Vol. CXXXII · No. CDLXXXIXFRIDAY, JULY 10, 2026Ocean State Edition

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489 articles · page 16 of 41
GovernanceFree press

Rhode Island Senate approves bills establishing AI safety guidelines for mental health

The R.I. Senate approved two bills on May 21 sponsored by Sen. Lori Urso, D-Pawtucket, establishing safety guidelines for artificial intelligence related to mental health treatment and suicidal ideation. One bill requires AI developers to implement safety protocols for users expressing suicidal thoughts and mandates that chatbots refer users to crisis services. Developers must submit annual reports to the Attorney General detailing safety protocol activations.

pbn.comMAY 30, 2026
GovernanceFree press

Gov. McKee issues statewide drought advisory, urges voluntary water conservation

Gov. Dan McKee issued a statewide drought advisory at the recommendation of the Rhode Island Water Resources Board's Drought Steering Committee. While an advisory is the lowest of four drought declarations, the state's Water 2030 plan requires two consecutive months of normal groundwater levels before it can be lifted. No statewide water-use restrictions are in place, but residents are encouraged to check with local suppliers for conservation guidance.

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© 2026 RI Capitol · All rights reserved.Aggregated summaries linking out to original sources. XPoLL.
wpri.com
MAY 30, 2026
GovernanceFree press

Rhode Island House passes legislation requiring bars to offer anti-spiking drink lids

Legislation requiring Rhode Island bars and nightclubs to provide tamper-proof drink lids to prevent spiking overwhelmingly passed in both the House and Senate. The bills mandate that licensed establishments offer lids with a seal upon customer request starting Jan. 1, 2027. Establishments may charge a reasonable fee based on wholesale cost. Despite hospitality industry objections, lawmakers passed the measure modeled after California legislation.

rhodeislandcurrent.comMAY 30, 2026
JudiciaryFree press

Rhode Island Supreme Court Clarifies UM/UIM Coverage Rules for Employees Using Personal Vehicles

The Rhode Island Supreme Court answered certified questions from the First Circuit, ruling that an employee operating her personal vehicle in the scope of employment is not automatically a "named insured" under the employer's auto policy for uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage. The court rejected arguments that Martinelli v. Travelers or public policy require such coverage when policy language excludes it, affirming that employers can limit UM/UIM coverage based on vehicle ownership.

rilawyersweekly.comMAY 29, 2026
JudiciaryPaywall

Federal Judge Orders Release of Brazilian Father Detained While Fishing Off Martha's Vineyard

U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani ordered ICE to release Rogerio da Silva Lima by noon Wednesday, questioning whether immigration authorities had legal authority to detain him more than two years after his removal order became final. Da Silva Lima and his 15-year-old son were detained by the Coast Guard while fishing south of Martha's Vineyard last week, drawing outrage from immigrant advocates and lawmakers. The judge indicated ICE missed the statutory 90-day detention window.

bostonglobe.comMAY 29, 2026
JudiciaryFree press

First Circuit Affirms Money Laundering Convictions in Years-Long Business Account Fraud Scheme

The First Circuit affirmed money laundering conspiracy convictions against Nafis Quaye and Sunna Sepetu, rejecting sufficiency-of-evidence and jury instruction challenges. The court found circumstantial evidence supported the conclusion that defendants had actual knowledge or were willfully blind to the illegal source of funds transferred through business accounts they operated. Sepetu's sentencing challenge was also rejected.

rilawyersweekly.comMAY 29, 2026
CommercePaywall

Bally's Awarded Rhode Island's Second Online Sportsbook License

Rhode Island Lottery has tentatively awarded Bally's Corp. a five-year license to operate the state's second online sportsbook, ending the single-operator market in place since 2019. The new platform could launch as soon as November 2026. Bally's was one of only two bidders for the license, competing against Chicago-based Rush Street Interactive.

bostonglobe.comMAY 29, 2026
CommerceFree press

RIPEC Report: Rhode Island Housing Program Delivers 'Few Units at High Cost'

The Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council released a report criticizing the structural inefficiencies of Rhode Island's affordable housing investments. Despite authorizing over $644 million toward housing since 2021, RIPEC states the high-cost, high-subsidy model "has served relatively few Rhode Islanders" and made no meaningful impact on the state's housing challenges, even as Providence rents surge and median home prices jump 10.2% to $529,000.

golocalprov.comMAY 29, 2026
CommercePaywall

Beacon Mutual Data Breach Exposes 131,000 Rhode Island Customers' Information

Beacon Mutual Insurance Co., a major workers' compensation insurer in Rhode Island, began notifying 131,000 state customers on May 18 that their personal data was compromised during a January ransomware attack. The company posted updates on its website regarding the breach and customer notification process.

pbn.comMAY 29, 2026
CommerceGovernancePaywall

Governor McKee Nominates Michelle Reddish to Chair Cannabis Control Commission

Governor Dan McKee has nominated Michelle Reddish, Rhode Island's cannabis administrator since 2024, to chair the Cannabis Control Commission. The $204,069-per-year position has been vacant since October 2025 when Kim Ahern resigned to run for attorney general. The nomination now heads to the Rhode Island Senate for consideration.

bostonglobe.comMAY 29, 2026
JudiciaryCommerceFree press

Rhode Island sues Kalshi and Polymarket over alleged illegal sports gambling

Attorney General Peter Neronha filed a 32-page complaint in Providence County Superior Court alleging that prediction-market operators Kalshi and Polymarket are conducting sports betting while evading state gambling laws. The platforms' sports-related "event contracts" are functionally no different from traditional sports betting, the complaint argues. Kalshi preemptively filed its own federal lawsuit the same day, arguing it is subject only to federal derivatives-trading regulations.

wpri.comMAY 28, 2026
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