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 (1:06). High of 34 today in Worcester
>TOP OF THE NEWS
+6:00: Worcester bar's liquor license suspended for 5 days for after-hours assault
+6:00: Indie horror film festival returning to Worcester’s Mechanic Hall for second year
+6:00: 100FM The Pike (8:12): Worcester film maker Tom Dwyer talks about Dead of Winter Horror Festival
+6:00: 100FM The Pike (14:26): Bull rider Marcus Mast on near death experience with a bull and growing up Amish
+Noon: It's Friday! Check Dining Out and Bars & Bands before making plans
+Noon: Guide to Dead of Winter Horror Film Festival in Worcester
+Noon: Mechanics Hall to host The Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy
+Noon: "Black Angels Over Tuskegee" in Worcester will tell story
+Noon: WPI professor explores how Black artists helped transform opera
+Noon: New shows and movies to watch this weekend
+Noon: New movies on demand — "The Brutalist," "The Last Showgirl," and more
+Noon: 19 Carter in Berlin is a hub for both the arts and the community
-Hazardous ice lingers on Worcester streets days after storm. Video (1:18)
-Family of late state police trainee from Worcester speaks as state senators seek investigation update (2:49)
-Stop & Shop faces potential strike in Mass. over contract dispute
-Radio Worcester (40:20): Transformative plans for Worcester’s 51-acre Saint-Gobain site in Greendale
-West Boylston will fire Town Administrator amid police station flag conflict, lawyer says
-Earlier: Flag controversy discussed at Select Board meeting (1:49). Article
-Families fighting to keep funding for medical research meet at UMass Medical School (1:50). Article
-After sky-high hikes, state orders gas companies to reduce total bills by just 5 percent (:23)
-Related: What is the delivery fee on gas bills and why is it so high? (4:30)
-Police find cocaine, fentanyl during search in Worcester
-Radio Worcester's The Rundown (25:32): Councilor's indefinite absence sparks debate
-Radio Worcester Roundtable (21:18): Media misrepresents Worcester's sanctuary city vote
-DINING OUT: New restaurant to open at site of former Compass Tavern
-ICYMI: City Councilor Thu Nguyen will not return to council indefinitely
-Worcester rolls out enforcement of new 25 mph speed limit
-Worcester schools eye 7.9% budget increase for coming year
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN (brought to you by Lamoureux Ford): March Among Friends senior newsletter
-Ice melt arrives at Holden hardware store for storm-weary residents
-Longtime customer salutes Lamoureux Ford (3:53)
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Favorite breakfast spot plans expansion to Shrewsbury
-Sterling officer hit by car during traffic stop
-Police seek help locating 29-year-old missing person
-Drug bust at Westminster residence uncovers cocaine trafficking operation
-Clinton Project 351 ambassador gets involved
-Clinton School Committee honors students, staff
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Friday
>SHOWTIME: Things to Do: Concerts, historical demos and more
-Orchids bring color to Botanic Garden
-One Act Play Festival to take center stage at the Singh Performance Center
>OPINION: Kenzie Landsittel: Remember Women's Rights Convention in Worcester
-City of Worcester's Ready Worcester (1:03): Episode 4, preparing for snow storms
-Unity Radio's Susanity Life (58:15): Melisa Ann, intuitive energy healer
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to Worcester matriarch who passed away at 100
>SPORTS: Canada beats U.S., 3-2, in overtime to win 4 Nations Face-Off championship
-Bravehearts' New England Sports Summit breaks records
-With a renewed focus on boxing career, Worcester's Khiary Gray ready for title bout
-'Sader Stories (29:47): Varsity Club Hall of Famer Sam Fregenti
-Holy Cross women’s hockey team travels to Maine for final regular season series
-2 Holy Cross athletes nominated for Allstate Good Works Team
>CARS: Toyota recalls over 160,000 Sienna minivans due to seat back issue
>NATIONAL: California woman chased, fatally shot in parking lot: video
-Brian Laundrie's parents pariahs in Florida over Gabby Petito's murder: neighbors
-Tragic: Mom charged with abuse after 3 kids left alone for years
>NEW ENGLAND: Timeline of activities of cultlike group tied to killing of Border Patrol agent
-Why ambulances are waiting nearly an hour to bring patients into some Mass. hospitals
>COLLEGES: This is biomedical engineering at WPI (:23)
-Clark student Isaac Tomeho shines in both the digital and tactile worlds
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): 5 places you'll recognize from famous songs
>BUSINESS: Walmart shares tank on dismal forecast as retail giant warns of slowing sales
-LPL Financial Research: Tariffs ignite a metals melt-up
-How Gen Z can get on the right financial track
>HOMES: Worcester is one of the hottest real estate markets in 2025. See how it ranks
>HEALTH: Study: 3 conditions increase risk of liver damage if you drink
-How "lemonading" can help you better cope with stress
>FOOD: Dunkin' to end non-dairy upcharges after guest feedback
>TV/STREAMING: George Stephanopoulos is "miserable" at "GMA"
>MOVIES: Who won the best actor Oscar last year? See list of recent winners
>CELEBRITY: Laraine Newman says Barbra Streisand confronted her over "SNL" skit
>ANIMALS: Ducks ask woman to help their friend who isn't moving (1:38)
>HISTORY: Worcester's Bull Mansion has historical ties to a doctor, not an animal
>GOOD NEWS: Man's liver transplant denial reversed after story goes viral
-Meanwhile, in Thailand, monkey uses human-like hand signals to direct traffic (:43)
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