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Here's what's happening in and around Worcester today:
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
-UMass Medical School hosting at-home test study
-Governor Baker says staffing primary barrier to greater testing
-U.S. children hospitalized with COVID in near-record numbers
-As U.S. hits record high case numbers, expert says Omicron surge is "unlike anything we've ever seen"
-Omicron accounts for 59% of new U.S. cases
-Grafton Public Library suspends programming because of COVID jump
-ICYMI: Amid surge, Downtown Worcester restaurant closes until January 5th
-UMass Memorial CEO: Peak of hospitalizations coming by second week of January
-Mass. officials report more than 21,000 new cases as positivity rate jumps to 16 percent
-Less than half of vaccinated Mass. residents have received a booster
-Massachusetts preparing to distribute rapid tests, masks to teachers
-Of 41,000 state workers, nearly 1,000 left over vaccine mandate
-FDA authorizes new at-home tests as demand surges nationwide
-FDA expected to authorize boosters for kids 12-15
-J&J booster 85% effective against hospitalizations
In The News
-Latest weather: Dense fog in the morning, mild, temperatures in the 40s today in Worcester
+4:00: Bill Shaner: Shady groups sink their claws into Saint Vincent as strike nears close
+4:00: 5 Great Ways to Spend New Year's Eve in Worcester
+4:00: Comedy icon, "Golden Girls" actress Betty White dies at 99
+4:00: Ring in the New Year with Netflix's New Year's Countdown 2022
+4:00: Four Year Strong return home for the holidays with powerful Palladium set
+4:00: 21 best, funniest memes of 2021
-The most read stories of 2021 on The 016
-Lexus engulfed in flames in Worcester parking garage left car toasted, garage scorched
-After more than 40 years, Worcester man reunited with his biological family
-Saint Vincent Hospital strike likely cost over $40 million
-Boulevard Diner resumes night shift on weekends
-The most expensive property sold in Worcester in 2021
-WRTA shifts New Year's Eve schedule because of a lack of bus drivers
-New Year’s weekend events at Worcester Common Oval
-Ricky Duran performs exclusive set in Worcester
-Celebrate "Noon Year's Eve" at EcoTarium
-Chill out over school vacation with EcoTarium's Fire and Ice week
-New Year's Eve plans? Check Dining Out and Bars & Bands
-The Mayor’s Live Music List for New Year's Eve
-NEW! Wachusett Wine & Spirits' Whiskey Wednesday (36:03): Tequila Single Barrel Pick
-Champagne shortage could make some labels hard to find for New Year's
-Worcesteria: Saying goodbye to arts scene fixtures Kelly Momberger, Fernando Perez and others
-Rosalie Tirella: This holiday season, a pocket full of memories
-Ray Mariano: State and federal lawmakers should live by the laws they pass
-Worcester Police Department to receive $250,000 from state for body-worn cameras
-Artist Spotlight: Kristi Xhelili
-Burncoat High graduate Adael Mejia Worcester's next youth poet laureate
-Tribute to the owner of multi-generational family business in Worcester
-ICYMI: 2 Housing Authority employees honored for saving a life
-Remembering First Night Worcester on what would have been its 40th year
-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): Bomba family sells Harrington Farm in Princeton for $6.4 million
-Rathi resigns from Grafton School Committee
-Holden to host Christmas Tree chipping program on January 8th and 15th
-Amazon buys 93-acre Westborough business park
-Petersham Police Chief retires after 3 decades of service
-Sports: Patriot Brandon Bolden reveals 2018 cancer diagnosis
-Enter to win a Patriots hoodie, courtesy of North End Motor Sales
-Bryant’s Lewis Barnum returning to Bravehearts
-Pirates add Custer to coaching staff
-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: JetBlue canceling more than 1,000 flights through mid-January
-U.S. unemployment claims drop to 198,000
-Colleges: Clark graduate student looks to transform WRTA
-National: Colorado wildfires burn hundreds of homes, force evacuations
-New England: Mass. minimum wage rising to $14.25 per hour on Saturday
-Tragic: Father mistakes daughter for intruder, fatally shoots her
-Shopping/Deals: Save big during the Walmart after-Christmas sales event
-Homes: 4 new properties for sale in Worcester
-Movies: 2021 was Worcester's busiest film-making year yet
-Celebrity: Palace didn't want Elton John to sing at Princess Diana's funeral
-Animals: Mama dog wags her tail at man saving her puppies (3:07)
-Good news (brought to you by Bertera Nissan): Teen honored for saving her co-worker's life at Walmart
-Meanwhile, in California, 2,000-pound cow charges cop who tried to herd it off highway
Latest obituaries | | Thursday's highlights | | Today's horoscope | | Local Sports
In The News
>WEATHER: Mark Rosenthal's 7-day forecast (1:12). High of 37 today in Worcester
>TOP OF THE NEWS
-Driver hospitalized after car crashes into Dollar Tree store in Worcester (:20). Article
-Worcester apartment project on Shrewsbury Street faces parking concerns
-A year after scathing report on use of force, sex acts, Worcester police have new policies
-Worcester Public Medical Director Dr. Michael Hirsh retires
-TODAY! Guns to Gardens gun buyback
-Related: Radio Worcester (12:45): Dr. Michael Hirsch on Worcester’s “Guns to Gardens” program
-TODAY! The final Village Marketplace of 2025
-Worcester police officers honored at City Hall promotion ceremony
-Proposed development would bring 270 units, supermarket and a half-dozen other businesses to abandoned Shrewsbury factory site
-Dark Downeast Podcast (35:45): The murder of John E. Volungis Jr.
-Worcester Guardian week in review: Legacy businesses, tax rate debate, winter prep
-Radio Worcester Roundtable (49:36): Worcester snowstorm response, police oversight & affordability
-Radio Worcester's The Rundown (27:03): Tax rates, infrastructure challenges and a major coaching milestone
>DINING OUT: Table Hoppin': Bonchon, from owners of Gong cha, sees crowds, lines
-ICYMI: Couple arrested after 5-hour standoff in Worcester (1:37). Article
-Related: Worcester officers treated for hypothermia after standoff
-Water restored as crews continue work on Shore Drive in Worcester
-Winter homeless shelter to open at former Quality Inn near Lincoln Plaza
-Worcester woman wins Lucky for Life, takes lump sum of $390,000
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN (brought to you by Lamoureux Ford): Wachusett Echo: Phone-free school by 2026? The newest phone policy controversy
-Merry Christmas from Lamoureux Ford! (:47)
-Chief Tim Sherblom sworn in as head of Central Mass. Chiefs of Police Association
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Pedestrian struck and killed on Providence Road in Northbridge
-Police determine threat at Sterling school not legitimate
-West Boylston town administrator, hired after flag controversy, headed to Rutland
-TODAY! Santa visits Paxton Fire Department
-Apple store opens in Millbury
-Disabled veteran tax exemption available in Shrewsbury
-Kindled Planning hopes to "spark" more for customers
-The Item's calendar of events
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Saturday
>SHOWTIME: Things to Do: Assabet Valley Mastersingers, High Command and more ...
-"Sister's Christmas Catechism" coming to Worcester
-"Night Lights" named best holiday garden display in nation
-Anxious Taylor Swift was scared to continue Eras Tour after Vienna terror threat
>OPINION: Tom Marino: Extremist views of Worcester’s self-proclaimed moderates
-WCCA-TV's Soapbox No. 1399 (24:41): John Stanford, Executive Director, Incubate
-Unity Radio's The Susanity Life (59:28)
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to Professor Emerita at UMass Medical School
>SPORTS: What’s impressed Josh McDaniels the most about Drake Maye this season
-Jayson Tatum looks spry in latest workout videos amid injury recovery
-Holy Cross baseball, men's lacrosse announce schedules
-A banner day: St. Paul honors championship history of former high schools
>CARS: List of the most stolen cars in 2025 revealed
>NATIONAL: Terrifying gas explosion caught on doorbell cam (:49). Article
-The 10 richest states in America
-Tragic: 8 high school athletes injured during training run after car veers onto sidewalk in suspected D.U.I. crash
>NEW ENGLAND: Brian Walshe trial recap (21:57): After closing statements, the jury deliberates
-Driver shaken after alleged road rage shooting on I-495 (1:47)
>COLLEGES: WPI professor named Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors
-Assumption named peacebuilder and conflict-resolution expert Alice Nderitu Civic Friendship Fellow
-Late-night breakfast at Clark, in photos
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): Where to go in Charlevoix, a French-Canadian snow globe
>BUSINESS: Lawmakers mull action on "dynamic" A.I.-powered pricing in wake of "shocking" Instacart report
-Open AI, Microsoft face lawsuit over ChatGPT’s alleged role in Conn. murder-suicide
-Radio Worcester (7:03): Holiday spending budgeting and scam-proofing advice
-Former Worcester City Councilor candidate founds organization to address systemic oppressions
>HOMES: Foreclosures are soaring in the U.S.: study
>SHOPPING: Shoppers say ’tis the season for inflation, poll finds
>HEALTH: Tips to protect your sleep during the holidays (4:56)
-Under 7 hours of sleep shortens your life — 5 tricks to snooze faster
>TV/STREAMING: How to stream Taylor Swift docuseries, "The End of an Era," on Disney+
>MOVIES: New movies on streaming: "Die My Love," "Christy," and more
>CELEBRITY: Jason Bateman makes eyebrow-raising remark about sister Justine
-Judi Dench believes Harvey Weinstein has "done his time" for sexual assault, says she forgives him
>ANIMALS: Bear cub runs across frozen Hubbardston pond (:37)
>HISTORY: Then & Now: 187 Washington St., Worcester
>GOOD NEWS: Steve Hartman’s 10 most memorable stories over the years (29:41)
-Meanwhile, escaped horse visits New York's J.F.K. Airport
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