havoc autonomy software into CSBC-built platforms. Local Tech/Science Events: URI’s Graduate School of Oceanography hosts Science Saturday on Sept. 26 with ocean robotics and interactive exhibits at the Narragansett Bay Campus.

AI Safety & Policy: Rhode Island College’s Jim Langevin weighed in on viral “AI could kill us all” warnings, calling for faster oversight and safeguards as Anthropic prepares to expand in Kendall Square. Health & Care Gaps: A Harris Poll report finds many new mothers get subpar postpartum mental health support, with Rhode Island tied to the Lindsay Clancy case. Coastal Restoration: RIDEM, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Save the Bay kicked off dune and marsh habitat restoration at Ninigret Barrier Beach by removing invasive trees and restoring tidal creeks. URI Research & Education: URI’s Graduate School of Oceanography will host “Science Saturday” with free exhibits and tours, including a look at the Ocean Robotics Laboratory. Connected Vehicles: Agero (Urgently) partnered with MOTER Technologies to speed connected-vehicle claims and roadside response using real-time vehicle data. Public Health Research: URI researchers reported waist size and BMI together better predict mortality risk in older adults. Energy & Infrastructure: Constellation agreed to acquire Rhode Island’s RISEC from Shell, and Rhode Island Energy customers are among the first to get “Sense” real-time monitoring. Local Tech/Business: CSBC and Havoc signed a Rhode Island-based partnership to develop autonomous surface vessels for Taiwan. Environment & Permitting: Narragansett’s Narrow River dredging project cleared a key final approval, but officials face tight seasonal timing to start before year-end.

Coastal Resilience in Action: RIDEM, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Save the Bay have started restoring Ninigret Barrier Beach (East Beach) by removing invasive trees and plants and reviving tidal creeks to rebuild habitat for birds and strengthen storm resilience. Connected Vehicle Claims: Agero (via Urgently) partnered with MOTER Technologies to turn connected-vehicle data into faster, more visual claims workflows for insurers, cutting claims cycle times by up to three days in early testing. Health Research from URI: A URI-led study using data from 6,905 adults 65+ found waist circumference and BMI each add different, complementary information about mortality risk, improving how older-adult risk is assessed. Ocean Tech for the Public: URI’s Graduate School of Oceanography is hosting Science Saturday on Sept. 26 with free exhibits and tours, including a look at the new Ocean Robotics Laboratory. Marine Trades Opportunity: IYRS is accepting applications for its 2026 Glo Tech Scholarship, supporting women (25+) with experience in marine trades and advanced manufacturing. Energy & Infrastructure Watch: Rhode Island’s Narrow River dredging project cleared a key final approval, but officials still face tight timing and coordination to start before year-end. Policy & Tech in Healthcare: Senators Whitehouse and Cassidy unveiled the Pay PCPs Act of 2026, aiming to boost primary care capacity with hybrid payment models that include monthly per-patient rates plus fee-for-service.

Autonomous Defense Tech: CSBC partnered with Rhode Island-based Havoc to co-produce autonomous surface vessels for Taiwan, aiming to plug Havoc’s autonomy software into CSBC-built platforms and grow Taiwan’s supplier base. Health & Research: URI researchers reported that waist circumference and BMI together better predict mortality risk in older adults, using 6,905 participants tracked from 2011–2024. Education & Workforce: RIDE launched its BARR partnership with six Rhode Island schools, funding at least a year of implementation to boost attendance, engagement, and school culture. Marine Trades Upskilling: IYRS is accepting applications for its 2026 Glo Tech Scholarship for women in marine trades and advanced manufacturing. Energy Infrastructure: Constellation agreed to acquire Rhode Island’s State Energy Center (RISEC) from Shell for $715M, positioning the Johnston plant for Constellation’s ISO New England portfolio. Local Tech/Robotics: Aquidneck Island Robotics will host a FIRST Robotics open house in Middletown for students in grades 8–12. Environment & Water: Narragansett’s Narrow River dredging project cleared a final permitting hurdle, while Tiverton continues PFAS well testing after contamination was found. Public Safety Tech: Rhode Island’s DEM reminded hunters to wear fluorescent orange during the 2026–27 season.

Energy & Industry: Constellation agreed to buy Shell’s Rhode Island State Energy Center (RISEC) in Johnston for $715M, adding a 609-megawatt natural-gas combined-cycle plant to its ISO New England merchant portfolio. Health & Research: URI researchers report that waist circumference and BMI together better predict mortality risk in older adults, using 2011–2024 data from 6,905 people. Education & Workforce: RIDE is funding the BARR model at six Rhode Island schools with a $480,000 grant aimed at improving attendance, engagement, and school culture. STEM Pipeline: IYRS is accepting applications through Nov. 15 for its Glo Tech Scholarship supporting women in marine trades and advanced manufacturing. Tech in Action: Aquidneck Island Robotics will host a FIRST Robotics Competition open house Sept. 12 for students in grades 8–12, no prior experience needed. Policy & Public Health: The U.S. overdose death rate fell from 2023 to 2024, with naloxone access and harm-reduction supplies cited as key drivers. Civic Tech/Systems: A URI Fine Arts Center ribbon-cutting Sept. 14 highlights new space for digital art, recording studios, and classrooms. Community & Campus: A plane flew a “Brown 4 Israel” banner over Brown’s opening convocation, organized to support Jewish students amid rising antisemitism.

Endangered Species Act Fight: A coalition of 20 states and D.C. sued the Trump administration over new rules that narrow what counts as “harm” to protected species and weaken safeguards for threatened wildlife and critical habitat. Local Higher Ed Leadership: Bristol Community College named Emmanuel Echevarria as chief of staff, expanding oversight tied to government relations and Title IX. RI Tech & Defense Innovation: NUWC Division Newport’s BlueTIDE event in Narragansett Bay showcased in-water demos from tech firms aiming to speed Navy capability delivery, with Sen. Jack Reed highlighting the shift toward drones and autonomy. Research Funding Boost: Brown University’s health research push got a new $26M federal grant to expand clinical and translational work across Rhode Island. Housing Policy: Rhode Island’s “Taylor Swift tax” on high-value vacation homes is set to raise property taxes for non-primary residences, fueling debate over affordable housing funding versus impacts on owners. Public Health Prep: The American Lung Association urged New Englanders to get flu, COVID-19, and RSV vaccines ahead of respiratory virus season, citing higher risk for older adults. Forensics & Training: URI’s forensic lecture series returns Fridays this fall, bringing legal and lab experts to campus.

RI Politics Meets Tech & Infrastructure: CNN projects Helena Foulkes will defeat Gov. Dan McKee in Rhode Island’s Democratic primary, with the Washington Bridge closure and traffic chaos still a central issue. Federal Environment Fight: Rhode Island-linked attorneys general actions are part of a broader coalition suing to block new Endangered Species Act rules that narrow “harm” and weaken habitat protections. Navy Innovation in Newport: BlueTIDE 2026 at Sail Newport showcased in-water demos connecting NUWC Division Newport engineers with tech firms to speed future Navy capabilities. Space/Physics Research: A Pierre Auger cosmic-ray study used muon-scatter measurements to set the tightest-ever constraint on possible Lorentz invariance violations. STEM at URI: URI’s fall Honors Colloquium kicks off Sept. 15 with interstellar exploration talks from scientists and astronauts. Health & Data: FORE awarded nearly $1.82M in grants to improve how overdose and substance-use data reach state and local responders. Community Science: URI surf therapy expands to a pilot study for youth with blindness or visual impairment. Local Tech/Workforce: Marad designated 16 maritime training Centers of Excellence, expanding the workforce pipeline for domestic mariner training. Housing Signals: Realtor.com reports home listing prices falling fastest in post-pandemic boom metros as mortgage rates stay elevated.

Opioid Data Modernization: FORE awarded nearly $1.82M to three groups to improve how overdose and substance-use disorder data are collected and shared so state and local officials can act faster. Fiber Expansion: GoNetspeed plans to build a 100% fiber network in Amsterdam, N.Y., targeting up to 6 Gbps for 8,700 homes and businesses starting spring 2027. Cybersecurity Policy: Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse joined lawmakers urging the U.S. to sanction “hack-for-hire” firms by adding three to the sanctions entity list. Health & Research in RI: URI is recruiting youth with blindness or visual impairment for a surf-therapy pilot study, supported by a Fogarty Foundation grant. Tech & Business in RI: URI will host its second annual Tech Showcase Sept. 22 to connect university research and startups with investors and industry. Local Connectivity & Energy: Rhode Island customers are among the first in the U.S. to receive “Sense” real-time energy monitoring. Public Safety Tech Debate: Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee is calling for a pause on Flock plate-reading cameras amid privacy concerns. Vehicle Tech Recall Watch: A Washington Post investigation finds “park outside” recalls are rising due to vehicle electronics, not just EVs.

URI Innovation: URI will host its 2nd annual Technology Showcase on Sept. 22 (4–7 p.m.) at the Fascitelli Center for Advanced Engineering, aiming to connect university research and startups with investors and industry partners. Clean Energy Tech: Rhode Island Energy is rolling out the free Sense app for customers with advanced meters, offering real-time home electricity use, alerts for unusual activity, and personalized tips to cut bills. AI & Work in RI: Rhode Map Live returns Sept. 17 with a focus on AI and the future of work, bringing together government, higher education, cybersecurity, and tech leaders. Coastal Mobility Breakthrough: REGENT’s Viceroy Seaglider completed its first crewed flight over Narragansett Bay, a step toward commercial service and 2027 deliveries. Workforce Pipeline: URI Cooperative Extension is recruiting mentors and sponsors for its Agriculture and Food Systems, Energy, and new Environmental Management Fellows programs. Health Care Research: Brown University’s School of Public Health study maps how Medicare Advantage plans, postacute care managers, hospitals, and home health agencies coordinate referrals for post-discharge home care. School Meals Access: A new ProCare Therapy report ranks Vermont No. 1 for school meals in 2026, with Rhode Island among states running programs to expand access and reduce barriers.

Coastal Electric Transport: REGENT’s Viceroy Seaglider just completed its first human-crewed flight over Narragansett Bay—two captains aboard, a 30-second hop covering 1,956 feet at about 33 feet above the water—moving the all-electric wing-in-ground-effect concept into final sea trials for planned 2027 deliveries. Energy Tech in RI Homes: Rhode Island Energy customers with newly installed advanced meters can now use the free Sense app for real-time electricity monitoring, alerts for unusual activity, and personalized tips to cut waste and bills. Higher Ed Under Pressure: A new national report highlights how shaky college finances are hitting students—especially at small private schools—while policy changes and funding cuts add strain. Public Health & Research: Researchers in China described a new tick-borne virus, but the key takeaway for the U.S. is that the main tick carrier is already established in 21 states, raising the need for continued monitoring. Local Politics Meets Tech/Policy: Providence’s mayoral race is heating up around a ballot initiative tied to divestment from “foreign countries” over alleged atrocities, with antisemitism concerns adding extra friction for voters. Elections & Data: Coverage also points to low survey response rates and disputes over polling methods ahead of Rhode Island’s Democratic primary rematch.

Coastal Tech Breakthrough: REGENT’s Viceroy Seaglider completed its first human-crewed flight over Narragansett Bay, carrying two captains for a 30-second test at about 33 feet above the water—an electric “flying boat” that can switch between floating, hydrofoiling, and low-altitude flight. Local Politics: Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee heads into a Sept. 9 Democratic primary rematch against Helena Foulkes, with the Washington Bridge repair timeline and broader frustration with state leadership driving the race. Public Health & Policy: A new tick-borne virus described in China (ALTNV) is carried by a tick species already confirmed across 21 U.S. states, raising monitoring questions even as no U.S. human cases have been reported. Workplace & AI: Cardinal Robert McElroy used Labor Day Mass to warn that AI could reshape work so profoundly that the question becomes whether “meaningful work” remains. Healthcare Access: A URI survey finds some Rhode Islanders still can’t afford care even with insurance, underscoring cost barriers. Elections & Data: A Rhode Island primary polling story highlights lower response rates and disputes over survey methods as campaigns trade accusations.

Maritime Tech in Rhode Island: REGENT’s electric Viceroy Seaglider completed its first human-crewed flight over Narragansett Bay, carrying two captains for a 30-second hop at low altitude—an important step toward coastal passenger service. Coastal Science: Experts say warm-water shark sightings around Cape Cod, the Islands, and Rhode Island are becoming a consistent seasonal pattern tied to climate change. Public Safety Tech: Rhode Island Shriners will buy about 1,080 Guardian Cap helmet covers for 36 public high schools, boosting impact protection for football players. Local Politics & Tech Policy: Providence’s mayoral race is heating up ahead of the Sept. 9 Democratic primary, with housing affordability and city operations at the center as candidates David Morales and Brett Smiley trade visions. Elections & Data: A Rhode Island primary polling story highlights low survey response rates and disputes over new methods—an issue that tech-minded voters will feel. Weather & Planning: NOAA’s El Niño-driven 2026-27 winter outlook points to warmer, wetter conditions for Rhode Island.

Providence Mayoral Primary: State Rep. David Morales is challenging incumbent Brett Smiley, framing the race around housing and cost-of-living pressures he says he saw firsthand, while Smiley leans on his record in local government and argues Providence needs continuity heading into the Sept. 9 Democratic primary. RI State Politics & Infrastructure: Gov. Dan McKee faces a rematch with Helena Foulkes, with the Washington Bridge repair timeline and costs driving voter anger and campaign attacks. Coastal Science & Climate: A $4M NSF-backed project co-led by LSU and the University of Rhode Island (EcoCARE) aims to help researchers share data and build tools for coastal preservation, linking Louisiana wetlands work with Rhode Island salt marsh modeling. Marine Life Shifts: Experts say warm-water shark sightings around Cape Cod, the Islands, and Rhode Island are becoming a consistent seasonal pattern tied to warming ocean temperatures. Tech, Privacy, and Elections: Flock cameras are emerging as a campaign flashpoint as voters balk at automated surveillance tied to license-plate tracking. Public Health & Access: Rhode Island is among states facing pressure over healthcare affordability, with a URI survey highlighting that even with insurance, some residents can’t afford care. Education & Safety: Rhode Island Shriners Charities will buy about 1,080 Guardian Cap helmet covers for public high schools to boost football player protection. Weather Outlook: NOAA’s 2026-27 winter forecast points to warmer, wetter conditions in Rhode Island driven by El Niño.

Climate & Ocean Science: New England is seeing more warm-water shark sightings, and experts say it’s becoming a consistent seasonal pattern as ocean temperatures shift. Local Health & Education: A Rhode Island-based medical equipment company fired an employee after racist abuse tied to WNBA player Dearica Hamby, and the league says the person is permanently banned from games. Public Policy & Surveillance: Flock cameras are turning into a midterm campaign flashpoint, with candidates pushing bans or warrant requirements as voters question tech-company power. Defense & Innovation: Rhode Island hosted Defense Innovation Days, a major push to speed up defense tech deployment and address workforce shortages. STEM & Research in RI: URI’s water scientist Soni Pradhanang is sharing real-time insight on Nepal flooding and glacial collapse, linking her hazard and water modeling work to urgent events. Health Care Access: States including Rhode Island are challenging a rule that would cut Medicaid funding for transgender youth gender-affirming care. Energy & Weather: NOAA’s 2026-27 winter outlook for Rhode Island calls for warmer, wetter conditions tied to El Niño. Sports Tech & Safety: Rhode Island Shriners will buy about 1,080 Guardian Cap helmet covers for public high schools.