If a federal minimum wage-hike goes into effect, Rhode Islanders could see a loss of up to 3,466 jobs, according to a report issued by the R.I. Center for Freedom and Prosperity. more

The state Department of Environmental Management has reached an agreement with seven defendants that calls for them to initially pay $750,000 to the state as compensation for “damages to groundwater and other natural resources at the Davis Superfund site in Smithfield.” 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

Midnight Friday marks the deadline for filing Rhode Island corporate income tax returns, said the R.I. Division of Taxation. more

BOSTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Mass. Department of Environmental Protection reached a settlement with AVX Corp. for $366.25 million plus interest for the cleanup of the Superfund site in New Bedford Harbor, the largest single-site cash settlement in the history of the Superfund program. 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

Lt. Gov. Elizabeth H. Roberts began testimony on the 2013 rate hike requests by Rhode Island’s commercial health insurers by offering that “business people often have the least opportunity to have their voices heard.” more

Commercial fishing license holders seeking new or renewed licenses from the R.I. Department of Environmental Management face a Feb. 28 deadline. 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