Here's what's happening in and around Worcester today
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
+6:15: 42 new cases in Worcester, 440 total, 59 in Shrewsbury, 25 in Grafton, 22 in Holden, 6 in Leicester. Press conference video (33:30)
+6:15: Worcester Public Schools cancel April vacation, last day scheduled for June 12
+6:15: Town Hall with UMass Memorial Health Care CEO Dr. Eric Dickson and Spectrum News 1 Worcester’s Ana Bottary (13:19)
+6:15: Radio Worcester Chamber Radio Blast with President & CEO Tim Murray (11:37): April 8 update
+6:15: WCCA-TV 'Daily Breaking' (11:32): Gina Plata-Nino, Central West Justice Center
+6:15: State totals: 77 new deaths, 433 total, 1,588 new cases, 16,790 overall, 87,511 tested
+6:15: Here's why recreation marijuana is not essential (1:25)
+6:15: State guidelines on rationing ventilators, other resources (2:15)
+6:15: Panera Bread pivots to selling groceries
+1:45: Last Call with Kim Salmon, Fallon Health director of community relations
+1:45: Report: Mass. jobless rate could hit 25%
+1:45: Coronavirus hitting communities of color harder in Boston
+1:45: Amazon bans more than 1 million fake and overpriced coronavirus products
+7:30: Mass. grocery stores told to reduce number of shoppers by more than half
+7:30: TJX to furlough thousands
-Updated projections show marked decrease in Mass. death toll
-26 new cases in Worcester, 398 total, 59 in Shrewsbury, 24 in Grafton, 20 in Holden, 6 in Leicester. Press conference video (27:35)
-Field hospital at DCU Center expected to open Thursday (1:37)
-UMass Memorial one of three hospitals in state to test possible COVID-19 drug
-UMass Memorial Health Care CEO Eric Dickson joins Spectrum News 1's Ana Bottary for Facebook Live Town Hall at 1 p.m. Wednesday
-WCCA-TV's 'Daily Breaking' (15:23): Monsignor Francis Scollen
-Bishop McManus lifts obligation for holy day
-Worcester Art Museum looks to weather crisis
-Clark professor uses networking to track down medical supplies
-Assumption professor: Why does virus has greater effect on women?
-‘Worcester Together’ announces $262k in second round of grants
-Health Foundation of Central Mass. provides $371K in coronavirus grants
-Radio Worcester Chamber Radio Blast (9:15): Tim Murray - COVID-19 Series (April 7)
-Radio Worcester (14:44): City Manager Ed Augustus COVID-19 update on surge
-North High teacher on the mend
-State totals: 96 new deaths, 356 total, 1,365 new cases, 15,202 total, 81,33 tested. Story
-Stop & Shop and Walmart implementing 1-way aisles in stores
-Mass. employer confidence takes historic nosedive
-4 famous stores that may not survive because of coronavirus
-Can't get outside today? Go for 'The Walk' (2:51)
-Worcester's Ryane Currie creating a following with her dance class on YouTube
-On the lighter side: Senior living facility residents in R.I. pen hilarious messages to loved ones
-Good news (brought to you by Bertera Nissan): Creative Cakes in Worcester donates cake pops to hospital workers, first responders
In Other News
+1:45: Panel backs zoning change for housing on Hermon Street in Worcester
-Latest weather: Great, if you like rain
-Jeep flips in Belmont St. crash
-La Cucina opens at new Grafton Street location in Worcester
-Railers hire Discover Central Mass. head as new president
-Dunkin’ offering free delivery on orders of $10 or more through April 19
-UPDATED: Here are the restaurants open for take out or delivery
-Holy Cross announces Varsity Club Athletic Hall of Fame class
-Homes (brought to you by Ross Mortgage): 4 Worcester homes recently listed for sale
-Old Navy sale: 60 percent off sitewide
-Verizon stops in-home internet repairs and installations except for emergencies
-Domino’s to donate 10 million slices of pizza across U.S.
-Hulu sale: One-month trial of streaming service
-Florida woman clobbers man with can of SpaghettiOs
In The News
>WEATHER: Mark Rosenthal's 7-day forecast (1:27). High of 48 today in Worcester
-How much total snow is Massachusetts forecast to get this winter? (6:11). Article
>TOP OF THE NEWS
+Noon: Neighbors shocked after woman killed in Worcester shooting; man also injured (1:46). Article
-Earlier: Woman dead, man injured in Worcester shooting (:59). Article
+Noon: Sarah Connell Sanders: "Compassionate care" is front and center at UMass' Maternity Center
+Noon: Stolen stained-glass window returned to Worcester Art Museum
+Noon: Magic of "The Nutcracker" ballet is returning to Worcester
+Noon: Check Dining Out and Bars & Bands before making weekend plans
+Noon: New shows and movies to watch this weekend
-John Piccolo, popular Worcester restaurant owner, charged in City Hall attack
-Earlier: Activist sprayed with paint outside City Council meeting; suspect is Worcester restaurateur (2:10). Article
-Tensions boil over as Worcester board grills developer over Polar Park project delays
-Earlier: Worcester councilors frustrated by stalled plans for development around Polar Park
-To meet housing crisis, report finds Gateway Cities need twice as much construction
-Former District 1 City Councilor Sean Rose announces at-large run
-18 months after surprise inspection, Community Healthlink not back to normal operations
-76 become new citizens at naturalization ceremony in Worcester
-Losses mourned, lives celebrated at emotional Transgender Day of Remembrance ceremony
-Mass. says some police officers have been bypassing required training (3:06). Article
-Earlier: Worcester probing 27 officers state says fast-forwarded mandatory online training
-Worcester County Wonders: Shrewsbury woman rescues raptors one feather at a time
-Radio Worcester's The Rundown (24:35): Breaking down the Polar Park deficit
-Radio Worcester Roundtable (48:19): Polar Park, tax rolls and deportation debate
>DINING OUT: Brazillian Burguer to open at former Shrewsbury Street donut shop
-ICYMI: Worcester-area Stop & Shop inventory limited after cyberattack
-David Crowley, part of family that runs Wachusett Mountain, dies at 69
-Man in late 60s, 2 cats killed in early morning condo fire in Leominster
-Charles Luster, co-founder of Uncommonwealth Group, running for Worcester City Council
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN (brought to you by Lamoureux Ford): Holden tax rate drops, bills rise
-Long-term employees make it fun to own a car or truck from Lamoureux Ford (3:50)
-Wachusett Echo Teacher Profile: Chelsea Blasco
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Shrewsbury seeks plow drivers for winter season
-Grafton tax rate down, values up for fiscal 2025
-Board approves single tax rate for all types of property for Sutton
-The Item's calendar of events
-Clinton E.L.P.A.C. hosts holiday family potluck
-2 Berlin firefighters graduate from academy
-Nashoba Class of 2004 to hold 20-year reunion on November 29th
-Organization gets federal grant for new grocery store in Winchendon
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Friday
>SHOWTIME: Five Things to Do: African Talent, "Songs of the Season," and more
-Fractal Tribe art collective set to bring light to holiday festival
-Hunting phantoms, talking puppets bring humor to stage Friday and Saturday
-Jim & Val bring Second Saturdays to Apple Tree Arts
-WCCA-TV's Soapbox No. 1354 (28:06): Mark Henderson, Founder, The 016
-39th annual meeting of the Worcester Regional Research Bureau (54:58)
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to Worcester woman who was a longtime kindergarten teacher
>SPORTS: Boston Celtics visit the White House (12:33)
-Patriots owner Robert Kraft snubbed again in Hall of Fame bid (2:22). Article
-Bruins beat Utah, 1-0
-2004 Boston Red Sox ring and World Series trophy owned by Larry Lucchino featured in upcoming auction
-Joe Nugent steps up for Crusaders men's basketball team
-Holy Cross women’s basketball announces 3 signings
-Check out the schedule for upcoming road races in Central Mass.
>NATIONAL: Are future Social Security benefits in peril?
-Up to 20 human skulls found in New Mexico home
-Tragic: Missing boy with autism found dead
>NEW ENGLAND: Worker injured during "supermove" in medically induced coma with third-degree burns
>COLLEGES: Assumption names new chief financial officer
-Worcester State Magazine’s special 150th anniversary issue hits the stands, goes live online
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): 7 of the most beautiful places to visit in the Pacific Northwest
>BUSINESS: Central Mass. unemployment rates remain higher than 2023
-LPL Financial Research: Trade, tariffs and inflation
-Unity Radio's L.A.B.O. News (57:40)
>HOMES: What $350,000 can buy you in Worcester County, November 10th to 16th
>SHOPPING: Amazon Haul — What to know about Amazon's new discount store
>HEALTH: Health officials track increases in whooping cough, pneumonia (2:31)
-A few hours of activity a week can lower your risk of A-fib (:58)
>FOOD: How to stay safe during foodborne illness outbreaks (2:16)
>TV/STREAMING: "Jeopardy" contestant’s heart-wrenching interview leaves Ken Jennings speechless
>MOVIES: Matthew McConaughey reveals why he turned down $15 million role
>CELEBRITY: Jussie Smollett’s conviction in 2019 attack on himself is overturned
>HISTORY: Founded in Boston, Staples ushered in era of office supply superstores
>ANIMALS: Cyclist finds puppy in the middle of nowhere (2:08)
>GOOD NEWS: Man discovers owner of his favorite bakery is his birth mother
-Meanwhile, in Miami, woman delivers baby at airport in American Airlines ticketing area
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