AGP Executive Report

Immigration Court Fight: A federal judge in Rhode Island blocked parts of the Trump administration’s immigration limits tied to migrants from 38 terrorist-harboring countries, ordering asylum processing to restart—setting up another high-stakes legal showdown over national security and asylum access. Public Safety & Health: An East Providence man, 92, died after being struck by a vehicle in a Shaw’s parking lot; police say the driver stayed on scene and is cooperating. Healthcare Costs in Rhode Island: Care New England reported a $35.4 million operating loss in the first half of fiscal 2026 and is cutting more than 30 leadership and nonclinical roles, citing Medicaid reimbursement, labor, and supply pressures. Community Care Grant: HopeHealth received a $200,000 grant to expand community engagement for grief support and palliative/end-of-life services for underserved residents. Local Economy & Downtown Landmark: Providence’s “Superman” building remains empty 13 years after promises stalled around the state’s tallest landmark, a visible sign of broader downtown office struggles. Medicare Fraud Prevention: Pawtucket hosted Medicare Fraud Prevention Week, with federal and state officials warning seniors about scams and identity theft. World Cup Watch: Boston-area officials urged residents to report suspicious activity as crowds swell, including targeted anti-trafficking efforts.

Primary Care Fight: CVS CEO David Joyner defended a Mass General Brigham partnership to bring primary care to CVS MinuteClinics, arguing access won’t drive up costs even as Rhode Island’s Health Policy Commission-style scrutiny in Massachusetts questions whether reimbursement at MGB rates would add $40M a year. Health Care Leadership: Dr. Sidney Alexander, a cardiologist and cofounder of the anti-nuclear Physicians for Social Responsibility that shared the Nobel Peace Prize, died at 94. Rhode Island Health Crunch: A new look at Rhode Island’s physician shortage says the state’s primary care access problem is worsening, with residents facing long waits and fewer options. Immigration Courtroom Win: A federal judge in Rhode Island blocked Trump administration asylum restrictions for people from 39 countries, ordering asylum processing to restart. Local Politics & Voting Rights: Rhode Island groups are pushing a state Voting Rights Act plan aimed at preventing voter discrimination after the U.S. Supreme Court gutted the federal Voting Rights Act. Housing Pressure: Mobile home residents in another state are seeking to buy their park to avoid rent hikes, a reminder of how redevelopment can squeeze vulnerable communities. Consumer Costs: AAA reports gas prices are higher across New England, including Rhode Island, adding pressure to household budgets heading into summer travel. Tech & Money: SpaceX’s IPO is drawing retail frenzy, with guidance on how to buy shares and what risks come with the trade.

Immigration Courts in Rhode Island: A federal judge in Providence struck down Trump administration asylum and immigration policies that left people from 39 countries in “indeterminate legal limbo,” ordering asylum processing and benefit decisions to resume. Civil Rights in Schools: The Education Department is backing away from addressing civil rights for Black students, as critics say long-standing protections are being recast as “illegal DEI.” GOP Candidate in the Spotlight: Rhode Island congressional hopeful Vic Mellor is drawing scrutiny after being described as a self-appointed envoy to Cuba, including meetings tied to Raul Castro’s grandson, while the State Department says he isn’t authorized to speak for the U.S. Voting Rights Push: Rhode Island groups are advancing a state Voting Rights Act effort aimed at preventing voter discrimination after the U.S. Supreme Court gutted the federal Voting Rights Act. Health & Housing: A new Rhode Island research brief highlights “hidden homelessness” (“doubling up”) that Point-in-Time counts miss, while Central Falls Medicaid ambulance/transport billing rose to $141,975 in 2024. Community Spotlight: HopeHealth marked its 50th anniversary with a gala raising over $410,000 and launching a “Gift of Hope” campaign.

Federal Courts & Immigration: A judge in Rhode Island struck down Trump-era immigration policies that left people from 39 countries in “indeterminate legal limbo,” ordering asylum and other immigration processing to restart. DOJ Accountability: In a separate Rhode Island case, a judge referred DOJ lawyers for possible discipline after finding they misled the court in a subpoena fight involving Rhode Island Hospital’s transgender youth care. State Budget & Taxes: The Rhode Island House approved a $15.2 billion FY2027 budget, including a phased-in millionaires tax, with Republicans voting no and Democrats touting added funding for health care, families, and transit. Local Housing: Narragansett’s Affordable Housing Trust Collaborative secured dedicated municipal funding—$50,000 minimum annually plus new revenue streams from the conveyance and hotel taxes—while raising income eligibility to 120% of area median income. World Cup & Public Health: With World Cup travel ramping up across U.S. host cities, officials warn that weakened federal public health capacity could raise risks from infectious diseases. RI Culture & Community: Providence Roller Derby opens its home season in Warwick with a themed bout featuring the Providence River Rats vs. the Ravens.

World Cup Health Watch: With the tournament drawing millions of travelers to 11 U.S. host cities, public health officials are warning that weakened federal disease-prep capacity could leave the country more exposed to outbreaks like Ebola and measles. Immigration Court Win in Rhode Island: A federal judge in Rhode Island struck down Trump administration asylum and immigration policies tied to nationality, ordering asylum processing and benefit applications to restart for people from 39 targeted countries. DOJ Discipline in Trans Care Probe: The same Rhode Island judge referred Justice Department lawyers for possible discipline after finding they misled the court in a subpoena fight over sensitive medical records of transgender youth treated at Rhode Island Hospital. State Budget: The Rhode Island House approved a $15.2 billion FY2027 budget, including a phased-in millionaires tax, plus new funding for healthcare, families, and RIPTA. Affordable Housing Funding: Narragansett approved dedicated municipal funding for its affordable housing trust, including quarterly allocations from the real estate conveyance tax and hotel tax, with higher income eligibility. Sports Betting Push: Rhode Island regulators face renewed pressure to expand the online sports betting market beyond the current single app. Local Culture & Sports: Providence Roller Derby opens its home season in Warwick, and a Rhode Island-set indie film, “Rubber Hut,” begins production in Cranston and Warwick.

Affordable Housing Funding: Narragansett is finally putting real money behind its affordable housing trust, with a new ordinance requiring at least $50,000 a year plus quarterly transfers from the town’s real estate conveyance tax and an added 25% slice of the hotel tax, and it raises eligibility to 120% of area median income. Immigration Court Fight (RI): A federal judge in Rhode Island struck down Trump immigration policies that paused asylum and froze benefits for people from 39 countries, ordering USCIS to restart processing. DOJ Discipline (RI): The same Rhode Island judge referred DOJ lawyers to a disciplinary committee over how they handled a subpoena seeking sensitive transgender youth medical records from Rhode Island Hospital. Domestic Violence Courts: Rhode Island’s judiciary is seeing a surge in serious domestic violence cases and is pushing for a dedicated Superior Court calendar and a new magistrate to speed dispositions. State Budget/Water Planning: Rhode Island agencies seek public comment on the SFY 2027 Drinking Water State Revolving Fund intended use plan and project priority list. Local Governance (Aging): The Rhode Island House approved a bill to create a permanent joint commission on aging and a statewide multisector plan, now headed to the Senate. Coastal/Community Life: South County’s summer guide highlights where to find chowder, plus boating safety tips for getting back to shore safely.

Court Fight Over Trans Youth Records: The Trump administration is pressing a new legal push to obtain sensitive medical records of transgender minors, now using grand jury subpoenas in Texas after earlier administrative subpoenas were blocked by judges. Nuclear Power Deal Watch: NextEra’s proposed $67B acquisition of Dominion would put control of New England’s nuclear fleet under one utility, with contracts for Millstone and Seabrook set to expire in 2029. Ocean Monitoring Under Threat: The Trump administration plans to dismantle the Ocean Observatories Initiative, a $368M deep-ocean data network, as a potentially strong El Niño approaches. Rhode Island Infrastructure & Housing: Rhode Island’s AnchorHome program is expanding to help first-time buyers bridge the gap to homeownership, while the state also faces ongoing economic “mixed news” and housing-policy scrutiny. Coastal Governance: The Rhode Island Senate confirmed the final Coastal Management Council appointee, reshaping CRMC membership amid continued debate over coastal oversight. Local Spotlight: Misquamicut State Beach’s expanded entrance project is complete, aiming to cut summer congestion.

Charter School Crossroads in RI: Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee is caught between charter-school supporters and union ties as the Senate advances a charter moratorium bill that also lowers the charter cap and could stall specific schools, with a final vote looming. Campaign Shake-Up: McKee’s reelection team pulled and replaced a TV ad after a brief on-screen “sex: yes” and drug reference, spending more to rerun the corrected version. Sex Abuse Claims Reform: The RI Senate voted to allow a “revival window” for previously expired claims tied to clergy sex abuse, opening July 1, 2026 and running through June 30, 2028. Energy Efficiency Council Drama: A Providence council member nominee was held up for further review after surprise agenda changes, raising questions about the governor’s appointments. Broadband & Connectivity: Rhode Island is also watching BEAD implementation nationwide, while local groups push new ways to get affordable internet to schools and nonprofits. Meteor Update: NASA says a recent New England sonic boom came from a meteor that broke up over the region and fell into Cape Cod Bay.

State Budget: Rhode Island House lawmakers advanced a revised FY2027 budget that keeps Gov. Dan McKee’s “millionaires tax,” but phases the 3% top-rate increase over three years, a move that’s still drawing sharp business opposition. Offshore Wind Lawsuit: New York and a coalition of Democratic-led states, including Rhode Island, sued the Trump administration over a roughly $1 billion TotalEnergies deal to end offshore wind leases, arguing it’s illegal and could raise costs. Misquamicut Traffic Fix: Westerly’s Misquamicut State Beach entrance project is complete, expanding entry lanes from 3 to 8 in a $1.8 million RICAP-funded upgrade aimed at easing summer congestion. Healthcare Policy: New maternal-fetal medicine guidance reaffirms Tylenol (acetaminophen) as first-line for pain and fever during pregnancy, pushing back on earlier Trump-era claims. Local Ethics: Rhode Island Ethics Commission weighed conflicts involving a housing authority board role and a host committee fundraising role, offering guidance on when recusal is required. Consumer & Health: FDA approval lets scup be marketed as “golden sea bream,” while a national report flags hundreds of rural hospitals at risk of closure.

Misquamicut Beach Upgrade: Gov. Dan McKee and state officials marked completion of a $1.8M entrance project at Misquamicut State Beach in Westerly, expanding lanes from 3 to 8 to ease summer traffic on Atlantic Avenue. Tylenol in Pregnancy: A new Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine guidance reaffirms acetaminophen as first-line for pain and fever during pregnancy, pushing back on earlier Trump-era claims that lacked solid science. Teen Driving Safety: AAA warns Memorial Day–Labor Day is the “100 deadliest days” for teen-driver fatalities, urging safer habits like no phone use, buckling up, and planning a sober ride. Millionaires Tax Fight: Rhode Island business groups say a House-backed three-year phase-in still won’t win them over, arguing it hurts predictability and investment. Offshore Wind in Court: Rhode Island is among states suing the Trump administration over a nearly $1B TotalEnergies deal to cancel offshore wind leases, calling it unlawful and damaging to jobs and clean-energy goals. Clergy Abuse Reform: Rhode Island Senate action advances a law to temporarily suspend statutes of limitations for many clergy and childhood sexual abuse survivors. Tick Alert: Health officials urge Rhode Islanders to watch for fast-spreading lone star ticks tied to alpha-gal syndrome, a red-meat allergy.

Offshore Wind Legal Fight: New York and six other states, including Rhode Island, sued the Trump administration over a March TotalEnergies deal that would pay nearly $1 billion to cancel offshore wind leases while steering the company toward fossil fuel investments—states argue it was unlawful and could cost jobs and undercut clean-energy goals. State Ethics Watch: Rhode Island’s Ethics Commission voted to investigate whether former House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi’s bid for the state Supreme Court violates the revolving-door law. Public Health Funding: Rhode Island-linked researchers warned that proposed federal cuts could slash the CDC’s wastewater surveillance program, just as a newer COVID “cicada” variant spreads. Long-Term Care: CMS data highlighted Rhode Island nursing home rankings in Kent and Bristol counties, including Respiratory and Rehabilitation Center of RI and Dawn Hill Home. Local Nonprofits & Health Access: The Fogarty Foundation awarded a record $356K+ to 54 RI nonprofits, and Meals on Wheels of RI added two health leaders to its board. RI Economy & Education: URI researchers joined an international expedition mapping biodiversity on Indonesia’s seamounts, and NEIT’s early college program saw 64 RI/MA seniors earn college credits while still in high school. Politics & Campaigns: Indian-American entrepreneur Jay Gotra launched a Rhode Island governor bid on a fiscal accountability platform. World Cup Prep: Providence leaders are building a fan zone and planning game broadcasts as Rhode Island and Massachusetts ramp up for World Cup crowds.

Offshore Wind Legal Fight: New York and a coalition of states including Rhode Island sued the Trump administration over a March deal that paid TotalEnergies nearly $1 billion to cancel offshore wind leases, arguing it’s unlawful “pay-not-to-play” and would cost jobs and clean-energy progress. R.I. Ethics Watch: The Rhode Island Ethics Commission voted to investigate whether former House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi violated the state’s revolving-door law by seeking a Supreme Court seat without the required waiting period. RIPTA Funding Update: Rhode Island’s proposed FY27 budget would close RIPTA’s projected $14.3 million gap, helping the transit agency avoid deeper service cuts and keep hiring bus operators. World Cup Late-Night Alcohol: Rhode Island joined other states approving extended bar and restaurant hours during the World Cup, with closing times pushed later to boost local business. Tax Debate: Rhode Island’s revised FY27 budget includes a phased-in millionaire’s tax surtax, a compromise that still frustrates both business groups and progressives. Local Business/Jobs: Johnson & Wales University partnered with Scholars Network to connect healthcare graduates to hospital employers, with potential student loan repayment support.

Rhode Island policy & economy: Gov. Dan McKee signed a law letting cities and towns extend bar and restaurant hours during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with alcohol service allowed until 3 a.m. and businesses potentially open until 4 a.m. between June 11 and July 3—aimed at boosting late-night revenue for local hospitality. Workforce & community investment: Citizens Financial Group is putting more than $1.65 million into Rhode Island workforce development and financial education, including a tuition-free banking training pathway with CCRI and an information security apprenticeship effort. Local nonprofit support: Centreville Bank Charitable Foundation awarded $562,000 in grants across Rhode Island and Connecticut, including $50,000 for Meals on Wheels to address storm-driven emergency food access. Workforce training expansion: Electric Boat is expanding training capacity at the Westerly Education Center, increasing the number of trainees by 40% as it ramps up hiring. Public health & safety: NASA confirmed a meteor “as heavy as an elephant” caused the double boom heard across New England, including Rhode Island, after a fireball broke up high in the atmosphere. Courts & accountability: The Rhode Island Senate is set to vote on a clergy sex abuse bill that would open a “revival window” for previously expired claims, with a July 1, 2026 start and a two-year closing date.

World Cup Economy & Local Hospitality: Providence is leaning into the tournament with a fan zone, discounted charter buses to Gillette Stadium, and thousands of Scottish supporters expected to stay in Providence-area hotels and dorms—while other states, including Rhode Island, have approved extended bar and restaurant hours to keep fans spending later. Federal Courts & DOJ Conduct: A Rhode Island judge sharply criticized Justice Department lawyers for misleading the court in a case involving a Rhode Island hospital and requests for gender-transition treatment records, adding to a broader run of judicial rebukes of federal attorneys. Retirement Savings Fight: Rhode Island’s AG Jay Jones joined a coalition of states opposing a Trump administration proposal that would loosen rules for retirement plan fiduciaries, potentially steering more money into riskier assets like crypto. Higher Ed Leadership: Roger Williams University named Dr. Brian G. Williams as interim president, tasking him with stabilizing the institution and advancing student success and academic priorities. Professional Services: Five New England CPA societies, including Rhode Island’s, are merging into the New England Society of CPAs effective July 1. Energy Costs: Rhode Island Energy is urging “whole home” cooling upgrades and offering no-cost home energy assessments to help residents cut peak-season bills.

Newport Hospital Funding: The Noreen Stonor Drexel Birthing Center won a $1.6 million state investment after Brown University Health said it was considering closing it, keeping the only Aquidneck Island birthing option open through at least FY27. Local Health Workforce: The R.I. Life Science Hub teamed with the Pawtucket Foundation on a Life Sciences Career Awareness Program aimed at underrepresented communities in Pawtucket, Central Falls and Woonsocket. Tech & Jobs: NVIDIA and Microsoft unveiled a new AI-focused class of Windows PCs, pitching the computer as a “teammate” rather than just a tool. Business & Development: Work begins June 1 on The Bellevue Newport Hotel’s infrastructure upgrades, with phased construction planned while the retail plaza stays open. Sports: Woonsocket High’s Villa Novans rolled to Division III baseball finals again after a no-hitter and 9-0 win. Community & Culture: Providence launched the “House of Portugal” Pavilion for World Cup programming, with events running June 3 through Aug. 1. Weather Watch: A meteor explosion over New England triggered a loud sonic boom heard across Rhode Island and beyond.

Cancer Care Breakthrough: A real-world study presented at the ASCO meeting suggests combining GLP-1 drugs with immune checkpoint cancer therapy could boost long-term survival and lower immune side effects for patients on PD-1/PD-L1 or CTLA-4 treatments. RI Health Watch: HHS launched a federal tick initiative as Rhode Island heads into peak Lyme season, with officials pointing to rising tick-bite ER visits nationwide and urging prevention and faster care. Meteor Over New England: NASA confirmed a meteor exploded over northeastern Massachusetts and southeast New Hampshire, sending a sonic boom that shook homes and triggered calls across Rhode Island and beyond. Local Business Leadership: UniBank welcomed Ed Augustus as CEO, highlighting his community banking push and ties to regional partnerships. Consumer Complaint With RI Connection: A Middletown couple says a $640 Trump-branded watch arrived missing the “T,” leaving “RUMP,” and they’re demanding a fix and apology. Local Governance: North Kingstown’s charter commission is restarting debate over whether to create a directly elected mayor and redraw voting districts.