Maritime & Defense Tech: Sail Newport’s BlueTIDE 2026 (Aug. 27) will feature 70+ companies showing underwater robotics, ocean sensing, energy, and imaging—plus in-water integration demos and DoD-linked judging. Autonomy in Rhode Island: Blue Ops and Havoc are integrating collaborative autonomy and command-and-control across Blue Ops’ uncrewed surface vessels, starting with Variant 7, with operational fleets planned in Rhode Island and Florida for testing and multi-vessel evaluation. Public Transit Infrastructure: RIPTA’s board voted 6-0 to move ahead on a new Providence bus hub near the train station, directing contractor Next Wave Partners to draft bid specs and cost estimates to replace Kennedy Plaza operations. AI Policy Watch: A new look at 2026 state AI legislation highlights momentum around chatbot controls and public-sector rules, while consequential automated decision system bills face stalled progress. Energy & Environment: A study says China’s rapid solar expansion is linked to bird diversity declines, urging more ecologically informed siting. Health & Safety: Hospital workers in Rhode Island and beyond are striking amid workplace violence and staffing shortages. STEM & Education: URI announced new 2026-27 programs, including environmental engineering, AI/machine learning for engineering applications, and multiple online graduate certificates.