NightSide With Dan Rea

For this week’s last broadcast hour of NightSide, we talk about dead retail chain stores that you wish you could revive! Which chain do you miss and why? Is it The Christmas Tree Shops? How about Bradlees or even Ames? Listen to WBZ NewsRadio on the NEW iHeart Radio app and be sure to set WBZ NewsRadio as your #1 preset! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Get ready to talk about hidden restaurant gems and tasty food in and around the Boston area! Do you frequent a hidden restaurant that you’d like to recommend? Are you looking for a great Italian or Mexican place to eat? NBC 10 food writer Mark Hurwitz joined us to talk about hidden restaurants in Boston. Listen to WBZ NewsRadio on the NEW iHeart Radio app and be sure to set WBZ NewsRadio as your #...

According to the 2025 World Happiness Record, published by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford, Finland is the happiest country in the world for a straight eighth year. The United States falls to its lowest-ever position in the happiness ranking at 24. Why do you think America isn’t higher up on the list? What are the contributing factors in society to happiness? What do you...

We kicked off the program with four news stories and different guests on the stories we think you need to know about! Amid Skyrocketing Antisemitism, New Provocative Billboards Raise Awareness. Two new billboards in Cambridge. Archie Gottesman – Co-Founder of JewBelong – the group who put up the billboards joined Dan. Does sleeping on an idea work?   Adam Horowitz-   Former postdoctoral associate...

The President signed an executive order aimed at dismantling the U.S. Department of Education. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told the media that the department will be “much smaller than it is today” however “when it comes to student loans and Pell Grants, those will still be run out of the Department of Education.” While Trump has made his intention to close the DOE clear, to fully dissolve th...

The President signed an executive order aimed at dismantling the U.S. Department of Education. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told the media that the department will be “much smaller than it is today” however “when it comes to student loans and Pell Grants, those will still be run out of the Department of Education.” While Trump has made his intention to close the DOE clear, to fully dissolve th...

It’s a nightmare on Blake Street, in the town of Waterbury, Connecticut where one local law enforcement officer says it’s “the worst treatment of humanity” he’s ever witnessed in 30 years of law enforcement. A 32-year-old man was rescued from his stepmother’s home, claiming he has been held captive in a room for two decades. The emaciated man set fire to his bedroom in the house in an attempt to b...

We kicked off the program with four news stories and different guests on the stories we think you need to know about! FDA recalls some acne treatment products over benzene levels. What to know about benzene. Farah Moustafa, MD, Dermatologist and Director of Laser and Cosmetics at Tufts Medical Center joined Dan. Spring Clean Your Goals - Top trends, tips, and tools for tidying up all areas of your...

The story out of Houston of the undocumented parents of a 10-year-old U.S. citizen battling brain cancer has gained national attention. The undocumented parents were detained at a border patrol checkpoint in Texas and removed from the U.S. to Mexico following the parents’ decision to take their children with them rather than separate. The family filed a complaint against Customs and Border Protect...

Earlier this week Israel launched “extensive” airstrikes in Gaza, reportedly killing hundreds of Palestinians and shattering a roughly two-month ceasefire with Hamas. The White House confirmed that the Trump Administration was consulted by the Israelis on their attacks in Gaza. Israeli Consul General to New England Benny Sharoni joined Dan to discuss the latest in the Israel/Hamas conflict. Listen...

Trooper Michael Proctor, the lead investigator in the Karen Read case, has been fired, and dishonorably discharged by the Massachusetts State Police. The state police trial board found Proctor guilty of three charges of unsatisfactory performance and one charge of consumption of alcohol while on duty. Proctor’s family released a statement saying he is "human not corrupt, not incompetent in his rol...

We kicked off the program with four news stories and different guests on the stories we think you need to know about! Managing Long Covid & One Woman’s Battle Combatting Long Covid. How she discovered Pain Reprocessing Therapy to rewire her brain. -She now runs a business called Less Stress Studios where she helps people with Long Covid, Anxiety, Depression & more! Ellen Alden – Founder of...

President Trump and Russian President Putin had a lengthy telephone call primarily about “the need for peace and a ceasefire in the Ukraine war.” According to the White House, "the leaders agreed that the movement to peace will begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire as well as technical negotiations on implementation of a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, full ceasefire, and permanen...

President Trump and Russian President Putin had a lengthy telephone call primarily about “the need for peace and a ceasefire in the Ukraine war.” According to the White House, "the leaders agreed that the movement to peace will begin with an energy and infrastructure ceasefire as well as technical negotiations on implementation of a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, full ceasefire, and permanen...

Senator Peter Durant, a Spencer Republican, told various media outlets that he is considering a run for governor of Massachusetts in 2026. The Republican potential believes Gov. Maura Healey is “beatable” and that there is “an opportunity here.” Durant is still mulling over the decision and plans to make a decision before Memorial Day of this year. Sen. Durant joined Dan to talk about some key iss...

We kicked off the program with four news stories and different guests on the stories we think you need to know about! Peter Abraham – Boston Globe Sports Reporter joined Dan with The Red Sox and Roster Projections. Dan Rea was this week’s guest host on the Carrigan & Company podcast! And now Kim Carrigan – podcaster & former TV anchor is on Nightside! Dr. Patrick Porter – expert in brain h...

Did the Trump Administration ignore a federal judge’s order to temporarily halt the deportation of alleged members of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang? Over the weekend, roughly 250 alleged gang members were transferred via aircraft to El Salvador and Honduras by U.S. officials after President Trump invoked an 18th century wartime law, speeding up the removal of the alleged gang members. A feder...

Did the Trump Administration ignore a federal judge’s order to temporarily halt the deportation of alleged members of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang? Over the weekend, roughly 250 alleged gang members were transferred via aircraft to El Salvador and Honduras by U.S. officials after President Trump invoked an 18th century wartime law, speeding up the removal of the alleged gang members. A feder...

The legal battle over the Franklin Park renovation project of White Stadium goes to trial this week. Plaintiffs in the case argue that the $200 million project is illegal privatization of public trust land. The City of Boston and Boston Unity Soccer Partners (the defendants) have denied the privatization claims, saying the renovated stadium will be accessible to Boston Public School students. Dan...

We kicked off the program with four news stories and different guests on the stories we think you need to know about! Successful Fundraiser on Saturday for the Mary Ann Brett Food Pantry! Jim Brett checked in with Dan to review the event. Essex County Trail Association’s Tails for the Trails - 5k Casual Canicross Coming up on March 29th! Martha Sanders – Chair of the Board of Directors for the Ess...

Monday is Saint Patrick’s Day so Dan did a special St. Patrick’s Day themed 20th Hour topic! Listen to WBZ NewsRadio on the NEW iHeart Radio app and be sure to set WBZ NewsRadio as your #1 preset! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the latest turn of the Karen Read legal battle, a federal judge denied Karen Read’s attempt to drop two of the charges against her on double jeopardy grounds. Read’s defense attorneys argued that a mistrial declaration in her first trial was not necessary and that jurors privately voted to acquit Read. Dan discussed the legalities of the Karen Read case and heard your thoughts! Listen to WBZ Ne...

The Animal Rescue League of Boston saw 29% of their pets surrendered in 2024 were due to housing-related issues such as sudden housing instability, homelessness or having to move to a new place that does not allow pets. To combat housing related challenges for pets and their owners, the ARL and MA lawmakers are working on legislation that aims to maintain stable housing for families with pets in a...

We kicked off the program with four news stories and different guests on the stories we think you need to know about! We discuss the upcoming heist film ANY DAY NOW which explores the true-ish art heist of Boston's Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum – written and directed by Boston native Eric Aronson. Movie Premiere is March 17th at the Somerville Theatre. From Stage Fright to Fearlessness - a Parad...

The Republican controlled U.S. House passed a continuing resolution to temporarily fund the federal government. The U.S. Senate has until Friday at midnight to pass the federal spending bill or risk a potential government shutdown that would begin Saturday. How will the Senate vote? Are we heading for a government shutdown? Dan discussed what’s at stake and breaks it down.   Listen to WBZ NewsRadi...