Here's what's happening in and around Worcester today
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
+6:30: 119 new cases in Worcester, 2,190 total. Shrewsbury, 175 (+6 cases); Millbury, 150 (+3); Leicester, 94 (+4); Grafton, 55 (0); Holden, 55 (+9). Press conference video (42:51)
+6:30: 61 Worcester Walmart employees test positive
+6:30: Here are the requirements for Worcester's $5,000 COVID-19 assistance grants
+6:30: Worcester Urgent Care Center now offering COVID-19 antibody test
+6:30: State totals: 2,189 long-term care deaths, 3,716 total deaths, 947 in ICU, 2,106 new cases
+6:30: Ohio's stay-at-home order extended through Memorial Day
+2:20: Gov. Baker requiring all Mass. residents wear face coverings when in public as of May 6
+1:00: Radio Worcester Chamber Radio Blast (12:27): Edgar Luna - Small Business Resiliency Grants & 2020 Census
+12:30: Some essential workers expected to strike in Mass. May Day protest (1:24)
+12:30: Students sue Boston University over tuition reimbursement
+12:30: Major U.S. airlines to require face masks
-82 new cases in Worcester, 2,071 total. Press conference video (31:20)
-At least 41 workers at Worcester Walmart test positive, up from 23 (2:00)
-Social media postings tipped off Worcester officials to outbreak at Walmart
-18 cases identified at Worcester’s Albion rooming house
-Central Mass. city and town cases as of Thursday
-If this number calls, you may have been exposed to COVID-19
-UMass Memorial easing visitor restrictions for end-of-life care
-UMass Memorial among test sites for new drug Remdesivir
-Worcester closes city dog parks until further notice
-Worcester Together fund tops $5.8M, $1.1M in grants given
-WCCA-TV's Daily Breaking (19:53) -- Hank von Hellion, Managing Director, Worcester PopUp & Olivia Scanlon, Managing Director, Worcester BrickBox
-State totals: 2,101 long-term are deaths, 3,562 total, 1,940 new cases, 62,205 total, 275,647 tested. Story
-Nearly 9 in 10 Americans worry economy will collapse: poll
-More than 70,000 in Mass. file for unemployment last week
-More than 3.8 million Americans applied for unemployment last week
-Researchers may know in 6 months if vaccine works
-Macy's aims to reopen 68 stores in May, all locations by mid-June
-Help To Retire offering remote consultations to those nearing retirement (1:00)
-On the lighter side: These at-home coronavirus haircut fails may outlast quarantine
-Good news (brought to you by Bertera Nissan): Teacher in Alabama pays students’ utility bills with his stimulus check
In Other News
-6:45: Who's open for take out or delivery? (updated)
+6:30: Park Grill to reopen Thursday
+1:00: O'Connor's Restaurant announces May 6 reopening
+12:30: Ricky Duran show at Hanover rescheduled for Oct. 10
+12:30: 5 great ways to spend your weekend at home in Worcester
+12:30: Here are the 20 safest cities in Mass. in 2020
-Latest weather: Oh look, more rain ...
-Overnight: Fire at historic downtown restaurant
-St. John's, Notre Dame Academy, Venerini Academy establish Alliance for Independent Catholic Schools
-Shrewsbury St. restaurant latest to announce reopening
-Model shows Worcester's economy began declining in early March
-1 in custody after ShotSpotter activation on Providence Street in Worcester
-ICYMI: Worcester's crazy intersections like you've never seen them before
-Tribute to well-known Worcester-area broadcaster and radio exec who recently passed away
-Homes (brought to you by Ross Mortgage): Houseplants bring added health benefits to your home
-Anderson Cooper announces birth of son Wyatt live on CNN
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
Latest obituaries | | Thursday's highlights | | Today's horoscope | | Local Sports
Quick Links: Personalize your news | | Browse members | | Advertise | | Blogs | | Invite friends | | Videos
Animals | | Boston Sports | | Business | | Cars | | Celebrity | | Colleges | | Commute & Travel | | Crime | | Faith | | Food | | Good News | | Health | | History | | Homes | | Local Sports | | Lottery | | Movies | | National | | New England | | Politics | | Shopping & Deals | | SHOWTIME! | | TV & Streaming | | Weather
