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Here's what's happening in and around Worcester today:
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
+6:00: Central Mass. hospital beds fill with COVID patients
-TODAY! An extra day of testing in Worcester before Christmas
-Positive tests continue to increase in Worcester schools
-Worcester Public Schools prepare for winter break
-Omicron less likely to put you in the hospital, studies say
-Hospital presidents issue an urgent plea to the public
-Radio Worcester's Worcester Wednesday with Mayor Petty (14:56): COVID, Christmas, coming together and school safety
-ICYMI: U.S. Army creates single vaccine effective against all COVID & SARS variants, researchers say
-Mass. officials report nearly 8,000 new cases, 33 additional deaths as positivity rate climbs to 7 percent
-FDA authorizes Pfizer pill to treat COVID as Omicron spreads
-Airline passengers more likely to get COVID because of Omicron
-Cruise ship sees 55 passengers test positive
-NHL announces players won’t be allowed to go to Olympics
-China orders lockdown of up to 13 million people in Xi’an
-Etiquette expert offers tips for tricky holiday change of plan conversations
In The News
-Latest weather: Wind chills in the teens today in Worcester, 1 to 2 inches of snow possible overnight
+6:00: Worcester police turn to public for help in search for missing 14-year-old
+6:00: Gourmet donut shop to open new location in Downtown Worcester
+6:00: Worcester Planning Board OKs site plan for redevelopment of former Boys Club at Lincoln Square
+6:00: Ray Mariano: My Christmas gift list for Worcester leaders
+6:00: Radio Worcester (11:12): Worcester NAACP President Fred Taylor talks School Committee district representation
+6:00: Adoption Option: WARL gives thanks for support
+1:00: The Mayor’s Live Music List for Thursday
+1:00: 5 Things You Need to Know Today in Worcester - December 23rd
+1:00: Worcesteria: A wish for the New Year – We all deserve to be seen
+1:00: West Brookfield driver arrested after police find gun from 1800s
+1:00: These are the most streamed Christmas songs on Spotify by state
+1:00: More tinsel, less tension: How to weed out the stress of the holiday season
-Body of missing man with dementia found in Lake Quinsigamond (:21). Article
-11 people hospitalized, including 8 UMass Memorial employees, after crash involving parking-garage shuttle. Video (:51)
-Related: Photos of the scene. Video from the scene (:11)
-Food: Worcester bakery sold to sisters, employees
-Phantom Gourmet visits Central Mass. restaurant (5:15)
-Atlantis Raw Bar could open by New Year's Eve in Worcester
-Cooking is more than a job for chef at Samuel Slater’s
-"More questions than answers": Actress's parents found dead in Worcester home (1:51)
-Related: Actress Alicia Witt's Worcester parents were sick and remained very private, neighbor says
-Girl, 11, hit by driver along Pleasant Street in Worcester
-Tuesday: Pedestrian struck, seriously injured on Mill Street in Worcester
-Worcester UFO sighting from 1976 recalled by residents 45 years later
-Holiday travel expected to be heavy Thursday on roads, at airports
-Worcester parents concerned over alleged gun incident at Doherty High
-Pair arraigned for manslaughter in Superior Court after fatal crash
-Worcester’s Women to Watch in 2022
-NEW Wachusett Wine & Spirits podcast (30:19): Whiskey Wednesday Christmas
-A musical holiday treat from Mauro and Peter DePasquale (1:58)
-Listen Up: Favorite New England music videos of 2021
-Health: UMass Medical School professor leads research on potential Type 1 diabetes treatment (2:14)
-Tribute to Father George Ridick, Worcester native, All-American basketball player at Assumption and priest for 45 years
-ICYMI: First look at plans for 80 apartments at former Boys Club at Lincoln Square
-Judge who ruled City of Worcester broke the law again considers forcing city to pay damages
-Reminder: Worcester trash and recycling to be on normal schedule the next 2 weeks
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
-The Burbs (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Shrewsbury resident writes children’s book with daughters
-Need help disposing of your Christmas tree? Troop 107 in Grafton can help
-Leominster library brings back its food for fines program to help those in need
-Sports: Holy Cross 'Sader Stories (22:35): Football National Signing Day recap
-Patriots may get key players back against Bills
-Enter to win a Patriots hoodie, courtesy of North End Motor Sales
-Brown scores 34 points as Celtics beat Cavaliers, 111-101
-Cars: Happy Holidays from Bertera Nissan (2:04)
-Take a look at new 2022 Four Winds RV now in at Fuller RV in Boylston
-Business: WBJ's Economic Forecast: Health care's overwhelming problems
-U.S. economy grew at 2.3% rate in Q3, up from earlier estimate
-Colleges: Pandemic-induced supply chain woes could lead to opportunity this holiday season, says Holy Cross prof
-National: 2021 on track to surpass last year as nation's deadliest
-Plane crashes on top of occupied home in California
-New England: Husband of Massachusetts' first woman governor dies at 67
-Foundation pays off mortgage for fallen trooper's family
-Tragic: Madagascar boat accident kills at least 83 people
-Shopping/Deals: Here’s how much the gifts from "12 Days of Christmas" would cost today
-Homes: Rents for single-family homes are rising 3 times as fast as they were a year ago
-TV/Streaming: Netflix’s non-English shows paid off big in 2021
-Celebrity: ZZ Top sells music catalog for $50 million to BMG, investment firm
-Animals: 150-pound Great Dane falls in love with tiny kitten (3:37)
-Good news (brought to you by Bertera Nissan): Mom does good deeds to honor son who died at 1 month (2:34)
-Meanwhile, in North Carolina, deer breaks into county courthouse
Latest obituaries | | Wednesday highlights | | Today's horoscope | | Local Sports
In The News
>WEATHER: Mark Rosenthal's 7-day forecast (:43). High of 70 today in Worcester
>TOP OF THE NEWS
+7:00: Artemis II spacesuits made in Worcester can protect astronauts even in "worst case" scenario (1:01). Article
+7:00: Channel 25 Zip Trip coming to Rutland in July (2:23)
+7:00: Worcesteria: Flag-raising at City Hall marks Trans Day of Visibility
+Noon: Hudson man accused of killing grandmother with skateboard
+Noon: 10 Worcester properties near WPI listed for $9.9 million
+Noon: Worcester residents defy city chicken ban as backyard flocks grow
+Noon: When does the Jewish holiday of Passover start, end?
+Noon: Splendid Torch to perform for Club 321 at Mechanics Hall
+Noon: Last Call: Anne O'Connor, historian and author
+Noon: Dunkin' giving away 1,000,001 free coffees today (:28)
-Woman shot on Millbury Street in Worcester, suspect in custody (2:10). Article
-Worcester man killed in Boston hit-and-run
-Police investigate deadly crash in Charlton (2:16). Article
-Car burned to crisp: Millbury High senior had good excuse for tardiness
-Worcester’s "A Better Life" housing program helps break generational poverty by promoting self-sufficiency
-139-unit Worcester housing project faces setback as developer requests extension
-After 10 years and $16 million raised, Creative Hub Worcester center to open in April
-Worcester councilor seeks 911 info as city faces major mental health lawsuit
-Radio Worcester (25:27): Why Sen. Robyn Kennedy says the legislature audit may face a constitutional challenge
>DINING OUT: Worcester restaurant closed today for private event
-ICYMI: Tractor-trailer fire on I-290 in Worcester snarls Tuesday morning commute (:35). Article
-Worcester man gets 30 years in prison for sexually exploiting 3 young girls
-Police warn of rash of "smash & grabs" at trail parking lots
-Walmart warehouse, in former Sam's Club off Route 146, closing
-Street sweeping begins in Worcester on April 6th
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN (brought to you by Lamoureux Ford): Fundraiser to support staff of 122 Diner
-Message from 122 Diner after last week's crash
-Longtime customer praises Lamoureux Ford (3:29)
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Body cam video captures dramatic chase through Webster neighborhood (:46). Article
-Oxford town manager who recently resigned is suing town
-First Student, Teamsters avert looming school bus strike
-Spencer selectmen authorize Proposition 2½ override questions be placed on ballot
-Police searching for driver who allegedly caused serious 4-car crash in Clinton
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Wednesday
>SHOWTIME: Hanover Theatre announces 7-show 2026-27 Broadway Series
-Listen Up: Good Sleepy at home base with new album
-Rush debuts new drummer at Canada’s JUNO Awards
-50 years of Steve Miller Band’s "Fly Like An Eagle" celebrated with limited-edition picture disc
>OPINION: Sarah Connell Sanders: Retired teacher Velah Mary Hazard turns 100, saw history unfold
-Tom Marino: Worcester councilor seeks 911 mental health response info
-Janice Harvey: No Kings rally at Institute Park puts age in perspective
-Radio Worcester Roundtable (50:13): Does Worcester’s Human Rights Commission have any real power?
-Unity Radio's Future Focus (58:58): District 2 City Councilor Robert Bilotta, District A School Committee member Molly McCullough
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to Worcester woman who delayed her retirement into her 70s
>SPORTS: Patriots set for HBO’s "Hard Knocks" next year
-Mike Vrabel shares notable Patriots updates at NFL League Meeting
-Celtics’ best and worst first-round matchups
-Bruins beat Dallas, 6-3
-Red Sox lose to Houston, 9-2
-Bravehearts' June 3rd Baseball in Education game is sold out
-Holy Cross football 2026 season tickets on sale now
-Railers, Islanders partnership may be nearing end
-UConn wins would mean furniture jackpot at Jordan's (2:10)
-U.S. men's soccer team loses to Portugal, 2-0
>NATIONAL: Excitement builds for Artemis II mission around the moon (2:23)
-Nancy Guthrie's Arizona home left eerily untouched and in "immaculate" condition after abduction: report
-Tragic: Student killed himself after shooting teacher at top high school
>NEW ENGLAND: Housekeeper assaulted, tied up in "horrendous" home invasion (1:05)
-M.B.T.A. announces free Fridays, half‑price commuter rail passes for summer (1:06)
>COLLEGES: 4 finalists in running to take over as chancellor at UMass Medical School
-Anna Maria AMCAT Recap – Winter Edition
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): The 10 worst U.S. cities for seasonal allergies
-Best Amazon travel deals: Luggage, pillows, adapters, portable tech
>BUSINESS: You could be getting a bigger-than-normal refund. Here’s why (2:37)
-LPL Financial Research: Earnings likely to grow double digits again; will markets care?
-Worcester hospice care provider names new C.E.O.
>HEALTH: Diabetes warning signs and risks in women
-Hims customized weight loss plans, GLP-1 plans and meal replacements
>HOMES: Mass. home sales down more than 10% to start 2026
>FOOD: The scientific reason soda tastes better in a can
>TV/STREAMING: Yellowstone's Mo Brings Plenty floored Monica got killed off on "Marshals"
-Rip, Beth's "Yellowstone" spinoff "Dutton Ranch" gets first trailer — and a premiere date
>MOVIES: "The Housemaid" sequel with Sydney Sweeney, Kirsten Dunst gets release
>CELEBRITY: Tiger Woods breaks silence after D.U.I. arrest following car crash
-Sydney Sweeney wears sheer lingerie to the theater in sizzling Syrn video
>ANIMALS: Confused Husky puppy learns how to be a dog (3:21)
>HISTORY: Lincoln Square in Worcester, circa 1926
>GOOD NEWS: Newlywed fan wins $20,000 after hitting half-court shot
-Meanwhile, in Michigan, woman makes daring escape from cops by slipping through police car window
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