Worcester, MA
News
COVID-19: Where Are The Hot Spots? Town Infection Rates, Trends - Worcester County, August COVID-19: Where Are The Hot Spots? Town Infection Rates, Trends - Worcester County, August
Covid-19: Where Are The Hot Spots? Town Infection Rates, Trends - Worcester County, August Positive COVID-19 test rates continue to spike in North Brookfield and Brookfield, as Worcester’s rate gets closer to a high-point in July, according to the most recent information from the Baker Administration. Worcester’s positive test rate went from 2.2 percent last week to 2.5 percent this week - just shy of a July high point of 2.6. After seeing positive test rates rise in Fitchburg and Spencer over the last few weeks, the most recent numbers show a decline in infections. Meanwhile, Webster’s positive rate carries on with a three-week trend of decreasing positive tests, the 14-day COVI…

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by Kristin Palpini
Springfield, MA
Business
Town-by-Town: 350 Employee COVID-19 Complaints Filed Against WMass, Worcester Co.s Town-by-Town: 350 Employee COVID-19 Complaints Filed Against WMass, Worcester Co.s
Town-by-Town: 350 Employee Covid-19 Complaints Filed Against WMass, Worcester Co.s Massachusetts has received hundreds of employee complaints alleging their workplaces are not meeting state safety and compensation standards during COVID-19. In March, the Massachusetts Attorney General started tracking worker complaints related to COVID-19. As of Friday, Aug. 7, Massachusetts workers had filed about 350 complaints against employers. The most heavily represented industry on the list is hospitals/nursing homes - over 50 complaints. The most common complaint was the nonpayment of wages. Of the complaints, 38 said they were retaliated against for coming forward with a grievan…

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by Kristin Palpini
Worcester, MA
News
COVID-19: Where To Get Tested In Worcester County COVID-19: Where To Get Tested In Worcester County
Covid-19: Where To Get Tested In Worcester County The number of places providing COVID-19 testing has expanded over the last week as Massachusetts and surrounding states pass travel restrictions for people coming in from out of state. A lot of testing places will provide free tests to people with no health care insurance, according to the Massachusetts COVID-19 online resource center. Some testing places require an appointment, though; it is best to call ahead if a person is planning to get tested. Depending on the kind of test a person gets - SARS Antigen, PCR, anti-body - makes a difference as to whether a health care insurance provider …

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by Kristin Palpini
Worcester, MA
News
COVID-19, Where Are The Hot Spots? Town Infection Rates And Trends - Worcester County COVID-19, Where Are The Hot Spots? Town Infection Rates And Trends - Worcester County
Covid-19, Where Are The Hot Spots? Town Infection Rates And Trends - Worcester County Positive COVID-19 test rates are surging in Brookfield, North Brookfield, and Spencer, while Worcester's positive test rate is below the month's high in the city, according to the most recent information from the Baker Administration. Meanwhile, in West Brookfield and Webster, the 14-day COVID-19 positive test rate is going down. In Massachusetts, the goal is that by December the state will have less than 5 percent of COVID-19 tests come back positive. On Aug. 1, Gov. Charlie Baker reported the state’s 7-day positive test rate was at 2.1 percent, up from a low of 1.7 percent earlier this mo…

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by Kristin Palpini
Worcester, MA
Business
New Pot Shop Opens In Shrewsbury - Second Dispensary Opening Soon New Pot Shop Opens In Shrewsbury - Second Dispensary Opening Soon
New Pot Shop Opens In Shrewsbury - Second Dispensary Opening Soon A new marijuana dispensary opened this week in Shrewsbury. Verilife is a recreational facility that opened July 28 at 939 Boston Turnpike. A medical marijuana dispensary, The Botanist, is slated to open soon at 235 Hartford Turnpike. The launch date is yet to be set.  Planned hours are seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Due to COVID-19 concerns, sales are by appointment only through Aug. 11. Patrons are encouraged to shop online and pick up marijuana at the store. Most Massachusetts dispensaries are requiring customers to order online and pick up their purchases later the sam…

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by Kristin Palpini
Worcester, MA
News
E. Coli: Dean Park Pond, Shrewsbury, Reopens For Fishing, Swimming Still Banned E. Coli: Dean Park Pond, Shrewsbury, Reopens For Fishing, Swimming Still Banned
E. Coli: Dean Park Pond, Shrewsbury, Reopens For Fishing, Swimming Still Banned Fishing can resume at Dean Park Pond in Shrewsbury, but swimming or wading in the water is still not allowed. Dean Park Pond was closed to the public by health officials July 10 after the discovery of high levels of E. Coli. The Main Street pond was tested again on July 16 and a high level of the bacteria was found again. Levels are not at a level safe for fishing. 

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by Kristin Palpini
Worcester, MA
Police & Fire
COVID-19: New Shrewsbury Police Chief Tests Positive COVID-19: New Shrewsbury Police Chief Tests Positive
Covid-19: New Shrewsbury Police Chief Tests Positive On the first day of his new job as Shrewsbury Chief of Police, Kevin E. Anderson has tested positive for COVID-19. Anderson, a 26-year-veteran of the town’s police department, was sworn in as chief July 20 - outside of the police department - just hours after he learned of the infection, according to the Worcester Telegram and Gazette. Anderson said he is not sure how he contracted the virus. The chief will likely not return to work for the rest of the week. Health officials have advised him to get re-tested on Monday, July 27.

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by Kristin Palpini
Worcester, MA
Police & Fire
New Shrewsbury Police Chief Sworn In New Shrewsbury Police Chief Sworn In
New Shrewsbury Police Chief Sworn In Shrewsbury has a new police chief: former interim chief Kevin Anderson. Anderson was promoted to the full chief on July 20, according to a town-issued statement. He is a 26-year veteran of the Shrewsbury Police Department and, before taking on the interim role, was Detective Lieutenant, Detective Bureau Commanding Officer. Anderson first joined the Shrewsbury Police in 1994 as a patrolman. As chief, he will oversee a department with 64 employees serving a town of about 38,000 residents. Board of Selectmen Chairwoman Beth Casavant said Anderson impressed the board with his plans for the com…

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by Kristin Palpini
Worcester, MA
News
COVID-19: Where Are The Hot Spots? Town-by-town Infection Rates And Trends - Worcester County COVID-19: Where Are The Hot Spots? Town-by-town Infection Rates And Trends - Worcester County
Covid-19: Where Are The Hot Spots? Town-by-town Infection Rates And Trends - Worcester County Positive tests for COVID-19 continue to stay under 2 percent in Massachusetts. Massachusetts' seven-day positive test rate for COVID-19 has been below 2 percent since the beginning of July. On Friday, July 17, Gov. Charlie Baker said the positive rate for the past seven days is 1.7 percent. Meanwhile, in Worcester County, Worcester has the highest rate of positive COVID-19 tests countywide over the past 14 days (2.6 percent), followed by Clinton and West Borough. 14-day, COVID-19 Positive Test Rate Per CommunityKristin Palpini on Infogr.am The state economy is now in Phase 3 of a four-…

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by Kristin Palpini
Worcester, MA
News
Three Marijuana Dispensaries Nailed with $800,000 In State Fines Three Marijuana Dispensaries Nailed with $800,000 In State Fines
Three Marijuana Dispensaries Nailed with $800,000 In State Fines Three marijuana dispensaries are facing multi-hundred-thousand dollar fines for violating pesticide and ownership laws. The Botanist, Garden Remedies, and Healthy Pharms have been assessed fines that total $800,000, according to the most recent information provided by the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission. All three marijuana entities have agreed to pay the fines and perform other remedies as required by the state. The fines were assessed by the Cannabis Control Commission, which oversees marijuana licensure in Massachusetts and conducts compliance investigations. The Botanist: Wor…

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by Kristin Palpini
Fairfield, CT
News
Man Sentenced In Fairfield County For Multi-State Robbery Spree Man Sentenced In Fairfield County For Multi-State Robbery Spree
Man Sentenced In Fairfield County For Multi-State Robbery Spree A 33-year-old Waterbury man was sentenced to eight years in federal prison in connection with a multi-state armed robbery spree. A drug overdose in a Waterbury motel eventually led to the man's arrest. Zachary Provost was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to 96 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release, for committing a series of robberies in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire in late 2017, according to John H. Durham, U.S. Attorney for the District of Connecticut. According to court documents and statements made in cour…

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by Jon Craig