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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 (1:27). High of 48 today in Worcester
-How much total snow is Massachusetts forecast to get this winter? (6:11). Article
>TOP OF THE NEWS
+Noon: Neighbors shocked after woman killed in Worcester shooting; man also injured (1:46). Article
-Earlier: Woman dead, man injured in Worcester shooting (:59). Article
+Noon: Sarah Connell Sanders: "Compassionate care" is front and center at UMass' Maternity Center
+Noon: Stolen stained-glass window returned to Worcester Art Museum
+Noon: Magic of "The Nutcracker" ballet is returning to Worcester
+Noon: Check Dining Out and Bars & Bands before making weekend plans
+Noon: New shows and movies to watch this weekend
-John Piccolo, popular Worcester restaurant owner, charged in City Hall attack
-Earlier: Activist sprayed with paint outside City Council meeting; suspect is Worcester restaurateur (2:10). Article
-Tensions boil over as Worcester board grills developer over Polar Park project delays
-Earlier: Worcester councilors frustrated by stalled plans for development around Polar Park
-To meet housing crisis, report finds Gateway Cities need twice as much construction
-Former District 1 City Councilor Sean Rose announces at-large run
-18 months after surprise inspection, Community Healthlink not back to normal operations
-76 become new citizens at naturalization ceremony in Worcester
-Losses mourned, lives celebrated at emotional Transgender Day of Remembrance ceremony
-Mass. says some police officers have been bypassing required training (3:06). Article
-Earlier: Worcester probing 27 officers state says fast-forwarded mandatory online training
-Worcester County Wonders: Shrewsbury woman rescues raptors one feather at a time
-Radio Worcester's The Rundown (24:35): Breaking down the Polar Park deficit
-Radio Worcester Roundtable (48:19): Polar Park, tax rolls and deportation debate
>DINING OUT: Brazillian Burguer to open at former Shrewsbury Street donut shop
-ICYMI: Worcester-area Stop & Shop inventory limited after cyberattack
-David Crowley, part of family that runs Wachusett Mountain, dies at 69
-Man in late 60s, 2 cats killed in early morning condo fire in Leominster
-Charles Luster, co-founder of Uncommonwealth Group, running for Worcester City Council
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN (brought to you by Lamoureux Ford): Holden tax rate drops, bills rise
-Long-term employees make it fun to own a car or truck from Lamoureux Ford (3:50)
-Wachusett Echo Teacher Profile: Chelsea Blasco
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Shrewsbury seeks plow drivers for winter season
-Grafton tax rate down, values up for fiscal 2025
-Board approves single tax rate for all types of property for Sutton
-The Item's calendar of events
-Clinton E.L.P.A.C. hosts holiday family potluck
-2 Berlin firefighters graduate from academy
-Nashoba Class of 2004 to hold 20-year reunion on November 29th
-Organization gets federal grant for new grocery store in Winchendon
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Friday
>SHOWTIME: Five Things to Do: African Talent, "Songs of the Season," and more
-Fractal Tribe art collective set to bring light to holiday festival
-Hunting phantoms, talking puppets bring humor to stage Friday and Saturday
-Jim & Val bring Second Saturdays to Apple Tree Arts
-WCCA-TV's Soapbox No. 1354 (28:06): Mark Henderson, Founder, The 016
-39th annual meeting of the Worcester Regional Research Bureau (54:58)
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to Worcester woman who was a longtime kindergarten teacher
>SPORTS: Boston Celtics visit the White House (12:33)
-Patriots owner Robert Kraft snubbed again in Hall of Fame bid (2:22). Article
-Bruins beat Utah, 1-0
-2004 Boston Red Sox ring and World Series trophy owned by Larry Lucchino featured in upcoming auction
-Joe Nugent steps up for Crusaders men's basketball team
-Holy Cross women’s basketball announces 3 signings
-Check out the schedule for upcoming road races in Central Mass.
>NATIONAL: Are future Social Security benefits in peril?
-Up to 20 human skulls found in New Mexico home
-Tragic: Missing boy with autism found dead
>NEW ENGLAND: Worker injured during "supermove" in medically induced coma with third-degree burns
>COLLEGES: Assumption names new chief financial officer
-Worcester State Magazine’s special 150th anniversary issue hits the stands, goes live online
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): 7 of the most beautiful places to visit in the Pacific Northwest
>BUSINESS: Central Mass. unemployment rates remain higher than 2023
-LPL Financial Research: Trade, tariffs and inflation
-Unity Radio's L.A.B.O. News (57:40)
>HOMES: What $350,000 can buy you in Worcester County, November 10th to 16th
>SHOPPING: Amazon Haul — What to know about Amazon's new discount store
>HEALTH: Health officials track increases in whooping cough, pneumonia (2:31)
-A few hours of activity a week can lower your risk of A-fib (:58)
>FOOD: How to stay safe during foodborne illness outbreaks (2:16)
>TV/STREAMING: "Jeopardy" contestant’s heart-wrenching interview leaves Ken Jennings speechless
>MOVIES: Matthew McConaughey reveals why he turned down $15 million role
>CELEBRITY: Jussie Smollett’s conviction in 2019 attack on himself is overturned
>HISTORY: Founded in Boston, Staples ushered in era of office supply superstores
>ANIMALS: Cyclist finds puppy in the middle of nowhere (2:08)
>GOOD NEWS: Man discovers owner of his favorite bakery is his birth mother
-Meanwhile, in Miami, woman delivers baby at airport in American Airlines ticketing area
Latest obituaries | | Thursday's highlights | | Today's horoscope | | Local Sports
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