Greater Worcester

The economic benefits from a slots parlor in Worcester would be overshadowed by the harm it will cause to the city's quality of life, says a new report from the Worcester Regional Research Bureau (WRRB).

The Hotel Worcester on Summer Street, which had been a Hampton Inn until last year, will be rebranded as a Holiday Inn Express. The property owners are investing in $1 million in upgrades to the site, according to the company that owns the Holiday Inn Express brand.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and the University of Massachusetts Medical School (UMMS) announced a five-year strategic partnership for research and educational programs in the health care industry.

Worcester-based ThermoEnergy Corp., which makes wastewater treatment and power generation systems, grew its revenue 25 percent in 2012.

New Englanders gambled less in 2012 than they did in 2006, according to a recently released survey that could yield some insight into what a slots parlor could mean for Worcester or a resort casino could mean for Milford.

The Worcester-based Guild of St. Agnes, which has locations throughout Worcester County, is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, starting with an event this weekend at the DCU Center.

UMass Memorial Healthcare's chief financial officer reacted Tuesday to the recent credit downgrade Moody's Investors Service issued due to mounting cost pressures for the Worcester-based health care system.

Athena Diagnostics, a branch of Quest Diagnostics with a clinical laboratory in Worcester, has announced the availability of new genetic tests that help in the detection of several rare neurological disorders.

Four Central Massachusetts communities, including Worcester, will receive nearly $375,000 in state money for water conservation, demand management and other projects that will help ease the ecological impacts of water withdrawals.

When the University of Massachusetts Medical School purchased three commercial buildings in Worcester's biotech park in late...