STORY OF THE WEEK: Rhode Island officials plan to assemble a proposal in the weeks ahead designed to keep Hasbro in the state. Details remain unclear for now, but Gov. Dan McKee and House Speaker Joe Shekarchi met in the governor’s office Thursday with Hasbro CEO Chris Cocks. In a message to employees earlier in the week, Cocks pointed to how the company’s longtime HQ on Newport Avenue in Pawtucket is “showing its age.” That underscores how Hasbro wants a new office -- somewhere. “We are looking to find a space that allows for collaboration, design, and showcases who we are and what we stand for,” Cocks wrote. “A space that is accessible to our teams and our partners. But don't pack your bags yet. It is very early, and nothing is final -- we wouldn't be moving for at least 18 months.” Boston and Providence each have their pluses and minuses, and Hasbro can expect various overtures. After the initial surprise that Hasbro might split, it remains up to McKee, Shekarchi and Senate President Dominick Ruggerio to make an effective case to keep the company in Rhode Island. “It’s all hands on deck to keep Hasbro in Pawtucket,” McKee said in a statement after the news broke. Hasbro has about 1,000 or more employees in the state, so it would be a big blow -- and hurt the state’s perception as a place for business -- if all that vanished. The bad news for Pawtucket is that Hasbro appears unlikely to stay in the community that has long been its home -- another possible blow after the loss of the PawSox. But Pawtucket’s loss could be Providence’s gain if Hasbro became part of the evolution of the Jewelry District and the neighboring I-195 District (or moved somewhere else in the city). Worth noting: Rhode Island officials have demonstrated an ability to play defense by retaining big outfits including Citizens and Ballys. McKee spokeswoman Olivia DaRocha said via a statement that more meetings with Cocks are expected, adding, “The governor, the speaker and the Senate president are prepared to continue making a strong case for Rhode Island and both the Administration and the General Assembly are fully committed to pursuing all options to keep the company anchored in our state.”  

REALITY CHECK: If Hasbro ultimately leaves Rhode Island, it would be a reminder of the state’s economic fragility. While Boston has considerably worse traffic and higher costs, the Hub can also boast more of the talent sought by a toy-maker transformed under previous CEO Brian Goldner into an entertainment outfit. At the same time, Rhode Island faces a likely return to the perennial deficits that typically greeted lawmakers each January in the pre-COVID era. On the plus side, the number of employed people in Rhode Island reached an all-time high of 567,969 in July, according to the St. Louis Fed, although the labor force participation rate has been higher in the past. If you want to say the glass is half-full, you can point to efforts to build the blue economy, life sciences, cybersecurity and the wind industry. But as was the case near the end of Gina Raimondo’s time as governor, the familiar problems faced by the Rhode Island include a lack of engines of significant new job growth

NOVEMBER CLIFFHANGER: For all the dramatic events involving the presidential race in recent months, the outcome of the battle between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump remains uncertain. In one sign of the closeness of the race, consider this observation from respected Cook Report analyst David Wasserman: “If Harris increases Dems’ share of white college grads [in NC] from 47% to 49% and nothing else changes vs. ‘20, she flips the state -- without flipping a single county.” That shows how small differences could have a big impact in November -- and why some Rhode Islanders are among those hoping to affect the outcome in swing states.

WINDOW ON 2026: As Helena Foulkes keeps raising money ahead of an expected run for governor in 2026, a secondary story involves whether she will campaign with a candidate for lieutenant governor as an informal slate. Speculation focuses on four different prospective candidates: state Sen. Louis DiPalma (D-Middletown), Attorney General Peter Neronha, Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena Jr., and Central Falls Mayor Maria Rivera. Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos is expected to face a primary challenge in ‘26 due to the controversy associated with her CD1 run last year, and Gov. McKee has a re-election steering committee, as Kathy Gregg recently reported. Matos spokesman David Folcarelli said the LG “unequivocally plans to run and win election in 2026. Between now and then, she’ll be laser-focused on increasing employee ownership opportunities, providing food security in low-income neighborhoods, and supporting seniors and people with disabilities.”

HOUSING: With the median sales prices of home in Rhode Island hitting almost $491,000, Jennifer Hawkins, the departing president/CEO of nonprofit developer ONE Neighborhood Builders, fears that a federal rate cut will exacerbate things: “I think the only way that we will see a significant reduction is if we really increase supply,” Hawkins said during an exit interview on Political Roundtable. “Often folks cite Austin, Texas, an example where prices finally started to soften and decrease because of the massive influx of additional units. I mean, there’s just really core supply and demand, principles at play here. I know that the Fed just cut its interest rates and everyone is excited that the mortgage, 30-year mortgage, is going to come down. I’m worried that that just means there’s going to be more competition for the same very few homes on the market. And so you may save money on the mortgage, but in return, the housing price is going to go up because there’s the competition for that, those so few units.”

WASHINGTON BRIDGE: Although it’s less than requested, Rhode Island is getting a $125 million mega-grant to help with the expense of replacing the bridge. “There is a lot more work to do to get the bridge back up and running, and hopefully this boost of federal funding will accelerate progress,” U.S. Sen. Jack Reed said in a statement announcing the grant. “We will continue to pursue additional funding streams because this bridge is a vital lifeline for commuters, residents, and businesses. We’ve got to get it replaced and done right so it’s there for future generations.”

AROUND THE NEWSROOM:

-- Lynn Arditi reports on South County Hospital, and how it was cited for ‘deficiencies’ before a recent outcry.

-- Alex Nunes details how David M. Roth, a plaintiff challenging Rhode Island’s new shoreline access law, is accused of repeatedly vandalizing a right-of-way sign near his beach house in Watch Hill. This report was the most-viewed story on our website over the past month.

HEY, SAILOR!: James Baumgartner tells the queer history behind a Newport Navy sex scandal in 1919, “culminating in three weeks of military trials, with some of the sailors sent to prison on charges of sodomy and ‘scandalous conduct.’ The incidents became nationally infamous – not just because there were sailors having sex with each other, but for the investigation methods which involved sending sailors out to seduce other sailors and entrap them.”

SECRET SAUCE: From Keating Zelenke, a special projects fellow at the Providence Preservation Society, via the PPS newsletter: “Since moving here, I have realized just how special Providence really is — I’ve found all the complexities of a bigger city, but a level of friendliness that you don't normally see in a place like Brooklyn. After all, if you bump into someone on the street in New York, you might never see them again. If you meet someone in Providence, you’ll be seeing them in the produce section of the grocery store, or walking their dog, or waiting in line for a coffee in just a matter of time.”

MOVING UP: Matt Lenz, who cut his teeth while working on the staff of former AG Peter Kilmartin and later represented the Toy Association, moved on in May to a little company called Meta, as public policy director, Northeast, on the state and local team. Lenz offered this description of his job: “I oversee a team covering New England, down to Virginia and out to Minnesota. I also work with various attorney generals across the country. In my role, I work directly with state policymakers and regulators to promote the safe and efficient use of internet technologies and economic development in the region. I've been very focused on artificial intelligence policies, particularly the promotion of open source AI. Due to Congress being unable to move forward on comprehensive data privacy legislation, states have been leading the way and I've been very focused on promoting interoperability between states. And as you saw from my threads post, the company has been focused on safety and giving tools to parents to manage their child's use of our apps and products. Meta is also investing heavily in VR and augmented reality technology. Making sure the regulatory environment is poised for that investment is important. I'm very grateful to have this opportunity to work for one of the most innovative companies in the world. Meta is at the cutting edge of technology and new mediums of communication. As a tech nerd, being at the forefront has been an incredible experience and I'm excited to play a part in shaping the environment for the next big thing.”

SUCCESSION: The elevation of Lori Urso, a former campaign manager for Pawtucket Mayor Don Grebien, to take the place of state Sen. Sandra Cano (D-Pawtucket) on the November ballot, struck critics as a closed process. “It is unfortunate that a political party machine, which regularly declares that defending democracy is a top priority of the party, has opted to bypass democratic norms and the proper nomination process for the great people of Pawtucket,” Cathyann Palocsik, who is running as an independent for the seat formerly held by Cano, said via statement after Urso got the nod from fellow Democrats. The state Elections Board rejected a complaint by Palocsik challenging what happened.

KICKER: Listening to Sox games on the radio will not be the same with the retirement of the great Joe Castiglione after 42 years on the job. As Sox MLB beat writer Ian Browne notes in this appreciation, Castiglione became a virtual friend for legions of Sox fans: “He was no different off the air than he was on it. Just a good guy with a genuine love for the game. My oldest son Tyler, who somehow became obsessed with baseball before he could speak full sentences, loved every interaction he’s had with Joe throughout the years. If you want a true challenge, try to find any Red Sox player past or present to say something negative about Joe. I’ll guarantee that person doesn’t exist. The same goes for every broadcast partner he’s worked with.