Christopher Allen, Author at Providence Business News

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RETURN TO THE ROSTRUM: Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio takes his place at the front of the Senate chambers on Jan. 3, the first day of the 2023 General Assembly session. It’s a position Ruggerio has held since 2017.  PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

Surplus of question marks: Decisions on tax cuts, housing policies, education...

Cover Story 01/06/2023

No one would blame the General Assembly leadership if it breathed a little easier in the 2023 legislative session. After all, the top Democratic leaders...

HITTING HIS GOAL: Nic Cortes, owner of Cortes BJJ LLC, leads one of the classes at his jiu-jitsu studio in Warwick, which offers self-defense programs, fitness and strength conditioning. Cortes realized his dream of starting his own academy when he opened his studio in 2017. PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

Everybody’s Business: A display of fighting spirit to overcome obstacles

Everybody's Business 01/06/2023

(Editor’s note: This is the 29th installment in a monthly series speaking with minority business owners and leaders. Each will be asked their views...

ADVOCATES FOR the unhoused say Rhode Island's "Homeless Bill of Rights" should have protected those camped out on the Statehouse lawn last month when Gov. Daniel J. McKee ordered them removed from the grounds. A Superior Court judge sided with McKee. / PBN FILE PHOTO/CASSIUS SHUMAN

Does ‘Homeless Bill of Rights’ need an update?

Economy 01/06/2023

Rhode Island’s adoption of a “Homeless Bill of Rights” may have won state leaders praise when it was passed in 2012, but the weakness...

OPENING DAY: Eddie Keegan, left, chief operating officer, and Joseph Pakuris, co-owner, are ready to welcome customers on opening day at Mother Earth Wellness in Pawtucket. PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

Pawtucket dispensary offers cannabis careers

Entrepreneurship 01/06/2023

When Pawtucket-based Mother Earth Wellness Inc. announced it would be expanding into the retail sphere, the interest from prospective employees was enormous, said co-owner...

McKee to give State of the State address Jan. 17

Government 01/04/2023

PROVIDENCE – Gov. Daniel J. McKee will give the annual State of the State address in the House chambers of the Statehouse on Jan....

‘We’re just getting started’: McKee vows to keep up momentum in...

Government 01/03/2023

PROVIDENCE – Gov. Daniel J. McKee was sworn in Tuesday for his first full term as the state’s chief executive. Characterizing his new term as...

STATE LEADERS ARE in a good financial position with a $610 million surplus projected for fiscal 2023, but some say a lot of that money is because several state agencies have been understaffed and overworked. / PBN FILE PHOTO/CASSIUS SHUMAN

Some R.I. officials say job vacancies a big part of projected...

Government 12/30/2022

The projected $610 million budget surplus awaiting the General Assembly and the administration of Gov. Daniel J. McKee has been the subject of speculation...

New year brings new laws

Economy 12/29/2022

PROVIDENCE – A number of business-related laws previously passed by the General Assembly will take effect on Jan. 1. Among them is a 75-cent raise...

New weight limit on Mt. Hope Bridge may ‘crimp’ freight transport

Economy 12/29/2022

PROVIDENCE – For years, the maximum weight allowed per vehicle crossing the 6,000-foot-long Mount Hope Bridge was 40 tons, or 80,000 pounds. But updated federal...