Worcester 2023 Preliminary Election Voter Guide: Council, School Races

Voters across Worcester will go to the polls Tuesday to pick council and school committee candidates who will go to the November election.

Worcester 2023 Council Candidates Talk Housing, Affordability Issues

Half of the candidates running in Worcester's 2023 election responded to a questionnaire on affordable housing, homelessness and more.

Worcester District 1 City Council Forum: Shetler, Pacillo, Peterson

The Tuesday forum in Worcester will be the first and last time the three candidates meet before the Sept. 5 preliminary.

Early Voting In Worcester Begins Ahead Of 2023 Preliminary Election

Here's how to vote early before the Sept. 5 preliminary in Worcester featuring city council and school committee races.

Ex-Worcester Councilor Phil Palmieri Returns For District 2 Seat

Phil Palmieri is one of three candidates in this year's District 2 race, and in many ways he's an incumbent.

Worcester District 5 Forum: Candidates Clash Over Police, Attacks

Incumbent Etel Haxhiaj and challengers Edson Montero and Jose Rivera met in a packed union hall Wednesday. Here's what happened.

Worcester Councilor Delays Crisis Pregnancy Center Ordinance Debate

Debate on two proposed laws regulating crisis pregnancy centers was put off to a Sept. 12 meeting by At-Large Councilor Donna Colorio.

Worcester Crisis Pregnancy Center Law: Council To Review 2 Options

At-large Councilor Thu Nguyen asked for a proposed law one on the anti-abortion center last year. The city manager and solicitor resisted.

Worcester Seeks To Redevelop DPW Properties Off Shrewsbury Street

The three DPW parcels take up more than 4 acres along a portion of Shrewsbury Street that has seen increasing developer interest.

Why Larry Shetler Is Running For Worcester District 1 Council Seat

Larry Shetler is running as a senior with plenty to contribute in the three-way Worcester District 1 council preliminary race.

Worcester District 1 Council Candidate Forum Planned

The three candidates running for the open seat included Jenny Pacillo, David Peterson and Larry Shetler.

Worcester D5 Councilor Etel Haxhiaj Back For Second Term In 2023

After an active first term, District 5 Councilor Etel Haxhiaj is running again in 2023 with experience under her belt.

Rob Bilotta Runs For Worcester District 2 Council As Fresh Face

Rob Bilotta decided to run for city council in 2023 after his involvement in the inclusionary zoning debate earlier this year.

Worcester Election 2023: Forums Probe District Council Candidates

Candidates running for seats in Worcester council districts 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 will appear across two upcoming forums in August.

CMHA Sues Holden Over MBTA Communities Zoning Law Compliance

A lawsuit over compliance with the MBTA zoning law aims to prevent a "domino effect" of noncompliance that could worsen housing costs.

Dave Peterson Seeks Chance At Worcester District 1 Council Seat

Dave Peterson, the beating heart of the Worcester Bravehearts, is one of three candidates running for the open District 1 seat in 2023.

Worcester Trees, Parks, Nonprofits Get Boost In 2024 State Budget

State lawmakers have stuffed the state's 2024 budget full of funds for local initiatives. Here's how Worcester will benefit.

Jenny Pacillo Seeks Open District 1 Worcester Council Seat In 2023

Jenny Pacillo, well known in the Worcester political scene, started her path toward a city council run due to an interest in civic minutiae.

Worcester 2023 Candidate Forums Come Before Preliminary Election

Meet candidates running for Worcester School Committee, mayor and city council at events across the city.

Maureen Schwab Eyes Worcester District 4 Council Seat In 2023

Maureen Schwab was inspired to run after learning about changes to local streets in her Green Island neighborhood.

Ted Kostas Among 5 Candidates Seeking Worcester District 4 Seat

Ted Kostas is one of the few Republicans in the 2023 council races. He's competing against four other candidates in District 4.

Edson Montero Seeks Worcester District 5 Council Seat In 2023

Montero is one of three candidates competing in the Worcester District 5 city council preliminary.

Worcester Sen. Kennedy Backs Law Dealing With Crisis Pregnancy Centers

Worcester state Sen. Robyn Kennedy has lent her support to a new abortion bill that could change how crisis pregnancy centers do business.

Worcester City Manager Scuttled Council Crisis Pregnancy Center Order

Councilors voted in July 2022 for a law regulating the anti-abortion centers, but City Manager Eric Batista declined to bring it forward.

Worcester Crisis Pregnancy Center Law: Solicitor Evaded Council Order

Councilors voted for an ordinance on the anti-abortion centers in 2022. Worcester's top attorney stalled, texts with a state AG show.

Worcester's Main South City Service Center Closes As Part Of 311 Plan

The Main Street outpost opened in 2020, offering a community meeting space and a way to access a range of city services.

Worcester Rolls Out 311 App To Report Problems, Nuisances

The Worcester 311 phone app has been available for months, but it will be available in full for non-emergency complaints starting July 11.

Worcester 'Clean Team' Will Begin Picking Up Trash In Neighborhoods

The city's renewed Clean Team is part of an expansion of the Quality of Life team.

MA HDIP Developer Subsidy May Grow, But Affordability Rules Sought

A recent battle in the state Legislature sought to regulate the HDIP tax incentive, which subsidizes higher-end rental housing.

AG Healey's Office Urged Worcester To Shun Crisis Pregnancy Center Law

Worcester Councilor Thu Nguyen wanted to regulate the centers as other cities had. Maura Healey's office advised Worcester officials not to.

Worcester Water, Sewer Rates Rates Rising For 2024 Fiscal Year

Both the water and sewer rates will increase by a few cents on July 1 when fiscal year 2024 begins.

Khrystian King Will Run For Mayor Of Worcester In 2023

King became the first Black man elected to council in 2016. He'll face off against longtime colleague Mayor Joseph Petty Jr.

No Public Funds To Rebuild Worcester Building Where 4 Died: Vote

The Affordable Housing Trust Fund waded through a tangle of LLCs and property ownership before voting against funding for 2 Gage St.

Deadly Worcester Gage Street Fire: Owner Seeks Public Funds To Rebuild

The building where four people died in the May 2022 fire had many code violations. The owner wants to rebuild with help from a public fund.

Worcester Overtime Pay Rising, With Police Bodycams A Factor: Audit

Worcester will end the fiscal year paying $1.4 million more in overtime. Police bodycam training and school employee costs drove the rise.

Records Reveal Little About Augustus' Hiring As MA Housing Secretary

Ed Augustus has a long record in government. But the Healey administration has little to reveal about his hiring as housing chief.

These 2023 Worcester Candidates Have The Most Cash

Worcester's 2023 election is shaping up to be an expensive one with many candidates flush with cash — more than usual at this point.

State Rep. Durant Will Run For Anne Gobi's Senate Seat: Filing

State Rep. Peter Durant, R-Charlton, follows Democrat Jonathan Zlotnik into the race as Gobi heads to the Healey administration.

Small Worcester Homeless Shelter Gets Zoning OK To Open In Greendale

The six-room shelter at Zion Lutheran in Greendale for small families could open in 2024, organizers say.

Worcester Chamber Poll Reports Top Issues For City Residents

Is Worcester headed in the right direction? A new chamber poll sketches how residents are feeling about schools, crime, housing and more.