Greater Worcester

The parent companies of Cornerstone Bank of Worcester and PeoplesBank, headquartered in Holyoke, will merge to create a $6-billion organization with 29 branches across Central and Western Massachusetts.

HECCMA has eliminated its two dedicated staff positions of executive director and program support coordinator.

Quinsigamond Community College in Worcester will now be able to upgrade to industry-standard lab equipment for its nursing assistant (CNA) certificate program and surgical technology associate degree program, as the institution has received $171,016 through the Massachusetts Skills Capital Grant Program.

Massachusetts is approaching the most challenging period of its decades-long mission to reach net zero emissions by 2050, with decarbonizing the energy sector being a critical part of reaching the state’s next benchmark in 2030, according to one state official.

After months of controversy surrounding the state’s Cannabis Control Commission, Massachusetts Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro is calling for the state legislature to appoint a receiver to manage the day-to-day operations of the agency.

Worcester-based Pleasant Street Dental and its owner were indicted in June for their involvement in an alleged MassHealth scheme to defraud the state Medicaid insurance program for more than $2 million.

For the second straight month, both Worcester and Middlesex counties saw an increase in total home sales compared to May of last year.

A bakery equipment manufacturer, a licensed asbestos contractor, and a local golf course were assessed fines in mid-June by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection for incidents in Central Massachusetts. 

Country Bank has opened a location on Grafton Street, marking the fourth banking center in Worcester for the Ware-based financial firm. 

The purchasers of the site are the operators of LaMei Hot Pot, a Chinese restaurant with locations in Brookline and Providence.