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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 (:45). High of 41 today in Worcester
>TOP OF THE NEWS
-Worcester residents frustrated with snow cleanup: "Florida looks awful freakin’ good"
-Chaos erupts as Worcester officer becomes trapped in car (3:55)
-Worcester Police Department is down nearly 60 officers: "This is a real crisis"
-Worcester police union leader influenced offer in Haxhiaj case, assistant district attorney says
-UMass Memorial transfers transgender patients to new surgeons following abrupt cancellations
-Illegal dumping fines could jump to $1,000 in Worcester
-Worcester School Committee eyes C.R.P., data privacy
-Mass. accuses Barre public employee of double-dipping (3:20). Article
-Trash and recycling delayed by 2 days in Worcester
>DINING OUT: TODAY! Thrive Support and Advocacy fundraiser at 2 Chefs
-ICYMI: Complaint alleges Worcester pastor used investor money for lavish trips
-How many snow days has Worcester had this year? When will school end now?
-Worcester city councilors push for "city with no potholes" dream
-City councilors want police to speed up crackdown on traffic law violators
-Worcester councilor pushes for city investigation of Saint Vincent Hospital
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN (brought to you by Lamoureux Ford): Holden police introduce new officer
-Trash and recycling pickup will be delayed a day this week
-Winter snow brings great values at Lamoureux Ford (2:00)
-Jazzed Up Duo at Val’s Friday and Saturday
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Man facing charges for allegedly kidnapping 13-year-old in Northborough
-A new development on Elizabeth Street in Shrewsbury?
-Heavy fire tears through home on Lakeshore Drive in Ashburnham
-2 vehicle rollovers in Grafton amid snowy conditions
-Charlton Select Board begins process to change town's health insurance after steep premium hikes
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Friday
-100 FM The Pike (13:34): Is it a Seger bar? Brian Daly on his viral mission to find out
>SHOWTIME: Things to do: Sugar maples, Chris Fitz in concert, Midori and more ...
-100 FM The Pike (7:14): Worcester's Angelo Gray is making movies and singing his heart out
-Poet's Cauldron to welcome Ursula Rucker at BrickBox Theater
>OPINION: Owura Sarkodieh: In praise of embracing African identity
-Lindsey Ford: 5 practical tips to reset digital habits after winter break
-Holy Cross' Worcester Voices (31:12): Clark Professor Melinda Marchand about her Worcester experience
-What’s Up Worcester (21:43): Dominican Marketplace Committee interview | Jennie Guzman & Laura Martinez
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to Worcester girl who tragically passed away at 13
>SPORTS: A.J. Brown stirs Patriots buzz as trade rumors begin to swirl again
-Bruins beat Columbus, 4-2
-Holy Cross women's ice hockey hosts New Hampshire in Hockey East Quarterfinals
-Worcester Public Schools Athletic Hall Of Fame announces 2026 inductees
-The Olympic break sees many former Worcester pros at the top of their leagues
>NATIONAL: F.B.I. makes final sweep of Nancy Guthrie's house in sign investigation has hit a dead end
-Bikini-clad women pictured with Stephen Hawking in Epstein files were his carers, family claims
-Tragic: Grandfather kidnapped from his bed and murdered in case of mistaken identity, police say
>NEW ENGLAND: Woman, 2-year-old girl recovering after home explosion (1:29)
-Malden High School girls' basketball coach charged with raping student (1:38). Article
>COLLEGES: WPI Podcast, Episode 27 (33:26): A.I. at WPI, with Elke Rundensteiner and Yunus Telliel
-Clark student Skye Donaldson paints mural in Goddard Library to inspire
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): These 4 popular national parks announce plans for 2026 visitor reservations
-Norwegian Cruise Line slammed over dining dress code change: "Idiotic rule"
>BUSINESS: Twitter founder Jack Dorsey cuts 4,000 jobs from Block in A.I. pivot
-LPL Financial Research: LPL Research’s 2026 strategic asset allocation
-Paramount wins bidding war for Warner Brothers Discovery
>HOMES: Central Mass. home sales slow to start 2026
>HEALTH: "Boredom challenge" could have benefits for your brain (:18)
>FOOD: The pistachio bread recipe you "knead" to try (7:57)
>TV/STREAMING: Anderson Cooper leaving "60 Minutes" in latest CBS staff shakeup
>MOVIES: 25th anniversary trailer for "The Mummy" (:31)
>CELEBRITY: The real reason behind Cardi B and Stefon Diggs' split revealed
-Wu-Tang Clan founding member Oliver "Power" Grant dies at 52
>ANIMALS: Disabled lamb becomes her dad’s wedding ring bearer (1:54)
>HISTORY: Storm comparison: Blizzard of '78 vs. Blizzard of '26 (6:22)
>GOOD NEWS: Kidney donor braves blizzard for Boston transplant surgery (1:52)
-Meanwhile, in Florida, deer crashes into home through living room window
Latest obituaries | | Thursday's Highlights | | Today's horoscope | | Local Sports
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