Greater Worcester

The Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission (CMRPC) is seeking input for a transportation plan that will drive federal funding allocation in Central Massachusetts over the next 25 years, it said in a statement.

Boston's South Station is becoming a "choke point in the system and an obstacle to expanded service," according to state Transportation Secretary Richard Davey, who asked lawmakers Thursday for help with a "stuck" deal that could lead to the station's expansion.

The Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce has taken a position of "No" on all four questions appearing on the statewide November ballot, it announced in a letter to its members on Wednesday.

The Health Foundation of Central Massachusetts has announces five grants to support a range of projects throughout the region — all of which are expected to improve the health of the area population.

Dr. Oliver Rando, a professor of biochemistry and molecular pharmacology at UMass Medical School, has received one of 10 Pioneer Awards granted to researchers by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the medical school announced.

Worcester's EcoTarium has become the first New England museum to partner with National Geographic in an agreement that will bring the educational organization's films and exhibits to the city.

The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts has taken a step toward expanding Worcester's theater district with the purchase of a three-story building adjacent to its downtown location.

Reliant Medical Group of Worcester and Southboro Medical Group will become one at the start of next year as the two healthcare provider organizations complete their withdrawal from Atrius Health. Reliant announced Wednesday that the two organizations have reached an agreement to merge effective Jan. 1. Together, the two medical groups will employ more than 2,500, including 300 physicians and hundreds of other healthcare professionals, serving about 300,000 patients throughout Central Massachusetts and MetroWest.

JetBlue Airways at Worcester Regional Airport (ORH) reached its 100,000 passenger since starting service in November 2013 with daily flights to Orlando and Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) announced this week.

The owner of Polar Beverages' warehouse properties in Worcester and Auburn has sold them to Gramercy Property Trust Inc. (NYSE:GPT), a real estate investment trust, for $21.5 million, according to Massachusetts land records.