Should the city require that local labor be used on major construction projects? This question was raised in a Telegram & Gazette article in October about the new St. Vincent Hospital cancer center and during the debate leading up to last month's municipal elections, with several candidates pledging to push for jobs for city residents.

A funny thing happened to George Bastounis on his way to opening a café on either Main Street or Franklin Street: downtown property owners with available space pushed him away.

The agreement between the Research Bureau and Assumption College to collaborate on projects of mutual interest promises to benefit both institutions, as well as the greater Worcester community. The partnership enhances the bureau’s intellectual and physical resources while expanding opportunities for community involvement by the Catholic liberal arts college with a wide range of professional studies and research programs.

WORCESTER — It’s a rare year when all of the city’s major contracts get settled around the same time, and this year’s batch gave analysts the chance to compare teacher and public safety contracts side by side.

Now that Worcester’s elections are over, citizens can engage in a serious discussion about one of the issues raised by both School Committee and City Council candidates: the adequacy of funding for the Worcester Public Schools. Let’s start with some important facts.

A new study by the Worcester Regional Research Bureau finds that health insurance cost-sharing arrangements that were part of union contract agreements settled earlier this year in the city saved $9.1 million for the public schools and $4.5 million for other municipal departments.

WORCESTER — The Worcester Regional Research Bureau and Assumption College will work together on research projects, the bureau and the college announced yesterday.

The Worcester Regional Research Bureau announced a new partnership with Assumption College that will result in the WRRB moving from the Mechanics Hall building on Main Street to the college's campus on Salisbury Street.

DOES ANYBODY CARE that elections for mayor, school committee, and city council in Worcester are next week? Alas, most people probably don’t, and it’s very unclear what can be done about this.

An annual report from the Worcester Regional Research Bureau found that the occupancy rate for office space in downtown Worcester is 79 percent, a statistically insignificant change from last year's 81 percent, but lower than in 2006, when it stood at 89 percent.