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Here's what's happening in and around Worcester today:
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
+6:00: U.S. children hospitalized with COVID in near-record numbers
+6:00: As U.S. hits record high case numbers, expert says omicron surge is "unlike anything we've ever seen"
-THURSDAY! Additional date for testing in Downtown Worcester
-Vaccination clinic 3-6 today at YMCA on Main Street in Worcester
-Amid surge, Downtown Worcester restaurant closes until January 5th
-UMass Memorial CEO: Peak of hospitalizations coming by second week of January
-Worcester officials announce booster mandate for city employees (1:27)
-Mayor Petty encourages vaccines, boosters as city sees highest case numbers yet (:25)
-Worcester sees "amazing" number of new cases
-Worcester limits crowds at school sporting events to only parents, siblings
-Shrewsbury grapples with increases in cases
-Mass. officials report more than 15,000 new cases as positivity rate tops 13 percent
-Mass. schools receive 200,000 at-home tests for staff
-Doctor explains accuracy, effectiveness of PCR, rapid tests
-CDC changes to quarantine, isolation advice took local health officials by surprise
-U.S. hits record average of daily new cases
-WHO chief worried about "tsunami" of Omicron, Delta cases
-ICYMI: Added protection in Worcester schools following holiday vacation
In The News
-Latest weather: More mild weather, high about 40 today in Worcester
+6:00: Lexus engulfed in flames in Worcester parking garage left car toasted, garage scorched
+6:00: Saint Vincent Hospital strike likely cost over $40 million
+6:00: Boulevard Diner resumes night shift on weekends
+6:00: 5 Things You Need to Know Today in Worcester - December 30th
+6:00: NEW! Wachusett Wine & Spirits' Whiskey Wednesday (36:03): Tequila Single Barrel Pick
+6:00: New Year’s weekend events at Worcester Common Oval
+6:00: "Dexter," Whitney Houston, "Don't Look Up" and Worcester's big year in pop culture
+6:00: Worcesteria: Saying goodbye to arts scene fixtures Kelly Momberger, Fernando Perez and others
+6:00: Artist Spotlight: Kristi Xhelili
-2 Housing Authority employees honored for saving a life
-216-unit apartment building proposed on Hemans Street in Worcester
-After the death of Worcester Christmas Carol Mom, family seeks help
-New Year's Eve plans? Check Dining Out and Bars & Bands
-Remembering First Night Worcester on what would have been its 40th year
-The Mayor’s Live Music List for Thursday
-Five Things to Do: Twiddle, New Year's at the EcoTarium and more ....
-Last Call with Nick Austin, commercial actor
-Wachusett Wine & Spirits' podcast (1:09:14): Top 5 Whiskies of 2021. Earlier: Nos. 6-10, Nos. 11-20.
-Worcester Common Oval ice skating open for extended hours this week
-Tribute to man who worked for Worcester water department for 43 years
-ICYMI: Downtown Worcester restaurant development listed for sale for $5.7 million
-Bakery set to open new location in Worcester by end of January
-Reminder: No delay in trash and recycling pickup this week in Worcester
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
-The Burbs (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Paxton administrator search delayed over process discussions
-Sterling OK's earth removal for Heywood Road site, with contingencies
-Sports: Is Patriots QB Mac Jones hitting a rookie wall?
-Enter to win a Patriots hoodie, courtesy of North End Motor Sales
-All-Star pitcher to return to Bravehearts
-Mariners beat Railers, 9-7
-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: Developer shares vision of thriving Worcester
-Inflation driven by corporate greed, area professor says
-National: Ghislaine Maxwell convicted of helping Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse girls
-New England: 1 killed in head-on crash in Mass.; driver charged with OUI
-Shopping/Deals: Shop Wayfair's End of Year Outlet sale for up to 60% off
-Food: Do you like black coffee and dark chocolate? A new study could explain why
-Homes: 3 upcoming open houses in Worcester
-Celebrity: Dr. Dre to pay ex-wife Nicole Young $100 million in divorce settlement
-Animals: Dog chained up for 6 years is free for very first time (3:11)
-Good news (brought to you by Bertera Nissan): Family reunited with puppy that went missing on Christmas
-Meanwhile, here's why hamsters can drink more alcohol than any other animal
Latest obituaries | | Wednesday highlights | | Today's horoscope | | Local Sports
In The News
>WEATHER: Mark Rosenthal's 7-day forecast (:41). High of 95 today in Worcester
>TOP OF THE NEWS
-Court docs reveal disturbing new details behind viral video involving ex-Southbridge McDonald’s manager (2:21). Article
-Cost to fix Worcester police station put at $20 million over 3 years
-Tiny home village for homeless seniors breaks ground in Worcester
-Emergency closes Worcester restaurant until Friday
-Railers owner buys Pulse Magazine, CM Pride Magazine
-Worcester State nursing program welcomes first group of Anna Maria nursing students
-Mike Benedetti: Worcester City Council agenda preview
-Aislinn Doyle: Thursday's School Committee meeting agenda preview
-Worcester organizations get $425,000 for affordable housing efforts
-Back-to-back national honors spotlight Worcester Public Library’s evolving role
-Radio Worcester (23:08): Worcester City Manager Eric Batista discusses city’s first-ever $1 billion budget
-18 new condos on Elm Street are for sale. Take a look inside
>DINING OUT: Worcester restaurant makes Phantom Gourmet's Great 8 Small Plates (5:56)
-ICYMI: Worcester police honor fallen officers, former chief Gary Gemme
-Assumption graduates 304 students at DCU Center
-Anna Maria College closing comes as disappointment for Molly Bish's family (2:17). Article
-Area woman admits forging 84 checks worth over $110,000
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN (brought to you by Lamoureux Ford): Holden police holding second annual Cruiser Cup Golf Tournament June 12th
-Wachusett Echo: Internship and employment at the school bank
-Lamoureux Ford wins record 29th Ford President's Award (4:16)
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Tree crash leaves Southbridge home uninhabitable
-Westborough police continues to investigate shots fired on Research Drive
-Man with spiked-bat, drugs arrested in Leominster after 911 report of impaired driver
-Seeing double: Shrewsbury High School graduating class boasts 17 sets of twins
-Dudley candidates' night to be held June 8th
-Webster Town Meeting approves budget, drone bylaw, Pine View Liquors petition
-Shrewsbury teachers no longer need COVID vaccine
-Blackstone Valley Regional named distinguished school
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Tuesday
>SHOWTIME: Radio Worcester (19:15): Greater Worcester Opera brings “1776” to Central Mass.
-WCCA-TV's Chris's Corner No. 23 (28:52): Meatball, Part 1
>OPINION: Ann Artuso: Depression in motherhood
-Giselle Rivera-Flores: Why Puerto Rico still doesn’t receive S.N.A.P. benefits
-WCCA-TV's Connecting the Dots No. No. 164 (29:35): The Museum of Worcester
-Radio Worcester's The Rundown (26:08): Viral McDonald’s video, city budget hearings and public safety concerns
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to former UMass Medical School professor and Physician of the Year
>SPORTS: Tom Brady takes dig at Bill Belichick during Georgetown commencement speech
-Jason Varitek's wife takes shot at Red Sox G.M. after coaching ouster
-Red Sox beat Royals, 3-1
-Bravehearts release 2026 season promotion schedule
-Win WooSox tickets courtesy of North End Motor Sales
-Holy Cross Varsity Club announces 2026 class in Athletic Hall of Fame
-Worcester hockey alumni 2025-26 highlights, NHL Week 32
>CARS: Gas prices climbing— What frustrated drivers can expect next (4:12)
>NATIONAL: San Diego mosque shooting: 3 men killed, suspects found dead (1:37)
-American who was on doomed cruise reveals what it's like under 42-day hantavirus quarantine
-Tragic: Toddler crushed to death by antique dresser as she climbed it to reach a toy
>NEW ENGLAND: Pilot dies in small plane crash in Rhode Island (:52)
-Pipe bomb found in Mass. pond, police investigating (1:12)
-Video shows Good Samaritans rushing to pull 2 people from car following rollover on I-495
>COLLEGES: Worcester State Cheer scores at national championships
-Clark honors Worcester student, staff members for inclusion and equity work
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): 10 top trending U.S. summer destinations
-The first thing you should do in a hotel room
>BUSINESS: Banks find ways to finance nonprofits, despite their lending and revenue challenges
-LPL Financial Research: Energy shock expected to hit prices harder than the economy
>HOMES: Homes are older than ever—but local permitting systems could slow down essential renovations
>HEALTH: Discussing ebola outbreak with infectious disease specialist (3:14)
-What no one tells you about egg freezing
>FOOD: Daily Dish: Oven-roasted turkey parmesan over spaghetti
>TV/STREAMING: Trailer for new Jennifer Lopez movie on Netflix, "Office Romance" (2:42)
>MOVIES: Trailer for Steven Spielberg's new movie, "Disclosure Day" (2:38)
>CELEBRITY: Carrie Underwood rejected L.A. glamour to live on Tennessee farm
-William Daniels, 99, and wife Bonnie Bartlett, 96, detail "rules" of "open marriage"
>ANIMALS: Playful puppy from local shelter looking for active family (3:09)
>HISTORY: Inside the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum art heist
>GOOD NEWS: School principal retires, but returns as a handyman (2:34)
-Meanwhile, Pope Leo does "6-7" hand motion at the Vatican
Latest obituaries | | Monday's Highlights | | Today's horoscope | | Local Sports
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