It’s a tough world out there. Customers are demanding more. Competition is keen – sometimes from unexpected places. Your business must work harder and smarter to improve profits. And on top of it all, there always seem to be new taxes and regulations to deal with. more

Rhode Island and 18 other states – including Massachusetts and Connecticut – have enacted laws legalizing the use of marijuana for medical purposes. Rhode Island’s Medical Marijuana Act permits individuals carrying a valid registry identification card issued by the R.I. Department of Health to legally use marijuana for the treatment of qualifying medical conditions. more

A former member of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission recently asked me to co-sign a letter urging a federal oversight body to refrain from taking regulatory action normally left to the SEC. I refused to sign. more

With little cash, and even less wine- industry experience, Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey launched Barefoot Wine in – where else – their laundry room. They built the brand and later sold it to wine giant E&J Gallo. more

The City of Light dimmed? It’s true. Thanks to a new law, not only Paris but all of France will see its lighting level reduced, beginning this July. Window lighting in commercial buildings and the lights on building facades will be turned off after 1 a.m., and interior lighting in office buildings will be off an hour after the last employee departs. more

Despite recent signs of improvement, foreclosures and their lingering effects on families continue to be a crisis in the Ocean State, says HousingWorks RI Executive Director Nellie Gorbea. more

Are you passive, aggressive or assertive? Only one way wins. more

Small-business owners are continuing to try social media as a marketing channel. But with so many options – and limited time and resources to use them – which ones are working best? more

Looking to start a business? If you want something with big potential that doesn’t take much startup capital, consider an online service of some type. A major shift toward purchasing both consumer and business-to-business services online has created a slew of opportunities for would-be entrepreneurs. more

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has a birthday gift for 91-year-old widow Jeanette Ogle that should cause any senior to think twice before signing up for a government-insured reverse mortgage. more