On this episode of In Common:

• More than four in ten middle school students in Massachusetts say they’ve experienced bullying. For more than a year, GBH New reporter Chris Burrell has been investigating this issue and joins In Common to tell us more about his latest story on the rise of bullying cases among teen-athletes.
  
  
  
• Oyster season is in full swing, and Massachusetts produces millions of those shellfish a year. On Cape Cod, oyster farmers are warning that more farms are at the risk of closure. CAI's Jennette Barnes explains.
  
  
  
• Boston's most iconic river is home to the biggest rowing competition in the world. Tens of thousands of athletes and hundreds and thousands more spectators are in town for the big event. Stephanie Moore with Holyoke Rows will be among the rowers competing and joins In Common to tell us more about her love for the sport and HOCR.
  
  
  
• Over the next few weeks, In Common is helping you prepare for the upcoming midterm election on Tuesday, Nov. 3rd. This week, we're talking about the nine ballot questions, what they mean and what we'll be voting for. Reporters from our three stations, along with GBH's Hannah Reale, help us break down each and every one of them.
  
  
  
• It's been 10 years since the bill to legalize recreational marijuana sale passed in Massachusetts. This upcoming election, ballot question 8 is challenging that law from 2016. In Common's Jeremy Siegel has a look back at the campaign that legalized weed in Mass.

On this episode of In Common:

• A new report from the office of Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell revealed that nearly 1,000 kids were sexually abused by more than 270 priests from three Massachusetts Catholic archdioceses-- Springfield, Worcester and Fall River. Reporter Nancy Eve Cohen broke the story of allegations three years ago. Now, she has spoken to abuse survivors and explains what happens next.
  
  
  
• In Common is your guide to the 2026 midterm elections on Tuesday, Nov. 3rd. This week, we're talking about voter registration. Getting people to register is easy. Getting people to actually go out and vote is the hard part, says Shanique Rodriguez, executive director of Massachusetts Voter Table.
  
  
  
• The Alzheimer's Family Support Center on Cape Cod offers community and educational programs for families dealing with dementia, all from a storefront inside the Cape Cod Mall in Hyannis. CAI's Mindy Todd takes us on a tour.
  
  
  
• Meanwhile, outside of our beloved Commonwealth.... several high peaks around New England already reporting the first snowfall of the season.
  
  
  
• Cranberry bogs can be useful even after they stop growing fruit. Environmental organizations are repurposing retired cranberry bogs to create more wetland habitats. CAI's Amy Kolb Noyes reports on projects that are underway on the Cape.
  
  
  
• The Blanding's Turtle, recognizable by its yellow neck, is one of the most endangered species in the northeast. Conservationists enlisted the help of school kids to protect this species. GBH's Craig LeMoult reports on the results.

On this Big E special episode of In Common,

• NEPM's Elizabeth Roman has been to the event for as long as she can remember and is our tour guide of the fairgrounds. The Eastern State Exposition in Springfield (aka The Big E) is the fourth largest fair in the country. For 17 days, it's where agriculture experts, food lovers, musical talents and so much more congregate, drawing in more than a million visitors each year.
  
  
  
• The Big E, at its core, is all about showcasing agriculture and inspiring new generations of farmers. In Common's Patti Daniels meets with some of those young farmers raising big animals and a taste test of the 4-H Milkshakes.
  
  
  
• Gene Cassidy is the current CEO of The Big E and says "agriculture is our culture." He tells us more about how the expo first started, what has changed since and what the future holds for the exposition.
  
  
  
• Food is a big part of any fair, and there are many iconic eats at The Big E. In Common's Andrea Asuaje and Stina Chang take a bite of the famous Big E cream puffs (a recipe stolen from Wisconsin). Meanwhile, Patti and Liz engage in a "battle of the baked potatoes."
  
  
  
• The Avenue of the States is a grand row of six colonial buildings, each replica of a New England state house. Ashley Randall, the Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, has more on the history and importance of the Massachusetts house.
  
  
  
• Inside the state houses, there are small business owners local to their state selling food, art and crafts. In Common's Patti Daniels talks with a candlemaker from Provincetown. Outside the state house, there are plenty more booths selling everything from clothes to jewelry and even ... hot tubs? In Common's Andrea Asuaje profiles the vendors selling mini pools at The Big E.
  
  
  
• While there is a plethora of amazing food options at the Big E, there are also some crazy ones. The In Common team tries some more iconic Big E eats, including the CrazE burger, Dr. Pickle and fried deviled eggs.
  
  
  
• The Big E is BIG in many ways. In another area of the fair, there's a whole building dedicated to exhibiting artistic creations. A Blue Ribbon textile artist tells us more about cross-stitching.
  
  
  
• Rides and games are synonymous with fairs. At The Big E, the Giant Slide is one of the most popular attractions. In Common's Stina Chang reports on how the slide does not disappoint.