New England Weekend

New data out this month shows Black Bostonians not only have the highest rates of infant mortality - more than three times the rate of white infants - but they also have the highest rates of premature births and low birth weight. City officials say these stark inequities need to be addressed immediately. Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Executive Director of the Boston Public Health Commission, goes through th...

November is National Homeless Youth Awareness Month, and here in Massachusetts, for many different reasons, thousands of young people are struggling to find shelter each and every night. Bridge Over Troubled Waters is working hard to connect with these young people and lend them a helping hand in hopes of helping them process, recover, and go on to thrive. President and CEO Elisabeth Jackson talks...

It's time to get spooky! Well, maybe not THAT spooky if you're having some Halloween fun with the kids. The Trustees of Reservations are hosting a long list of fun and frightening events for the entire family all over Massachusetts, everything from barnyard costume parties to eerie tours at the Old Manse. Catherine Shortliffe, Associate Director of Public Programming at the Trustees, joins Nichole...

The Old North Church has stood proud in Boston's North End for 300 years, and it's probably best known for its role in Revolutionary War history. However, more than 1,100 bodies have been laid to rest over the years in the church's crypt, which recently underwent a major restoration project. Director of Education Catherine Matthews has details on the project, which is about to be completed with th...

As the cost of living skyrockets, families around the Commonwealth are feeling the strain, and leaning more on community services and non-profits like Catie's Closet in Dracut. Catie's Closet is being called on far more frequently these days for crisis response to help fight homelessness and child poverty while providing essentials for the growing influx of migrant children in Massachusetts. Their...

It's almost time for Medicare open enrollment, and it can be very confusing! From changing plans to costs and coverage, going through your options can quickly get overwhelming. Enter an expert: Mary Hsieh, the Head of Government Programs at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. Mary and Nichole break down the important information you need to know before open enrollment, which runs from October...

NVNA and Hospice in Norwell has been serving the South Shore community for more than 100 years, but this year, they are celebrating a big anniversary: the 10th year of their hospice home, the Pat Roche home in Hingham. CEO Renee McInnes talks with Nichole about NVNA's history, and the two get into a deeper conversation about what hospice can do for families, and how you know when it's time to cons...

Hundreds of young people with developmental and intellectual disabilities have developed critical life skills and gained confidence through the "Threshold" program at Lesley University in Cambridge. The program has been around for decades, but it's about to get a big update. University President Janet Steinmayer's son, Ben, attended the program, and continues to flourish with the connections and e...

The Black Economic Council of Massachusetts is hosting its annual Mass Black Expo in early October, a three-day event focused on networking, sharing information, and providing resources to help Black business owners thrive. BECMA's President and CEO, Nicole Obi, joins Nichole on this week's show to talk about the unique challenges Black-owned businesses face, not just in Massachusetts, but nationw...

Leaving the prison system, no matter how long one has been incarcerated, can be confusing, scary, and frustrating, with little support on the outside to help people re-integrate into society. The Essex County "Women in Transition" program is a minimum security pre-release program, helping women recovering from addiction make their way out of incarceration and start a healthy life. Assistant Superi...

Chowder lovers, an upcoming event in New Bedford is just for you! For years, residents of the New Bedford area have made their way to the coast for the Chowderfest, a tasty event that helps people sample all the savory soups the South Coast has to offer. This year's no different, with the One SouthCoast Chamber hosting this year's 18th Annual Blount Fine Foods New Bedford Seaport Chowderfest on Se...

Autumn arrives this weekend with yet another round of rain. Most of the summer has been wet, to the point where some cities are seeing close to record rain totals for the year, and it's not even October! What is causing all of this wet and humid weather? Plymouth State University Meteorology Professor Eric Hoffman breaks down the weather patterns we've been stuck in and offers some insight into wh...

The city of Boston has lofty goals when it comes to climate, including a push to become a completely carbon-neutral city by the year 2050. There are several initiatives underway to work toward that goal, including a brand new program by Climate Culture Boston called "SHINE": Solar Helping Ignite Neighborhood Economies. Frank Lowenstein from Climate Culture Boston, a spinoff of Rare, returns to the...

Artisans in and around Attleboro are teaming up for a great cause: to fight food insecurity in their neighborhood. They're doing it using clay, glaze, a kiln, and a really good bowl of soup! Members of Empty Bowls Attleboro work throughout the year to create unique, stunning soup bowls to help generate income for local non-profits helping to feed those who are hungry. Sarah Mott and David Laferrie...

If you're into food that's not just good for you, but also good for farmers and the local economy, you'll want to make your way to the Rose Kennedy Greenway on September 17th. That's when Sustainable Business Network of Massachusetts is hosting its annual Boston Local Food Festival, and there will be all kinds of tasty treats to try! Kerry Kokkinogenis and Caroline Brocker from SBN Massachusetts h...

Honeybees play a vital role in keeping our plants and crops healthy, but experts say they're facing an increasing number of threats, both human and environmental. The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources has its very own program to help residents and professional beekeepers alike boost honeybee health! Chief Apiary Instructor Dr. Kim Skyrm is a hive full of knowledge about bees, and...

School districts around the Commonwealth, especially in rural areas, are struggling with budget cuts, classrooms that aren't fully stocked, and teachers reaching into their own pockets to pay for much-needed supplies. Many rural schools are facing significant funding challenges, and while there's some help from Beacon Hill, State Senator Jo Comerford (D-Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester) says it's...

Classrooms these days look far different than they did even just 10 years ago. Instead of pencils, overhead projectors and chalkboards, you'll find tablets, interactive whiteboards and laptops. Tech experts say innovative technologies in the classroom are here to say, including artificial intelligence. Dr. Sarah Kyriazis, Principal of the Wawecus Road School in Worcester, joins the show this week...

The Bristol Lodge Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry in Waltham got an eviction notice recently - and it's forcing them to leave their long-time quarters very quickly. Trouble is, they don't have anywhere to go yet, and the Middlesex Human Service Agency needs your help to find a space for them to set up shop so they can keep serving people in need all over the Boston area. CEO Robert Mills joins Nichol...

COVID's back on the scene, as more and more people start to test positive while we make our way out of the summer months. There are so many questions out there about where we go from here with the virus: do we get a new booster or wait? Should we be masking? What's going on with long COVID? Dr. Shira Doron, Chief Infection Control Officer over at Tufts Medical Center, joins Nichole this week to an...

Working families around New England and the country are struggling to find balance when it comes to child care. Not only is it more expensive than ever, but it's becoming more and more difficult to find a space for children in programs. Centers closing during the height of the pandemic made the problem that much worse, forcing parents out of the workforce. Politicians on both sides of the aisle sa...

Women and BIPOC representation in business boardrooms is better than it's ever been, but there is still quite a lot of work to do. That's the story in a new report from Deloitte and the Alliance for Board Diversity called "Missing Pieces". It takes a closer look at diversity at Fortune 500 companies, specifically in their leadership, on both a state and national level. Nichole speaks with Jess Ack...

Jaws has become a classic New England-centric movie over the years, but it turns out, behind the scenes, it was anything but easy to put together. In fact, it was so chaotic that a new comedy on the stage highlights all the production maladies. It's called "The Shark is Broken", and New England theater owner Bill Hanney is lending his talents to the show to make sure it's a resounding success. He...

In the new state budget Governor Maura Healey recently signed into law, there is a new program offering up some hope for adults here in Massachusetts who either want to go to college for the first time or finish a degree they may have had to leave behind. WBZ's Laurie Kirby spoke with Ray DePasquale, President of Massasoit Community College in Brockton, about this new program and the benefits of r...

A coalition of businesses, activist groups, lawmakers and others around Massachusetts are teaming up to support a bill on Beacon Hill called "I AM", which hopes to expand free access to menstrual products in public places around the Commonwealth, including schools and prisons. Mass NOW is one of the advocacy groups that's part of the Massachusetts Menstrual Equity Coalition, and Executive Director...