Scarlet letter? Try orange sticker; students challenge RI town law that brands party houses

NARRAGANSETT, R.I. — Renters and homeowners in this southern Rhode Island beach town say the punishment for hosting a loud house party is tantamount to a scarlet letter: a large orange sticker plastered on the front door.

RI’s Touro Synagogue, oldest existing Jewish house of worship in US, opens new visitors center

NEWPORT, R.I. — The Touro Synagogue was barely 25 years old when George Washington offered a vision of religious tolerance in a letter he sent its congregants.

Seeger, Baez and some contemporary acts headline anniversary show at Newport folk festival

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Joan Baez was just 18 when she performed at the first Newport Folk Festival, a self-described neurotic and high maintenance teenager who remembers trembling in her sandals as she waited her turn on stage.

ACLU fights RI judge’s order banning woman’s Facebook comments on brother’s child custody case

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A civil rights watchdog group wants a Rhode Island judge to reverse a gag order banning a woman from commenting on a child custody case on Facebook.

Hasbro 2nd-quarter profit rises 5 percent, boosted by sales of Transformers, G.I. Joe toys

NEW YORK — Transformers aren’t just titans at the box office, they’re flying off toy shelves, too. Toy maker Hasbro Inc. said Monday strong sales of the morphing robots helped its second-quarter profit rise past analyst expectations.

RI residents enter confidential agreement with New England Gas Company in mercury spill

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A lawyer for Rhode Island residents who claim they were exposed to mercury when a New England Gas Company building was vandalized in 2004 says his clients have reached a settlement.

Signs of the times: ‘Recession 101′ billboards try to put perspective on troubled economy

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — “Interesting fact about recessions … they end.”

‘Survivor winner Hatch can’t end home confinement to star in show’s anniversary edition

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A federal judge in Rhode Island says “Survivor” winner Richard Hatch cannot leave home confinement early to star in a 10th anniversary edition of the reality show in Samoa.

‘Survivor’ winner Richard Hatch wants out of home confinement for anniversary show in Samoa

NEWPORT, R.I. — “Survivor” winner Richard Hatch, who’s serving home confinement for tax evasion, wants a leave to star in a 10th anniversary edition of the show in Samoa.

Debate over state’s official name _ linked to slavery _ divides Rhode Islanders

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — George Lima is offended by his state’s full official name, and he wants it shortened.

RI bill raises fines for industrial polluters; prompted by Tiverton blue soil case

TIVERTON, R.I. — Rhode Island’s governor is signing legislation to increase fines on industrial polluters.

93-year-old RI man who fought in Spanish Civil War to receive honorary Spanish citizenship

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — In 1937, John Hovan volunteered to travel to Spain and fight on the side of democracy against Gen. Francisco Franco’s fascist forces in the Spanish Civil War.

AP Interview: Rep. Kennedy says relapse warning signs led him to seek addiction treatment

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Rep. Patrick Kennedy said Wednesday that he decided to enter an addiction treatment center last month because he was showing signs of a relapse and had been dealing with stress.

Hear ye, hear ye! RI town holds nation’s oldest July 4th celebration with parade, speeches

BRISTOL, R.I. — In July 1785, the citizens of this waterfront town assembled to heap praise on their newly minted nation and to thank God for helping them survive a fierce assault by the British during the Revolutionary War.

Heavy rains snarl traffic, knock out power in parts of Northeast ahead of July 4th weekend

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Torrential rains are soaking New England and causing traffic backups and power failures as the holiday weekend approaches.

RI hospitals adopt same surgical protocol to help traveling docs, reduce potential errors

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Surgeons in Rhode Island will start following the same procedures before surgeries, no matter which hospital they are working in.

Amazon.com ends Rhode Island commission program due to new sales tax law that comes into force

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Amazon.com has cut ties with Rhode Island Web sites that make referrals to the online retailer because a law designed to collect sales taxes on these transactions will soon come into force, the Providence Journal reported Tuesday.

These streets were made for parking? Maybe not in Newport, which mulls trolley system

NEWPORT, R.I. — Scott Greenberg reached the breaking point of frustration when he was slapped with a $25 ticket for unwittingly leaving his Honda Accord in a spot reserved for Newport residents.

RI lawmakers step closer to changing longest-in-nation state name to soothe wounds of slavery

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The country’s smallest state has the longest official name: “State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.”

RI debates changing its longest-in-nation name to soothe wounds caused by slavery

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The country’s smallest state has the longest official name: “State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations.”

Ex-owner of RI nightclub where fire killed 100 released early from prison for good behavior

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A former co-owner of a Rhode Island nightclub where a fire killed 100 people was released from prison Thursday after earning time off for good behavior.

Twin River slot parlor seeks Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection under mounting debts

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A Rhode Island slots parlor says it needs 24-hour gambling, millions of dollars for marketing and to end costly greyhound racing to regain profitability.

Out of sight, out of mind: RI lawmakers moving to close indoor prostitution loophole

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The undercover police officer paid $60 to enter the Midori Spa just blocks from City Hall. A massage therapist rubbed the officer’s back, then simulated a sex act with her right hand.

Mayors intend to accept White House invitation to meet following national conference

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Officials from the U.S. Conference of Mayors said Monday they plan to accept a White House invitation to meet on economic issues facing their cities.

Nation’s mayors meet in RI amid economic recession as White House avoids labor dispute

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The country’s economic crisis dominated the agenda at Friday’s opening of the national mayors’ conference, with big-city leaders telling of their struggles with mounting foreclosures, double-digit unemployment rates and falling tax revenues.

RI governor vetoes bill allowing medical marijuana stores; lawmakers expected to try override

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Rhode Island Gov. Don Carcieri has vetoed legislation allowing stores to sell marijuana to medical patients.

RI lawmakers debate bill creating major customer for proposed offshore wind farm

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The state’s dominant electricity distributor would be forced to buy power from renewable energy producers under a deal struck Wednesday that could remove a major financial obstacle to building a windfarm off Rhode Island.

Senate lawmakers vote to legalize marijuana sales to chronically ill patients in RI

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Rhode Island would be the third state in the nation and the first on the East Coast to allow nonprofit stores to sell marijuana to medical patients under legislation approved Tuesday by state lawmakers.

Labor dispute between Providence, firefighters disrupts mayors conference in Rhode Island

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A national mayors’ conference opening later this week was supposed to showcase Rhode Island’s capital city and draw top members of President Barack Obama’s administration, including Vice President Joe Biden.

Providence leader blames city union for disrupting national mayors conference

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Providence Mayor David Cicilline said Monday that he would participate in a national mayors conference this week, even as Vice President Joe Biden and other Obama administration officials stay away to avoid a union protest.