Blackstone Valley

The franchise operators of nearly 80 Dunkin' locations, including in four communities in Central Massachusetts have been cited by the Massachusetts Attorney General for allegedly violating child labor laws.

Over the past 10 years, WBJ has honored manufacturers and their executives more than 70 times with awards ranging from overall excellence to workforce development to product innovation.

The statewide unemployment rate in Massachusetts rose slightly in February, above the national rate and where the Massachusetts rate was a year ago.

After a statewide drought last year that fueled wildfires and severely decreased water levels in rivers and streams, plumbers were on Beacon Hill Thursday lobbying for a long overlooked bill to promote gray water recycling and ease pressure on public water systems.

Ratepayers know too well that February was a rough month for retail utility bills in New England, marked by soaring costs that threw household and business budgets out of whack.

For communities that have welcomed recreational sales, this newly created industry and the sales associated with it have been a boon for their municipal budgets.

The development firm behind a 845,000-square-foot UPS distribution center has bought the property for $25 million.

“We’ve been DOGE-ed,” said Christopher Egan, president of Carruth Capital in Westborough, which owns one of the impacted properties.

Even though it’s always been centered around the idea of economic and community excellence, Worcester Business Journal’s Business Leader of the Year award has evolved over the years.

Professionals at Fletcher Tilton, ERA Key Realty Services, and Clinton Savings Bank are taking on new opportunities in their careers.