Rep. Tina Spears bill for guardrails on use of artificial intelligence in mental health care passes the General Assembly

Great job, Tina!

The General Assembly approved two pieces of legislation from Sen. Lori Urso and Rep. Tina L. Spears to create artificial intelligence safety guidelines related to suicidal ideation and mental health treatment. The bills are part of the Senate’s 17-bill package of healthcare legislation.

The first bill (2026-S 2195Aaa, 2026-H 7350Aaa) requires developers to incorporate protocols to protect vulnerable users who may express suicidal ideation, desires for self-harm or desires to physically harm others while interacting with a chatbot. 

The systems would also be required to refer users to a crisis service provider as soon as it detects any of these expressions, and developers would have to submit annual reports to the Attorney General’s office showing the number of safety protocol activations and related metrics.

“AI chatbots are a new kind of technology that provide an experience that to many users feels like speaking to a friend or a therapist. But chatbots aren’t human and they do not live up to the professional standards of a trained therapist,” said Representative Spears (D-Dist. 36, Charlestown, New Shoreham, South Kingstown, Westerly). “This legislation puts up necessary guardrails to protect the users of chatbots, because, as we have seen in too many tragic instances, the products are not currently equipped to deal with users experiencing a crisis in a safe and responsible manner. Whether at home or in a clinical setting, human oversight and thoughtful safety regulation are necessary to keep Rhode Islanders safe from a growing and untested technology.”

BAD air and heat today. Smog lifts Saturday

Air Quality Alert: Unhealthy Ozone for Sensitive Groups Expected Thursday

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) forecasts that air quality will reach UNHEALTHY levels for sensitive groups due to elevated ground-level ozone on Thursday, June 11. The alert is being issued statewide.

Key Details:

• UNHEALHTY ozone levels for sensitive groups are expected across the entire state.
• Peak levels begin early afternoon, continuing into the evening.
• Fine particles are also expected to be elevated, reaching MODERATE.

Health Impacts: Unhealthy ozone levels may cause:

• Throat irritation, coughing, and chest pain
• Shortness of breath and increased risk of respiratory infections
• Worsening of asthma and other lung conditions- particularly for children, the elderly, and others with pre-existing respiratory issues.

Recommended Actions:

• Reduce prolonged or heavy outdoor exertion.
• Take frequent breaks and choose less strenuous activities.
• Monitor for symptoms like coughing or shortness of breath.
• People with asthma or lung conditions should follow their action plans and carry quick-relief medications.
• Schedule outdoor activities in the morning when ozone levels are lowest and typically GOOD on the Air Quality index.

Air quality can change throughout the day. To stay informed, download the AirNOW app or visit www.airnow.gov for real-time updates and forecasts.

Additional information is also available on DEM’s air quality forecast page at www.dem.ri.gov/airquality.

For more information on DEM programs and initiatives, visit www.dem.ri.gov [pvxtjxbbb.cc.rs6.net]. Follow DEM on Facebook, Twitter/X (@RhodeIslandDEM), or Instagram (@rhodeisland.dem) for timely updates. Sign up here to receive the latest press releases, news, and events from DEM's Public Affairs Office to your inbox.

New Pell Center national survey finds Americans with the strongest authoritarian attitudes are the most likely to support violations of democratic norms

By the numbers, Republicans like fascism more than Dems

Salve Regina University’s Pell Center

Americans with the strongest authoritarian attitudes are more likely to support political actions that violate democratic norms, according to a new survey from Salve Regina University’s Pell Center. 

While support for democratic norm violations is generally low across the population, high authoritarians—a characteristic identified through a series of questions designed to surface those sentiments—are more likely to support government actions like ignoring court decisions, censoring media sources, and changing election rules to disadvantage the political opposition.

Download the full report here.

The survey was directed by Pell Center Associate Director and Fellow Katie Sonder and fielded by Embold Research between May 4-12, 2026. 

It gathered responses from 2,034 likely voters in the United States, with a modeled margin of error of 2.2 percent. It examined how Americans perceive the health of U.S. democracy, democratic norm violations, and partisan identity, as well as the relationship between authoritarian attitudes and those views.

While support for democratic norm violations remains relatively low, substantial differences exist across partisan and ideological groups. Most Americans do not support election interference, but high authoritarians are more likely than any other demographic subgroup (gender, race, age, etc.) to support changing election rules to make victory harder for the opposition.

Additionally, higher levels of authoritarianism were strongly associated with conservative political identification. 

Of those scoring highest on the authoritarian scale, 80% were Republican or Republican-leaning. Of those scoring lowest on the scale three-quarters were Democrat or Democrat-leaning.  

Finally, Americans remain deeply divided on the basic state of American democracy 

itself. While 95% of Democrats say the United States is facing a constitutional crisis, a majority of Republicans believe the country has a strong system of checks and balances and a thriving economy.

Local state reps getting measures passed by getting them folded into the state budget

Local Democratic women legislators use the budget to get good legislation passed

By Will Collette

Progressive Democratic state Representative Teresa Tanzi used the legislative budget process to get two legislative priorities through the General Assembly. Rep. Megan Cotter got more funding for wildfire fighting and prevention as well as increased Green Bond funding. Sen. Alana DiMario used the budget to win stable funding for mental health support for children and new parents.

While some may call this cheating, it is a time-honored method of getting bills passed that might otherwise fail, either because they are low-visibility or easily defeated by opposing lobbyists. 

The US Congress uses what they call the "reconciliation" process to accomplish this, most recently when Republicans used it to pass a full funding for ICE immigration thuggery. Generally, this procedural device can only be used for issues that involve direct spending.

I used it once when I worked in DC as staff director for the Citizens Coal Council. Our priority legislation aimed to protect and compensate people when their water is threatened by underground coal mining. The coal industry blocked this bill when it stood on its own but couldn't stop it from passage when we got it into the federal budget.

Reps. Tanzi and Cotter, and Sen. DiMario had news releases sent out to describe the measures they inserted into the budget. The following summaries are taken from those news releases.

It's time to boycott CBS

Juneteenth in Wilcox Park

FY27 budget heads to Gov. McKee’s desk after Senate approval

Republicans fail in effort to remove new tax on the rich

By Nancy Lavin, Rhode Island Current

A $15.2 billion budget — the highest state spending plan on record — heads to Gov. Dan McKee’s desk, following the Rhode Island Senate’s approval Tuesday.

The upper chamber’s 32-6 vote followed more than two hours of debate and a dozen failed amendments, including three Republican-led attempts to strike down or weaken the millionaire’s tax headlining the fiscal 2027 budget. All four chamber Republicans voted against the budget, along with Democrats Sam Bell of Providence and Leo Raptakis of Coventry.

The Senate’s blessing marks the penultimate hurdle for the tax-and-spend plan ahead of the July 1 start date. But where McKee stands remains in question — especially because last year he declined to sign the budget, letting it take effect without his signature. 

The governor’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday.

The budget features a 1% increase in taxes on income over $1 million, followed by 1% increases in the next two years, rather than the 3% hike in one year McKee proposed in January. Lawmakers explained the phased-in approach would strike a balance between revenue generation that offsets federal funding cuts and economic and business development. 

Taxing top earners has dominated debate throughout the legislative session, including across the rotunda on Friday, where the Rhode Island House of Representatives reviewed and ultimately approved a carbon copy of the spending plan, again with opposition from its 10 Republican members.

Local Democratic party leaders endorse Foulkes and Khamsyvoravong over incumbents

In unusual move, city and town chairs reject both McKee and Matos

By Nancy Lavin, Rhode Island Current

The Democratic challengers for governor and lieutenant governor, Helena Buonanno Foulkes and Xay Khamsyvoravong, won the backing of local party leaders during a closed-door meeting at the Rochambeau Library in Providence Monday night.

The Rhode Island Association of Democratic City and Town Chairs did not disclose vote details from its endorsement meeting, which offers municipal party heads a chance to assert influence in state and federal primary races. 

“We are incredibly fortunate in Rhode Island to have such strong leaders serving our state and so many talented candidates willing to put themselves forward for consideration,” Erich Haslehurst, president of the association, said in a statement. “All of the candidates who sought our endorsement have demonstrated a commitment to public service and are working tirelessly to earn the trust and support of Rhode Islanders.”

The endorsement for Foulkes over Gov. Dan McKee comes as she amasses more donations and support from voters than McKee in recent public polling.

EDITOR'S NOTE: My wife Cathy served on the Association for a number of years and during several election cycles where such endorsements were made. One such event stands out, the 2016 Governor's race that came down to Gina Raimondo, Angel Tavares and Clay Pell. Cathy's insistence on supporting Clay, who had been unanimously endorsed by the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee, caused a deadlock that resulted in no endorsement for anyone for Governor that year. She came under tremendous pressure from other town chairs who had cut deals to switch their votes and wanted her to do the same. She was the only town chair who refused to sell out.   - Will Collette

Scientists warn that current vitamin B12 guidelines may be putting your brain at risk

“Normal” vitamin B12 levels may still leave older adults vulnerable to hidden brain damage and cognitive decline

University of California - San Francisco

Vitamin B12 is best known for helping the body make DNA, red blood cells, and healthy nerve tissue. But research suggests that simply meeting the current minimum standard may not always be enough, especially for older adults.

A UCSF led study found that healthy older people with lower vitamin B12 levels, even when those levels still fell within the accepted normal range, showed signs of subtle neurological and cognitive problems. The findings raise a provocative possibility: some people may be told their B12 status is fine while their brains are already showing early signs of strain.

"Normal" B12 May Not Always Mean Optimal

The study, published in Annals of Neurology, looked at older adults who did not have dementia or mild cognitive impairment. Even in this relatively healthy group, lower levels of active B12 were linked to slower thinking, slower visual processing, and more visible injury in the brain's white matter. White matter is made up of the nerve fibers that allow different parts of the brain to communicate.

Stop & Shop’s Tactics Keep Richmond Grocery Store Vacant for Decades

Arrested Development

By Jonmaesha Beltran / ecoRI News staff

The former supermarket was once an A&P store before Stop & Shop acquired it. The property has sat vacant since 2005, when its only tenant, Cycling Brothers Motor Sports, shut its doors. (Jonmaesha Beltran/ecoRI News)

Julie Harney grew up within the same 41 square miles where she first watched airplanes lift off, developed a passion for horses and now raises her own children.

The 45-year-old, who spends her days answering questions that help develop new medicines, has had one question linger in her mind for most of her adulthood: how do you fill the vacancies in Chariho Plaza? 

The Richmond shopping center has struggled to retain tenants as businesses closed and others outgrew their space, while its ownership changed hands over the years.

Four vacancies remain: a boarded-up gas station, two former retail storefronts and an empty supermarket building. But none has drawn more attention in the town of 8,000 than the vacant grocery store that Stop & Shop has held on to for three decades. 

Grocery chains are known to engage in anti-competitive behavior by implementing restrictions in deeds and leases that prohibit the sale of groceries in certain properties to limit nearby competition. The practice deepens barriers to access to healthy foods and has left buildings and lots vacant for decades in rural and urban communities. 

Researchers have also found another tactic: vacating a property yet continuing to pay the rent.

“It appears that Ahold/Stop & Shop will employ virtually any means available to stifle competition,” University of Connecticut Professor Ronald Cotterill wrote in a 2002 research paper. 

Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos’ staff have searched for restrictive covenants across the state, and some of their findings include examples where Stop & Shop has left commercial property frozen: a demolished Almacs plaza in Coventry and the building in Richmond. 

While property records show the company owns the land in Coventry through a subsidiary, it leases a parcel in Richmond while retaining ownership of the building on top of it. 

Matos has pushed to outlaw restrictive covenants in the grocery sector in Rhode Island, and congressional leaders have called on the Federal Trade Commission to investigate their use as antitrust violations.

As residents watch how those efforts will affect areas where a restrictive covenant doesn’t exist, Richmond residents are looking for ways to bring new life to Chariho Plaza. 

“It’s really disappointing that nothing yet has taken hold to create something better in that location,”  Harney said. 

The triple toll of Trump’s terrible tariffs

Ultimately, American workers and consumers suffer three different ways.

Tom Schaller

Following the Supreme Court’s February ruling that Donald Trump’s tariff policy violated Congress’s tax authority, the administration must now refund the $159 billion it collected from its unconstitutional tariffs.

But unfortunately for American workers and consumers, winding down this fiscal fiasco results in a lose-lose-lose situation:

• First, most Americans will never be reimbursed for what were effectively temporary sales taxes they paid for various imports, nor will they receive the public benefit of having those sums spent on government programs or projects.
• Second, because it is logistically easier to reimburse the American companies that directly paid the tariffs, some corporations may enjoy windfall refund profits — presuming, that is, those companies did not go bankrupt.
• Finally, the surviving businesses and the employees who still work for them — hundreds of thousands of workers were laid off because of the tariffs — will for the foreseeable future continue to suffer because foreign countries, companies, and citizens quite rationally retaliated against Trump’s policies.

Let’s work through the three-fold ruin wrought by Trump’s catastrophic policy.

Drink up

BBQ for RI rural Dems, June 14

3 Medical Routines That Older People May Not Need

One benefit of aging

By Paula Span

Enough time had passed since the patient’s previous colonoscopy that she met the criteria to undergo another, said Steven Itzkowitz, a gastroenterologist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York.

She was in “reasonably good health,” and the risks of the procedure — bleeding, reaction to anesthesia, perforation of her colon — were fairly low. But she was 85. And she would need to briefly discontinue the blood thinners she took because of the cardiac stents keeping her arteries open; doing so could increase the risks.

Had Itzkowitz and his patient faced this decision five years ago, he might have scheduled the screening “without even thinking about it,” he said. But recent research has shown again that the benefits of a repeat colonoscopy are slim after age 75.

Now, he said, “I’m saying to myself, ‘What are we accomplishing here?’”

He’s not the only doctor — or patient — having second thoughts. The risks and benefits of common screenings, procedures, and drugs add up differently at advanced ages, and research continues to point out fresh examples of some that may become unnecessary.

Recently, investigators have taken on questions about common skin lesions that probably don’t need to be removed, a widely used thyroid medication that many older patients can safely discontinue, and colonoscopies that reduce colon cancer mortality so slightly that the risks may outweigh the benefits.

After delay, Burlingame State Campground Opens for the Season

Opens Friday - Brace for another surge in summer people

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announces the completion of three new shower and restroom facilities at Burlingame State Campground in Charlestown. Reservations will open for the 2026 season through Reserve America on Wednesday, June 10, at 9 AM. The first night to make a reservation will be Friday, June 12.

Phase One of the project brings exciting upgrades to the Midpark North, Fish Camp and Mills Camp sections of the campground with the addition of three modern restroom and shower facilities. 

Designed to enhance visitor comfort and accessibility, the new buildings are ADA-compliant and feature new septic systems, indoor/outdoor coin-operated hot water showers, energy-efficient lighting, and durable, water-conserving plumbing fixtures. 

The $18M project is funded primarily through the voter-approved 2021 Beach, Clean Water, and Green Economy Bond, along with $2M federal grant. Construction is expected to be fully completed in April 2027.