Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee Monday nominated Marcel A. Valois, former executive director of the R.I. Economic Development Corporation, to take over leadership of the quasi-state agency again. Valois previously led the EDC under then Gov. Lincoln Almond in the 1990s. more

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island last week became the latest state to roll back criminal penalties for minor marijuana possession, replacing the threat of jail time for those caught with pot with something akin to a traffic citation, The Associated Press reported. more

NEW YORK – General Treasurer Gina M. Raimondo is taking heat from a new source for her efforts related to the state workers’ pension system, but the criticism is not coming from a local source. … more

If a federal minimum wage-hike goes into effect, Rhode Islanders could see a loss of up to 3,466 jobs, according to a report issued by the R.I. Center for Freedom and Prosperity. more

Top executives from 18 large U.S. companies, including FedEx Corp., CVS Caremark Corp. and Boeing Co., are trying to keep up pressure on Congress to cut corporate tax rates. more

I think that, in many ways, the R.I. Economic Development Corporation is getting a bad rap. We, as taxpayers, look to the EDC to help jump-start our economy, and it always seems to come up short. more

With the economic-development plan that he unveiled last week, Providence Mayor Angel Taveras has sent a message – it’s time to stop playing defense and move forward. Growth is the shot in the arm that cures deficits and starts self-sustaining, virtuous cycles. more

PROVIDENCE – Four state legislators representing Aquidneck Island communities have sent a letter to the Rhode Island congressional delegation, requesting assistance in allowing the R.I. Public Transit Authority to receive a waiver of insurance for interstate travel between Rhode Island and Massachusetts, a move that could bring limited service to Fall River. more

In his first year in office, Providence Mayor Angel Taveras just wanted to survive the “category 5 fiscal hurricane” brought about by the recession and years of city policy decisions. more

At a press conference on Wednesday, Mayor Angel Taveras outlined a 20-step economic development action plan to “put Providence residents back to work and jump-start the economy of Rhode Island’s capital city.” more