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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 (:40). High of 38 today in Worcester
>TOP OF THE NEWS
+5:00: Thieves stole gutters from Worcester house while owner was home
+5:00: Death of Bob Weir sparks memories of Worcester's part in long, strange trip
+5:00: Planning winter entertainment in Worcester
+5:00: Worcester hockey alumni 2025-26 highlights, NHL Week 14
+Noon: 270-unit project at abandoned Spag's factory met with skepticism
+Noon: Central Mass. pizzeria reopens with explanation for abruptly closing
-No answers as cost of probe into death of State Police recruit from Worcester nears $700,000 (3:07). Article
-New year, new look, new amenities for W.R.T.A.
-Local restaurant makes Phantom Gourmet's Great 8 Restaurant Legends (5:32)
-Worcester City Council returns with social media scrutiny, transit fights
-Worcester, Fitchburg aim for uniform, safe sober houses
-Worcester County Wonders: First state-run asylum dates back to 1832
-Newly obtained court docs detail what happened inside Leominster home after man murdered wife, autopsy findings
-$80,000 Keno ticket sold in Millbury
-Police oversight questions persist after Research Bureau report
-Radio Worcester's The Rundown (23:33): Tom Marino defends reporting amid defamation lawsuit
>DINING OUT: Popular bakery chain seeks license for second Worcester location
-ICYMI: National Grid installs new underground cable to fix monthslong outage issues in Worcester
-"A very bad year": Here's what the flu numbers look like in Worcester
-Turtleboy factor: Aidan Kearney's influence on Karen Read case
-Venezuelan native in Worcester lauds capture of Maduro
-Some Worcester rents are falling ... really
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN (brought to you by Lamoureux Ford): This week's road closures and traffic delays
-Brew Biscuits in Holden making nutritious dog treats out of grains previously used in breweries (2:05)
-Lamoureux Ford welcomes Jeff Tripp from Sunnyside Motors (1:44)
-Fundraiser to help rebuild Ten West Market
-Ten West Market owner optimistic about return
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Hope Chapel in Sterling dedicates new sanctuary
-Clinton buildings coming together
-Clinton Select Board hears Bates family request to explore right-of-way access at town dump
-Indigenous culture celebration day coming to Grafton this summer
-Spanish-language congregation to move into historic church in West Boylston
-The Item's Neighbor to Neighbor column
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Monday
>SHOWTIME: Full list of winners and nominees at Golden Globes
-Golden Globes snubs and surprises
-Inside the Golden Globes: Everything you didn't see on TV
-World-renowned violinist to rehearse with J.O.M.P. students
>OPINION: Molly McCullough: For Worcester's schools, kids come first
-Maggie Calvetti: Someday they'll be grown & here's who i hope they become
-This Week in Worcester Podcast (2:18:34)
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to Worcester man who had Master’s degrees in Civil Engineering and Mathematics
>SPORTS: Patriots defense shines in 16-3 Wild Card win over Chargers
-Patriots will play Steelers-Texans winner in AFC Divisional Round
-Bruins beat Penguins, 1-0
-Celtics star Jaylen Brown rips refs after loss to Spurs in Boston
-Holy Cross student-athletes record 3.39 G.P.A. during Fall 2025 semester
-100 FM The Pike (18:00): MassLive's Matt Vautour gives 2026 sports predictions
-Railers fall to Florida, 5-3
>NATIONAL: Ex-husband arrested in heinous double murder of slain dentist, wife
-Protests in Iran near the 2-week mark as crackdown intensifies
-Tragic: Dad killed 5 of his children over a decade
>NEW ENGLAND: Deadly house fire in Burrillville, R.I.
-From Lindsay Clancy to Turtleboy: 5 Mass. criminal cases to watch in 2026
>COLLEGES: "We depend on fungi for absolutely everything"
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): Disney quietly changes course on controversial meal plan changes
>BUSINESS: Central Mass. business by the numbers
>SHOPPING: Samsung unveils "world's largest" TV of its kind at 130 inches
>HOMES: Laundry hacks you’ll wish you knew sooner
>HEALTH: Noom launches Proactive Health GLP-1 Program for long-term health
-Mass. mom fights for scalp cooling to be covered by insurance during chemo (2:06). Article
>FOOD: Your guide to a flavorful Dry January (4:34)
>TV/STREAMING: "The Simpsons" retires beloved character Duffman after 30 years
>MOVIES: 2026 new horror movie releases
>CELEBRITY: "High School Musical" star arrested on child pornography charges
-"Field of Dreams" and "West Wing" actor Timothy Busfield faces arrest warrant in child sex abuse case
>ANIMALS: Rescue dog does the cutest thing when she wants attention (2:00)
>HISTORY: Math, not myths: Inside the new search for Amelia Earhart
>GOOD NEWS: Lottery ticket rejected by another customer earns man $1 million
-Meanwhile, in Germany, watch 50 sheep escape shepherd, walk into grocery store
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