Greater Worcester

Girls Inc. of Worcester has received $220,000 from 16 foundations and corporations to fund its science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programming for the coming year, the nonprofit organization announced.

Less than two weeks after abandoning a $55 billion deal to buy rival Shire following changes to U.S. tax rules, Illinois-based drug maker AbbVie raised its annual earnings guidance after sales of its top drug grew 17 percent.

Greater Worcester is home to 12 colleges and universities that graduated 7,500 students in 2014. But for most, their time in Worcester is short lived.

Unum, the insurance company that employs more than 600 in downtown Worcester, saw earnings continue to grow based on its core businesses United Kingdom and Colonial Life segments as its U.S. operations lag, the company reported.

Third-quarter net income at the Hanover Insurance Group decreased to $54.9 million or $1.22 per share from $61.3 million or $1.37 per share in the prior-year quarter, the company reported on Thursday.

The University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester will partner with Atlanta-based medical device firm LumaMed in a joint clinical study to evaluate the effectiveness of an imaging platform used in breast cancer surgery, and possibly other types of cancer surgeries.

Nearly two months after launching its initial classes at its new Healthcare and Workforce Development Center in downtown Worcester, Quinsigamond Community College imprinted the “officially open for business” tag on the site Wednesday in a formal ceremony before about 300 people.

Worcester city officials, Comcast Corp. and Charter Communications have agreed to extend the deadline for a decision on the transfer of the city's cable television license, according to a statement Tuesday from City Manager Edward M. Augustus' office.

Sales of single-family homes in Massachusetts fell in September while the median selling price showed little year-over-year movement, according to two industry reports released Tuesday.

Fallon Health of Worcester will provide services to a group of senior citizens in Western New York through a new joint venture with a residential community in that area.