Rhode Island Elections: The Rhode Island Working Families Party endorsed a slate of four first-time Democratic General Assembly candidates, including Gena Felix challenging Sen. Lori Urso and Nelly Burdette running for Sen. Thomas Paolino’s seat, setting up a sharper September primary fight. Party Politics: The Rhode Island Democratic Party convention failed to reach endorsement consensus in key races, including governor, with Gov. Dan McKee falling short of the threshold despite getting the most votes. Public Safety & Law: Gov. Dan McKee signed “Casey’s Law,” boosting penalties for road rage incidents, and a separate bill raising the vehicle total loss threshold from 80% to 85% is now on his desk. Judicial Appointments: McKee appointed local attorney Ralph Liguori to the Judicial Nominating Commission. Housing & Infrastructure: Pawtucket moved ahead with major Tidewater Landing infrastructure planning, including a $30 million package. Consumer/Local Government: Providence Mayor Brett Smiley signed the FY27 budget, maintaining services and increasing support for community centers. State Government & Courts: Rhode Island joined a multistate push to rein in e-book licensing costs for libraries, with a new law taking effect after McKee allowed it to become law without his signature. Environment/Science: Rhode Island’s Democratic senators helped secure a reversal of a federal plan to dismantle ocean monitoring instruments, keeping the Ocean Observatories Initiative intact.