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1 week ago | 
wgbh.org | Sam Turken
May 07, 2025 When a resident is evicted or foreclosed on, the state’s Housing Court can send a constable to ensure the person leaves the property. Some housing advocates and a state board in charge of police oversight argue constables should have additional training, similar to what police officers must go through. The Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission says it’s a precaution in case the move-outs escalate and become unsafe.
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1 week ago | 
wgbh.org | Sam Turken
May 05, 2025 For over a year, the Worcester Human Rights Commission has complained that City Manager Eric Batista is hindering its oversight of Worcester’s police department, among other duties. Now the commission’s two leaders say Batista has declined to reappoint them to new three-year terms.
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1 week ago | 
wgbh.org | Sam Turken
May 02, 2025 Worcester Public Schools has its next superintendent. The Worcester School Committee voted Thursday to select Deputy Superintendent Brian Allen for the role. He’ll replace current Superintendent Rachel Monárrez, who’s stepping down in June to lead the Orange Unified School District in California.
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2 weeks ago | 
wgbh.org | Sam Turken
April 30, 2025 After some Worcester city councilors on Tuesday criticized the police department for repeatedly disputing aspects of a damning federal probe into officer misconduct, Worcester Police Chief Paul Saucier clarified that he agrees with many of the findings. Earlier in April, Worcester police issued a nearly 4,000-word press release accusing the U.S. Department of Justice of making numerous “mistakes and mischaracterizations” in its inquiry.
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2 weeks ago | 
wgbh.org | Sam Turken
April 28, 2025 A coalition of mass transit enthusiasts say Worcester needs an expanded and more efficient bus service. They’re proposing the city adopt a bus rapid transit system akin to the MBTA’s Silver Line. Advocates want buses that would operate in their own dedicated lanes and trigger or extend green lights for speedier service.
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1 month ago | 
wgbh.org | Sam Turken
April 02, 2025 An attempt by Worcester’s city council to create new rules regarding member attendance at meetings failed Tuesday night as several councilors alleged the true intent of the effort was retribution. The vote occurred as Councilor Thu Nguyen, who’s openly nonbinary, continues to skip meetings after accusing colleagues of making transphobic comments and creating a toxic workplace. One of the proposed rules would have permitted the city clerk to track councilors’ attendance.
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1 month ago | 
wgbh.org | Sam Turken
April 01, 2025 If it were up to John Anderson, he would have more lumber stockpiled right now. Anderson’s general contracting company Plumb House Inc. constructs big housing complexes across Massachusetts. As his crew prepped the foundation for a 230-unit building, Anderson walked to one end of the site where wood panels sat in several 15-foot-high stacks. The panels will make up just part of the building’s frame. Anderson is waiting on more panels — worth over $1 million — to be delivered.
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1 month ago | 
wgbh.org | Sam Turken
March 26, 2025 Several Worcester city leaders on Tuesday expressed satisfaction with the police department’s response to a scathing federal investigation that revealed officer misconduct that violates people’s constitutional rights. That’s even as residents called for more reforms to ensure police accountability. Tuesday’s City Council meeting was devoted solely to discussing how the city should move forward after the Department of Justice’s review.
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2 months ago | 
wgbh.org | Sam Turken
March 17, 2025 I was recently on my way to downtown Worcester when I made a fateful mistake: I turned onto a hilly dirt road that connects two busier streets. A storm had passed through the day before, and the road looked plowed but still had a layer of snow and ice. I thought my sedan could make the climb. It did — until it got stuck. I gently pushed on the throttle. Instead of going forward, I veered to the left, almost hitting a parked car.
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2 months ago | 
wgbh.org | Sam Turken
February 25, 2025 As litter continues to cover streets and sidewalks around Worcester, city officials are planning a new response: adding up to 200 combined trash and recycling bins across different neighborhoods. Right now, there are about 50 public bins across the city — and they’re mostly concentrated around downtown. Officials recently used an interactive map to survey residents on where they’d want the new bins. They’re going through hundreds of responses to finalize locations.
