In what the city of Providence is called “a case with national significance,” Chief Judge Mary Lisi of U.S. District Court in Rhode Island ruled to uphold the city’s laws banning the sale of tobacco products aimed at children. more

The new state Office of Management and Budget is hard at work on the fiscal 2014 spending plan Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee will present to the General Assembly. It will be the first budget proposal vetted under the direction of OMB Director Peter Marino, a former state Senate fiscal adviser. more

In the debate over the looming fiscal cliff, President Barack Obama often plays down any adverse economic impact from letting the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts expire for high-income Americans, claiming that the top tax rates would merely return to where they were during the Clinton years. more

The R.I. Economic Development Corporation board of directors and Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee have approved new rules and regulations for the Renewable Energy Fund, they announced at a Monday evening press conference. more

BOSTON – A New Bedford physician has been indicted on charges he allegedly illegally prescribed drugs to 15 of his patients and defrauded the state’s Medicaid program, Attorney General Martha Coakley announced recently. more

Rhode Island employers pay more for employee health insurance than the national average in spite of a slowdown in the annual rate of increase, according to a study by USI Insurance Services. more

A thriving nightlife scene plays an often under-appreciated role in ensuring a city’s economic health. That’s especially true in a place like Providence, where restaurants are among the leading attractions. more

BOSTON – Chevron USA Inc. and Texaco Downstream Properties Inc. will pay $1.7 million to resolve allegations they received reimbursement payments from a state fund for gas-station cleanup projects even though both sought and received payments from their insurers, Attorney General Martha Coakley announced last week. These false claims allegedly involved service stations across Massachusetts, Coakley said in a statement. more

With the new year comes the annual report filing period for Rhode Island’s for-profit corporations. Rhode Island’s 30,000 for-profit corporations are required to file their annual reports with the Secretary of State’s office between Jan. 1 and March 1. more

The city of Pawtucket is planning to form a Charter Review Commission, which will review the governing document of the city and make recommendations for potential changes, Mayor Donald R. Grebien announced. more