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Here's what's happening in and around Worcester today:
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
-UMass Medical School hosting at-home test study
-Governor Baker says staffing primary barrier to greater testing
-U.S. children hospitalized with COVID in near-record numbers
-As U.S. hits record high case numbers, expert says Omicron surge is "unlike anything we've ever seen"
-Omicron accounts for 59% of new U.S. cases
-Grafton Public Library suspends programming because of COVID jump
-ICYMI: Amid surge, Downtown Worcester restaurant closes until January 5th
-UMass Memorial CEO: Peak of hospitalizations coming by second week of January
-Mass. officials report more than 21,000 new cases as positivity rate jumps to 16 percent
-Less than half of vaccinated Mass. residents have received a booster
-Massachusetts preparing to distribute rapid tests, masks to teachers
-Of 41,000 state workers, nearly 1,000 left over vaccine mandate
-FDA authorizes new at-home tests as demand surges nationwide
-FDA expected to authorize boosters for kids 12-15
-J&J booster 85% effective against hospitalizations
In The News
-Latest weather: Dense fog in the morning, mild, temperatures in the 40s today in Worcester
+4:00: Bill Shaner: Shady groups sink their claws into Saint Vincent as strike nears close
+4:00: 5 Great Ways to Spend New Year's Eve in Worcester
+4:00: Comedy icon, "Golden Girls" actress Betty White dies at 99
+4:00: Ring in the New Year with Netflix's New Year's Countdown 2022
+4:00: Four Year Strong return home for the holidays with powerful Palladium set
+4:00: 21 best, funniest memes of 2021
-The most read stories of 2021 on The 016
-Lexus engulfed in flames in Worcester parking garage left car toasted, garage scorched
-After more than 40 years, Worcester man reunited with his biological family
-Saint Vincent Hospital strike likely cost over $40 million
-Boulevard Diner resumes night shift on weekends
-The most expensive property sold in Worcester in 2021
-WRTA shifts New Year's Eve schedule because of a lack of bus drivers
-New Year’s weekend events at Worcester Common Oval
-Ricky Duran performs exclusive set in Worcester
-Celebrate "Noon Year's Eve" at EcoTarium
-Chill out over school vacation with EcoTarium's Fire and Ice week
-New Year's Eve plans? Check Dining Out and Bars & Bands
-The Mayor’s Live Music List for New Year's Eve
-NEW! Wachusett Wine & Spirits' Whiskey Wednesday (36:03): Tequila Single Barrel Pick
-Champagne shortage could make some labels hard to find for New Year's
-Worcesteria: Saying goodbye to arts scene fixtures Kelly Momberger, Fernando Perez and others
-Rosalie Tirella: This holiday season, a pocket full of memories
-Ray Mariano: State and federal lawmakers should live by the laws they pass
-Worcester Police Department to receive $250,000 from state for body-worn cameras
-Artist Spotlight: Kristi Xhelili
-Burncoat High graduate Adael Mejia Worcester's next youth poet laureate
-Tribute to the owner of multi-generational family business in Worcester
-ICYMI: 2 Housing Authority employees honored for saving a life
-Remembering First Night Worcester on what would have been its 40th year
-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): Bomba family sells Harrington Farm in Princeton for $6.4 million
-Rathi resigns from Grafton School Committee
-Holden to host Christmas Tree chipping program on January 8th and 15th
-Amazon buys 93-acre Westborough business park
-Petersham Police Chief retires after 3 decades of service
-Sports: Patriot Brandon Bolden reveals 2018 cancer diagnosis
-Enter to win a Patriots hoodie, courtesy of North End Motor Sales
-Bryant’s Lewis Barnum returning to Bravehearts
-Pirates add Custer to coaching staff
-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: JetBlue canceling more than 1,000 flights through mid-January
-U.S. unemployment claims drop to 198,000
-Colleges: Clark graduate student looks to transform WRTA
-National: Colorado wildfires burn hundreds of homes, force evacuations
-New England: Mass. minimum wage rising to $14.25 per hour on Saturday
-Tragic: Father mistakes daughter for intruder, fatally shoots her
-Shopping/Deals: Save big during the Walmart after-Christmas sales event
-Homes: 4 new properties for sale in Worcester
-Movies: 2021 was Worcester's busiest film-making year yet
-Celebrity: Palace didn't want Elton John to sing at Princess Diana's funeral
-Animals: Mama dog wags her tail at man saving her puppies (3:07)
-Good news (brought to you by Bertera Nissan): Teen honored for saving her co-worker's life at Walmart
-Meanwhile, in California, 2,000-pound cow charges cop who tried to herd it off highway
Latest obituaries | | Thursday's 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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