Wednesday, Nov 11: In the News

Nobody does it better than Regent Seven Seas Cruises. Enjoy all-inclusive, unrivaled luxury with unlimited shore excursions, indulgent cuisine, personalized service, and more aboard spacious all-suite ships. Visit rssc.com to experience the unrivaled. WBSM presents the Tim Weisberg Show, streaming live on WBSM.com and the WBSM app. Call 508-996-0500. Send us app chat messages and open line voicemails using the WBSM app. The Tim Weisberg Show. Veterans Day to you. Hope your day is starting off well. It is Veterans Day today. And as such, Chris McCarthy is going to be broadcasting live from the... Fort Tabor, Fort Rodman Military Museum down in the south end of New Bedford. He's inviting veterans to come down and join him on the air. I was talking with the gentleman over there yesterday. I went over there to set up some of the stuff for the broadcast, and they have all kinds of things planned, all kinds of things on display. Definitely worth your time if you have a little bit of time today. But I think it's going to be a day of reflection, a day of honoring those heroes, and a day of learning. So if you don't, I mean, like I've said before, you would be surprised at the heroics of some of the folks from here on the South Coast. Well, maybe you wouldn't be surprised considering the quality of people they are, but just these stories that you hear are so unbelievable. And you know how we are around here. They're not the kind of thing that these people talk about themselves. You go there and you find out, wow, I knew this person my whole life and I had no idea that they had done this. So it would be a very educational day, a very enlightening day. If you get the chance to go on over there. But maybe you're going to take part in some of the other ceremonies or the parade. The New Bedford Parade steps off at 11 a.m. Get down to the main library area, the City Hall area. That's where you're going to be able to see the ceremony at the end. The comments and everything that are made at the end. And I believe that leaves from Buttonwood Park. I'll have to double check that. I'm looking at Channel 12's list here, and it doesn't say where it steps off from. It's going to be a very large parade, and the crowd that gathers down in front of the viewing stand tends to be pretty large. So try to get down there early if you can. We'll have you here until then. 508-996-0500. App chat and open line voicemails on the WBSM app. A lot of things to talk about this morning. This is Wet Nose Wednesday brought to you by First Citizens Federal Credit Union and Ascent Audiology. We'll have an adoptable pet for you today. Melissa's not going to join us today, but we'll have an adoptable pet for you a little bit later on in the morning. And I think this is the time of year we're going to start to see as the holidays come closer, you're going to get families that think, oh, let's get a dog for Christmas. And as Melissa has warned us, you know, dogs are great companions. They're not great gifts because you don't want to give a dog to somebody who isn't ready for it or any pet. Who isn't ready for it. And you certainly don't want to have it thrust upon them. But if it's your family's decision together, that's a different story. So we will have a pet for you a little bit later on. You heard Mike Roberts mention that story out of Taunton yesterday where a vehicle became submerged in the Three Mile River, which is a tributary to the Taunton River. And as of yesterday morning, when the press release went out from the DA's office, they had found one person from the vehicle. But they saw signs that there would have been another person in the vehicle. And so they continued the search yesterday when the sun came up and they were able to locate a second person. However, they have not yet identified officially who that second person was. If we get that information, we'll update the story at WBSM.com and on the WBSM app. We also had two big convictions happen yesterday. Matthew Farwell convicted in the murder of Sandra Birchmore. And some people thought that that wasn't going to happen considering the jury reported itself deadlocked like, oh, here we go again. This is par for the course in these cases these days. And so the jury did try to tell the judge, we are deadlocked and we don't see us getting undeadlocked anytime soon. And the judge put them back at it and they were able to come up with a verdict. And then also Gregory Groom, the man who killed his 18-year-old girlfriend, Pregnant girlfriend. He's 23, but he killed his 18-year-old girlfriend in Rehoboth and buried her in his yard and then admitted to it, ended up getting a plea deal. They'd been seeking a plea deal, and the family had been very outspoken that they didn't want to see him get one. But in the end, he got, I mean, I don't know if this is, this is the best deal he could have gotten, you know, in his eyes, but life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years. He also got an additional three to five years for witness intimidation. But the judge said that he took Groom's lack of educational background, lack of criminal history, and emotional immaturity into consideration when accepting the plea deal. And this comes from WPRI. It said, Basically saying, I can't throw the book at him. That's an interesting case because, again, He took into account his lack of educational background, lack of criminal history, and emotional immaturity. I didn't realize that emotional immaturity or lack of education is an excuse for murder. I mean, you got to think he admitted to police what happened. He told them that he got into an argument with her. He pushed her. She fell back and hit her head. They tried to ask him where she was and told them that they had gotten a search warrant and they would dig if necessary. And then he voluntarily drew a map showing them where the argument had taken place behind the shed on his property. And he said that he stabbed Montero once in the chin, once in the neck, once in the head, and once in the chest. So that's not, oh, I pushed her and she hit her head. That's, I stabbed her to death. And he originally lied to the police about it. Then he went 20 yards into the woods, dug a five-foot deep hole where he put her body and covered it with brush. He also covered the site of the murder with brush as well. So then he tried to conceal the crime on top of it. These charges are... Very heinous. And to say, well, you know, he's not emotionally mature and he lacks education. He still stabbed somebody multiple times. A pregnant girl. Buried her body because he knew he'd done something wrong. Buried her body. Tried to cover his tracks. Lied to the police about it. Like, I just don't see any signs of why he should have been giving any leniency whatsoever. He had gone over, well, she had come over to pick up some of her things. But he could have just let her be. Let her get her things and go. But the whole case is very sad. I actually, I know a member of the community who said that they had known both of them and said that they were, they had a rocky relationship, but that she never would have thought that something like this would have happened. So I don't know, maybe this was just a fit of rage kind of thing, a crime of passion, as they call it. But it wasn't like there was a lot of red flags, at least according to this person. 508-996-0500. Also another story that I think is something Completely disgusting, but also something we need to keep an eye on because I never even thought about this happening. This also comes from WPRI. There's a former instructor and participant at several gymnastics, dance, and cheerleading facilities across Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts who is now facing charges tied to child exploitation and sexual abuse material. But what's interesting is how he came about this child sexual abuse material. There's Joseph Mello, Joseph L. Mello III, 38. Who lives in North Smithfield, Rhode Island, was arrested and charged with attempted production of child pornography, receipt of child pornography, possession of and access with intent to view child pornography, and production of obscene visual representations of sexual abuse of children. Basically, what he was doing is he was taking classes at a dance studio. He filmed. A child undressing in a bathroom. For a changing room. While at the dance studio and then took that footage. Put it into an AI engine. And had it create. Child porn. According to WPRI, he's accused of using this technology to create realistic media depicting the minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct, including sex acts involving himself. He'd already been charged with video voyeurism back in April. But I was reading in, I think it was WJAR's version of the story. They talked about how he would take these photos, this video footage that he had taken of these children, because it was more than one victim. And he put it into the AI platform and said. Keep the facial features the same, but basically, you know, make them naked. And then he utilized those images of those children in that state and then had them doing things with each other and doing things with him. And it's just absolutely disgusting. And also, because I'm not naming the AI platforms, they did in the story, but I'm not going to bring them up because I'm not going to encourage people to use one that would allow this. Because I've gone to try to put things into AI platforms for myself. You know, promotional photos for paranormal events or whatever. And if you suggest something, it'll say, no, I can't do that. Like I had two photos of myself and Stephanie Burke, two separate photos that were slightly off in the color and the contrast. So she looked really pale and I looked really red. So I wanted to kind of balance them out together, but make it look like we were in the photo together. So I just said, let me see if AI can fix it. And I said, can you make this so that, you know, instead of us being separate, we're together in the same photo and balance all the colors and everything. And it told me it wouldn't do that because it didn't because I wasn't the woman in the photo. So how am I using AI that has safeguards that are that strict to say, I'm not going to take your best friend and put her in a photo with you because I don't know that she is your best friend. To having one that says, sure, I'll create child porn for you out of these real life photos and videos you've taken. And that's going to be the scary part because, you know, we've we've dealt with years now with trying to create laws against revenge porn, where people have videos and photos of a significant other that was given to them freely during the course of their relationship. But then when that relationship goes sour, the recipient then takes those and post those on the Internet. And we've been trying to crack down on that. How do we now have platforms that allow people to just create that? So now you break up with somebody, you can just take photos and videos of them and put it in there and say, here, I want them doing this depraved act. And then having the photos and the videos to put online. These are the kind of safeguards people talk about when they are concerned about guardrails for AI. All right, I've got to get a break in here. 508-996-0500. We'll come back, we'll get the news, and then we can talk with you on the other side. You're listening to a quick ad. You know what else is quick? Selling your car on Carvana. Just put in your vehicle information and we'll give you an offer. Done. No hassle, no negotiation, no guy from an online listing lowballing you. Which means by the time I'm done explaining this, you could have basically done it. Still haven't started? Hey, better late than never. Sell your car today on Carvana. Pickup fees may apply. Savor the season at Raley's in Knob Hill. From an extra seat to an extra plate, there's plenty to share. Pre-order heat and eat feasts and ready-to-eat party platters in our deli or our holiday catering for gatherings big and small. Oh, and fun. Holiday the neighbor way, only at Raley's in Knob Hill. Starting your day the right way with Tim Weisberg's show. Mornings on WBSM. President Trump to visit Arlington National Cemetery today, a new House minority leader selected, and Ring launching new in-home security drones. From the Cottage Street Motors WBSM Newsroom, this is WBSM News. President Trump will be marking Veterans Day with a visit to Arlington National Cemetery today. The president expected to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and deliver remarks as part of the official observance ceremony. This year's Veterans Day proclamation from the White House notes that for over 250 years, the liberties and freedoms of every American have been safeguarded by the heroic men and women who have faithfully served in the United States Armed Forces. President Trump says that at his direction, the Department of Veterans Affairs is restructuring to put veterans at the forefront of every decision. Congressman Jim Jordan of Ohio, the new House Minority Leader. Yesterday, GOP House members elected Jordan over Louisiana's Steve Scalise as their new leader. After the vote, Jordan thanked his colleagues for their trust and promised to keep any bad policies brought by Democrats in check. In the Senate, GOP Senators elected current Majority Leader John Thune to be the new Minority Leader. Former President Joe Biden revealing the contents of a letter President Trump left him in the Oval Office after Biden was elected in 2020. The New York Times obtained an excerpt from Biden's new book, Promise Me America, where he revealed Trump's letter. In the letter dated January 20th, 2021, Trump said that he believes Biden will be true to yourself and the American people. Trump went on. Writing that while many presidents largely did not change history, he thinks it will be different for Biden because, quote, I know how much you love the American people. Unlike Trump's public comments, the letter does not criticize Biden or challenge the results of the 2020 election. The owners of Minnesota's largest candy store facing accusations for allegedly selling liquor-filled candy without a license. State investigators... State investigators received an anonymous tip alleging the store sold the candy to a minor without checking ID. According to the criminal complaint, undercover agents later bought candy containing brandy and whiskey. Owner Robert Wagner says that he believed he could legally sell the candy but stopped selling it after the undercover operation. His first court appearance is scheduled for December 18th. A new study finds people who are exposed to more light during the day could have a lower risk of developing dementia later in life. The research published in General Psychiatry does not prove that sunlight itself stops or prevents the disease from happening. Nearly 90,000 people participated in the study and all were free of diagnosed dementia when they entered because dementia currently has no cure. Researchers have continued to investigate possible protective factors and habits that could reduce the risk of developing it. Ring is offering a new tool in home security, an indoor drone. The Amazon company launched the Ring drone camera. Yesterday, for $250, Ring founder and chief inventor Jamie Siminoff said the new product is a response to customers asking for a product that gives them eyes in places a fixed camera can't reach. The drone features 148-degree peripheral vision and can rotate 360 degrees to catch potential threats. It requires a $5 per month subscription fee. Billy Joel is set to make a one-night return to the stage next month. The Piano Man says he'll sit for a question-and-answer session before playing a little music at Florida's Atlantic University on December 14th. The announcement comes less than a month after Joel shared an update more than a year after being diagnosed with a brain condition, normal pressure hydrocephalus. He told the Hollywood Reporter he doesn't drive right now, adding that it's not serious, but he still can't perform the way he used to. WBSM Sports. It was the Celtics over the Philadelphia 76ers, 123-101. The Seas are in Toronto with the Raptors tonight at 7 o'clock. Bruins host Montreal tomorrow at 7. And now, your WPRI 12 forecast. Brought to you by Family Heating and Cooling in Westport. Mainly sunny and dry conditions around the South Coast today. We're looking at highs right around 58 degrees for this Veterans Day. Increasing clouds tonight. We'll be staying dry. Late night lows down to about 40. A lot of clouds around tomorrow with a chance for some rain to develop by mid to late afternoon with high temperatures right around 55. For WBSM, I'm 12 News meteorologist T.J. DelSanto. I'm Mike Roberts, WBSM News. Stay up to date with New Bedford's News Talk station, WBSM, and get breaking news alerts and all of our content on the WBSM app. This WBSM News update is brought to you by Stevie's Wine and Spirits. Look for the purple dot to try before you buy. Only at Stevie's Wine and Spirits in Fairhaven. All right, welcome back in, 508-996-0500, app chat and open line voicemails on the WBSM app. And I will keep reminding you throughout the course of the day that Chris McCarthy is broadcasting live this morning from the Military Museum, the Fort Rodman, the Fort Tabor Fort Rodman Military Museum in the south end of New Bedford. Free admission. It's definitely a day worth going down there, but any day is worth going down there. It had been a few years since I'd been in the museum, and just taking a look around, they've added more things, It's just, it's amazing how much they have packed into that building. So if you don't have a whole lot of time today and you just want to make a quick visit, make a plan to go back and visit and dive in more in depth. I remember, you know, I went to the whaling museum for the first time a couple of months ago. I had a Saturday afternoon where I didn't have anything going on. I said, I'm going to go check it out. And I spent probably two and a half hours there and barely saw a third of it. I mean, I walked through it all so I could see, like, the layout of everything, but just looking at all of the things going on in there. And the military museum is, like, even more concentrated and packed with stuff. So you definitely want to give yourself some time. I'm just looking over at the TV here, and they have on the television on Channel 10 the story that we had last night that I was just going to bring up. But there was an appearance by Bill Murray on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Monday night. He was on the program to promote his new docu-series on Paramount+. Basically, it's about him golfing in Ireland, but also trying to find out his Irish roots. It's based on a book by an author who did the same thing. And in the show, Bill Murray and the author go out together. I haven't had a chance to watch it yet, but I would definitely be interested in that. Not that I'm a huge golfer or anything, but just imagine the visuals of what that must look like. But in this appearance. Bill Murray mentioned, well, actually, Jimmy Kimmel brought up the fact that Murray was in New Bedford over the summer when he showed up for the Bill Murray movie marathon first showing. The first film that they showed was Groundhog Day, and they'd invited him to show up, and they were able to make contact, and they thought there was a chance that he might, but they weren't certain, and he surprised everybody, and he did. So here's what the exchange was between Jimmy Kimmel and Bill Murray. Over the summer, there was a screening of What About Bob in New Bedford, Massachusetts at a theater that people, which, you know, it's a movie that people still really love, and they went to see the movie, and then you just showed up at the end of the movie. Yeah. That's nice. Well, it is. The town's really happening, really happening. Once it was a famous whaling town, but... You know, right now it's kind of having a great rebirth. And anyway, my friend's friend or sister or something like that was on the film committee. They're trying to save this old movie theater, you know, and they've done a nice job. You know, part of the fixing up of the town is, and what's cool is they've made this beautiful theater. So I just thought, okay, so I'm only going to be 125 miles away. I can get there, something like that. So anyway. It was just kind of fun to walk out at the end of the movie. And they had a standee. In case I didn't show up, they had, like, a cardboard me. So the lady's out there talking. And I can say this because I can get away with it. But the lady was out there. And she was about to give, like, a seven-minute speech. And I just didn't have that kind of time. So I walked out behind the thing, you know. And then I just put it down. And then I was like, hey, no more of her. So, that was just... So, yeah, that's you can you can see that clip in our story at WBSM dot com and on the WBSM app. But it's not the first time that Bill Murray has given a New Bedford shout out on late night television. I believe it was 2014 was maybe maybe a little later. I have to go back and look. But he was on late night late show with David Letterman. And he gave a shout out to the guys of the New Bedford Mako for Painting his, he has a 1986, I think it is. It's a 1980s Jeep Grand Wagoneer. That's his Martha's Vineyard vehicle. And it needed a paint job because, you know, living on the island wreaks havoc on your paint. And he sent it over there to get a new paint job. And he gave them a shout out on Late Show with David Letterman. So I'd play that clip for you. But the person who had it posted made the account private. So you can't see it anymore. 508-996-0500. Good morning. You're on WBSM. Good morning, Tim. How are you doing? I sent that video with him last night. Yeah, I mean, I think he called it a happening town. New Bedford's a city having a rebirth. Well, let me put it this way. I don't want to say what he said and how I felt about it. But when you see it, I'd like to talk to you about what you thought about the way he described New Bedford. What I thought about it? I mean, I thought from... No, when you do see it, when you do look at it, he mentioned about how he had the cutout thing that he walked on the stage before and all that stuff. You know what I mean? He was his regular self, you know, down to earth and everything. But I just think that he took a few shots at New Bedford and some of the people. He took a shot at the theater they were trying to save and everything. I don't think those were shots at all. I think he was being very complimentary. Oh, really? Okay, just... I hope people look at it and see how they felt about it. All the comments I've seen about it online, people seem to think he was praising New Bedford. Oh, yeah? Okay. Talking about Mike Kinslow again, I guess. Well, I'm just trying to figure out how you're seeing it from that direction. You don't think that calling it a city experiencing rebirth is a compliment? No, no, I understand that, but he also took shots at us. If you look, if people look at it and see through it, he was being funny. He was really, really funny. And that was my opinion. And people think my opinions are always wrong. So I just think that he took some shots that he threw in the face, trying to be funny. I don't know. I mean, I think the only, I think the only kind of negative thing that he said was, you know, he, he, he took a little dig at Rosemary Gill saying she was going to, she was going to go on too long. But I mean, that's, he was just, yeah, that was just for the joke. Yeah, that's all I'm going to say. Look at the whole picture and see what the people, what they take out of it. You know, national TV, everybody's doing that. We've been getting a lot of that publicity anyway. It's a lot better than the last time I saw New Bedford mentioned on national TV when it was on some show with Bob Odenkirk, and they were talking about New Bedford, and they talked about how that town hasn't been anything since Moby Dick. So that one was a little bit rougher. That's why when you mentioned that, I had seen it. It was like, oh, no, whatever he was. It was funny. I mean, it was really, I thought he took shots at New Bedford. Like you mentioned once. He did, in my eyes, was more than one, but I still think he's a great comedian, so. Absolutely. And it was a very special moment. I was there right in the front row, one of my favorite things I've ever seen in a theater. Yeah, but like I said, at least you noticed one, he did take a shot at the lady, you know, he did take a shot at the lady. I don't think she minds, though, because she knows it was just for the joke. That's your opinion. Maybe she doesn't. I don't think she should take it seriously. That's all. I just want to let you know it was all on Friday night. The night before, I should say. All right. Well, thank you for the call. Thank you. You have a nice day. You too. And I looked it up here. So the name of that show with Bob Odenkirk is called Lucky Hank. I've totally forgot about it. It was only on for like one season. It was pretty good, but it was just. It was a lot. There was a lot going on in that show. And I don't think I ever really found its tone of what it was trying to be. But they were voting on whether or not to de-chair him as head of the English department at the college where he worked. He was given the opportunity to make his case. He was referred to as the accused, which led to a joke about the 1988 film The Accused based on the 1983 Big Dan's rape case. So one of the characters says, would the accused like to say anything in his defense before the vote? The accused, another character asks, it was a good flick, said another character. Jodie Foster, she won an Oscar for that film. We watch it in my gender analysis film class. And then the character said, New Bedford Chamber of Commerce hated that movie. It killed the Moby Dick tours. That was the joke. So yeah, that was a shot at New Bedford. That definitely was a shot at New Bedford, that one. And there was another instance recently on the first season of the show, The Last of Us on HBO. The story about how the mushrooms turn people into zombies. I never watched season two. I still have it saved in my DVR, but just never went back to it. But New Bedford got a brief reference in that when they went to a power plant, a gas plant rather, a natural gas plant, and it said New Bedford Gas. They were in Massachusetts and they went to a place called New Bedford Gas, which there isn't one now. There was New Bedford Gas and Edison Light Company. But in The Last of Us, the outbreak that occurs happens in 2003. And by that point, that company was already under the NSTAR name. So, of course, because me being me, I have to take that reference and see, well, how is this inaccurate? Because that's what I do. Whenever I hear a song in a movie or a TV show, I'm like, that wasn't even out yet in the time period of the show. Like, I got to be that guy. 508-996-0500. Let me get a break in here. We'll be back in a few moments. Savor the season at Raley's in Knob Hill. From an extra seat to an extra plate, there's plenty to share. Pre-order heat and eat feasts and ready-to-eat party platters in our deli or our holiday catering for gatherings big and small. Oh, and fun. Holiday the Neighbor Way, only at Raley's in Knob Hill. All right. Wake up weekday mornings with the Tim Weisberg Show, 1420 a.m. and 99.5 FM, WBSM. And we now have up at WBSM.com and on the WBSM app, List of items and all the links for the Hunger Heroes food drop happening this Saturday at Aldi outside the Dartmouth Mall. It's going to be happening from 10 to 12. We're going to be outside collecting all of your donations. If you want to go inside and purchase some items at Aldi, you can do that too. But we're going to have all the volunteers out there ready to take it all out of your car, make it easier for you. And as Victoria Grisella from the United Way told us yesterday, Blount Fine Foods is going to be there to give you some samples of soup and some coupons while supplies last. But if you needed that Amazon wishlist link to be able to donate because you can't make it down there on Saturday or you don't live in the area, then it's now up there in the story at WBSM.com and on the WBSM app. And I'm hoping that we get the most people we've ever seen. I was watching the forecast, taking a look at it. It looks like it's going to be drier than what they originally were expecting. It's still going to be about 40 degrees, but you don't have to worry about that because you're not standing outside the whole time. And we don't mind, but it should be a bright and sunny morning. So a good time to come out and do some shopping and make some donations. And as we talked about yesterday, you don't even realize who these families are that need help with this Thanksgiving meal. It could be your own neighbors. It could be members of your own family that you don't even know are in need of one of these baskets to help them put a Thanksgiving meal on their table. That's the reality of today's economic situation. Families are living paycheck to paycheck. And while they can get by, they don't have the money they would need to have a traditional Thanksgiving meal. So we want to make that happen for 1,000 local families. And all the information is at WBSM.com and on the WBSM app. The Hunger Heroes Food Drop is made possible by our friends at Carefree Homes and Aaron Pools and Spas. Take our final break of this hour. Be right back. All right. We are going to be going into the news in just a moment. We're going to have the ABC News with all the national and international headlines. We'll have the South Coast News with Mike Roberts. And on the other side, you and I, 508-996-0500, app chat, open line voicemails on the WBSM app. What do you think? Was Bill Murray being complimentary to New Bedford or was he taking shots? I didn't think he was taking any shots. Hi, I'm Sherry Harris, owner of LifeSource Water. 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