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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 (:38). High of 90 today in Worcester
-Worcester climate summary for May
>TOP OF THE NEWS
-Clark University to lay off up to 30% of faculty, significantly restructure degree tracks amid financial strain
-Worcester, Cosenza reach settlement on $8 million jury award in evidence manipulation case
-Suspect in April 2024 Worcester killing, on the run for more than a year, held without bail
-3 men arrested in connection with University Park shooting in Worcester
-Worcester street renamed for boy who died in "One Chip Challenge" (2:04). Article
-Related: Video of ceremony (21:07)
-National burger chain opening first New England location in Worcester
-Central Mass. man now facing manslaughter charge in connection with brother’s shooting death
-Out to Lunch and Movies on the Common set for summer fun downtown
-Hidden waterfall flows back to life at Cascades Park in Worcester thanks to heavy spring rainfall (1:49)
-Grafton Job Corps searching for shelter for 30 homeless students
-Gerald Creamer Center Graduation (1:01:52)
-Aislinn Doyle: June 5th School Committee Meetings agenda preview
-This dog was found on Willard Ave. in Worcester
-DINING OUT (brought to you by Patsie Dugan's): The last 24-hour diner: A Worcester staple stands alone
-ICYMI: UMass Memorial, 1,000 workers have a week to avoid strike
-Grand jury hearing evidence in death of Worcester state police trainee
-Worcester eatery seized by state because of unpaid taxes
-Worcester activist critical of city manager faces 1-year city hall ban
-Worcester father of 4-month-old deported after I.C.E. "violated his rights," attorney says
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN (brought to you by Lamoureux Ford): Part of Doyle Road to be closed Wednesday
-Lamoureux Ford offers huge discounts! (2:53)
-This week's road closures and traffic delays
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): West Boylston override OK'd; Raj, Ashwell win for Select Board
-Governor Healey visits new Amazon fulfillment center in Charlton
-Pending Select Board vote, Shrewsbury trash bags may cost more this July
-Westborough-based hydropower firm to update its century-old facilities
-Webster man sentenced to federal prison for drug trafficking
-Playground improvements are part of Grafton's long-term plan
-Blackstone Valley Tech competitors earn 46 SkillsUSA Medals
-City to Saddle Farm Trot 5K is June 21st
-The Item's public safety logs
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Wednesday
-Jazzed Up Trio 6 to 9 Wednesday at 961 at Union Station
>SHOWTIME: Screen Time: Short film "Solus" wins big at Top Shorts Film Festival
-Sarah Connell Sanders: 3 days of "momfluencing" at Boston Calling
>OPINION: Jennifer Julien Gaskin: The art of making people uncomfortable
-Peter B-G Weller: Proposed state ed bill borders on digital surveillance
-Unity Radio's The Susanity Life (56:35): Bonnie Hope Dellerose, Renew Body Sequence
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to a lifetime member of Hadassah who was married for 76 years
>SPORTS: Stefon Diggs "got the message" from Mike Vrabel after boat incident
-Red Sox lose to Angels, 4-3
-Bravehearts fall to Nashua, 4-3. Next home game: 6:30 Friday. Get tickets here
-Holy Cross announces "WooCru" as official student section name
-How Baylor Scheierman can earn larger Celtics role in second season
-Sox prospect Roman Anthony responds to backlash over Worcester laundry cart video
-WooSox beat Rochester, 6-5
-Mara leads Saint Paul back to Division 1 quarterfinals
>NATIONAL: Ukraine strikes Crimean Bridge with underwater explosives
>TRAGIC: 3 young sisters killed while visiting homeless dad, hunt is on for father
>NEW ENGLAND: Father found dead, search ongoing for missing daughter in Maine (:49). Article
-Milford student detained by I.C.E. awaiting upcoming court hearing in "terrible conditions" (3:43)
-Lawyer says Milford student in I.C.E. custody is here legally (:50). Article
-Karen Read trial (25:46): No mistrial over dog D.N.A., officer says evidence changed
>COLLEGES: Holy Cross grad Jango Janigian wants to take you on an adventure
-Decline of international students at Mass. universities having negative impact, expert says
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): 6 tips every cruiser should follow
>BUSINESS: GBH layoffs to impact 45 employees
-LPL Financial Research: Tariffs and market volatility likely to stick
-101: Staying strong through workforce reductions
>HOMES: Heat pump demand is reaching new heights as customers seek government incentives before they disappear
>SHOPPING: Temu's daily U.S. users cut in half following end of tariff loophole
>HEALTH: How to beat the heat for better sleep
-How yoga can help improve your mental wellbeing (3:41)
>FOOD: Popeyes launches surprise new menu item to compete with McDonald’s
>TV/STREAMING: "The Four Seasons" renewed for Season 2 at Netflix
>MOVIES: 10 hot movies to see this summer
>CELEBRITY: Emmy winner Valerie Mahaffey dies at 71
>ANIMALS: Tiniest puppy grows up to be HUGE (2:44)
>GOOD NEWS: 120-mile kayak trip benefits athletes with disabilities
-Meanwhile, in Florida, loose kangaroo caught on video hopping down road
Latest obituaries | | Tuesday's highlights | | Today's horoscope | | Local Sports
Classifieds
>HELP WANTED
+Multiple positions, Nancy Chang Restaurant
+Police officers, town of Leicester
-Worcester Area Director (part-time), Matthew 25
-Part-time bartender, Patsie Dugan's
See all Help Wanteds | | Job opening? Post it here for FREE today
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