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Here's what's happening in and around Worcester today:
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
-Worcester’s Medical Director anticipates "rough 6 weeks" as cases soar
-Central Mass. hospital beds fill with COVID patients
-Safety protocols in place for churchgoers to celebrate Christmas Mass
-UMass Medical School professor co-authors study on convalescent plasma on COVID patients
-ICYMI: Positive tests continue to increase in Worcester schools
-Omicron less likely to put you in the hospital, studies say
-Mass. officials report more than 9,000 new cases, 47 additional deaths as positivity rate tops 7.5 percent
-Over 10,000 in Massachusetts schools test positive in last week
-CDC cuts quarantine time for health care workers with negative test
-Etiquette expert offers tips for tricky holiday change of plan conversations
In The News
-Latest weather: Snow and freezing rain this morning in Worcester
+Noon: Fire officials urge caution after car rolls over in Westborough
+Noon: Worcester Arts Magnet School Winter Concert 2021 (29:10)
+Noon: Vernon Hill School Winter Concert 2021 (35:24)
+Noon: NORAD Tracks Santa celebrates 65 years of documenting Santa’s flight
+Noon: Allocated whiskies on sale at Wachusett Wine & Spirits' Worcester location. No phone calls or online orders
-2-alarm fire at Chandler Street three-decker in Worcester
-Worcester police turn to public for help in search for missing 14-year-old
-Father denies bringing gun to Doherty High
-Gourmet donut shop to open new location in Downtown Worcester
-Thursday: Worcester bakery sold to sisters, employees
-Phantom Gourmet visits Central Mass. restaurant (5:15)
-What caused deaths of Alicia Witt's parents? Here's what's known
-Saint Vincent replacement nurses file petition to decertify union
-Worcester Planning Board OKs site plan for redevelopment of former Boys Club at Lincoln Square
-NEW Wachusett Wine & Spirits podcast (30:19): Whiskey Wednesday Christmas
-A musical holiday treat from Mauro and Peter DePasquale (1:58)
-The Mayor’s Live Music List for Friday
-These are the most streamed Christmas songs on Spotify by state
-Worcesteria: A wish for the New Year – We all deserve to be seen
-Ray Mariano: My Christmas gift list for Worcester leaders
-Radio Worcester (11:12): Worcester NAACP President Fred Taylor talks School Committee district representation
-Tribute to genealogy buff and longtime Worcester elementary school teacher
-What's open and closed on Christmas
-Reminder: Worcester trash and recycling to be on normal schedule the next 2 weeks
-ICYMI: 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)
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
-The Burbs (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Santa takes a trial run through Princeton with fire department
-Paxton tax rate drops; bills average $124 increase
-Rite Aid property in Clinton sells for $3 million
-Advice from Grafton Police Chief: Know what you’re getting from your gift card
-West Brookfield driver arrested after police find gun from 1800s
-Pepperell man helps others through Ducks for Cancer
-Sports: How the Patriots can clinch a playoff berth — and the AFC East — in Week 16
-Enter to win a Patriots hoodie, courtesy of North End Motor Sales
-Holy Cross's Jacobs Dobbs named All-American
-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: Worcester energy company announces new solar technology
-Consumer prices up 5.7% over past year, fastest rise in 39 years
-U.S. jobless claims unchanged at 205,000
-National: Flight cancellations among Delta, United, JetBlue mount
-Kim Potter guilty of manslaughter in the fatal shooting of Daunte Wright
-Tragic: 14-year-old bystander fatally shot by L.A. police inside dressing room
-Shopping/Deals: Women-owned wine retailer debuts in Worcester
-Health: More tinsel, less tension: How to weed out the stress of the holiday season
-Food: Dole recalls packaged salads distributed in Mass.
-Homes: 3 new properties for sale in Worcester
-TV/Streaming: New on Hulu in January
-Audi surprises "Wheel of Fortune" contestant who lost car prize on stupid technicality
-Movies: "The Tender Bar" with George Clooney and Ben Affleck opens this week
-Celebrity: Joan Didion, peerless prose stylist, dies at 87
-Animals: Adoption Option: WARL gives thanks for support
-Good news (brought to you by Bertera Nissan): 11-year-old honored for saving 2 lives in the same day
-Meanwhile, in California, shocking video shows thief stealing Santa Claus display
Latest obituaries | | Thursday highlights | | Today's horoscope | | Local Sports
In The News
>WEATHER: Mark Rosenthal's 7-day forecast (:40). High of 38 today in Worcester
>TOP OF THE NEWS
+5:00: Thieves stole gutters from Worcester house while owner was home
+5:00: Death of Bob Weir sparks memories of Worcester's part in long, strange trip
+5:00: Planning winter entertainment in Worcester
+5:00: Worcester hockey alumni 2025-26 highlights, NHL Week 14
+Noon: 270-unit project at abandoned Spag's factory met with skepticism
+Noon: Central Mass. pizzeria reopens with explanation for abruptly closing
-No answers as cost of probe into death of State Police recruit from Worcester nears $700,000 (3:07). Article
-New year, new look, new amenities for W.R.T.A.
-Local restaurant makes Phantom Gourmet's Great 8 Restaurant Legends (5:32)
-Worcester City Council returns with social media scrutiny, transit fights
-Worcester, Fitchburg aim for uniform, safe sober houses
-Worcester County Wonders: First state-run asylum dates back to 1832
-Newly obtained court docs detail what happened inside Leominster home after man murdered wife, autopsy findings
-$80,000 Keno ticket sold in Millbury
-Police oversight questions persist after Research Bureau report
-Radio Worcester's The Rundown (23:33): Tom Marino defends reporting amid defamation lawsuit
>DINING OUT: Popular bakery chain seeks license for second Worcester location
-ICYMI: National Grid installs new underground cable to fix monthslong outage issues in Worcester
-"A very bad year": Here's what the flu numbers look like in Worcester
-Turtleboy factor: Aidan Kearney's influence on Karen Read case
-Venezuelan native in Worcester lauds capture of Maduro
-Some Worcester rents are falling ... really
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN (brought to you by Lamoureux Ford): This week's road closures and traffic delays
-Brew Biscuits in Holden making nutritious dog treats out of grains previously used in breweries (2:05)
-Lamoureux Ford welcomes Jeff Tripp from Sunnyside Motors (1:44)
-Fundraiser to help rebuild Ten West Market
-Ten West Market owner optimistic about return
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Hope Chapel in Sterling dedicates new sanctuary
-Clinton buildings coming together
-Clinton Select Board hears Bates family request to explore right-of-way access at town dump
-Indigenous culture celebration day coming to Grafton this summer
-Spanish-language congregation to move into historic church in West Boylston
-The Item's Neighbor to Neighbor column
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Monday
>SHOWTIME: Full list of winners and nominees at Golden Globes
-Golden Globes snubs and surprises
-Inside the Golden Globes: Everything you didn't see on TV
-World-renowned violinist to rehearse with J.O.M.P. students
>OPINION: Molly McCullough: For Worcester's schools, kids come first
-Maggie Calvetti: Someday they'll be grown & here's who i hope they become
-This Week in Worcester Podcast (2:18:34)
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to Worcester man who had Master’s degrees in Civil Engineering and Mathematics
>SPORTS: Patriots defense shines in 16-3 Wild Card win over Chargers
-Patriots will play Steelers-Texans winner in AFC Divisional Round
-Bruins beat Penguins, 1-0
-Celtics star Jaylen Brown rips refs after loss to Spurs in Boston
-Holy Cross student-athletes record 3.39 G.P.A. during Fall 2025 semester
-100 FM The Pike (18:00): MassLive's Matt Vautour gives 2026 sports predictions
-Railers fall to Florida, 5-3
>NATIONAL: Ex-husband arrested in heinous double murder of slain dentist, wife
-Protests in Iran near the 2-week mark as crackdown intensifies
-Tragic: Dad killed 5 of his children over a decade
>NEW ENGLAND: Deadly house fire in Burrillville, R.I.
-From Lindsay Clancy to Turtleboy: 5 Mass. criminal cases to watch in 2026
>COLLEGES: "We depend on fungi for absolutely everything"
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): Disney quietly changes course on controversial meal plan changes
>BUSINESS: Central Mass. business by the numbers
>SHOPPING: Samsung unveils "world's largest" TV of its kind at 130 inches
>HOMES: Laundry hacks you’ll wish you knew sooner
>HEALTH: Noom launches Proactive Health GLP-1 Program for long-term health
-Mass. mom fights for scalp cooling to be covered by insurance during chemo (2:06). Article
>FOOD: Your guide to a flavorful Dry January (4:34)
>TV/STREAMING: "The Simpsons" retires beloved character Duffman after 30 years
>MOVIES: 2026 new horror movie releases
>CELEBRITY: "High School Musical" star arrested on child pornography charges
-"Field of Dreams" and "West Wing" actor Timothy Busfield faces arrest warrant in child sex abuse case
>ANIMALS: Rescue dog does the cutest thing when she wants attention (2:00)
>HISTORY: Math, not myths: Inside the new search for Amelia Earhart
>GOOD NEWS: Lottery ticket rejected by another customer earns man $1 million
-Meanwhile, in Germany, watch 50 sheep escape shepherd, walk into grocery store
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