Police investigation clears officers of favoritism in Toomey crash, finds camera violation
An internal Worcester Police Department investigation concluded that officers did not give City Councilor Kathleen Toomey preferential treatment following her Sept. 2 crash on Harrington Way, but newly obtained records reveal questions about how the response was handled. Police Chief Paul Saucier sustained a body-camera policy violation against Officer Joseph Fitton, who muted his camera for more than 13 minutes, while finding insufficient grounds to sustain an allegation involving the department’s operating-under-the-influence policy. Investigative records also show that officers did not question Toomey about possible alcohol use and that a 911 caller’s warning about suspected intoxication was not relayed to responding officers. Read more
Worcester emergency communications chief placed on leave after OUI arrest
Charles Goodwin, Worcester’s commissioner of emergency communications and management, was placed on administrative leave following his Oct. 23 arrest on the Massachusetts Turnpike in Westborough. Goodwin was driving a city-issued vehicle at the time but was on paid time off, and city officials confirmed that his position permits personal use of the vehicle. He pleaded not guilty to operating under the influence and related charges during his arraignment in Westborough District Court, while the city opened its own investigation and assigned a deputy to oversee the department temporarily. Read more
Worcester commission considers independent police oversight
Worcester’s Human Rights Commission examined the city’s police misconduct investigation procedures Monday, questioning whether a system operating within city administration provides sufficient independence. Commissioners heard about existing responsibilities divided between the Police Department’s Bureau of Professional Standards and the city’s Executive Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, as well as models for independent civilian oversight. Members discussed a possible civilian review board with investigative authority but took no vote to establish one, instead agreeing to examine several police policies and a proposed ordinance addressing homelessness and encampments. Read more
Amazon drone proposal must undergo state review
Amazon must obtain approval from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation before establishing its proposed Prime Air drone launch and landing facility in Westborough. State officials informed the company that the project requires suitability and environmental reviews, along with at least one public hearing, before the facility can be approved. MassDOT had not received a formal application for review as of Monday, Oct. 26, adding another regulatory hurdle to a proposal that could eventually bring drone deliveries to Worcester and surrounding communities. Read more
School realignment hearing brings pleas to protect programs
Parents, teachers and residents urged Worcester school officials Monday to preserve existing programs and provide clearer information about proposed changes to school assignments and facilities. Twenty-five speakers addressed the School Committee, with many raising concerns about University Park Campus School, Greendale Head Start and Worcester Arts Magnet School. Three realignment proposals have been presented so far, with additional scenarios expected Nov. 16 and a final school committee vote scheduled for Dec. 3. Read more
Worcester receives nearly $5 million for redevelopment projects
Worcester has been awarded nearly $5 million in state economic development funding for four projects, including $3 million toward demolition of the vacant Denholm building and preparation of its downtown site for redevelopment. Other grants will support infrastructure for potential manufacturing expansion, improvements to downtown navigation and efforts to activate vacant storefronts. The awards are part of the state’s Community One Stop for Growth program, which is distributing $330 million to more than 400 housing and economic development projects across Massachusetts. Read more
Worcester man convicted of murder in 2022 shooting
A Worcester Superior Court jury found Christopher Fuller, 34, guilty of first-degree murder in the shooting death of Ernest Appiah, 29, whose body was discovered in a wooded area of Paxton in March 2022. Prosecutors said Fuller shot Appiah on Feb. 28, 2022, after the two left a Worcester establishment together. The Oct. 22 conviction carries a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, and sentencing was scheduled for Oct. 27. Read more
Worcester man accused of sexually assaulting child at Milford church
A 63-year-old Worcester man was arrested Oct. 23 following an investigation into allegations that a child under 14 was sexually assaulted in the basement of a Milford church. Raul Feliciano faces charges of rape of a child and indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, according to Milford police. The investigation began Sept. 9 after the child reported the alleged assault, and Feliciano was released on $15,000 bail following his arrest, with arraignment expected the following week. Read more
Worcester voters prepare for Nov. 3 election
Worcester voters will head to the polls Tuesday, Nov. 3, to choose candidates for governor, U.S. Senate and other state and federal offices while deciding nine statewide ballot questions. The ballot also includes state Senate and House contests that vary by district, along with questions addressing recreational marijuana sales, firearms regulations, housing and election procedures. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., with early voting and mail-in voting options available ahead of Election Day. Read more
Question 5 could change how Massachusetts taxpayers receive refunds
Massachusetts voters will decide whether to amend Chapter 62F, the state law requiring taxpayer refunds when revenue collections exceed a limit tied to wage and salary growth. The law, approved by voters in 1986, has triggered refunds only twice, but the proposed changes could make refunds more frequent. Supporters argue that residents should receive more money back when state revenue grows, while opponents warn that the measure could reduce funding available for public services and financial reserves. Read more
Question 3 would replace party primaries with an all-party system
Massachusetts voters will decide whether to replace traditional partisan primaries with elections in which candidates from all parties appear on the same ballot and the top two finishers advance to the general election. Supporters of Question 3 argue that the change would increase competition and make elected officials more responsive to voters, regardless of party affiliation. Opponents contend that the system could favor well-funded candidates and weaken political parties’ ability to nominate their preferred representatives. Read more
Question 7 puts starter-home zoning before voters
Massachusetts voters will decide whether to permit single-family homes on lots as small as 5,000 square feet in communities served by public water and sewer systems, overriding certain local zoning restrictions. The proposed law would also establish a minimum street frontage of 50 feet, potentially allowing smaller residential lots in communities where current zoning requires more land. Supporters say Question 7 could expand opportunities for starter homes amid high housing costs, while opponents argue that municipalities should retain control over development decisions and infrastructure planning. Read more
Fact checks challenge claims made by Question 8 supporters
Several claims used to support Question 8, which would end recreational cannabis retail sales in Massachusetts, rely on data from other states or omit important context. One claim about the societal costs of legalization appears to originate from a Colorado study, while statistics presented about THC in fatal crashes came from research conducted in Ohio rather than Massachusetts. Medical experts acknowledged legitimate concerns about high-potency cannabis and mental health risks, but the review found that some arguments about impaired driving and legalization were not supported by the Massachusetts-specific evidence presented. Read more
Voters face decision on Massachusetts gun law with limited data on its impact
Question 9 asks Massachusetts voters whether to retain or repeal a sweeping 2024 firearms law that expanded regulations involving privately manufactured guns, firearm registration, certain weapons and locations where guns may be carried. Supporters argue that the law strengthens protections against gun violence, while opponents contend that it places unnecessary burdens on lawful gun owners without adequately addressing criminal activity. Because most of the law took effect in October 2024, available statewide data is too limited to determine its effects; a yes vote would retain the law, while a no vote would repeal it. Read more
Governor’s Council candidates offer different approaches to judicial oversight
Worcester-area voters will choose between incumbent Democrat Paul DePalo and Republican challenger Margaret Abboud for the Governor’s Council’s 7th District seat in Tuesday’s election. The eight-member council reviews gubernatorial appointments to judgeships and several other positions, along with pardons and commutations, giving it significant influence over the state’s judicial system. DePalo and Abboud offer differing perspectives on judicial qualifications, public safety and the responsibilities of an office that often receives less attention than other statewide races. Read more
Human Rights Commission takes up police policies and encampment proposal
Worcester’s Human Rights Commission was scheduled to examine Police Department policies addressing emergency mental health responses, interactions with transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals, and body-worn cameras at its Oct. 26 meeting. Commissioners were also expected to review a proposed ordinance concerning homelessness and encampments and discuss civilian oversight of the department. The agenda called for policy examination and discussion rather than immediate adoption of changes, with members expected to develop recommendations for future consideration. Read more
New restaurants and biotech developments highlight Worcester business activity
Two restaurants received common victualler licenses Oct. 22, clearing the way for Jamaican Bites at 169A Lincoln St. and Taqueria Acapulcos at 453 Lincoln St., where a North Grafton food truck business plans to expand into a sit-down location. A new Wetzel’s Pretzels opened inside the Walmart Supercenter on Tobias Boland Way, while other businesses celebrated openings and relocations. The city also received economic development grants, six high schools secured funding for career pathways programs, and Massachusetts Biomedical Initiatives announced a new advancement director. Read more
Beacon Bank grants benefit five Central Massachusetts nonprofits
Five Central Massachusetts organizations were among more than 150 nonprofits awarded grants by Beacon Bank and its foundation during the third quarter of 2026. Local recipients included Habitat for Humanity MetroWest–Greater Worcester, Literacy Volunteers of Greater Worcester, Provision Ministry, the Worcester Regional Research Bureau and the YMCA of Central Massachusetts. Beacon Bank distributed more than $460,000 across five states between July and September, although individual grant amounts and the total awarded locally were not disclosed. Read more
Former Worcester Boys Club reopens as affordable senior housing
Gov. Maura Healey joined Worcester officials Oct. 21 to celebrate the opening of The Residences on Lincoln Square, a $51 million redevelopment that transformed the long-vacant former Worcester Boys Club and added a new five-story apartment building. All 80 affordable apartments for adults 55 and older have already been leased, including 11 designated for residents with disabilities. Developer WinnCompanies preserved the historic structure, which had been vacant since 2006, converting it into apartments and shared spaces while constructing additional housing alongside it. Read more
Worcester remembers trailblazing advocate Ruth Rodríguez-Fay
Nearly 200 family members, elected officials and community members gathered Sunday to celebrate the life of Ruth Rodríguez-Fay, a longtime educator and advocate for Worcester’s Latino community who died in August at age 80. Rodríguez-Fay spent decades helping families navigate public education, supporting bilingual programs and advocating for greater representation in city government. She was also among the plaintiffs in a voting-rights lawsuit that led Worcester to adopt district-based School Committee seats beginning with the 2023 elections. Read more
Worcester student earns international writing honor
Worcester Academy eighth-grader Sian Nissam received a Gold Award in the 2026 Queen’s Commonwealth Writing Competition for an essay imagining children from different nations creating a charter for a more peaceful world. Nissam, whose first language is Malayalam, began learning English after moving from India to Worcester and has developed a passion for writing through school and visits to the Worcester Public Library. He received a Silver Award in last year’s competition and has also written a historical fiction novella inspired partly by conversations with local veterans. Read more
Worcester native among finalists to become Logan Airport’s new voice
Max German, a Worcester native, Quinsigamond Community College graduate and current QCC trustee, is among eight finalists competing to become the new voice of Boston Logan International Airport. German, who grew up in Shrewsbury and now lives in Dorchester, was selected from more than 5,000 applicants for Massport’s contest. His audition features his distinctive New England accent, and public voting will help determine whose voice greets travelers through the airport’s announcements. Read more
Holy Cross hockey teammates selected for world championship
Holy Cross sophomore defender Anna Billa and sophomore forward Naemi Herzig will represent Austria and Switzerland, respectively, at the 2026 International Ice Hockey Federation Women’s World Championship in Denmark. The tournament runs Nov. 6-16, with both countries competing in Group A alongside the United States, Czechia and Germany. The two Crusaders are scheduled to face each other Nov. 10 in Esbjerg, giving the college an unusual international matchup between teammates. Read more
South High football finds momentum with four straight wins
South High’s football team has won four consecutive games after beginning the season 1-2, improving to 5-2 with a 14-13 victory over Doherty. Coach Chris Capullo credits a stronger team culture, improved preparation and greater accountability for the Colonels’ turnaround. The team has focused on faster practices, better execution and leadership as it builds momentum during the second half of the season. Read more
Halloween weekend brings skating, comedy and downtown festivities
Worcester Common Oval hosts a Halloween-themed 1980s roller-skating party Friday, Oct. 30, while the Hanover Theatre welcomes the improvisational comedy show “Whose Live Anyway?” on Saturday. A downtown Halloween bar crawl will feature nine participating bars, drink vouchers and after-parties, while WCUW’s FrontRoom hosts a costume fundraiser. Worcester Public Library also offers a Saturday program exploring the city’s baseball history, from its early teams to the WooSox and Bravehearts. Read more
