Here's what's happening in and around Worcester today
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
+7:00: 50 new cases in Worcester, 165 total, 28 in Shrewsbury, 16 in Grafton, 7 in Holden, 4 in Leicester. Press conference video (36:15)
+7:00: 'Worcester is made for this moment' (5:06)
+7:00: Construction on Polar Park halted until May 4
+7:00: Worcester State students may now designate any undergraduate course pass/fail
+7:00: Gun Parlor in Worcester shouldn’t have been open, Baker says
+7:00: Radio Worcester's Worcester Wednesday with Mayor Joe Petty (17:36): Worcester Readies for the COVID-19 Wave
+7:00: Worcester Cultural Coalition announces artist relief grants
+7:00: State totals: 33 new deaths, 122 total deaths, 1,118 new cases, 7,738 total, 51,738 tested. Story
+7:00: Fitchburg arena outfitted as morgue
+7:00: 6-week-old newborn from Connecticut dies
+7:00: Market Basket introducing social distancing measures, limiting number of shoppers
+7:00: 'Somebody's got to do it': forklift driver who moves coronavirus victims
+7:00: Celebrities do their thing: Carole King sings 'So far away', Samuel L. Jackson reads 'Stay the (bad word) at home'
+11:00: Researchers at WPI working to make automated ventilators
+11:00: Now is the time for community, by Tim Garvin, United Way of Central Mass.
+11:00: Not surprising, Part I: Alcohol sales way up (:26)
+11:00: Not surprising, Part II: Men wash their hands much less often than women, research finds
+7:15: Worcester nursing home move on hold after resident tests positive (1:02)
+7:15: Worcester Together: Central Mass COVID-19 Fund accepting applications
-Here’s when the coronavirus ‘wave’ in Mass. hits peak: study
-14 new cases in Worcester, 115 total, 21 in Shrewsbury, 16 in Grafton, 7 in Holden, 2 in Leicester. Press conference video (27:01)
-At War With Coronavirus: Saint Vincent nurse details struggle
-Worcester man with coronavirus says seasonal ailments make recognizing symptoms hard
-CVS Health to expand testing at Shrewsbury location
-DCU Center to be 250-bed field medical station (1:48). Story
-WRTA approves boarding change, free rides
-Claremont Academy teachers share school spirit with students
-WCCA-TV (30:42) -- Daily Breaking March 31
-New online activity portal 'Rec Woo' launches
-The 016 receives Facebook Community Network grant to increase coronavirus coverage
-Worcester Business Journal to host free webinars on $2T stimulus package
-With schools closed, Clark volunteers take tutoring online
-Chancellor Collins' message to UMass Medical community (5:45)
-UMass Medical School graduates new doctors in virtual ceremony
-State totals: 33 new deaths, 868 new cases, 6,620 total cases, 89 deaths, 46,935 tested
-Gov. Baker extends stay-at-home advisory until May 4
-A Wicked Vacant Boston: Eerie daytime scenes from the Hub (3:03)
-Hotels & Airbnbs in Mass. not allowed for leisure during crisis (1:20)
-What you need to do to get your government stimulus check
-RVs get new role as 'quarantine and isolation housing' and for homeless
-Captain of aircraft carrier with growing coronavirus outbreak pleads for help from Navy
-Lenders blocked plan to protect Americans' credit scores amid coronavirus
-Whole Food workers prepare to strike because of virus exposure concerns
-Walmart announces new steps, including temperature checks
-Critical supplies to donate? Here's who to call
-Good news (brought to you by Bertera Nissan): Former Assumption star Deonte Harris, an NFL Pro Bowler, donates meals to hometown
In Other News
+11:30: UPDATED: Here are the restaurants open for take out or delivery
+11:00: Soaking rain system on the way
+11:00: Fines for violating state's hands-free driving law start today
-High-speed chase leads to heroin charges for Dudley woman
-Tractor-trailer rollover on Pike ramp in Auburn
-Looking for some inspiration? Watch: Maple the woodchuck does some stair climbing at EcoTarium in Worcester
-Worcesteria: Buses, boredom and the coming bacchanal
-Wicked Bites TV visits The Dogfather (2:38)
-A piece of history in Shrewsbury is no more
-Area coaches, administrators applaud MIAA's decision to keep fighting for spring season
-Name the 5 songs from the '80s with the word "heart" in their titles and sign up to win a $25 Bravehearts gift card!
-Magnitude 6.5 earthquake strikes in Idaho
-At the office: Boss accidentally morphs into potato during videoconference
-Local businesses: Have an offer or deal you want people to know about? Let us know
-Latest obituaries | | -Yesterday's highlights | | -Latest weather
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
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