Here's what's happening in and around Worcester today
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
+5:45: City forces Worcester Walmart to close after 23 employees test positive
+5:45: 76 new cases in Worcester, 1,986 total. Press conference video (39:35)
+5:45: Cases for every Central Mass. city, town as of Wednesday
+5:45: Bravehearts season postponed
+5:45: Radio Worcester's Voice of Business (47:28): Tim Murray, Jeff Turgeon, Ed Manzi and Naomi Sleeper
+5:45: Wahlburgers donates more than 300 lunches to Worcester area firefighters, police and EMS personnel
+5:45: State totals: 1,982 long-term care deaths, 3,405 total, 1,963 new cases, 60,265 total, 265,618 tested. Story
+11:30: Pandemic cancels Worcester Public Schools’ proms
+11:30: U.S. economy takes biggest hit since Great Recession
+11:30: Death toll at Holyoke Soldiers’ Home increases to 80
+11:30: Researchers testing vaccine that could be ready soon (:26)
-106 new cases in Worcester, 1,910 total. Press conference video (25:18)
-Worcester in 'teeth' of surge, reopening may happen in phases
-Central Mass. city and town cases as of Tuesday
-Worcester Baptist pastor speaks out against public service at Adams Square Church
-Related: Worcester church holds in-person service, believed to be first in state to break with guidelines
-Gov. Baker: Massachusetts stay-at-home advisory EXTENDED until May 18
-Reopening states too early will bring deadlier outcomes, projection models show
-UMass Medical School to furlough 100 employees for up to 6 months
-508, A Show about Worcester (24:36) -- COVID AND KIDS
-Week 7: In this for the long haul by Tracey O'Connell Novick, Worcester School Committee (3:20)
-Schools could require masks, one-way hallways, classroom lunches when reopening
-State totals: 1,810 long-term care deaths, 3,153 total, 1,840 new cases, 58,302 total, 254,500 tested
-Nearly every Mass. coronavirus death was patient with underlying medical condition, data shows
-REPORT: Mass. ranks #1 in COVID-19 support in U.S.
-White House economist: Unemployment could hit 20% by June
-New York City ER doctor who treated COVID-19 patients dies by suicide
-Help To Retire offering remote consultations to those nearing retirement (1:00)
-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): Dunkin’ to give free coffee, doughnuts to healthcare workers next week
In Other News
+5:45: 1 in custody after ShotSpotter activation on Providence Street in Worcester
+11:30: George's Coney Island reopens for take out today
+11:30: Check out this amazing video of yesterday's sunset viewed from Old Stone Church in West Boylston (:50)
-7:15: Updated list of restaurants offering take out or delivery
+7:00: BirchTree Bread reopens for take out today
+7:00: Police substation to open this week at Union Station in Worcester
-Worcester diner will reopen Monday
-ICYMI: 2 more Worcester restaurants announce reopening
-Table Talk Pie Store reopens for pickup
-Worcester teen expelled over marijuana prevails in Supreme Court
-22-year-old woman stabbed in Worcester
-Federal judge in Worcester denies release to 2 pretrial detainees
-Will your street be resurfaced this year? Check the list
-Worcester Animal Rescue League ramps up foster program
-Worcester budget planning: 'Plan for the worst, hope for the best'
-Worcester explores shifting polling places from residences for elderly
-Updated hours, senior hours for Worcester-area grocery stores
-Homes (brought to you by Ross Mortgage): What will $1,600 a month get you in Worcester?
-Latest obituaries | | -Yesterday's highlights | | -Latest weather
In The News
>WEATHER: High of 71 today in Worcester (3:36)
>TOP OF THE NEWS
+4:00: As Robert Stoddard slept, thieves made off with 9 valuable paintings, including recovered Avercamp
+4:00: Related: Stolen Dutch master painting back in Worcester after nearly 47 years — to be shown at Worcester Art Museum
+4:00: Man arrested after pursuit through Worcester Common
+4:00: WPI lays off 24 employees, citing rising costs and federal uncertainty
+4:00: Radio Worcester (9:25): At airport, 44 acre solar farm planned and American Eagle flights return
+4:00: Holy Cross baseball falls to North Carolina in NCAA regional tourney opener
+4:00: 210 Sports' Friday 4: Handshakes, USA Hockey, Touch the trophy, and Wienie racing
+Noon: It's Friday! Check Dining Out and Bars & Bands before making plans
+Noon: Table Hoppin': Bella Pizzeria brings Brazilian pizza to Worcester
+Noon: New shows & movies to watch this weekend
+Noon: New movies on demand — "Fight or Flight," "The King of Kings" and more
-Counterfeit ticket scam leads to parents missing Worcester high school graduation
-Related: Worcester Technical High School graduation (1:23:13)
-Facing eviction, Worcester's Boston Market owner plans a rebranding instead
-Worcester police arrest suspect in connection with shooting near University Park
-D.O.J. retracts investigations of 8 police departments. What about Worcester?
-Renters find relief at Worcester legal clinic to clear their eviction records
-Providence & Worcester train derails in Rhode Island neighborhood
-W.R.T.A. adds new accessible vans to paratransit fleet
-Bullet found in parking lot of Auburn Middle School; school had been dismissed
-Traditional food and music on tap at Middle Eastern Festival
-100 FM The Pike (9:38): Middle Eastern Festival
-Mass. Attorney General issues guidance on rights during I.C.E. enforcement
-Radio Worcester's The Rundown (26:00): Banned from City Hall — The boundaries of protest
-Radio Worcester Roundtable (48:22): Fallout from the State of the City protest
>DINING OUT (brought to you by Patsie Dugan's): Red Lobster menu changes — Under $20, hush puppies, Happy Hour deals
-ICYMI: Police investigating death of college student in Worcester
-Work begins on $120 million downtown Worcester housing development
-Vandal leaves offensive messages on sign outside Worcester middle school
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN (brought to you by Lamoureux Ford): June Among Friends senior newsletter
-Jazzed Up Duo 5:30 to 8:30 Saturday at Val's
-Lamoureux Ford offers huge discounts! (2:53)
-May & June Senior Center events
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): Joann Fabrics officially closes in Shrewsbury
-Join the inaugural Shrewsbury Pride 5K Run/Walk
-Struggling Quabbin Reservoir towns make public appeal for more state funding
-James Ettamarna, Christine Watkins will join Sutton Select Board
-West Boylston ballot features races, override
-New senior center director introduced in West Boylston
-Clinton Select Board restricts recycling center to residents only amid surge of use by outsiders
-The Item's calendar of events
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Friday
>SHOWTIME: Things to Do: James Oliver Band, M'bolo, Jay Sully and more ...
-Shakira, Jason Aldean, Brooks & Dunn concerts at Fenway Park canceled after sources say staging fell apart (3:44). Article
-"American Idol" winner David Cook to headline annual Pet Rock Fest
-Summer@Music Worcester returns with 3 different concerts
-Worcester students eye "Origin" as part of ArtsWorcester Future Arts Workers
-WCCA-TV's Mayor's Forum No. 53 (28:26): Dr. Tasia Cerezo, Meryl's Safe Haven
-Unity Radio's Cannabis 101 (31:48)
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to Worcester man who expanded his family's trucking business
>SPORTS: TODAY! What to know before Bravehearts Home Opener
-Bravehearts Opening Night giveaway. Next home game: 6:30 Today. Get tickets here
-Bravehearts fall to Starfires, 10-6
-Vrabel's vibes, Drake Maye's relationship with Josh McDaniels (6:47)
-Jordon Hudson's raunchy sexual innuendo from viral Bill Belichick getaway revealed
-Holy Cross baseball to face No. 1 North Carolina in Chapel Hill Regional
-Related: Crusaders celebrate resilient journey to NCAA Tournament
-WooSox beat RailRiders, 3-2
>CARS: Ford recalls more than 1 million vehicles due to rearview camera issue
>NATIONAL: Blatten, Switzerland buried following glacier collapse (2:13). Photos
-4-year-old Mexican girl faces deportation amid medical crisis
>TRAGIC: Teen dies from playing social media "tackle game"
>NEW ENGLAND: Major traffic trouble on the Mass. Pike begins today (2:07). Article
-Around 40 people arrested during I.C.E. operations on Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard
-Karen Read trial (21:07): The prosecution rested its case — our experts grade it
>COLLEGES: Celebrate the Holy Cross Class of 2025
-WPI graduate commencement (:27)
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): What American tourists should know about "terrorism" threat in Italy
>BUSINESS: Central Mass. nonprofits snag portion of $6.7 million for small business training
-LPL Financial Research: Can earnings catch up to this stock market rally?
-Most employees would invite family or a friend on a work trip
>SHOPPING: Shoppers are exploiting retail return policies
>HEALTH: Mental health organizations in Mass. struggle with federal funding cuts (:57)
-Doctor on Hepatitis A after exposure warning issued at Mass. eatery (3:10)
>FOOD: Coke or Pepsi? Best-selling sodas in America in 2024 revealed
>TV/STREAMING: Worcester plays strong supporting role in episode of "The Walking Dead"
>MOVIES: Trailer for new Pete Davidson horror movie, "The Home" (1:58)
>CELEBRITY: Sarah Silverman reveals A-lister who saved her after "SNL" firing
>ANIMALS: Lonely puppy who wasn't moving slowly comes back to life (1:44)
>HISTORY: Then & Now: Burke Square, Main and Ripley streets, Worcester
>GOOD NEWS: Woman's gas stop turns into 6-figure lottery win
-Meanwhile, in Utah, 7-year-old boy drove his little sister to get McDonald's
Latest obituaries | | Thursday's highlights | | Today's horoscope | | Local Sports
Classifieds
>HELP WANTED
+Multiple positions, Nancy Chang Restaurant
+Police officers, town of Leicester
-Worcester Area Director (part-time), Matthew 25
-Part-time bartender, Patsie Dugan's
See all Help Wanteds | | Job opening? Post it here for FREE today
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