On Jan. 1, Rhode Island’s minimum wage rose 35 cents to $7.75 an hour, increasing the average minimum wage worker’s annual pay by $510. more

University of Rhode Island scientists were contributing authors and editors of a new book on the restoration of salt marshes, which includes case studies based on URI research, the school announced Wednesday. more

Bristol County, Mass. foreclosure starts rose 6 percent in November while finished foreclosures dropped 35 percent compared with the same period in 2011, The Warren Group said Wednesday more

Mallinckrodt, the pharmaceuticals business of biotechnology giant Covidien PLC, has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to manufacture and market a generic version of its Concerta tablets for the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, the company announced Monday. more

The Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce’s 22nd annual dinner attracted 370 to see a number of their membership feted and hear a speech by an officer of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce that played up the role of manufacturing in the U.S. more

The Rhode Island-based nonprofit Clean the Bay has a new name – Clean Bays. The group removes marine debris from the shores and waterways of southern New England. more

Admissions to the Newport Mansions topped 880,000 in 2012, marking the best attendance in more than a decade, according to the Preservation Society of Newport County. more

Public accounting firm Sullivan & Co. LLP has merged with BlumShapiro, the largest New England-based accounting, tax and business consulting firm, effective Jan. 1. more

The University of Rhode Island has received roughly $2.5 million from the estates and bequests of URI alumni brothers John and David Parker, the University of Rhode Island Foundation announced Tuesday. more

As part of a renewed focus on the Michigan area, Flagstar Bancorp Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement with a wholly-owned subsidiary of CIT Bank for CIT to acquire $1.264 billion in commercial loan commitments from Flagstar. more