A seafood processing plant in Fall River is at the heart of a new lawsuit that claims the plant employed underage migrant workers – and says the teens were exposed to potentially dangerous conditions. The suit comes a year after an investigation by The Public’s Radio into possible child labor violations at seafood processors in New Bedford. Also, a year after UMass Dartmouth abruptly closed its arts campus at the Star Store in New Bedford, an investigation by the Massachusetts Inspector General gives us a clearer picture of what exactly happened and who’s to blame. And we hear a studio session with Providence-based jazz combo, the Leland Baker Trio. That and more on this week’s show.
fall river
Posted inHealth, Local
Lifespan finalizes deal to buy two Massachusetts hospitals
Rhode Island’s largest hospital system, Lifespan, on Thursday said that it reached a deal to buy two Massachusetts hospitals from the distressed Steward Health Care for $175 million. The price for Saint Anne’s Hospital in Fall River, Mass. and Morton Hospital in Taunton, Mass., includes the land, building and improvements to the property as well […]
Posted inHousing, Local
A Massachusetts law requires some towns to add more multi-family housing. Will it work?
As Rhode Island continues to search for ways to increase its housing stock, a new law in Massachusetts is requiring cities and towns across the state to change their zoning regulations to allow more multi-family housing. The MBTA Communities Act, which was signed into law in 2021 but goes into effect this year, requires communities […]
Posted inArticle, South Coast Bureau
Voters agree – Abel Afonso makes the best pastel de nata in Massachusetts’ South Coast
The pastel de nata is one of Portugal’s best-known culinary exports. Thousands of these flaky pastries filled with sweet egg custard emerge from ovens in Fall River and New Bedford each week. A recent contest between the two cities’ tourism departments claims to have identified the best pastel de nata in the region.
Posted inArticle, Business, Health
Fish plant workers, for a second time, call on processors to fix unsafe COVID-19 practices
Seafood processing workers across the Southcoast are raising concerns for a second time this year about unsafe working conditions during the coronavirus pandemic.
Posted inArticle, Health, Politics
South Coast mayors urge residents not to gather in large groups during holiday
Nearly 80-percent of South Coast cities, including New Bedford and Fall River, are considered ‘high-risk’ for coronavirus transmission. Now, mayors and town managers are using social media to try and keep people from gathering during next week’s Thanksgiving holiday.
Posted inArticle, Politics
South Coast police chiefs call for licensing officers as reform bills remain held up in state legislature
Amid national outrage over George Floyd’s death, Massachusetts lawmakers introduced a police reform bill. Among other actions, it would ban the use of chokeholds, limit qualified immunity, and restrict no-knock warrants. The bill would also create a licensing system for officers that police chiefs say will give them more power to fire bad cops. But like many police reform efforts across the country, the bill has been stalled.
Posted inArticle, Arts And Culture, Business
Fall River travel agency hard hit by COVID-19 crisis awaiting federal aid
President Trump signed the fourth coronavirus relief package to aid small businesses on Friday amid the COVID-19 pandemic. And many Southcoast small business owners that have been waiting for funds, like travel tour agency Sagres Vacations in Fall River, are hoping this will be the moment to finally get the monetary relief they need.
Posted inArticle, Business, Health
Fish plant workers demand safer working conditions amid COVID-19 pandemic
Seafood processing workers across the Southcoast are raising concerns about unsafe working conditions during the coronavirus pandemic.
Posted inArticle, Politics
Incoming Fall River Mayor Pledges To Make Changes To Assessor’s Office Following Controversy
Fall River’s incoming mayor is pledging to make improvements to the assessors office after improprieties were revealed in the valuation of the former city administrator’s home.