Rep. Marcos Devers, a Lawrence mayoral candidate who pledged to back the candidate who made it into the final against Lantigua, backpedals, the Eagle-Tribune reports. The pledge was adopted by all the mayoral candidates, including Devers, who attended the debate on September 9th hosted by CommonWealth magazine and the Eagle-Tribune.
If history is any judge, Brockton mayoral candidate Bill Carpenter has his work cut out for him to beat first place preliminary election winner, mayor Linda Balzotti, the Enterprise reports.
Roads, streetlights, public safety, and local business are all quoted to be major issues in the Fitchburg City Council race, the Sentinel & Enterprise reports.
HOUSING
Razed three-deckers leave unsightly gaps in some of Worcester's neighborhoods. Lots sit vacant, too small for new houses under existing zoning rules. But the door is open to discussion. A local developer's proposal to the Planning Board to lower the lot-size requirements was turned down last week, members saying the rule change as proposed was too broad.
CASINOS
A study by the state Council on Compulsive Gambling finds that Worcester County residents are most likely to be pathological gamblers while those in Norfolk County are the least likely, and men between the ages of 24 and 34 are most at risk to develop gambling problems.
Leominster voters approve a slots casino by a margin of 5,235 to 3,206, the Telegram and Gazette reports. Here is the Globe account of the referendum.
CREATIVE PLACEMAKING
MassCREATIVE kicks-off a campaign to increase state support for the cultural facilities fund.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
The Massachusetts Bar Foundation announced they are giving $241,500 in grants to local agencies, including those in Holyoke, Springfield, and Westfield, that will help people who cannot afford civil legal representation.
Federal, state, and local law enforcement officials will join forces with social service agencies and others in an effort to keep high-risk offenders from returning to jail once they are released, according to the Worcester Telegram & Gazette.
COMMUNITIES/PEOPLE
The Springfield Republican highlighted two out of the seven Gateway Cities Innovation Awards winners who will be honored for their contribution to their communities by MassINC on November 12th.
