In 2010, the General Assembly and Gov. Donald L. Carcieri approved the sale of ground-based fireworks that sparkle. The rationale was that the state was losing sales tax revenue to Connecticut and New Hampshire, nearby states that sell fireworks that are illegal in Rhode Island. more

BOSTON – Attorney General Martha Coakley’s office is opposing a proposed $29.2 million rate increase by Columbia Gas, claiming the company is seeking to pass millions in unnecessary costs, including more than $100,000 in corporate jet travel, on to Massachusetts ratepayers. more

Modern payday lending was legalized in Rhode Island in 2001 and didn’t cause too much outcry until the recession began adding to the number of local families falling deeper into debt and bankruptcy. more

The Obama administration tried last week to convince the U.S. Supreme Court that the federal government can deny landowners the use of their property for years – decades if need be – without ever paying compensation. more

To the editor: Your Morning Call e-newsletter (“Legal fees mounting in 38 Studios case,” Sept. 18, 2012), prompts several observations. I hope there is enough money for potential recovery to justify the large legal fees involved. Before the state spends any more of our money on this, I think they have an obligation to tell the public how much we might be able to recover. more

BOSTON – An auto-insurance company will pay close to $345,000 to consumers and $50,000 to the commonwealth as the result of an investigation alleging that policyholders with clean driving records were subject to improper “nonrenewal,” Attorney General Martha Coakley announced last week. 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

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

The recent scandals at Barclays PLC, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and other banks might give the impression that the financial sector has some serious morality problems. Unfortunately, it’s worse than that: We are dealing with a drop in ethical standards throughout the business world, and our graduate schools are partly to blame. more

BOSTON – Attorney General Martha Coakley has submitted to Congress her “strong support” of legislation that will prevent nuclear facilities from filing applications for license renewal more than 10 years prior to the expiration of current licenses. more