Good morning, Worcester.

Crust Bakeshop owners Alexis Kelleher and Nathan Rossi opened a new storefront at 372 Chandler St. on Sept.

29, celebrating the expansion with a ribbon cutting attended by family + local leaders, and they will host holiday Sip and Shop and Kids’ Birthday events in November and December.

Foliage expert Jim Salge predicts brilliant autumn colors will reach North Adams this long weekend, with scenic drives along the Mohawk Trail and stops at local spots (including MASS MoCA) offering a perfect fall experience.

The vibrant season follows a year of restored moisture and healthy trees.

Healthcare experts & insurance executives spoke Thursday at the UMass Club as they called for payment reforms and improved data sharing to slow rising costs caused by increased service use.

They suggested that advances such as AI could help reduce duplicate procedures and better align care with clinical needs.

Jim Oxford, who led the girls to back-to-back state titles in 2025 and 2026, will not return as head coach after 19 seasons.

Interim coach Tom Gibbons will lead the team in 2026-27 while officials search for a permanent replacement.

Week five of Central Mass high school football features big matchups: No. 3 Hudson (Game of the Week) visits No. 4 Auburn and Valley Tech hosts Bay Path at 10 a.m. today while Millbury wrapped up its Friday contest against West Boylston; updates will follow as the season unfolds.