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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 (:34). High of 70 today in Worcester
-Mass. could see warmer, wetter winter, National Weather Service says
>TOP OF THE NEWS
+Noon: How Worcester residents can sign up for 2027 health plans
+Noon: Gov. Healey sets 60% school breakfast goal; Worcester schools averaged 37.6%
+Noon: Early voting update: Nearly 10,000 ballots cast so far in Worcester
+Noon: Worcester man's Halloween display raises money for charity (2:57)
-Asbestos discovery closes Worcester Head Start facility
-Kelley Square and Mill Street were redesigned. Are they safer today?
-Worcester Human Rights Commission to review police policies, homeless encampment proposal
-Where is Aaron Pennington? Fugitive search enters third year (2:22)
-Max German of Shrewsbury a finalist in "Voice of Logan" contest
-Westborough police chief on leave following an incident in Shrewsbury (:20). Article
-Parents recall Uxbridge Officer LaPorta as community honors him
-Earlier: D.A.: Investigation into death of Uxbridge officer results in no charges
-Worcester County Wonders: The Phantom of the Palladium
-In historic company: Women of Worcester's past, present honored in new mural
-College closures derail students’ plans, leaving some unsure when they’ll return
>DINING OUT: Avvio Ristorante wins early buzz with home-made pasta and tasty pizzas
-Large audience, low price: Give your restaurant's social media a boost on The 016
-Phantom Gourmet visits Worcester restaurant (5:02)
-ICYMI: Anna Maria weighs giving interested buyers more time after auction cancellation
-Worcester Homeowner Summit set for November 7th at DCU Center
-Worcester police, D.E.A. find fentanyl in Clover Street raid
-Worcester police seize 38 guns, ghost gun frames
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN: This week's road closures and traffic delays
-Wachusett Teacher Spotlight: Brian Lux
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Community Advocate Hometown Helper: Bernice Gero, animal advocate
-Warrant issued for man who broke into ex-girlfriend’s home in Barre while she was asleep
-Coolidge Elementary School's hidden staircase evokes Shrewsbury memories from decades past
-Meadows Montessori excited to open in Westborough
-New warehouse plans before Westborough Planning Board
-New Northborough fire chief says he has felt "truly welcomed" by town officials, community
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Monday
>SHOWTIME: Gateway Players in Southbridge to hold auditions for "The Lifespan of a Fact"
-Dudley's first poetry slam brings community to the Fun Zone Playground wooded stage
-100 FM The Pike (20:41): Ken Casey from Dropkick Murphys on music as a force for change
>OPINION: Tommy Dorfman: Ticket prices are out of control. Gov. Healey’s bill will make them worse
-WCCA-TV's Chandler Chat No. 510 (28:21): City clerks & state election
-Radio Worcester's The Rundown reacts to W.P.D. internal investigation in Toomey case (24:59)
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to Worcester native who was a lauded poet
>SPORTS: NESN and NESN+ to broadcast select Holy Cross contests
-Railers lose to Maine, 3-1
-Radio Worcester (15:13): Worcester Railers celebrate 1,000 wins for city hockey
>NATIONAL: Christa Pike's executioners given ominous warning before botched lethal injection: court docs
-Devastated mom recalls horror of toddler being pronounced dead, before he's discovered alive in morgue
-Tragic: Nurse dies after shrimp allergy during honeymoon
>NEW ENGLAND: Sandra Birchmore's therapist back on the stand Monday (:59)
-Woman charged with manslaughter in 4-year-old daughter's fentanyl death (:22)
-Over 130 residents evacuated from Lexington nursing home (2:25)
>POLITICS: What does the Governor's Council do? Worcester candidates weigh in
-What is Mass. ballot Question 7? (8:52)
-Full debate on Mass. ballot Question 7 (29:03)
>COLLEGES: Clark campus conversation, McGovern visit examine America’s past and present
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): Airbnb making changes to guest cleaning requirements (1:39)
>BUSINESS: Central Mass. business by the numbers
-U.S credit card debt is on the rise. Here's how to keep yourself out of credit card debt
-Small businesses need to leverage home field advantage with S.E.O.
>SHOPPING: How inflation is hitting all parts of Halloween celebration (1:59)
>HOMES: The surprising places to never charge your phone, safety experts say
>HEALTH: "Circadian" depression may be the reason why you can't sleep
-How walking regularly can protect your brain for years to come (6:18)
>FOOD: Ina Garten reveals unique ingredient she uses in eggs
>TV/STREAMING: Trailer for "Lupin: Part 4" on Netflix (2:30)
>MOVIES: The craziest horror villains compilation (42:09)
>CELEBRITY: "Office Space" star Richard Riehle dies at 78
-Kurt Cobain's death investigation takes new turn over cop's shocking claim casting doubt on suicide
>ANIMALS: Hound gets caught breaking all her friends out of daycare (1:54)
>HISTORY: The Old Yarmouth Inn on the Cape is still going strong after 330 years
>GOOD NEWS: Veteran sees brother face-to-face for first time in 40 years
-Meanwhile, in England, escaped emu wins wrestling match in middle of road
Latest obituaries | | Sunday's Highlights | | Today's horoscope | | Local Sports
Classifieds
>HELP WANTED
+Servers, West Boylston restaurant
-Prep cook and waitstaff, Shrewsbury Street bistro
-Full-time police officer, West Boylston Police Department
-Bartenders, Worcester Restaurant Group
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