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Here's what's happening in and around Worcester today:
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
+6:00: Radio Worcester's Worcester Wednesday with Mayor Joe Petty (13:21): COVID, testing, schools, inauguration, housing and much more
+6:00: Can we really "ride out" the Omicron wave?
-Worcester, other districts manage return to schools amid surge
-Worcester Catholic school get tests
-Radio Worcester (16:07): Worcester City Manager Ed Augustus talks Omicron, testing, development and inauguration
-Westborough brings back indoor mask mandate
-Auburn temporarily closes some town buildings to the public
-Grafton Municipal Center shuttered because of outbreak
-ICYMI: Massive lines await those just wishing to be tested in Worcester (2:06)
-Testing in Downtown Worcester scheduled 2 more days this week
-Mass. officials report more than 16,000 new cases, 94 deaths as positivity rate tops 21 percent
-Mass. reports more than 45,000 new breakthrough cases, 88 additional deaths
-U.S. sets new milestone with more than 1 million cases
-Omicron now accounts for 95% of new U.S. cases
-More than 100,000 people are hospitalized with COVID in the U.S. for the first time in months
-Why are so many vaccinated people getting COVID lately?
-How long before Omicron symptoms appear after exposure?
-How will pandemic conclude? Omicron clouds forecasts for endgame
In The News
-Latest weather: Latest on Friday snow, black ice possible this morning, high in the mid 40s today in Worcester
+6:00: Kitchen fire displaces residents of Webster home
+6:00: Spencer Fire Department tanker skids off road in icy conditions
+6:00: Oxford family seeks answers on Beau Mann missing in LA since November
+6:00: Local news site announces shutdown
+6:00: Food: See the January menus for local specialty doughnut shops
+6:00: Animals: "They go ape over it" — discarded Christmas trees a delicacy for local goats
+6:00: Visit the latest 2 open houses in Worcester
+12:30: 5 Things You Need to Know Today in Worcester - January 5th
+12:30: Guess Friday's snow total in Worcester, win $100 gift card
+12:30: 13 die in fire at Philadelphia rowhome converted into apartments
-Worcester store has 2nd $1 million lottery winner in 2 months
-Residents make it out of massive Charlton house fire overnight (:30)
-Murder at O'Connor's: Man facing trial in fatal stabbing pursues insanity defense
-Hanover Theatre performer reunited with stolen tap shoes
-More people leaving Massachusetts, fewer moving in, study says
-Cafe Neo hosting karaoke contest with $1,000 prize
-Local singer premieres music video shot right before the pandemic in Los Angeles
-The Mayor’s Live Music List for Wednesday
-Wachusett Wine & Spirits' Whiskey Wednesday (36:03): Tequila Single Barrel Pick
-Community organizing essential to keeping Worcester clean
-Angels Net Foundation empowers and supports refugees and immigrants
-Janice Harvey: No one seems enthusiastic for 2022
-Radio Worcester (6:47): Worcester School Committee member Sue Mailman talks about inauguration
-Jim Coughlin: Inauguration of the newly elected members of City Council and School Committee
-Tribute to Worcester native and legendary Boston physician
-ICYMI: Former St. Peter-Marian school site sold for $4.75 million
-Cold nights, uptick in COVID cases means full house at Hotel Grace
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
-The Burbs (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Holden nomination papers available
-Sterling honors Village Pizza's commitment to community
-Holden's budget could run into Wachusett costs
-Paxton search committee appointment pushed to January 10th
-$50,000 Powerball winner sold in Webster
-Sports: Bravehearts unveil fan-focused, fully interactive Twenty-Twenty-You
-Holy Cross football already looking forward to next season
-Enter to win a Patriots hoodie, courtesy of North End Motor Sales
-Bruins beat Devils, 5-3
-Jim Corsi, former Red Sox pitcher and Newton native, dies from cancer at 60
-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: Drivers stranded for 15+ hours on I-95 in Stafford County, Va.
-New England: Hero dog leads troopers to site of car crash, rescuing victims
-Police: 3 people, including 2 teens, broke into same Attleboro home twice in span of 7 hours
-Tragic: North Carolina state trooper accidentally kills his brother during traffic stop
-Business: Toyota is about to become the leader in U.S. auto sales for the first time
-Central Mass. cannabis dispensaries power through holiday rush
-Homes: Central Massachusetts towns with homes available below $350,000
-Shopping: Macy’s cuts store hours at all of its stores
-History: 1906 conceptual drawing of Union Station
-Animals: New pets up for adoption in the Worcester area
-New on DVD: Legendary monster haunts small town in "Antlers"
-Celebrity: Alec Baldwin addresses "Rust" tragedy in New Year’s video
-Good news (brought to you by Bertera Nissan): Shrewsbury students raise money for Red Cross following tornadoes
-Meanwhile, in Florida, watch as bears try to open the front door of home
Latest obituaries | | Tuesday's highlights | | Today's horoscope | | Local Sports
In The News
>WEATHER: Mark Rosenthal's 7-day forecast (1:05). High of 20 today in Worcester
>TOP OF THE NEWS
-Suspects in fatal shooting on Dorchester Street in Worcester caught in Fitchburg
-Worcester reports fewer shootings in 2024, despite jump in homicides
-What nurses say must improve at Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester
-5 townhouse units planned for Austin Street in Worcester
-Why so many Mass. breweries are closing (and what you can do about it)
-Worcester Community Housing Resources taps established executive as new leader
-Holiday travel rush continues (2:08). Article
-Worcester forum explores M.C.A.S. results and educational equity
-Worcester wants input on where to put new trash/recycling bins
-Radio Worcester (24:05): Worcester Police Union leaders respond to D.O.J. report
-Earlier: Boston Globe: Federal lawsuits lay out D.O.J. allegations against Worcester police
-Radio Worcester (17:50): Mayor Petty addresses City Council meeting amid heated debate
-Radio Worcester (19:13): City Manager Batista addresses D.O.J. report, legal strategy
>FAITH: Holy Cross professor — At Hanukkah, a celebration of eternal light − from desert tabernacle to synagogues today
>DINING OUT: Phantom Gourmet's Great 8 Unique Eateries (5:13)
-ICYMI: Midday snow delivers string of crashes in Central Mass.
-Woman struck by a car in crosswalk in Worcester
-At court hearing, 2 different pictures of fatal Worcester shooting
-Worcester D.P.W. chief Robert L. Moylan Jr. to end interim stint
-Worcester's Union Station listed among 6 of the Most Beautiful Amtrak Stations in America
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN (brought to you by Lamoureux Ford): Wachusett Echo — Fantastic freshmen on varsity sports teams
-Christmas Greetings from Everyone At Lamoureux Ford (:49)
-Mountview Middle School honor roll
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Southbridge day care worker admits to abusing child (2:01)
-Barre ambulance and Verizon utility truck collide on Route 62
-Botched drug deal at Leominster group home ends with arrest of 2 women
-Rutland police to hold car seat check-up on Monday
-Auburn wants feedback on possible regionalization of 911 services
-Shrewsbury Select Board updates (:35)
-Grafton Middle School teachers honored for "Promising Practices"
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Sunday
>SHOWTIME: Things to Do: Candlelight tours, wrestling and holiday choral music
-Spotify's Top 10 most-streamed holiday tracks of all time revealed
-At Holy Cross, "Sojourners" captures the immigrant experience in 1970s America
>OPINION: Tom Marino: 9 years of Public Safety Committee ignoring police discipline
-Laura McCarthy-Ha: Simplifying gift-giving in a big family
-Laurelle Farrell: Lessons in a hair style…bangs
-WCCA-TV's This Is Worcester No. 211 (28:23): Sports, Sports, Sports!
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to an "accomplished and admired singer/ songwriter/ musician" born in Worcester
>SPORTS: Patriots fans will love Josh Allen’s take on Drake Maye’s future
-Van Pelt doubles down on not calling Maye runs after criticism
-NFL Week 16 schedule, TV and announcers
-Celtics beat Bulls, 123-98
-Bruins beat Sabres, 3-1
-Rickey Henderson, Baseball Hall of Famer and league's all-time stolen bases leader, dies at 65
-Railers beat Maine, 5-1
>NATIONAL: 2 Navy pilots shot down over Red Sea in apparent "friendly fire" incident
-Grandparent caregiving declines amid pandemic changes
-Tragic: Grandmother, 80, dies after getting trapped in Sleep Number bed for 2 days: lawsuit
>NEW ENGLAND: State police say Friday's storm caused 200 crashes across state (:22)
-Hypothermic hiker rescued by helicopter in White Mountains (:27)
>COLLEGES: Assumption Professor Cinzia Pica named Visiting Scholar at Harvard
-Anna Maria AMCAST (50:10): Holiday Movies 2.0
-Clark professor gives lecture on what it means to be a feminist in wartime
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): Waldorf-Astoria insists hotel will reopen in spring
>BUSINESS: Central Mass. business by the numbers
-Financial planning for parents’ assisted living
>HOMES: Tips for moving
>SHOPPING: Cozy gifts your mom will love this holiday season (4:04)
-Holiday gift ideas from unique local businesses across Mass. (4:58)
>HEALTH: Expert explains possible risks, benefits of raw milk (2:49)
-Dr. Todd Ellerin on vaccines and their impact on children (3:40)
>FOOD: Taco Bell unveils new menu item
>TV/STREAMING: Trailer for new Netflix doc, "Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action" (2:21)
>MOVIES: "Barbie 2" in early stages with Greta Gerwig returning to write
>CELEBRITY: James Kennedy arrested for domestic violence weeks after getting fired from "Vanderpump Rules"
>HISTORY: City Hospital, circa 1907
>ANIMALS: Dog becomes mama to a litter of tiny rescue kittens (1:42)
>GOOD NEWS: Man with a rare tumor was told he had months to live. Now, he's cancer-free
-Meanwhile, Mariah Carey fans get into a wild fight at Christmas concert: "On the naughty list"
Latest obituaries | | Saturday's highlights | | Today's horoscope | | Local Sports
Classifieds
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-Staff Associate, Urban Action Institute, Worcester State
-Controller, Worcester State
-Multiple positions, Holden DPW
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