NightSide News Update 10/20/25

Gasoline prices are down in Massachusetts and nationwide as AAA reports prices have currently hit a 4-year low. According to a report by GasBuddy, the nationwide average for gasoline has dropped to $2.98 per gallon. What gasoline prices are you seeing in your area? Are you surprised they've hit a low at this time of year as we're heading into the colder months?

Massachusetts State Auditor Diana DiZoglio continues her fight to audit the state legislature, a voter backed action that received 72% voter approval last November. DiZoglio has run into continuous roadblocks to get the job done and her office has confirmed that they are “actively pursuing the filing of a lawsuit” against the Legislature.

Massachusetts State Auditor Diana DiZoglio continues her fight to audit the state legislature, a voter backed action that received 72% voter approval last November. DiZoglio has run into continuous roadblocks to get the job done and her office has confirmed that they are “actively pursuing the filing of a lawsuit” against the Legislature. Diana DiZoglio checked in with us to discuss some of the roadblocks her office has encountered.

We kicked off the program with four news stories and different guests on the stories we think you need to know about!RUNNING DEEP: Bravery, Survival, and the True Story of the Deadliest Submarine of World War II. Guest: Tom Clavin – NY Times best-selling author Red Sox vs. Right Whales vs. the Cape: Which specialty MA license plate is most popular? Guest: Margie Cullen – USA Today New England Connect Reporter National Disability Employment Awareness Month. How the Northeast Arc supports, trains and coaches people with disabilities so they are able to find work. Guest: Michael Blunt - Employment Program Manager at the Northeast Arc Kids need more independence. If only Massachusetts law would allow it…Addressing how parents can allow kids independence without fear of child neglect laws. Guest: Andrew Haile - assistant teaching professor at Northeastern University School of Law

We kicked off the program with four news stories and different guests on the stories we think you need to know about!The Orionids meteor shower visible tonight & tomorrow in New England. Guest: Jim J. Zebrowski - President Aldrich Astronomical Society, Inc.   Halloween spending scares Americans as inflation forces many to skip the holiday… Guest: Bill Dendy - CPA and money manager with Raymond James   With a storm blowing through the area, it was a rough day for traffic. Guest: Dan Mazella - Operations Director for the Boston Hub of Total Traffic and Weather Network & traffic reporter   The buy-rent gap is widening – should you buy now or keep renting forever? Modern America's housing history is being rewritten: Renting is now cheaper than buying a house in all major metropolitan areas. Guest: Sam Bourgi - researcher and financial analyst at Investors Observer

For NightSide’s last hour of the week we like to keep it light and have fun. This week is a simple question: Are you an optimist, or a pessimist? 

Electricity bills are expected to go up this Winter. The U.S. Energy Information Administration forecasts an average electricity bill rise of approximately 4% from November until March 2026, reaching about $1,130 nationally. What are you doing, if anything, to mitigate the impact of those increased energy rates? 

The Young Republicans, an organized political youth organization in the U.S. is under fire for a leaked Telegram chat group that contained antisemitic, racist, and homophobic text messages. Among the group chat are leaders of the organization who some prominent Republican leaders and others are calling on to resign or step down from their positions. Dan discussed the serious nature of these remarks and how there is no place in politics, whether the Republican Party or other, for such hateful and offensive speech.

The Young Republicans, an organized political youth organization in the U.S. is under fire for a leaked Telegram chat group that contained antisemitic, racist, and homophobic text messages. Among the group chat are leaders of the organization who some prominent Republican leaders and others are calling on to resign or step down from their positions. Dan discussed the serious nature of these remarks and how there is no place in politics, whether the Republican Party or other, for such hateful and offensive speech.

After Applegreen, the company originally awarded the contract to redevelop and operate 18 Massachusetts highway service plazas, backed out, MassDOT decided to start the bidding process all over again instead of awarding the contract to Global Partners, the second runner up. In addition, Thursday MassDOT Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt resigned. President and CEO of Global Partners, Eric Slifka commented on the latest and Boston Globe business reporter Jon Chesto checked in to discuss.