No such thing as easy weed

As of this week, marijuana is no longer a criminal offense. Light up that joint, kids. But that doesn’t mean cops are going to be lenient. As part of the state enforcement guidelines issued at the end of December, cities and towns are being asked to look at how to “tailor” the [...]

Two fewer buyers for the Telegram

The Boston Globe is reporting that the, er, Boston Globe is not being sold to Boston Herald publisher Patrick Purcell or former ad exec Jack Connors, despite a Financial Times story to the contrary.
The Financial Times reported last week that the Times Co. “began discussions two weeks ago” with Connors to buy the Globe and [...]

City Council liveblog 12/23/08

7:20: And we’re off! Ronal Madnick of Worcester’s ACLU chapter started off the meeting by asking the council to establish a Civilian Review Board. Why would we ever need an outside organization overseeing the city’s public officials? Council supports the request.
7:28: Let freedom ring?  Lukes asks for a city manager’s report on freedom of information [...]

MBTA: They’ll get back to us…

The MBTA and train operator MBCR used to be one of the best with responding to information requests: We’d ask for on time performance numbers for the Worcester line for a certain time frame, and get a response; usually within a few hours, occasionally within a day. How times have changed. In November, [...]

Councilors sidewalks shoveled…when they exist

Sorry we haven’t posted all day; we know you missed us.
We’ve been out visiting all of the City Councilors’ – and City Manager’s – homes, otherwise known as “The Worcester Perimeter Tour.”
What did we learn?  About 18 hours after the snow weekend from hell ended, the only councilors with sidewalks to shovel – Mayor Lukes, [...]

4,500 Charter customers still out

According to a press release from Charter, 4,500 customers are still without service.  1,500 of those are without power.
Responding to criticism that the company had promised service restoration to customers lack week and not followed through, Charter Communications Vice President Gregory Garabedian was quoted as saying, “I completely understand the frustration that our customers and [...]

The ‘2′ in a 1-2-3 punch

It’s snowing.
We know, our observant skills are brilliant.
This is going to be a rough weekend by the looks of it.  From our window on Water and Harrison Streets, we’re no longer able to see Union Station.
Roads and highways are absolute parking lots by some accounts; drive safe.
To all of our readers: We hope you got [...]

USDA crews diverted

Obrien says crews that were slated to cleanup ALB infested material in Greendale were diverted elsewhere and he hasn’t been told why.

4700 without power in Worcester

Were on WTAG with the City Manager right now: 4700 without power, and those are generally the homes with powerlines behind the properties, which are harder to get to.
Debris wise: “were going to be hampered tomorrow…were going to have to pull crews off debris cleanup…and onto (storm) cleanup.”

Ice Storm: Worcester update

Fresh from City Manager Michael O’Brien’s appearance on WTAG:

5500 residents without power, scattered throughout the city
Crews rushing to get job done before coming storm
Worcester bringing in outside machinery and trucks to help with tree removal
Focus is in cleaning up Burncoat, but crews are working city wide
10 crews from Asian Long Horned Beetle program cleaning up [...]