Columbus
thisweekinworcester.com
Police Remove Protest Encampment in Downtown Worcester
WORCESTER – A protest by homeless individuals and advocates led to the arrest of three on Wednesday outside the 60-bed emergency shelter at the former Registry of Motor Vehicles location at 611 Main St. Demonstrators set up tents in the parking lot of the shelter on Tuesday night, saying...
Study: Lifetime Cost Per Mass. Smoker: $4.8 Million
Mass. – A new study found that the average total financial cost over a lifetime to a pack-a-day smoker in Massachusetts is $4,867,778, when including financial opportunity costs. The study found the out-of-pocket costs are $199,202. When compared to the other 49 states and the District of Columbia (Washington D.C.), the cost in Massachusetts is 6th highest.
DA, State Police Renew Calls for Tips on Missing Woman
WORCESTER – The Worcester County District Attorney’s Office and Massachusetts State Police issued a statement on Brittany Tee, 35, of Brookfield, who has been missing since Jan. 10, 2023, one year ago today. Tee was last seen in the area of Lewis Field on Main Street in Brookfield....
Mayor Holds School Committee Appointments until Jan. 20
WORCESTER – Mayor Joe Petty announced on Tuesday that he will “wait to assign committees until all members of the School Committee are eligible for chairpersonship.”. Some newly elected committee members have yet to complete a course required of all new school committee members across the state. That course is next available on Jan. 20.
Mass. Senate Bill Enhances Wheelchair Warranty Protections
BOSTON – The Massachusetts State Senate has unanimously passed legislation that strengthens consumer protections for wheelchair users. Some provisions align Massachusetts law with current law in neighboring states. The bill must be passed by the state House of Representatives before Governor Maura Healey has the option to sign it...
Mass. Releases MASFA Financial Aid Application
The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education released the Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid (MASFA) on Tuesday. The application, a new initiative enabling undocumented college students in the state to apply for state need-based financial aid, is part of Massachusetts’ Tuition Equity Law in August 2023. MASFA serves as...
Unsolved: Worcester – Who Killed Molly Bish?
WORCESTER – A true crime, cold case podcast series exploring the dozens of unsolved murders and missing persons cases currently under investigation by the Worcester Police Department, the Massachusetts State Police and the Worcester County District Attorney’s Office released episode 10 of Season 6 on Tuesday. Unsolved: Worcester...
Mass. Senate Passes Bill to Legalize Fentanyl Test Strips
BOSTON – The Massachusetts Senate unanimously passed a bill, S.2543 An Act relative to fentanyl test strips, aimed at preventing overdoses and saving lives by legalizing the sale, possession, and distribution of fentanyl test strips and related testing equipment in the state. Fentanyl test strips enable the detection of...
BCBS Ends Anesthesia Coverage for Most Colonoscopies
Mass.- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA) implemented a new policy on Jan. 1 that eliminates coverage for monitored anesthesia for many patients undergoing endoscopic procedures, like a colonoscopy, and other procedures. BCBSMA is the largest health insurer in Massachusetts. According to Becker’s Healthcare, a healthcare industry trade publication,...
NO SCHOOL: Worcester Public Schools Closed Monday, Jan 8
WORCESTER – Worcester Public Schools have cancelled classes for Monday, Jan. 8. Head Start and before and after school activities and programs are also cancelled. The Worcester Public Library’s Burncoat, Goddard, Roosevelt, and Tatnuck Magnet branches and the Worcester Senior Center at 128 Providence St. will all be closed Monday, Jan. 8.
See the Neighborhood Meetings This Week in Worcester
WORCESTER – The Worcester Police Department is encouraging residents to attend their neighborhood watch meetings to stay up-to-date on what’s happening in their neighborhoods and to share any concerns or questions they may have. Representatives from the city also regularly attend these neighborhood meetings. There are over 50...
Worcester Winter Parking Ban Starts at 10 PM Saturday
WORCESTER – A declared winter parking ban goes into effect at 10 PM on Saturday night, Jan. 6, in Worcester. The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory predicting between two to six inches of snow between 7 PM on Friday and 7 PM on Saturday. The...
Update: 12 Inches of Snow Possible in Worcester on Saturday
WORCESTER – According to the National Weather Service (NWS), Worcester will see eight to 12 inches of snow between 4 PM Saturday afternoon and 1 AM on Monday. Winds could reach as high as 35 miles per hour. The NWS prediction on Friday was six to 12 inches, but...
Up to 12 Inches of Snow Possible in Worcester on Saturday
WORCESTER – According to the National Weather Service (NWS), Worcester will see six to 12 inches of heavy, wet snow between Saturday afternoon and late Sunday night. Winds could reach as high as 40 miles per hour. NWS adds that there remains uncertainty in the exact track and intensity...
Nationwide Bomb Threats Reach Dudley, Concord
WORCESTER – Dudley District Court, Concord District Court, and the Nantucket Probate and Family Court were evacuated on Thursday after being included in a nationwide wave of bomb threats across the country. The threats were received by courts, schools, hospitals, synagogues, and other institutions and government buildings across the country.
Addition to UMass Plantation Street Development Approved
WORCESTER – The Worcester Planning Board approved a change to UMass Memorial Medical Center’s plan to develop property at 378 Plantation St. during its meeting on Wednesday. UMass purchased the location, the former location of Beaumont Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center, in 2021 for $23.5 million. UMass seeks...
Mass. DPH Reviewing Regulations on Crisis Pregnancy Centers
BOSTON – The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) announced on Wednesday it has initiated a review of its statutory and regulatory obligations related to anti-abortion centers, often called crisis pregnancy centers, after complaints about several of these centers. DPH says there are 30 crisis pregnancy centers in the...
Indoor Pickleball Opens in West Boylston Jan. 25
WEST BOYLSTON – RT. 12 Pickle, Worcester County’s county’s first dedicated indoor pickleball facility, is set to open on January 25th in the Wachusett Shopping Plaza, at 184 West Boylston Street in West Boylston. The facility features eight new courts and is designed to accommodate a variety...
Worcester Man Sentenced for Shooting Near Courthouse
A local man pleaded guilty to armed assault to murder and firearms charges in Worcester Superior Court on Tuesday in connection with a shooting incident outside the Worcester Trial Court in February 2023. James Freeman IV, of Worcester, was sentenced by Judge Daniel Wrenn to serve 9 to 11 years...
Worcester Appointed Third Youth Poet Laureate
Worcester, MA — City Manager Eric Batista, Mayor Joe Petty, and the Office of Cultural Development announced Worcester Technical High School student Serenity Jackson as the third Youth Poet Laureate of Worcester on Monday. Jackson received a ceremonial medal crafted by local metal artist Pam Farren and delivered her...
thisweekinworcester.com
4K+
Posts
24M+
Views
Everything Worcester, Every Day of the Week - An independent and local online news site dedicated to reporting the news you want and need in the city of Worcester, Massachusetts.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.