WORCESTER – A new report ranks the Worcester metro area the third worst real estate market for renters in the US. While rents continue to rise, residents in the city rank in the bottom five percent in income of the 351 municipalities in Massachusetts. The report, by Forbes Advisor, found the Worcester metro area the third most competitive residential rental market of the top 75 most populated metro areas nationwide. Forbes found the most competitive metro area is the Virginia Beach metro area, followed by the New York City metro area. The study ranked each metro area from 1 to 100, with Virgin ..read more

WORCESTER – Funding from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) will enable 100 juniors and seniors from Southbridge High School to earn college credits through a partnership with Quinsigamond Community College (QCC). Early College courses at Southbridge High School will start in fall 2024, at no cost to students in the program. The Joint Committee of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and Board of Higher Education recently designated QCC an early college site for Southbridge Public Schools, which enables the program to begin. QCC is also part of ..read more

WORCESTER – The Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA) Advisory Board voted unanimously on Thursday morning to continue its fare free program through June 2025. The board voted to approve the program last year through June 2024. WRTA buses became fare-free in 2020, during the covid-19 pandemic, although there was advocacy for the program in prior years. Thursday’s vote extends the program into its fifth year. According to a 2019 report by the Worcester Regional Research Bureau, in FY 2019, WRTA farebox revenue fell to just over $3 million, the lowest level since 2010. That revenue account ..read more

Manny and Worcester City Manager Eric Batista discuss gun violence, busking, and the Chief Equity Officer opening on April 17, 2024.   ..read more

WORCESTER – There will be a training exercise in Worcester on Thursday, April 18, involving two Worcester Public Schools. There is no actual emergency or threat to the public. High levels of emergency vehicle traffic will be observed near and at both the South High Community School, at 170 Apricot St, and Sullivan Middle School, at 140 Apricot St., between 8 AM and 1 PM on Thursday. The emergency vehicle traffic is part of a training exercise. Those who recognize the high level of emergency vehicle traffic in the area should not be alarmed.   View this post on Instagram   A post sh ..read more

WORCESTER – The new unit within the Worcester Police Department (WPD), the Crime Gun Intelligence Unit (CGIU), recovered its first illegal firearm on Monday, April 15. The WPD formed the unit in response to recent gun violence in the city. Shortly before 10 PM, CGIU detectives were responding to a ShotSpotter activation when they saw a vehicle on Channing Street with tinted windows and a tinted license plate cover. Detectives engaged the vehicle in a traffic stop. Upon pulling behind the vehicle, which made the license plate visible, the detectives recognized the plate number matched a “be on ..read more

WORCESTER – A group of 30 school principals and assistant principals from Denmark met with educators and attended a panel discussion at Worcester Public Schools (WPS) on Friday, April 12. The Danish educators sought to understand the WPS strategy for the use of artificial intelligence in the classroom. Earlier this year, WPS launched the “Spark Team,” a group of educato0rs who are early adopters of “future-ready” teaching and learning practices, and who share these practices with colleagues. The Spark Team led the panel discussion, which included examples of WPS using artificial intelligence i ..read more

WORCESTER – Police announced on Tuesday that a fourth man wanted for an April 7 shooting on Clarkson Street in Worcester has turned themselves in. According to the Worcester Police Department, Joshua Pittman, pictured above, turned himself into police on Tuesday morning. On April 7, police responded to reports of gunshots on Clarkson Street shortly after 9 PM. After arriving at the scene, officers located two 18-year-old females and a 17-year-old male suffering from gunshot wounds. EMS transported all three to a local hospital. On Monday, April 8, police arrested Jordany Alejo, 19, of Worceste ..read more

WORCESTER – A $3.7 million federal grant will enable work at the Route 20 and Grafton Street interchange in Worcester to provide flood relief to areas of Worcester and Shrewsbury. The grant, funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and issued through the Department of Transportation’s Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient, and Cost-saving Transportation (PROTECT) Grant Program, covers 80 percent of the project’s total costs. Governor Maura Healey called the award, “a game changer for Worcester and Shrewsbury,” and said the state needs to “act now on critical tran ..read more

DEDHAM – The Massachusetts Superior Court in Dedham has issued restrictions on protestors during the criminal trial of Karen Read, 44. Jury selection in the cases is scheduled to begin 0n Tuesday. In the court’s order, issued April 4, no individual may demonstrate in any manner, including carrying signs or placards, within 200 feet of the courthouse complex, including the parking area behind the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds building. The court also ordered that “no individual will be permitted to wear or exhibit any buttons, photographs, clothing, or insignia, relating to the case pending ..read more