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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 (:59). High of 57 today in Worcester
>TOP OF THE NEWS:
+5:00: Haunted Speakeasy fills Hanover Theatre with jazz, zombies and Halloween spirit
+Noon: Prosecutors: Sterling teen who held PowerSchool ransom was "sophisticated" cybercriminal
+Noon: Recognizing high-achieving students: Vote now for Telegram & Gazette Student of the Week
+Noon: It's Round 2 for Worcester Magazine's Digital Battle of the Bands
-"An amazing feat of engineering": Visitors take in reservoir's beauty during Wachusett Dam Day in Clinton
-Alleged thief hits Otaku Sekai, Japanese Manga culture, movies and comics business on Park Ave.
-How a group of friends turned a card game into a lifeline for local families
-Worcester Housing Authority to break ground on Lakeside Apartments redevelopment
-What is open and closed on Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples' Day
-Honoring Indigenous People’s Day in Worcester
-Monday's Child: Emma, 15, is bright, artistic and resilient with a wonderful sense of humor
-Saint Paul 5K Knightmare Run & Walk raises funds for Kelly family
-Worcester Guardian partners with Boston University to add State House coverage
-What districts in Worcester County had the best M.C.A.S. scores?
-Radio Worcester's The Rundown (25:43): Concerns over Worcester police drone expansion
>POLITICS: Worcester candidate profile: Jessica Pepple for city councilor at-large
-Meet the candidates: Maureen Binienda leans on experience and service
-Radio Worcester Roundtable (50:01): Drones, civil commitments and a controversial campaign mailer
>DINING OUT: Phantom Gourmet: The Ground Round is back (4:50)
-ICYMI: Outside Nelson Place School in Worcester, parents rally against departure of assistant principal
-Worcester business dedicated to helping women moves to bigger space
-Community gathers for vigil for Shrewsbury father shot and killed (:45). Article
-Related: Fiancée of father who was shot and killed thanks community (4:31)
-Frank Kartheiser is comfortable with your discomfort
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN (brought to you by Lamoureux Ford): This week's road closures and traffic delays
-America's newest game show, filmed at Lamoureux Ford (1:40)
-Holden gets grant to hire 2 firefighters
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Item photos: First class inducted into Clinton High Hall of Fame
-Leominster man arrested for urinating on church wall during food truck festival
-Why Webster police haven't given up on search for boy who disappeared 47 years ago
-Webster woman charged in crash that sent 3 juveniles to the hospital
-Charlton to vote on firearms in municipal buildings October 20th at special town meeting
-Meals That Matter's founder says the demand for warm, home-cooked meals is on the rise
-Paxton woman is a Commonwealth Heroine
-Matt Landry's love of hiking leads to Mount Wachusett guide
-Lancaster discusses well options and state support
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Monday
>SHOWTIME: West End Creamery Corn Maze in Whitinsville (1:14)
-100 FM The Pike (7:58): Jeff Keith of Tesla and Miljenko Matijevic of Steelheart talk about their new song
>OPINION: Robert A. Bilotta: Put CSX funds to work for District 2 residents
-This Week in Worcester Podcast (2:02:16)
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to lifelong Worcester woman who cooked in a number of local kitchens
>SPORTS: Patriots beat Saints, survive questionable officiating (4:32)
-Patriots quarterback Drake Maye takes another step forward vs. Saints
-Maye entrenched in early NFL MVP conversation
-Sign up now! FREE Crusader Tip-Off Event October 29th
-Holy Cross senior guard Cam Nolan named William V. Campbell Trophy semifinalist
-Worcester Bravehearts 2026 Season Passes are now available
>NATIONAL: All 20 remaining living hostages released by Hamas
-4 people killed and 20 more injured in a shooting at a bar in South Carolina, sheriff says
-Tragic: Skydiving instructor falls to his death after getting separated from student in freak accident
>NEW ENGLAND: 1 person in custody after threatening Topsfield Fair (:24). Article
-Massachusetts among states struggling least with bullying
-Haverhill police chief retires amid union backlash following tragedies
>COLLEGES: Inside the economics of happiness
-The most expensive colleges in Massachusetts (9:43)
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): 5 clever packing tips for rainy destinations
-6 countries or islands you can walk across in under an hour
>BUSINESS: A.I. could wipe out 100 million U.S. jobs over the next decade: report
-Are you throwing away money on your cell phone protection plan? (2:38)
>SHOPPING: Up to $1,000 rebate on LG appliances at Sclamo's
>HOMES: Central Mass. real estate transfers
>HEALTH: A.I. being used to detect heart health problems
>FOOD: Retro Diet Coke Lime returns to store shelves. Here's what to know
>TV/STREAMING: A message from Dr. Jane Goodall on Netflix's "Famous Last Words" (1:27)
>MOVIES: Jared Leto's "Tron" hits the skids with $33.5 million box office opening
>CELEBRITY: Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau seen kissing on singer's yacht
-Diane Keaton lost weight, was very thin before her death
>HISTORY: Then & Now: Do you know where this is?
>ANIMALS: German Shepherd rescued from hoarding goes on first walk (2:14)
>GOOD NEWS: Boys applauded for helping friend after shark attack in Australia
-Meanwhile, in Florida, mom wins video game tournament while holding her 5-day-old baby
Latest obituaries | | Sunday's Highlights | | Today's horoscope | | Local Sports
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