2024: a year of stories that shaped Worcester

From in-depth investigations to uplifting human-interest stories, we’ve strived to cover the issues that matter most to Worcester residents. And 2025 will be even better.

Here are a handful of the standout stories we’ve covered this year, in no particular order:

City council approves new three-year contract for city manager: The Worcester City Council voted to approve City Manager Eric Batista’s new contract on Tuesday night, by a vote of 9-2. The three-year deal with increase his base salary from $275,000 to $293,868, with further increases reaching $314,080 by July 2026.
City council cuts tax rates, but higher values raise bills: The Worcester City Council voted to lower tax rates for residents and businesses. The council approved a tax rate of $13.16 per $1,000 assessed valuation for residential properties, a 4.3% decrease from the 2024 residential rate of $13.75.
DOJ report finds Worcester police engaged in unlawful conduct: In a scathing report, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) concluded that the Worcester Police Department engaged in a systemic pattern of unconstitutional practices, including excessive force, sexual misconduct, and racially discriminatory policing.
Larry Lucchino, former Worcester Red Sox owner, dies at 78: Larry Lucchino, who brought old-school ballparks back to Major League Baseball and the best ballpark in Triple-A baseball, died at age 78.
WPI, city reach landmark agreement on hotel acquisitions: After months of debate and concerns from city leaders and business stakeholders, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) announced that the school and the City of Worcester have come to a resolution regarding WPI’s acquisition of the Hampton Inn and Courtyard Marriott hotels.
77-year-old runner takes on Worcester in 50-state 5K challenge: Running 5Ks, which cover 3.1 miles, in all 50 states is not unusual, but doing it at Carol Kemnitz’s age is. She’s 77.
Mill Street redesign still revving up fiery debate: Perhaps not since the grand debate over the best steak and cheese or Italian grinder in the city has a topic sparked such active contention as the redesign of Mill Street in Worcester. Completed on Dec. 1, 2023, the reconfigured Mill Street has garnered unrelenting public attention, with concerns about driver safety clashing with proponents who advocate for a pedestrian and bicyclist-friendly city.
‘They haven’t forgotten’; remembering the Worcester 6: After six brave Worcester firefighters perished in the 1999 Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse fire, city officials and firefighters pledged to “never forget.” That promise still holds true.
Abby Kelley Foster Charter Public School celebrates 25 years: Twenty-five years after its doors opened in 1999, Abby Kelley Foster Charter Public School remains a fixture in the community, and it all started over a cup of coffee.
Nedoroscik wins second bronze as Worcester community celebrates! Stephen Nedoroscik, who helped the USA men’s gymnastics team to its first medal since 2008 on Monday, further solidified his spot in the hearts of Americans by winning a second bronze medal, this time in the individual pommel horse finals.
2024 election: The results are in, and here’s how Worcester voted: It was a steady stream all day and evening as Worcester voters turned out in full force on Election Day for one of the most contentious presidential elections in modern history.
After 20 years, stART on the Street calling it quits: Organizers cited the festival’s growing complexity and rising costs as the reasons behind the tough decision to make 2024 the final for stART.
Fed chief: economy in ‘Good Place,’ inflation should stabilize: In October, Susan Collins, president of the Boston Federal Reserve, addressed Worcester Research Bureau’s annual meeting, highlighting a strong labor market and economic optimism.
City Council message to WPI: ‘This was certainly no partnership’: Any community with a healthy college presence is bound to encounter occasionally fraught town-and-gown relations, but the imbroglio over WPI’s plan to buy two hotels near the Gateway Park development on Prescott Street was one of the most intense in recent memory.
Eric Batista’s state of the city address: ‘Housing is No. 1 priority’: The city manager delivered the state of the city address on Wednesday night, expounding on jobs, housing, the budget and a host of other topics
New WPD gun unit targets repeat offenders, strengthens penalties: Two incidents in April marked the WPD’s inaugural operation of the Crime Gun Intelligence Unit (CGIU). Interim Police Chief Paul Saucier’s was elated to get the new unit up and running and said it was overwhelmingly supported by the city to do so.
Worcester’s inauguration day: ‘it’s the place to be’: Mayor Joseph Petty, marking a historic seventh term in office, took the oath alongside the newly sworn-in members of the 2024-2025 city council and school committee.
Superintendent addresses WPS plan in ‘Gathering for Excellence’: The Worcester community, especially those in education or kids in the school system, eagerly awaited the “Gathering for Excellence” event. Beginning with a networking reception, Superintendent Dr. Rachel Monárrez led the evening with an address that outlined what many describe as a bold and transformative strategic plan for the city’s schools.
Burncoat Spirit Program heads to national dance, band competition: From attending camps to qualify, to fundraising with events such as a local celebrity fashion show, the Burncoat Dance Team busted some major moves to work its way to the National High School Dance Team Championship since returning from last year’s competition.
WPS ‘strategic plan’ hopes to unify district: One of the overarching goals of Worcester Public Schools’ five-year strategic plan is to ensure that it is acting in unison as a school district and not as a district of schools in its own silos, Superintendent Rachel Monárrez told reporters in January.
Quinsig, Worcester State get more than $2M for green updates: The dollars allocated to the public higher education institutions were paid for through Fair Share Amendment funds as part of the FY24 budget in line item 1596-2417, which appropriated $50,000,000 for this purpose.
WPS tackling $22M budget shortfall for FY25: school committee: The district’s total budget for FY25 is $525 million, up $26.8 million from $496 million for FY24.