Direct Air, which offers the only scheduled service out of Worcester Regional Airport, abruptly canceled all of its flights through May 15, leaving the airport without commercial flights for the third time in nine years. “This decision was made to address operational matters,’’ the airline said in a statement. “We are currently evaluating strategic alternatives.’’

As I see it Last week, Worcester City Manager Michael V. O’Brien notified the City Council of his intention to suspend enforcement of certain provisions of the city’s Responsible Employer Ordinance. Specifically, contractors who wish to bid on city work will no longer be required to maintain and participate in an apprenticeship training program and will no longer be required to provide health insurance to workers.

Turning crisis into long-term management When it comes to managing the economy, we’ve heard the word “crisis” bandied about for many months. By definition, crises eventually pass, leading to markedly better or markedly worse conditions. If the economic snapshots that emerged from The Research Bureau’s Wednesday morning forum on the economy are accurate, it may be time to replace crisis talk with something more descriptive of what appears to be an era when tax revenues are permanently constrained.

WORCESTER — Police Chief Gary J. Gemme asked the city manager for at least 15 new police recruits last month, but it looks like he could end up with at least 20.

At a Public Safety Committee meeting yesterday, City Councilors William J. Eddy, Michael J. Germain and Philip P. Palmieri heard the chief’s projections of upcoming retirements and his recounting of past statistics and concluded that 15 new officers might not be enough to replace the 15 expected vacancies through 2015. In this fiscal year, for instance, there were five unexpected retirements already, Chief Gemme said.

WORCESTER — State revenues are rising, reforms are saving money on health insurance and public-private partnerships are restoring services such as the Worcester bookmobile, but both the city and state budgets still face massive structural challenges, officials said this morning.

The City of Worcester is currently owed $3.7 million in delinquent commercial and residential property taxes. GoLocalWorcester obtained the list of the top twenty most delinquent property tax bills for commercials properties.

WORCESTER — State Treasurer Steven Grossman, who is also chairman of the board of the Massachusetts School Building Authority, had this to say after touring Nelson Place School yesterday: “That school is going to be built,” he said of a new Nelson Place, something the city has been seeking for four years.

WORCESTER — Four municipal employees will be honored next month with the Thomas S. Green Public Service Award.

The awards, sponsored by The Research Bureau, will be presented at 5 p.m. March 15 at Assumption College. The free event is open to the public.