Residents push back on alternative school closures
Community members, educators and parents criticized Worcester Public Schools’ plan to close three alternative programs serving students with specialized academic, emotional and language needs. The closures would affect the Academic Center for Transition, Worcester Alternative School and the New Citizens Center Secondary Program, which together serve 132 students. Speakers warned that moving students into new settings could disrupt relationships, routines and support systems built over years.
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Worcester’s $1B budget gets a closer look
Worcester’s proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget would top $1 billion for the first time, with major spending increases tied to schools, infrastructure and public safety. Education remains the largest share, while the capital plan includes major borrowing for road resurfacing, sidewalks, sewer work, fleet upgrades and public safety facilities. The proposal also reflects rising health insurance, pension and debt costs as the city weighs long-term financial pressures.
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Clemente park renaming moves toward vote
City councilors, Worcester Housing Authority officials and residents are backing an effort to rename Great Brook Valley Playground Park after Roberto Clemente. Supporters said the field has long been known informally as Clemente and holds deep meaning for Worcester’s Puerto Rican and Latino communities. The Parks and Recreation Commission is expected to take a final vote June 11.
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Pulse and CM Pride change hands
Pulse Magazine and CM Pride Magazine have been acquired by Merit House Media, a new Worcester-based company affiliated with Rucker Investments. The deal includes the publications, digital platforms, events and related media assets formerly owned by Pagio Inc. Company leaders said existing staff will remain during the transition, with both magazines continuing under their current names for now.
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A prom night arrives at Polar Park
More than 200 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities gathered at Polar Park for Thrive Support & Advocacy’s fifth annual “A Prom For All Ages.” Guests walked a red carpet, posed for photos, danced, dined and toured the ballpark during an event designed to remove barriers around cost, transportation, accessibility and sensory needs. Thrive said the event also supports social and recreational programming for more than 1,500 people across Central Massachusetts and MetroWest.
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QCC graduates its largest class since 2020
Quinsigamond Community College awarded degrees and certificates to more than 1,500 students during its 61st commencement ceremony. Keynote speaker Matilde Castiel, a physician and former Worcester health and human services commissioner, urged graduates to see their degrees as proof of belonging and possibility. The ceremony highlighted perseverance, second chances and the varied paths students took to reach graduation.
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Charlie Baker at Holy Cross commencement
Former Massachusetts Gov. and current NCAA President Charlie Baker delivers the commencement address for Holy Cross’ 180th graduating class. Baker and United Way of Central Massachusetts President and CEO Tim Garvin also receive honorary degrees.
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Summer meals funding reaches Worcester
Worcester Public Schools received $13,340 through the state’s Summer Eats program to help provide free meals for children while school is out. Friendly House also received $9,835, with several other Central Massachusetts districts included in the statewide grants. The program serves children 18 and younger at schools, parks, summer programs and community centers during the summer months.
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School budget, language programs head to committee
The Worcester School Committee was set to review a proposed $623.7 million school budget alongside updates on multilingual learning and Worcester Technical High School upgrades. The budget includes a $34.4 million increase over the current year, supported largely by state aid and the final phase of Student Opportunity Act funding. District materials also point to long-term uncertainty around federal funding, technology replacement costs and staffing tied to nearly 800 federally supported positions.
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WPI softball’s record run ends in NCAA regional
WPI softball finished a 44-5 season after falling one win short of the Super Regional round. The Engineers won the NEWMAC regular season and tournament championships, hosted an NCAA regional and set a program record for wins. Their postseason ended with an 8-2 loss to UMass Dartmouth after a season built on power, pitching and one of the best winning percentages in Division 3.
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Youth convention invites young leaders
The Worcester Youth Council is hosting a free citywide convention for residents ages 14 to 24 at Doherty Memorial High School. The event includes workshops, conversations with city officials, food, games and opportunities for young people to discuss issues affecting them. City officials said the convention is intended to encourage civic participation and leadership among younger Worcester residents.
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Clark honors equity and inclusion work
Clark University recognized Worcester resident Anahit Marutyan and staff members Laura Burgess and Naomi Ashley with its 2026 President’s Achievement Awards for Inclusive Excellence. Marutyan, a first-year student and Presidential Scholar, has worked on human rights advocacy, genocide research and public policy, including advocacy for Armenian-American Heritage Month proclamations. Burgess and Ashley were recognized for work tied to mentoring, student support and inclusion on campus.
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WooSox scholarships go to four eighth graders
The WooSox Foundation named four Worcester Public Schools students to its 2026 WooSox Scholars class, awarding each a $10,000 college scholarship. The recipients were selected from a pool of more than 1,700 eighth graders, with 18 finalists interviewed before the final selections. Since 2021, the program has committed $240,000 in scholarship support to 24 Worcester students.
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WPI graduates hear calls for imagination
WPI awarded nearly 1,200 bachelor’s degrees, more than 600 master’s degrees and more than 60 doctoral degrees during its 157th commencement ceremonies. Speakers, including will.i.am and Alliant Energy CEO Lisa Barton, urged graduates to pair technical skill with imagination, judgment and purpose.
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State road bill heads toward Senate action
A $2.737 billion transportation infrastructure bill advanced in the Massachusetts Senate as Worcester continues wrestling with potholes, rough roads and deferred maintenance. The proposal includes $300 million for municipal road and bridge repairs, including $200 million through Chapter 90 funding. The bill also includes money for MassDOT road and bridge work, MBTA improvements and transportation projects tied to housing development.
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Council rejects Viele Ave. takeover
Worcester city councilors declined to move forward with a proposal to convert Viele Ave. from a private road into a publicly maintained city street. Residents sharply disagreed over the idea, citing emergency access, road conditions, traffic, financial hardship and the unusual raised divider known locally as “the lump.” Councilors instead discussed possible ways the city could help with improvements without taking full ownership of the road.
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Flags to mark veterans’ graves
More than 5,000 American flags were placed on veterans’ graves at Saint John’s Cemetery ahead of Memorial Day. The ceremony includes the national anthem, posting of the colors, remarks, a blessing of the flags and participation from veteran and community organizations.
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WooSox Hall of Fame class announced
The Worcester Red Sox announced that Dr. Charles Steinberg, Chad Tracy, Mark “The Bird” Fidrych and Gene Zabinski will be inducted into the WooSox Hall of Fame. Fidrych and Zabinski will be honored posthumously, while Tracy’s selection comes after his promotion from WooSox manager to interim Boston Red Sox manager. The class connects the franchise’s Worcester arrival, Central Massachusetts baseball history and the civic campaign that helped bring Triple-A baseball to the Canal District.
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Railers and Islanders end affiliation
The Worcester Railers and New York Islanders are ending their ECHL affiliation after eight seasons. The Islanders are shifting their partnership to a new Trenton team, while the Railers said they have another NHL affiliation agreement in place but have not announced it yet. Worcester made the playoffs once during the Islanders partnership and will enter the 2026-27 season with a new hockey alignment.
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Have a story tip, community concern, or insight to share? Email Editor Charlene Arsenault at carsenault@theworcesterguardian.org.
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