Legal Services Expansion: Marasco & Nesselbush opened its seventh office—sixth in Rhode Island—in Middletown, aiming to bring catastrophic injury and wrongful-death representation closer to Newport County families. Cybersecurity & AI: Providence Business News’ 2026 Cybersecurity & AI Tech Summit is set for Oct. 8 at the Crowne Plaza Providence-Warwick, focusing on shifting from risk to opportunity for Rhode Island businesses. Local Business Spotlight: Tiverton’s Yellow House independent bookstore is drawing community connections in a historic Seabury House setting. Public Health Policy: A national look at kratom shows states diverging as 7-OH and synthetic products spread, raising pressure for tighter rules. Rhode Island Environment & Industry: CRMC approved Cedar Island Oyster Co.’s “gear change” in Point Judith Pond, allowing hundreds of new floating baskets to boost oyster survival. Ballot-Driven Finance: Rhode Island’s semiannual Green Bond campaign for Question 5 highlights $55 million for resilience projects, with voters also weighing $600 million in total borrowing this year. Healthcare Outreach: HopeHealth launched a Community Engagement Program and named Helena L. Moronta as inaugural director, expanding outreach around hospice, palliative care, and grief support. Transit & Infrastructure (Regional): WMATA and Detroit are upgrading bus shelters and benches through multi-year contracts, underscoring how transit hardware investment shapes rider experience.