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The New Bedford Light

@newbedfordlight

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We are a free, nonprofit, nonpartisan news site dedicated to fact-based coverage of local issues and diverse community voices in New Bedford, MA, area

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Freshman state Rep. Steven Ouellette, a Democrat from Westport, and candidate Jesse St. Gelais, a Republican from Acushnet, both agree the cost of living is too high and that Mass Save and broken funding formulas contribute to that problem. However, their views diverge on some key issues at the state level, including abortion and a ballot question on guns.

They are running for the 8th Bristol seat in the state House — a district that includes all of Westport and parts of Freetown, Acushnet, Fall River and New Bedford.

Ouellette, 62, has worn many hats — a licensed plumber, reserve police officer, firefighter, facilities director for a school system, and an elected member of the Westport Select Board. He said he decided to run for state office with the encouragement of Paul Schmid, who held the seat for over a decade until his retirement in 2024.

St. Gelais, 42, is an insurance agent for his family’s business, where he’s worked for over two decades. He has never held public office and is running for the seat for the second time. He came in third during the 2024 general election, when he ran as an independent. This year, he’s running as a Republican and sailed to victory over his opponent, Christopher Thrasher, in the primary.

Click the link in our bio to read more.

📝+📸 Anastasia E. Lennon by @newbedfordlight

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For the first time in two decades, South Coast residents have a choice on November’s ballot of who will represent them in the State Senate.

State Sen. Mark Montigny, a Democrat, will face off against Republican Robert “Bob” McConnell this November, marking the first time Montigny has had a Republican challenger since he was elected in 1992, and his first competitive general election since 2006. The district, which encompasses New Bedford, Dartmouth, Acushnet, Fairhaven, and Mattapoissett, leaned 50% Democrat and 47% Republican in the 2024 general presidential election.

Montigny and McConnell offer vastly different approaches to serving the South Coast — entrenched, insider expertise versus enthusiasm unencumbered by experience. The State Senate race, much like every other race in Massachusetts, hinges on the region’s climbing cost of living and calls for greater transparency in the state Legislature — particularly in Montigny’s own office.

Click the link in our bio to read more.

📝 @brooke.kushwaha by @newbedfordlight

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Housing and affordability are once again at the fore of the Bristol 9th state House race in the general election.

The race to represent Dartmouth and part of New Bedford’s Far North End places Democrat Edward Pacheco, who built his candidacy on his working-class credentials, against Republican Chester Tam, who emphasizes his conservative bona fides.

“I’m someone [that] didn’t really have any aspirations to become a politician,” said Tam, 51, an information technology professional, who unsuccessfully ran for the Dartmouth Board of Health in 2025. “I just feel that we need some change here in Massachusetts.

“I’m a product of the American dream,” he added. “I feel that dream is being squandered and is no longer available for my children.”

Pacheco, 51, a transportation manager at a Fall River nonprofit and part-time bartender, won an acrimonious Democratic primary against real estate consultant Stephen Medeiros by just 14 votes. He previously ran unsuccessfully for the Dartmouth Board of Selectmen.

“All I can do as a candidate is bring forward the ideas of what best serves the 9th Bristol District,” Pacheco said. “If what I’m saying makes sense to you beyond the rhetoric, then you should be casting a vote for Ed Pacheco.”

Click the link in our bio to read more.

📝 Kevin G. Andrade
📸 New Bedford Light and contributed photos by @newbedfordlight

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Republican R. Tyler Macallister is challenging U.S. Rep. Bill Keating’s bid for a ninth term in Massachusetts’ 9th Congressional District — setting up a Nov. 3 contest between candidates who disagree on immigration enforcement, the Trump administration, and how to lower the cost of living.

Macallister, 58, a fisherman, business owner and former Mattapoisett Select Board member, said closer cooperation with the Trump administration would help bring federal resources to the district. Keating, 74, argued that Democrats must regain control of the U.S. House to halt the president’s expansion of executive power.

Click the link in our bio to read more.

📝 +📸 Eleonora Bianchi by @newbedfordlight

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The New Bedford Light has been named “Newspaper of the Year 2026” in the online category by @nenpanews.

Judges complimented The Light on its “thoughtful and thorough” reporting, its understanding of the community, and its effort to “include voices that don’t always get heard.”

“We are proud of the journalism we produce and its impact in our community,” said Karen Bordeleau, executive editor. “And while we are tickled to be recognized by respected journalism organizations, our main gratitude is directed at our readers for their continued support and appreciation of our work.”

Click the link in our bio to read more. by @newbedfordlight

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@edmarkey and @johndeaton4senate clashed on the debate stage at @wbztv for the first and only time Tuesday night in the campaign for the U.S Senate seat held by Markey. The Democratic incumbent spent the night wrapping Deaton’s bid as a Republican attempt to bolster Trump’s political control. The Republican challenger, for his part, dredged up Markey’s positions against busing and abortion from 50 years ago. Read full story at @newbedfordlight. Link here: https://tinyurl.com/bdz2a3n5 #election2026 #massachusetts #ussenate #edmarkey #johndeaton by @newbedfordlight

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Before seventh grade, Brooklyn Wakefield hated school. A self-described “black sheep,” she received low grades, found it difficult to make friends and lacked motivation. She felt lost in the system.

But that changed when Wakefield received tuition assistance to switch from a public school in Newport, Rhode Island, to All Saints STEAM Academy, a Catholic school in nearby Middletown. She struggled for her first year, but by seventh grade, she made more friends and had a better handle on the academics. She began working on a school project that solved an issue in her neighborhood — a motion-sensored LED dog vest to deter coyotes — which she presented at local universities.

Before this, “I dreaded [school] like an actual plague,” she said. “It was great to have people actually impressed by something I did, and feel like I was doing something right.”

She realized, she said, that “I could be smart if I’m given the right resources to get there.”

For Wakefield, that resource was Star Kids Newport/Fall River, a nonprofit that provides tuition assistance for low-income children grades K-12 with a parent who has a history of incarceration or substance abuse.

It’s one of three similar programs across the South Coast and Rhode Island: its sister programs are Star Kids New Bedford and Rhode Islanders Sponsoring Education (RISE).

One of Star Kids’ main goals is breaking the intergenerational cycle of issues that these children are at high risk for, including poverty, drug use, disease, depression and violence.

Click the link in our bio to read more.

📝 Crystal Yormick
📸 Tracey Jenkins Photography by @newbedfordlight

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Last month’s nor’easter hit parts of New Bedford with over seven inches of rain, flooding some streets and washing out the region’s already ragged coastline.

And that was a relatively mild storm.

Climate researchers have been tracking the frequency of extreme rain storms and found that New England is about to get a whole lot wetter. But even as these storms become more common, FEMA floodmaps don’t take rainfall into account, an oversight some researchers say could lead homeowners to underestimate their flood risk.

Jake Huff is one of the scientists hoping to fill that gap. A research assistant at the Woodwell Climate Research Center based in Falmouth, Huff works with vulnerable communities to map local flood risks, including the risks that FEMA doesn’t measure.

Last year, Huff helped identify ways to reduce flood risk in New Bedford’s North End, east of Route 18 and north of Chaffee Street.

Click the link in our bio to read more.

📝 @brooke.kushwaha by @newbedfordlight

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New Bedford’s state representatives are praising Gov. Maura Healey for helping to keep Fire Station 9 open and considering the inclusion of New Bedford in a public safety staffing program.

Reps. Mark Sylvia and Steven Ouellette said they are drafting a joint letter with the other local state representatives to send to the chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means. It will voice their support for Healey’s new appropriations bill, which includes state funds that will keep Fire Station 9 open.

A $1.3 million line item in Healey’s bill would keep the fire station open through June 30, the end of the current fiscal year. It would provide aid to New Bedford under the Municipal Public Safety Staffing Program, which provides funds to help 10 cities address police or fire department staffing shortfalls. The line item would add New Bedford to the program for this year.

Ouellette, D-Westport, said that he thinks the appropriations bill has a good chance of passing and that New Bedford representatives need to ensure that the city is prepared for the future.

“The five of us have to convince the other 155 legislators in the House that we need this,” Ouellette said.

More at the link in our bio.

📝 Nicole Abrams by @newbedfordlight

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🏮 Light up your night TONIGHT with a visit to Arts Illuminated, The New Bedford Light's live talk show and sale featuring South Coast artists. They'll take the stage for short, individual interviews about selected works, discussing techniques and inspirations, followed by the Afterglow reception and sale.

🎃The show begins at 6 p.m. at Steeple Playhouse, 159 William St., New Bedford. For the first time, it's featured as a stop on AHA! New Bedford night, with a Halloween theme. 🦇

🪄 Find out more, see who's showcased tonight, and click through the show catalog, by visiting the Arts Illuminated link in our bio.

Featured artists:
Cindy Guilbeault
Elyse Laurelle @elyselaurelleartworks
Robyn Martina Miranda @saltylipsstudio
Philip Mondeau @philipmondeau
Ryan Santos @ryandraws2
Linda Scharf @lindascharf.hello
Christopher Vasconcelos https://www.harborsideropeworks.com/
Don Wilkinson @don.wilkinson

#artshow #newbedfordart #SouthCoast #SouthCoastArt

@ahanewbedford @steepleplayhousenbma @nivedart
@newbedfordcreative @socoartlabs @thesirenscene @thesouthcoastartistsindex @southcoastartists_inc @hatchstreetstudios @galleryx_nb @newbedfordguide @kilburnmillatclarkscove @newbedfordedc by @newbedfordlight

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8 days ago

U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals judges on Wednesday heard the government's bid to lift a preliminary injunction barring ICE from using taxpayer data obtained from the IRS.

The injunction came as part of a lawsuit filed by the New Bedford-based Community Economic Development Center of Southeastern Massachusetts that alleged the information sharing between the agencies represented irreparable harm to its members.

The three-judge panel questioned the government’s assertion that no one without a final removal order has been harmed by the information sharing.

“The harm is the disclosure of the information,” the chief judge said.

More at the link in our bio.

📝 Kevin G. Andrade by @newbedfordlight

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9 days ago

🦇 The darkness falls as Arts Illuminated nears, Thursday, Oct. 8, with its live talk show and sale in a Halloween mood.

Join The New Bedford Light as it hosts the event at Steeple Playhouse, starting at 6 p.m., and its first in partnership with AHA! New Bedford.

Taking the stage for chats about selected works, and the motivations behind them, are the following South Coast Artists:
Cindy Guilbeault, Elyse Laurelle, Robyn Martina Miranda (Salty Lips Studio), Philip Mondeau, Ryan Santos, Linda Scharf, Christopher Vasconcelos and Don Wilkinson.

Going to @AHA!Night? Drop in after 6 until about 8:30 p.m. Look for our sign in front of the playhouse!

It's free, and open to all. To find out more, visit the link in our bio.

Here are the featured artists:
Cindy Guilbeault
Elyse Laurelle @elyselaurelleartworks
Robyn Martina Miranda @saltylipsstudio
Philip Mondeau @philipmondeau
Ryan Santos @ryandraws2
Linda Scharf @lindascharf.hello
Christopher Vasconcelos https://www.harborsideropeworks.com/
Don Wilkinson @don.wilkinson by @newbedfordlight

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