Highlights in The 016 Friday, December 31st

• Posted by 016 Administrator January 1, 2022 - Filed in News - 1,737 views

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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 

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