AltWeeklies Wire
Walking in Worcesternew
The laws say pedestrians have the right of way. Reality tells us it is not always so black and white when it comes to cars versus humans on the streets. Some will tell you pedestrians bear as much responsibility as motorists when it comes to preventing the potentially tragic collision of metal and flesh. Drivers will, too, like the woman at a recent area crime watch meeting in Worcester who accused some pedestrians of purposely crossing the streets at a snail's pace.
Worcester Magazine |
Walter Bird Jr. |
12-19-2014 |
Transportation
The Silent Epidemic of Campus Rapenew
Thousands of students returned to colleges and universities this fall, and for the women among them they did so facing this very real and disturbing reality: their chances of being raped or sexually assaulted just rose exponentially.
Worcester Magazine |
Walter Bird Jr. |
11-13-2014 |
Features
Proposed changes to tobacco ordinance could ‘hurt’ Worcester businessesnew
The city is crafting a sweeping set of changes to its tobacco ordinance that could make it much harder to smoke in Worcester - and could deliver a crippling blow to the businesses selling tobacco for a living. Among the proposed changes that will be part of a report expected to be delivered to city councilors at their next meeting, Tuesday, Sept. 16, is a ban on smoking in all city-owned parks, beaches and playgrounds. Additionally, the revised ordinance would ban smoking in any covered public transportation waiting area, such as a covered bus stop; prohibit the use of e-cigarettes wherever smoking is prohibited; ban the sale of flavored tobacco products; and ban non-residential roll-your-own-cigarette machines.
Worcester Magazine |
Walter |
09-11-2014 |
Health
Time of Transitionnew
Many questions that have been raised – such as housing – regarding lesbian, gay and bisexual students have been answered, while the same questions affecting transgender students still linger.
Worcester Magazine |
Brittany Durgin |
09-10-2014 |
LGBT
Worcester Police Chief Gary Gemme nixes meeting with press after ‘provocative article’new
In a jaw-droppingly shocking response that may confirm the Worcester Police Department picks and chooses which media outlets to whom it releases legally-requred public information, police personnel taking part in an online Facebook forum Wednesday, Sept. 3 admitted they only deliver public information in a timely manner to specific media outlets. Police personnel actually placed different media outlets in different categories as far as level of importance to respond. It would appear to be a violation of public records laws, which place no such restrictions on how and when information must be distributed.
Worcester Magazine |
Walter Bird Jr. |
09-04-2014 |
Media
Worcester Pride welcomes Stonewall Rebellion Vet Erica Kay-Websternew
Worcester Pride hosts its annual Pride Parade on Saturday, Sept. 6, and with Stonewall Rebellion veteran and human rights activist Erica Kay-Webster recently announced as Grand Marshal of the event, attendees will get to march alongside and hear from one of the most prolific LGBTQ advocates of our time. Kay-Webster, a Massachusetts resident, has been a staunch supporter of LGBTQ rights, human rights and civil liberties for years. Having experienced discrimination in her own life as a transgender woman raised in California and later rejected by her own family, she learned firsthand the prejudice and inequality that exists.
Worcester Magazine |
Josh Lyford |
09-04-2014 |
LGBT
Nature and Industrynew
As the city of Worcester continues to grow more industrially robust, what is the cost? And are the city’s still-standing natural surroundings paying the price?
Worcester Magazine |
Taylor Nunez |
08-22-2014 |
Environment
Drugs and Deathnew
The city of Worcester is coming to terms with the fact that it's in the midst of a heroin epidemic.
Worcester Magazine |
Walter Bird Jr. |
08-15-2014 |
Drugs
Pill Mannew
One man's fight to overcome opiate addiction.
Worcester Magazine |
Walter Bird Jr. |
07-18-2014 |
Drugs
Tags: pills, opiate addictions
Massachusetts face to face with Lyme disease patient protection billnew
Lyme disease awareness advocates are hopeful that H.4142 (now referred to as H.4259) An Act relative to Lyme Disease treatment coverage will soon become law in Massachusetts. The bill, which earlier this week was referred to the committee on House Ways and Means, would require insurance companies to cover treatment of chronic Lyme disease. Lyme advocates are hopeful that the House will vote on it before the end of July.
Worcester Magazine |
Wanda Curtis |
07-10-2014 |
Health
President Barack Obama keeps DCU crowd, Worcester Tech grads in awenew
President Barack Obama exhorted Worcester Technical High School graduates to never forget the people who invested in them, to give back to their community and to leave their historic graduation ceremony at the DCU Center Wednesday, June 11 believing every child in America can make it just like them.
Worcester Magazine |
Walter Bird Jr. |
06-13-2014 |
Features
Worcester Telegram & Gazette Feels Heat With Sale to Florida Companynew
An in-depth look at the sale of the Telegram & Gazette in Worcester, Mass. to Florida-based Halifax Media Group.
Worcester Magazine |
Walter Bird Jr. |
06-05-2014 |
Media
New Owner of Worcester Telegram & Gazette No Stranger to Slashing and Cuttingnew
The hatchet is expected to fall inside the headquarters of the 148-year-old Worcester Telegram & Gazette, but just how painful the cuts will be will not be known until after the blow is delivered. While the immediate future of the largest daily newspaper in Central Massachusetts is murky right now, two things are clear: One, the new steward of the T&G has a track record of slashing and cutting staff - and not a perfect record of results once it buys a new product. Two, the man who sold the newspaper to the Halifax Media Group is persona non grata in Worcester.
Worcester Magazine |
Walter Bird Jr. |
05-29-2014 |
Media
Seeking Asylumnew
Members of the LGBT community may not always feel welcome in this country, but if they met “Christina,” their perspective just might change. She is among the thousands who have fled their home countries over the years, not to come to the US and get a free ride, but because their very lives are in danger if they do not leave.
Worcester Magazine |
Walter Bird Jr. |
04-10-2014 |
LGBT
License Commission defies ABCC in denying Price Chopper licensenew
The denial of a liquor license transfer to Price Chopper earlier this month could land the city in court, but at the very least it has one local liquor store owner crying foul. The License Commission, meanwhile, is defending its decision, which echoed the one it made last year, even though the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC) at that time had told the licensing board it did not agree with the outcome.
Worcester Magazine |
Walter Bird Jr. |
03-27-2014 |
Policy Issues
