Anna Maria prepares to close after 80 years
Anna Maria College is closing up shop after the spring 2026 semester, ending eight decades in Paxton after weeks of financial warning signs. Graduating seniors are expected to finish as planned, while other students are being directed toward transfer pathways and teach-out options. The closure marks another major loss for small higher education institutions in Central Massachusetts.
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Worcester State offers landing spot for Anna Maria students
Worcester State University accepts Anna Maria College students under a new teach-out agreement following the Paxton college’s decision to close. The agreement guarantees admission for current Anna Maria students in good academic and social standing, waives application fees and includes access to housing. Worcester State is also planning advising and transfer support as students look for ways to complete their degrees with minimal disruption.
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Pride date sparks backlash over Rosh Hashanah conflict
Pride Worcester set its 2026 festival for Sept. 12, a date that falls during Rosh Hashanah and prompted criticism from community members. Organizers said the festival follows a long-standing schedule tied to the first Saturday after Labor Day and that changing the date would be difficult because of the scale of planning involved. Pride Worcester apologized to anyone who feels excluded and said it will more carefully review future calendars.
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Love Your Labels moves its event amid Pride dispute
Love Your Labels moved its Queer AF event to Sept. 18 after realizing the original date overlapped with Rosh Hashanah. The Worcester-based LGBTQ+ organization also criticized Pride Worcester’s response to concerns from Jewish community members and allies. The disagreement has opened a broader conversation about inclusion, logistics and accountability within local LGBTQ+ events.
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Gold Street day center plan moves forward
Worcester officials advanced a proposal for an $11 million Day Resource Center on Gold Street to help address gaps in homelessness services. The Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance-led project would bring daytime services into one location for people who often have nowhere to go between overnight shelter stays. Construction funding is in place, but long-term operating money is still being finalized as CMHA targets an opening later this year.
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Police overtime drives top city salaries
Police overtime once again pushed many Worcester employees into the city’s highest salary ranks in 2025. A newly released payroll report showed 92 city and school employees earned more than $200,000 last year, including 78 from the Police Department. City Manager Eric Batista topped the list with $354,103 in total compensation, while several police officials and school administrators also ranked near the top.
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Worcester’s pothole problem keeps growing
A new city report showed Worcester recorded 3,683 potholes in 2025 and had already logged 1,553 in 2026 by this month. Officials pointed to aging roads, heavy traffic, utility cuts, deferred maintenance and a rough winter as key drivers of the problem. The city now plans to shift from chasing individual 311 complaints to a route-based repair strategy, though councilors pressed for clearer and faster action.
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Fatal Webster crash case reaches court
A Southbridge woman was arraigned in connection with an April 11 crash in Webster that killed 10-year-old Marleigh Guevara. Sherry Plitouke, 35, faces charges including motor vehicle homicide by negligent operation and was held on $25,000 bail. The crash remains under investigation by Webster police, state police detectives assigned to the district attorney’s office and the Central Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council.
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Wellness rooms draw heavy student use
Worcester Public Schools reported hundreds of visits to wellness rooms in middle and high schools, with many tied to behavioral and therapeutic support. Burncoat Middle School had the highest overall use, while North High had the most individual high school students using the rooms. School Committee members requested more data and referred the issue to committee for a deeper look at effectiveness, expansion and transparency.
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Aviation program demand outpaces seats
A Worcester School Committee member requested an update on the aviation career exploration program as student interest continues to exceed available space. The program serves middle school students through weekly sessions at Worcester Regional Airport and is currently capped at 30 participants because of space and safety limits. District officials said recruitment may expand next year to include students from all Worcester middle schools.
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Clark students build fundraising plans for The Mustard Seed
Clark University graduate students developed low-cost fundraising strategies for The Mustard Seed, a Worcester nonprofit that provides meals and food assistance. The project came through a competition in Clark’s project management program, where students created plans focused on donor outreach, sustainability and the human side of food insecurity. The winning proposal, “$10 feeds dignity,” centered on recurring donations, website improvements and social media outreach.
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Senate climate bill includes Worcester-backed priorities
The Massachusetts Senate passed a $3.94 billion environmental bond bill that includes provisions backed by Sen. Michael Moore. Moore secured amendments tied to PFAS-free firefighter gear, local restrictions on certain rodenticides and added funding for food access programs. The bill now heads to the House and would authorize long-term borrowing for climate resilience, clean water, trails and other environmental projects.
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AEDs added at public housing sites
Automated external defibrillators have been installed at five Worcester Housing Authority properties. The devices are now available at Webster Square Towers East, Murray-Wellington Apartments, Elm Park Tower Apartments, Lincoln Park Tower Apartments and Belmont Tower Apartments. Officials said the goal is to improve emergency response in buildings that serve residents, transit riders, voters and other members of the public.
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Worcester runners finish Boston Marathon
More than 30 Worcester runners completed the 130th Boston Marathon on Patriots’ Day. Ivan Shabalin posted the fastest time among Worcester runners at 2:25:54, while Lilly Voke led the city’s women with a time of 3:09:32. The local finishers joined a field of roughly 30,000 athletes from all 50 states and more than 130 countries.
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ALS walk centers local teacher’s fight
Taylor Nunez, a 36-year-old local teacher diagnosed with ALS in September 2025, is the face of this year’s Walk to Defeat ALS Worcester. The May 30 event at Clark University raises money and awareness for ALS care, research and advocacy. Nunez’s family described the toll of the disease while encouraging the community to support families facing the diagnosis.
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Forbes recognition continues for Worcester advisor
Thomas J. Bartholomew, president and CEO of Bartholomew & Company, was named to Forbes’ 2026 Best-In-State Wealth Advisors list for the ninth consecutive year. The ranking, released April 7, is based on research by SHOOK Research and considers factors such as experience, assets under management, compliance records and credentials. Bartholomew & Company is headquartered in Worcester and also has an office in Framingham.
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Weekend picks launch into spring
This week’s five things to do included a free space-themed day at the Museum of Worcester, a veterans benefit concert and a comedy night with Amy Tee. The list also featured New England VegFest at Worcester State University and the Friends of Worcester Public Library Spring Book Sale. The weekend lineup mixed school vacation activities, live music, plant-based food, stand-up and bargain books.
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