Boston officials proposing $15 fee if you drive into the City instead of using public transportation

Like to drive when you visit Boston? You might soon be faced with a $15 fee when choosing to drive into the city rather than take public transportation. Boston City Councilor, Tania Fernandes Anderson is pitching the idea of “congestion pricing” for drivers heading into the city.

Congestion pricing is a fee placed on drivers intended to be a form of revenue for the city, reduce traffic, limit car crashes, increase public transit use, and improve air quality.

The Boston City Council most likely got the idea from New York City which is in the process of putting congestion pricing in place. This came with plenty of pushback including a lawsuit from Bergen County, New Jersey who will be directly affected by an influx in traffic due to this new fee.

Personally, I’m having a tough time seeing this actually become implemented in Boston. We all have been stuck in Boston traffic and thought “There is nothing worse!” Well, imagine being stuck in Boston traffic and then getting slapped in the face with a $15 fee because you didn’t want to take the train?



Crypto Advocate, Attorney, & Swansea Resident looking to challenge Elizabeth Warren in Senate race

John Deaton is taking a “serious look” at running as a Republican candidate against Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren. Deaton is a private attorney, a vocal advocate for the crypto industry, and a Swansea resident.

According to the Boston Globe, if Deaton runs, the Republican Party may be aiming not only at a direct victory over Warren in Massachusetts but also to engage her in a competitive race and prevent her from raising money for other candidates and causes.

Deaton was born in Detroit, is a former U.S Marine, and now owns Deaton Law Firm in Providence, Rhode Island. With over 300,000 followers on twitter, he is a leading voice online in the Crypto community. He has also used his platform to point out his disagreements with Senator Warren.

Elizabeth Warren is known as one of Congress’ most prominent crypto skeptics, aggressively pushing legislation that cracks down on the industry. A spokesperson for Warren recently said in a statement.

“Senator Warren is taking nothing for granted. She has a strong record of delivering for working families and continues to fight hard for the people of Massachusetts,”.



PSA: Presidents’ Day schedule for trash and recycling collection in New Bedford

The City of New Bedford Solid Waste & Recycling Collection sent out a notice that trash pickup will be delayed next week in New Bedford. In observance of Presidents Day, there will be no trash collection on Monday, February 19th.

• For residential collection, all trash, recycling, and bulky pickups will be delayed 1 day.

• For Downtown & Commercial collection, there will be no collection on Monday. Tuesday-Friday will be on schedule.

• For Business cardboard pickup, Monday & Tuesday collection will be delayed 1 day. Fridays will be on schedule.

The recycling center will be closed on Monday.



Massachusetts residents recruited to “Defeat Trump in the 2024 Primaries” using slick tactic

Massachusetts residents have been posting screenshots on social media of a text they received to switch parties and defeat Donald Trump in the 2024 primaries. This is a campaign to enroll Democrats as “unaffiliated voters” in Massachusetts as a way to deny Donald Trump delegates and help Nikki Haley beat Trump in the primary.

The message says it’s paid for by the “Primary Pivot PAC”, whose mission statement on their website reads,

“PrimaryPivot is dedicated to protecting our democracy by defeating Donald Trump in the 2024 Republican primaries. Through his words and actions, Donald Trump has demonstrated a disturbing disregard for the principles that underpin our democracy.

He has shown a shocking lack of faith in the peaceful transfer of power and a blatant disregard for the rule of law. These actions represent a clear and present danger to the integrity of our nation and its democratic processes. Our purpose is not to engage in partisan politics, but to safeguard the core values that have guided our country for generations.”

Below is the message that residents are receiving via text, what are your thoughts on this?



Crash in North Dartmouth injures Massachusetts State Trooper

A Massachusetts State Trooper was involved in an accident on Route 6 in Dartmouth on Wednesday night.

The trooper collided with a 2009 Chevy Silverado just after 5pm.

The operator of the Silverado was uninjured but the State Trooper was transported to a nearby hospital with minor injuries. The cause of the crash and who is at fault is currently unknown.



PSA: New Bedford’s Route 18 closing for South Coast rail construction

As part of the South Coast Rail Project construction of the new pedestrian bridge across Route 18 and Acushnet Avenue, the MBTA’s contractor will be erecting temporary support steel structures (falsework) over Route 18, which will be used to support the placement and construction of the new permanent bridge steel.

When complete, the pedestrian bridge will provide a neighborhood connection to the new MBTA Station on Acushnet Avenue at the Whale’s Tooth Parking Lot in New Bedford. This work will require overnight closures of Route 18 and adjacent roads.

The following is a tentative schedule of closures, subject to change:

• Tuesday Night Feb. 20 – Acushnet Avenue: traffic will be diverted to Herman Melville Blvd.

• Wednesday Night Feb. 21 – Route 18 Northbound at Route 6/Mill St. and Hillman St.: traffic
will be diverted to Herman Melville Blvd. and Purchase St. (see map on back)

• Thursday Night Feb. 22 – Route 18 Southbound at Purchase St. exit: traffic will be diverted to
Purchase St. (see map on back)

• Sunday Night Feb. 25 – Route 18 Southbound or Purchase Street Ramp: traffic diversions as
described above or below.

• Monday Night Feb. 26 – Route 18 Purchase St. Ramp: Traffic will be diverted to the next
Route 18 exit (Route 6 West exit onto Pleasant St./Purchase St.).

Overnight work hours and detours are scheduled for 8 PM to 5 AM.


Google Maps photo.


Google Maps photo.



Massachusetts man accused of murdering girlfriend, escaping prison, is caught again in Kenya

On January 30, we reported that 40-year-old Kevin Adam Kinyanjui Kangethe, wanted in connection with killing 31-year-old Margaret Mbitu of Whitman, Massachusetts, was apprehended at a nightclub by Kenyan authorities.

Kangethe is suspected of stabbing Mbitu to death sometime between October 30 and November 4, 2023. then dumping her body in a garage at Logan Airport.

Massachusetts District Attorney Kevin Hayden said that his office was informed by federal officials that Kangethe escaped from police custody in Kenya. “It is our hope that Kenyan law enforcement will do their utmost to recapture Kangethe so that we can continue seeking justice for Margaret Mbitu and her family,” Hayden said.

Kangethe escaped the prison prison despite there being four officers on duty. The opportunity to escape was made possible when Kangethe was removed from his cell and placed in an office to meet with his attorney John Maina Ndegwa who had scheduled the meeting.

Nairobi Police Chief John Maina Ndegwa called Kengethe’s escape “embarrassing.” All four of the officers who were on duty have been arrested.

In a press conference, Mbitu’s family was livid at Kengethe’s escape. Mbitu’s cousin Joel Muhoro visibly angry with officials, said “I don’t have no words. They had him. They told us they had him and they let him walk out. So who can we trust?”

On Wednesday, February 14th, Authorities in Kenya said the man suspected of murder in Massachusetts was rearrested after he escaped local authorities a week earlier while awaiting extradition. They did not elaborate on the details of the arrest.

When news broke last week that Kangethe escaped prison, the family of Margaret Mbitu was devastated and many were exposing the Kenyan Police Department as being heavily corrupt.

Kangethe is expected to get sent back to the United States, and we will follow up with details as new information is released.

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Massachusetts woman encourages housing of migrants, “It’s like having my own personal chef”

A Massachusetts woman has taken the internet by storm after sharing her experience housing migrants in her own home. She is hosting a family of Haitian migrants and told reporters it is like having her own “personal chef” in the house.

Lisa Hillenbrand told NBC 10 Boston “They are hard-working, they want to learn, they want to be successful, and I feel great helping, and I get to understand the refuge crisis from the inside.”

This video sparked plenty of pushback on social media with many wondering why homeless American citizens and veterans aren’t getting this treatment and attention.

WBZ Boston recently interviewed another family who is now housing 4 migrants in their home. “I gotta get sheets on the beds! How many are coming? Where are they from? What are their ages?” the woman eagerly said. Once she agreed to host, 4 migrants were dropped off at her house within 1 hour, which just shows how important of an issue the migrant housing crisis is becoming in Massachusetts.

Governor Healey and her administration began asking Massachusetts residents to host migrant families in their homes in 2023. Now in early 2024, it appears some residents are opening their homes.



New Bedford Detectives raid north end residence, charge one with trafficking Fentanyl, cocaine

NEW BEDFORD – Narcotics detectives have placed a local man under arrest following a drug raid at his residence.

On Saturday, February 10th, Detective Jonathan Miranda concluded an investigation into a cocaine distribution operation being conducted out of an apartment on Phillips Ave. The target of the investigation was 35-year-old JARROD ALVES.

During a search warrant execution at his apartment, ALVES was found to be in possession of over 157 grams of cocaine and 80 grams of fentanyl, as well as Xanex, Ecstasy, and mushrooms. ALVES was also found to have digital scales and packaging materials used in the processing of narcotics to prepare them for street-level sales. In addition, over $2400 in cash was seized from the apartment as a result of it being proceeds from illicit drug activity.

ALVES was placed under arrest and charged with a number of offenses including trafficking in cocaine, trafficking in fentanyl, and possession with intent to distribute classes A, B, C, D, and E. He was previously convicted of possession with intent to distribute class A in 2014, making this a subsequent offense that can carry stiffer penalties.

At the time of this arrest, ALVES was on probation out of Bristol Superior Court. He has a history of convictions for a variety of charges including firearm offenses, assault with a dangerous weapon, resisting arrest, and assault and battery on a police officer.



Wrong way driver in New Bedford does three point turn in front of oncoming traffic

A New Bedford resident’s dash-cam captured a car driving on the wrong side of the highway, stop, and complete a three point turn in front of oncoming traffic. They sent the dash-cam footage in to New Bedford Guide with the following caption,

“On Rt.140 this morning someone decided it would be a good idea to drive on the wrong side of the highway. They realized it and did a three-point turn to go back in the right direction. Luckily, my daughter had a dash cam to capture this stupidity.” The video was sent in by Paul DeSousa.

Wrong way drivers cause between 300-400 deaths per year in America. Just a few months ago, on Christmas night, a wrong way driver killed a family of three in Somerset, Massachusetts. A stark reminder that although nobody was hurt in the following video, this could of been a devastating situation.

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