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

RI CAPITOL

RI Capitol’s Civic Intelligence Network · Powered by XPoLL

AllCommerceGovernanceJudiciarySources

Stay updated

One email every Monday morning with the week’s RI Capitol stories. Sign in with Google to subscribe — no password, one-click unsubscribe.

We’ll only store your name, email, and profile picture. Never shared, never sold.

Commerce

160 articles · page 7 of 14
CommerceGovernanceFree press

McKee budget amendment allocates $1.6M to keep Newport Hospital birthing center open

Gov. Dan McKee submitted a budget amendment providing $1.6 million in dedicated funding to Newport Hospital's birthing center, contingent on its continued operation. Brown University Health had publicly requested $4.9 million to keep the center open. The governor's office emphasized commitment to women's and maternal health care while stating behind-the-scenes advocacy already helped keep the center operating to date.

turnto10.comMAY 21, 2026
CommerceGovernancePaywall

Boston Globe: RI lawmakers weigh millionaires tax as federal cuts threaten $400M in funding

Rhode Island faces an estimated $400 million loss in federal Medicaid and SNAP funding following Congress's "One Big Beautiful Bill Act." More than 10,000 residents have lost health coverage after enhanced premium tax credits expired. The General Assembly is considering a 3% surtax on the top 1% of earners (households above $640,000 taxable income), estimated to generate $203 million annually according to the Institute on Taxation & Economic Policy, writes Economic Progress Institute head in Boston Globe commentary.

RI Capitol
Civic intelligence network · Powered by XPoLL

Stay updated

One email every Monday morning with the week’s RI Capitol stories. Sign in with Google to subscribe — no password, one-click unsubscribe.

We’ll only store your name, email, and profile picture. Never shared, never sold.

© 2026 RI Capitol · All rights reserved.Aggregated summaries linking out to original sources. XPoLL.
bostonglobe.comMAY 21, 2026
CommerceGovernanceOther

Bally's wins RI's second online sportsbook license, ending six-year single-operator market

Rhode Island Lottery selected Bally's Corporation to operate the state's second licensed online sportsbook, ending IGT's single-operator market since 2019. Bally's, which already operates RI's two physical casinos in Lincoln and Tiverton, is expected to launch in November when IGT's exclusivity period expires. The company will collect the full 49% operator revenue share as both digital platform and physical sportsbook rights holder, representing a significant revenue shift from its current 17% share.

bettorsinsider.comMAY 21, 2026
CommerceFree press

Matunuck Oyster Bar targets fall 2026 reopening after May 2025 fire destroyed restaurant

Matunuck Oyster Bar owner Perry Raso announced plans to reopen the original South County restaurant location by fall 2026, with inspections targeted for completion by August 31. The timeline comes one year after a May 20, 2025 fire destroyed the restaurant days before Memorial Day weekend. Raso opened a temporary tent location in July 2025 after state legislators passed the "Take it Outside" law, and raised over $400,000 in community support to sustain operations during rebuilding.

turnto10.comMAY 21, 2026
CommerceFree press

880,000-Gallon Sewage Spill Closes Key Rhode Island Shellfishing Waters, Devastating Industry

A May 4 sewage spill in East Providence released 880,000 gallons of wastewater into Narragansett Bay, forcing the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management to close shellfishing area 16E, one of the state's most productive quahog beds. Fishermen report the area is three to four times more productive than other accessible waters. The closure represents mounting financial losses for Rhode Island's quahog industry.

newenglandnewspress.comMAY 20, 2026
CommercePrimary

Aspen Aerogels Begins Staged Restart of East Providence Manufacturing Facility

Aspen Aerogels, Inc. announced it is initiating a staged restart of its East Providence, Rhode Island manufacturing facility following an April 8 incident. The company completed comprehensive mechanical, operational, and safety reviews with multiple government agencies before beginning the phased production ramp. Fully restoring the plant's capabilities will take time, and Aspen continues to leverage external manufacturing partners while investigating the incident.

stocktitan.netMAY 20, 2026
CommerceOther

Windmoeller & Hoelscher Completes $13M Rhode Island Facility Expansion

Flexible packaging equipment supplier Windmoeller & Hoelscher Corp. completed a major expansion of its North American headquarters in Lincoln, Rhode Island, more than doubling warehouse capacity and significantly increasing office space after two years of construction. The facility now employs nearly 100 people, a 20% increase over two years, and features photovoltaic panels expected to generate most of the building's electricity needs, supported by federal funding and a Rhode Island Renewable Energy Fund grant.

canplastics.comMAY 20, 2026
CommercePrimary

GAMG Advances $92 Million Pawtucket Memorial Hospital Redevelopment for Housing

Global Asset Management Group announced a major milestone in its $92 million acquisition and redevelopment of the former Memorial Hospital campus in Pawtucket, with deed restriction amendments now clearing the way for final design and planning. The 386,404-square-foot property on 7.68 acres will be developed into a mixed-use residential community focused on affordable housing and veteran housing.

prnewswire.comMAY 20, 2026
CommerceOther

Rhode Island Completes $221 Million General Obligation Bond Sale with Strong Demand

Rhode Island successfully completed a $221.36 million General Obligation Bond sale on April 7, 2026, with strong credit ratings from Fitch, Moody's, and S&P. The bond issuance featured historically low interest spreads and robust investor demand, enabling the state to finance housing, infrastructure, and community investments. The sale was supported by multiple underwriters including Cabrera Capital Markets, BofA Securities, J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley, and Raymond James.

app.govly.comMAY 20, 2026
CommercePaywall

Urban Planet by Charlotte Russe Opening at Warwick Mall in Late June

Canadian fashion retailer Urban Planet, operating as Urban Planet by Charlotte Russe in U.S. markets, will open a store at Warwick Mall in late June 2026, filling the former Forever 21 space between Torrid and Foot Locker. The store targets ages 16–24 with trendy apparel. The opening represents new retail activity at Rhode Island's largest mall following last year's Forever 21 closure, though details on employment numbers were not disclosed.

providencejournal.comMAY 19, 2026
CommerceFree press

Havoc autonomous systems startup raises $100 million Series A funding

Providence-based autonomous systems startup Havoc closed a $100 million Series A funding round, bringing total capital raised to approximately $200 million since its 2024 founding. The company develops software allowing single operators to coordinate large numbers of autonomous vehicles across sea, air, and land, and has built and deployed over 100 autonomous surface vessels globally.

workboat.comMAY 18, 2026
Advertisement
Sponsor
NewerPage 7 of 14Older