Antonia Noori Farzan, who has worked at the newspaper since 2021, recently reported on a political ad launched by Republican congressional candidate Vic Mellor that used AI to create footage of incumbent U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner, a Democrat, standing in a room with men in suits around a table stacked with cash.

Magaziner’s aides called the ad “sleazy politics,” while Mellor’s campaign ridiculed the Democrat for failing to embrace “perhaps the most powerful technology.”

Farzan said she’s seeing AI emerge across the political spectrum and among candidates seeking office at all levels of government.

“Down-ballot races is where you start to see a lot of people just using it to make like fliers and graphics and stuff like that, people who would not have the budget or the campaign funds to be hiring a graphic designer,” Farzan said. “So it’s almost kind of leveling out the barrier to entry, because you can make something that’s sort of professional looking with the click of a button.”

A 2025 state law requires Mellor to disclose his use of AI in the ad, which he did. But the law does not extend to third-party groups that voluntarily produce campaign material supporting or criticizing candidates.

Farzan reported on that issue in South County, where an anonymous group launched an attack ad against state Rep. Megan Cotter.

“I would not want to be the person responsible for policing this because how do you even track down how this is spreading and who’s posting it?” Farzan said.

Later in the show, Dan and Eli discussed the “stories we wish we wrote,” including:

“Behind the Story” is hosted by Eli Sherman and Kim Kalunian of 12 News, along with Dan McGowan of The Boston Globe.

Anastasia E. Lennon, who covers New Bedford, broke the news that Officer Emily Pacheco was placed on leave after an ex-girlfriend accused her of using the automatic license plate reader technology to track her movements.

Her reporting prompted the city to suspend its Flock program pending further review. Pacheco has denied the allegations.

“If you’re a law-abiding citizen, and you’re not doing anything wrong, you will have privacy concerns and ask, ‘Why?’” Lennon said of the response she has heard from residents. “Why am I being entered into a database and particularly a database that, up until mid- or late 2025, could be accessed in New Bedford by agencies across the country? So it’s a privacy concern people are having.”

The controversy in New Bedford was quickly followed by municipalities across the region reexamining their own Flock policies, with some voting to reject contracts or suspend their programs.

Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee also ordered a pause on the implementation of any new Flock cameras by the Rhode Island State Police.

New Bedford Police Chief Jason Thody announced Wednesday that his department would continue to audit the city’s Flock system and “thoroughly and expeditiously” investigate all allegations of misuse.

The announcement came after Lennon filed several additional records requests with the department.

“I just know that in my previous conversations with the chief before this came to light, he takes this seriously,” Lennon said during the show, which was taped before Thody’s announcement.

“He said that it could result in termination, and so we have to wait and see,” she added. “I have several questions about this case, but also there’s the suspension of the system and the undisclosed number of officers they say they’re now investigating.”

Later in the show, Kim and Eli discussed the “stories we wish we wrote,” including:

“Behind the Story” is hosted by Eli Sherman and Kim Kalunian of 12 News, along with Dan McGowan of The Boston Globe.

The duo has moderated dozens of debates over the years, including Tuesday’s debate between the Democratic candidates for Rhode Island attorney general.

White and Nesi discussed how they prepare for different types of debates and how that process can vary depending on candidates’ participation and name recognition.

Later in the show, Dan and Eli discussed the “stories we wish we wrote,” including:

“Behind the Story” is hosted by Eli Sherman and Kim Kalunian of 12 News, along with Dan McGowan of The Boston Globe.

Gail Ciampa, who covers food and dining, has spent years reporting on the restaurant industry, becoming one of the state’s most prominent voices on culinary news.

But that’s not how her career at the newspaper began.

“The day I arrived I was a fashion editor, of all things, which was one of my least favorite jobs,” she said, explaining that things changed after a conversation with the food editor.

“She said, ‘You’re Italian, you must love food, and you’re going to be one of my restaurant reviewers,'” Ciampa recalled. “I always filled in for her, and when she retired, I applied for the job. It’s been the job of a lifetime.”

Ciampa also discussed her recent reporting on the retirement of a public official who played an outsized role in Rhode Island agriculture. She reflected on the challenges restaurateurs have faced since the COVID-19 pandemic and explained how she decides which stories to pursue.

This week, Ciampa wrote about the surprising feedback she received from a reader in another state after publishing a story on presidential wines. (Spoiler: George Washington’s favorite was Madeira.)

“She saw the story and was thrilled with the idea of serving Madeira,” Ciampa said. “She called me the ‘instigator of her party,’ and she said she had to tell me about it.”

Later in the show, Kim and Eli discussed the “stories we wish we wrote,” including:

“Behind the Story” is hosted by Eli Sherman and Kim Kalunian of 12 News, along with Dan McGowan of The Boston Globe.

Christopher Gavin, a reporter with the Globe’s Rhode Island bureau, has been covering the arrest of 70-year-old Ronald Fischer, who was on the run for more than 20 years. Fischer was found aboard a sailboat off the coast of New Jersey after disappearing just before a jury found him guilty of sexual assault in 2005.

“This is somebody who was convicted by a jury of his peers 20 years ago,” Gavin said. “There’s a family here that wants to see justice done. That’s what I’ll be looking for in that courtroom, because that’s what this comes down to.”

Target 12 Investigator Tim White, who co-hosted the show, reviewed federal documents detailing the steps Fischer allegedly took before fleeing in 2005. Those actions included transferring ownership of two vehicles to his daughters, selling a Jaguar, purchasing American Airlines tickets and researching ways to change his identity.

White said he’s closely watching what defense Fischer may mount now that so much time has passed since he was convicted in absentia.

“You have to think a defense attorney is going to make a very spirited argument that the whole trial has to get tossed out and we do the whole thing again,” White said. “It’s a long shot that they’ll retry the case — a jury has already spoken. It would take a lot to overturn that verdict. But we’re going to see those motions filed.”

Later in the show, Tim and Eli discussed the “stories we wish we wrote,” including:

“Behind the Story” is hosted by Eli Sherman and Kim Kalunian of 12 News, along with Dan McGowan of The Boston Globe.

What's it like to cover a global tournament through a local lens?

12 News sports anchor Aniekan Okon joined this week's episode of "Behind the Story" to discuss his experience covering the FIFA World Cup, with international matches hosted at Gillette Stadium, which has been dubbed "Boston Stadium" for the tournament.

"These days where there are so many difference and it seems like we're kind of pulling as people in opposite directions, events like the World Cup remind you that we're a lot more similar than we are different," Okon said.

In addition to covering the matches, Okon spent several days reporting from the Fan Zone in Providence, where he delivered countless live shots for both local and national audiences. Okon said described it as an experience of a lifetime.

"It doesn't matter if you know your team is in it," he said. "Just a chance to watch some of the biggest stars in the world on your home soil is a gift."

Okon and his 12 News colleague, Melanie DaSilva, also launched a special digital TV show, "48 Nations," featuring interviews with soccer figures and discussions about all aspects of the tournament.

Later in the show, Dan and Eli discussed the "stories we wish we wrote," including:

“Behind the Story” is hosted by Eli Sherman, Kim Kalunian and Dan McGowan.

Nicholas Alahverdian, who grew up in Rhode Island, famously faked his own death in 2020 before going on the run while wanted for rape in Utah. Authorities eventually tracked him down at a hospital in Scotland, where he had been living under the alias Arthur Knight.

“It wasn’t the law that caught him — it was COVID,” White said. “Arthur Knight is also the name of a DJ from Rhode Island from when Nicholas Alahverdian was growing up. He was Sir Arthur Knight, who was on the radio, and you have to wonder if that’s where he stole the name from.”

Before becoming known internationally, Alahverdian had already become well known among Rhode Island politicians and journalists, largely for his advocacy on behalf of children living in the state’s child welfare system.

Buteau, a former Target 12 investigator, covered Alahverdian throughout that period — all the way up until he received a phone call from someone claiming to be Alahverdian’s wife, telling him he had died.

Buteau said Alahverdian frequently called him and other reporters with story ideas and pitches, though he often struggled to get to the point.

“You ever meet a guy that inserts a lot of big words, and they don’t really pronounce them well? Well, that was Nicholas,” Buteau said.

Buteau also tracked Alahverdian’s trail of cons and criminal offenses across the country leading up to his disappearance. He said whatever positive work Alahverdian may have done in Rhode Island was ultimately overshadowed by the damage he caused over the years.

Alahverdian was serving a 10-year prison sentence after being convicted of rape in Utah. He was extradited there after unsuccessfully trying to convince authorities overseas they had the wrong man.

Buteau said he knew it was Alahverdian the moment he saw a photo from Scotland, describing him as someone who could be both convincing and ruthless toward people he believed had crossed him.

“I talked to several people, and none of them wanted to go on the record because they feared him,” Buteau said. “But they all also brought up that he was charismatic. I never found him to be charismatic, but I think he was a good talker, and with a little information, he could make you believe a lot.”

“Behind the Story” is hosted by Eli Sherman, Kim Kalunian and Dan McGowan.

The South County Star focuses on covering communities throughout southern Rhode Island and southeastern Connecticut. Nancy Burns-Fusaro, sometimes referred to as the “dean” of the Westerly shoreline, will focus much of her reporting on the arts and lifestyle, which she said are flourishing in South County.

“I’m writing about my wonderful community and wonderful people and, as you can imagine, the diversity in Westerly is just terrific,” Burns-Fusaro said.

Alex Nunes, the nonprofit’s founder and publisher, has covered different parts of the state over the years. He said the idea behind the Star is to expand coverage in a part of the state that receives less attention than the Providence metro area.

“If something happens in Providence, or happens at the State House, there’s a lot of people there to cover it, and people do a really good job,” he said. “But if something happens down in Charlestown, Richmond and Hopkinton, you really have to have dedicated people who are going to be looking to do those stories — and that’s what we’re trying to do.”

Later in the show, Dan and Eli discussed the “stories we wish we wrote,” including (not all mentioned on air):

“Behind the Story” is hosted by Eli Sherman, Kim Kalunian and Dan McGowan.

Tim White and Ted Nesi, Target 12 investigators and hosts of the political show “Newsmakers,” broke down recent endorsements in the race for Rhode Island governor, including one from Cumberland Democrats who snubbed incumbent Gov. Dan McKee, the town’s former mayor.

White also took viewers behind the scenes of the sentencing of Frank Theis, who was convicted of sexually assaulting two teenagers in the 1980s. Forensic evidence tested decades later helped investigators crack the case.

Later the show, White, Nesi and Eli discussed the “stories we wish we wrote,” including:

Kim Kalunian and Dan McGowan are joined by Ted Nesi for a look at how reporters tackle campaign coverage.