Here's what's happening in and around Worcester today
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
+8:45: 70 new cases in Worcester, 2,924 total. Shrewsbury, 226 (4 new cases); Millbury, 178 (as of Friday); Leicester, 107 (+1); Grafton, 66 (0); Holden, 64 (0). Press conference video (17:24)
+8:45: Polar Park and other essential construction shut down amid coronavirus can resume this week
+8:45: Worcester pastor again violates social distancing requirements with services
+8:45: State totals: 3,001 long-term care deaths, 3,979 total, 810 in ICU, 1,050 new cases
+8:45: Meat shortages could last through summer
+10:45: Mother's Day gift: Daughter follows mom onto nursing staff at UMass Memorial
+10:45: Ray Mariano: Coronavirus national leadership tournament
-81 new cases in Worcester, 2,854 total. Shrewsbury, 222 (3 new cases); Millbury, 178 (as of Friday); Leicester, 106 (+2); Grafton, 66 (0); Holden, 64 (0). No press conference Saturday
-Holy Cross professor says there's no 'obvious timeline' to Worcester's economy jump-start
-WBUR: Worcester leaders say coronavirus measures allow city to 'do wonders' for homeless community
-Worcester schools to begin distributing Chromebooks to families on Friday
-Chamber: Worcester teachers should be logging student interactions
-Local musician performs heartfelt concert for caregivers at St. Vincent Hospital
-ICYMI: COVID-19 claims Worcester father & son days apart
-Postcard from 1918 brings Spanish flu account to COVID-19 descendant from Worcester
-State totals: 2,922 long-term care deaths, 4,840 total, 814 in ICU, 1,410 new cases
-Mass. mother of 5 sick with virus will be alone for Mother's Day (1:34)
-Americans want strict curbs on in-person worship, poll finds
-Uh oh: Dr. Fauci, a Holy Cross grad, to begin 'modified quarantine' due to contact with White House staffer
-Spoiler: It's not good. When will we be going to concerts and sporting events again? Here’s what experts are saying
-Details of MLB's restart proposal from coronavirus emerge
-Dropping the Dish and Cutting the Cord: Pay TV subscriber losses hit record amid pandemic, virtual services 'implode'
-Help To Retire offering remote consultations to those nearing retirement (1:00)
-Homes (brought to you by Ross Mortgage): Creative Ideas for Stay-At-Home Fun during COVID-19
In Other News
+8:45: Car thefts spike, many other crimes decrease in Worcester during pandemic
-3:00: Who's open for take out or delivery? (updated)
+2:30: Worcester Police investigate Sunday morning shooting on Main Street
+2:30: Two arrested for pair of armed robberies in Worcester, third suspect at large
+10:45: Worcester County Memorial Park places flowers at graves for Mother's Day
+10:45: Song to Get You Through the Week: Sapling delivers hilarious 'Everything Was Better'
-Worcester Diocese named in New Mexico child sex abuse suit
-Crash at Summit in Worcester takes down pole, knocks out power
-Holy Cross grad among contestants in Martha Stewart baking TV show
-Filmmaker undertakes project on former Holy Cross, Holy Name center Neil Fingleton
-Great drone video of Indian Lake & Sears Island in Worcester from New England Sky Pix (2:00)
-Who's open for take out or delivery? (updated)
-ICYMI: Worcester Restaurant Group announces reopening plans
-10 great ways to spend your weekend at home in Worcester
-Surplus of uncertainty to new Worcester budget
-Record low temperature for May 9 recorded in Worcester
-Video of Friday's wreck on Mass Pike (1:18)
-Yellick's Farm in Northborough officially open for season
-Paul Vuona, Zonkaraz cofounder and longtime Firehouse Cafe owner, dies
-Rock-n-roll pioneer Little Richard dies at 87
-Calif. father accused of throwing 1-year-old daughter to her death from cliff
-On the lighter side: Watch bear make late-night visit to Minnesota mall
-Good news (brought to you by Bertera Nissan): The search for the 'world's greatest mom' (2:48)
In The News
>WEATHER: Mark Rosenthal's 7-day forecast (:30). High of 56 today in Worcester
>TOP OF THE NEWS
+Noon: Man fleeing police crashes into State Police cruiser, Worcester police say
+Noon: It's Friday! Check Dining Out and Bars & Bands before making plans
+Noon: New shows and movies to watch this weekend
+Noon: New movies on demand — "Dune: Part Two," "Immaculate," and more
+Noon: Mark Cecil's epic fable "Bunyan and Henry" leads back to Worcester
+Noon: "Beyond the Frames: A Musical Celebration" set for Mechanics Hall
-51-year-old amputee playing baseball at Quinsigamond Community College after accident ended trucking career (2:21). Article
-Worcester’s city employee salary database for 2023: see the city’s top earners and more
-Worcester public housing community receives high inspection score, despite complaints
-GoFundMe created to benefit family of Worcester shooting victim Bob Nuah
-Worcester judge orders fourth triple shooting suspect held without bail
-Charged in Worcester girl's death, Christopher Remillard awaits trial
-W.R.T.A. board votes to extend fare-free buses through 2025
-W.B.J. hires New School graduate as reporter covering health care, D.E.I.
-Danish educators learn classroom A.I. from Worcester teachers
-Worcester Tech senior Stephen highlighted as a Worcester Star Student
-Radio Worcester (15:55): Eric Batista discusses Worcester gun violence & city plans
-Faces of Worcester: Sean Harris, Director of Community Engagement, Quinsigamond Community College
>DINING OUT: Phantom Gourmet's Great 8 Unique Restaurant Locations (5:02)
-ICYMI: Rutland teen killed in crash during motocross race in Southwick
-Channel 5 Wake Up Call from Chandler Magnet Elementary School in Worcester (:46)
-New Worcester Police Department gun unit recovers first illegal firearm
-Cordella's Coffee opens in Worcester on bustling block
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN (brought to you by Lamoureux Ford): Eagle Scout project refurbishes church lounge
-Lamoureux Ford salutes the UConn Huskies (:54)
-Spring composting 8 to 2:30 Saturday
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): West Boylston plans override, amount T.B.D.
-Sutton solar project remains under enforcement order
-Clinton P.T.A. now "award winning"
-Rutland hydrant flushing begins April 22nd
-Q.C.C. Early College Program coming to Southbridge High School
-9 Grafton B.V.T. students earn medals at District V competition
-The Item's public safety logs
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Friday
>SHOWTIME: Taylor Swift unveils surprise double album "The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology" -- and fans go wild
-Five things to do: Motorheads, mind readers, moments of music
-Richard Thomas in "To Kill a Mockingbird" in Worcester
-Street style served up fresh at fashion show
-Northampton cosmic metal act Black Pyramid set to invade Central Mass.
-Worcester State prof and poet Heather Treseler wins prize for "enthralling" poems
-WCCA-TV's Chandler Chat No. 421 (27:14): Dr. Lynda Young
-Unity Radio (55:04): Standups and Standouts
-This Week in Worcester Podcast (51:27): Public restrooms, youth justice reform, Rep. McGovern on Gaza
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to local 17-year-old killed in crash
>SPORTS: Former Worcester Academy star T.J. Power of Shrewsbury leaving Duke, enters transfer portal
-Boston police warn Bruins, Celtics fans about counterfeit playoff tickets
-Eliot Wolf, Patriots "open for business" entering NFL Draft
-NFL Draft Preview featuring Holy Cross stars Jalen Coker and C.J. Hanson (33:06)
-Holy Cross Athletics announces return of Coaches Road Show
-Clark's Isaiah Taylor to host free youth basketball clinic Saturday on campus
-Red Sox lose to Cleveland, 5-4
-WooSox postponed, doubleheader Saturday
-Remembering Larry Lucchino, eulogy by Dr. Charles Steinberg
>CARS: Bertera has the all-star team to help you find your next Nissan car or truck (:39)
-About 55,000 Prius, Prius HEV compact cars recalled
>NATIONAL: 6 arrested, 3 on run in what police call biggest gold theft in Canada’s history
-Shocking video captures scam victim pointing gun at innocent Uber driver before allegedly killing her
-Tragic: Video shows cop shooting 15-year-old with toy gun
>NEW ENGLAND: James Parker granted parole in 2001 Zantop murders
-11-year-old Maine boy killed after crashing friend's A.T.V.
>COLLEGES: Anna Maria’s play raises money for local charity
-Student entrepreneurs make a splash at WooTank
-Winners of Nichols' annual Elevator Speech Competition announced
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): The 8 most underrated places in Switzerland
>BUSINESS: Retail sales rose in March for the second straight month
-LPL Research: Revisiting energy
-W.B.J.'s 5 Things I know about ... Still overlooked money basics
>SHOPPING: Yoto mini recall affects 250,000 speakers for kids due to fire risk
>HOMES: See all homes sold in Worcester County, April 7th to 13th
>HEALTH: Mass. doctor on new warning about measles (2:36)
-Cardiac arrest and COVID vaccines aren't linked in young, C.D.C. says
>FOOD: Central Mass. Mom's Best Ice Cream Shops in Central Mass.
>TV/STREAMING: CNN axes Charles Barkley and Gayle King's weekly show "King Charles"
>MOVIES: A fifth "Matrix" movie is in the works
>CELEBRITY: Allman Brothers Band co-founder and legendary guitarist Dickey Betts dies at 80
>ANIMALS: Puppy thrown in trash is unrecognizable now (3:01)
>HISTORY: George Frisbie Hoar Monument
>GOOD NEWS (brought to you by Bertera Nissan): Couple a perfect match in marriage and in their kidneys
-Meanwhile, in Las Vegas, woman goes ballistic while being arrested on Spirit plane
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