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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 (:37). High of 84 today in Worcester
>TOP OF THE NEWS
+7:00: Authorities identify Conn. man as wrong-way driver killed on Route 146 in Millbury
+7:00: Worcester chosen for bike program geared to riders 50 and over
+7:00: "The soldier behind the smile" — Harvey Ball's WWII memoir published
+Noon: Worcester couple’s sex trafficking conviction in doubt after judge’s gift to victim revealed
+Noon: Missing pet tortoise returns to Worcester home after 3-day A.W.O.L.
-Earlier: Worcester man offers $1,000 reward for missing pet tortoise
+Noon: Things to do: Blues with JC Smith, Colonail Charlton, Out to Lunch ...
+Noon: The Silverbacks are set to perform at the Marine Corps League in Worcester
+Noon: First Person: Joe Fusco Jr.'s 72nd year saw a new grandchild, boiler
-Worcester police ask for help finding missing 14-year-old
-Deadly wrong-way crash on I-290 (2:12). Article
-Heartbreaking loss: Mom remembers son killed in scooter crash (2:28)
-Authorities identify woman who crashed into, opened fire at Sturbridge hotel
-Man pleads guilty to helping stage robbery of Worcester liquor store
-$1 million lottery ticket sold in Worcester
-WSRS morning show host Chris Zito let go by iHeartMedia
-Out to Lunch festival is back in Worcester with food, music and sunshine
-Worcester Independence event features fireworks, singer Alisan Porter
-Worcester, mental health groups work toward 911 system settlement
-Free swim lessons return as Worcester opens pools, beaches
-Free summer eats return to Worcester for children and teens
-Water use restrictions set for Coes Reservoir Thursday
-18 new condos on Elm Street are for sale. Take a look inside
-Aislinn Doyle: W.P.S. in Brief agenda preview for Thursday School Committee meeting
-Worcester Public Schools releases post-graduation destinations for Class of 2026
-New veterans food pantry opens in Worcester
-Worcester to honor longtime Little League leader with Doug Hannam Way
>DINING OUT: This Mass. restaurant is up in a treehouse (1:00)
-Why an upscale downtown Worcester restaurant is now open for Thursday lunches
>FAITH: 5 deacons ordained at St. Paul Cathedral
-ICYMI: Worcester police seize untraceable gun in Canal District
-These Worcester kids get to see a World Cup game for free (2:06). Article
-Worcester's Ghanaian population out in force on common for World Cup
-Worcester residents urge city to rescue injured swan
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN (brought to you by Lamoureux Ford): Truck Day for kids 10 to noon Thursday
-Senior Center closed Thursday
-Lamoureux Ford wins record 29th Ford President's Award (4:16)
-Participate in Vision Zero Survey
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Pedestrian hit by car in Fitchburg (:20)
-Man charged with murder 9 years after death of girlfriend’s son (2:04)
-Earlier: Auburn man indicted in killing of 7-year-old years after child abuse conviction
-Man charged for challenging man to fight, yelling profanities outside Sturbridge daycare
-Mass Pike eastbound lanes closed in Charlton due to crash (:48)
-Webster delays outdoor music at Dockside, approves limited indoor entertainment license
-Southbridge man arrested for trafficking crack, fentanyl after drone-aided investigation
-Templeton woman arrested for violating father's restraining order
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Thursday
-Jazzed Up (Duo) at Friday and Saturday at Val's in Holden
>SHOWTIME: College grad and filmmaker Maximilian Kent to share Goddard's story
-Serenity Jackson displays her rapping skills on "Everybody Mad"
-Don Toliver announces new world tour, including stop in Boston
-"Palms on the Cape" author Jenn Bouchard coming to Booklovers' Gourmet in July
>OPINION: Unity Radio's Unity in the Community (57:33): Community Legal Aid
-Radio Worcester Roundtable (50:48): Is the state of Worcester strong?
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to man who held numerous patents while at Norton Company and had a lifelong commitment to Scouting
>SPORTS: Ranking the 25 most important Patriots for 2026: Nos. 15 to 11
-Patriots coach Jeremy Springer gets engaged to NBC Sports' Kayla Burton
-Celtics select Dillon Mitchell with 40th pick in 2026 NBA Draft
-Red Sox lose to Rockies, 8-6
-Bravehearts beat Nashua, 6-2
-Group Fundraising Program returns for 2026 Holy Cross football season
-Win WooSox tickets courtesy of North End Motor Sales
-WooSox fall to Toledo, 5-4
>NATIONAL: At least 164 dead and 971 injured after powerful quakes rock Venezeula
-Tragic: Teen dies of sepsis after doctors failed to remove "plant matter" from stitched wound: lawsuit
>NEW ENGLAND: New Boston Logan near-miss, second aborted airport landing in 2 days
-Why are Mass. residents rushing for Canadian citizenship? (3:20)
-Mass. awards $4.5 million to community organizations for mental health and wellness programs
>COLLEGES: Where in the world are WPI students in E-Term?
-Clark sells Norcross Brothers Houses for $1.8 million
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): Summer is the time for fun activities on the Upper Cape
-7 money-saving travel tips for retirees
>BUSINESS: Experts warn of A.I. impact on jobs (2:29). Article
-Radio Worcester (18:17): Why human connection still matters in the age of A.I.
-LPL Financial Research: Kevin Warsh could shake up the Fed
-Some employers are creating neurodivergent-friendly spaces for workers (2:25)
>SHOPPING: Dollar General pricing down 2,000 items to just $1
>HOMES: How long does it take to buy a house in Worcester in 2026?
>HEALTH: Women more likely to binge eat due to a common medication
>FOOD: Dish on a Dime (3:28): Vietnamese poached chicken salad
>TV/STREAMING: "CBS Mornings" ratings hit historic June low under Bari Weiss overhaul: report
>MOVIES: "Toy Story 5" cast: Meet the voice actors behind every character
>CELEBRITY: Daryl Hall reveals he recently underwent a kidney transplant
-Singer Jewel reveals shoplifting addiction while homeless nearly destroyed her
>ANIMALS: Emu obsessed with dad declares war on mom (4:08)
>HISTORY: Samuel Whittemore survived Revolutionary War at 80 (2:17)
>GOOD NEWS: Siblings play lottery together, win $25,000 a year
-Meanwhile, in Australia, town crier's 122.4-decibel yell earns Guinness World Record
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