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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 (1:08). High of 68 today in Worcester
>TOP OF THE NEWS
+5:00: American Airlines restarts Philadelphia service to Worcester, replacing N.Y.C. nonstop
+5:00: Massport announces location of huge new solar field near Worcester Airport
+5:00: New Hampshire woman killed in crash on I-84 in Sturbridge
-Earlier: Serious crash on I-84 in Sturbridge brings Friday morning traffic to a halt
+5:00: The “210 Awards” for the Worcester Railers 2024-2025 season, part 1
+5:00: John Keough: 3 things I think about Tuesday night
+Noon: Investigation underway after fire destroys home in Millbury
+Noon: Worcester colleges slam ballot question that would sap their endowments
+Noon: It's Good Friday! Check Dining Out and Bars & Bands before making plans
+Noon: New movies on demand — "Captain America: Brave New World" and more
+Noon: Bad Religion, Pennywise set to headline Punk in the Park at Palladium
+Noon: Beyond Beer: Defunct Honey Bee Orchards new home for Ragged Hill Cider
+Noon: Keep the Faith: Considering the effects of Easter beyond Holy Week
-Worcester Public Schools Superintendent Rachel Monárrez to leave in June
-UMass Medical School lays off and furloughs 200 employees
-Earlier: Cuts will have irretrievable effects as UMass Medical School stands to lose $80 million, Gov. Healey says
-$100,000 lottery winner sold in Worcester
-Paul Revere lantern replica coming to Worcester City Hall
-State throws out License Commission's penalties against Worcester cigar bar
-Worcester reports 9 hate crimes in 2024, mostly nonviolent
-Mass. graduation requirements listening session in Worcester
-Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mass. will stop covering popular drugs for weight loss
>FAITH: Christians in Worcester practice their faith amid cultural, political divisions
>DINING OUT (brought to you by Patsie Dugan's): 2 locals make Phantom Gourmet's Great 8 Sushi restaurants (5:36)
-ICYMI: Federal cuts are about to cripple Central Mass. food pantries
-Where Worcester ranks among U.S. cities where a family making $100,000 can "still be broke"
-Pickleball push sparks discussion over Worcester court upgrades
-How Armenian-American Heritage Month was proclaimed
-Worcester getting a second Chick-fil-A
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN (brought to you by Lamoureux Ford): Wachusett Echo: “Disconnect to Reconnect”
-NEW: Lamoureux Ford offers huge discounts! (2:53)
-Holden slated to get fiber internet
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Leominster woman arrested for stealing $38 in merchandise from Hannaford
-2 arrested after traffic stop leads to fentanyl trafficking bust in Shrewsbury
-TODAY! Shrewsbury Recreation Department Eggstravaganza
-David Prouty center court logo to be embedded in lobby floor
-Snow changes plans for Richards Library Book Sale
-Clinton election paper deadline is Friday
-Blackstone River tributaries in Sutton and Millbury graded
-Become a Salt Sleuth and clean up near the reservoir
-Bolton board will be a duo at least 'til fall
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Friday
>SHOWTIME: Things to Do: Art at the Harold Stevens Gallery. hip-hop and more ...
-Call for vendors for 2025 Wednesdays on Water
>OPINION: Tracey Faraday: Finding the perfect balance in friendship & motherhood
-Unity Radio's Black in Business (52:47): Nataki Romeo, Cafe Romeo
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to career firefighter in Worcester
>SPORTS: Celtics enter playoffs embracing adversity, tougher path to repeating as NBA champs
-Bravehearts rolls out new menu for corporate outings
-Bravehearts introduce 2025 coaching staff
-Holy Cross football 2025 season ticket memberships on sale now
-WooSox throw combined no-hitter over 7 innings in doubleheader sweep
>CARS: Honda denies reported plan to shift production from Canada, Mexico to U.S.
>NATIONAL: 2 dead, 6 hospitalized after Florida State shooting; suspect in custody
-At least 4 tourists reported dead following devastating cable car crash in Italy
>TRAGIC: "Hero" deacon shot dead protecting others at church Easter egg hunt
>NEW ENGLAND: Militia memorializes 250th anniversary of Battle of Lexington (3:35)
-Assailant storms Mass. courthouse in gas mask, tactical gear and pepper sprays, assaults several victims: video
>COLLEGES: The WPI Podcast, Episode 6 (38:32): Global Projects Program at 50
-Holy Cross Policy and Politics Seminar hosts Minnesota Governor Tim Walz
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): 9 of the most densely populated cities on Earth
>BUSINESS: M.B.I. welcomes 7 biotech startups to incubator facility in Worcester
-LPL Financial Research: Decent chance stock market bottom is in but far from certain
-What to know about paying down credit cards with personal loan (1:55)
>HOMES: Central Mass. home sales drop slightly, as price climb in Worcester County continues
>SHOPPING: Shein, Temu price hike — What shoppers need to know amid tariffs
>HEALTH: Dr. Mallika Marshall answers questions about measles outbreak (2:21)
-Heated workouts and hot yoga are all the rage. But are they actually good for you?
>FOOD: McDonald's Gold Card — What it is and how to get one
>TV/STREAMING: How to watch "Law and Order: Organized Crime" Season 5 on Peacock
>MOVIES: Who could be next James Bond amid Amazon shakeups: experts
>CELEBRITY: "Sopranos" star Lorraine Bracco is looking for love
>ANIMALS: Yes, your cat is ignoring you on purpose (1:48)
>HISTORY: 6 jobs from the 1950s that barely exist today
>GOOD NEWS: High school senior accepted to 7 Ivy League colleges: "I'm still processing it"
-Meanwhile, in Missouri, 309 people don banana hats to break world record at museum
Latest obituaries | | Thursday's highlights | | Today's horoscope | | Local Sports
Classifieds
>HELP WANTED
+Part-time bartender, Patsie Dugan's
+Summer helpers (5), Holden D.P.W.
-Experienced cook, Shrewsbury Street restaurant
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