Brian's Beat with Brian Thomas

Here's another situation where government is screwing things up. Chicago's erstwhile Mayor has devised an ingeniously sinister plan. Rahm Emanuel wants to make sure his government high school seniors are prepared for whatever. So, in order to receive their high school diploma, each senior must: Pass their academic courses Pass the state standardized test(s) Now here's where it gets dicey... Read

So, the Mayah wants to go after absentee landlords, claiming they are responsible for harboring hoodlum tenants, you know, the type that's dealing in illegal drugs and recklessly spraying gunshots throughout New Bedford. "People move into town with criminal records and there are landlords that are willing to tolerate all kinds of bad behavior," so says Mayor Jon Mitchell...

The rat-tat-tat of gunfire rings again in New Bedford. A brazen broad daylight barrage of bullets as children are walking home from school. Police won't say if they know who the gunslingers are, but there is one, unintended victim. A 60 year old man, sitting in his home, catches a stray bullet in the neck...

Highly active and controversial. That's what many are saying after learning that Eddie Johnson passed away early Father's day morning, after a brief illness.       A few listeners pay tribute to Eddie Johnson. Eddie founded the Citizens Leading Environmental Action Network and the Parting Ways Museum of African American and Cape Verdean American Ethnohistory. He bragged ab...

There's a group, they call themselves a grassroots organization, that explains that science reveals that it is better for middle and high school students to begin school later. How much later? At the earliest, 8:30 in the morning. Apparently, kids biological clock runs later as they age...

My colleague, Phil Paleologos, received a call this morning,Thursday, from an irate parent. It seems Acushnet's Ford Middle School was teaching oral sex to middle school students. I followed up with a call to one of the Selectmen...

The New Bedford City Council listened to Schools Superintendent Dr. Pia Durkin deliver her annual presentation and proposed budget for the system. The $130 M budget is 3.5% higher than last year, and the state has also warned municipalities to expect less state funding for schools...

Hannah Jope graduates next week from New Bedford's premiere high school. Jope was home schooled by her mother when she decided change was paramount. Stating her folks did an excellent job at educating and rearing, Hannah knew she wanted more...

Imagine doing your food shopping and being able to go down an aisle filled with name brand beers and wines. The Shaw's supermarket in Dartmouth has been granted permission by that town to sell beer and wine at it's route 6 store. This is definitely the exception and not the baystate rule...

Imagine working your butt off and earning $1,100,000. If some social justice wing nuts and Beacon Hill lawmakers get their way, millionaires will have to pay an additional 4% tax. Yes, an additional 4% on any amount over $1 M. That means the regular state income tax, plus a 4% surcharge on top of the regular income tax rate on the $100,000...