Another weekend column for WPRI.com has arrived, so send your thoughts to tnesi@wpri.com and find the author on Twitter and Facebook. Many development projects that politicians promoted in 2022 are facing financial setbacks in 2023, including the Fane tower, Pawtucket soccer stadium, South Quay terminal, and Superman building. Costs are also rising for school construction projects, making it difficult for Joe Polisena Jr.’s School Building Committee to navigate new challenges. Higher construction costs, interest rates and tightening credit standards are creating major obstacles for Rhode Island’s development projects, and developers are struggling to convince state leaders to allocate more taxpayer money as the state’s budget sours for the first time since the pandemic. Several Democratic candidates are running in the 1st Congressional District special election, with Helena Foulkes stepping away from the race but keeping her future options open. Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos is also running and is proud to bring the National Lieutenant Governors Association conference to Rhode Island in 2025. The Republic Rep. Bob Quattrocchi’s recent remarks to Democratic colleague Rebecca Kislak sparked controversy, leading to Speaker Joe Shekarchi’s decision to remove him from a committee. Jim Thorsen announced he will leave his post as head of the Department of Administration to return to the U.S. Treasury, and there are still ten state agencies without a permanent director. Finally, lawmakers are concerned about the mental health effects of TikTok on young people and are debating changes to the Law Enforcement Officers’ Bill of Rights.