Here's what's happening in and around Worcester today
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
+6:15: 55 new cases in Worcester, 1,806 total. Shrewsbury, 158 (no new cases); Millbury, 138 (0); Leicester, 75 (+4); Grafton, 48 (+1); Holden, 40 (+1). Press conference video
+6:15: WBJ Podcast (35:53): bankHometown & the flurry of federal bailout applications
+6:15: WCCA-TV Daily Breaking (16:25) -- Pathways for Change
+6:15: State totals: 1,698 long-term care deaths, 3,003 total, 1,524 new cases, 56,462 total, 244,887 tested
+6:15: Mayor Walsh: Boston will not reopen on May 4
+6:15: All Mass. criminal, civil cases delayed until at least June 1
+6:15: Death toll at Holyoke Soldiers’ Home increases to 77
+6:15: 3 million coronavirus cases have been reported worldwide
+9:00: Daily routines are vastly different now for Worcester’s first responders
+9:00: ‘The food supply chain is breaking,’ Tyson says as plants close
-54 new cases in Worcester, 1,751 total. Shrewsbury, 158 cases (no new cases); Millbury, 138 as of Friday; Leicester, 71 (+1); Grafton, 47; Holden, 39 (+1). Press conference video (21:46)
-Worcester church holds in-person service, believed to be first in state to break with guidelines
-Related: Worcester pastor’s letter to Gov. Baker, Mayor of Worcester, and Worcester Chief of Police
-Area retail landlords brace for fallout as store closings trigger rent negotiations
-Beaumont antibody test of staff reveals 20% were positive, asymptomatic
-Worcester medical facilities could see switch to mouth swab testing
-Worcester Face Shield Project aiding fight by making needed PPE
-Shutdown could have lasting effects on schools, students, say experts
-ICYMI: Latinos make up 30% of patients in Worcester, despite 11% population share
-ICYMI: Innovative local theater owner finds a way to draw a crowd during shutdown (1:20)
-State totals: 1,632 long-term care deaths, 2,899 total, 1,590 new cases, 54,938 total, 236,100 tested. Story
-WATCH: 7 things you need to know about COVID-19 in Mass.
-Think things are bad for airlines? It’s about to get worse
-A flood of business bankruptcies likely in coming months
-Here's how to check your fever without a thermometer, according to doctors
-AP source: Some NBA teams may reopen facilities to players on Friday
-History’s five deadliest pandemics and epidemics
-At the office: You may be eligible for unemployment while day care is closed
-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 called after Florida girl posts 'HELP' sign in window — for homework
-Good news (brought to you by Bertera Nissan): Knights of Columbus deliver food donated by parishioners to Friendly House
In Other News
-Latest weather: More rain on the way, high about 40
+6:15: Patriots release DB Obi Melifonwu of Grafton
+9:00: This Week’s Roadwork in Worcester – Week of April 27
-Support your local restaurants: Today is Worcester Take Out Day
-Updated list of restaurants offering take out or delivery
-ICYMI: 2 more Worcester restaurants announce reopening
-'Strong and Resilient' Worcester boy gets welcome home parade after heart transplant
-City buys land behind Worcester school to improve drop-off, pick-up procedures
-Drone video above Sargent Card Clothing Company at Southbridge Street and Quinsigamond Ave. in Worcester (5:28)
-Updated hours, senior hours for Worcester-area grocery stores
-Former Shepherd Hill star Sean McKeon, Holy Cross lineman Jackson Dennis sign NFL deals
-Tribute to a former Worcester teacher of nearly 40 years who passed away Friday
-Homes (brought to you by Ross Mortgage): A message about mortgage forbearance from President of Ross Mortgage
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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