PROVIDENCE – Legislation that makes significant changes to the Access to Public Records Act – including making public various records that were not previously public, such as employment contracts – is now law. Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee signed the legislation, which takes effect Sept. 1. more

Age: 39 more

Growing up a distant cousin of Kurt Vonnegut and going to Harvard didn’t make him a novelist, but 15 years immersed in the cut-throat culture of Wall Street drove Norb Vonnegut to the pen. The stock broker turned writer, who worked at Kidder, Peabody in Providence 20 years ago, is now settled in Rhode Island and just released his third novel, “The Trust.” The thriller is about a network of financial criminals involved in adult entertainment who hide behind the Catholic Church and infiltrate a wealthy family. more

WASHINGTON – A Warwick company is among the first to take advantage of a new U.S. Small Business Administration online platform that gives entrepreneurs the opportunity to share their stories and showcase their successful and thriving businesses. more

PBN.com is sporting a new, streamlined look. The revamped website features a simplified page design that offers readers easier access to Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts’ most comprehensive collection of business news. more

(Corrected Feb. 5, 9:50 a.m.) Alliance Security Co. and Alex and Ani were among those recognized as top job producers in the state by Inc. Magazine. more

The South County Tourism Council was recognized Monday by the North American Travel Journalists Association for travel reporting “excellence” in its publication, the South County Style Guide. The guide won first place for working under a marketing budget of $400,000 or less. more

Forbes Magazine has named Swipley Inc. one of “America’s Most Promising Companies.” Swipely, which was founded in 2009, is the first Rhode Island company to make the list. more

Providence Equity Partners Inc., the buyout firm with holdings in Univision Communications Inc. and the cable-television network of the New York Yankees, sold a minority stake to Florida’s state pension system and a sovereign-wealth fund, Bloomberg News reported last week. more