Cold storage and ice manufacturing company JP Lillis Enterprises, which does business under the trade name Cape Cod Ice, has agreed to pay penalties of $225,000 to settle claims by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over unmet requirements at its East Providence and Sandwich, Mass.-based facilities. more

BOSTON – The Mass. Department of Environmental Protection has fined a Fairhaven company for dumping waste paint-wash water into a storm drain at the Dartmouth Mall, the agency announced. more

BOSTON – Gov. Deval L. Patrick this month filed legislation that will “professionalize, modernize and regionalize” the operations Massachusetts’ housing authorities. more

The hundreds of lobbyists who represented clients before the General Assembly last year face a looming deadline for filing two important reports with the Secretary of State’s Office. more

The Natural Resource Damages Trustee Council for the Bouchard Barge 120 oil spill has released a final restoration plan and environmental assessment for state and federally threatened piping plovers impacted by the 2003 spill in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. more

Two College Hill neighbors are challenging city approval of Gilbane Development Co.’s proposed 102-unit apartment building at 257 Thayer St. more

The Rhode Island General Assembly complied with the state’s Open Meetings law 96 percent of the time in 2012, according to Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis’ Access 2012 report. more

The Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council and the R.I. Economic Development Corporation have established a collaborative partnership with the state’s General Assembly to build a legislative database as a resource for Rhode Island businesses. more

On Wednesday night, the New England Fishery Management Council voted to cut the catch limit on Gulf of Maine cod by 77 percent, a move the opposition claims is tantamount to shutting down the industry, The Gloucester Times reported. more

The availability of the Small Business Health Options Program, or SHOP, a component of the health benefits exchange in Rhode Island, should be expanded to businesses with more employees, the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council said in a report released Wednesday afternoon. more