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Here's what's happening in and around Worcester today:
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
+6:00: Worcester, other districts manage return to schools amid surge
+6:00: How long before Omicron symptoms appear after exposure?
+6:00: U.S. sets new milestone with more than 1 million cases
+6:00: Why are so many vaccinated people getting COVID lately?
-Massive lines await those just wishing to be tested in Worcester (2:06)
-'We have to do better': Residents shiver in frigid cold for hours to get test, officials seek more testing sites amid omicron 'log jam'
-Testing in Downtown Worcester scheduled 3 more days this week
-UMass Memorial says positivity rate has "skyrocketed" to around 30% during recent surge
-Worcester teachers' union says KN95 masks from state not good enough
-Worcester Public Schools staff receive rapid tests
-31,184 new cases, 39 additional deaths reported in Massachusetts
-Here's how the Omicron surge is different than previous surges in the U.S.
-Grafton Board of Health issues order mandating masks in all public space
-Massachusetts doctors weigh in on throat swab for testing
-Rapid omicron spread fuels statewide workforce crunch
-ER doctors in Massachusetts make plea amid breaking point
In The News
-Latest weather: 4" to 6" of snow possible Friday in early forecast
+6:00: 5 Things You Need to Know Today in Worcester - January 4th
+6:00: Local singer premieres music video shot right before the pandemic in Los Angeles
+6:00: Radio Worcester (16:07): Worcester City Manager Ed Augustus talks Omicron, testing, development and inauguration
+6:00: Radio Worcester (6:47): Worcester School Committee member Sue Mailman talks about inauguration
+6:00: Janice Harvey: No one seems enthusiastic for 2022
+6:00: New pets up for adoption in the Worcester area
+6:00: $50,000 Powerball winner sold in Webster
+6:00: More people leaving Massachusetts, fewer moving in, study says
+6:00: A record 4.5 million Americans quit their jobs in November
-Former St. Peter-Marian school site sold for $4.75 million
-Related: Diocese establishes fund to benefit Saint Paul Junior/Senior High
-Saint Vincent Hospital nurses approve new deal to end historic strike (2:35)
-Related: Reflecting on the longest nurses strike in Massachusetts history
-Worcester's inauguration highlights most diverse council, school committee in city’s history . Gallery (11 photos)
-Cold nights, uptick in COVID cases means full house at Hotel Grace
-Worcester youth violence down, Clark University study finds, but racial schism persists
-Good news (brought to you by Bertera Nissan): Worcester man donates Lego sets to kids with cancer
-The Mayor’s Live Music List for Tuesday
-Wachusett Wine & Spirits' Whiskey Wednesday (36:03): Tequila Single Barrel Pick
-Politics and the City: Not a bad 2021 for Worcester, but what's next?
-Tribute to a talented jewelry designer who owned his own store for many years
-Tribute to a professor emeritus at Worcester State
-ICYMI: Worcester firefighters hit the ice in Toledo to honor fallen brothers
-Community raising funds for Worcester Assistant Principal hit with devastating health news
-The most read stories of 2021 on The 016
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
-The Burbs (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Shrewsbury talks future athletic facilities projects
-Cannabis dispensary owners buy $4 million facility to open soon in West Boylston
-Nomination papers now available at Millbury Town Clerk's office
-Developer purchases Hardwick mill for $5 million cannabis project
-Sports: Worcester Bravehearts turning 2022 into TwentyTwentyYou (1:04)
-Oluchi Ezemma selected as Hilton Garden Inn Crusader of the Week
-Worcester Hockey Alumni highlights, week 12
-Belichick, teammates praise Mac Jones after team clinches playoff spot
-Enter to win a Patriots hoodie, courtesy of North End Motor Sales
-Anna Maria men's hoops team loves playing for Coach Conrad
-Planet Fitness welcoming newcomers with New Year's resolutions
-Cars: Happy Holidays from Bertera Nissan (2:04)
-Take a look at new 2022 Four Winds RV now in at Fuller RV in Boylston
-National: Powerball jackpot now $575 million after no winner last night
-Classic BlackBerry phones will stop working starting today
-New England: Carver boy who opened pantry that serves thousands is now battling leukemia
-Tragic: Mississippi officer responding to shooting finds her son dead
-Business: 39% of workers are looking to change jobs, survey finds
-Former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes found guilty on 4 of 11 charges of fraud and conspiracy
-WBJ Economic Forecast: The year of biotech
-Homes: 5 new houses for sale in Worcester
-History: Pilgrim Church on Main Street in Worcester
-Animals: Guy rescues stray puppy and reunites her with brothers (3:18)
-TV/Streaming: 9 hidden gem shows from 2021 that were overlooked
-Movies: 6 must-see movies being released in January
-Celebrity: Vicki Lawrence reveals Betty White’s last word before death
-Meanwhile, in Tennessee, TikToker discovers abandoned '50s diner in perfect condition (:40)
Latest obituaries | | Monday's highlights | | Today's horoscope | | Local Sports
In The News
>WEATHER: Mark Rosenthal's 7-day forecast (:29). High of 60 today in Worcester
>TOP OF THE NEWS
+6:00: After fatal shooting, Worcester strip club must close at 8
+6:00: City custodians protest treatment by Worcester's new cleaning contractor
+6:00: Friends of Worcester Public Library mark 70 years with $50,000 gift to new branch
+6:00: Pulse Magazine's Weekend Guide (:22)
+Noon: Jury says it's deadlocked in Noel Inoa retrial; judge says keep trying
+Noon: Worcester airport sets record, but 500,000 goal looms
+Noon: Level 3 sex offender accused of trying to entice juvenile in Southbridge
+Noon: Things to Do: Día de los Muertos celebration, 'Ghosts in the Galleries
+Noon: Decade of ghouls and glamor: Haunted Speakeasy set for Worcester
+Noon: This is peak: Joe Fusco Jr. dreams about replacing a boiler
-Driver injured after car crashes through fence, lands on roof in Worcester (1:40). Article
-Child hospitalized after being hit by vehicle while riding bike in Worcester
-Worcester husband and wife die just 2 days apart
-Phantom Gourmet visits Worcester restaurant (5:02)
-Worcester community seeks help after local designer’s bag, credit cards stolen
-Former Worcester police sergeant takes over National Guard's 42nd Infantry Division
-Worcester S.N.A.P. rolls drop 21% as advocates seek D.T.A. staff
-internal investigation clears officers of wrongdoing in Toomey crash
-Related: Advocates renew call for police review board after release of Toomey crash report
-Related: Read the full Worcester police review of city councilor's crash
-City to crack down on parking scofflaws during snow. But you'll be warned
-Central Mass. strip club to face license commission after deadly shooting
-Terror on Tory Fort: Check out Worcester family's Western take on Halloween
-Ché Anderson talks about roles at UMass Med School, Mass Cultural Council
-Nativity School opens applications for upcoming year
-Aislinn Doyle: W.P.S. In Brief: Realignment breakdown by school
>DINING OUT: Worcester restaurant expands to serve lunch
-ICYMI: State blocks out-of-state firm from buying nursing homes in Worcester, Fitchburg
-$51 million redevelopment brings 80 affordable senior apartments to Worcester's Lincoln Square
-Worcester's historic Heywood Boot building to receive $929K in state redevelopment funding
-Worcester lands record $5.5 million grant to remove lead hazards
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN: Midnight at the Masquerade mystery Thursday at Gale Free Library
-This week's road closures and traffic delays
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): What happens to Anna Maria College’s campus after bids fall short?
-Takeaways from latest Shrewsbury Select Board meeting
-Westborough police warn against "door kick" social media challenge
-Charlton voters approve data center restrictions, call for end to Flock cameras
-In stunning reversal, Westborough Town Meeting changes course on downtown zoning proposal
-Pastor Coates drops fraud claims against orchard developer and former Dunbar clients
-Southbridge man charged with armed robbery at Elm Street convenience store
-Dudley Town Hall access plan draws objections at Town Meeting
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Thursday
-Jazzed Up Duo at Val’s Restaurant in Holden Friday and Saturday
>SHOWTIME: Disney On Ice presents Spotlight Magic
-Get medieval: Autumn Knights Renaissance Faire set
-Celeste Ng headlines Worcester library fundraiser November 5th
-Suzanne Strempek Shea's popular memoir talk comes to Webster
-Charlton mom's book captures spirit of late son, paralyzed in 1997 crash
>OPINION: Sunita Razdan: Lend nature a hand - leave fallen leaves in yard
-WCCA-TV's Chandler Chat No. 509 (28:27): Nativity School of Worcester
-WCCA-TV's Coffee with Konnie No. 545 (29:27): Hank Stolz
-Radio Worcester's The Rundown (26:00): Journalists' superpower and Worcester media in 2026
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to local woman who worked as a baking teacher
>SPORTS: Patriots-Bears preview: Keys to victory, prediction and more
-Drake Maye vs. Caleb Williams a battle of electric, maturing quarterbacks
-Patriots injured reserve activations explained: Decisions await
-Why Patriots cannot afford not to start Caleb Lomu each week
-NFL Week 7 schedule, TV and announcers
-Mechanics Hall ready to rumble as boxing returns after long absence
-Holy Cross women's hockey team hits the road to face Dartmouth
-Holy Cross baseball announces Fall World Series
>NATIONAL: Nobel-winning A.I. pioneer warns: Befriend bots or "we're toast"
-How many Americans support second execution attempt for Christa Pike
-Ukraine's $500 drones slaughtered America's $25 million tanks in recent war game
-Tragic: Swimmer, 65, killed by shark despite wearing repellent band
>NEW ENGLAND: Officers say Matthew Farwell was agitated in days before Sandra Birchmore's death (2:49)
-Lawmakers reject Gov. Healey's gas tax suspension plan (:26)
-Massachusetts leads nation in lottery spending again
>COLLEGES: Clark Family & Friends Weekend 2026
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): Half of Americans return home more drained than relaxed after a vacation, new survey says
>BUSINESS: Amazon hiring 6,000 seasonal workers in Mass.
-Radio Worcester (22:08): W.B.D.C. and Webster Five explain small business financing
-LPL Financial Research: Moats vs. inertia: Unpacking the personal A.I. agent threat
-Meta ordered to pay New Mexico $25 billion for deceiving users
>SHOPPING: Warning issued against 400,000 pressure cookers due to burn risk
>HOMES: Americans are abandoning a beloved tradition — and experts reveal 5 reasons why
>HEALTH: Sexually transmitted diarrhea is morphing into a superbug
-Medicare Advantage plan cuts: United, Humana reduce benefits for 1 million
>FOOD: Daily Dish: Baked salmon and rice
>TV/STREAMING: Elizabeth Holmes docs to watch before "You Can See Everything"
>MOVIES: Trailer for new Idris Elba movie, "Above the Below" (1:38)
>CELEBRITY: Selma Blair speaks out after mid-flight meltdown, arrest
-Judge tosses child sex abuse indictment against Timothy Busfield
>ANIMALS: Tiny cat loves swimming just as much as exploring the world (2:39)
>HISTORY: Building 19 author on nostalgia event this weekend (11:28)
>GOOD NEWS: Couple struck by lightning while walking hand in hand, hail Good Samaritan hikers for saving their lives
-Meanwhile, in Colorado, bear steals bag of gear from fire station
Latest obituaries | | Wednesday's Highlights | | Today's horoscope | | Local Sports
Classifieds
>HELP WANTED
+Full-time police officer, West Boylston Police Department
-Bartenders, Worcester Restaurant Group
-Plow truck drivers, town of Shrewsbury
-Snow plow contractors, town of Shrewsbury
-Bartenders, Grafton Street restaurant
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