Inspector General Search: Rhode Island’s new inspector general office is moving toward hiring mode, with a five-member commission agreeing to open applications Friday (July 31) and aiming to recommend three finalists to Gov. Dan McKee by Sept. 28. State Budget Watch: RIPEC says Medicaid spending is set to grow nearly three times faster than state revenues, even as enrollment declines—raising pressure on Rhode Island’s biggest line item. Transit & Elections: Providence’s long-stalled plan to move the RIPTA central bus hub out of Kennedy Plaza is back in the political spotlight, with candidates weighing in as the process drags on. Housing Politics: North Kingstown officials are challenging a Quonset Development Corporation workforce housing plan after town documents appear to conflict with QDC’s announced unit mix and terms. Local Ballot: Providence Mayor Brett Smiley is backing a proposed $25M affordable housing bond for the November ballot, separate from a statewide $120M bond. Energy Costs: A New England affordability debate is reigniting over electric bills, with a focus on wholesale supply pricing versus utility delivery charges. National Legal Fight: New York AG Letitia James sued prediction market Kalshi, arguing it’s an unlicensed gambling operation—part of a broader crackdown that could ripple into other states. Oil Profits: Major oil companies are reporting big spring profits tied to U.S.-Iran tensions and higher fuel prices, a story that will land locally as drivers feel the cost. Shark Tagging: The Atlantic Shark Institute tagged a hammerhead off Block Island for the first time, using warming waters to explain shifting migration patterns.