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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: Wind alert, will feel like 32 degrees today Worcester
>TOP OF THE NEWS
-25-year-old Worcester woman, Greenfield family among 5 killed in Virginia highway bus crash (2:36). Article
-Anna Maria's abrupt closure was a "knife in the heart" for faculty
-World Cup watch parties set for Worcester Common
-Ghanaian restaurant in Worcester ready to give World Cup fans taste of home country (2:07)
-Worcester jury finds driver guilty in 2022 death of man in wheelchair
-Teenage pedestrian recovering after Worcester crash
-Worcester road safety project targets dangerous I-290 off-ramp crossing
-Despite recent stabbings on the Common, Downtown Worcester events to continue
-Related: Woman ID’d as suspect in April Worcester Common stabbing
-Related: Radio Worcester (15:34): City Councilor Kate Toomey says city must act
-Longtime historian and educator at Old Sturbridge Village ID'd as crash victim
-Corner Dive bar set to open in late June in Worcester
-Worcester D.A. payroll database: What each employee made in 2025
-Mass. Democrats begin convention in Worcester
-18 new condos on Elm Street are for sale. Take a look inside
-Patriots quarterback Drake Maye set to host celebrity softball game at Polar Park
-Worcester Guardian Week in Review: Segregation lawsuit, school budget questions, Holy Cross heads to Texas
>DINING OUT: Popular eatery's second location officially opens in Westborough
-Shrewsbury Hooters announces it will close
-ICYMI: Investigation underway after human remains found in Worcester
-Worcester Teacher of the Year inspires students while battling A.L.S. (2:12). Article
-Black bear spotted roaming around Worcester neighborhoods near Doherty and Clark (2:50). Article
-Teen struck, seriously injured by pickup truck at Kelley Square
-W.P.D. looking for witnesses to big April brawl on Water Street (with video)
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN (brought to you by Lamoureux Ford): Among Friends senior newsletter
-Jazzed Up Duo at Val's 5:30 p.m. Saturday
-Lamoureux Ford wins record 29th Ford President's Award (4:16)
-Annual town meeting 7 p.m. June 8th
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): TODAY! Brimfield's townwide tag sale takes on the flea market town
-TODAY! Northborough Colonial Faire to bring revolutionary era to life
-A grieving mother uses pickleball to help others
-Significant portion of Route 140 in Shrewsbury to be repaved this summer
-Grafton School Committee gives superintendent high marks in annual evaluation
-Southbridge candidates split on Town Council term limits
-Westborough self-storage property sells for $12.35 million
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Saturday
-Largest brewery in Central Mass. surpasses 100,000 barrels for first time
>SHOWTIME: Things to Do: Black Veil, Basement Sessions, Johnny Blue Horn and more
-Indian Ranch ready for sizzling summer concerts and 80th birthday
>OPINION: Mary C. DeSouza: Preparing for sleepaway camp at Camp Waziyatah
-Radio Worcester (23:53): Girls Inc. board member Evelyn Toney on how the organization changed her life
-Radio Worcester Roundtable (47:47): Is Worcester safe? Crime perception and city challenges
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to co-founder of HOPE Coalition in Worcester
>SPORTS: Why Mike Onwenu’s revised contract with Patriots is notable news
-Bruins trade targets: 7 players who would be good fits in Boston
-Red Sox lose to Cleveland, 4-3
-Red Sox star Roman Anthony hits another setback in injury rehab
-Bravehearts fall to Vermont, 7-3
-Bravehearts single-game tickets on sale now
-Holy Cross baseball downed by No. 6 Texas in day 1 of Austin Regional
-Win WooSox tickets courtesy of North End Motor Sales
-WooSox beat Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, 6-5
>NATIONAL: Husband killed, wife injured after home explodes in attempted murder-suicide
-Former C.I.A. official arrested after feds find $40 million worth of gold bars stashed at his home: report
-Tragic: Bride-to-be, 27, mowed down by hit-and-run driver at bus stop
>NEW ENGLAND: Mass. issues I.C.E. guidance for schools, hospitals, churches (1:31)
-Mass. D.O.T. suspends 8 employees, 4 supervisors amid overtime fraud investigation
>COLLEGES: WPI appoints 2 to Board of Trustees
-Assumption Alumni Award recipients announced
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): Couple sells home to travel Route 66 and beyond
-The least polluted cities in the U.S.
>BUSINESS: Here’s where Americans are spending their higher tax refunds: survey
-Need to save? How to negotiate your credit card interest rates (2:08)
>HOMES: Worcester County home prices on the rise this spring
>HEALTH: A.I. is spotting Alzheimer’s earlier than ever (3:26)
-Pediatrician shares tips for identifying, treating bug bites (2:06)
>FOOD: Cooking with Tiffany: Chicken Francese
>TV/STREAMING: New shows & movies to watch this weekend
>MOVIES: Mel Gibson's "Resurrection of the Christ" unveils first look at Jesus
>CELEBRITY: Madonna says J.F.K. Jr. was the best sex of her life — with a caveat
-Neal McDonough says Hollywood labeled him a "religious nut," cost him his career and home
>ANIMALS: Dog knows exactly when they’re almost at grandma’s (1:24)
>GOOD NEWS: Dennis officers have full-circle moment 25 years in making (2:00)
-Meanwhile, 1-armed woman proves cop wrong during texting and driving stop (:44)
Latest obituaries | | Friday's Highlights | | Today's horoscope | | Local Sports
Classifieds
>HELP WANTED
-Full-time police officer, town of Holden
-Full-time paramedic, town of Spencer
-Auto technician at Ford dealership
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