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.
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.
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.
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 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.