Each year “WalletHub” releases a list consisting of the “Best states to live in America” and for the 2nd consecutive year, Massachusetts has taken the #1 spot!

Now before you jump out of your chair making the argument of how much you would rather live in Hawaii, Florida, or Arizona, let’s clarify the categories that decide the results.

WalletHub prefaces by stating that it is “Based on 51 key indicators of livability. They range from housing costs and income growth to the education rate and quality of hospitals.”

The list is broken down into 5 categories:

• Affordability
• Economy
• Education & Health
• Quality of life
• Safety

Massachusetts best category is “education & health” where it ranks #1 in the country, while its worst category is “Affordability” where it ranks 44th (almost last).

Personally I think there should be a heavier emphasis on things like weather, culture, food, outdoor activities, and natural beauty. States like Alaska, Hawaii, Montana, & Vermont were sort of buried on this list when many would argue there is nowhere they would rather live just based on the natural beauty and lifestyle alone.

With that being said, I do think WalletHub did a great job putting this list together and I absolutely understand how and why Massachusetts is ranked #1. Do you agree with Massachusetts holding its #1 spot or is this fake news? Check out the full list for yourself below!

According to data from the United States Sentencing Commission, punishment for trafficking Fentanyl in the United States is getting lighter in recent years. Simultaneously, the amount of fentanyl traffickers and fentanyl related overdose deaths have gone up dramatically.

The Massachusetts Department of Health released data showing that Massachusetts opioid-related overdose deaths rose again in 2022 and New Bedford had more opioid-related overdoses than Fall River and Brockton.

On August 16th, a New Bedford man was sentenced in federal court in Boston for fentanyl distribution charges. He was sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl in the New Bedford area.

According to the CDC, “Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are the most common drugs involved in overdose deaths. Even in small doses, it can be deadly. Over 150 people die every day from overdoses related to synthetic opioids like fentanyl.”

Below I will be comparing data on “Fentanyl Trafficking Offenses” released by the United States Sentencing Commission (USSC) in 2018, to the same measures they released in 2021 (which is the most recent year of data).

• In 2018 The average sentence for fentanyl trafficking offenders was 74 months, while in 2021 the average sentence was 58 months.

• In 2018 49.6% of offenders served less than 5 years of punishment, while in 2021 58.7% of offenders served less than 5 years of punishment.

• In 2018 23.4% of offenders served 10+ years of punishment, while in 2021 15.7% of offenders served 10+ years of punishment.

• In 2018 Massachusetts had 33 Fentanyl trafficking offenders, while in 2021 Massachusetts had 86 Fentanyl trafficking offenders.

Some are worried that Fentanyl is being normalized which is resulting in the lighter sentencing of recent years. Others argue that we shouldn’t be filling our prisons with individuals that commit “non violent crimes”. I personally do agree that possessing certain drugs shouldn’t leave you locked in a cage for several years, although Fentanyl feels different. Distributing Fentanyl is essentially the act of distributing lethal poison, a lethal poison that is killing our loved ones by the millions.

A New Bedford man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for fentanyl distribution charges.

Hector Diaz, 45, was sentenced by U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV to two years in prison and three years of supervised release. In May 2023, Diaz pleaded guilty to two counts of distributing and possessing with intent to distribute fentanyl.

On two occasions between December 2020 and January 2021, Diaz distributed and possessed with intent to distribute fentanyl in the New Bedford area.

Acting United States Attorney Joshua S. Levy and James M. Ferguson, Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Boston Field Division made the announcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah Hoefle of the Organized Crime & Gang Unit prosecuted the case.

Last week with the permission of owner Jackie Webb, we teased a couple of photos of the signage being installed at the The Donut Factory’s new location in North Dartmouth. Today, we can report that the timeline to open of the new location (246 State Rd.) is tentatively schedule for late September.

“This new location will be an express, and carry 90% of the product we feature at our Fairhaven location (7 Howland Rd) and will be open 7 days a week, 6am to 6pm. We’ve been looking to expand into Dartmouth for some time and this location offered high visibility and a consistent flow of traffic” says Jackie.

You’ll be able to get all of their gourmet donuts,Nitro Cold Brew, coffee rolls and classic treats as well as their enormous, jam packed linguica rolls! Their daily promos like Monday’s buy 3 get one free rolls, 99 Cent giant glazed donut Wedenesday deals will also be honored at both locations.

With this expansion there is also the need for additional staff, so if you’re interested in joining a growing business stop by the Fairhaven location and set up an interview. They are hiring for full and part time positions.

You can follow the Donut Factory on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therealdonutfactory
and on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealdonutfactory/

“At 4:00 PM on Tuesday, August 15, 2023 the NH Fish and Game Department was notified of a hiker that required assistance near Franconia Falls in Lincoln.

An SOS text came in through 911 stating a person was trapped and there were multiple people involved. Several minutes later another text was received indicating a possible drowning. Unable to confirm the events due to a lack of cell phone coverage at Franconia Falls and the Lincoln Woods trailhead,

NHFG requested Lincoln Fire Department respond with a UTV. Conservation Officers were also requested to respond with their ATVs. As rescue crews were making their way the 3.5 miles into the Franconia Falls, another hiker was running out to the Lincoln Woods trailhead to find help.

NH Fish and Game Law Enforcement Division and Operation Game Thief photo.

That hiker was able to provide more information to rescue personnel about the incident and the victims’ location. Once rescue crews arrived at Franconia Falls they were able to locate two people that sustained non-life threatening injuries and one person that was deceased. Two of the victims were brought out to the trailhead and transported to Littleton Regional Healthcare for further evaluation and treatment by Linwood Ambulance.

The deceased person was transported to the trailhead and picked up by Mayhew Funeral Home. Conservation Officers and the Lincoln Fire Department were assisted in the rescue efforts by the Lincoln Police Department and the NH DOS Marine Patrol.

Through interviews it was learned that a Massachusetts family of five and a friend arrived at the Lincoln Woods trailhead at approximately 1:00 pm. They planned to hike to Franconia Falls. Once they arrived at the falls they began to get ready to swim.

One of the minor children slipped and fell into one of the pools at the falls. He could not get out of the pool as it was a fast, circulating current. The mother jumped into the river to help her child and began to immediately have trouble. Two other children jumped into the river to help their brother and mother.

They were able to get their brother out of the water, but in doing so, another brother became lodged in the boulders and could not escape. The father was trying to find the mother. He eventually found her on a rock and immediately began CPR.

Unfortunately she was unable to be revived. The father made it over to his son’s location and was able to pull him to safety. He went back to his wife’s location and waited for personnel to arrive.

Names of the victims are being withheld. No further information is available at this time.”-NH Fish and Game Law Enforcement Division and Operation Game Thief.

“Start of a busy day on Tuesday with a residential fire alarm, MVA with injuries on Gulf Rd., and a person needing to be carried out of the woods having a medical emergency.”-Dartmouth Fire District 1.

Dartmouth Fire District 1 photo.

Dartmouth Fire District 1 photo.

Dartmouth Fire District 1 photo.

UMASS Dartmouth Chancellor Mark Fuller announced the New Bedford “Star Store” Campus will be closing effective immediately which sent shockwaves through the community on Monday afternoon. Mayor Mitchell mentioned in his response to the news that, “The City will attempt to work with the state administration in the hope that this short-sighted decision can be rectified.”

While Mayor Mitchell is working to bring UMASS back to New Bedford, I figured I would be proactive and ask New Bedford citizens what they would like to see replace the Star Store downtown. Overwhelmingly “housing” was the most popular answer, but the type of housing is what stirs controversy.

There has been no shortage of outrage regarding the topic of “luxury apartments” in downtown New Bedford. When we broke the story that an investor will be renting out 21 units of beautiful, new construction apartments on Williams street, it was met with a fair share of pushback.

On the flip side, many citizens also very much appreciate the idea of investors spending money to improve the city. Checkout this quick 1 minute clip to see the inside of downtowns newest luxury apartments and hear investor Dennis Keohane’s thesis on the future of New Bedford.

The question I asked New Bedford residents was, “The “Star Store” is prime real estate in downtown New Bedford. What would you like to see happen to it now that UMass is leaving?”

This sparked quite the thread of conversation which resulted in many different answers in which I will post a few below:

• Andre Jameson: “we’re in a housing crisis… so housing would be the best use of it”

• Candi Bessette Longworth: “Low income housing”

• Cynthia Camacho: “Housing for Seniors”

• Amanda Valler: “Shelter for our homless vets”

• Bob Konkel: “Shopping mall with free parking. Bring people back downtown.”

• Carol Cesolini: “Quality retail shops with restaurants all under one roof. Whatever, we need quality. We have no real quality shopping places in this area, no quality furniture stores, no quality clothing stores, no quality kitchen goods stores. Quality stores are nowhere to be found in this area anymore.”

• Hannah Rose M. Schlieder: “Artist collective??”

I understand that the economics and logistics of this is much more complicated than one may imagine. But again I ask, if UMASS is not coming back, what would you like to see developed in the future? I think some form of retail on the first floor with housing on the floors above would be a fantastic touch to the area.