Here's what's happening in and around Worcester today
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
+6:35: 153 new cases in Worcester, 868 total, Shrewsbury 95 (+6), Grafton 33 (+2), Holden 28 (+0), Leicester 15 (+1). Press conference video (17:14)
+6:35: Death toll at Holyoke Soldiers’ Home increases to 44
+6:35: Maine joins Conn., Vt. extending until mid-May
+6:35: Newly found mutation could threaten vaccine race, study says
+6:35: WHO says 70 vaccines are in the works
+5:00: State totals: 113 new deaths, 957 total, 1,296 new cases, 28,163 total, 126,551 tested
+5:00: ‘One World: Together At Home’ announces Alicia Keys, Jennifer Lopez, Taylor Swift to perform live
+4:25: Radio Worcester (8:49): Glory! A Beer that helps fight COVID-19 with Tim Garvin of the United Way of Central Mass
+12:15: Amazon hiring 75,000 more workers to keep up with demand
+12:15: Less than 3% of small businesses applicants have received relief payment
+7:30: Cancer patients in Mass. feeling strain (1:52)
+7:30: Woman in Wash. fighting coronavirus gives birth while in an induced coma
-29 new cases in Worcester, 715 total. 89 in Shrewsbury, 31 Grafton, 28 Holden, 14 Leicester. Press conference video (27:26)
-Cases reported by Central Mass. cities, towns as of Monday
-Employees of essential public-facing businesses, restaurants in Worcester now required to wear masks
-If construction shutdown lasts until June, WooSox likely won't start on time
-Radio Worcester's Chamber Radio Blast with President & CEO Tim Murray (8:14): COVID-19 Economic Update (April 13th)
-Essential manufacturers in Central Mass. have found a way to produce
-WCCA-TV 'Daily Breaking' (27:33): Victoria Waterman, CEO, Girls Inc. of Worcester
-ThisWeekInWorcester.com launches a COVID-19 dashboard
-UMass Memorial Medical Center support staff seek hazard pay, testing
-UMass Memorial delays elective procedures further
-State totals: 88 new deaths, 844 total, 1,392 new cases, 26,867 total, 122,049 tested
-Mass. joins multistate pact on post-virus economy
-Death toll at Holyoke Soldiers’ Home increases to 40
-212 residents, staff at Cambridge nursing homes test positive
-Hanover will return $30M in auto premiums for April, May, to eligible customers
-BU says students may not be able to return until January (:28)
-Bodies piled in closet, slumped in chair at Detroit hospital
-Coronavirus likely spread in California as early as December: official
-California cop dies after twice being denied test
-Does cooking kill the coronavirus? And more food questions answered
-Celeb chef and Worcester native Geoffrey Zakarian hosting 'Great New York Foodathon'
-John Krasinski does it again, gets health workers free phone service, lifetime Sox tix (1:16)
-Not too early to start making plans for when this is over. 52 RVs for rent you can tour online at Fuller RV Rental & Sales
-Good news (brought to you by Bertera Nissan): 1,000 cases of bananas donated to Worcester's schools, pantries, shelters
In Other News
+4:20: Tractor-trailer roller I-290 West to Mass Pike in Auburn
+12:35: Updated list of restaurants offering take out or delivery
+12:15: Holy Cross named new women's basketball coach
+7:30: Gun found in stolen car in Worcester; 2 arrested
+7:30: Worcester schools could reinvest budget savings, buy laptops
-Armed morning home invasion in Worcester results in arrest
-Driver arrested after crash on Highland St. in Worcester
-Plantation Street bridge demolition delayed
-I-290 lanes in Auburn closed overnight Wednesday, Thursday
-Tens of thousands in state without power. Local outages, as of 6:15 a.m.
-Here's the latest dangerous social media challenge
-Homes (brought to you by Ross Mortgage): 5 newest homes to hit the market in Worcester
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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