Why Primary Voters Don’t Represent the Broader Electorate

Clark University Professor Robert Boatright joins Radio Worcester to explain why primary voters tend to be older, wealthier and more ideological than the broader electorate—and why common election reforms have done little to close the gap.

Mary Keefe–Ron Waddell Worcester Debate

Watch the 15th Worcester District Democratic primary debate between incumbent State Rep. Mary Keefe and challenger Ron Waddell, presented by Radio Worcester.

Hike Worcester Week Invites Residents to Explore the City’s Trails

Greater Worcester Land Trust Executive Director Colin Novick shares stories from Japan’s Northern Alps and previews Hike Worcester Week, running September 11–20.

Mary Keefe Makes Her Case for Reelection in Worcester’s 15th District

State Representative Mary Keefe discusses her 12 years representing Worcester, legislative accomplishments, housing challenges, wages and criticism of her visibility.

Worcester City Manager Batista Discusses Immigration Policy, Police Oversight and Public Safety

Worcester City Manager Eric Batista addresses immigration enforcement, police oversight, emerging public safety technology and several other issues facing the city.

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Mary Keefe–Ron Waddell Worcester Debate

by Hank Stolz | Aug 28, 2026 | CANDIDATE, ELECTION 2023, This Weeks Top Stories

Mary Keefe–Ron Waddell Worcester Debate

Candidates debate housing, policing, homelessness and state funding ahead of Worcester’s Sept. 1 Democratic primary.

Hank Stolz
Photos – Kill the Ball Media

Questions, Concerns, Opinions?
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Worcester, MA- Radio Worcester presented the 15th Worcester District Debate between incumbent Rep. Mary Keefe (D) and challenger Ron Waddell (D). The Democratic Primary is September 1st.

The debate was moderated by Hank Stolz and featured questions from Adam Bass of MassLive, Ben White from Radio Worcester, Mark Henderson of the 016.com and Kate McEvoy of Pulse Magazine. It was held at the East Side Post of the American Legion and streamed live at radioworcester.com.

Key debate topics included affordable housing supply and demand, state funding equity for Worcester, police accountability and civilian oversight, homelessness services, downtown revitalization, data center regulation, the audit and representation of the district’s majority-minority population. The candidates diverge on legislative experience, constituent engagement frequency, and approaches to criminal justice reform, with Waddell emphasizing results-oriented outcomes and Keefe stressing the complexity of legislative work and coalition-building within the delegation.

Among the exchanges;

“The DCU Center, all of the infrastructure support has been funded through the city itself. We look at Springfield, not the case. We look at Boston, not the case.” – Kate McAvoy

*

“As a delegation, we were with you, Kate, two months ago to tour the DCU Center… it was quite a surprise.” – Mary Keefe
“I would be reaching out to have those conversations… not blaming the city for not engaging with me.” – Ron Waddell

“An ongoing topic of debate in Worcester is whether the city needs a civilian review board.” – Adam Bass

“I have a lot of respect for the Worcester Research Bureau and the report that they produced… I stand with the people.” – Mary Keefe
“When you build partnerships with community-based organizations and public safety, you will drive down violent events.” – Ron Waddell

“Where do you stand on that audit, a measure supported by more than 70% of Massachusetts voters?” – Ben White

“We have three branches of government and our constitution mandates that they stand separately from each other.” – Mary Keefe
“I think the voters spoke. And so as a state rep, it’s our responsibility to hear the voters and move forward what they have asked of us.” – Ron Waddell

“By many accounts, the population of the unhoused is growing in Worcester and in many places throughout the state.” – Mark Henderson

One of the things that I’m looking at on a global level is the fact that there are a number of different departments that are trying to address this issue, public health, mental health, housing, but they’re all operating in silos. And so we continue to take more money and fund all these different departments, yet don’t see improved outcomes. One of the things that I would fight at the legislature level is to evaluate these different programs. Are they actually producing the outcomes in the desired results that we’re asking for? We continue to take taxpayers’ dollars and fund these programs that aren’t producing the results that we say they’re intended to. – Ron Waddell

It’s a very complex problem. I think the city moving in the direction of the day resource center is a good direction. I don’t think it’s a big solution. I think it will give people some respite to take care of themselves and maybe get counseling and the help that can start putting them on the track, on a better track. – Mary Keefe

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Hike Worcester Week Invites Residents to Explore the City’s Trails

by Hank Stolz | Aug 26, 2026 | CULTURE AND ENTERTAINMENT, This Weeks Top Stories

Hike Worcester Week Invites Residents to Exp

From Japan’s Northern Alps to the Trails of Worcester

By-Hank Stolz
Graphic-Radio Worcester/HikeWorcester.com

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Worcester, MA-Colin Novick is just back from Japan where he hiked the Northern Alps. He tells us how he was out on a trail for 11 days in a Japanese national park with a backpack and had an incredible trip.

Colin stopped by Radio Worcester to promote Hike Worcester Week.

Hike Worcester Week Returns September 11–20

Indeed, it is time once again for Hike Worcester Week, running September 11-20.

This annual initiative by the Greater Worcester Land Trust is designed to showcase Worcester’s extensive trail system while raising funds for trail maintenance and improvements.

Colin tells us it’s a real community out on the trails whether in Japan or the U.S., “If you’re out on a trail and you’ve been out there for hours, if you come across anyone, you immediately strike up a story. You immediately say hello. Even the most reserved introvert is ready to say hi, wants to know how you’re doing. It’s sort of a different space.”

Trails for Different Experience Levels

The program invites participants to explore multiple trails throughout the region, with options ranging from introductory hikes to challenging five-mile treks.

“So, Hike Worcester Week is two things. It’s first of all, getting people to realize just the richness of the trail system that we have here in Worcester, a chance to promote the incredible resources we have, but it’s also a chance to raise money to care for those trails, to do the improvements.” says Colin.

New Longer-Distance Hikes

New this year are two longer distance hikes led by Novick, including routes through Holden to Cascading Waters and a five-and-a-half-mile hike that includes Paxton.

Participants can register individually, seek pledges from supporters, and compete for prizes including a weekend getaway to the White Mountains.

Hike Worcester Week promotes outdoor activity, community engagement, and awareness of Worcester’s unique network of forest corridors, creating opportunities to experience diverse landscapes and potentially encounter local wildlife.

“We are absolutely blessed. And one of the things that’s neat is you go to other cities; there’s usually the city and then there’s the suburbs and then there’s the forest. For Worcester, we have these corridors of forest that come deep into the city.”

Registration is available at gwlt.org.

What Is the Greater Worcester Land Trust?

The Greater Worcester Land Trust is a nonprofit conservation organization that protects forests, wetlands, farms, waterways and other open spaces in Worcester and surrounding communities.

How did it begin?

The organization was created in 1987 to identify and preserve environmentally important land that could otherwise be lost to development.

The Land Trust operates with a small professional staff, a board of trustees and a large network of volunteers. Colin Novick, a Worcester native who has worked in conservation for approximately three decades, serves as its executive director. Greater Worcester Land Trust.

What is its mission?

The organization’s stated mission is to promote the “protection, stewardship, and appreciation of open space” to improve quality of life and support functioning natural systems in Worcester and the surrounding region.

Its work includes:

Purchasing land with conservation value
Accepting donated land
Obtaining and enforcing conservation restrictions or easements
Helping landowners explore preservation options
Working with municipal and state officials
Securing grants for land acquisition and stewardship
Building and maintaining public trails
Protecting wildlife habitat, wetlands and waterways
Connecting individual properties into larger forest corridors

A conservation restriction allows land to remain under its current ownership while permanently limiting development and protecting its environmental value.

How much land does it protect?

The Greater Worcester Land Trust reports that it manages and protects more than 2,900 acres in Worcester and neighboring communities.

Its geographic reach includes Worcester, Boylston, Holden, Leicester, Paxton, Spencer and West Boylston. Some properties are owned directly by the Land Trust, while others are protected or managed through conservation restrictions, partnerships and agreements with municipalities or other organizations.

What properties are connected to the Land Trust?

The organization’s property and trail network includes dozens of natural areas, among them:

The Cascades
Asnebumskit Ridge
Blueberry Hill
Broad Meadow Brook
Cook’s Pond
Crow Hill
Difley Family Forest
Donker Farm
East Side Trail
Kettle Brook
Moreland Woods
Sibley Farm
Tetasset Ridge
Coes Reservoir
Green Hill Park

The complete network also includes smaller woodlands, overlooks, farms, ponds and parcels that create connections between larger protected areas. GWLT property directory.

What happens after land is protected?

Preserving a property is only the beginning. The Land Trust must continue monitoring boundaries, protecting wildlife habitat and maintaining safe public access.

Its Volunteer Conservation Corps, established in 2001, performs much of the trail and stewardship work. Volunteers:

Clear and mark trails
Install signs
Build bridges and water crossings
Control erosion
Remove trash
Monitor plants and wildlife
Report property damage or unauthorized use
Maintain habitat-improvement projects

Volunteer conservation rangers also inspect assigned properties and document their condition through field reports, photographs and maps. GWLT volunteer program.

Why does its work matter?

Worcester is unusual because wooded corridors extend deep into an urban city. Protecting connected parcels gives wildlife room to travel, helps preserve water quality, reduces flooding and provides residents with nearby places for hiking, education and quiet recreation.

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Mary Keefe Makes Her Case for Reelection in Worcester’s 15th District

by Hank Stolz | Aug 26, 2026 | CANDIDATE, This Weeks Top Stories

Mary Keefe Makes Her Case for Reelection in Worcester’s 15th District

Keefe Talks Education Funding, Housing and Wages

“And I challenge anybody to say that they’ve called my office and not gotten a response.”

Editors Note – Radio Worcester interviews candidates from across the political spectrum to help voters hear directly from those seeking public office.

By-Hank Stolz
Graphic- Radio Worcester/Photo Submitted

Questions, Concerns, Opinions?

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WORCESTER, MA- State Representative Mary Keefe (D) discusses her 12-year tenure representing the 15th Worcester District and why she is running for reelection.

Asked about her time in the legislature, she points to major accomplishments including the Student Opportunity Act, which brought $100 million to Worcester over seven years, and criminal justice reform that reduced the Massachusetts’ prison population.

Worcester’s Transformation and Housing Challenges

Keefe addresses Worcester’s transformation, particularly downtown development and housing challenges, advocating for fair wages and neighborhood-level housing improvements.

She discusses the school-to-prison pipeline, the 30% rule for property renovation incentives, “The 30% rule is based on a threshold. So, if you had a three-decker and you’re going to put new porches on and you’re going to renovate one of the apartments to make it come up to what it should be, if you reach 30% of your assessed value of your property, all these other codes kick in that really become a detriment to you moving forward.

Massachusetts’ Minimum Wage

And minimum wage increases, “Even in our fight for the $15 minimum wage, which I was a big part of, it was exciting. That’s not a livable wage when you look at affordability right now. $15 an hour isn’t where it’s at. And even at the time we were talking about really livable wage would be more like 22.”

also she says, “I think that’s going to be some work that will happen in the upcoming session. I know folks, Raise Up Massachusetts is talking about it again. Is it time to revisit the minimum wage?

Constituent Services and Campaign Criticism

Responding to campaign criticism about visibility, Keefe emphasizes constituent service responsiveness and the importance of legislative experience.

“And I challenge anybody to say that they’ve called my office and not gotten a response. One of the first things and foremost things that we do is respond to our constituents and their needs and to be able to help them cut through red tape that government kind of presents along the way.”

The Legislative Audit Controversy

She addressed the controversy over the audit, “Well, it’s a complicated issue, right? And I think what we’ve learned through this process is more about our own constitution and our three branches of government, what their roles are, and that one really can’t supersede the other.”

What Is Worcester’s 15th District?

The 15th Worcester District is one of 160 districts represented in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. It is located entirely within the city of Worcester and elects one state representative to serve on Beacon Hill.

Where is the district?

Under the boundaries used beginning with the 2022 elections, the district consists of:

Ward 3, Precincts 1, 2A and 4
All of Ward 4
Ward 6, Precinct 1
Ward 10, Precincts 2, 3, 4 and 5

The Massachusetts Legislature generally describes the district as including the Theatre District, Piedmont and Belmont Hill. Its precinct boundaries also extend through portions of central, eastern and southern Worcester. Neighborhood names do not always align precisely with election precincts, so the official ward-and-precinct list is the definitive boundary. Massachusetts Legislature district profile.

Residents can confirm their district by entering their complete address into the Legislature’s Find My New District tool.

How many people live there?

Massachusetts House districts were redrawn following the 2020 Census. Each was designed to contain approximately 44,000 residents, giving each representative a roughly equal constituency.

That figure reflects the population used during redistricting, not an exact current estimate. Worcester’s population and neighborhood boundaries continue to change between federal censuses.

What does its state representative do?

The district’s representative serves a two-year term in the Massachusetts House. The job includes:

Proposing, reviewing and voting on state laws
Voting on the annual Massachusetts budget
Serving on legislative committees
Advocating for state funding for Worcester
Working with other lawmakers on education, housing, transportation, public safety, healthcare and other statewide issues
Helping residents navigate state agencies and government programs
Responding to constituent concerns
Representing the district’s interests during debates on Beacon Hill

Constituent services can include helping residents with unemployment claims, housing programs, professional licenses, state benefits and other cases involving Massachusetts agencies.

Who currently represents it?

As of August 2026, the 15th Worcester District is represented by Democrat Mary Keefe, who was first elected in 2012 and began serving in the House in 2013. Massachusetts Legislature.

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Worcester City Manager Batista Discusses Immigration Policy, Police Oversight and Public Safety

by Hank Stolz | Aug 25, 2026 | Batista, This Weeks Top Stories

Batista Discusses Immigration Policy, Police Oversight and Public Safety

By-Hank Stolz
Graphic-Radio Worcester/City of Worcester

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Worcester, MA- Worcester’s Immigration Enforcement Policy

The discussion covers the city’s immigration enforcement policy, established through an executive order in May 2025, which prohibits the use of municipal property for federal civil detainments while acknowledging the limitations of municipal authority against federal agencies.

“So back in May of 2025, I issued an executive order that really focused on the concerns of the municipality’s response, our response and our interaction with federal immigration agents.” said Batista, “And it also provided some guidelines for our local response and our local involvement with federal enforcement around immigration laws”

Civilian Review Boards and Police Oversight

Batista discusses the ongoing debate surrounding civilian review boards and police oversight, explaining the city’s current systems and the distinction between advisory and regulatory boards within Worcester’s Plan E form of government.

He feels that what is in place for oversight is adequate.

“My job is to put systems in place. And then my job is to hold people accountable. And that’s what I feel strong that I’ve done.”

He was asked if something besides the Civilian Review Board, such as an Inspector General, would make sense for more oversight, “First of all, there’s not many communities across the nation. There’s not one in Massachusetts, but not many across the entire nation that have an Inspector General model.” continued Batista, “Most oftentimes, most civilian review boards across the nation. And in this state, there is a board and there are investigators that are part of the municipality”

He says people are too quick to write off the POST commission, “The Post Commission is the only commission that has the authority to de-certify an officer. And so most, if not all civil review boards have no disciplinary powers”

Speed Cameras and Flock Technology

The conversation also addresses emerging public safety technologies, including speed cameras and Flock license plate recognition systems, with the city currently declining to adopt Flock while remaining open to technologies that enhance community safety.

Summer Events, the Canal District and Worcester’s Waterways

Additionally, Batista highlights Worcester’s successful summer season with increased tourism and community events, expresses support for street closures in the Canal District to create vibrant public spaces, and discusses ongoing efforts to address cyanobacteria in local lakes and ponds through community collaboration.

What Worcester’s Immigration Executive Order Does—and Does Not Do

Worcester City Manager Eric Batista issued an executive order on May 16, 2025, establishing how municipal employees and the Worcester Police Department should interact with federal immigration authorities. The policy draws a line between federal immigration enforcement and the city’s responsibility to provide local services and maintain public safety.

What the policy does

The May 2025 order says:

Municipal employees and Worcester police officers should not ask people about their immigration status during routine interactions.
A person’s immigration status should not affect how the city treats a resident, crime victim, suspect, arrestee, 911 caller or other member of the public.
Worcester police cannot begin an investigation, stop, arrest or other enforcement action solely because of someone’s immigration status.
Worcester police cannot arrest or continue holding someone solely on the basis of a federal civil immigration detainer.
City employees generally cannot participate in operations conducted solely to enforce federal civil immigration laws.
City employees cannot provide federal immigration authorities with municipal records, information or access to nonpublic areas of municipal buildings solely for civil immigration enforcement—unless required by a valid judicial warrant, court order or other applicable law.
Worcester police officers cannot act as federal immigration officers.

The order allows Worcester police to provide limited assistance when necessary to protect officers or the public, prevent a breach of the peace, control traffic, establish a safety perimeter or help apprehend someone who is also wanted on a criminal arrest warrant. City of Worcester’s May 2025 announcement.

What it does not do

The order does not:

Prevent ICE or another federal agency from conducting lawful immigration enforcement in Worcester.
Give city officials or Worcester police the authority to interfere with a federal detention.
Provide immunity from federal immigration law.
Prevent Worcester police from enforcing state or local criminal laws.
Prevent police from responding when an immigration operation creates a traffic, crowd-control or immediate public-safety issue.
Prevent cooperation involving a criminal arrest warrant, judicial warrant, court order or another legal requirement.

Important 2026 expansion

The original May 2025 order did not contain the current broad prohibition against using municipal property to stage immigration operations.

That restriction was added on February 4, 2026. The amended policy prohibits municipal buildings, parks, parking lots, garages, open spaces and other city property from being used to assemble personnel, vehicles or equipment for federal civil immigration enforcement. It also says Worcester will not enter into a federal 287(g) agreement, requires police to take reasonable steps to verify the identities of federal agents and calls for the public release of relevant police body-camera footage. City of Worcester’s February 2026 amendment.

Worcester’s policy limits the use of city personnel, police and property for federal civil immigration enforcement. It does not give the city authority to block federal agents from carrying out lawful federal operations.

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https://www.telegram.com/story/news/health/2026/08/17/cyclospora-outbreak-massachusetts-fda/91334204007/

Massachusetts Cyclospora Outbreak: Dr. George Abraham Explains the Risks

by Hank Stolz | Aug 21, 2026 | HEALTH REPORTS, Health Reports, This Weeks Top Stories

More Than 140 Cyclospora Cases Reported in Massachusetts

Worcester Doctor Explains Cyclospora and Salmonella Outbreaks

“I think our food safety is far better than anywhere else in the world, which is why we always encourage people when they travel to be extra cautious about what they eat because other countries don’t practice the same.”

By-Hank Stolz
Graphic-Radio Worcester/Saint Vincent Hospital

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Worcester, MA-More than 140 cases of Cyclosporiasis have been reported in Massachusetts. Dr. George Abraham, an infectious disease expert at Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester, discusses the current cyclosporiasis and salmonella outbreaks affecting over 50% of the United States.

Number one defense to getting it, “So first of all, washing hands. There’s no other recipe which works as well as washing hands. Wash often and wash as often as you can.” Abraham also recommends using hand sanitizers, washing fresh vegetables thoroughly, separating meats from vegetables to avoid cross-contamination, cooking foods to proper temperatures, and exercising caution at buffets and when handling water.

While smaller foodborne outbreaks occur year-round, the United States maintains relatively safe food standards compared to other countries. “I think our food safety is far better than anywhere else in the world, which is why we always encourage people when they travel to be extra cautious about what they eat because other countries don’t practice the same.” He says. Medical attention should be sought promptly if symptoms develop rather than waiting for self-resolution.

(Telegram article from Monday saying Cyclosporiasis outbreak now officially includes Massachusetts.)

When Did Foodborne-Disease Research Begin?

Justinus Kerner

People have recognized for centuries that certain foods could cause illness, but modern scientific research into foodborne disease began during the 1800s.

One of the earliest pioneers was German physician Justinus Kerner. Between 1817 and 1822, Kerner studied people who became seriously ill after eating contaminated sausage. He produced the first detailed medical description of what is now called foodborne botulism and correctly suspected that a biological toxin was responsible.

Research advanced rapidly later in the century as scientists learned that microorganisms could cause disease. In the 1880s, American veterinary researcher Theobald Smith identified the bacterium that would eventually be named Salmonella. The name honored Daniel Elmer Salmon, who supervised the federal laboratory where Smith worked.

The United States began organized federal food-safety research in the late 1800s. USDA chemist Harvey Washington Wiley expanded investigations into food adulteration after becoming chief chemist in 1883. His famous “Poison Squad” experiments began in 1902 and examined how preservatives and other food additives affected human health. Wiley’s work helped build support for the Pure Food and Drugs Act of 1906 and earned him recognition as a founder of modern American food-safety regulation.

Foodborne-disease research therefore has no single starting point. Kerner pioneered the clinical investigation of food poisoning, Smith helped establish foodborne bacteriology, and Wiley turned food-safety science into a national public-health and regulatory effort.

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