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Here's what's happening in and around Worcester today:
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
+6:00: Radio Worcester's Worcester Wednesday with Mayor Joe Petty (13:21): COVID, testing, schools, inauguration, housing and much more
+6:00: Can we really "ride out" the Omicron wave?
-Worcester, other districts manage return to schools amid surge
-Worcester Catholic school get tests
-Radio Worcester (16:07): Worcester City Manager Ed Augustus talks Omicron, testing, development and inauguration
-Westborough brings back indoor mask mandate
-Auburn temporarily closes some town buildings to the public
-Grafton Municipal Center shuttered because of outbreak
-ICYMI: Massive lines await those just wishing to be tested in Worcester (2:06)
-Testing in Downtown Worcester scheduled 2 more days this week
-Mass. officials report more than 16,000 new cases, 94 deaths as positivity rate tops 21 percent
-Mass. reports more than 45,000 new breakthrough cases, 88 additional deaths
-U.S. sets new milestone with more than 1 million cases
-Omicron now accounts for 95% of new U.S. cases
-More than 100,000 people are hospitalized with COVID in the U.S. for the first time in months
-Why are so many vaccinated people getting COVID lately?
-How long before Omicron symptoms appear after exposure?
-How will pandemic conclude? Omicron clouds forecasts for endgame
In The News
-Latest weather: Latest on Friday snow, black ice possible this morning, high in the mid 40s today in Worcester
+6:00: Kitchen fire displaces residents of Webster home
+6:00: Spencer Fire Department tanker skids off road in icy conditions
+6:00: Oxford family seeks answers on Beau Mann missing in LA since November
+6:00: Local news site announces shutdown
+6:00: Food: See the January menus for local specialty doughnut shops
+6:00: Animals: "They go ape over it" — discarded Christmas trees a delicacy for local goats
+6:00: Visit the latest 2 open houses in Worcester
+12:30: 5 Things You Need to Know Today in Worcester - January 5th
+12:30: Guess Friday's snow total in Worcester, win $100 gift card
+12:30: 13 die in fire at Philadelphia rowhome converted into apartments
-Worcester store has 2nd $1 million lottery winner in 2 months
-Residents make it out of massive Charlton house fire overnight (:30)
-Murder at O'Connor's: Man facing trial in fatal stabbing pursues insanity defense
-Hanover Theatre performer reunited with stolen tap shoes
-More people leaving Massachusetts, fewer moving in, study says
-Cafe Neo hosting karaoke contest with $1,000 prize
-Local singer premieres music video shot right before the pandemic in Los Angeles
-The Mayor’s Live Music List for Wednesday
-Wachusett Wine & Spirits' Whiskey Wednesday (36:03): Tequila Single Barrel Pick
-Community organizing essential to keeping Worcester clean
-Angels Net Foundation empowers and supports refugees and immigrants
-Janice Harvey: No one seems enthusiastic for 2022
-Radio Worcester (6:47): Worcester School Committee member Sue Mailman talks about inauguration
-Jim Coughlin: Inauguration of the newly elected members of City Council and School Committee
-Tribute to Worcester native and legendary Boston physician
-ICYMI: Former St. Peter-Marian school site sold for $4.75 million
-Cold nights, uptick in COVID cases means full house at Hotel Grace
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
-The Burbs (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Holden nomination papers available
-Sterling honors Village Pizza's commitment to community
-Holden's budget could run into Wachusett costs
-Paxton search committee appointment pushed to January 10th
-$50,000 Powerball winner sold in Webster
-Sports: Bravehearts unveil fan-focused, fully interactive Twenty-Twenty-You
-Holy Cross football already looking forward to next season
-Enter to win a Patriots hoodie, courtesy of North End Motor Sales
-Bruins beat Devils, 5-3
-Jim Corsi, former Red Sox pitcher and Newton native, dies from cancer at 60
-Cars: Happy Holidays from Bertera Nissan (2:04)
-Take a look at new 2022 Four Winds RV now in at Fuller RV in Boylston
-National: Drivers stranded for 15+ hours on I-95 in Stafford County, Va.
-New England: Hero dog leads troopers to site of car crash, rescuing victims
-Police: 3 people, including 2 teens, broke into same Attleboro home twice in span of 7 hours
-Tragic: North Carolina state trooper accidentally kills his brother during traffic stop
-Business: Toyota is about to become the leader in U.S. auto sales for the first time
-Central Mass. cannabis dispensaries power through holiday rush
-Homes: Central Massachusetts towns with homes available below $350,000
-Shopping: Macy’s cuts store hours at all of its stores
-History: 1906 conceptual drawing of Union Station
-Animals: New pets up for adoption in the Worcester area
-New on DVD: Legendary monster haunts small town in "Antlers"
-Celebrity: Alec Baldwin addresses "Rust" tragedy in New Year’s video
-Good news (brought to you by Bertera Nissan): Shrewsbury students raise money for Red Cross following tornadoes
-Meanwhile, in Florida, watch as bears try to open the front door of home
Latest obituaries | | Tuesday'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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