Kratom Ban, Debates, and Shark Alerts | Providence News

Providence News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 18, 2026 · 1m

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey just slapped a temporary ban on kratom sales amid rising public safety concerns, while Rhode Island’s political theater heats up with fiery debates between Gov. Dan McKee and his rivals over tolls, bridges, and healthcare. Meanwhile, law enforcement tackles crime in Fall River and investigates a New Bedford officer accused of using surveillance tech to track an ex, all as a shark scare and a rare Powassan virus diagnosis remind residents of nature’s unpredictability—and Newport rolls out free harm-reduction vending machines. Nationally, debates rage over…