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

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160 articles · page 1 of 14
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Rhode Island Truck Toll System Set for July 2027 Relaunch With Reduced Rates

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation selected Quarterhill to manage back-office operations for the dormant truck toll system, targeting a July 2027 relaunch. Following a federal court ruling against a local-trucker discount, DOT will reduce tolls at each location by 25%, maintaining roughly $45 million in annual gross revenue. The new back-office system will take up to 13 months to complete, with new toll equipment costing over $20 million.

Read at providencejournal.comJUN 30, 2026
GovernanceCommerceFree press

Rhode Island Becomes First State to Mandate Grocery Self-Checkout Staffing Ratios

Governor McKee signed the Restrictions on Self-Service Checkout Stations Act into law on June 25, making Rhode Island the first state to regulate self-checkout lanes. The law requires one manually staffed cashier lane for every three self-checkout stations and prohibits dual-duty assignments for monitoring staff. Stores violating the law face fines up to $1,000 per day.

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© 2026 RI Capitol · All rights reserved.Aggregated summaries linking out to original sources. XPoLL.
wpri.comJUN 27, 2026
GovernanceCommerceFree press

General Assembly passes grocery restrictive covenant ban heading to McKee's desk

Legislation prohibiting restrictive covenants that block properties from being used as grocery stores is headed to Governor McKee for signature. Sens. Melissa Murray and Brian Thompson's bill bans such covenants on retail properties where fresh food is regularly sold. Once signed, Rhode Island will join Washington state in outlawing grocery chains from using restrictive covenants. The law includes a narrow 18-month exception for recent closures with nearby replacements.

ecori.orgJUN 14, 2026
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McKee signs $15B+ state budget with millionaire's tax, child tax credit

Gov. Dan McKee signed Rhode Island's fiscal 2027 budget totaling more than $15 billion, including the state's first-ever child tax credit and a phased-in millionaire's tax spread over three years. Lawmakers scaled back some of McKee's original proposals, modifying his plan to phase out the Social Security tax and declining to fully adopt his energy bill reduction measures.

turnto10.comJUN 13, 2026
CommerceFree press

SBA approves disaster loans for RI businesses hit by February snowstorm

The U.S. Small Business Administration approved Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) declarations for Rhode Island following the historic February 2026 snowstorm. Low-interest federal disaster loans are now available to eligible small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, aquaculture enterprises, and private nonprofits in Kent, Providence, Newport, and Washington counties to offset economic losses caused by the storm.

turnto10.comJUN 13, 2026
CommercePaywall

Rhode Island manufacturing sector faces ownership transition crisis, 80% lack succession plans

A wave of retiring business owners is set to reshape Rhode Island manufacturing, with 80% approaching exit without clear succession plans, according to Polaris MEP. The nonprofit adviser to many RI manufacturers warns this is a "huge economic development issue" as small manufacturers struggle to find buyers or successors, risking closures and job losses across the sector.

pbn.comJUN 13, 2026
CommercePaywall

195 District Park pavilion costs taxpayers $7.6M, nearly double original estimate

A new 3,500-square-foot pavilion in Providence's 195 District Park, featuring a restaurant and public restrooms, is opening this month with a final price tag of $6.4 million plus $500,000 for utilities—a 72.5% increase over the original $4 million estimate made in 2019. Local restaurant owners have criticized the state-funded project as unfair competition with private businesses.

providencejournal.comJUN 12, 2026
CommercePaywall

178-unit income-restricted apartment complex The Flynn opens in Providence

The Flynn, a six-story, 178-unit affordable housing project in Providence's Hospital District, has opened and is seeking tenants. All units are income-restricted between 30% and 80% of area median income; a family of four earning $89,700 would qualify. The project cost approximately $76 million, including $5.5 million in federal stimulus funds, and was approved by the city in April 2024.

providencejournal.comJUN 12, 2026
CommerceGovernanceFree press

Gambling platforms push for expanded sports betting market, smaller state revenue cut

FanDuel and DraftKings representatives testified at the State House in favor of allowing four to six sports betting platforms to operate in Rhode Island, arguing the state's current single-platform structure (SportsBook RI operated by IGT) leaves millions in revenue on the table. The companies want the state to take a smaller revenue share. State regulators oppose the plan.

turnto10.comJUN 12, 2026
GovernanceCommerceFree press

Environmental advocates block late-session bill allowing RI Energy to own power plants

Senate Majority Whip David Tikoian agreed to pull legislation June 9 that would have reversed Rhode Island's 30-year-old law separating utility ownership from power generation. The bill would have allowed Rhode Island Energy to build or purchase power plants. Environmental groups including Acadia Center, Green Energy Consumers Alliance, and Conservation Law Foundation mounted a weekend lobbying effort after the bill narrowly advanced from committee June 2.

rhodeislandcurrent.comJUN 12, 2026
CommercePaywall

Raytheon breaks ground on $100 million Portsmouth expansion, 150 new jobs

Raytheon is investing $100 million to expand its Portsmouth facility, with the expansion expected to create approximately 150 high-technology jobs in Rhode Island. The project will increase capacity to test the new LTAMDS radar system and produce subcomponents for the Patriot GEM-T missile defense system. Gov. Dan McKee, U.S. Sens. Reed and Whitehouse, and U.S. Reps. Amo and Magaziner attended the ceremonial groundbreaking on June 6.

providencejournal.comJUN 11, 2026
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