The Worcester Fire Department received grants totaling $60,000 to pay for 02X Human Performance Training. The Leary Firefighters Foundation contributed $20,000 and AT&T, $40,000.

Thoughtful, meaningful discussions on tax policy are rare.

This is understandable, of course. The global, post-industrial age has changed the economic circumstances of a wide swath of the middle class. Concurrently, over the past 30 years the narrative that broad-based tax cuts spur economic growth has gained wide adoption.

Jane Week gives Worcester residents and visitors a chance to connect with each other, explore Worcester by foot and participate in interesting discussions on how we can enhance the design and function of our city.

Faced with a problem, it never hurts for educators, leaders, agencies and parents to put their heads together.

The Worcester Regional Research Bureau recently released a report, “Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB): Holding Government Liable.”

Worcester Mayor Joseph M. Petty convened a 16-person committee in April 2015 to begin a conversation about municipal tax policy.

The members of the new School Committee were sworn in on Jan. 4 and have their first meeting scheduled for Jan. 21 (http://worcesterschools.org/school­committee/meeting­dates).