Voters decisively chose to say goodbye to one part of Swansea’s past while preserving another at a special Town Meeting on Oct. 19.

By a vote of 743 to 217, those in attendance at the Venus de Milo banquet hall on Monday approved borrowing about $88.3 million to build a new middle school. They also chose to conserve Stony Creek Farm, an animal refuge that allows public access, by voice vote.

“It’s a good thing for the town,” said Town Administrator Mitch Ruscitti about the school vote, visibly relieved.

The new Joseph Case Junior High School will be the most expensive project in the town’s history, moving students from a nearly century-old building near the town hall to a state-of-the-art facility next to the current high school.

To pay back the loan, Swansea voters will need to pass a 30-year “temporary” tax increase that is on the town’s Nov. 3 election ballots as a Proposition 2½ override.

“This is a two-vote journey for this school to be done,” said Scott Holcomb, superintendent of Swansea Public Schools.

Swansea won’t be paying for the project alone. Its entire budget of $149,723,734 includes $61,444,746 from the Massachusetts School Building Authority, a state agency.

Despite the sticker price, construction is currently projected to cost about $117 million. The extra $32 million, give or take, are contingency funds; anything left over will reimburse the town’s share of the cost.

Incumbent Democrat Maura Healey leads her Republican challenger Mike Minogue  59-to-36 percent in a new Suffolk University/Boston Globe poll.  Less than four-percent are undecided. 

The survey of 500 likely general election voters was conducted last Wednesday through Sunday and has a margin of error of four-point-four percent.

A proposal from Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey to suspend the state’s gas tax for two months has been stripped out of the state’s $2.35 billion spending bill.

Healey proposed the gas tax suspension in September in an effort to help ease the burdens of families struggling with finances. The move, she said, would lower the price of gas by 24 cents per gallon.

The suspension was reportedly cut in a redraft of the spending bill by the House Ways and Means Committee. It will be up for a vote in the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

A spokesperson for Healey said she would push to get the gas tax suspension reinstated in the bill or through the state legislature in another form.

“Governor Healey’s gas tax suspension would give badly needed relief to Massachusetts residents struggling with the high cost of gas because of President Trump’s war, while making sure savings are passed down to drivers and protecting critical funding for transportation projects,” the spokesperson said.

The current average price of gas in Massachusetts, according to AAA, is $4.26 per gallon. That compares to an average price of $4.40 per gallon one month ago.

In Rhode Island, Gov. Dan McKee previously pushed to remove a 2-cent increase added to the gas tax to help close RIPTA’s $13.8 million deficit. The gas tax in Rhode Island currently sits at 40 cents per gallon.

See more at wpri.com.

The Taunton City Council voted in favor of banning the development of data centers in the city.

Councilors also unanimously approved a one-year moratorium that will allow the city to evaluate zoning laws and assess the infrastructure necessary to construct a data center, as well as electrical demands and environmental impacts.

The council agreed to move forward with the moratorium as well to protect them from any legal challenges that may arise from the ban, which has no expiration date.

Taunton Mayor Shaunna O’Connell told 12 News before the meeting that she expected the moratorium to pass.

“Right now we have nothing in place as far as restrictions, special permits and the potential effects,” O’Connell said. “Our number one job is to ensure that we protect the city and our taxpayers … and really get all the facts before we allow any potential type of project to move forward.”

Taunton resident Brynne Bernier supports the moratorium. She was one of several residents to express her concerns about data centers to the council.

“Data centers are not wanted in Taunton,” Bernier said. “If there’s a horrible storm, you know, what happens to the residents here? If that data center constantly needs all this energy, I feel like we will not be the priority.”

But not everyone is on board with the pause.

VMD Companies, which owns a property off John Hancock Road, claims the moratorium would jeopardize a multimillion dollar development deal.

See more at wpri.com.

The Republican nominee for Massachusetts lieutenant governor faced a judge Monday on an OUI charge stemming from a multi-car crash over the weekend.

Shawn Oliver, 42, appeared in New Bedford District Court, where he pleaded not guilty to operating under the influence, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, a marked lanes violation and speeding.

Oliver, the GOP candidate for state lieutenant governor, suspended his campaign shortly after his arrest. He still serves as a member of the New Bedford City Council.

Officers responded to the scene on Dartmouth Street around 11:40 p.m. Saturday. There, police said they found Oliver’s black SUV flipped over on its roof in the middle of the road. Officers also saw two other cars with extensive damage. One had been pushed over the curb, across the sidewalk and into the grass, while the other was pushed backward into another parked vehicle.

Police said Oliver was sitting in a lawn chair brought out for him by a neighbor, bleeding from a laceration on his head.

A witness told police Oliver’s black SUV had been stopped in the northbound lane at a red light before reversing. According to police, the witness said the vehicle then accelerated through the intersection once the light turned green, began drifting right and abruptly veered left to avoid striking a curb.

Police said the witness saw Oliver’s SUV cross over into the southbound lane and hit multiple cars parked along the curb after speeding through the intersection of Dartmouth Street and Rockdale Avenue. At that point, the SUV flipped upside down.

At the hospital, Oliver allegedly admitted to consuming “at least two” alcoholic drinks earlier that night. Police said he smelled like alcohol and described his eyes as “bloodshot and glassy.”

Oliver was released on personal recognizance and is temporarily prohibited from driving. He is due back in court next month.

See more at wpri.com.

A familiar face in Fall River is throwing his hat back into the ring.

Former Fall River Mayor Will Flanagan announced Monday he’s running to win back his old job — one year after he survived a brutal stabbing.

Flanagan was 29 years old when he was first elected mayor back in 2009. He was recalled from office four years later.

“I was 34 when I left the office of mayor and it gave me the opportunity to focus on my personal life and also to develop more of my professional life,” Flanagan said.

Flanagan was attacked last October while walking in the city. He said he’s doing much better now and leaned on his faith throughout his recovery.

“An attack like that connects you even stronger with your faith,” Flanagan said. “There’s no doubt in my mind it was divine intervention — a miracle that saved my life that day.”

Flanagan believes he’s more mature and better equipped to handle the job today. He also already knows what his priorities would be.

“Public safety, because people want to feel safe,” he said.

“Also the cost of living, because people are struggling right now to survive in Fall River.”

“Your life is precious, so fragile,” he said. “Life can end at any moment, so don’t put anything off. Do the things you want to do.”

So far, no other candidates have announced plans to run for mayor in Fall River’s November 2027 election.

The city has had eight different mayors in the last 20 years.

See more at wpri.com.

Two of the three men arrested in an undercover prostitution sting operation in Swansea last year are on probation.

The operation involved an officer posing as a sex worker under the age of 16.

David Afriyie, of Pawtucket, faced one felony charge of enticing a child under 16 and a misdemeanor charge of paying for sexual conduct. On Oct. 6, both were continued without a finding — meaning Afriyie is neither guilty nor innocent.

Instead, Afriyie must serve a year of probation with no unsupervised contact with persons under age 18. A third charge of attempting to commit a crime was dismissed by prosecutors.

The second defendant, Joseph Wood, of Hanson, faced the same charges as Afriyie. They were continued without a finding on Aug. 4, 2025.

Wood was sentenced to 18 months of probation and a sex offender evaluation. His charge of attempting to commit a crime was also dismissed by prosecutors.

The third man, Manuel Costa, of Westport, still faces the same three charges and has a pretrial hearing scheduled for Dec. 3.

On Oct. 13, a judge granted his lawyer’s requests for evidence from the Massachusetts State Police’s human trafficking unit, body camera recordings and closed circuit camera recordings.

Costa’s defense lawyer is Kevin Reddington, the prominent attorney of Lindsay Clancy, the Duxbury mother accused of killing her children whose case has ended in a mistrial.

Wood and Costa had originally faced felony charges of sexual conduct with a child under 18, but both were amended to the misdemeanor of paying for sexual conduct.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Shawn Oliver, the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor of Massachusetts, has suspended his campaign after being arrested Saturday night on OUI charges.

Oliver, a current member of the New Bedford City Council, had faced calls to drop out after the arrest was made public, including from Mike Minogue, the GOP candidate for governor.

“After careful reflection, I have made the decision to suspend my campaign for lieutenant governor,” Oliver said. “This election is too important to be overshadowed by personal matters. I want to sincerely thank everyone who has supported me throughout this journey and ask that my family’s privacy be respected during this difficult time.”

He faces charges of operating under the influence of liquor, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, a marked lanes violation and speeding.

Those who live near the crash scene said they had never seen anything like that happen on their street before.

“It was like a tornado came through,” witness Dilan Machado said. “Car parts everywhere, just everything smashed up. People’s faces were just in shock, and one girl was even in tears.”

“It felt like I was in a movie,” Bruna Andrade said. “I’ve never seen anything like that in my life in person.”

Massachusetts Republican Party Chair Amy Carnevale released a statement saying the party supports Oliver’s decision to suspend his campaign.

“Lives were put at risk and that is never acceptable,” Carnevale said. “We now stand to assist Shawn in getting any help he needs to ensure he never puts himself or others in harm’s way again. We also recognize that Shawn Oliver is holding himself accountable for his actions and facing the consequences of this situation.”

The man accused of defacing dozens of gravestones and memorials at two Freetown cemeteries four years ago has been convicted, according to authorities.

In a social media post Thursday, the Freetown Police Department confirmed that 24-year-old Jacob Dupuis pleaded guilty to possession or control of an incendiary device or material, two counts of vandalizing a gravestone, vandalizing property, malicious destruction of property over $1,200 and tagging property.

Dupuis was sentenced to 18 months in prison, with 90 days to serve and the remainder suspended, followed by two years of probation. He was also ordered to undergo mental health counseling and to complete 200 hours of community service.

Police said the investigation began in March 2022, when officers were called to White Cemetery on Keene Road after someone defaced nearly three dozen gravestones with red spray paint.

Several of the headstones had swastikas painted on them, while others had cryptic messages like “ha ha ha ha” and “I will be back.” One head stone even had “I’m a psycho” written over the engraving on the front.

Officers were called to Profile Rock two days later to investigate potential vandalism at Profile Rock, where remnants of suspected Molotov cocktails were discovered near a spot that had been burned. Similar graffiti was also discovered nearby, which hinted at a possible connection to the cemetery vandalism, according to police.

Investigators returned to White Cemetery a couple months later after someone defaced nearly three dozen more gravestones and memorial markers with red spray paint.

Police said at least one of those headstones has a swastika painted on it, while others had messages like “catch me if you can, “I’ll be back” and “I’ve been a bad boy” written on them.

See more at wpri.com.

The Massachusetts Board of Fire Prevention Regulations approved new fire safety requirements Thursday in an effort to prevent future tragedies like the deadly fire at the Gabriel House assisted living facility in Fall River.

The new requirements, which will be included in next year’s edition of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Safety Code, include annual checks for recalled sprinkler heads and the prompt replacement of faulty equipment.

“The Gabriel House residents and their families have not left our thoughts in the 15 months since that tragic night in 2025,” Massachusetts State Fire Marshal Jon Devine said. “Nothing can fill the void left by their loved ones, but I hope this makes clear to them that we are committed to saving other families from enduring the same heartbreak.”

The tragedy at Gabriel House on July 13, 2025, shook the city to its core and marked the state’s deadliest fire in more than 40 years.

Firefighters rushed to the assisted living facility early that morning after receiving several 911 calls from inside the building. Those firefighters were immediately met with thick black smoke, roaring flames and trapped residents hanging out of windows.

More than 30 residents and five firefighters were brought to nearby hospitals to receive treatment for various injuries.

There were approximately 70 residents of varying mobility living at the Gabriel House, which first opened in 1999, at the time of fire. The residents who survived their injuries or escaped unharmed lost nearly everything in the fire, including a place to live.

Investigators believe the fire started in a second-floor room where an oxygen concentrator and smoking materials were later found, but they were unable to confirm the exact origin since the resident who lived there passed away.

Gabriel House’s fire suppression system also failed to activate, and it was later discovered that the sprinkler heads had been recalled more than 20 years ago.

The Fall River Fire Department took a proactive approach in the wake of the Gabriel House fire and discovered recalled sprinklers during at least four building inspections.

The Fall River Fire Department and National Fire Sprinkler Association has been actively pushing to change fire safety codes statewide since the tragedy.

“We owe it to those families to do everything we can to prevent something like this from happening again,” Healey said. “We will continue working to strengthen safety, prevent future tragedies and protect our residents.”

See more at wpri.com.

The sister of a woman who was found dead in Rehoboth last year is drumming up support after learning that the man accused of killing her plans to ask for a plea deal.

Gregory Groom, 23, has been charged with murder, assault and battery on a pregnant victim, aggravated intimidation of a witness, and domestic assault and battery in connection with the death of his girlfriend 18-year-old Kylee Monteiro last year.

Her sister Faith Monteiro told 12 News Groom’s attorney Elliot Levine plans to propose a plea deal in Bristol County Superior Court later this month.

In a letter Levine sent to Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn III over the summer, Levine requested Groom receive a sentence of 19 to 20 years in prison. In exchange, Levine said Groom would plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter.

Levine pointed to Groom’s lack of criminal record and his grandfather’s testimony to a grand jury about how Kylee was wearing his grandson down.

Specifically, Groom’s grandfather described Kylee as being “manipulative,” noting that she “would not do anything around the house,” according to Levine’s letter.

“Gregory was doing her laundry, he was bringing her food to their bedroom, he was bringing her dirty dishes down to the kitchen sink, while she was not even leaving the bedroom,” the letter states.

Groom’s grandfather also testified that his grandson “was too young to handle feeling suffocated and being controlled by [Kylee’s] manipulation.”

Eventually, Kylee moved out of the Groom house and into the Bethesda House, which is a shelter for pregnant women. Levine wrote that Kylee was eventually “thrown out [of the shelter] for violating their policies.”

Groom’s grandfather said Kylee came back “uninvited,” which caused his grandson to explode, according to Levine’s letter.

Faith expressed frustration with Levine’s letter.

“It hurts to know that they can throw everything under the rug and brush it off as if her life didn’t matter, or her unborn baby’s life didn’t matter,” Faith said, referring to the contents of the letter. “The way he wrote it, it sounds like that her life isn’t important and that she deserved what happened to her.”

“I don’t think there’s any reason for anyone to go through what she went through,” she added.

Faith described her sister as being bubbly, fun and full of life.

“I keep waiting for her to call me and say something like, ‘Hey, can you come pick me up? I want to come home now,'” Faith said. “But that phone call never comes.”

Faith said she often struggles to explain the feeling of losing her sister.

See more at wpri.com.

Thirteen members of the Fall River Police Department who responded to the deadly Gabriel House assisted living facility fire of July 13, 2025, were honored in Boston with the state’s highest recognition for bravery in law enforcement.

Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll distributed the Trooper George L. Hanna Memorial Awards for Bravery at the Statehouse to 18 total officers from departments across the state.

The fire at the Gabriel House assisted living facility was the deadliest fire statewide in more than 40 years. About 70 people were trapped inside, most of them elderly, disabled and immobile. Ten people were killed.

The scope of the rescue job, coupled with a fire raging out of control due to malfunctioning sprinklers, stretched the resources of the Fall River Fire Department. Members of the FRPD who arrived on scene risked their lives to pull residents from the burning building, with no fire safety gear or training.

Interim Police Chief JT Hoar, who is himself a previous awardee, nominated the officers.

"I know they were all humble," he said. "They didn't feel it was necessary to be recognized in that way. But I think at the end of the day, what they did was nothing short of heroic."

A five-decade Somerset tradition marches on this week with the return of its annual Musictown Festival – but this time with a little less marching.

Now in its 53^rd year, the festival highlights the town’s rich musical roots with a multi-day celebration showcasing local talent and promoting Somerset schools’ music programs.

Musictown, organized by the nonprofit Somerset Friends of Music, is marked by key events each year, such as a ball with a crowning of the Musictown Royal Court, a concert night, a kids' day, and parade.

This year’s festival will be stepping off without its signature parade, but the beat goes on with other noteworthy events to look forward to.

Festivities kick off Thursday, Oct. 15, with the Musictown Ball featuring dinner, dancing, performances by the Somerset Berkley Regional High School Show Choir and Blue Raider Marching Band and the main event: the crowning of the members of the 53rd Musictown Royal Court.

New this year, the musical monarchy is growing with the addition of a Junior Musictown Court of middle schoolers.

Musictown Ball will be held at White's of Westport from 5 to 10 p.m. Tickets are available at https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/53rd-musictown-ball. 

Musictown Family Fun Day, previously known as Kiddies Day, descends on Somerset Berkley Regional High School on Saturday, Oct. 17, with more activities and more ways to introduce kids to music.

The event, taking place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., will feature performances by the SBRHS marching band and show choir, the Somerset Middle School show choir, a performing arts showcase, food trucks, crafts and more.

Become an honorary member of the Blue Raider Marching Band, as they invite festival-goers to march with them, or learn to twirl flags with the Color Guard or try your hand at a percussion instrument. Guests can also get a first-hand feel for playing at the “instrument petting zoo.”

For a schedule of Family Fun Day events, visit the Somerset Friends of Music Facebook page.

Music town will culminate later this month with its Musictown Concert on Thursday, Oct. 29, at the Dr. Robert Perry Performing Arts Center in Somerset Berkley Regional High School.

See more at heraldnews.com.

The price for a gallon of regular gas in Massachusetts is four-cents lower than a week ago. 

The current price is four-dollars-30-cents. 

Triple A reported the national average is four-dollars-33-cents per gallon.  

David Lucio is still trying to come to terms with the sudden and tragic loss of his friend Carl Colangelo.

“It’s hard to believe that he’s not here,” Lucio said. “We’re all going to miss him.”

Colangelo died in a head-on crash while on a work trip in Bastrop, Texas, according to authorities. He was 66 years old.

Lucio told 12 News he and Colangelo have been friends for decades.

“I don’t think I ever saw Carl frown,” he said. “He was always smiling, and he would make you smile one way or another.”

Lucio and Colangelo both spent more than 30 years together on the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament Committee, which is responsible for organizing the city’s annual Portuguese celebration.

Two Fall River men pleaded guilty on federal drug distribution charges this week, with one also pleading guilty to drug conspiracy and firearm charges, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

On Oct. 7, Wilson Colon-Tirado, 34, pleaded guilty to three counts distributing 40 or more grams of fentanyl, a count of conspiring to distribute controlled substances and a count of being a felon possessing a firearm after an investigation involving controlled buys at the Sunset Hill public housing development in Fall River.

On Oct. 5, Antonio Calderon, 44, pleaded guilty to four counts of distributing 28 grams or more of crack cocaine after an investigation involving controlled buys at a strip mall in the north end of the city.

Court documents do not indicate any connection between the two men. They were charged separately. They were investigated by the same agent in the Bridgewater field office of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Colon-Tirado had a co-conspirator who was charged after the same investigation: on Sept. 22, Antonio Dossantos-Tirado, 36, of Brockton, pleaded guilty to one count of distributing 28 or more grams of crack cocaine and one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.

Clashing in their only scheduled debate, incumbent Ed Markey and John Deaton traded criticism. 

Markey repeatedly tied Deaton to President Trump and warned that a Republican win would give the president's agenda another Senate vote.  Deaton pushed back, saying he has never voted for Trump and would make decisions based on what benefits Massachusetts and the country.  He also questioned whether Markey could effectively serve another six-year term, while Markey called the criticism a distraction. 

The candidates also debated high energy costs, Medicare for All and Markey's vote to authorize the Iraq War.

The long-standing legal battle between the two major Lizzie Borden tourist attractions in Fall River seems to be over.

A federal district court judge has ordered Miss Lizzie’s Coffee to pay its former neighbor, the Lizzie Borden House, just over $31,000 in attorney fees after having lost a trademark infringement lawsuit by default.

The Lizzie Borden House and Miss Lizzie’s Coffee have had bad blood since September 2023, when the museum and inn’s parent company sued its new neighbor on Second Street in federal court.

US Ghost Adventures, owner of the Lizzie Borden House, argued it has the exclusive right to use the wordmark “Lizzie Borden” in the restaurant and hospitality industry, and alleged customers mistakenly thought the businesses were related.

Earlier this year, Miss Lizzie’s Coffee lost the lawsuit by default, when a federal judge ruled that owner Joseph Pereira, acting as his own attorney, did not adequately respond to court requests for information.

USGA had claimed it was due more than $239,000 for lost profits, damages to the trademark, “damages to [USGA’s] goodwill,” expenses spent “mitigating customer confusion” and more.

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Fall River is marking 100 years of service with a Centennial Gala on Oct. 22 in Dartmouth.

The organization serves 28,000 people annually across Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the Islands, according to a community announcement. Founded in 1924 as a welfare and adoption agency, Catholic Charities now provides services that include emergency shelter, food assistance, immigration legal services and mental health support through parish-based programs.

The agency says its work continues to center on three priorities: feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless and welcoming the stranger.

The Solanus Casey Food Pantry in New Bedford distributes more than 600,000 pounds of food each year and serves more than 650 households, according to the announcement. The pantry records more than 31,000 visits annually and provides weekly food deliveries to more than 70 homebound residents. Staff also assist participants with SNAP benefits and connect them with health services, including screenings and vaccinations.

Catholic Charities also operates several shelters and housing programs throughout the region.

St. Joseph's House in Hyannis provides emergency shelter and a day program that includes meals, hygiene support, case management and housing navigation services.

Grace House in New Bedford serves as an emergency shelter for women. Ascension House in Attleboro provides emergency shelter for adults, while Sister Rose House in New Bedford offers emergency shelter and coordinated support services for men.

The Youth and Young Adult Transitional Housing Program, known as YYAP, assists individuals ages 18 to 24 with housing support and wraparound services.

Central to those efforts is the H.O.U.S.E. Program, which stands for Helping Others Until Self Empowered. The program provides emergency shelter, housing search assistance, housing stabilization services and up to two years of post-placement support for families in Fall River, New Bedford, Taunton and Attleboro.

See more at heraldnews.com.

The owner of a Tiverton seafood restaurant is picking up the pieces after a car slammed into the outdoor dining room over the weekend.

Michael Napolitano, owner of Macray’s Seafood, told 12 News he was having lunch with a friend Sunday when he heard the crash.

“There was a big bang,” Napolitano recalled. “I thought it was an earthquake, because it was only for a quick second, I didn’t know what was going on.”

It wasn’t until he looked up and saw the car that he realized what had happened.

“I ran over, saw the driver and just made sure everyone was alright,” he continued.

Thankfully, Napolitano said no one was injured. But the restaurant’s Tiki bar and tented outdoor dining room were significantly damaged upon impact.

Napolitano initially only closed the restaurant’s dining room and remained open for take-out orders, but he eventually had to make the difficult decision to shut everything down.

He said Macray’s Seafood is a seasonal restaurant that stays open as long as the weather allows.

But now, the damage is so extensive he is unsure when the restaurant will be able to open its doors again.

“We’ve got to wait and see,” he said. “This is all new to me, so I’m still trying to figure it out. But as of right now, I don’t have a clue. I’m just trying to get everything in order.”

Napolitano does not plan on pressing charges against the the young driver of the car, especially since it was a total accident.

Right now, Napolitano said he’s getting his affairs in order and working with his insurance to assess the damage.

In order to open back up, Napolitano said he will have to replace the outdoor tent, which could prove to be tricky.

“Without that tent, I don’t know what we will do,” he said. “We want to stay open. I’ve got staff that want to keep working but, without that tent it is going to be tough. It’s not worth being open for just takeout.”

See more at wpri.com.

Stop & Shop’s website and apps are offline as its parent company grapples with a cybersecurity breach.

Ahold Delhaize confirmed in a statement Monday that it’s experiencing “a security issue within its network.”

“Our teams are taking steps to assess and mitigate the issue,” Ahold Delhaize explained. “This includes taking some systems offline to help protect them.”

“Protecting our infrastructure in the best interest of our customers, associates and partners is a top priority,” the statement continued. “We apologize for any inconvenience this issue may have caused customers and partners.”

Stop & Shop’s website and app were “unavailable” Monday night, with maintenance messages alerting customers that stores, pharmacies and gas stations are operating as normal.

“We are working to restore service as quickly as possible,” the maintenance message reads.

The maintenance message also states that any unfulfilled online orders will be refunded.

Hannaford and Giant Food, which are also both owned by Ahold Delhaize, have been impacted by the cybersecurity breach as well.

The extent of the cybersecurity breach remains unknown at this time.

See more at wpri.com.

A 32-year-old man from Westerly suffered serious injuries after a crash on the Braga Bridge Saturday afternoon, according to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.

The DA’s office said the man drove a motorcycle onto the bridge traveling eastbound at 12:38 p.m. While on the bridge, he turned the motorcycle around and began driving into oncoming traffic.

Shortly afterwards, he struck a Massachusetts State Police cruiser, as well as a second vehicle, before fleeing the scene on foot. He then entered I-195 West, where he was hit by a car, according to the DA’s office.

The DA’s office said the man was brought to Rhode Island Hospital with significant injuries.

The crash, which closed down the eastbound side of the Braga Bridge for several hours, remains under investigation.

See more at wpri.com.

The Fall River Police Department investigated an incident that occurred on Friday, October 9, 2026, involving an unauthorized individual entering Espirito Santo School.

At approximately 1:30 p.m., an adult male entered the school through an exterior door that was later determined to have a malfunctioning locking mechanism. The individual proceeded a short distance into the building before being confronted by an attentive faculty member who recognized that he did not belong there. The faculty member promptly escorted the individual out of the building without incident.

School administrators immediately took steps to secure the affected entrance and cooperated fully with our investigation.

At no point during the incident was there any reported physical confrontation, threat of violence, or injury to students or staff. Nevertheless, we take any unauthorized entry into a school seriously, regardless of the circumstances or the individual's intentions.

Through a coordinated investigative effort, including a review of surveillance footage, interviews with school personnel, and additional investigative measures, officers worked to identify and locate the individual.

On the morning of Saturday, October 10, Fall River Police officers successfully located and identified the individual as Joshua Halladay, Age: 37. During their interaction, officers observed signs that Halladay may have been experiencing a behavioral health crisis. He was subsequently transported to a local hospital for further evaluation.

Halladay has also been charged for his actions regarding the unauthorized entry to the school.

The safety and security of our schools remain a priority for the Fall River Police Department. We commend the faculty member for her attentiveness and immediate action, as well as the school administration for its prompt response and cooperation throughout this investigation.

We recognize that incidents of this nature can understandably raise concerns among parents, students, and school personnel. As an additional precaution, the Fall River Police Department will be increasing its presence around all schools to provide reassurance to families and maintain a visible commitment to school safety.

While this incident occurred at a private parochial school, we recognize the importance of sharing information and maintaining awareness across all of our educational institutions. We have notified our partners at Fall River Public Schools, Local Charter Schools, and Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School of the incident. Additionally, all Fall River Police Officers are being briefed on the circumstances to ensure they remain informed, vigilant, and prepared to address any concerns.

School safety is a shared responsibility, and our commitment extends to every school in our city, regardless of whether it is public, private, or charter. We will continue working closely with school administrators and our educational partners to reinforce security protocols, address potential vulnerabilities, and ensure that students, staff, and families can feel safe and confident in their learning environments.

A Fairhaven man and his two daughters are without a home after a fire tore through it Saturday evening.

Fairhaven Fire Chief Todd Correia told 12 News firefighters rushed to the Main Street home around 5 p.m. after receiving several 911 calls.

Correia said it took firefighters about an hour and a half to knock down the flames. He added that the fire is believed to have started on the first floor.

No one was home at the time. Correia said the family’s dog and cat died in the fire.

The house has been deemed a total loss and the residents are being assisted by the American Red Cross, according to Correia.

The cause remains under investigation, however, Correia said it appears to be accidental in nature.

See more at wpri.com.

The city of Fall River is looking for a donated tree to stand outside Government Center during the holiday season.

They are asking for a “nicely tapered spruce, fir, or pine tree measuring approximately 30 to 40 feet tall.”

Residents and property owners who have a tree that fits those parameters are encouraged to take a photo and submit it online for consideration.

The city of Providence has a similar request, as they look for two trees to stand in front of City Hall.

See more at wpri.com.