A group of new American citizens was officially welcomed into the community last Friday at New Bedford’s Immigrants’ Assistance Center. Friends and family applauded, whistled in jubilation and stretched their arms to take pictures of their loved ones receiving their certificates and becoming citizens of the U.S. Some new citizens were visibly holding back tears […]
South Coast Bureau
Posted inLocal, Politics, South Coast Bureau
How the Democrats lost their grip on Fall River
For a long time, the glue that held together the various constituencies of Fall River politics was the Democratic ward committee. The city’s nine ward committees were little outposts of the party with a presence in every neighborhood of Fall River. Each committee had up to 35 members elected from the surrounding neighborhood, many of […]
Posted inEnvironment, Local, South Coast Bureau
New Bedford’s next offshore wind play: More office space
New Bedford’s waterfront is already bustling with the colossal maneuvers of offshore wind construction – there are cranes assembling turbines taller than the city’s biggest buildings, and ships arriving with blades as long as football fields. But on Monday, Mayor Jon Mitchell announced the city’s latest play in the industry: creating more office space for […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, South Coast Bureau
Fall River voters are embracing Trump and his harsh stance on immigration
Fernando’s Place is a bar in Fall River, in a part of town called the Flint. It’s a hole in the wall spot next to an auto body shop. Inside, there’s a pool table, a lottery ticket machine, and a TV regulars use to watch Champions League soccer on weekday afternoons. The view from the […]
Posted inBusiness, Local, South Coast Bureau
New Bedford takes Star Store owner to court
The City of New Bedford is suing the private owner of the Star Store for more than $500,000 in unpaid taxes through a process that could end with the city seizing ownership of the downtown property if its tax bill remains unpaid. The Star Store, an historic building that fills nearly a full city block […]
Posted inLocal, Politics, South Coast Bureau
Breaking down the South Coast’s competitive elections in 2024
Our South Coast Bureau Reporter Ben Berke broke down the elections on the South Coast with Morning Edition host Luis Hernandez. Transcript: This transcript has been edited for length and clarity. Luis Hernandez: So Ben, two years ago, there was a very high profile race for Bristol County Sheriff. Is there a similar race that’s […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Local, South Coast Bureau
Tension over police reforms contributed to Fall River chief’s ousting
When Paul Gauvin was an internal affairs investigator with the Fall River Police Department, his efforts to discipline officers for things like steroid abuse and excessive force were sometimes thwarted by station politics and powerful protections in union contracts. So when Gauvin was promoted to chief in December 2021, he said he tried to overhaul […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Local, South Coast Bureau
Fall River mayor switches police chiefs under pressure from unions
As Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan weighed four internal candidates for police chief, he said Kelly Furtado emerged as a popular choice among the department’s rank and file. Furtado comes from a police family: her father, husband and son have all served as Fall River police officers. She had also worked alongside the mayor at […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Local, South Coast Bureau
Family offers $10,000 reward for tips about fatal police shooting in Fall River
The family of a man killed by Fall River police officers three years ago is offering a $10,000 reward for tips that advance their understanding of the investigation into his death. Their relative, Anthony Harden, was shot in his bedroom in November 2021 by a Fall River police officer shortly after Harden’s girlfriend reported him […]
Posted inEducation, Local, South Coast Bureau
Investigation unravels how New Bedford lost its downtown arts college
When UMass Dartmouth announced the sudden closure of its downtown arts campus in New Bedford last year, just three weeks before classes began, politicians and university officials were quick to point fingers. Conflicting allegations created a confusing tangle of blame, as movers emptied two decades worth of art and studio equipment from the sprawling beaux […]
