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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 (:32). High of 60 today in Worcester
>TOP OF THE NEWS
+6:00: Police investigating after man shot near Fitchburg State
+6:00: Tri-axle dump truck rollover shuts down road in Sutton
+6:00: Worcester unveils major redesign for busy College Street
+6:00: 168 students, staff honored at Worcester schools Special Education Celebration Of Success
+6:00: Worcester Public Schools Superintendent Message (1:42): Start of the fourth quarter
+6:00: Radio Worcester Roundtable (50:54): 5 big issues Worcester is talking about right now
+Noon: Mass. Pike traffic after semi crash on I-495 in Westborough
+Noon: State Police lieutenant back in court on perjury charge in Worcester recruit’s death
+Noon: Ex-Worcester food bank C.E.O. McMurray to receive social justice award
+Noon: "Handmaid's Tale" author Margaret Atwood to speak at Holy Cross
+Noon: A new arts epicenter: Creative Hub Worcester set to open at long last
+Noon: Last Call: Samantha Bucci, poet and poetry slam organizer
+Noon: First Person: For Joe Fusco Jr., remembering Mom brings laughs, stings
-Q.C.C. police officer has certification suspended after domestic violence charges filed
-Curtis Sliwa visits Worcester, and can't resist "glazing" local diner
-Think Derek Herman loves Worcester? He has the tattoos to prove it
-Could the old Dive Bar spot be pouring drinks again?
-When will the Denholm building be torn down? Developer agrees to timeline
-Inside the state's biggest office-to-residential conversion in Worcester (2:30)
-Worcester City Manager proposes $1.4 million tax break for housing project by Polar Park
-See compensation for all 8,363 City of Worcester employees
-Rift with Pope Leo "really unprecedented," says Holy Cross religious studies professor (2:42). Article
-Related: Worcester bishop issues statement
-How Audra Doody of Safe Exit Initiative is helping to change our world
-Worcester County Wonders: Setting the Revolution record straight
-Aislinn Doyle: April 16th School Committee meeting agenda preview
-Worcester Public Schools to hold April 15th community forum on school boundary and quadrant alignment project
>DINING OUT: The Broadway Restaurant
-ICYMI: Vigil held for 10-year-old killed by car in Webster (2:19). Article
-Related: Driver in fatal Webster crash was arrested week before for drug possession, police say (1:49)
-Before reporting to prison for hacking, former Assumption student from Sterling thanks F.B.I. for arresting him (3:25). Article
-No one in truck that was found in Leicester pond, police say (:20). Article
-"They’re lucky to be alive": 3 people hospitalized after tree crushes pickup truck in Princeton
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN (brought to you by Lamoureux Ford): Wachusett Echo: Project Adventure – not just a physical workout
-Longtime customer praises Lamoureux Ford (3:29)
-This week's road closures and traffic delays
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Train hits vehicle at Clinton railroad crossing (:23)
-Overdose leads to 21-day suspension for Webster Boosters Club
-Barre firefighters respond to residential fire on Oak Street
-Another Oxford leader heads to Canton as Gifford named deputy chief
-Southbridge council denies Open Meeting Law claims, refers complaints to counsel
-Man charged after breaking into ex-girlfriend’s Leominster apartment through window
-Construction alert from the Millbury D.P.W.
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Wednesday
>SHOWTIME: Usher and Chris Brown announce tour, including August stop at Gillette Stadium
-Des Rocs to play Worcester in lead up to new album release
-Listen Up: Worcester musician Sam Femino eyes social media in new song
-Remembering "Voice of Clannad" Moya Brennan
-Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announces 2026 inductees
>OPINION: Michael Garand: Why banking local means investing in Worcester's future
-What's Up Worcester's Minute with Meagan (13:17): Heather Cassani, owner, Wattson Home Solutions
-Unity Radio Unity in the Community (57:47): Michael Goldstein, owner, Empire Loan
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to Worcester woman who taught in the Worcester Public Schools for more than 35 years
>SPORTS: NFL reporter Dianna Russini resigns from The Athletic after photos with Mike Vrabel
-Related: Read Russini's full resignation letter
-No tailgating at Gillette Stadium during World Cup
-Celtics superlatives and awards: Most improved, biggest surprise and more
-Bruins beat Devils, 4-0
-Red Sox lose to Twins, 6-0
-Bravehearts announce Fireworks Friday dates
-Holy Cross names Scott Black assistant men’s soccer coach
-Coach Jon Ladino announces 2030 Holy Cross softball signing class
-Win WooSox tickets courtesy of North End Motor Sales
-WooSox lose to Nashville, 9-4
-33 Worcester runners set for Boston Marathon
>CARS: Ford C.E.O. Jim Farley warns Chinese car sales in U.S. would be "devastating"
>NATIONAL: Frightening new Yellowstone study sparks eruption fears
-Doctor accused of fatally removing organ from patient arrested for botched operation
-Tragic: Couple abused their 6 children, kept boy in dog kennel: officials
>NEW ENGLAND: Elderly homeowner trapped with "tenant from hell" (1:09)
-FedEx driver struck, killed by alleged drunken driver in Vermont, police say
>COLLEGES: Worcester State Professor Andrew Burkhardt connects Goddard’s legacy to modern discoveries
-Holy Cross President Rougeau on Commencement, leadership updates, the job market and more
-A.I. salon at Assumption brings students, faculty, staff and industry voices together for a dynamic conversation
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): Why Antarctica is unlike any other travel destination
-8 states where the weather forecast is always wrong
>BUSINESS: New Disney C.E.O. announces 1,000 job cuts via email
-LPL Financial Research: The economy takes multiple shocks in stride
-What to expect from an I.R.S. business audit
-Lack of motivation, rejection stalls job searches for millions of unemployed Americans: survey
>HEALTH: Deaths from a silent disease have quadrupled among young U.S. women, study shows
-Man undergoes experimental treatment to prevent A.L.S. (2:59)
-W.S.C. Stay Connected (44:48): Somatic movement, with Emily Konstan
>HOMES: Central Mass. real estate transfers
>SHOPPING: Get a refund on this recalled Sam’s Club Christmas decoration
>FOOD: How good are the Polar Seltzer Summer flavors? (2:13)
>TV/STREAMING: Meryl Streep to star in "The Corrections" limited series adaptation
>MOVIES: Trailer for "Insidious: Out of the Further" (2:34)
>CELEBRITY: Alec Baldwin talks "Rust" prosecution health toll, retiring on podcast
-"Lost" star Matthew Fox reveals why he walked away from Hollywood at height of his stardom
>ANIMALS: Mama dog dumped at shelter walks herself into a better life (2:04)
>HISTORY: Abandoned "ghost towns" are scattered across Massachusetts
>GOOD NEWS: Mass. "sewer singer" gains TikTok fame for underground opera performances (2:31)
-Meanwhile, in Canada, video shows confused beaver wandering into store, getting stuck behind automatic doors
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