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Business
Rite Aid Will Close Stores In Mass, Connecticut After Filing For Bankruptcy Rite Aid Will Close Stores In Mass, Connecticut After Filing For Bankruptcy
Rite Aid Will Close Stores In Mass, Connecticut After Filing For Bankruptcy Rite Aid, the pharmacy giant that filed for bankruptcy on Sunday, Oct. 15, plans to close 154 underperforming stores nationwide, according to a new filing. Some of those closures will be in Massachusetts and Connecticut.  Related: Why Is Rite Aid Filing For Bankruptcy? Rite Aid announced earlier this week that declining sales and rising debt forced the company's hand in filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The chain has more than 2,100 stores nationwide, and reducing rent costs will play a large part in bringing its balance sheet back into the black.  The only store in Massachusetts…

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by Josh Lanier
Schools
Top Honors: These Massachusetts Schools Recipients Of Prestigious National Blue Ribbon Award Top Honors: These Massachusetts Schools Recipients Of Prestigious National Blue Ribbon Award
Top Honors: These Massachusetts Schools Recipients Of Prestigious National Blue Ribbon Award When it comes to overall excellence, these Massachusetts schools are at the top of the class, and they have the hardware to prove it. Seven schools in the Bay State are among just 353 across the country to receive the prestigious National Blue Ribbon Award from the US Department of Education. The annual awards recognize high-performing public and non-public schools, as well as those making strides in closing “achievement gaps” among student groups. “Their leaders not only articulate a vision of excellence and hold everyone to high standards, they stay close to the real action of teaching a…

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by Michael Mashburn
Police & Fire
Video Shows Thief Crash Car In Daring Escape From Cops In Eastern Mass Video Shows Thief Crash Car In Daring Escape From Cops In Eastern Mass
Video Shows Thief Crash Car In Daring Escape From Cops In Eastern Mass At least seven vehicles have been stolen recently from Eastern Massachusetts and Worcester County by a ring of thieves, officials say.  Police believe an organized group of between eight and 10 people are breaking into and stealing cars from Leominster and Sudbury and bringing them to Maynard, according to the Maynard Police Department.  Police were tipped off that a group of people were stealing cars around 3:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30, from Christmas Motors near Acton Street in Maynard.  Officers arrived to find several cars blocking the road and m…

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by Morgan Gonzales
News
'That Was Beautiful': Watch Mass Woman Wow Judges Again On 'America's Got Talent' 'That Was Beautiful': Watch Mass Woman Wow Judges Again On 'America's Got Talent'
'That Was Beautiful': Watch Mass Woman Wow Judges Again On 'America's Got Talent' Lavender Darcangelo returned to the "America's Got Talent" stage Tuesday night, Aug. 22, for her qualifier performance, and she did not disappoint.  The 27-year-old blind woman from Fitchburg in Worcester County belted out a beautiful rendition of Foreigner's "I Wanna Know What Love Is" that ended in a standing ovation. Viewers should have expected no less from the woman who earned the coveted Golden Buzzer from judge Heidi Klum from her first performance in July.  Related: Blind Fitchburg Singer Has 'America's Got Talent' Judges Raving: 'Magical' King of the scowl judge Simon Cowell was …

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Anti-Semitic Notes Left In Bags Of Rice At Mass Homes: Police Anti-Semitic Notes Left In Bags Of Rice At Mass Homes: Police
Anti-Semitic Notes Left In Bags Of Rice At Mass Homes: Police Several Jewish residents in Worcester County have started receiving strange items on their front door steps: bags of rice with anti-semitic fliers hidden inside. Sadly, this is not uncommon, as bags like these have shown up across the country for years, according to news reports.  The West Brookfield Police Department posted about the incidents on Facebook and said they are investigating their origins, but they believe they have a suspect in the case. They did not disclose what the flyers in the bag said.  On August 8, 2023, we received reports from individuals within our community who rec…

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by Josh Lanier
News
Newly Minted Millionaire Retires After Winning Lottery In Central Mass Newly Minted Millionaire Retires After Winning Lottery In Central Mass
Newly Minted Millionaire Retires After Winning Lottery In Central Mass It's a dream nearly everyone has had, but Paul Bashaw gets to live it. The Worcester County resident recently won a $1 million lottery jackpot, then promptly retired from his job of more than 20 years.  Bashaw, age 65, of West Boylston, won the seven-figure sum after playing the $5,000,000 100X Cashword scratch-off game on July 20, the Massachusetts State Lottery said. The truck driver was ecstatic, but he kept the windfall quiet.  Bashaw didn't tell anyone at work about his lucky win until he claimed his ticket on Friday.  “I told my wife there were three things in lif…

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by Josh Lanier
News
Central Mass Flight Crew Attacker Who Threatened 'Blood Bath' Unfit For Trial: Report Central Mass Flight Crew Attacker Who Threatened 'Blood Bath' Unfit For Trial: Report
Central Mass Flight Crew Attacker Who Threatened 'Blood Bath' Unfit For Trial: Report A Worcester County man who threatened to kill passengers aboard a Los Angeles to Boston flight, attacked the flight crew with a metal spoon, and tried to open the plane's door mid-flight is not competent to stand trial, a federal judge ruled this week.   Francisco Severo Torres, 33, of Leominster, was charged in March with interference and attempted interference with flight crew members and attendants using a dangerous weapon, which could carry a life sentence in prison, the US Attorney for Massachusetts said.  Related: Terror After Takeoff: Man Tried To Open Plane Door, Stab Flight Atten…

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by Josh Lanier
News
(Watch) Blind Central Mass Singer Has 'America's Got Talent' Judges Raving: 'Magical' (Watch) Blind Central Mass Singer Has 'America's Got Talent' Judges Raving: 'Magical'
(Watch) Blind Central Mass Singer Has 'America's Got Talent' Judges Raving: 'Magical' "America's Got Talent" judges couldn't get enough of Lavender Darcangelo, a 27-year-old woman from Worcester County, on Tuesday night's episode, July 11.  The blind and autistic woman Fitchburg resident had one of the most electric performances of the season with her rendition of Irene Cara's "Out Here On My Own." “That was sensational,” Simon Cowell said. “Everything about that was just magical. Magical. You have such a talent. You have such an amazing personality. “This is an audition I’ll never forget." That magic started before Darcangelo had sung a note. Her boundless optimism and pa…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
New Update: Missing Boys, 12, Who Took SUV From Central Mass Found Safe in New York New Update: Missing Boys, 12, Who Took SUV From Central Mass Found Safe in New York
New Update: Missing Boys, 12, Who Took SUV From Central Mass Found Safe in New York New update: Police announced Wednesday morning, June 28, that two 12-year-old Massachusetts boys who drove away from home in an SUV have been found safe in New York.  Authorities did not release any further information, including where they were found in New York.  Amari Siders and Zyaire Siders were last seen on Monday, June 26, and in Worcester County were believed to be driving a white Toyota 4Runner Highlander with Massachusetts license plate 4AN622, Southbridge Police said.  Original report: Police in Worcester County are asking for the public's help to find two missi…

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by Josh Lanier
News
Viral Video Shows Twin Saving Choking Brother At Central Mass Middle School Viral Video Shows Twin Saving Choking Brother At Central Mass Middle School
Viral Video Shows Twin Saving Choking Brother At Central Mass Middle School A video of a 12-year-old Worcester County girl using the Heimlich maneuver on her choking twin brother has made the two viral stars.  Amelia Loverme said she didn't think about what to do and just acted when she saw her brother Charlie choking on a piece of cheese in the lunchroom of Leicester Middle School earlier this month.  The 12-year-old wrapped her arms around Charlie, and with a few quick, sharp blows, she dislodged the immobile mozzarella. Within seconds, the story changed from horror to hero.  "It was just instinct," Amelia Loverme told CBS News. "I didn't really know what to do…

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by Josh Lanier
News
'Humble' Worcester Deputy, Father Finding Support Following Cancer Diagnosis 'Humble' Worcester Deputy, Father Finding Support Following Cancer Diagnosis
'Humble' Worcester Deputy, Father Finding Support Following Cancer Diagnosis Ben Campbell is the type of friend everyone hopes to have, according to his loved ones. At a moment's notice, at any time of day or night, he will be there for you, they said. But now, he's the one in need, and his friends are lining up to repay the favors.  Campbell, a 39-year-old Worcester County Sheriff's Deputy and firearms instructor, was recently diagnosed with colorectal cancer that has metastasized to his liver. His sister, Mikayla Campbell, set up a GoFundMe to help cover the cost of his treatments at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and to provide…

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by Josh Lanier
News
$1M Fraud: CT Business Owner Gets Prison Time $1M Fraud: CT Business Owner Gets Prison Time
$1M Fraud: CT Business Owner Gets Prison Time A Massachusetts business owner from northern Connecticut will spend time in prison for tax fraud after failing to report just under $1 million in income for several years, federal officials said.  Windham County resident Mariusz Kalinowski, age 48, of Woodstock, was sentenced to seven months in prison on Wednesday, April 26 for tax fraud, according to the US Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut.  According to federal officials, Kalinowski is the owner of Webster, Massachusetts-based Kalinowski General Construction, Inc., in Worcester County, which provides&n…

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by Ben Crnic