Renovating the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption at 327 Spring St. has reached new heights. The historic church and parish that for over a century has served as the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River has already seen $600,000 in repairs over the last five years.

Now, scaffolding is creeping up the four-storied bell tower where the latest renovations are underway.

Deacon Tom Palanza, whose service to the parish is twofold in his capacity as the project's principal, said the latest repairs center around two main objectives: shutting out the wind and water to mitigate further damage meanwhile maintaining parishioners’ safety. 

“We knew it was going to take time,” Palanza said.

The pace of repairs is dictated largely by the groundswell of support with each Lumen Christi Cathedral Gala, an event that celebrates “all things positive for everyone in the Diocese,” said Carl Sawejko, who co-chairs the Lumen Christi committee. Galas of years past have raised support that has helped restore the historic cathedral that harbors diocesan liturgies and is the seat and “spiritual home” of Bishop Edgar da Cunha.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

A jury has found that the MBTA did not shortchange a landowner for property it took by eminent domain to build a South Coast Rail layover station — and in fact, the MBTA is due some money back.

In February 2020, the MBTA used eminent domain to take about 18 acres of property belonging to Weaver’s Cove LLC along North Main Street to build the Weaver’s Cove Layover station as part of its commuter rail project.

The MBTA at the time made what’s known as a pro tanto payment to Weaver’s Cove of $2,288,950 for the land. A payment "pro tanto" means the amount was temporarily settled but could change if disputed.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Two homes were temporarily evacuated after a car crashed into a Swansea home resulting in a gas leak Friday evening.

Officials said in a statement that a vehicle was pulling into a driveway when another car struck it from behind. The vehicle went off the road and struck the side of the 278 Wilbur Ave home.

The Swansea Fire Department and Liberty Utilities were called to the scene. The Swansea Building Inspector was also called to the scene to assess the damage to the home.

Police had the road blocked off while the scene was cleared.

Read more at wpri.com.

Brian Bentley, longtime superintendent-director of Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School, is planning to retire for the second time at the end of this year. 

In a shakeup of authority for the Greater Fall River Vocational School District, Leslie Weckesser, Diman’s assistant superintendent and principal, will step into the lead role on Jan. 1, 2027. Warley Williams III will fill Weckesser’s soon-to-be-vacant role on July 1, 2026. 

“These appointments mark an important moment in Diman’s continued growth as the district prepares to open its new state?of?the?art high school,” a June 16 release read. 

The new Diman — a massive 395,000-square-foot build to the tune of $240.7 million according to December 2024 calculations — will welcome the incoming freshman cohort alongside upperclassmen for the first time this fall. 

Weckesser, who has served as Diman’s assistant superintendent and principal since 2024, brings 26 years of leadership experience in vocational?technical education. She previously served as Principal and Vocational Director at Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School, and as a Culinary Arts instructor at Greater New Bedford Voc-Tech.

See more at heraldnews.com.

The state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has delivered a report that criticizes the Fall River School Committee for exhibiting unprofessional conduct, overstepping its authority, having “a strained relationship” with district staff and leadership, and holding inefficient meetings that staff said resemble a "circus."

The 48-page report was produced by DESE and the American Institutes for Research in the aftermath of former Superintendent Tracy Curley’s ouster this March. It identifies some strengths and growth areas for the district, though its list of areas that need improvement is longer.

The report includes significant criticism of the School Committee, noting that individual members sometimes exceeded their authority, leading to staff accusations of bullying, with supervisors having to protect staff from them.

The report is the result of interviews with about 40 people in Fall River — from Mayor Paul Coogan and School Committee members to teachers and students — conducted in early May. Included in the analysis were recordings of School Committee meetings, emails between staff, district reports and other data.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Police are investigating after a stabbing at the intersection of Morgan and Third streets in Fall River Thursday evening.

In an email to 12 News, Lieutenant Matthew Mendes said officers found a man suffering from “what appeared to be two stab wounds” when they arrived at the scene.

The victim was rushed to an area hospital where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Mendes did not say whether anyone was in custody, but he noted that the department will release more information when there is an update.

See more at wpri.com.

The number of new dementia cases per year is expected to double by 2060, according to research data published by the National Institutes of Health. They cite an aging U.S population as the main reason for the rapidly increasing rates of dementia diagnoses.

Southcoast Health recognized the need for memory care in Southern Massachusetts and launched a memory health program last July under the leadership of Neurologist Dennis Fitzgerald.

He joined 12 News Anchor Shannon Hegy on the latest edition of 12 Health to talk about the services they offer for both patients and caregivers, and also explain the different types of memory disorders that fall under the umbrella of dementia.

Dr. Fitzgerald said he sees about five new patients a day, four days a week, in the program, spending an hour with them to gather as much information as possible as part of a dedicated cognitive assessment.

See more at wpri.com.

If you were out and about in the past week, chances are, someone from Scotland was there.

An estimated 10,000 Scottish fans are in and around Providence, with the national team playing two World Cup matches in nearby Foxboro.

Before making their way across the pond, the Scottish fans created the “Providence Tartan Army.”

“This donation comes not from the people who organized the charity and advance committee,” member Ian Cox said.

“We are incredibly proud to be a small part of it, but it comes from all of you. It comes from the thousands of ordinary Scotland supporters who decided that coming to Providence and being part of something was more than just about 90 minutes of football … mainly because we didn’t expect to last much more than 90 minutes of football.”

“And so the songs will fade and the sounds of a ball being kicked will fade,” he continued, “but we hope that this legacy will live on.”

See more at wpri.com.

The Westport River Watershed Alliance is gearing up for two major summer events: River Day 2026 on June 20 and the Summer Concert Series opener July 11.

River Day, an annual festival celebrating the Westport River and environmental stewardship, will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 20 at the Head of Westport Town Landing, 493 Old County Road. If it rains, the event will be held the next day, according to a community announcement.

The festival, which has been held since 1984, features a variety of activities and performances suitable for all ages.

Highlights include live music and cultural performances by the Eastern Medicine Singers, a parade with watershed animal puppets, hands-on children's activities, face painting and classic games.

The River Center will have exhibits focused on sustainability and river ecology.

Parking and shuttle service will be available from Westport High School, 400 Old County Road.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Massachusetts is cracking down on wrong-way drivers with new state-of-the-art technology, according to Gov. Maura Healey.

Healey unveiled a comprehensive statewide initiative Wednesday that’s designed to reduce wrong-way driving crashes through a combination of advanced detection technology, enhanced roadway signage, infrastructure improvements and targeted safety upgrades.

The initiative, which will cost the state upwards of $75 million, focuses on more than 500 “high-risk” spots across Massachusetts where drivers are more likely to wind up heading in the wrong direction.

It will take several years for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to install the new warning technology and signage, but Healey stressed that work is already underway.

See more at wpri.com.

The dog days of summer are here, and that means it’s sun’s out, buns out season in the Spindle City.

Things are about to get sizzling with the return of a fun new Fall River tradition, the Fall River Coney Island Classic, featuring epic hot dog eating, local flavors and community fun.

Think you have what it takes to be top dog?

Faneek’s Coney Island, a city hot dog institution since 1966, invites you to find out July 16 as their second annual hot-dog eating contest descends on downtown.

“Game on!!” Faneek’s proclaims in a June 15 post on their Facebook page teasing this year’s event. “Calling all local businesses, fire, police... let's have fun with our community!”

Launched in 2025, the contest — presented by Faneek’s in collaboration with NoMA (North Main Historic District) — has already cemented a spot in city history as it was paired by a proclamation from the city of Fall River officially designating the third Thursday in every July as Fall River Hot Dog Day.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Lillian Daponte, a B.M.C. Durfee High School graduate, has been awarded BankFive’s 2026 Presidential Scholarship.

The $10,000 scholarship, which is renewable over four years, is given to graduating high school seniors from Bristol County, Massachusetts, and Newport County, Rhode Island, according to a community announcement.

Daponte will attend the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in the fall.

The scholarship, created in partnership with the SouthCoast Community Foundation, honors the memory of BankFive’s late presidents and CEOs. It is awarded based on either academic achievement or financial need and is renewable each year the student is enrolled full time and meets eligibility requirements.

See more at heraldnews.com.

John Nieratko has been named the next principal of Gardner Elementary School in Swansea.

Nieratko, who currently serves as the director of Instruction & Assessment in Mansfield Public Schools, was chosen after a thorough search process, according to a community announcement.

Nieratko has a strong background in education, having previously served as an elementary school principal in Mansfield. He has been recognized for supporting student achievement, fostering positive school cultures and working collaboratively with staff and families.

During the interview process, Nieratko demonstrated a student-centered philosophy and a commitment to supporting educators. His experience and dedication to educational excellence were highlighted as key factors in his selection, according to the announcement.

See more at heraldnews.com.

A Taunton woman died Monday following a crash involving multiple vehicles on Route 44.

The victim was identified Tuesday as Ivonne Caicedo Gallego, 44, by the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.

The crash happened just after 10 a.m. outside 595 Winthrop St. The DA’s office said first responders arrived to find a white BMW with “catastrophic damage to the driver’s side” and Caicedo Gallego outside the vehicle with traumatic injuries. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

A man and woman from a second vehicle were taken to Rhode Island Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to the DA’s office.

See more at wpri.com.

Police are investigating a homicide that happened in Fall River Wednesday evening.

In a social media post, the Fall River Police Department confirmed the suspected homicide happened on Aetna Street.

It’s unclear how the victim died.

Police said they have one person in custody, but it’s unclear if they are facing charges.

See more at wpri.com.

Police are investigating after a child was hit and killed by a car in New Bedford Wednesday afternoon.

The child was riding a bicycle down Cherokee Street when they were hit by an oncoming car, according to police.

Police said the child suffered fatal injuries as a result.

The driver that hit the child is cooperating with the investigation.

“Words cannot adequately describe a tragedy so profound,” New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell said in a statement. “This child had their entire life ahead of them. I offer my deepest condolences to the family and whatever support we could conceivably offer.”

The cause of the crash remains unknown at this time.

See more at wpri.com.

The Fall River Public Schools has moved to lay off 73 educators in schools throughout the district, according to the latest data.

Fall River Educators Association President Keith Michon spoke at the June 3 meeting of the Fall River Public School Committee, where he reflected on some “not-so-good things,” leading up to a difficult last month when 213 initial non-renewal letters were sent to district employees. 

“I’m very disheartened to see so many great educators and those with great potential leave Fall River. … I’m hopeful that better systems can be put in place,” he said, citing “a difficult year filled with disruption and instability for so many.”

Rather than “clean house,” Michon said, “we need a builder.”

See more at heraldnews.com.

Massachusetts' chief public defender is demanding a review of all cases involving the officers in the Karen Read case.  It would specifically focus on former State Police trooper Michael Proctor and former Canton sergeant Sean Goode.

This comes after Read filed a lawsuit last week over racist and sexist text messages sent by the disgraced officers. 

Read claims Proctor and Goode were driven by misogyny in their alleged efforts to frame her for the murder of her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe. 

Last year, a jury acquitted Read of second-degree murder after a previous jury was split, leading to a mistrial.

Over the next few weeks, public works crews and third-party contractors will be resurfacing roadways around Dartmouth.

The town put out a press release Tuesday warning drivers about the travel and parking impacts they may encounter between June 9 and July 18.

“Dartmouth Department of Public Works thanks all residents and visitors for their patience while this vital street work is completed,” the press release said.

The work will be done between 6:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Signed detours will be in place, according to the town, and parking won’t be allowed in the affected areas during those hours on weekdays.

Here is a list of the resurfacing locations:

• Metropolitan Street (from Slocum Road to Dead End)
• Huntington Avenue (from Slocum Road to Dead End)
• Lexington Avenue (from Slocum Road to House #90)
• Longfellow Street (from Lexington Avenue to New Bedford City Line)
• Patton Street (from Slocum Road to Dead End)
• Truman Avenue (from Marshall Street to MacArthur Street)
• MacArthur Street (Truman Avenue to House #4 on Marshall Street)
• Doolittle Avenue (Nimitz Street to Doolittle Avenue)
• Nimitz Street (Truman Avenue to Doolittle Avenue)
• Slocum Road (Route 6 to Patton Avenue)
• Chase Road (Kyle Jacob Road to Gentle Valley Drive)

See more at wpri.com.

Jesse Machado will never forget the afternoon of Feb. 21, 2022.

It was the day the 36-year-old said he stabbed 43-year-old Davide Semenza to death.

“He was so joyful with everybody,” Semenza’s widow, Giorgia Ferretti, told 12 News last fall. “He had a big, big heart and was an amazing dad.”

The 43-year-old, who was born in Texas to Swiss and Italian immigrants, had just moved into a room in Newport and was working at a local restaurant prior to his death.

Machado explained that he went to Newport to meet up with a woman he’d met just days before in Providence.

“We rode around for a bit … and then she said, ‘Oh we have to stop at my friend’s house for a minute. I have to talk to him about something,'” Machado recalled. “She didn’t tell me about what and I didn’t really ask.”

See more at wpri.com.

How do you think Pleasant Street can be improved?

That’s the question the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District will be asking of Fall River residents at a listening session set for Thursday, June 11.

The meeting will be held at Government Center from 5 to 7 p.m.; the drop-in event is intended for SRPEDD to hear from the public about how they feel Pleasant Street can be improved in terms of transportation and land use.

In April, SRPEDD announced it was conducting a study of the Pleasant Street corridor from Troy Street to Eastern Avenue, with the goal of improving “travel experience,” especially “traffic and pedestrian safety,” according to a release. The listening session is part of that study.

See more at heraldnews.com.

The town’s Health Director Jonathan Abreu has given the Venus de Milo restaurant and banquet hall a gold star of approval as of an unannounced inspection on June 7. 

Venus's third-generation owner Monte Ferris Jr. and Abreu listed mutual support and an acknowledgment of their respective trades in a joint statement that read, "We look forward to continuing a highly collaborative relationship ... to bring high-quality food with the highest level of food safety possible to [a] beloved clientele and community at large."

In the statement, Ferris advocated for Abreu and the health board, saying, "Their burden is heavy, the work is not easy, and the mandate is extremely important, which we ... always will recognize," pointing to the 70-year working relationship the venue has shared with the Board of Health.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Former Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank was remembered yesterday during a memorial service at Faneuil Hall in Boston. 

He was 86-years-old when he died on May 19th, in Ogunquit, Maine. 

Frank was elected to Congress in 1980, and retired in 2013.  Speakers at the service included Massachusetts Congressmen Jim McGovern and Richard Neal, Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Governor Maura Healey and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.  

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey is signing the World Cup alcohol bill. 

The bill officially allows cities and towns extend alcohol service until 3:00 a.m. during the tournament.  It will also allow designated public drinking districts. 

The changes come ahead of World Cup matches in Foxborough and run through July.

All three Massachusetts governor candidates are not releasing their tax returns. 

The Boston Globe reports Governor Maura Healey and Republican challengers Mike Minogue and Brian Shortsleeve declined requests for five years of returns. 

While state law does not require candidates to release the documents, this comes after all three have promised transparency in their campaign. 

The tax returns can provide insight into the money they have available to shape their ability to get their message out to voters.