In The News
USDA to purchase Massachusetts seafood
BOSTON - Members of the all-Democratic Massachusetts congressional delegation are pushing to include more East Coast seafood in purchasing agreements funded by the federal Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. They applauded a U.S. Department of Agriculture decision last week to include Atlantic seafood in so-called Section 32 program food purchases made available in part by the $2.2 trillion CARES Act approved in late March. Massachusetts officials said the federal program has historically … Continue Reading
May 10, 2020
Massachusetts fishing industry to receive $28 million in coronavirus relief
The Massachusetts fishing industry is in line to receive millions in federal coronavirus relief dollars and in seafood purchases for people dealing with food insecurity - programs commercial fishermen hope will buoy an industry that has been hard hit by the pandemic. "I think this is needed. I think anything is needed that will cut down the volatility to this market," said Nick Giacalone whose seafood processing business, Fisherman's Wharf Gloucester, hopes to the win one of the U.S. … Continue Reading
May 07, 2020
Rep. Seth Moulton On Mental Health During The Pandemic
May is National Mental Health month. We speak with Rep. Seth Moulton, who has made mental health services a focus of his work in … Continue Reading
May 06, 2020
Moulton: $300k EPA Grant Will Help Clean Up in Peabody
PEABODY - Six communities in Massachusetts, one of them Peabody, have received grants to access and clean up contaminated properties under the Environmental Protection Agency's Brownfields Program. The grants total $2.7 million, of which Peabody will receive $300,000, according to Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass. The funds will help underserved and economically disadvantaged communities around the state in assessing and cleaning up abandoned industrial and commercial properties. Under President … Continue Reading
May 06, 2020
Eighth-graders video chat with congressman
NEWBURYPORT - Rupert A. Nock Middle School eighth-graders may not be able to go to Washington, D.C., this year, but they are still learning about civics with help from local officials. With the assistance of social studies teachers Jennifer Groskin and Kyle Boudreau, the students had a 30-minute question-and-answer session via Zoom with Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Salem, on Thursday. The eighth-graders, who originally planned to visit the congressman's office in Washington this month, asked Moulton … Continue Reading
May 05, 2020
Missing Protective Gowns Have Been Found
DANVERS - A wayward shipment of about 9,500 gowns intended to protect Northeast Arc and 15 other organizations' workers and their clients during the coronavirus pandemic has been found stuck in customs. Tim Brown, Northeast Arc's director of innovation and strategy, said 6,000 gowns were shipped out Tuesday "and are on the road." Another 3,500 gowns were still in customs, he said. The gowns were purchased from a promotional marketing company in China. Northeast Arc CEO Jo Ann Simons, whose … Continue Reading
May 04, 2020
MA Fishing Industry Hurting, Congress Looking to Help
NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WLNE) - Things have been slow at the Port of New Bedford. The fishing industry is hurting since restaurants have been shut down. Local fisherman estimate nearly 70% of seafood consumed in the country is done so in restaurants. "We're probably scaled down at this point about half of where we would be historically from a head-count perspective," explained Keith Decker, president and CEO of Blue Harvest Fisheries in New Bedford. Decker says many of New Englands biggest … Continue Reading
April 24, 2020
Retired Army General Brings 'A Plus' Team to Help Boston Beat Back Coronavirus
Two military all-stars have joined retired four-star Gen. Stanley McChrystal to help Boston Mayor Marty Walsh steer the city and quickly address daily issues popping up during the coronavirus outbreak. Legendary CIA operative Greg Vogle - who saved Afghan politician and Taliban resistor Hamid Karzai in 2001 - and Lt. Gen. John R. Vines have joined the twice-daily phone calls with Walsh's administration as part of the McChrystal Group's two-month, nearly $500,000 contract. Walsh hired the … Continue Reading
April 22, 2020
Moulton: PPE for Defense Workers
U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Salem, has requested the head of the National Defense Industry Association to make sure its members are supplying personal protective equipment to the nation's defense workers, according to a statement from Moulton. The National Defense Industry Association is made up of 1,700 corporate and 70,000 individual members, and its mission is "to promote the best policies, practices, products, and technology for warfighters and others who ensure the safety and security of … Continue Reading
April 22, 2020
NextEra, NRC Pressed for Pandemic Plan at Seabrook Station
Two Massachusetts senators and a congressman are calling on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and NextEra Energy to release more information on how they are protecting workers from the coronavirus pandemic during the Seabrook, New Hampshire, nuclear plant's refueling. Democratic Sen. Edward Markey and Elizabeth Warren, and Congressman Seth Moulton, D-Salem, sent letters Monday to the NRC and NextEra Energy, the owner of the nuclear plant. Seabrook Station - like all nuclear plants - … Continue Reading
April 22, 2020
How Trump's COVID-19 Failure Betrayed Our Military and Veterans
The failure of Donald Trump's administration to heed warnings and prepare for the arrival of COVID-19 have been well documented. Less well understood is the extent to which Trump also failed to protect both America's armed forces and veterans, too. The novel coronavirus is currently spreading among active duty military with more than 3,000 positive cases documented. Meanwhile our veterans are being put in vulnerable positions in facilities susceptible to spread for the virus as their … Continue Reading
April 17, 2020
Coronavirus in Massachusetts: Employee at Whole Foods Store in Swampscott Dies from COVID-19
An employee at a Whole Foods Market location in Massachusetts died from the coronavirus, officials announced. A staff member at the company's Swampscott store died on Wednesday, a Whole Foods spokesperson said in a statement. The worker was not identified. "Our hearts are with his loved ones during this incredibly difficult time, and with his fellow Team Members at our Swampscott, Massachusetts store," the statement said. "We are offering counseling support to our Team Members as we grieve … Continue Reading
April 17, 2020
Moulton shares quarantine fitness tips, banana bread recipes, with Celtics star Enes Kanter
This quarantine is taking its toll on all of us. The forced isolation, lack of access to gyms and just plain boredom are testing the wills of Americans all over the country, and members of Congress and professional athletes aren't exempted. That's what I learned during a recent video chat between Democratic Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts and Boston Celtics center Enes Kanter. The two talked about the challenges of staying mentally and physically healthy as much of the United States … Continue Reading
April 16, 2020
As Trump Lays Out Reopening Plan, Governors Fear a Second Coronavirus Disaster
WASHINGTON - President Trump has been eager for weeks to reopen the country's economy, once predicting packed churches by Easter Sunday and arguing that recessions cause death, too. On Thursday, with the coronavirus spread appearing to finally level off in hot spots after weeks of lockdowns, the president took his first major step to achieve that goal, releasing a road map for governors to gradually send people back to work and school in many parts of the country. "Experts say the curve has … Continue Reading
April 16, 2020
Celtics' big man Kanter joins Moulton for Facebook Live chat
On the hardwood, Boston Celtics' forward Enes Kanter is known for his efficient post work and knack for rebounding the basketball. But with competitive hoops off the table during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the 6-foot-11 big man has turned his focus to other things including TikTok, learning to play the piano, and taking care of his new cat. On Thursday evening, Kanter joined U.S. Representative and Salem native Seth Moutlon on Facebook Live to talk about these newfound interests. In … Continue Reading
April 16, 2020
COVID-19 Crisis Strains Needy and Groups that Help Them
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Sacred Heart Community Service thought it was prepared for the pain the growing COVID-19 pandemic would cause in San Jose, California. The nonprofit, which has long helped those struggling to pay rent or keep the lights on, rallied donors and helped set up an $11 million fund that would offer up to $4,000 a month to eligible households. The online application process went live on the morning of March 23. Within hours, the site crashed as more than 1,000 attempted to … Continue Reading
April 15, 2020
Rep. Seth Moulton to participate in SJP student webinar
St. John's Prep senior and Marblehead resident Mitch Robson will moderate a panel of experts during an online webinar April 15 on the topic of youth suicide awareness and prevention and Congressman Seth Moulton, D-Massachusetts, 6th, will present remarks to kick off the event. A member of his hometown's Troop 79, Robson is hosting the virtual presentation as part of his Boy Scouts of America Eagle Scout project. "Federal data underscore a growing mental health crisis among American teens, as … Continue Reading
April 14, 2020
Coronavirus risks: Tow truck drivers can now get free COVID-19 testing at sites for first responders, but sanitizer, masks in short supply
The Statewide Towing Association has expressed concern over the vulnerability of its members amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Drivers frequently come into contact with people without the protective equipment that other first responders have. But the organization has now received word that tow drivers have been given permission to receive the free COVID-19 testing at sites for first responders. On Monday afternoon, Statewide Towing Association President Bill Johnson received notice from the … Continue Reading
April 14, 2020
Coronavirus: Death of Vitalina Williams, Salem Market Basket worker, led to call to designate grocery store employees as emergency workers
Vitalina Williams was an employee at Market Garden in Salem for 11 years, that was infected by the coronavirus. After a week of fighting for her life, the 59-year-old finally succumbed to the deadly infection leaving her husband of 19 years to speak out about what could have been done differently. "The entire Market Basket community is deeply saddened by this loss," Griffin said in an email to MassLive on Tuesday. "We offer our support to her family and coworkers during this difficult time. … Continue Reading
April 09, 2020
Catholic Charities: Nonprofits need more government aid to respond to coronavirus economic fallout
With new unemployment claims totaling almost 10 million over two weeks and some economists warning that the unemployment rate during the coronavirus pandemic could go higher than it did during the Great Depression, Catholic Charities agencies across the United States are preparing for a flood of new clients requesting help with food, rent and utility bills. Catholic Charities leaders say that while the government relief package signed into law on March 27 by President Trump will help meet some … Continue Reading