It’s been a common criticism: while Fall River deals with an array of social and economic problems, the state chose to spend $16.8 million on lighting up the Braga Bridge instead.

On July 7, the bridge’s new lights turned on, concluding a three-year process that overhauled its electrical system, replacing its aging wiring, road illumination and navigational lighting. The project’s total cost ballooned from an original estimate of $8 million.

To hear the state tell it at the time, adding color-changing ornamental lights was just a part of the overall repairs. But records obtained by The Herald News show that so-called "aesthetic lighting" was actually the costliest part of the project, by far.

MassDOT's July press release said ornamental lighting "was requested by the City and local government officials."

But how much of the project’s total price tag actually went to ornamental lights, as opposed to upgrades to aging electrical systems the state deemed "unsafe"? And what contributed to the cost overrun?

The Herald News requested contract documents and cost breakdowns from MassDOT in August. On Sept. 18, the agency fulfilled the request.

According to those records, the whole project ended up costing about $17,425,856.

The bridge’s new look accounted for most of the project’s cost: about $10.3 million, according to MassDOT spokesperson John Goggin.

In contract documents, not all line items are clearly sorted into ornamental and safety categories. Those clearly related to “aesthetic lighting” add up to $7,796,800.

That includes $1.63 million for the lights’ control system, $1.577 million for “upper aesthetic lighting supports,” $2,595,200 for lower supports and $1,994,600 for flood lights.

Several line items, such as those for removing old wiring, could be indirectly or partially related to the ornamental lights.

The state’s $10.3 million calculation includes “aesthetic light fixtures, the supports and structural bridge modifications, supporting electrical infrastructure and distribution, control infrastructure and distribution, bridge access and work,” Goggin wrote.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Police have arrested a man accused of robbing a Fall River convenience store while wearing a Halloween mask.

Tajuan Holloman, 55, has been charged with armed robbery while masked and assault with a dangerous weapon.

Officers rushed to the Discount Food Mark off Pleasant Street Sunday night after receiving reports of an armed robbery.

Police said the suspect, later identified as Holloman, walked into the store wearing a Ghostface mask from the movie “Scream” and threatened the clerk with what appeared to be a firearm.

Holloman took off with about $1,500, according to police.

Investigators reviewed the store’s surveillance footage and were able to figure out where Holloman dumped the mask, as well as what turned out to be a tire iron wrapped in a white sock.

In a letter to families, Superintendent Jeffrey Schoonover explained that a driver behind the school bus saw someone throwing several plastic bottles, commonly referred to as “nips,” out the window and called the Somerset Police Department.

Officers pulled the school bus over and questioned the driver, who acknowledged that it was her who threw the bottles out the window, according to Schoonover.

Somerset Police Chief William Tedford explained that the woman found the bottles in her purse and told the officers “she was concerned she would face scrutiny” if anyone discovered them.

“Perhaps not a great judgement call at the time,” Tedford said in a statement to 12 News.

Tedford said officers performed a breathalyzer test on the driver, which showed she had a BAC of 0.0000.

“There were absolutely no signs of drinking or impairment,” he said.

Schoonover said there were 14 high schoolers on the bus at the time. He added that Fisher Bus, which services the district, sent another driver to pick those students up and bring them to the high school.

“The presence of alcohol containers on a school bus, by anyone, is unacceptable,” Schoonover wrote. “Our students and families must have complete confidence in the people responsible for transporting them, and we take this matter very seriously.”

Schoonover said the district has requested Fischer Bus not assign the driver to any of its bus routes in the future. He also thanked the driver who was behind the bus at the time for reporting the incident.

See more at wpri.com.

Lindsay Clancy‘s lawyer argued Tuesday that there wasn’t enough evidence to prove she killed her three children, a striking turn after a lengthy trial that focused more on her mental state than on whether she took their lives.

“This entire case is based on speculation,” attorney Kevin Reddington said during the first hearing since Clancy’s initial trial ended Sept. 4 with a deadlocked jury.

During the trial, he didn’t dispute that Clancy killed the children at the family’s home in 2023, instead seeking to persuade a jury to find her not criminally responsible because of mental disease — a rare condition called postpartum psychosis, according to the defense.

But on Tuesday, in the wake of a mistrial with the jury split 11 to 1 in Clancy’s favor, Reddington sought to persuade Judge William Sullivan to acquit her.

“Where is the admission? Where does she say that she did this?” Reddington asked, going on to recap his arguments that she also was psychotic and delusional at the time of the children’s deaths.

Prosecutor Shanan Buckingham called his argument “laughable,” pointing to various evidence raised during the trial. In court papers filed Monday, prosecutors recapped their arguments that there was enough evidence to convict Clancy.

The prosecution maintains that Clancy, a 36-year-old former labor and delivery nurse, killed the children then used multiple methods to try to end her life, and that she knew what she was doing was wrong. She remains paralyzed from the waist down.

The judge didn’t immediately decide, and no trial date was set.

Fire Chief Jeff Bacon told The Herald News on Monday that neither building severely damaged in a devastating fire downtown last week had fire suppression sprinklers.

The Columbian Building at the corner of South Main and Rodman streets caught fire around 10 p.m. on the night of Wednesday, Sept. 23. The fire raged through the largely vacant property into early Thursday morning, with hotspots continuing to flare up into Friday.

The fire and partial demolition of the historic Columbian Building at 308-318 S. Main, and its neighbor at 298 S. Main, has left a gaping, rubble-filled hole in one of downtown Fall River’s busiest intersections.

The fire’s cause is under investigation. Fall River interim Police Chief J.T. Hoar told The Herald News the matter is considered suspicious and is being investigated as an arson.

The fire destroyed the Columbian Building, constructed in 1892. It was once home to event halls, a dancing school and a music store. More recently, the building had been largely unused, owned by River Town Realty LLC but recently taken by the city for non-payment of taxes.

The Rodman Street side of the building had been home to LevelUp, a barbershop. An apartment above the barbershop was reportedly occupied, according to a city official; it is unclear if this person was authorized to live there.

Next door at 298 S. Main was home to Pawtucket Pawn Brokers. In that same building was card and hobby shop Two Lucky Collectibles.

The building was partially demolished on Friday night, on a particularly fast timeline.

City Director of Inspectional Services Glenn Hathaway said that was partially done to reach parts of the building that continued to flare up and smolder even despite the Fire Department’s dumping of thousands of gallons of water on it.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Although nothing is guaranteed yet, if lawmakers approve a supplemental funding request, the New Bedford community could have some short-term relief about the future of Station 9.

For months, firefighters assigned to Station 9 have awaited answers on what’s in store for the firehouse and their jobs. Nearly 13,000 residents and several nearby schools who rely on those crews are also eager to know.

Earlier this year, Mayor Jon Mitchell outlined a proposed budget aiming to close a $32 million deficit, which included the closure of Station 9.

The Ashley Boulevard station is currently operating on $500,000 in state funding secured by state Sen. Mark Montigny. But that money is expected to last through October or November at the very latest.

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey agreed to include a $1.3 million line item for the New Bedford Fire Department in a supplemental appropriations bill submitted to the legislature. This would carry Station 9 through the rest of the fiscal year.

During a press conference and visit to the station on Monday, Healey said it was important to find funds to keep it open. She also stressed a focus on finding long-term funding solutions for stations in similar situations.

“As we continue to see revenues come in, we’re going to continue to see them baked into the public safety grants that we give out,” Healey said. “So I will expect that this is going to be funded, for years going forward.”

If approved, it’s unclear when state leaders could take action or how soon the funds would reach the city.

Bill Sylvia, president of the New Bedford Firefighters Association Local 841, says he’s hopeful the funding will move forward.

“Public safety is something that should not be funded or looked at as just a line in a budget,” Sylvia said. “There are serious consequences.”

Meanwhile, Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Minogue says the proposal doesn’t address the bigger issue.

“Mayor Jon Mitchell has rightly pointed to rising healthcare and pension costs as serious pressures on New Bedford’s budget. But a one-time rescue for one fire station is a Band-Aid,” Minogue said in a statement. “Next fiscal year, Station 9 will be right back in the same spot, because the real problem is that Beacon Hill has steadily cut local aid and left cities and towns to choose between public safety and balanced budgets.”

While Mayor Jon Mitchell was not in attendance at Monday’s event, a city spokesperson told 12 News he “regrets his schedule did not allow him to join” and welcomes the direct state assistance.

“It provides our Administration, the City Council, and local public employee unions the opportunity to address the underlying challenges of unrestrained pension and health insurance spending, which together are putting tremendous pressure on the City budget,” the spokesperson said.

See more at wpri.com.

A UMass Dartmouth student accused in the deadly stabbing of a student-athlete outside a Providence club has been ordered held without bail.

Chukwunonso David Uzoma-Eze, 19, allegedly stabbed two players on the UMass Dartmouth football team outside Mezzo Lounge off Charles Street early on Sept. 19.

As a result, 18-year-old freshman Marvins Antoine, of Fall River, died at the hospital

The Providence Board of Licenses has ordered the nightclub to remain closed for a month.

Uzoma-Eze, who police said also attends UMass Dartmouth, was arraigned Monday on a murder charge in Providence District Court. His attorney, Noah Kilroy, told 12 News he will be claiming self-defense in the case.

“Other than that, I don’t want to comment out of respect for the family,” Kilroy said. “Give them some time to grieve.”

Uzoma-Eze was arraigned in New Bedford District Court Sept. 21, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged a detainer request against him on Sept. 22.

An ICE spokesperson told 12 News Uzoma-Eze initially entered the country legally in 2015, but is now considered a “criminal illegal alien from Nigeria” for violating the terms of lawful admission after his murder arrest.

Kilroy declined to comment on the immigration matter.

See more at wpri.com.

A push to rollback marijuana legalization in Massachusetts looks likely to fail, at least according to new poll numbers.

The University of New Hampshire Survey Center poll, released Sept. 24, found that 71% of likely Massachusetts voters say they would vote no on Question 8, which would repeal laws that permit the sale of recreational marijuana. Just 24% said they would vote yes, with 5% unsure.

The question is one of nine set to appear on Bay Staters’ ballots this November, an amount that’s tied for the record.

The poll surveyed 590 Massachusetts residents online between Sept. 17 – 21. It has a margin of error of +/- 4%.

The poll surveyed six of the Massachusetts ballot questions, including ones on election, gun and housing laws.

Massachusetts voters were split on Question 3, a proposal that would make Massachusetts’ state elections, starting in 2028, like Boston’s: Candidates of all parties would be on a single ballot in the primary, with the top-two finishers advancing to the general elections. 

Lindsay Clancy is expected to be back in court this week. 

The Massachusetts woman, who claims she was suffering from postpartum psychosis, admitted to strangling her three children before trying to kill herself in 2023. 

Her recent murder trial ended in a mistrial after jurors remained deadlocked and could not reach a unanimous verdict. 

Clancy's attorney is expected to push for the charges against her to be dropped.  Prosecutors have not said yet whether they plan to retry Clancy. 

Her next court appearance is scheduled for Tuesday.

A police-involved shooting in Lakeville left one man dead and sent four officers to the hospital on Saturday, according to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office.

Just before 2 p.m., a resident called police to their home on Heritage Hill Drive for a well-being check on a “disturbed” family member who had been armed and “acting erratically.”

Despite verbal commands for Buckley to drop the gun, he allegedly refused. Officers said gunfire was exchanged and Buckley sustained a gunshot wound.

After receiving medical aid from officers on scene, Buckley was taken to Morton Hospital where he later died. Four Lakeville officers were reportedly taken to the hospital for evaluation and later released.

The investigation remains ongoing by Massachusetts State Police and the Plymouth County DA’s office, with help from Lakeville police.

See more at wpri.com.

Matt Sherry and the Durfee High football team played with a heavy heart on Thursday, Sept. 24 against Somerset Berkley.

The Hilltoppers wore the emblem 'MA4' on their helmets in memory of former teammate Marvins Antoine, who was killed in a stabbing last weekend.

For 48 minutes, the Durfee team and Sherry played hard for Antoine.

"Mentally the whole team was in a rough place, especially coming after that news in the morning" Sherry said after the Hilltoppers defeated the Raiders 28-7. "I feel like it defintely brought us together this week. Everything we do moving forward is for Marvins."

Sherry threw two touchdowns and ran for another to account for most of the Hilltoppers offense. Sophomore running back Ahliy Cantave rushed for his third straight 100-yard game. He finished with a game-high 134 yards on 18 carries and scored a 47-yard touchdown.

"It has been a tough week for the program," Durfee head coach Taylor Brown said. "We went through real life situations this week. I'm happy for the kids with they way they responded all week. We were only able to practice two days this week. We knew it wasn't going to be easy because Somerset plays until the end. I told the kids to play for Marvins because he was always super competitive when he was out there."

The Raiders (0-3) responded after the Hilltoppers drove the field for a touchdown — a Sherry keeper from 2 yards out — on their first possession. Senior Gavin Gooch took it in from 16 yards out to tie the game at 7-7 with a 1:50 remaining in the first quarter.

The only problem, SBR went scoreless for the last three quarters.

See more at heraldnews.com.

A man who allegedly stabbed two people in a Somerset hotel room acted in self-defense, with drugs at the heart of the fight, his defense lawyer argued in Bristol County Superior Court on Sept. 25.

Kyle Barboza, 43, faces felony charges with sentences ranging up to 15 years in connection with that attack.

At his Sept. 25 arraignment, he pleaded not guilty to eight charges stemming from two separate incidents over the summer. Judge Thomas J. Perrino ordered him held without bail pending trial after a dangerousness hearing the same day.

“Before you is a 43-year-old man with a 19-page record. He has a history of violence,” said prosecutor Assistant District Attorney Nicole Cheney.

Barboza faces indictments on two counts of assault and battery causing serious bodily injury and two counts of assault with intent to commit assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, all felonies stemming from the Aug. 1 Somerset stabbing.

He was also indicted on older charges from a July 5 incident: one misdemeanor assault and battery charge, two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, and one count of intimidating a witness, juror, police officer or court official.

See more at heraldnews.com.

The approaching Nor'easter is already impacting travel with delays and cancellations. 

At Logan International Airport over 60 flights were canceled and there were several delays by early this afternoon. 

The MBTA warns that potential flooding from heavy rain as well as high winds could cause service delays and/or cancellations on subway and commuter rail lines. 

Additionally, all MBTA ferry service is canceled for the entire weekend. 

On Cape Cod, ferry passengers are advised to check the Steamship Authority website for updates as the storm is expected to have a significant effect on ferry service.

As local leaders continue pressing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for transparency about arrests in Massachusetts, the agency maintains it is not required to provide a rationale.

During a press conference Thursday, Helena DaSilva Hughes, president of the Immigrants’ Assistance Center in New Bedford, described the events over the past few days as a “total nightmare.” As of Wednesday, about 30 people had reportedly been detained across Massachusetts’ South Coast, but she said those numbers might have increased since.

According to Hughes, most of those taken into ICE custody are not criminals. She stressed that not only are they legally residing in the country with pending asylum cases, but many have children who were born in the United States.

“If we talk about the immigrant communities that are getting picked up, let’s not forget that this is an American issue, and these are American-born children that are being impacted,” Hughes said. “The trauma we are seeing with these kids is tremendous.”

Just two weeks ago, one of Hughes’ clients was reportedly detained after dropping off his son at school. She said her primary concerns are the widespread impact the arrests have on the community and the mental health effects on children who see ICE has picked up their parent.

“What’s happening right now is they’re taking away heads of households,” Hughes added. “Now mothers and children are left behind with fear of becoming homeless. They don’t know how they’re going to meet their basic needs.”

Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan said ICE initially used to call in advance if federal immigration enforcement operations were to take place in the city, but the agency is no longer providing prior notification.

“I have no problem with dangerous cartel members, drug dealers, violent criminals being taken out of the city of Fall River by ICE — but that’s about where I’m going to draw the line,” Coogan said.

Coogan mentioned that he received reports Wednesday of a child waiting to be picked up at a bus stop who was left alone outside after their parent was detained. He also heard that two Fall River students may have been taken into ICE custody this week, though officials are still working to confirm their ages.

According to Coogan, targeting people heading into work, dropping children off at daycare or helping society is an overreach.

See more at wpri.com.

Acushnet police are investigating the cause of a crash that sent a motorcyclist to the hospital with serious injuries Thursday night.

Town officials said the motorcycle and a vehicle collided at the intersection of South Main and Jean streets.

Police were called to the scene around 9:15 p.m. and arrived to find the rider, a 21-year-old man, unresponsive on the ground.

First responders stabilized the man before taking him to the trauma center at St. Luke’s Hospital, after which he was transferred to Rhode Island Hospital, according to officials. The motorcyclist’s name was not released, and his current condition is unknown.

Officials said the driver of the vehicle remained on scene and was taken to St. Luke’s for evaluation.

South Main Street was closed for several hours as police conducted their investigation.

Agents evidently with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement detained a man around 11 a.m. at SouthCoast Marketplace on Wednesday, Sept. 23.

The man’s name and the charges he is facing are not yet known; ICE has not yet responded to a request for information.

According to witnesses, the arrest occurred outside the Jersey Mike’s sandwich shop at SouthCoast Marketplace on William S. Canning Boulevard. Around 11:20 a.m., an SUV parked outside the shop was seen boxed in by unmarked vehicles outfitted with red and blue flashing lights.

Agents wearing hooded sweatshirts, face masks and tactical vests marked “POLICE” milled around the area.

Witnesses said the man arrested attempted to flee toward the Aldi grocery store across Canning Boulevard but was subdued with a Taser and taken into custody.

The arrest comes as ICE has stepped up federal detention operations on the SouthCoast in recent days.

This week alone, nearly two dozen people were detained in New Bedford, including Oscar Abel Gutierrez, 37, of Fall River. Any criminal charges filed against Gutierrez were not immediately available.

The city is borrowing money to boost its annual spending on road maintenance.

“The residents yell for more streets to be done, we’re trying to accomplish that goal,” said City Councilor Michelle Dionne at a Sept. 22 meeting.

Voting 8-1, councilors approved a measure allowing the mayor’s administration to take out the $10 million loan for the purpose.

The loan is part of $28,201,106 set aside for road repairs in the city’s Capital Improvement Plan for the 2027-2031 fiscal years. That total includes state funding Fall River expects to receive over those years.

Massachusetts uses a formula based mostly on total road mileage — as well as employment and population — to send cities road maintenance funds. Fall River received about $2,651,678 this fiscal year.

The Capital Improvement Plan, approved in March, said extra local funds were needed because state funding has remained level while “the cost of projects is ever increasing.”

Residents along the Northeast coast are preparing for an early-season nor'easter this weekend. 

Forecasters say the storm that usually comes late in the fall is currently building up strength over the ocean near the Mid-Atlantic states, and is expected to head north toward New England. 

States from Maine to North Carolina are preparing for coastal flooding, beach erosion and power outages caused by gusty winds.  The worst effects are expected Friday night through Sunday, when storm surge could get above three feet and wind gusts could hit 60 miles an hour.  The heaviest rain is expected in southern Massachusetts.  

The UMass Dartmouth football team and other members of the campus community gathered Wednesday evening to remember a student-athlete who was killed in Providence last weekend.

Marvins Antoine, 18, died early Saturday morning after he and one of his teammates were stabbed outside a nightclub in Providence. Police said a fight between two groups broke out in a parking lot after Mezzo Lounge stopped admitting patrons due to overcrowding.

The second victim’s injuries were not life-threatening, according to police.

The university held a candlelight vigil in Antoine’s honor outside the library starting at 5:15 p.m.

Students wrote down memories of Antoine, which were presented to his family along with his football jersey. While only a freshman, it seemed the Fall River native had a profound impact on those around him.

“He lifted people up. He made everyone around him better,” team captain Conner Robidoux said.

“One of our teammates wrote that he’s thankful he got to build a bond with Marvins that will last a lifetime. Because in the short time he was here, it felt like forever,” Robidoux added. “He said that in everything he does from this point forward, he’ll carry Marv with him.”

The suspect, Chukuwnonso Uzoma-eze, was arrested on campus later on Saturday. He’s also a UMass Dartmouth student, however, police said there’s no indication the victims knew him.

Uzoma-eze, 19, is currently being held in New Bedford as he awaits extradition to Rhode Island to face a murder charge.

See more at wpri.com.

Crews are still on scene battling a 3-alarm fire that broke out late Wednesday night in Fall River.

Firefighters responding to a building in the area of Rodman and South Main Streets around 10 p.m. found flames and smoke pouring out of it.

Fall River District Fire Chief Sean Flannery said the flames broke through the windows of a storefront and they immediately set up a defensive attack.

“There were three buildings involved here,” Flannery explained. “The main fire building had a building to the north that sustained heavy fire damage and there was another building on Rodman Street that had an apartment in it where one tenant was displaced.”

That tenant was in their apartment at the time of the fire but was able to get out uninjured.

Two businesses are also in the building on the north side of the main fire building. Those two buildings are “structurally unsound,” according to Flannery, and the building department will be making an assessment later in the day.

One firefighter was hurt by some falling glass, but was treated on scene and continued battling the fire.

“It’s been challenging. There’s been some hot spots that we’re having difficulty getting to,” Flannery said. “Right now we have two ladder trucks deployed trying to get to that hot spot, so we are going to be here for a while.”

Drivers are urged to avoid the area since it is expected to be shut down for a majority of the morning.

The cause remains under investigation.

See more at wpri.com.

The average price for  gasoline is continuing to rise in Massachusetts. 

A gallon of regular is currently four-dollars-40-cents.  That's six-cents higher than a week ago. 

Triple A reports the national average is four-dollars-47-cents a gallon.   

The lawyer for the holdout juror in Lindsay Clancy's mistrial is blasting a defense request to investigate his client. 

Clancy is the Massachusetts woman who admitted killing her three young children in 2023 but claimed she shouldn't be held criminally responsible due to suffering from postpartum psychosis. 

Attorney Edward Paltzik says questioning his client would undermine protections for jury deliberations. 

Clancy attorney Kevin Reddington is asking the judge to review the juror's questionnaire, cellphone activity and court history. 

The jury deadlocked 11-to-1 before a mistrial was declared earlier this month.  A hearing on the defense request is scheduled for September 29th.

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey held a press conference Tuesday morning to announce a plan to help people “pay less at the pump.”

Healey announced she’s proposing a two-month suspension of the state’s gas tax.

“Look, I don’t control the price of gas, but as governor, here’s what I can do: I’m filing legislation to suspend the Massachusetts gas tax for two months,” she said. “That means we’re going to cut gas prices by 24 cents a gallon statewide just one week after the legislature signs my proposal.”

Healey blamed rising costs on President Donald Trump’s decision to go to war in Iran, saying it has not only affected gas prices, but also the price of everyday goods like groceries.

The average price of gas in Massachusetts is currently $4.40 per gallon, according to AAA, while the national average is slightly higher at $4.48.

Citing past skepticism about suspending the gas tax, Healey said she sought to make sure that people who live and work in Massachusetts actually reap the benefit.

“Our team worked hard to craft legislation that tackles that concern head on,” Healey added. “It guarantees, it makes sure that those savings will get passed on to actual drivers, to customers.”

Healey also assured the proposal will not cause the state fiscal harm, nor will it jeopardize funding for transportation and unfractured projects. She said the state has surplus Fair Share revenue that has come in and is expected to continue to come in over the next several months.

Healey is up for reelection this fall. Her opponent, Republican Mike Minogue, recently started airing an ad proposing a gas tax holiday “until prices stabilize.”

Minogue said he wants to suspend the gas tax whenever prices climb above $4 a gallon and work toward eliminating the levy altogether.

He also questioned Healey’s timing, suggesting the two-month time frame is to get her through Election Day and noting how she didn’t enact a similar plan when gas prices surged under the Biden administration.

“Maura Healey could have acted weeks ago. She didn’t. That’s why I stepped up and demanded a gas tax holiday,” Minogue said in a statement Tuesday. “I hope they table everything else and get this done immediately. We should see this gas tax suspension go into effect today. If not, then we have to ask why the politicians are slow-walking it.”

See more at wpri.com.

Sadness, fear and frustration fueled a rally outside New Bedford City Hall Tuesday night as residents and advocates spoke out against recent ICE operations in the area.

After a wave of arrests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents over the past two days, community members called on city leaders to take a more aggressive stance in protecting immigrant families.

“We call on elected leaders to be bold,” activist and resident Ricardo Rosa, who immigrated to New Bedford when he was six, said. “Protect due process keep families together and ensure that every person regardless of immigration status is treated with humanity and respect.”

Alicia Lopez Gonzalez is the Director of Mujeres Victoriosas, a New Bedford-based organization committed to supporting women and combatting issues of racism, discrimination, trauma and violence.

“ICE has been terrorizing — kidnapping — our community members from their streets from our streets,” Alicia Lopez Gonzalez said. “We want to be able to go to sleep knowing that we’ll be able to hug our family tomorrow.”

For Lopez Gonzalez, this fight is personal. She first arrived in the United States from Guatemala at just eight years old. At the time she was undocumented, but even now she said she still lives in fear.

“One of my brothers decided to self deport himself when this administration came in because he didn’t want to deal with this,” Lopez Gonzalez said. “I’ve been losing family members that are afraid. I came here having everyone and now I’m left alone.”

Juana Tiniguar told 12 News her husband was detained by ICE in a parking lot, leaving his truck behind.

“I want to know where they took him,” Tiniguar said. “What are they going to do with him? That’s what I want to know now.”

In a statement to 12 News regarding the federal immigration activity in New Bedford, a spokesperson said their agents “routinely conduct operations across New England, which includes the state of Massachusetts” but wouldn’t elaborate further.

Meanwhile, Mayor Jon Mitchell is calling for the country’s immigration law to be overhauled. He said there was no indication that anyone detained had criminal records beyond minor motor vehicle violations.

New Bedford Police Chief Jason Thody said the department is aware of ICE conducting operations in the city but were not briefed on specifics.

New Bedford wasn’t the only South Coast community to experience federal immigration enforcement activity this week.

Dartmouth Police Lt. Keith DaCosta confirmed to 12 News that they received a call around 8:30 a.m. regarding masked men, later identified as ICE agents, exiting a vehicle with blue lights flashing on Faunce Corner Road near the I-195 overpass.

According to DaCosta, the police department was unaware of ICE activity and town and were not involved in the operations.

12 News also reached out to ICE for comment regarding the operations in Dartmouth.

However, a spokesperson responded saying the agency “routinely conducts operations across New England, which includes the state of Rhode Island.”

See more at wpri.com.

A UMass Dartmouth student accused of killing another student in Providence over the weekend appeared in court Monday.

Chukuwnonso Uzoma-eze, 19, was arrested on campus Saturday in connection with a double stabbing on Charles Street.

Providence police said a fight broke out earlier that morning outside Mezzo Lounge.

“It looks like shortly after midnight, the club seemed to be overcrowded, so they shut the doors not to let any more people in,” Major David Lapatin said. “The people who were in line, some of them walked to the parking lot, a fight ensued between between two different factions in the lot and we had two people stabbed.”

The two victims were members of the UMass Dartmouth football team.

Marvins Antoine, 18, of Fall River, died at the hospital from a stab wound to the chest.

The second player was taken to the hospital with injuries that did not appear to be life-threatening, according to police.

UMass Dartmouth announced that a candlelight vigil to honor Antoine will be held on the quad this Wednesday, Sept. 23, starting at 5:15 p.m.

Police said there was no indication the suspect and victims knew each other prior to the incident.

During his court appearance on Monday, Uzoma-eze waived extradition to Rhode Island. He was ordered held until authorities pick him up to return him to Providence so he can face a murder charge, which is expected to happen by next Monday.

See more at wpri.com.