North County

Ten professionals got hired or promoted at places including Fallon Health, JM Coull and Fidelity Bank.

Volunteers from Leominster Credit Union participated in one of the largest meal-packing events for United Way of North Central Mass. More than 100,000 meals were packaged by 400 volunteers for 20 local food pantries at the Double Tree by Hilton in Leominster. Benefitting pantries are in Athol, Leominster, Fitchburg, Gardner, Devens, Pepperell, Templeton, Winchendon and Westminster. Pictured (from left, front row) are Nancy Daigle, Ann Younie, Meghan Thomas and Susan Landry; (middle row) Cindy Holder and Stephanie and Lucas Hyles; and (back row) Stan Hyles.

The average Worcester resident has a car loan equal to half of his or her annual salary, according to a new survey.

Framingham State University and Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardner have received a share of $39 million in life science funding from the state announced Thursday.

Steward Health Care, which recently moved into Central Massachusetts with the planned takeover of a physicians network, has roughly doubled its overall size by buying eight hospitals outside the region.

Massachusetts has reached a "tipping point" in the fight against homelessness, service providers told state legislators Thursday.

Reliant Medical Group has bought a four-story office building next to the Greendale Mall in Worcester for $10.25 million.

Gardner-based Precision Optics Corp. saw a 37-percent decline in sales for a net loss in the second quarter ending Dec. 31.

Webster Square Dental Care, a Worcester dental office, improperly billed patients for about $247,000, the state auditor's office said.

The Legislature may restore some, but not all, of the $98 million in spending Gov. Charlie Baker cut from the budget in December, but House Speaker Robert DeLeo said Wednesday he wants at least one more month's revenue report before taking any action.