Eric Casey

@ericcasey.bsky.social

399 Followers 365 Following

Writer/Media Managing Editor | Worcester Business Journal (‪@wbjournal.bsky.social‬) Covering real estate and other business-y things across Central Massachusetts. Worcester, MA via Marlboro, with some time at URI. https://linktr.ee/ericcasey

Headshot of balding man in suit. Caption reads "2005. Dick Smus. Feeding Hills, MA. Competitive Ability.
"Dear Valued Subscriber, Thank you for being a loyal subscriber and investing in local journalism. Your support drives our mission to strengthen and empower the communities we serve. We remain committed to being your trusted source in the Mass area. We wanted to notify you of an upcoming change to your subscription price. Beginning August 1, 2026, the price of your subscription will be adjusted to $20.00 per month. At the end of each term, your subscription will automatically renew at the then-current price, unless you cancel as described below before the end of the term."
An adorable calico cat nurses two kittens
A screenshot of Worcester Business Journal's website in 1997 or 1998, showing a 90s-style web design.
Workers on scaffolding preparing to take Trump's name off the Kennedy Center.
A map of road closures in Downtown Worcester, showing streets around Worcester Common and a few other streets as shut down.
HYM Investment Group President Tom O’Brien, WinnCompanies CEO Gilbert Winn, Lupoli Companies CEO Sal Lupoli, The Builder Coalition Executive Director Dave Maddan and representatives of the Mass. Association of Community Development Corporations negotiated a compromise with the Homes for All Coalition over the last month, apparently independent of industry groups or the committee opposing the ballot question. The Homes for All Coalition, which is pushing the rent control ballot question, announced proposed legal language for the Legislature to consider Tuesday afternoon.
A mock front cover of WBJ's front page with some tributes to myself.
A online advertisement proclaiming Keno is now available to be played online.
As recently as 2018, the Globe declared Boston Market to have the best rotisserie chicken in the Boston area, writing that the “breast and thigh meat [were] both cooked just right, with teriyaki flavors on the skin.” At the time of publication, there were still 18 locations serving that golden, tender bird in Massachusetts. The final Bay State holdout was in Worcester. Things got pretty bad at the end: The state seized the Worcester branch due to non-payment of taxes, according to the Worcester Business Journal. When it closed in March 2025, it had a Yelp rating of 2.5.
A post in a Westborough facebook group shows a photo of phallic graffiti with a caption that reads: "I see this happening in Worcester. But here in Westborough? What can we do about this?"
Statement from City Manager Eric D. Batista regarding the Specialized Stretch Code: Following further discussion with state officials, the municipality is no longer seeking a pause to the specialized stretch code. No action can be taken until three years after the effective date of the policy. I am recommending for the City Council to file the item Tuesday night, April 28, 2026.
A picture of two traffic bollards in Australia. Caption reads: "Australian bollards are white, with a red reflector on the front, and a grey reflector on the back. NOTE: New Zealand uses a bollard where the red reflector wraps around the back, meaning the reflector goes from end to end while the Australian one stops in the middle."
A statement from Luciano's claiming it's not closing
Post from American Flatbread on Facebook, with a picture showing their candlepin bowling alley. Caption: "This Friday, we’re keeping the focus on community. We know there is a lot on everyone’s minds right now, and we want to provide a space where you can just be. To help everyone connect and support one another, we’re offering Free Bowling all day this Friday, Jan. 30. No catch, no spend required—just a place for neighbors to be neighbors. #canaldistrictworcester #worcesterma #bowlyourcaresaway"
Inside CBS, speculation is swirling that Tony Dokoupil and Matt Gutman fit what Shuter described as a new era of “headline hunks.” Tony Dokoupil took over CBS Evening News on January 5, while Gutman began his role as CBS News chief correspondent the same day.
Snow
"Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman Sunday said some travelers are being price gouged. “I am alerting our federal officials and asking that foreign governments are warned to protect our citizens until it is possible for them to return home,” he said in a statement."
Screenshot of a PR announcement that ButcherBox branded meat is now available at Target
A statement from the Worcester Railers detailing the likely postponement of some games and offering details about the league's final offer to players.
A notice alerting online viewers of the Epstein Files a high volume of search requests is requiring a waiting queue.
A plaque explaining this desk is where the rules of candlepin bowling were finalized
"Success Congratulations on submitting your payoff payment!"
A very extensive collection of weapons and armor from across the centuries, behind a glass wall.
An Act modernizing the Commonwealth’s cannabis laws improves the state’s oversight of the maturing cannabis industry by reorganizing the Cannabis Control Commission, updating limits on licenses held by retailers, and modestly increasing the amount of cannabis that adults can possess for recreational use. The details of the legislation are below. Reorganizing the Cannabis Control Commission Streamlines the CCC. Restructures the commission to lead the way on regulating the seven-year-old cannabis industry with a board of three members. Solidifies the commission’s public accountability with two members appointed by the Governor, including the chair, and one member appointed by the Attorney General. The chair’s term would align with the Governor’s term in office, while the other two commission members would serve four-year terms at the pleasure of their appointing authorities. Authorizes the chair to directly appoint the CCC’s executive director, who would be able to exercise independent authority over the agency’s enforcement and operational units. Updating Limits on Retail Licenses Increases Possible Cannabis Licenses. Allows licensed cannabis retailers to expand their businesses in the Massachusetts market by holding up to four licenses each, instead of the current maximum of three. Increases Equity Threshold. Encourages additional investment in cannabis businesses by raising the threshold—from 10 to 12 per cent—for holders of equity in a cannabis business to be considered owners for the purpose of counting toward the limit on licenses they can hold. Encourages Fiscal Solvency for Retailers. Creates penalties for cannabis license-holders who are categorized as ‘delinquent’—remaining in debt to another licensee for more than 60 days—by prohibiting other licensees from delivering products to them while prohibiting the delinquent company from changing ownership or control of its license until the debts are paid. Modernizing Adult Recreational Possession, and More Update…
A red stripe bottle and clear cup of rum sit on a table at a jerk chicken / auto body shop between Montego Bay and Falmouth on the A1 highway in Jamaica. A grill sites behind with tropical plants behind that.
A soccer player in a red uniform controls the ball during a night game, as a defender in white approaches
A post from Museum of Worcester featuring a photo of a man with a beard and text which reads: "The answer to our question about the connection between “Jackie Chan Adventures” and Worcester is John Rogers. A Worcester native, Rogers has been active as a screenwriter for television and films, as well as a director and executive producer. His career started in the 1990s when he began writing scripts for television. He developed and wrote “Jackie Chan Adventures,” which ran from 2000 to 2005. Rogers has also written several movie screenplays, including those for “Transformers” and “Catwoman.” “Catwoman” won the 2004 Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screenplay."
The Board of Directors of Market Basket has named longtime Chief Financial Officer, Donald T. Mulligan as Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company, where he has worked for the past 42 years. “Don Mulligan is the voice of consistency at Market Basket, one that our associates and customers can count on to proudly continue the same thriving culture and the ‘More For Your Dollar’ shopping experience. The Board has worked closely with Mr. Mulligan and has come to appreciate his exceptional business acumen, the respect and admiration our associates have for him, and his deep understanding of the history and culture that make Market Basket so special,” said Board Chair Jay K. Hachigian. Mr. Mulligan began his career at Sullivan Bille PC, a Tewksbury accounting firm, where he worked on the Market Basket account. There he became acquainted with Telemachus “Mike” Demoulas, who hired him full-time in 1983. Over the next 42 years, he worked his way up in the Company and in 1999 was promoted to Chief Financial Officer, the position he has held for the past 26 years. As a Lowell native, Mr. Mulligan graduated from Lowell High School and the University of Lowell (later UMass Lowell). “We are thrilled to have a homegrown leader of Mr. Mulligan’s caliber step into the role of Interim CEO to guide Market Basket and ensure seamless leadership for our associates, customers, and communities,” Hachigian said.
A screenshot of an email with the subject "We need your help finding twins for the upcoming Mark Wahlburg film"
A map of WBJ's coverage area, which is all of Worcester County and parts of Middlesex County, roughly municipalities including Natick and points west. It's an area slightly larger than Rhode Island and with about a similar population count.
"Everyone has a right to feel secure in their workplace and of course that includes Valerie Polito. We offered to meet with Ms. Polito to get more details about her accusations, and even scheduled a meeting for August 21. But instead she has chosen to share her concerns with the media. We believe that her letter is part of Arthur Demoulas’s ruthless, no-holds-barred attack on Market Basket, the board, and even the majority stockholders. Mr. Demoulas is reported to have said on an earlier occasion that if he can’t be in charge, he’d rather burn it all down, referring to Market Basket. Market Basket is a high-functioning operation that is running well. The board and majority stockholders are committed to maintaining Market Basket with the same culture, low prices, and convenience for its cherished shoppers and hard-working associates no matter how low Mr. Demoulas stoops in his effort to regain his job."
The gamer lean in meme, where a person playing a video game leans in to attempt to pay closer attention.
Screenshot of FlightRadar24 showing two helicopters circling
Ocean State Job Lot (OSJL), Edesia Nutrition, and Provision Ministry are leading a humanitarian effort to send nearly 9,000 cartons—totaling 285,000 pounds—of life-saving Plumpy’Nut to treat severely malnourished children in South Sudan. This shipment is enough to save at least 9,000 children suffering from acute malnutrition.
Trump never appeared in person on Colbert's leftist political comedy show The Colbert Report, though his presence was certainly felt there. For instance, in this 2008 installment of the "Difference Makers" segment, Trump pulled a classic Trump and refused to remove an unpermitted flagpole from his golf course -- then admitted he didn't know what the 13 stripes on Old Glory even represented.
A post from Central Massachusetts-based Metro West Daily News which reads "Five Pick N’ Save stores are set to close in Wisconsin as some Kroger-owned stores are closing across the United States."
A map of the Worcester area showing about a dozen various weather station temperatures, which range from 96 to 102.
McGovern, wearing a blue suit, speaks at a podium in front of a road with five people standing behind him.
An Amazon notice regarding a recall on a external power bank
"On Friday at 11:07 a.m. on June 6, 2025, the city experienced a minimal impact sanitary sewer overflow in the vicinity of 65 Lake Avenue. Approximately 470 gallons of untreated wastewater was discharged to the street from an underground pipe. City crews immediately responded and stopped the leak at 12:41 p.m. The sewer system is operating normally. Some of the flow made its way into the municipality’s storm sewer system which ultimately drains to Lake Quinsigamond. The public is advised of the possibility of elevated E. Coli levels at the point and around the area of the discharge. Testing will be done daily until levels return to an acceptable range. "
Three buttons, reading: "very helpful" ; "got it." ; and "Ugh."
A press release announcing that on Tuesday at noon PETA is coming to Worcester with... "“Hell on Wheels”—PETA’s life-size, hyperrealistic chicken transport truck covered with images of real chickens crammed into crates on their way to slaughter—will bombard them with actual recorded sounds of the birds’ cries along with a subliminal message every 10 seconds suggesting that people go vegan."
A screenshot of Google AI claiming Worcester County has 81 cities and towns.
Screenshot from The Simpsons showing a TV which says "technical difficulties please stand by" with a puppy who has pulled out an electrical cord with its mouth.
It is hard to describe the militarized and overwhelming police response we witnessed on Eureka St. as anything other than an egregious over-use of force by both federal and local law enforcement. The overwhelming resources allocated to this operation are shocking, turning our community into something resembling something out of the movies. We saw both Federal and Worcester officers descending on a Worcester family with a level of aggression that is commonly used when apprehending known armed and dangerous people, not a mother and her 80lb sixteen-year-old daughter. Yesterday ICE showed up, masked and in military gear, some with rifles at their sides and ICE took a mother for who knows what because no one explained. What are we doing? Where are we heading? The Worcester Police then showed up in overwhelming numbers. And we are forced to ask, “Why? And who are you there to protect?” Our local police are not tasked with assisting ICE officials. The Department of Justice warned us about the continued unchecked use of excessive force, which we have seen in videos that became public, both in the Police Department’s response to the George Floyd protests and in its response to the Beer Garden incident. Repeatedly we are seeing not simply a failure to de-escalate a crisis situation but instead the instigation and escalation of the situation. We should have been far better prepared and acted accordingly. Sadly, ICE arriving in Worcester and snatching people off the street is no surprise in 2025. In order to move forward, the Worcester Branch of the NAACP is calling for a thorough independent investigation into this incident, calling on City Manager Batista, Mayor Petty and our City Council to do their jobs and start conducting real oversight and imposing accountability and we are again repeating our call for Worcester to create a civilian review board with full investigatory and subpoena power....
The red logo of Worcester Business Journal, WBJ
A 10-lane candlepin center with shiny new lanes
A search suggestion reading "has cory booker gone to the bathroom?"