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Furr-Giveness Program At Central Mass Public Library System To Paws Soon Furr-Giveness Program At Central Mass Public Library System To Paws Soon
Furr-Giveness Program At Central Mass Public Library System To Paws Soon March Meowness at the Worcester Public Library is coming to an end and the library system is 'feline' fine about how it went.  The program allows anyone with an overdue charge or lost or damaged book to have their fees forgiven if they bring a photo of a cat to one of the system's libraries. Any cat. Your cat. Feline photo from the internet. A drawing of a cuddly kitty would also count.  Librarians wanted people who may have lost a book or item and forgotten to return it during the pandemic to be able to return to one of the branches without worry.  Jason Homer, executi…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Worcester Spa Shooter Charged In Second Shooting; Victim ID'd Worcester Spa Shooter Charged In Second Shooting; Victim ID'd
Worcester Spa Shooter Charged In Second Shooting; Victim ID'd A 31-year-old Leicester man who was charged with killing a woman inside a Worcester spa in November has been indicted with trying to kill someone last summer Marcel Santos-Padgett was indicted with murdering Yueping Zhang, 34, at Angie’s Body Work Spa at 383 Pleasant St. on Nov. 23, 2023, the Worcester District Attorney's Office said. Investigators had withheld Zhang's name until now.  A grand jury also indicted him with possession of a loaded firearm not at home or work, and possession of a firearm not at home or work along with the murder indictment.  He's now charged…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Worcester Man Charged In February Shooting That Sent 1 To Hospital Worcester Man Charged In February Shooting That Sent 1 To Hospital
Worcester Man Charged In February Shooting That Sent 1 To Hospital Worcester police have arrested a 26-year-old man they say pulled the trigger that sent a man to the hospital last month.  Daraye Young, of Worcester, is charged with armed assault with intent to murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (firearm), attempt to commit a crime (carjacking), and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, Worcester police announced on Thursday, March 21.  Police were called to East Central Street around 6 a.m. on Feb. 25 to reports of a man who had been shot. Paramedics rushed him to an area hospital for treatment of non-life-t…

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by Josh Lanier
News
Newly Minted Millionaire: $1M Lottery Central Mass Winner Didn't Plan To Buy Ticket Newly Minted Millionaire: $1M Lottery Central Mass Winner Didn't Plan To Buy Ticket
Newly Minted Millionaire: $1M Lottery Central Mass Winner Didn't Plan To Buy Ticket You can be lucky even if you never intended to put your chips in. One Worcester man won $1 million in the Massachusetts State Lottery because he needed to change for $20.  Paul Verdini Jr. won the seven-figure prize on the luckiest of all days — Saint Patrick's Day, Sunday, March 17. He was looking to break a $20 when he bought a $5 "Money Money Money" scratch-off ticket.  The name of the game was no lie. Verdini won $1 million. However, he chose to take the lump sum option of $650,000 (before taxes) rather than the annuity.  He plans to buy a new car with the cash.  …

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by Josh Lanier
Business
Closing Worcester Deli Blames Labor Shortage, Rising Prices: 'Can No Longer Properly Serve You' Closing Worcester Deli Blames Labor Shortage, Rising Prices: 'Can No Longer Properly Serve You'
Closing Worcester Deli Blames Labor Shortage, Rising Prices: 'Can No Longer Properly Serve You' Owners of a Worcester deli say they are being forced to close because the cost of doing business has become untenable, and it's preventing them from providing the level of service their customers deserve.  Helfand's Deli, at 143 Highland St., will shutter on Saturday, March 16, according to a note the owners posted on the restaurant's Facebook page Friday. The owners thanked their customers for their support for the past 18 months. They blamed the labor shortage and rising cost of supplies for the closure.  Posted by Helfand's Deli on Friday, March 15, 2024 Cust…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Man Accused Of Killing Worcester Mom, Daughter Will Not Fight Return To Mass: DA Man Accused Of Killing Worcester Mom, Daughter Will Not Fight Return To Mass: DA
Man Accused Of Killing Worcester Mom, Daughter Will Not Fight Return To Mass: DA One of the two men accused of killing Chasity Nunez and her 11-year-old daughter Zella will not fight extradition from San Diego, California, and will be returned to Worcester to stand trial for the fatal shooting, officials said on Friday, March 15.  Dejan Belnavis, 27, and Karel Mangual, 28, are accused of ambushing the Nunezes as they sat in their SUV near the intersection of Lisbon Street and Englewood Avenue on March 5, Worcester police said.  Related: Army National Guardswoman, Daughter ID'd As Victims In Worcester Killing US Marshalls arrested Belnavis near the…

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by Josh Lanier
Obituaries
Fundraiser For Mom, Daughter, 11, Gunned Down In Central Mass Surpasses $50K Fundraiser For Mom, Daughter, 11, Gunned Down In Central Mass Surpasses $50K
Fundraiser For Mom, Daughter, 11, Gunned Down In Central Mass Surpasses $50K More than 650 people have donated to a fundraiser that will go to the family of a mom and 11-year-old daughter who were gunned down in their car last week in Worcester.  Chasity Nuñez and her daughter Zella were shot and killed inside their car in the area of Lisbon Street at Englewood Avenue around 3 p.m. on March 5. Two men have since been arrested in the slayings.  The GoFundMe hopes to raise $100,000, some of which will cover the burial costs for Chasity Nuñez and 11-year-old Zella Nuñez. The remaining money will go to the care of Chasity's 2-year-old daughter Isla and he…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Only Two Arrests Made At Trouble-Free Israeli Real Estate Protest In Teaneck, Police Chief Says Only Two Arrests Made At Trouble-Free Israeli Real Estate Protest In Teaneck, Police Chief Says
Only Two Arrests Made At Trouble-Free Israeli Real Estate Protest In Teaneck, Police Chief Says Two out-of-towners were arrested after they threw liquid on protestors near the end of a controversial Israeli real estate showcase at a Teaneck synagogue, authorities said. The two assaults were the only incidents after what had been several hours of orderly demonstrations on Sunday, March 10, that drew thousands of participants and onlookers. The ongoing Israel-Hamas war stoked concerns over staging such an event, which reportedly involved information on some properties in West Bank settlements that the United States has considered illegal. The protests weren't only two-sided. Boyd A…

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by Jerry DeMarco
Police & Fire
Mom, Daughter, 11, ID'd As Victims In Central Mass Slayings; 1 Man Busted, Second On The Run Mom, Daughter, 11, ID'd As Victims In Central Mass Slayings; 1 Man Busted, Second On The Run
Mom, Daughter, 11, ID'd As Victims In Central Mass Slayings; 1 Man Busted, Second On The Run A 28-year-old woman who was a member of the Army National Guard and her 11-year-old daughter have been identified as the two killed in Worcester on Tuesday, March 5.  Chasity Nunez and her daughter Zella Nunez were shot and killed inside their car in the area of Lisbon Street at Englewood Avenue around 3 p.m. Chasity leaves behind a 2-year-old daughter named Isla, reports said.  Photos of the car show multiple bullet holes in the driver's side window.  Karel Mangual, 28, was arrested and charged with armed assault to murder and carrying a firearm without a license. Poli…

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by Josh Lanier
Police & Fire
Mother, Daughter Killed In Worcester Shooting Mother, Daughter Killed In Worcester Shooting
Mother, Daughter Killed In Worcester Shooting A mother and her daughter were shot and killed in Worcester on Tuesday, March 5.  Officers were called to the area of Lisbon Street and Englewood Avenue just after 3 p.m. when they found the two women in a car with gunshot wounds, Worcester police said. Both suffered critical injuries in the shooting.  Paramedics rushed them to an area hospital, where they later died of their wounds.  Investigators did not release the victims' names.  Police ask anyone with information about the slayings to contact detectives at 508-799-8651.

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by Josh Lanier
Lifestyle
Best Burgers In Massachusetts Found At These Restaurants, Survey Says Best Burgers In Massachusetts Found At These Restaurants, Survey Says
Best Burgers In Massachusetts Found At These Restaurants, Survey Says The votes are in, and these are the best hamburgers in Massachusetts, according to burgerphiles. Over 5,000 voters took part in a survey conducted by Taste of Massachusetts asking where to find the best beef patties in the Bay State. More than 1,000 people tossed their favorite restaurants into the running and, after four rounds of “some very close voting,” the website had its ranking of the 16 best burgers in Massachusetts. Taking the crown with the number one spot was Norfolk County’s Lewis’ Bar and Grill, located in Norwood at 92 Central Street. A neighborhood staple since 1939, the s…

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by Michael Mashburn
News
$1M Lottery Win: Worcester Carpenter Playing With 'House Money' Lands Payday With Lucky Number $1M Lottery Win: Worcester Carpenter Playing With 'House Money' Lands Payday With Lucky Number
$1M Lottery Win: Worcester Carpenter Playing With 'House Money' Lands Payday With Lucky Number A Worcester carpenter has won his second lottery payday in a month. However, the second one dwarfs the first.  Deivson Alves Martins became the 11th $1 million prize winner in the Massachusetts State Lottery’s “Billion Dollar Extravaganza” $50 scratch-off game.  He was funding his purchases with "house money" after he'd won $500 playing the lottery a month earlier and was using those proceeds to buy more tickets.  Martins chose to take the lump sum payment of $650,000 (before taxes) rather than the annuity.  He bought the ticket at Family Farms at 443 Park&nb…

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by Josh Lanier