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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 (:34). High of 70 today in Worcester
-Mass. could see warmer, wetter winter, National Weather Service says
>TOP OF THE NEWS
+Noon: How Worcester residents can sign up for 2027 health plans
+Noon: Gov. Healey sets 60% school breakfast goal; Worcester schools averaged 37.6%
+Noon: Early voting update: Nearly 10,000 ballots cast so far in Worcester
+Noon: Worcester man's Halloween display raises money for charity (2:57)
-Asbestos discovery closes Worcester Head Start facility
-Kelley Square and Mill Street were redesigned. Are they safer today?
-Worcester Human Rights Commission to review police policies, homeless encampment proposal
-Where is Aaron Pennington? Fugitive search enters third year (2:22)
-Max German of Shrewsbury a finalist in "Voice of Logan" contest
-Westborough police chief on leave following an incident in Shrewsbury (:20). Article
-Parents recall Uxbridge Officer LaPorta as community honors him
-Earlier: D.A.: Investigation into death of Uxbridge officer results in no charges
-Worcester County Wonders: The Phantom of the Palladium
-In historic company: Women of Worcester's past, present honored in new mural
-College closures derail students’ plans, leaving some unsure when they’ll return
>DINING OUT: Avvio Ristorante wins early buzz with home-made pasta and tasty pizzas
-Large audience, low price: Give your restaurant's social media a boost on The 016
-Phantom Gourmet visits Worcester restaurant (5:02)
-ICYMI: Anna Maria weighs giving interested buyers more time after auction cancellation
-Worcester Homeowner Summit set for November 7th at DCU Center
-Worcester police, D.E.A. find fentanyl in Clover Street raid
-Worcester police seize 38 guns, ghost gun frames
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN: This week's road closures and traffic delays
-Wachusett Teacher Spotlight: Brian Lux
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Community Advocate Hometown Helper: Bernice Gero, animal advocate
-Warrant issued for man who broke into ex-girlfriend’s home in Barre while she was asleep
-Coolidge Elementary School's hidden staircase evokes Shrewsbury memories from decades past
-Meadows Montessori excited to open in Westborough
-New warehouse plans before Westborough Planning Board
-New Northborough fire chief says he has felt "truly welcomed" by town officials, community
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Monday
>SHOWTIME: Gateway Players in Southbridge to hold auditions for "The Lifespan of a Fact"
-Dudley's first poetry slam brings community to the Fun Zone Playground wooded stage
-100 FM The Pike (20:41): Ken Casey from Dropkick Murphys on music as a force for change
>OPINION: Tommy Dorfman: Ticket prices are out of control. Gov. Healey’s bill will make them worse
-WCCA-TV's Chandler Chat No. 510 (28:21): City clerks & state election
-Radio Worcester's The Rundown reacts to W.P.D. internal investigation in Toomey case (24:59)
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to Worcester native who was a lauded poet
>SPORTS: NESN and NESN+ to broadcast select Holy Cross contests
-Railers lose to Maine, 3-1
-Radio Worcester (15:13): Worcester Railers celebrate 1,000 wins for city hockey
>NATIONAL: Christa Pike's executioners given ominous warning before botched lethal injection: court docs
-Devastated mom recalls horror of toddler being pronounced dead, before he's discovered alive in morgue
-Tragic: Nurse dies after shrimp allergy during honeymoon
>NEW ENGLAND: Sandra Birchmore's therapist back on the stand Monday (:59)
-Woman charged with manslaughter in 4-year-old daughter's fentanyl death (:22)
-Over 130 residents evacuated from Lexington nursing home (2:25)
>POLITICS: What does the Governor's Council do? Worcester candidates weigh in
-What is Mass. ballot Question 7? (8:52)
-Full debate on Mass. ballot Question 7 (29:03)
>COLLEGES: Clark campus conversation, McGovern visit examine America’s past and present
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): Airbnb making changes to guest cleaning requirements (1:39)
>BUSINESS: Central Mass. business by the numbers
-U.S credit card debt is on the rise. Here's how to keep yourself out of credit card debt
-Small businesses need to leverage home field advantage with S.E.O.
>SHOPPING: How inflation is hitting all parts of Halloween celebration (1:59)
>HOMES: The surprising places to never charge your phone, safety experts say
>HEALTH: "Circadian" depression may be the reason why you can't sleep
-How walking regularly can protect your brain for years to come (6:18)
>FOOD: Ina Garten reveals unique ingredient she uses in eggs
>TV/STREAMING: Trailer for "Lupin: Part 4" on Netflix (2:30)
>MOVIES: The craziest horror villains compilation (42:09)
>CELEBRITY: "Office Space" star Richard Riehle dies at 78
-Kurt Cobain's death investigation takes new turn over cop's shocking claim casting doubt on suicide
>ANIMALS: Hound gets caught breaking all her friends out of daycare (1:54)
>HISTORY: The Old Yarmouth Inn on the Cape is still going strong after 330 years
>GOOD NEWS: Veteran sees brother face-to-face for first time in 40 years
-Meanwhile, in England, escaped emu wins wrestling match in middle of road
Latest obituaries | | Sunday's Highlights | | Today's horoscope | | Local Sports
Classifieds
>HELP WANTED
+Servers, West Boylston restaurant
-Prep cook and waitstaff, Shrewsbury Street bistro
-Full-time police officer, West Boylston Police Department
-Bartenders, Worcester Restaurant Group
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