Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Massachusetts is in the midst of its biggest recruiting season of the year, marked by an awareness campaign called Paint the Town Green. The initiative, now in its third year and growing 15% annually, aims to spark conversations about the power of mentoring by filling the community with green-themed visuals and events, from green cupcakes and cocktails to city hall lit up in green and billboards at local colleges. This year, the organization expects to serve 735 children and young adults across its service area.

In this segment, Worcester Red Sox President Dr. Charles Steinberg discusses the growing national profile of the Worcester Red Sox and Polar Park in their sixth season. The team topped all of Minor League Baseball in social media impressions during August, recording 18.7 million impressions, surpassing the second-ranked club by six million. Steinberg highlights the Today Show's repeated broadcast of a feature on Brooke Cooper, the team's executive vice president and general manager, who is the first in Red Sox organizational history to hold that role, as well as a prominent USA Today story focusing on Worcester that included photos of local and league leadership. Steinberg connects the team's visibility to broader urban development in Worcester's Canal District, noting that players live, dine, and spend money in the neighborhood, further integrating the team into the fabric of the city.

Clark University and Worcester Public Schools have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding, formalizing a partnership that has been developing for decades. Dean of the College Laurie Ross spoke with Hank Stolz on the Talk of the Commonwealth and outlined three primary areas of focus under the agreement: the expansion of the University Park Scholars program, early college opportunities, and pre-K through 12 STEM outreach.

Don't miss this special offer; Since I just told you about the August Coffee + Scute Flowers collaboration, let’s also put our money where our mouth is.

The first FIVE listeners who email me TODAY — your coffee and fall flower bouquet are on the Downtown Worcester BID. We’re buying. Put "flowers" in the subject line.

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Congressman Jim McGovern discusses the House being sent home two weeks and one day early after a Republican member introduced a privilege resolution to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, a vote Speaker Johnson sought to avoid. McGovern criticizes the early adjournment as irresponsible given pressing issues including high grocery prices, gas costs, healthcare expenses, and rising interest rates following the Federal Reserve's quarter-point rate increase.

McGovern also addresses the closure of the Kennedy Center, which he attributes to President Trump's insistence on having his name placed on the building without congressional approval, calling the situation "childlike" and damaging to the country's international standing.

This episode of The Rundown examines three interconnected stories dominating conversation in Worcester, Massachusetts. The central story involves City Councilor Kate Toomey, who was involved in a late-night collision with a parked car on September 2nd.

The discussion expands into a wider examination of whether field sobriety enforcement standards have informally shifted within the department, and what that means for public accountability and the ongoing debate over civilian police oversight.

The second major story concerns a proposed city ordinance that would impose a $25 fine on individuals camping on public land, widely seen as targeting the homeless population.

Jeff Plate of Trans-Siberian Orchestra talks about the bands origin and the annual holiday show in Worcester at the DCU.

Wonder what it would be like to see Stormy Daniels tell jokes in a small Massachusetts town? Wil Darcangelo saw her in Winchendon and says the show surprised him

Worcester Mayor Joe Petty appeared on Talk of the Commonwealth to discuss two major issues, City Councilor Kate Toomey temporarily stepping down as the chair of the Public Service Committee after her September 2nd accident and a new ordinance that would allow WPD to prevent the unhoused from setting up tents on public property and be able to asses a $25 fine.  

The Worcester Red Sox are closing out their season with Fan Appreciation Week, running Tuesday, September 15th through Sunday, September 20th. Team president Dr. Charles Steinberg and vice president of marketing Steve Oliveira discuss a packed schedule of events designed to celebrate a strong season that has surpassed attendance records from the previous year.  "It's easily our biggest week every season, fan appreciation week. It's the last one of the season, so try to go big." said Oliveira.  Steinberg adds "We are so grateful to people for packing the park more this year as of this time than last year. And last year we had more people than the year before." He notes that having Roman Anthony on rehab assignment really helped push them over the top.