In this episode of The New Bedford Podcast, host Steven Richard sits down with City Councillor at Large Ian Abreu, who received the most votes of all the city councilors in New Bedford's previous election.

Ian discusses a range of topics affecting New Bedford, including local politics, rising crime rates, and the ongoing debate between offshore wind development and its impact on the fishing industry.

They also cover police staffing challenges and what steps might be needed to address public safety concerns in the city. Ian offers his perspective on these critical issues and how they are shaping the future of New Bedford.

Tune in for a straightforward conversation on the key challenges facing the city and the decisions that lie ahead.

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n this episode of The New Bedford Podcast, Steven Richard welcomes back investigative journalist Jess Machado of Fall River Reporter for another deep dive into some of Massachusetts’ most pressing stories.

In this episode of "The New Bedford Podcast", Steven Richard sits down with Ward 3 City Councilor Shawn Oliver to talk about his journey from a successful grassroots campaign to becoming a key voice in New Bedford’s local government. Shawn opens up about the highs and lows of his political journey, including how his opponents attempted to “cancel” him by resurfacing old Facebook posts during his campaign—and how he navigated through the controversy.

In this episode of The New Bedford Podcast, host Steven Richard sits down with investigative journalist Jess Machado of Fall River Reporter. Jess is one of only 10 journalists given access to the courtroom to cover the highly publicized Karen Read murder trial. She shares exclusive insights into the case and what it’s like being in the room as the trial unfolds.

Jess also opens up about her ongoing investigations into several Massachusetts school scandals, including the tragic case of Jacob Pothier, a student from New Bedford Voc Tech who died in a car accident while riding in a former staff member’s car. Many, including Jacob’s family, claim that there was an inappropriate relationship between him and the adult staff member.

Additionally, Jess discusses her extensive coverage of the migrant crisis in Massachusetts, including her three-part series on the migrant hotel crisis in Taunton.

Don’t miss this in-depth conversation that goes beyond the headlines and into the heart of some of Massachusetts’ most critical stories.

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#KarenRead #JacobPothier #MassachusettsNews #MigrantCrisis #FallRiver #InvestigativeJournalism

In this episode, Steven sits down with a special guest, Michael Silvia—journalist, founder of New Bedford Guide, and owner of the Fall River Reporter.

Join us as we dive into the origins of New Bedford Guide, how Michael turned his passion project into the largest social media presence in the South Coast, and the challenges and triumphs along the way.

Whether you’re interested in journalism, local media, or community-building, this episode offers valuable insights into the power of local storytelling and digital media.