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Here's what's happening in and around Worcester today:
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
+6:00: U.S. children hospitalized with COVID in near-record numbers
+6:00: As U.S. hits record high case numbers, expert says omicron surge is "unlike anything we've ever seen"
-THURSDAY! Additional date for testing in Downtown Worcester
-Vaccination clinic 3-6 today at YMCA on Main Street in Worcester
-Amid surge, Downtown Worcester restaurant closes until January 5th
-UMass Memorial CEO: Peak of hospitalizations coming by second week of January
-Worcester officials announce booster mandate for city employees (1:27)
-Mayor Petty encourages vaccines, boosters as city sees highest case numbers yet (:25)
-Worcester sees "amazing" number of new cases
-Worcester limits crowds at school sporting events to only parents, siblings
-Shrewsbury grapples with increases in cases
-Mass. officials report more than 15,000 new cases as positivity rate tops 13 percent
-Mass. schools receive 200,000 at-home tests for staff
-Doctor explains accuracy, effectiveness of PCR, rapid tests
-CDC changes to quarantine, isolation advice took local health officials by surprise
-U.S. hits record average of daily new cases
-WHO chief worried about "tsunami" of Omicron, Delta cases
-ICYMI: Added protection in Worcester schools following holiday vacation
In The News
-Latest weather: More mild weather, high about 40 today in Worcester
+6:00: Lexus engulfed in flames in Worcester parking garage left car toasted, garage scorched
+6:00: Saint Vincent Hospital strike likely cost over $40 million
+6:00: Boulevard Diner resumes night shift on weekends
+6:00: 5 Things You Need to Know Today in Worcester - December 30th
+6:00: NEW! Wachusett Wine & Spirits' Whiskey Wednesday (36:03): Tequila Single Barrel Pick
+6:00: New Year’s weekend events at Worcester Common Oval
+6:00: "Dexter," Whitney Houston, "Don't Look Up" and Worcester's big year in pop culture
+6:00: Worcesteria: Saying goodbye to arts scene fixtures Kelly Momberger, Fernando Perez and others
+6:00: Artist Spotlight: Kristi Xhelili
-2 Housing Authority employees honored for saving a life
-216-unit apartment building proposed on Hemans Street in Worcester
-After the death of Worcester Christmas Carol Mom, family seeks help
-New Year's Eve plans? Check Dining Out and Bars & Bands
-Remembering First Night Worcester on what would have been its 40th year
-The Mayor’s Live Music List for Thursday
-Five Things to Do: Twiddle, New Year's at the EcoTarium and more ....
-Last Call with Nick Austin, commercial actor
-Wachusett Wine & Spirits' podcast (1:09:14): Top 5 Whiskies of 2021. Earlier: Nos. 6-10, Nos. 11-20.
-Worcester Common Oval ice skating open for extended hours this week
-Tribute to man who worked for Worcester water department for 43 years
-ICYMI: Downtown Worcester restaurant development listed for sale for $5.7 million
-Bakery set to open new location in Worcester by end of January
-Reminder: No delay in trash and recycling pickup this week in Worcester
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
-The Burbs (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Paxton administrator search delayed over process discussions
-Sterling OK's earth removal for Heywood Road site, with contingencies
-Sports: Is Patriots QB Mac Jones hitting a rookie wall?
-Enter to win a Patriots hoodie, courtesy of North End Motor Sales
-All-Star pitcher to return to Bravehearts
-Mariners beat Railers, 9-7
-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: Developer shares vision of thriving Worcester
-Inflation driven by corporate greed, area professor says
-National: Ghislaine Maxwell convicted of helping Jeffrey Epstein sexually abuse girls
-New England: 1 killed in head-on crash in Mass.; driver charged with OUI
-Shopping/Deals: Shop Wayfair's End of Year Outlet sale for up to 60% off
-Food: Do you like black coffee and dark chocolate? A new study could explain why
-Homes: 3 upcoming open houses in Worcester
-Celebrity: Dr. Dre to pay ex-wife Nicole Young $100 million in divorce settlement
-Animals: Dog chained up for 6 years is free for very first time (3:11)
-Good news (brought to you by Bertera Nissan): Family reunited with puppy that went missing on Christmas
-Meanwhile, here's why hamsters can drink more alcohol than any other animal
Latest obituaries | | Wednesday 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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