Greater Worcester

The state auditor found a key industry watchdog was not properly holding the hospitals to account, which are claims the watchdog agency disputes.

As healthcare providers continue to walk off the job post-COVID, the Family Health Center of Worcester has created the community health center’s first-ever chief workforce officer position, naming attorney Leon Wilkerson to the C-suite role. 

This second round of funding awarded on Dec. 23 followed an application process announced in September. 

The governor's office said about 280 people who were facing disqualification will be sent letters starting Thursday informing them that they no longer need to worry due to the new law. Another 65 drivers will benefit from the law after they address other outstanding obligations, Healey's office said.

As part of the partnership, Synergy will transfer ownership of Two Chestnut Place to the Boston-based nonprofit.

Dan Kenary, a Worcester native and Mass. Bay Brewing’s co-founder and CEO, will lead the new entity as CEO.

The Downtown Worcester Business Improvement District, an organization working to strengthen the downtown economic and cultural landscape, has named Katelyn O’Brien as the nonprofit’s new executive director, effective this coming Monday. 

Lawmakers rushed a hospital oversight bill to Gov. Maura Healey on Monday, agreeing on policy responses to the Steward Health Care crisis that aim to better regulate private equity firms and stiffen penalties for entities that fail to submit required information.

Some reports have suggested task force members -- who stretch across a range of professional backgrounds and industry interests -- have been split over how far their recommendations to the governor should go.

Top Democrats needed a few extra months to reach agreements on major laws this session, but wrapped up business for the term with almost a day to spare and New Year's Eve plans intact.