The Worcester Regional Research Bureau (WRRB) has issued its “Don't Boo. Just Remember to Vote.” Civic Engagement in the City of Worcester report today and civic engagements levels are abysmal.

WORCESTER— A city councilor is resurrecting the idea of a civilian police review board in the wake of a police officer's arrest last week in which he was accused of assaulting a 48-year-old man in the cell room at police headquarters.

After several years in key roles in city government in Boston, and then Worcester, Tim McGourthy is in his second year of a position that seeks to influence government. After leading Worcester's economic development office, he moved over to the Worcester Regional Research Bureau last year, succeeding the retired Roberta Schaefer as the organization's leader.

The Worcester Regional Research Bureau held a “Role of the Media in Civic Life” panel discussion at Holy Cross Tuesday, April 7 featuring several figures from the Central Mass news media, and while the topic focused on the media's civic responsibility, other hot topics, including diversity in the news community, the future of print journalism, balance in local media coverage and the use of social media all were raised.

WORCESTER – It was the media's turn to answer questions Tuesday at the College of the Holy Cross, as a panel of news professionals discussed diversity, social media and the changing nature of the business at a forum moderated by Northeastern University Professor Dan Kennedy.

Five municipal employees were honored Wednesday night with Thomas S. Green Public Service Awards at Assumption College.

The awards are given annually by The Research Bureau for outstanding contributions to public service.

Are we real, or are we "sims," simulations living in a computer game?

Intellectually piggybacking on a perplexing concept surmised by Nick Bostrom, the director of the Future of Humanity Institute at the University of Oxford, Paul D. Cotnoir, Becker College's director of design programs, said he feels humanity will keep its humanity, no matter how technologically advanced computer games become.

Welcome to March Municipal Madness - a chance to pit your favorite local priority against all the rest!

Worcester's current median residential tax bill is $3,454, while the median commercial tax bill is $8,716. For that price, the city's taxpayers are purchasing an impressive array of services. Yet not all are happy - taxpayers rightfully make new demands on government and regularly call for more and better services. With limited resources, government leaders must determine a system to identify valuable new policies and initiatives, and weigh those new approaches against existing municipal demands.

Worcester's current median residential tax bill is $3,454, while the median commercial tax bill is $8,716. For that price, the city's taxpayers are purchasing an impressive array of services, including: • Universally accessible elementary and secondary education; • Maintenance of nearly 450 miles of free roads supported by approximately 700 miles of public sidewalk; • A safety network that provides police protection and fire response;

The Worcester Regional Research Bureau held the second of its year long Fairman Cowan Collegiate Lecture Series this evening at Anna Maria College, with a focus on the far-reaching effects of domestic violence to local and regional communities.

The panel speakers on hand were Anna Maria faculty members Dr. Allen Brown, Dr. Dianne White and Professor Michael Donnelly.