Greater Worcester

Angered over the serious financial challenges at Steward Health Care that could jeopardize the future of safety net hospitals in eastern Massachusetts, top House Democrats insisted Thursday they will not bail out the company.

Andy Koziol, a University of Massachusetts Amherst graduate with nearly 16 years of transportation experience, will be new Massachusetts point person on the plan to stretch regular passenger rail service across the state from Boston to Pittsfield.

Compensation costs for private industry workers are on the rise in the large metropolitan area including Worcester, but at a rate that is slower than much of the rest of the nation.

In an effort to boost its diversity-related activities, the Associated Industries of Massachusetts have named Karen Wallace to the newly-created position of executive vice president of economic inclusion.

The biennial legislative deadline known around Beacon Hill as Joint Rule 10 day arrived Wednesday, giving activists and lobbyists who have spent the past 13 months pushing for and against bills a limited glimpse at what remains in play heading into the final months of the term.

A polling memo said support for the question "does not budge" after voters hear balanced arguments from both sides.

Following the December sale of the Worcester Red Sox, another local baseball franchise is under new ownership, as the Worcester Bravehearts have been sold.

An Appeals Court judge on Tuesday rejected suspended Cannabis Control Chairwoman Shannon O'Brien's petition, once again clearing the way for Treasurer Deborah Goldberg to schedule the meeting that could lead to O'Brien's firing.

Immigrants who settle and find work in Massachusetts provide "a direct economic benefit to the region in which they are working in both the value of work produced and in added local spending power," according to a new report that lands as Massachusetts continues to contend with a surge of immigrants that is stressing the state's shelter safety net.

The average price for a gallon of gas in the Worcester area was $3.10 per gallon of regular unleaded on Tuesday, 2 cents higher than the price of $3.08 seen a week ago but 3 cents lower than the price of $3.13 seen on Jan. 6.