Worcester Telegram & Gazette

WORCESTER - A city man was sentenced to jail yesterday after pleading guilty to charges stemming from the attempted abduction of a 15-year-old girl last year on Franklin Street. Full Story »

WORCESTER - On the one-year anniversary of their son's death, the VonBehren family has filed a lawsuit in Superior Court against the corporation that owned Jillian's at the time of his death. Full Story »

LUNENBURG - Work has finally started on a 240-unit condominium project on the 40-acre site where Whalom Park's wooden roller coaster and Tea Cup and carousel rides once stood. Full Story »

As the world struggles this week in Denmark to find answers to the dilemma of climate change, high school students here struggle to understand the issue and their place in the solution. Full Story »

MARLBORO - U.S. Rep. James. P. McGovern yesterday threw his full support behind a second stimulus bill to create jobs, saying an economic recovery without job growth is not true recovery. Full Story »

Entertaining Evening Performance by classical guitarist Carl Kamp, taste wines from different countries and tour the American collection with curator of American Art, William Rudolph. 5:30-8 p.m. Dec. 17. Ages 21 and older. Members, free; $10, nonmembers. Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St., Worcester. (508) 799-4406. Full Story »

SPRINGFIELD - A Ware man has pleaded guilty to illegal possession of ammunition and manufacturing explosive materials. Full Story »

The tractor-trailer driver who rear-ended a school bus in Brimfield earlier this month has been cited with following too closely and failure to use care in stopping, state police said yesterday. Full Story »

DUDLEY - An Oct. 21 charge of willfully obstructing an emergency vehicle in Webster was dismissed against a Worcester man this month in Dudley District Court. Full Story »

FITCHBURG - Firefighters went to a River Street paper mill last night after a bank of electrical transformers malfunctioned, filling the building with smoke. Full Story »

CLINTON - Clinton Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division 8, is seeking young Irish Catholic men who are looking to make positive contributions to the community. Recently re-elected President Barry Platt said the Hibernians this year contributed to WHEAT Community Services, the Senior Center, Item Appeal, St. John's Parish, the Crystal Club Charity, scholarships for local youths, and made private ... Full Story »

WESTBORO - A 21-year-old man was arraigned on drug charges in Westboro District Court yesterday after police said they found a marijuana-growing operation in the basement of his Northboro home. Full Story »

WORCESTER - It is never a good thing when the Worcester Regional Transit Authority is forced to cut back bus service. But the agency has apparently managed to address the concerns of residents of two housing complexes whose current bus route is being discontinued. Full Story »

DUDLEY - Attempted-murder charges against a 35-year-old Webster man accused of ramming his wife's van in May were not pursued, and he was found not guilty on most of the other charges. Full Story »

SHREWSBURY - Sewer rates will increase by 20 percent beginning Jan. 1. Full Story »

SPENCER - The town needs to spend more local money on the upkeep of roads after receiving a poor score in a pavement study by engineers from Fay, Spofford & Thorndike of Burlington. Full Story »

LEICESTER - Selectmen last night called off the special town meeting planned for Dec. 29 because members thought it was too soon to park money left over from this year's budgets into a budget from which it could be resurrected for use next fiscal year. Full Story »

EAST BROOKFIELD - A nearly $3.5 million cleanup of contaminated sediment in and around the East Brookfield River is targeted to start next fall after five years of planning. Full Story »

HOLDEN - The Wachusett Regional School Committee last night voted to forward information from a meeting with the West Boylston Regional Task Force to the Wachusett education subcommittee. Full Story »

RUTLAND - Selectman Joseph R. Becker last night announced the town's fiscal 2010 tax rate of $12.92 per $1,000 valuation was approved by the Department of Revenue. Full Story »

WEBSTER - The School Department and the town moved closer to having a feasibility study done on the Park Avenue Elementary School. Full Story »

SOUTHBRIDGE - A $5.4 million access road from Route 169 to the landfill and industrial park has cleared a final hurdle, Town Manager Christopher Clark said at last night's Town Council meeting. Full Story »

AUBURN - Selectmen voted enthusiastically and unanimously to accept a gift of approximately $87,000 from Dr. Arthur M. and Martha R. Pappas, who agreed to purchase 30 defibrillators to be placed in local schools, churches, Town Hall and other public buildings in town. Full Story »

WESTMINSTER - Selectmen voted last night to contact state Rep. Lewis G. Evangelidis, R-Holden, about the construction work being done on the Depot Road Bridge. The vote came after a discussion with residents and area business owners. Full Story »

LEOMINSTER - After another heated round of debate, the City Council last night approved a controversial request to allocate $800,000 for artificial turf at the Doyle Field Bowl, a Priest Road athletic field used by the high school football team and other school and youth teams. Full Story »