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5 Things You Need to Know Today in Worcester – April 8

By TWIW Staff | April 8, 2021
Last Updated: April 8, 2021

In today’s daily 5 Things You Need to Know feature, ThisWeekinWorcester.com explores five important items and stories that Worcester and Central Massachusetts residents should keep a close eye on.

These five things can cover a whole range of subjects and issues that we feel are pertinent to understanding what’s going on in the city and the cities and towns surrounding Worcester.

In today’s edition – Thursday, April 8 – FEMA announces reimbursement for COVID-19 funeral expenses, schedule a Big Brother Big Sister Donation pick up in Worcester, two Anna Maria students advance to the national rounds of a singing contest, a former Worcester Assistant District Attorney and Clark University graduate is nominated as Clerk Magistrate in Leominster and a study shows Massachusetts taxpayers receive the sixth largest returns in the country.

FEMA Reimbursement for COVID-19 Funeral Expenses

The Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA] announced this week that it will reimburse up to $9,000 in funeral expenses for those who lost a loved one to COVID-19 after January 20, 2020.

Those who qualify can visit the FEMA website for more information.

 

Schedule Big Brother Big Sister Donation Pick Up in Worcester

The Big Brother Big Sister Foundation will have trucks in Worcester on Friday, April 16 to do at home pick up of used clothing and household goods pickup.

Acceptable items include gently used clothing, household items, books, DVD’s, small toys, instruments and more.

See the full list of acceptable items and restrictions. To arrange for home pickup, visit the BBBS Foundation website for easy scheduling.

 

Two Anna Maria College Singers Advance to National Competition

Two Anna Maria College students, El Bowen and Chloe Panico, have emerged from over 300 participants in the New England Regional Rounds of the National Association of Teachers of Singing [NATS] National Student Auditions.

Bowen and Panico finished in second place in Musical Theater Performance and third place in Classical and Musical Theater Performance. Both move onto the quarter final rounds of the competition.

The quarter finals culminate in 15 students from across the U.S. and Canada in the National Semi-Finals.

Both Bowen and Panico are students of Professor Julie Krugman.

 

Former Worcester Assistant DA Nominated for Clerk Magistrate

Governor Charlie Baker nominated Attorney Courtney Price to be the next Clark Magistrate of Leominster District Court on Wednesday, April 7.

Price was Assistant District Attorney in the Worcester County District Attorney’s office for seven years and handled cases involving child abuse, sexual assault, gang, gun and felony crimes before the Superior and District Court. She served as a member of the Child Abuse and Sexual Assault Unit as well as the General Felony and Gang Unit, and as the Superior Court Liaison.

Since 2017, Price served as Assistant Clerk Magistrate at Worcester County Superior Court.

Price earned her J.D. at the Massachusetts School of Law and her Bachelor’s Degree from Clark University.

In Massachusetts, a Clerk Magistrate presides over hearings which determine if probable cause exists to issue a criminal complaint against a person accused of a misdemeanor offense. They also hear cases and issue rulings in small claims cases and motor vehicle violations.

 

Taxpayers in Massachusetts Receive the Sixth-Largest Refunds

A new study by LendingTree shows 74% of taxpayers in Massachusetts receive a refund, averaging $4,115.

That ranks for the sixth largest average tax refund in the nation. The average tax refund across the country is $3,660.

The study also showed that 22% of taxpayers in Massachusetts owe an average of $6,942 to the IRS.

Wyoming taxpayers get the highest tax refunds on average, $4,602. In second place, Connecticut taxpayers receive $4,452 on average in their refund.

Two New England states see the smallest returns. Maine taxpayers see an average return of $2,743 followed by Vermont at $2,914 on average.

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