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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 (: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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