North County

More than one-third of the inmate population at a federal prison in Devens have tested positive for coronavirus, with the area's two U.S. representatives requesting immediate action to stop the spread.

The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development has awarded $558,134 to four Central Mass. housing authorities to support the Family Self-Sufficiency Program. 

Several Central Massachusetts firms are among the recipients of nearly $4.5 million in grants from MassDevelopment aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of taxi and livery services in the face of the evolving for-hire transportation market.

A pair of buyers has paid $5.3 million for two properties hosting long-term care facilities in Gardner and Leominster.

Lancaster beer company Bull Spit Brewing, based at Kalon Farm, has shut down its taproom as part of an ongoing dispute with the town over zoning approvals, owner Keith Kopley said on Wednesday.

Construction is expected to start early next spring on a development in Lancaster slated to include 23 homes and an office building right off Route 2.

In December 2019, no one could have predicted what was to come in 2020. Still, the major trends and news items for the year largely stayed on track. Of the 10 predictions made by the WBJ Editorial Staff for the year, seven came true.

UMass Memorial Health Care, the largest employer in Central Massachusetts, plans to have all of its health providers vaccinated against coronavirus by mid-February, a period of roughly two months.

The MBTA announced Thursday it would cut back on commuter rail services beginning in January in response to a huge decline in ridership as the coronavirus pandemic continues.

HealthAlliance's hospitals in Leominster and Clinton are outsourcing their cafeteria work but will keep all workers employed.