IRS extends deadline for stimulus checks

The Internal Revenue Service will accept claims for federal stimulus checks after today’s deadline, according to U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse. The extension was granted because there were concerns that 18,000 Rhode Islanders had not filed the forms necessary to get rebates, particularly elderly people and veterans with disabilities. The stimulus checks yet to be claimed by Rhode Islanders could add up to as much as $5.4 million. According to Whitehouse’s office, the IRS said it will continue to process requests for rebates after today, although the agency urged those who have not yet filed to do so quickly. The tax-free rebates were sent automatically to eligible Americans who filed federal income tax returns for last year. However, many Social Security and VA beneficiaries do not normally file returns, so they must file separate paperwork this year to receive the rebates. They can go to www.irs.gov to download copies of the forms or more information, or stop by the IRS’s local offices at 380 Westminster St., Providence, or 60 Quaker Lane, Warwick, to get the forms and preparation assistance (no appointment is needed). The offices are open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

APC expands relationship with EMC

West Kingston-based APC by Schneider Electric, a provider of integrated critical power and cooling services, has announced an expanded relationship with Hopkinton, Mass.-based EMC to incorporate APC’s proprietary architecture into the EMC Select third-party reseller program, which helps customers easily acquire all the required components of an information infrastructure. APC’s architecture fully integrates power, cooling, racks, environmental monitoring, physical security and management, and allows for the selection of standardized components. This standardization enables an easily scalable architecture that can meet changing needs and future expansion.

EMC donates support for Holocaust archive

EMC, a provider of information infrastructure, has donated products and services to store a copy of the Shoah Foundation Institute’s archive of nearly 52,000 video testimonials from Holocaust survivors and witnesses, and make it accessible through Yad Vashem, The Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Authority in Jerusalem. Established in 1953, Yad Vashem documents the history of the Jewish people during the Holocaust, preserving the memory and story of each of the 6 million victims, as well as those who survived. Through the EMC Information Heritage Initiative donation, the Shoah Foundation Institute for Visual History and Education was able to copy more than 135 terabytes — approximately 100,000 hours — of testimonies belonging to the Institute onto a networked storage system, which was then shipped from the University of Southern California, in Los Angeles, Calif., to Yad Vashem in Israel, where the videos will be made accessible at the visual center.

Textron wins contract for drone aircraft

Providence-based Textron Inc., the maker of the Shadow unmanned aircraft, has won a $242.1-million contract to build 17 of the drones for the U.S. military. Thirteen will be supplied to the Army and 4 are on order by the Marine Corps. Deliveries begin next year and end in November 2010. The Shadow is used in Iraq and Afghanistan for reconnaissance, surveillance and targeting. Several aircraft in the order will include two new features: the ability to place a laser sport on a target that enables missile tracking and a link that transmits digital data.

TD Banknorth extends hours, services

Portland, Maine-based TD Banknorth has extended hours in 280 branches across Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and upstate New York, and introduced round-the-clock live customer service, in an effort to make banking faster, easier and more convenient. The company made the changes in response to customer feedback. The bank has added more lobby and drive-through hours as late as 8 p.m. and introduced Saturday and Sunday hours. In addition, all customers now have access to live agents 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, through the company’s direct banking call centers. Suzanne Poole, executive vice president of personal banking, said, “We’ve responded by making sure our branches are open when customers need them to be, and by having a real live person on the phone at any time that’s most convenient for the customer.”

Bremer now chairman of Splinternet Holdings

L. Paul Bremer, President Bush’s former envoy to Iraq, has been named chairman of the board of Norwalk, Conn.-based Splinternet Holdings Inc., a company that makes radiation-detection systems. “Ambassador Bremer brings his achievements as one of the foremost experts in the world on counterterrorism and internal security to Splinternet, and we are honored to have him as our chairman,” said James C. Ackerly, chief executive officer. Bremer will oversee development of strategic objectives, identification of new markets and the execution of corporate initiatives, the company said.

KB Toys to open 30 stores

KB Toys, of Pittsfield, Mass., has announced the opening of 30 new stores for the holiday shopping season. The full-size stores will be located in malls and shopping centers from New York to California, plus Puerto Rico. “These new locations not only make shopping for affordable toys more convenient, but also bring new jobs to the area,” said Andy Bailen, chief executive officer.

King Arthur takes crown of small workplaces

One of the nation’s oldest small companies has been found to be one of the best to work for. King Arthur Flour, of Norwich, Vt., made the list of 15 Top Small Workplaces in North America, as identified by the Wall Street Journal and Winning Workplaces. King Arthur spokeswoman Allison Furbish said that for more than 200 years, the company has been focused on great customer service, educational programs, community and environmental stewardship. King Arthur employs nearly 200 workers, and has received a series of awards, including the Outstanding Vermont Business Award in 2006, the Best Place to Work in Vermont Award in 2006 and 2007, and the Better Business Bureau Local Torch Award for Excellence in 2006.

N.H. company to bolster Microsoft security

Portsmouth, N.H.-based NitroSecurity Inc., a provider of network and information security, has announced that for the first time it will receive advanced information from Microsoft about their monthly security bulletins, in order to anticipate emerging threats and provide mutual customers with more timely protections. As part of the Microsoft Active Protections Program (MAPP), NitroSecurity will have early access to vulnerability information aiding in the protection of Microsoft customers and the development of protection from common and more complex security issues.

Some Conn. gas customers may receive credits

Connecticut regulators say they may order Southern Connecticut Gas Corp. to issue credits to customers to compensate for collecting $15.1 million in excessive profits. The state Department of Public Utility Control says the Orange-based utility exceeded its 10-percent maximum allowable profit level, just as its sister company, Connecticut Natural Gas, did earlier this year. Regulators emphasize that overearning should not be confused with overcharging. Market conditions, paying down debts and cutting expenses can also affect profits. The DPUC will make a final decision on ordering consumer credits later this month. Southern Connecticut Gas has about 165,000 customers in 22 communities, mostly along the shoreline.