The New Bedford Light

Follow that bot! The Jellyfishbot, that is. The first of its kind on the East Coast, the bright yellow robot nicknamed "Bumblebee" is geared to fight against litter in Fairhaven's harbor. Watch it work; find out how it landed there⤵️
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How to vote in New Bedford’s preliminary election on Tuesday - The New Bedford Light On Oct. 7, voters will decide which at-large councilors will appear on the November ballot. Here’s all you need to know.

🗳 On Tuesday, Oct. 7, New Bedford voters will decide which at-large councilors will appear on the November ballot. Here’s all you need to know, from who's running to where to vote to how to cast your ballot. #election2025

InPerson: New Bedford’s Eric Jay Santos — songwriter, sportswriter, teacher — whose passion for words has him living his childhood dreams.
Read the interview:
newbedfordlight.org/new-bedfords...
Watch the video:

City MCAS scores flatline or decline, with high school participation down - The New Bedford Light Now that the 10th grade MCAS tests are no longer a graduation requirement, fewer high schoolers in New Bedford participated.

📝Student test scores in New Bedford and around Massachusetts have mostly flatlined or declined, according to the latest statewide data. In the first year when 10th grade scores no longer would determine who graduates, far fewer of New Bedford’s high schoolers participated in these tests. #MCAS

Andrea Sanchez: the city worker who questioned longevity pay for pols - The New Bedford Light Andrea Sanchez was on the job for less than a year before she started to ask why elected officials were getting the same longevity pay as management.

Opinion: How was it that after 35 years of providing longevity pay to elected officials New Bedford suddenly stopped the practice last year? It stopped because a second-year city employee, working by herself in an understaffed treasurer’s office, questioned it, writes Light columnist Jack Spillane.

A chance to ‘write’ the U.S. Constitution in Dartmouth - The New Bedford Light The public is invited to hand-copy the U.S. Constitution as a way to interact with — and interrogate — the bedrock of American governance.

✍️ They gathered at the Dartmouth Public Library North Branch to hand-copy the #U.S.Constitution, an exercise aimed at introducing the document to the public and encouraging interaction with it and meditation on it.
✍️ Want to try it? There's a second workshop tomorrow. More below⤵️

New Bedford asylee back home after weeklong ICE detention - The New Bedford Light Pascual Cuin González, an immigrant with asylum status and a work permit, was detained in three facilities before being released.

Pascual Cuin González, an immigrant with asylum status and a work permit, was detained in three facilities -- in Massachusetts, New York and Louisiana -- before being released. He was never told why he was arrested by #ICEagents or let go. With 🎥

Opinion: A journalist’s letter to Mayor Mitchell - The New Bedford Light It is self-defeating to keep reporters at arm’s length. Who better to explain the city’s challenges — and its plans to solve those challenges — than our long-term mayor?

Opinion: It is self-defeating to keep reporters at arm’s length, says veteran journalist Ken Hartnett. Who better to explain New Bedford's challenges — and its plans to solve those challenges — than our long-term mayor? @jonmitchellnb.bsky.social #opengovernment #NewBedfordMA

Impact of Trump policies worsens for immigrant businesses - The New Bedford Light Store owners on Acushnet Avenue say ICE operations have dealt a blow to their revenue – with one business reporting a 50% loss in sales in the last eight months.

Store owners on Acushnet Avenue say #ICE operations have dealt a blow to more than their revenue. “Definitely, you can see the impact,” said Muhammad Naseer, owner of America’s Market, a grocery store on Acushnet Avenue, “not just in the numbers, but in the psyche of the community.”

Fire Department begins formal safety inspections at Whaler’s Cove - The New Bedford Light The New Bedford Fire Department found no safety issues during its first formal inspection of the city’s assisted living facility in at least 18 years.

No safety issues were found at the only #assistedlivingfacility in New Bedford after the city's Fire Department began quarterly #safetyinspections this month. The action was taken one week after The Light reported that Whaler's Cove had not received a formal inspection in at least 18 years.

Opinion: Does the MAHA movement actually care about America’s children? - The New Bedford Light If RFK Jr. and his followers truly cared about America’s children, gun control would be top of their priority list.

Opinion: The Trump administration recently released a long-promised report decrying the sorry state of the #health of American #children and saying how it planned to change this. What is most telling about this report is what it does NOT cover, writes Edward P. Hoffer, M.D., F.A.C.P., F.A.C.C.

‘Salad Days’ greater than the sum of its parts - The New Bedford Light The 63-piece exhibit inside old greenhouses at Haskell Public Gardens is unique, thoughtful … and problematic in a kind of perfect way.

Chasing the Muse: "Salad Days," the 63-piece exhibit inside old greenhouses at Haskell Public Gardens is unique, thoughtful … and problematic in a kind of perfect way.
Read Don Wilkinson's review, with his photos of works from the exhibit⤵️
newbedfordlight.org/salad-days-a...

Corporate tax fight hits home in New Bedford as federal cuts loom - The New Bedford Light State reps addressed 100 people about Massachusetts’s response to federal cuts to health care, student loans, and food assistance. Advocates want to raise state taxes on multinational corporations.

Constituents at a New Bedford town hall spoke before lawmakers about impending federal cuts to #healthcare, #education and #foodassistance. To offset losses, advocates are pushing a “Corporate Fair Share” bill in Massachusetts, which would require multinational corporations to pay more state taxes.

South Coast is the place for fall fun - The New Bedford Light Munch an apple, pick a pumpkin, meander in a maze now that autumn has arrived on the South Coast.

🍂The air may be getting brisk but the season’s #fallfestivities are warming up. Check out our calendar of events around the South Coast. Got more? You can submit them to us, too!

New Bedford City Council candidate speaks about history of substance use - The New Bedford Light In an interview with The Light, James Roy addresses accusations that he attempted to hide his past and says, “No one should be defined by their lowest moment.”

James Roy, a progressive candidate for at-large city councilor in New Bedford, addresses accusations that he attempted to hide his past history of substance use. Some of the unflattering specifics of that past have now reared their head in election season attacks.

Offshore wind labor force hoping for work that might not continue - The New Bedford Light Union workers worry the Trump administration’s opposition to offshore wind might shut down the industry.

🧢 Since the federal government abruptly halted construction at Empire Wind for one month in the spring, and then Revolution Wind in August, workers supporting the buildout of #offshorewind in New England have grown worried about the industry’s future — and theirs.

The New Bedford Light is one of them! Represented by our environment reporter Brooke Kushwaha. Congratulations, Brooke! @brookekushwaha.bsky.social

Opinion: Our elected leaders are subject to the rule of law - The New Bedford Light Citizens need to use our constitutional rights and protect them, or we will lose them.

Opinion: "Our elected and appointed leaders are not gods. They are humans, like the rest of us, and capable of making mistakes and being wrong. When this happens, we, as citizens, have the constitutional right and duty to object," writes Jane Constant of New Bedford. #freespeech

New Bedford nursing home cited for failing to stop physical and sexual abuse - The New Bedford Light Brandon Woods of New Bedford received more health citations than any other nursing home in Massachusetts last year.

A New Bedford nursing home has been cited for more health and safety violations than any other nursing facility in Massachusetts, and more than 99% in the country📊. A state report said Brandon Woods "failed to provide a safe environment free from physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglect."

The Chat: New Bedford’s at-large City Council candidates take center stage - The New Bedford Light Incumbents and newcomers discuss important issues affecting the city and how to improve life in New Bedford.

📹📹 Double feature: At-large New Bedford City Council candidates take center stage

Light columnist Jack Spillane hosted eight of the candidates in the at-large race for a spirited and informative twin bill of The Chat.

🍿Grab some popcorn, settle back and watch the recorded interviews!

New Bedford firefighter placed on leave after Charlie Kirk comments - The New Bedford Light Jonathan Pacheco has been placed on paid administrative leave while he is being investigated for violating the city’s social media policy.

A New Bedford firefighter has been placed on administrative leave after making a Facebook post about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The action and investigation come after online conservative activists targeted Pacheco for the post #socialmediapolicy #NewBedford #CharlieKirk

How to vote in New Bedford’s 2025 local elections - The New Bedford Light Here’s how to register to vote, check your voter status, and find your polling location ahead of the Oct. 7 preliminary and Nov. 4 general election.

🗳️Here’s how to register to #vote, check your voter status, and find your polling location ahead of the Oct. 7 preliminary and Nov. 4 general elections in New Bedford #elections2025 #NewBedfordMA

City Council sues Mayor Mitchell - The New Bedford Light Councilors say Mitchell needs their approval to appoint Jason Thody as police chief.

#Breaking: New Bedford City Council has filed its lawsuit against Mayor Jon Mitchell in Bristol County Superior Court, seeking a declaratory judgment that says the mayor must seek official council approval for his appointment of Jason Thody as police chief. #NewBedford

Advocates: Feds using ‘illegal re-entry’ charge to up deportation numbers - The New Bedford Light In Massachusetts, 96 people faced felony illegal re-entry charges in Trump’s first five months. That’s compared to just four in Biden’s last three months.

The Trump administration is increasing its use of the federal charge of “unlawful re-entry of a deported alien,” leading to a noticeable uptick in such prosecutions at U.S. District Court Massachusetts. #immigrantdeportations

Inspired at 10, Dartmouth’s Audrey Kertscher follows her passion - The New Bedford Light The Johns Hopkins freshman has already co-authored and presented a study on malaria and looks forward to a future in public health.

InPerson: Johns Hopkins freshman Audrey Kertscher of Dartmouth has already co-authored and presented a study on #malaria and looks forward to a future in #publichealth. She talks about what it's been like to follow her academic passion -- and her passion for performing.

BOEM to consider revocation of SouthCoast Wind approval - The New Bedford Light If a federal judge approves the request, it could deal a critical blow to the offshore wind project located 20 miles south of Nantucket.

The Interior Department agency regulating #offshorewind development asked a federal judge on Thursday to allow the reconsideration of a key approval for the SouthCoast Wind project. If approved, it could deal another blow to the beleaguered project.

3 Guatemalan men arrested in early morning Fairhaven raid - The New Bedford Light ICE agents transported all three detainees to the Burlington field office and subsequently released one man.

ICE agents arrested three Guatemalan painters in Fairhaven on their way to work during an early-morning operation Friday. They brought all three detainees to the Burlington field office and subsequently released one man. #ICEarrests #FairhavenMA #detainees

Election 2025 candidate interviews - The New Bedford Light > Candidate interviews New Bedford’s at-large council candidates introduce themselves The New Bedford Light is giving all candidates running for municipal office the chance to introduce themselves — w...

New Bedford municipal elections are heating up with only a couple of weeks left before the Oct. 7 preliminary election. The New Bedford Light is giving all candidates for municipal office the chance to introduce themselves. Candidates for at-large councilor are up first, in video interviews 📹.

Questions remain after waste transfer station rejected - The New Bedford Light South Coast Renewables could appeal the Board of Health’s recent decision to reject the proposed project.

After the New Bedford Board of Health denied a proposed waste transfer station in the city’s Far North End this week, activists and nearby residents breathed a sigh of relief. But the fight may not be over.
#environment #wastetransfer #newbedford

Where does New Bedford’s marijuana tax go? - The New Bedford Light One reader asks, “Where are all the taxes going from the dispensaries? How much money has the city made so far?”

Ask The Light: One reader wanted to know: Where are all the taxes going from the #marijuana dispensaries in New Bedford? How much money has the city made so far? Our reporter came up with answers.