WORCESTER – A search warrant served on Main Street led to the arrest of a local man on drug distribution charges. Worcester Police Vice Squad officers reported to Main Street on Wednesday, May 1, with a search warrant for a residence and vehicle on Main Street. At around 6:30 PM, Peter Rivera, 65, of Worcester, walked from the residence toward the vehicle, where officers detained him. According to the Worcester Police Department, while talking with officers, Rivera disclosed he had drugs on his person., Officers seized over nine grams of cocaine and nearly four grams of fentanyl. Inside the ho ..read more

WORCESTER – City Manager Eric Batista indicated in a post on his Substack blog on Wednesday that he will reject the unanimous recommendation of the Cable Advisory Committee and renew the city’s contract with Charter Spectrum. In the blog, Batista writes: “The City could deny Charter Spectrum’s license agreement, but we would have to enter into lengthy legal proceedings. If we won, we would leave cable subscribers without any option in the city and lose funding for PEG Channels and Cable Services in Worcester.” Denial also does not initiate a legal proceeding, defined by Merriam-Webster as ..read more

AUBURN – Teens using replica-style water guns were briefly detained in Auburn on Tuesday, April 30, after police received reports of someone with a gun inside a vehicle. Police received the report from an employee at an Auburn based business that a man was waving a firearm around in a vehicle. While officers were on the way to the location, the caller reported the man got out of the vehicle with the weapon, then left in a vehicle. Police located the vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. According to the Auburn Police Department, the two teens in the vehicle were cooperative, polite, and were o ..read more

WORCESTER – The Worcester Bravehearts have announced the all-you-can-eat menu for the 2024 season. In February, the Bravehearts announced that tickets for its upcoming season will be $20, and include items from its all-you-can-eat menu. Items included on the menu will include: Hot dogs; Hamburgers; Cheeseburgers; Chicken sandwiches; Italian sausages; Veggie dogs; Nachos; and Veggie burgers. The menu will also include chicken nuggets, macaroni & cheese, and Table Talk Pies on a rotating basis. Tickets also include soft drinks, bottled water, and chips. Senior and military discount tickets ..read more

WORCESTER – A bear on a road that crosses over Route 146 was sedated and relocated by law enforcement on Sunday, April 29. The Massachusetts State Police barracks in Millbury responded to reports of a bear in the street on McKeon Road in Worcester at around 8:15 AM. Officers from the Worceester Police Department and animal control established a perimeter and contained the bear. Massachusetts State Police Troopers and officers from the Massachusetts Environmental Police were able to advance to a position where a tranquilizer was used. According to the Massachusetts State Police, the bear was re ..read more

WORCESTER – The family of a 14-year-old boy, who died in a recent shooting, launched a GoFundMe to support costs of his funeral. Police located Sterling Baptiste Jr., 14, of Worcester, near Belmont Street on Friday, April 26. Officers provided medical aid, but Baptiste Jr. was pronounced dead at the scene. Police arrested two teens in connection with the shooting. The GoFundMe page, organized by Sterling Baptiste, says that, “Sterling was a wonderful son and he deserves a beautiful and proper send off,” and that, “In order to give him the farewell he deserves, we are humbly asking for your sup ..read more

In this sixth episode of the podcast in 2024, This Week in Worcester Tom Marino and Manny Jae Media Executive Producer John Keough discuss: How recent discussion of local film production drying up ignores local producers; Gas prices jump 19 cents last week; A new study says Massachusetts is the most expensive state to live comfortably. Podcasts now include video!   ..read more

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 Neighborhood Watch Groups in Worcester. Meetings are held regularly — often once a month in various locations in the city. Contact the Worcester Police Department’s Neighborhood Response Team at (508) 799-8664 for more information. Here are the neighborhood meet ..read more

WORCESTER – A teen died in Worcester on Friday, April 26, after a shooting inside an apartment near Belmont Street. A second teen was arrested in connection with the shooting. According to the Worcester Police Department, officers responded to an apartment in the lower Belmont Street area at around 4:15 PM, after a report of potential gunshot victim. Upon arrival at the scene, officers located a 14-year-old male teen with a serious gunshot wound. Officers provided medical care, but the teen was pronounced dead at the scene. Shortly after midnight on Saturday, April 27, a 16-year-old teen was a ..read more

WORCESTER – A Worcester federal grand jury has indicted a local man for on sex trafficking charges. Michael Lamountain, 41, of Oxford, was indicted on one county of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, one count of sex trafficking of a minor and four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. According to federal prosecutors, Lamountain trafficked a minor and coerced a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct to produce child pornography on July 19, 2023. He was arrested in August. Multiple state charges, including rape of a child. were announced against Lamountain and Jalen Latimer, 25, o ..read more