Week in Review: First an Earthquake, then Hurricane Preparation

Here's some of the top stories from around Medford this week:

A 5.8 or 5.9 magnitude earthquake centered northwest of Richmond, Va., also struck Washington, D.C. and was felt as far north as New York City, Providence, R.I. and Boston this afternoon. On Twitter and Facebook, dozens of people in eastern Massachusetts reported feeling a one or two small quakes around 2 p.m. that lasted for a few seconds.

Local officials recommended residents prepare to be without power for 3 to 5 days, while the governor declared a State of Emergency as Massachusetts braces for Hurricane Irene, expected to arrive Saturday night or early Sunday morning.

A man working for the Department of Energy in South Carolina lied about living at two Medford addresses to collect about $26,000 in government benefits, according to federal court documents. Anthony Cunningham, 56, lied about having a home at 94 Fredricks Ave. and later 123 Forest St. in Medford while working on a Department of Energy project in South Carolina in 2009 and 20C10, according to a federal indictment.

GLX Delays Explained: It's going to take about 4 and 1/2 years to design and build the Green Line extension out to College Avenue and Boston Avenue in Medford, and another two years to sort out businesses displaced by taken land, planners said in a meeting in Somerville Wednesday.

A bicyclists is in serious condition after being struck by a car on Route 16 early Monday morning, police said. The bicyclist, a 19-year-old Somerville man, tried crossing Route 16 at the intersection with Broadway in Somerville about 12:30 a.m. Monday even though he had a red light, according to a state police press release. A 2006 Hyundai Elantra driven by a 46-year-old Medford man hit the bicyclists in the eastbound lane.