Politics

Dr. Michael Rocha, a cardiologist in New Bedford, MA and a member of the COVID19 Action Coalition, a physician-led group that is working to keep everyone safe in MA during this pandemic talks about voting safely in these times of COVID. Voting in person increases the number of people gathering …

In a letter today to New Bedford Public Schools families, staff and students, Superintendent Thomas Anderson announced the launching of a dashboard-style tracker of COVID-19 test positivity rates for the district. Linked directly to the district homepage, www.newbedfordschools.org, the data will be updated weekly. Emphasizing transparency and noting the district …

Governor Charlie Baker today nominated Associate Justice Kimberly Budd to serve as Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court. The nominee and her family joined Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito for a formal announcement today at the State House. If confirmed, Justice Budd will be the second Black …

The New Bedford Health Department has issued fines to three New Bedford businesses for failure to comply with the City’s COVID-19 regulations and protections for residents. El Caribe Restaurant at 884 Brock Avenue, Expo’s Convenience Store at 309 Dartmouth Street, and Crown Fried Chicken at 1570 Acushnet Avenue, were each …

By Katie Lannan State House News Service Holidays will need to look different this year, state officials said as they recommended Thanksgiving celebrations be held virtually or limited to one household to minimize COVID-19 transmission risks. “The science on this one’s pretty clear — gathering in groups indoors for an …

By Matt Murphy State House News Service Gov. Charlie Baker and his top education advisors urged schools Tuesday not to overreact to the rise in COVID-19 cases this fall, telling even those districts in communities deemed to be at the highest risk for transmission of the virus to stick with …

By Katie Lannan State House News Service Boston and federal authorities are investigating after a fire was set in a ballot drop box in Copley Square early Sunday morning, and Secretary of State William Galvin has directed all local election officials to boost security around ballot boxes. A directive Galvin …

Colin A. Young State House News Service Almost one quarter of the cities or towns in Massachusetts are now designated by the state as being at the highest-risk for COVID-19 transmission. In its weekly update on municipality-specific coronavirus activity, the Department of Public Health said 22 new towns — Ashland, …

Mayor Jon Mitchell, Senator Mark Montigny, Representative Christopher Markey, other members of the New Bedford legislative delegation, and City Councillors joined together today to announce a plan for an Advanced Manufacturing Campus (AMC) on 100 acres of the 275-acre Whaling City Golf Course on Hathaway Road. The AMC has been …

A former employee of the City of Boston was sentenced today to eight months in federal prison for distributing cocaine and fentanyl. Gary “Jamal” Webster, 36, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs to eight months in prison and two years of supervised release. The government sought …