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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 (:59). High of 57 today in Worcester
>TOP OF THE NEWS:
+5:00: Haunted Speakeasy fills Hanover Theatre with jazz, zombies and Halloween spirit
+Noon: Prosecutors: Sterling teen who held PowerSchool ransom was "sophisticated" cybercriminal
+Noon: Recognizing high-achieving students: Vote now for Telegram & Gazette Student of the Week
+Noon: It's Round 2 for Worcester Magazine's Digital Battle of the Bands
-"An amazing feat of engineering": Visitors take in reservoir's beauty during Wachusett Dam Day in Clinton
-Alleged thief hits Otaku Sekai, Japanese Manga culture, movies and comics business on Park Ave.
-How a group of friends turned a card game into a lifeline for local families
-Worcester Housing Authority to break ground on Lakeside Apartments redevelopment
-What is open and closed on Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples' Day
-Honoring Indigenous People’s Day in Worcester
-Monday's Child: Emma, 15, is bright, artistic and resilient with a wonderful sense of humor
-Saint Paul 5K Knightmare Run & Walk raises funds for Kelly family
-Worcester Guardian partners with Boston University to add State House coverage
-What districts in Worcester County had the best M.C.A.S. scores?
-Radio Worcester's The Rundown (25:43): Concerns over Worcester police drone expansion
>POLITICS: Worcester candidate profile: Jessica Pepple for city councilor at-large
-Meet the candidates: Maureen Binienda leans on experience and service
-Radio Worcester Roundtable (50:01): Drones, civil commitments and a controversial campaign mailer
>DINING OUT: Phantom Gourmet: The Ground Round is back (4:50)
-ICYMI: Outside Nelson Place School in Worcester, parents rally against departure of assistant principal
-Worcester business dedicated to helping women moves to bigger space
-Community gathers for vigil for Shrewsbury father shot and killed (:45). Article
-Related: Fiancée of father who was shot and killed thanks community (4:31)
-Frank Kartheiser is comfortable with your discomfort
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN (brought to you by Lamoureux Ford): This week's road closures and traffic delays
-America's newest game show, filmed at Lamoureux Ford (1:40)
-Holden gets grant to hire 2 firefighters
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Item photos: First class inducted into Clinton High Hall of Fame
-Leominster man arrested for urinating on church wall during food truck festival
-Why Webster police haven't given up on search for boy who disappeared 47 years ago
-Webster woman charged in crash that sent 3 juveniles to the hospital
-Charlton to vote on firearms in municipal buildings October 20th at special town meeting
-Meals That Matter's founder says the demand for warm, home-cooked meals is on the rise
-Paxton woman is a Commonwealth Heroine
-Matt Landry's love of hiking leads to Mount Wachusett guide
-Lancaster discusses well options and state support
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Monday
>SHOWTIME: West End Creamery Corn Maze in Whitinsville (1:14)
-100 FM The Pike (7:58): Jeff Keith of Tesla and Miljenko Matijevic of Steelheart talk about their new song
>OPINION: Robert A. Bilotta: Put CSX funds to work for District 2 residents
-This Week in Worcester Podcast (2:02:16)
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to lifelong Worcester woman who cooked in a number of local kitchens
>SPORTS: Patriots beat Saints, survive questionable officiating (4:32)
-Patriots quarterback Drake Maye takes another step forward vs. Saints
-Maye entrenched in early NFL MVP conversation
-Sign up now! FREE Crusader Tip-Off Event October 29th
-Holy Cross senior guard Cam Nolan named William V. Campbell Trophy semifinalist
-Worcester Bravehearts 2026 Season Passes are now available
>NATIONAL: All 20 remaining living hostages released by Hamas
-4 people killed and 20 more injured in a shooting at a bar in South Carolina, sheriff says
-Tragic: Skydiving instructor falls to his death after getting separated from student in freak accident
>NEW ENGLAND: 1 person in custody after threatening Topsfield Fair (:24). Article
-Massachusetts among states struggling least with bullying
-Haverhill police chief retires amid union backlash following tragedies
>COLLEGES: Inside the economics of happiness
-The most expensive colleges in Massachusetts (9:43)
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): 5 clever packing tips for rainy destinations
-6 countries or islands you can walk across in under an hour
>BUSINESS: A.I. could wipe out 100 million U.S. jobs over the next decade: report
-Are you throwing away money on your cell phone protection plan? (2:38)
>SHOPPING: Up to $1,000 rebate on LG appliances at Sclamo's
>HOMES: Central Mass. real estate transfers
>HEALTH: A.I. being used to detect heart health problems
>FOOD: Retro Diet Coke Lime returns to store shelves. Here's what to know
>TV/STREAMING: A message from Dr. Jane Goodall on Netflix's "Famous Last Words" (1:27)
>MOVIES: Jared Leto's "Tron" hits the skids with $33.5 million box office opening
>CELEBRITY: Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau seen kissing on singer's yacht
-Diane Keaton lost weight, was very thin before her death
>HISTORY: Then & Now: Do you know where this is?
>ANIMALS: German Shepherd rescued from hoarding goes on first walk (2:14)
>GOOD NEWS: Boys applauded for helping friend after shark attack in Australia
-Meanwhile, in Florida, mom wins video game tournament while holding her 5-day-old baby
Latest obituaries | | Sunday's Highlights | | Today's horoscope | | Local Sports
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