Here's what's happening in and around Worcester today
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
+5:45: 104 new cases in Worcester, 1,067 total, Shrewsbury 105 (2 new cases), Grafton 40 (+1), Holden 29 (0), Leicester 19 (+2). Press conference video (36:41)
+5:10: State totals: 702 long-term care home deaths, 1,404 total, 2,221 new cases, 34,402 total, 148,744 tested
+4:45: Mayor, city manager: Shining a light in dark times, Worcester comes together
+4:45: BJ’s opens doors to first responders, healthcare workers without memberships
+4:45: Southbridge Hotel and Conference Center reopens for area healthcare workers, first responders
+4:45: Nearly half of developmentally disabled at state home infected (1:05)
+4:45: Researchers: Arthritis drug promising treatment
+4:45: SEE THE LIST: 5 Great Activities for Families at Home
+11:15: Emergency daycares, including some in Worcester, running low
+11:15: Worcester Chamber President/CEO Tim Murray comments on another COVID-19 unemployment surge
+11:15: Reliant Foundation adds $45,500 to COVID-19 emergency fund
+11:15: Crisis causing financial stress for nearly 9 in 10 Americans
+8:15: Cases reported by Central Mass. cities, towns as of Thursday
+8:15: Opinion: COVID-19 numbers don't tell whole story at Jewish Healthcare Center in Worcester
-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)
-Worcester will order customers to wear face coverings at grocery stores, essential businesses
-Quality Inn in Worcester could be COVID-19 shelter for homeless
-At height of coronavirus battle, nurses being furloughed in Worcester
-Feds deny JetBlue’s request to suspend air service in Worcester
-COVID-19 Heroes -- Life as a Saint V's PCA during pandemic
-COVID-19 in Central Mass: Remembering those who have died
-Worcester health centers face critical PPE shortage
-ICYMI: Ch. 4: Exclusive look inside UMass Memorial's coronavirus testing lab (1:59)
-State totals: 137 new deaths, 1,245 total, 2,263 new cases, 32,181 total, 140,773 tested
-Baker: Residents can expect decision on extending statewide stay-at-home advisory, school closures in near future
-102,828 in Mass. file for unemployment, new claims down 26% from last week
-Death toll at Holyoke Soldiers’ Home increases to 52
-All N.H. schools will continue remote learning for rest of school year
-Small business relief program runs out of money
-Every country must meet 6 conditions before stay-at-home orders can be safely lifted
-Navy may reinstate USS Theodore Roosevelt captain
-Good dog! Dogs might be able to sniff out the coronavirus
-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: New England Toy company creates Dr. Fauci plush doll, complete with cape
-Good news (brought to you by Bertera Nissan): Quinn's Irish Pub launches 'Food for the Front Line' initiative
In Other News
+5:10: Man arraigned for alleged rape of teenager out of Dudley
+5:00: Latest weather: 6-8 inches of snow now forecast (not kidding)
+4:45: Worcester Parking Ban goes into effect at 7 p.m. Friday
+4:45: Updated list of restaurants offering take out or delivery
+4:45: New St. Paul High School names coaches for 2020 fall season
+1:15: Updated hours for Worcester-area grocery stores
+11:15: You can now book JetBlue flights from Worcester into 2021
-Convicted Worcester restaurateur plans to seek early release
-Weintraub’s Deli landmark neon sign to be moved to Brew Yard at Kelley Square
-Last brother of Worcester's famed musicians, Jerry Loconto, dies
-Worcester's Doherty High School project moves on to schematic design phase
-Worcester's Mulcahy Field to get a face-lift
-Red Sox' anger mounts over MLB's stalled 2018 investigation
-Shopping: Apple releases low cost iPhone (:26)
-Homes (brought to you by Ross Mortgage): Houseplants bring added health benefits to your home
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"
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