Telegram & Gazette
Goddard gets his tribute at airport
WORCESTER – The Worcester Regional Airport has a new figure overlooking its passengers – celebrated Worcester native and “Father of Modern Rocketry” Robert H. Goddard. Tuesday, March 3, the airport dedicated a life-size silhouette of Goddard standing...
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U.S. on high alert for attacks
WASHINGTON – Federal counterterrorism agencies are on high alert for a potential retaliatory attack on U.S. soil after U.S. and Israeli forces launched strikes on Iran that killed the nation’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and other top...
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The bird’s the word
FITCHBURG – Dozens of birders have been flocking to Fitchburg Municipal Airport from miles around during the past three months since the first sighting in December of a lone chestnut-collared longspur, a rare bird – at least in Massachusetts. “This is...
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Trump: Strikes ‘ongoing’ as Tehran retaliates
The United States launched military strikes and “major combat operations” against Iran on Feb. 28, President Donald Trump said, targeting the country’s missile capabilities. “Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent...
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A weighty matter
WEST BOYLSTON – The 5,000square-foot warehouse in West Boylston is stuffed to the rafters with items discarded by the residents of seven Worcester County municipalities — kitchen wares, sewing notions, art supplies, picture frames, artwork, books,...
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Fallout for those in the Epstein files continues
WASHINGTON – The day after Larry Summers, a former treasury secretary, said he plans to resign from Harvard University, Borge Brende, the president and CEO of the World Economic Forum, said Feb. 26 he was stepping down — two of the latest in a series...
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Best skiers take on Wachusett
PRINCETON –The top high school skiers in Massachusetts ascended to the top of Wachusett Mountain for the state Alpine Ski Championships Wednesday, Feb. 25. The fast-paced event features boys’ and girls’ individual and team competitions.
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Worcester residents are fed up with snow
WORCESTER – Lucian Sbat has had enough of the snow. “I want to leave the country,” Sbat said with a winsome smile and hearty laugh. “I’m sick of it.” Originally from Syria, Sbat immigrated to the United States for a better life. And he may have found...
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BLIZZARD WATCH
Worcester County was experiencing blizzard conditions Feb. 23 as a nor’easter pummeled the region. Central Massachusetts woke to wind-blown snow Feb. 23. By 11 a.m., 15 inches of snow had fallen in Milford. Holden reported 11.5 inches, and Worcester...
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Woman in the arena
WORCESTER — Coming from “Grafton Hill grit,” Amy Peterson has had a deep connection with the DCU Center, the arena that started its reign as the Centrum when it opened on Sept. 2, 1982, with a gala by Frank Sinatra. Peterson, who spent nine years as...
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Life changes in flux
Chrissi Bates has no regrets about having surgery. h Bates, a transgender woman who lives in Westborough, said her vaginoplasty procedure, performed by Dr. Ashley Alford at UMass Memorial Health, was a success. She wants her “trans sisters” to have the...
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Supreme Court strikes down tariffs
WASHINGTON − The Supreme Court dealt a major blow to President Donald Trump’s economic agenda, ruling that he does not have the authority to impose sweeping tariffs at the stroke of a pen. The court on Feb. 20 tossed the tariffs that are the...
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‘LARGER THAN LIFE’
SHREWSBURY – While the final seconds ticked off the clock in his team’s 77-57 win over St. Paul on Feb. 18, Shrewsbury High boys’ basketball coach Adrian Machado walked over to the end of the bench and planted a hug on his daughter, Sofia. Machado,...
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Jesse Jackson’s visits to Worcester
The Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, the outspoken and passionate advocate for civil rights, made a handful of visits to Central Massachusetts. h He died Tuesday, Feb. 17. He was 84. h Jackson delivered the commencement address May 24, 1981, at the University of...
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Pawtucket shooter had many troubles
The shooter who opened fire at a hockey game in Pawtucket on Feb. 16 was known for having a short fuse, had faced court action for unpaid debts, and had gone through a divorce after gender reassignment surgery, records and interviews...
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Competition tradition
WORCESTER — The Clark Tournament has reached its 85th chapter, with schools from throughout the region taking part in the February vacation tradition. Thirty-two high school teams, in Large School and Small School divisions, are part of the...
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‘Gloom and dread’
DUDLEY – Kristina and Nicholas Caruso thought they had their dream house. It sits on 6 acres in a quiet, wooded area where they can raise their four young children. The plan was to grow old in the house and leave it to their kids. That idea may be...
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PALATIAL (and pricey)
Two single-family homes in Worcester County sold for more than $3 million in 2025, with one in Southborough only $1,000 short of $4 million. h The year’s priciest 10 sales included homes in Southborough, Northborough and Webster, among others. h The...
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Haxhiaj’s trial begins with officer testimony
WORCESTER – Witnesses and Worcester police officers present at the immigration action scene on Eureka Street last year took the stand in Worcester District Court for the start of the trial of former District 5 City Councilor Etel Haxhiaj. The trial...
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MEDAL-WINNING PERFORMANCE
Korey Dropkin, a Southborough native and 2013 graduate of Algonquin Regional High School, competed Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 10, with his partner, Cory Thiesse, with the gold medal on the line in the mixed curling finals at the Winter Olympics in Cortina...
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Maye: ‘Got to be better’
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Drake Maye was relegated to a makeshift tent outside Levi’s Stadium, a sort of press conference purgatory for the losing team at Super Bowl LX. The Patriots quarterback wore a forlorn look after missing out on this first chance...
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A legend honored
WORCESTER – Boston Celtics and Holy Cross legend Bob Cousy (’50) was the guest of honor at the Hart Center on Saturday, Feb. 7, as the Crusaders held a ceremony to name the basketball court at the Hart Center in his name. Holy Cross marked the 125th...
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BEHIND THEbeat
veryone had a hole in their heart, but not the kind that describes despair. It was, quite literally, a hole. h It’s called the foramen ovale, and it’s there in the womb. It’s supposed to naturally close after birth, but for some it never does. That’s...
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City to ICE: Back off
WORCESTER – After releasing an executive order reasserting and amending the city’s policy on U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, City Manager Eric D. Batista stands firm in his decision to prohibit the use of municipal property for any ICE...
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U.S.-Russia nuclear treaty expires
WASHINGTON – A 15-year-old treaty that restricted how many nuclear weapons the United States and Russia can maintain has come to an end, as experts warn that no new agreement could portend a new arms race not seen since the Cold War. The New START...
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Millbury cop stable after store shooting
TOP: Police in a tactical unit outside of the Family Dollar store confronted the suspect, according to a prosecutor. RIGHT: Police investigate around the area of 20 Main St. in Spencer where the first shooting began Feb. 3. SPENCER – A police officer...
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TODAY IN HISTORY
Today is Wednesday, Feb. 4, the 35th day of 2026. There are 330 days left in the year. On this date in: 1789: George Washington was unanimously elected to be the first president of the United States by 69 presidential electors. John Adams was elected...
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SUPER SENDOFF
The New England Patriots departed from T.F. Green Airport in Warwick, Rhode Island, the afternoon of Feb. 1 en route to Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California. The Patriots take on the Seattle Seahawks at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 8. Quinsigamond Community...
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‘They didn’t leave us anything at all’
DEIR DIBWAN, West Bank – The Jewish settler outpost of Or Meir is small. A handful of prefabricated white shelters, it sits at the end of a short dirt track on a hill leading up from Road 60, a major route that dissects the Israeli-occupied West...
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UNDER PERIL
WORCESTER – Rosette Gazemar is busy these days. h The case manager at Friendly House in Worcester has more than 700 case files of people from Haiti who face a risk of being deported. The families have temporary protected status that allows them to...
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Light over darkness
WORCESTER − Dozens of nurses and others gathered outside the Worcester Veterans Affairs Clinic on Belmont Street the evening of Thursday, Jan. 29, for a vigil in memory of Alex Pretti, the Minnesota man killed in a confrontation with federal agents on...
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Blaze hits child center
The Gardner Fire Department and other departments were working Thursday, Jan. 29, to extinguish a fire at 838 West Broadway, the location of 123 Grow Child Center. Firefighters responded to the scene, where flames could be seen shooting out of the...
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Man arraigned on single count of murder
WORCESTER – Albert F. Carabba, the man indicted in September in the disappearance of his ex-girlfriend in Worcester 16 years ago, was arraigned Wednesday, Jan. 28, in Worcester Superior Court on a sole charge of murder. Patricia Santos was 36 when she...
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Storm hits the Top 10
It was a significant storm, as predicted, one that required multiple snowclearing passes of the driveway. The 22.4 inches of snow registered in Worcester for the storm of Jan. 25-26 was the 10th-highest storm total on record, according to the National...
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Snowy blanket
Central Massachusetts was blanketed in white the morning of Jan. 26, after a huge winter storm that had swept across much of the nation brought Worcester its biggest snow accumulation in nearly eight years. By the morning of Jan. 26, more than a foot...
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Tens of millions hunker down for winter storm
Much of the nation east of the Rocky Mountains hunkered down for what could be the worst winter storm of the season, along with some of the coldest temperatures seen in years. The storm rolled through Texas and Oklahoma on Jan. 23, hitting the region...
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KEEPER OF THE STORIES
WORCESTER – William D. Wallace loves history. h And the record will show that as the executive director emeritus at the Museum of Worcester, Wallace has excelled at preserving and promoting the heritage and legacy of Worcester. Despite stepping down...
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Winter harvest
RUTLAND – Worcester is removing what appears to be a significant number of trees, and it’s not happening within city borders. It’s occurring in the rural community of Rutland, near the border with Holden on Route 68 north. It’s where a work crew on...
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Trump: Ukraine deal is ‘coming very soon’
President Donald Trump joined world leaders for a signing ceremony in Switzerland on Jan. 22 for his Board of Peace and said it has the potential to be “one of the most consequential bodies,” though it wasn’t clear what specific function the board will...
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Trump urges ‘immediate’ Greenland negotiations
President Donald Trump said in remarks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, that he was seeking “immediate negotiations” to acquire Denmark’s Greenland territory and that he does not intend to use military force to gain control of the...
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Police HQ crash
SHREWSBURY — A Shrewsbury man charged with crashing his vehicle through the main entrance of the police station showed signs of drinking and had earlier told people that, “I want suicide by cop,” according to court records. Robert S. McCluskey, 58,...
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McGovern slams ICE in MLK Day speech
WORCESTER — In a fiery speech that had the capacity crowd at Assumption University’s Plourde Recreation Center standing and cheering, U.S. Rep. James P. McGovern, D-Worcester, combined the words and actions of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. with what...
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CLIPS OF THE PAST
SHREWSBURY – Storing old photographs in a vintage briefcase, 21-year-old Antonio Campaniello has begun to parse through decades of his family’s history. As the smiling faces age and new generations enter the photos, the backdrop remains the business...
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Parting salute
FRANKLIN – The law enforcement community came out in force to honor one of its own, Stephen LaPorta, his life cut short as he came to the aid of a motorist on an icy highway. The Uxbridge police officer was laid to rest Thursday, Jan. 15, after a...
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Long arm of the paw: Meet Sheruff Barkley
WORCESTER – The newest officer in the Worcester Police Department walked confidently into Tatnuck Magnet School, dressed in his uniform and moved swiftly down the main hallway of the building. Then he stopped to lick himself. Sheruff Barkley – yes,...
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Flu surge strains Worcester hospitals
WORCESTER – The numbers don’t lie. Flu cases are significantly on the rise in Worcester and nationally, signs that it’s shaping up to be a particularly bad season. Dr. Robert Zavoski believes that’s the case. He’s the chief clinical officer at Family...
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Solemn procession
UXBRIDGE – A large procession with the body of fallen Uxbridge Police Officer Stephen LaPorta made the hourlong trip from the chief medical examiner’s office in Westfield to the Uxbridge police station on Friday, Jan. 9. Dozens of police motorcycles...
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Uxbridge officer dies in Route 146 crash
UXBRIDGE – A 43-year-old Uxbridge police officer was killed early Wednesday, July 7, in a crash that occurred while he was assisting a motorist on an icy stretch of Route 146. The officer was assisting a motorist shortly after 12:30 a.m. when the...
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City residents finally see action on power
In less than a week, some city residents could have reliable electricity, something they've lacked since the day after Thanksgiving, a stretch of more than five weeks. National Grid expects to have fixed the issue by Saturday, Jan. 10, according to a...
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In with the new
WORCESTER – After taking the oath of office Friday, Jan. 2, for a historic eighth term as Worcester mayor, Joseph M. Petty listed issues including homelessness and affordable housing as those he will continue addressing over the next two years. “As I...
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Venezuelan leader seized, Trump says
The United States seized Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife in an overnight military operation on Jan. 3, President Donald Trump said, as explosions rocked Caracas and targets across the country. The United States “successfully carried out...
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Nursing vacancies dip
While nurses and hospital leaders say it’s a positive that there’s been a recent decline in nursing vacancies, they also say there’s still work to do. New data from the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association (MHA) show that one in every 10...
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AI to review Medicare claims in pilot program
A new Medicare program that uses artificial intelligence to review medical claims is set to launch in six states. Critics worry it will lead to patients being denied necessary care and more red tape for providers. The controversial new six-year pilot...
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How to protect your teeth from decay
Between Halloween candy, Thanksgiving pies and holiday cookies, the end of the year is often packed with opportunities to consume sugar. But what happens in your mouth during those first minutes and hours after eating those sweets? While you’re likely...
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‘He’s in here. We feel him’
SHREWSBURY – During the holidays, amid a winning Patriots season, in a year when Mark Wahlberg filmed a movie scene at her beloved greasy spoon, Christina Gonzalez can’t help reflecting on her time at Brody’s Diner, her time with original owner and...
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A century saluted
WORCESTER – A mostly quiet city on the day after Christmas saw a bustle of activity around Grafton Distributors to celebrate the 100th birthday of World War II veteran Richard Peters Sr. Located at 635 Grafton St., the convenience store that’s been...
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‘Get a moment’
Photographers at the Telegram & Gazette hustle throughout Central Massachusetts in search of images that tell a story. For each assignment, from breaking news to sports, the goal is to “get a moment,” as the photographers say about their quest. Here’s...
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Pride built in Worcester
WORCESTER – Worcester Technical High School had a problem: The bathrooms at the school were being frequently vandalized, many aspects such as the soap dispensers or plumbing didn’t work correctly, and students felt uncomfortable due to privacy...
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Court presence
WORCESTER – Bob Cousy played most of his home games for Holy Cross at the Boston Garden, but his legendary presence has always permeated the Hart Center Arena at the Luth Athletic Complex. Outside the building is a bronze statue of Cousy, on the wall...
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Photo becomes symbol of deadly Hong Kong fire
HONG KONG – It was a clear autumn afternoon with blue skies and a cool breeze as Wong set off to pick up his granddaughter from school. The 71-year-old retiree and his wife took turns making the walk to school from their apartment complex in Hong...
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CRISIS POINT
SPENCER – The level of ambulance service residents will receive next year is being weighed in Spencer, where the town’s 66-year-old nonprofit service is set to shutter next summer. At issue is whether the town should adopt the Spencer Rescue and...
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High-gear vision
CLINTON – In its heyday, Jenney Gas Station at High and Water streets was the epitome of service with a smile, with attendants sporting matching bow ties and service caps. Now, the spot is an eyesore, vacant for years. Recognizing that the property...
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TOO RICH FOR CITY’S BLOOD?
WORCESTER – Courtney Cormier is a 42year-old Worcester native who feels the city has abandoned its roots. “We were a manufacturing city, we were a community, and we’re not that now,” said Cormier. “I’ve never seen the city like this.” One of the...
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Brown shooting suspect found dead
PROVIDENCE, RI – Though the suspect connected to the deadly Brown University attack and the fatal shooting of an MIT professor was found dead in New Hampshire, the questions and fallout have only begun. Providence Police Chief Col. Oscar Perez...
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Snips and quips
WORCESTER – Ken Jordan can trace his six-decade career as a barber to a single coin flip. The tale of the 86-year-old’s decision to quit school and pick up a pair of clippers unfolds like all of his stories – with the mention of old friends,...
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End nears for climate research hub
WASHINGTON – The Trump administration is moving to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado, according to a senior White House official, taking aim at one of the world’s leading climate research labs. Trump officials have...
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Shifting to high?
Marijuana lounges, places where you can light up a joint in a cozy environment, could be coming to a neighborhood near you. It’s possible after the state’s Cannabis Control Commission unanimously approved social consumption licenses on Dec. 11 that...
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Person held in Brown University shooting
PROVIDENCE, RI – Authorities in Providence, Rhode Island, confirmed that police have a person of interest in custody after at least two students were killed and nine others were injured in a mass shooting at Brown University. “The people of Providence...
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Diagnosis: Frustration
Dr. Frank Domino feels doctors are being intimidated. The pressure, he said, is coming from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, the largest health insurer in the state. Domino has a family practice in Shrewsbury. Since 2022 he has received...
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Shiny new Apple computer store opens in Millbury
MILLBURY – Deb Graham had already made up her mind that the cold would not bother her on Friday, Dec. 12. Rain, snow, or sleet, it wouldn’t matter – she had to be one of the first few customers stepping through the glass doors stenciled with the Apple...
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Spotlight shines on Tower Hill display
BOYLSTON – The spotlight is a little brighter at New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill. The noted venue has been named the Best Botanical Garden Holiday Lights display in the country by USA TODAY Co., the owner of the Telegram & Gazette. See
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‘Astounding results’
GRAFTON – Haley was a little nervous during her doctor’s appointment. She shivered and cowered, but her mood quickly improved. Haley had a leg amputated nearly a year ago after a diagnosis of an aggressive bone cancer called osteosarcoma and she was...
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Christmas spirit of giving
WORCESTER – Thousands of gifts, from bracelet kits to basketballs, are bound for children of Central Massachusetts through the T&G Santa Fund. On Monday, Dec. 8, the United Way of Central Massachusetts, a T&G partner in the effort, took delivery of a...
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Water main breaks bring floods, sinkhole, detours
WORCESTER —– A water main break on Cohasset Street in the early morning hours of Monday, Dec. 8, flooded the road and caused a sinkhole to form, nearly swallowing a car, according to police. Officers were dispatched to the area of 43 Cohasset St....
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