Here's what's happening in and around Worcester today
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
+7:30: 53 new cases in Worcester, 963 total, Shrewsbury 103 (+8 cases), Grafton 39 (+4), Holden 29 (+0), Leicester 17 (+2). Press conference video (33:23)
+7:30: Worcester will order customers to wear face coverings at grocery stores, essential businesses
+7:30: State totals: 137 new deaths, 1,245 total, 2,263 new cases, 32,181 total, 140,773 tested
+7:30: Baker: Residents can expect decision on extending statewide stay-at-home advisory, school closures in near future
+7:30: 102,828 in Mass. file for unemployment, new claims down 26% from last week
+7:30: All N.H. schools will continue remote learning for rest of school year
+7:30: Small business relief program runs out of money
+2:45: Quinn's Irish Pub launches 'Food for the Front Line' initiative
+12:10: COVID-19 in Central Mass: Remembering those who have died
+12:10: Every country must meet 6 conditions before stay-at-home orders can be safely lifted
+12:10: Navy may reinstate USS Theodore Roosevelt captain
+8:05: Worcester health centers face critical PPE shortage
+8:05: COVID-19 Heroes -- Life as a Saint V's PCA during pandemic
-42 new cases in Worcester, 910 total, Shrewsbury 95 (no new cases), Grafton 35 (+2), Holden 29 (+1), Leicester 15 (+0). Press conference video (26:05)
-Ch. 4: Exclusive look inside UMass Memorial's coronavirus testing lab (1:59)
-‘The surge is here,’ Worcester ICU beds being filled
-St. Vincent Hospital nurses face furloughs
-WPI research finds SARS drugs could treat coronavirus
-Worcester music clubs deal with pandemic crisis
-Worcester Airport receives $1.3 million in federal funds
-Worcester Creative Relief Fund distributes $35,000 to local artists
-Turn seltzer bottles into protective masks? Polar Beverages co-owners got you
-Father of UMass Memorial nurse surprises daughter with thoughtful gesture
-Donations help fuel Sir Loin Catering's free takeout service
-State totals: 151 new deaths, 1,108 total, 1,755 new cases, 29,918 total, 132,023 tested
-Death toll at Holyoke Soldiers Home now at 47
-Stimulus check payments: Online banking down for many
-No, you do not have to repay your coronavirus relief checks
-Social distancing may be here until 2022, Harvard study says (:28)
-U.S. retail sales see biggest drop ever
-This is where all 50 states stand on reopening U.S. economy
-Dr. Fauci: How sports can return in U.S.
-ICYMI: 59 prisoners have been released from Worcester County jails because of coronavirus concerns
-ICYMI: Police, firefighters pay tribute to Worcester health care workers with parade (5:33)
-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
-On the lighter side: Cops in Maryland remind people to wear pants outside amid lockdown
-Good news (brought to you by Bertera Nissan): Auburn Police buy meals from Worcester restaurant for UMass Memorial nurses
In Other News
-Latest weather: Snow ... yes, snow
+7:30: Red Sox' anger mounts over MLB's stalled 2018 investigation
+2:45: Last brother of Worcester's famed musicians, Jerry Loconto, dies
+8:05: Worcester's Doherty High School project moves on to schematic design phase
+8:05: Worcester's Mulcahy Field to get a face-lift
-Worcester Police find SUV involved in hit and run, work to ID driver
-Worcester bar warned by state
-Worcester schools raising money to provide students Chromebooks for remote learning
-Worcester Housing Authority completes second phase $13.5 million energy efficiency project
-Updated list of restaurants offering take out or delivery
-Video captures massive paper mill explosion in Maine (warning: language)
-Shopping: Best TV deals, LG, Vizio, Samsung and more
-Homes (brought to you by Ross Mortgage): Apartments for rent in Worcester: What will $1,700 get you?
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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