Rhode Island is among the states that Dell Inc. said it has reached a legal settlement with over alleged misleading financing and service offers to PC buyers. Dell will pay $3.85 million to at least 46 states and a portion of that will be used to reimburse the states for legal costs. People who bought a computer or service on or after April 1, 2005, and had a problem with a financing offer, rebate or service can file a claim within 90 days with their state attorneys general. Connecticut and Washington, representing a much larger group of states, approached Dell with their concerns in the middle of last year. In an interview, Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said that an "epidemic-like wave of complaints" about Dell's practices prompted him to contact his counterparts across the country. Blumenthal said consumers who were offered zero- percent financing were later ambushed by high interest rates and fees. Some people "faced unacceptable obstacles obtaining warranty service on their Dell computers and others said they never received promised rebates," he added.

Youth hockey tournament begins today

A youth hockey tournament that begins today in Rhode Island is expected to draw 3,000 players and fans, giving a boost to local hotels and restaurants struggling from the economic downturn. The Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau says the John W. Kennedy Memorial Hockey Tournament will include 102 teams from 12 states. Games will be held at Providence College's Schneider Arena, the Cranston Veterans Memorial Rink and at other sports complexes. The tournament runs through Monday.

Kennedy wants changes to bailout

U.S. Rep. Patrick J. Kennedy met with job seekers yesterday at the Providence netWORKri Career Center and discussed improved accountability from financial institutions for the second installment of the Troubled Asset Relief Program. Kennedy said he is sending a letter to Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, proposing that institutions receiving TARP aid be required to implement new credit-card regulations within 60 days; be prohibited from raising credit card interest rates on consumers; and provide more flexibility for bankruptcy judges to stem foreclosures.

Economic Policy Council to meet

With Rhode Island suffering from one of the country's highest rates of unemployment, the state Economic Policy Council, Governor Carcieri's top economic advisers, will meet today at 10 a.m. Carcieri is scheduled to discuss the "current economic conditions" and his proposed stimulus plan, according to the meeting agenda. Later, Mark G. Brodeur, who replaced David C.