Good morning, Worcester.

A local federal judge ruled in favor of Hussey Seating after hackers diverted $731,861 from funds intended for DCU Center seat renovations in 2023—Stutman Contracting now is set to pursue further litigation as both companies square off in court.

Retailer TJX received $331 million in tariff refunds this quarter and returned $1.3 billion to shareholders through $798 million in buybacks and $529 million in dividends as it continues store growth.

Starting this fall, Worcester State University and WPI will offer a new academic pathway for engineering students; WS’s pre-engineering curriculum (18 courses including organic chemistry and materials science) guarantees transfer admission to WPI for bachelor’s degrees in various engineering fields.

Worcester Public Schools released proposals to realign district boundaries and reduce overcrowding by creating Granite Street Elementary and reassigning the Arts Magnet program into McGrath School (limiting enrollment changes).

Public forums begin Sept. 2, and the committee will vote in December ahead of the 2027-28 school year.

Massachusetts appointed its first heat resilience officer, Katie Schlick, and partnered with Clark University to study urban tree health near Worcester.

Clark University Dean Lou Leonard said urban tree canopies act as free air conditioning to lower neighborhood temperatures and protect residents from extreme heat.

A fox that attacked Pepe Le Pew (a Jack Russell mix) on Harrington Way on Aug.

16 tested negative for rabies after being shot by animal control, while another fox that bit two people on Aug. 12-13 tested positive and was euthanized; the Department of Public Health advises residents to avoid contact with wild animals.

Many teens in Worcester turn to AI chatbots for emotional support, and UMass Chan experts advise parents to set clear boundaries and discuss these tools' limits—to improve teen safety following studies that show 72% of teens have used them.

The MIAA Board of Directors approved a Super 8 tournament format for high school football on Aug.

19 that will start in 2027, adding a nine-week regular season and limiting playoffs to the top eight in Division 1A.