Rhode Island Feeds

Eight firms were honored for their public relations work last month.

Gasoline prices increased in Rhode Island for the sixth consecutive week, AAA Southern New England reported Monday.

States that balked at bank liability releases in a proposed $25 billion nationwide settlement over foreclosure practices must decide by today, Feb. 6, whether its mortgage relief and reforms are worth the legal claims they’ll give up.

Verizon Communications Inc., the second-largest U.S. phone carrier, formed a joint venture with Coinstar Inc. to compete with Netflix Inc. in offering DVD-movie rentals and a video streaming and download service.

In the nation’s capital, city employees are scouring churches, libraries, and community centers to find people who have dropped out of the labor force and help them get jobs.

Hasbro Inc. reported its earnings declined to $385.4 million in 2011 from $397.7 million in 2010.

Bank of America Corp. is considering selling its 37-floor office tower in Boston, The Boston Globe reported Friday.

The state Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education gave preliminary approval Thursday to open a mayoral academy in Providence.

The U.S. Small Business Administration issued guarantees for 15 loans to Rhode Island small businesses in January.

The U.S. Small Business Administration issued 15 loans for Rhode Island small businesses in January.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters are among the hundreds of groups setting aside political differences to unite against a proposal to cut mass-transit funding.

The Pentagon will eliminate 24 V-22 Osprey aircraft built by Boeing Co. and Textron Inc. from its five-year budget plan, saving $1.75 billion through 2017, according to two U.S. officials.

Bank of America Corp. won dismissal from Allstate Corp.’s lawsuit over the insurer’s alleged losses from $700 million in mortgage-backed securities purchased from Countrywide Financial Corp.

Employment climbed more than forecast in January and the U.S. jobless rate unexpectedly fell to the lowest in three years, casting doubt on the Federal Reserve’s pledge to keep interest rates low until late 2014.

Same-store sales at U.S. retailers in January topped analysts’ estimates, led by Limited Brands Inc. and Target Corp., as shoppers took advantage of post-holiday discounts.

Any restaurant guide worth its sea salt can tempt readers with descriptions of One if By Land’s foie gras and roasted poussin. To learn that the owner pays the busboys a “living wage” of $9 an hour, and offers paid sick days, diners need a new …

Two Rhode Island security firms under the same ownership have been bought by a Massachusetts company for an undisclosed price.

J. Terrence Murray was honored for excellence in board leadership on Feb. 1.

Mayor Angel Taveras Thursday said the city will be bankrupt by June if it does not gain pension concessions from municipal retirees or additional payments from its tax-exempt hospitals and colleges.

Announced job cuts in January were lower than average for the month, showing firings in the U.S. are on the decline.