"In the years just before the number of opioid-related deaths skyrocketed in Massachusetts and the nation, Worcester became the opioid painkiller capital of New England.

More than 49 million opioid painkillers – Oxycontin, Vicodin and others – were distributed to Worcester pharmacies in a seven-year period ending in 2012, far more than any other city in New England, illustrating how many opportunities there were for addiction in the years just before opioid deaths spiked."

We have Mayor Petty on for our weekly #WorcesterWednesday chat (every Wednesday at 7:00am) following Tuesday night's City Council meeting.

Today we talk everything plastic bags. As relates to the proposed recycling program, and as it relates to a ban on single-use plastic bags in the City for environmental reasons.

Developer Allen Fletcher is gambling that his new Worcester Public Market project (formerly known as the Harding-Green project) will be filled with folks walking around downtown.

He, along with many others, see this as a boom or bust project. He is quoted as saying,

“Everyone’s been talking about having a marketplace... [but] it’s a huge risk. These things are not slam dunks... There’s a reason why no one’s done this before.” -Fletcher on his WPM Project

Will this be a boom or bust?

Randy Feldman's rant about Trump and what it means to be American following the 'Send Her Back' chants at his North Carolina rally. Hear on the political roundtable on Friday (7/19/19)

Hank talks to Fitchburg Police Chief Ernest Martineau about the recent violence in Fitchburg

http://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/news/ci_32735654/fitchburg-shootings-spur-unrest

Worcester Mayor Joe Petty joins the 'Talk of the Commonwealth' every Wednesday morning at 7:00am for our weekly #WorcesterWednesday chat.

Today (7/17/19) we talked about the historic groundbreaking for Polar Park, the push within labor for a CBA, the new plastic bag recycling plan, opening of new restaurants, and much more

The former Barbers Crossing Restaurant on West Boylston Street that closed in 2004 has been a longtime blight and eyesore for the Worcester community in District 1. D1 City Councilor Sean Rose joined us this morning to talk about what it means that it's now been taken down and how we got here.

https://www.telegram.com/news/20190716/former-barbers-crossing-restaurant-in-worcester-razed

Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce's Radio Blast for July 16th, 2019 - Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy for the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce Alex Guardiola talks to us about Recycling

Suffolk Construction has responded to Sue Mailman, owner of Coghlin, who is claiming she is owed $30M from Wynn through Suffolk based on unresolved change orders

Linda Dorcena Forry, of Suffolk said, “Despite Suffolk’s numerous requests for information over several months, Coghlin has consistently failed to provide supporting documentation for a majority of its remaining claims, as required by the subcontract Coghlin signed,”

Sue joined us to react to those comments made by Suffolk

at-Large City Council candidate Evan Corrigan joined us in studio to tell us about his campaign and what he is running on. We asked what he's hearing from voters and what would be his priorities if election to the Worcester City Council.

His big three are Recycling, Roads, and Retention (of college students)

You can find out more at evancorrigan.org