Local Business Growth: Vertikal6, a Providence-area managed IT and cybersecurity firm, landed on Providence Business News’ 2026 Fastest Growing Companies list in the $15M–$50M revenue category, citing managed services, AI governance work, and CMMC readiness. Tech & Defense: Rhode Island-based Havoc AI says its autonomous boats are already being used by the U.S. military, including missions to find maritime targets in the Pacific. Cyber/Privacy & Public Safety: Narragansett council voted to end its Flock license-plate camera program immediately, following privacy backlash and questions about how the system was approved and renewed. Real Estate: Brown Health’s leased Cranston office building sold for $4.2M after a 2025 tenant-funded renovation; in Barrington, a waterfront home sold for $2.3M, a neighborhood record. M&A: Pentair agreed to buy Taco Group Holdings for about $1.4B, expanding its hydronic and water-based HVAC and data-center solutions. Healthcare Costs: WalletHub ranked states on healthcare cost, access, and outcomes, with a new “best vs. worst” snapshot for consumers. Local Entrepreneurship: A Warwick woman cashed out retirement savings to launch Kawfee, a mobile canned coffee startup. Antitrust Watch: A Trump antitrust nominee faced claims he’d “rubber stamp” consolidation, raising stakes for future merger enforcement.