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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 (1:09). High of 36 today in Worcester
>TOP OF THE NEWS
-Worcester bar's liquor license suspended for 5 days for after-hours assault
-Worcester residents get shoveling and plowing help from "snow angel"
-2 local teens saved from N.H. mountain
-Brazilian pizza shop coming to former Worcester deli
-Dr. Fauci announces mid-March residency at Holy Cross
-Indie horror film festival returning to Worcester’s Mechanic Hall for second year
-Guide to Dead of Winter Horror Film Festival in Worcester
-100FM The Pike (8:12): Worcester film maker Tom Dwyer talks about Dead of Winter Festival
-100FM The Pike (14:26): Bull rider Marcus Mast on near death experience with a bull and growing up Amish
-Town meeting on current immigration operations on Sunday in Worcester
-Worcester man arrested for trafficking fentanyl, cocaine in sting
-Worcester Public Schools News (23:21): Doherty Edition
>FAITH: Local woman professes perpetual vows at Dominican monastery
-Radio Worcester's The Rundown (25:32): Councilor's indefinite absence sparks debate
-Radio Worcester Roundtable (21:18): Media misrepresents Worcester's sanctuary city vote
-DINING OUT: New restaurant to open at site of former Compass Tavern
-ICYMI: Hazardous ice lingers on Worcester streets days after storm. Video (1:18)
-Family of late state police trainee from Worcester speaks as state senators seek investigation update (2:49)
-Radio Worcester (40:20): Transformative plans for Worcester’s 51-acre Saint-Gobain site in Greendale
-West Boylston will fire Town Administrator amid police station flag conflict, lawyer says
-Earlier: Flag controversy discussed at Select Board meeting (1:49). Article
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN (brought to you by Lamoureux Ford): Good Neighbor Awards announced
-Longtime customer salutes Lamoureux Ford (3:53)
-March Among Friends senior newsletter
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Shrewsbury police introduces SafeCam Program
-Gardner officials push landfill expansion as area residents raise concerns
-Find your spot at The Yoga Nook
-Police chief says suspect indicted in Orange fraud case
-Millbury teen wins Elks Annual Hoop Shoot Contest
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Saturday
>SHOWTIME: Things to Do: Concerts, historical demos and more
-Mechanics Hall to host The Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy
-"Black Angels Over Tuskegee" in Worcester will tell story
-WPI professor explores how Black artists helped transform opera
-TODAY! Black History Month movie: “10,000 Black Men Named George”
-19 Carter in Berlin is a hub for both the arts and the community
>OPINION: Ray Mariano: Gong Show rolls on in West Boylston, Worcester
-Worcester Business Journal Editor Brad Kane: Why we highlight women's progress
-City of Worcester's Ready Worcester (1:13): Episode 5, What to do after snow storms
-WCCA-TV's Chandler Chat No. 452 (25:39): Kellys Roast Beef
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to Worcester woman who owned multiple eateries and became a blackjack dealer at Foxwoods after retiring
>SPORTS: Major League Baseball games will soon be off ESPN in media bombshell
-Holy Cross men's and women's basketball to face Navy
-Holy Cross announces updates to football staff
-Holy Cross goaltender Thomas Gale named semifinalist for Mike Richter Award
-Bravehearts' New England Sports Summit breaks records
-Railers lose in Savannah, 6-4
>CARS: Mass. is "actually a really great state to have car insurance in," expert says (2:03)
>NATIONAL: Professor tracking asteroid that could collide with Earth in a few years (2:48). Article
-Ukraine planted explosives in Russian drone pilots' virtual reality goggles
-Tragic: 11-year-old girl dies by suicide after being bullied over family's immigration status: report
>NEW ENGLAND: JetBlue pilot arrested on sex charge at Logan moments before takeoff (1:59). Article
-Mass. Pike falling concrete: Inside the Prudential Tunnel, reaction (4:48)
-Family fights back against $200,000 in equity theft despite law change (3:58). Article
>COLLEGES: WPI students share global projects at President’s IQP Award final presentations
-Assumption names Jeffrey Gillooly vice president for university advancement
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): Amtrak is introducing futuristic high-speed trains
>BUSINESS: State unveils roadmap to lead global climatetech industry
-W.B.J. editorial: Time to tackle unemployment reform
>HOMES: Worcester County single-family home median price nears $440,000, as trends continue
>HEALTH: Doctor on the recent high flu activity (2:38)
-"A really bad flu season": Data, doctors report large number of illnesses in Mass. (1:48)
>FOOD: Cozy winter meals
>TV/STREAMING: New shows and movies to watch this weekend
>MOVIES: New movies on demand — "The Brutalist," "The Last Showgirl," and more
>CELEBRITY: How Blake Lively vs. Justin Baldoni has changed Hollywood publicity
>ANIMALS: Dog keeps sneaking over from the neighbor's yard (2:10)
>HISTORY: "Washington Engine Co. No. 1 of Worcester, MA," 1870
>GOOD NEWS: Milford candy shop gives people with disabilities chance to make impact (3:26). Article
-Meanwhile, in New Haven, wayward seal found wandering streets
Latest obituaries | | Friday's highlights | | Today's horoscope | | Local Sports
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