Assembly to study retirement plan

A special General Assembly commission will study the possibility of establishing voluntary retirement accounts in Rhode Island. The state-administered defined contribution accounts would be available for small employers to offer their employees; management would be done by a third-party provider chosen through a request-for-proposals process, according to a statement issued Friday by the General Assembly. The accounts could be used by employers and employees who do not have traditional pension plans or similar retirement-savings arrangements. The commission was established under Senate bill S-0453, sponsored by Sen. William A. Walaska, D-Warwick, and House bill H-5696, by Rep. Arthur Handy, D-Cranston. The legislation was introduced at the request of state General Treasurer Frank Caprio. The commission is to report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly by January.

New Bedford Explorium adds hours

New Bedford is celebrating more than just Independence Day as the city welcomes the full-time opening of the Ocean Explorium. More than a decade in the making, the aquarium and ocean science center overcame major financial hurdles and finally opened to the public last year — but on Saturdays only. As of Saturday, it will be open seven days a week. The Explorium features a computerized image of Earth in 3-D and a living coral reef exhibit that highlights issues of coral bleaching and global warming. It also includes an activity center for children. New Bedford was once among the world’s foremost whaling ports and remains a major fishing center.

N.H. aids immigrant workers

New Hampshire workers now can get information on workplace health and safety in 10 languages. Immigrant, labor and community groups worked on the project. They say it’s important because the state has seen a large increase in refugees and immigrants in recent years, many of whom are not proficient in English. The state Labor Department and the New Hampshire Coalition for Occupational Safety and Health say the information is available on the department’s Web site. Information on topics such as worker compensation is available in Arabic, Bosnian, Chinese and French, as well as Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili and Vietnamese.

Vermont taxes digital downloads

Vermonters who want to have a smoke while they download old Michael Jackson songs on iTunes are finding that it’s costing more. Wednesday, the tax on a pack of cigarettes in Vermont went up by a quarter. And for the first time, digital downloads ranging from pop tunes to cell-phone rings are subject to the state’s 6 percent sales tax. In addition, the 6 percent sales tax is being applied for the first time to liquor, which already was subject to other taxes. Todd Delbeck, general manager of Beverage Warehouse in Winooski, tells The Burlington Free Press that one man came in Tuesday and spent more than $1,000 on gin to save himself the sales tax taking effect the next day.

N.H. developer sues city, state

A Concord, N.H., developer has sued city and state officials for $55 million in damages for tearing up his properties while searching for pollution. Kevin Guay says no evidence has ever been found that there was any type of pollution and that officials left behind a “total mess” of exposed dirt. He sued in federal court on Friday. State and local officials say they’re reviewing the complaint. Guay claims the search over three days in March involved a state helicopter, an environmental company that looked for drums of toxic chemicals and a police search in a barn for an alleged crystal methamphetamine laboratory. The attorney general’s office says the investigation is ongoing. Guay has a long history of disputes with the city and state regarding violations of environmental laws.