When the Fall River Public Library first opened to the public in March 1899, the Fall River Daily Herald and the Evening News both were careful to note that the building was “entirely fire-proof.”

But when it comes to water, poor workmanship on the building’s roof in recent years has led to chronic and alarming leaks — not ideal for a building full of rare paper.

The library is currently undergoing more than $800,000 worth of major repairs both inside and out that Director Fellisha Desmarais said will “stop the leaks, hopefully completely.”

Work on the North Main Street building is expected to last a few months. But beyond the vital maintenance, Desmarais has renovation plans that will beautify the building and expand what it offers to patrons, including adding a theater space.

On the Fall River Public Library’s second floor, the vaunted research room is shrouded in plastic. Where research librarians and patrons used to do their work, you’ll find scaffolding, power tools and exposed brick.

The rear of the historic 19th century building is covered in scaffolding as well, busy with workers from East Coast Masonry & Restoration, hired to repoint the building’s exterior, made of original Fall River dressed granite.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Massachusetts gas prices are dropping amid optimism over a potential U.S.-Iran peace deal. 

AAA says the statewide average is about four-dollars-39-cents a gallon.  That is down about nine cents from a week ago. 

Analysts say crude prices have fallen sharply as talks continue over reopening the Strait of Hormuz. 

Gas prices remain well above last year's average, but drivers are seeing signs of relief at the pump.

A woman is facing charges after police seized various drugs, including fentanyl and methamphetamine, from a home in Rehoboth on Monday.

State and local officers were outside a property on Winthrop Street for several hours to execute a search warrant for reported narcotics, according to police.

As a result, detectives discovered:

• 250.5 grams of cocaine
• 13 grams of oxycodone
• 7.3 grams of MDMA
• 23 grams of fentanyl
• 69 grams of methamphetamine
• 142 grams of psilocybin mushrooms
• 242 grams of marijuana

Police said other drugs that have yet to be identified were also found.

Melinda Archambault, 36, of Bristol, was taken into custody on drug charges. She is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday in Taunton District Court.

Police added that “charges for others involved will follow.”

See more at wpri.com.

The city moved one step closer to sealing the deal on the former Bishop Connolly High School earlier this week.

A $29,800,000 loan order requested by Mayor Paul Coogan gained the authorization of seven councilors at the May 26 City Council meeting. Councilor Christopher Peckham opposed the motion and Councilor Andrew Raposo abstained from voting. 

The authorization was referred to the City Council Committee on Finance. 

The city is intends to convey the purchase to Fall River Public Schools, where the former Catholic high school’s halls will greet the district’s youngest and “most vulnerable” students. The purchase, once official, is part and parcel of a districtwide move to consolidate classrooms, economize space, disperse staffing, and devote a single location to pre-K education. 

It’s unlikely the city will be able to close on the property before January 2027 — after the purchase and sales agreement gets a rubber stamp from the Vatican. 

See more at heraldnews.com.

Remnants of a meteor that exploded over New England on Saturday afternoon landed in the middle of Cape Cod Bay. 

According to NASA, the fireball fragmented above northeast Massachusetts and southeast New Hampshire at around 75-thousand-miles-per-hour, releasing an energy equivalent of close to 300-tons of TNT, causing a loud boom.  NASA officials say the water depth at the fall site is rou.ghly 100-feet. 

According to NASA, the fireball was not associated with an active meteor shower or the re-entry of space debris or a satellite.  NASA says the object was a bolide - a bright meteor that exploded in Earth's atmosphere.

U.S. Senator Ed Markey has won the Democratic endorsement in the Massachusetts U.S. Senate Race. 

At Saturday's Massachusetts's Democratic Party convention in Worcester, Markey cemented his role as the front-runner in the primary. 

The endorsement solidified Markey's support among party activists as Representative Seth Moulton challenges the 79-year-old incumbent.  Markey won 73-percent of the vote while Moulton got 27-percent of among the thousands of voting delegates. 

Moulton told reporters he was "proud of the support" he had in the room, but was "just aiming to get on the ballot."

Four men were arrested following a several fights outside a New Bedford bar early Sunday morning.

In a social media post, the New Bedford Police Department explained that officers who were on patrol near Pleasant Street noticed Bento’s Bar & Grill was still occupied by patrons after 2 a.m.

The officers spoke with management and urged them to begin clearing patrons from their establishment.

Police said several fights broke out around the same time, causing a crowd to grow outside the bar.

The officers attempted to separate those involved in the fights and disperse the crowd, but the fights continued to escalate as other bystanders joined in, according to police.

Police said the crowd consisted of approximately 75 people and the fights resulted in four arrests. The officers recovered a loaded firearm and a knife from two of the men who were taken into custody.

See more at wpri.com.

The Venus de Milo restaurant and banquet hall remains open for business.

A civil hearing between the owners of the Venus de Milo restaurant and the Swansea Board of Health was not heard as scheduled on Thursday, May 28, after attorneys for owner Monte Ferris Jr. voluntarily dismissed their civil action.

The matter, to be heard in Bristol County Superior Court, was a hearing on a preliminary injunction that has kept the iconic restaurant and banquet hall open despite recent orders from the Swansea Board of Health suspending its food license and demanding it cease and desist from operating.

The Bristol County Superior Court Clerk Magistrate’s office said the hearing had been taken off the day’s list of cases and would not be heard.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Heroes are born each year during the Massachusett Interscholastic Athletic Association state tournament.

In Thursday's Division 1 preliminary baseball game at B.M.C. Durfee High School, Malden senior outfielder Thomas Lynch Jr. put on his superhero cape.z

With two outs and the tying run just 90 feet away, Hilltopper senior Will Labrie hit a line drive in the gap in right center that appeared to heading for extra bases. But Lynch Jr. made a miraculous, diving grab that ended Durfee's season.

"It feels great right now," Lynch Jr. said after the No. 37 Golden Tornadoes stunned the No. 28 Hilltoppers, 3-2, before a large gathering at the Joseph “Skip” Lewis turf baseball field. "It's our first state tournament win since I've been here. It feels good to back up my pitcher."

See more at heraldnews.com.

Johnston officials are scrambling to get the high school’s yearbooks fixed after they were printed with an error on the cover.

Superintendent Scott Sutherland tells 12 News they received 125 yearbooks with “Johnston Senior High Shool” written on the spine.

The error, he said, was made by Treering, the company responsible for the printing.

In a letter to families, Sutherland said the school’s yearbook club reviewed a digital proof and a sample version of the book before it was printed. However, the proof that was provided didn’t include a visible image of the spine.

See more at wpri.com.

Trips on the MBTA commuter rail system, including the South Coast Rail service from New Bedford and Fall River to Boston, will be fare-free every Friday in June, July and August.

The fare-free trips are part of a series of summer promotions announced by the Healey administration earlier this spring that cut costs for regular commuters or people going on day trips.

There are also half-price monthly passes, $1 guest rates and more — but riders should also be prepared for a reduced service on certain days to accommodate trains headed to the World Cup in Foxboro.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Newly food safety regulations, updated last month, could shut down the Venus de Milo restaurant and banquet hall by suspending its license to operate.

The restaurant and Swansea's Board of Health have been at odds in recent months over issues of food safety, including allegations that it served "raw chicken." The town issued a first license suspension in March, which was successfully appealed. It issued another suspension on May 14 on the grounds that the restaurant was not providing certain food safety logs, then issued a cease-and-desist order on May 19 to Venus De Milo owner Monte Ferris.

But per the town's new food safety rules which came into effect April 9, restaurants can only appeal license suspensions once. Another license suspension cannot be appealed, which shuts the doors indefinitely.

See more at heraldnews.com.

The public is asked for help to find a Fall River vandalism suspect whose photo is posted on the police department's Facebook page. 

Authorities were alerted last week regarding damage to a memorial in honor of a 23-year-old victim who was shot and killed three years ago. Thanks to surveillance footage, investigators identified the culprit as William Acosta Abreu. 

He is considered dangerous and anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is asked to contact Fall River police. 

Swansea resident Camden Huck has graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s Call/Volunteer Recruit Firefighter Training Program.

Huck was one of 40 firefighters from 14 Massachusetts departments to complete the program, according to a community announcement. The graduation ceremony took place at the Department of Fire Services’ Bridgewater campus.

“I'd like to congratulate Camden, who worked very hard to complete the Call/Volunteer training program,” Swansea Fire Chief Eric Hajder said, according to the announcement.

Huck joined the Swansea Fire Department in November 2025 and is assigned to Station 1, according to the announcement. His family has a history in public safety ? his father is a retired police officer, and his brother is also a firefighter at Station 1.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

A man has been arrested in connection with an incident that prompted a massive law enforcement response in a Fall River neighborhood last week.

Kysim Noble, 49, was taken into custody Friday on multiple charges, including armed assault with intent to murder and home invasion, after a search warrant was executed at his Osborn Street residence.

According to police, Noble was wearing clothes that matched the description provided by witnesses at the scene on Lindsey Street earlier that night.

Police are asking for the public’s assistance finding a 20-year-old man accused of vandalizing a murder victim’s memorial in Fall River earlier this month.

In a social media post shared Tuesday, the Fall River Police Department explained that detectives were first made aware of the vandalism on May 18.

The County Street memorial was made to honor 23-year-old Diamonte Odom, who was shot and killed there three years ago.

Detectives uncovered a video shared to social media showing a man purposefully smashing candles and destroying the memorial, according to police.

See more at wpri.com.

New Bedford residents and firefighters banded together Tuesday evening to rally against the city’s plan to close Engine 9.

Mayor Jon Mitchell laid out his proposed budget, which aims to close a $32 million gap with cuts to various services. His proposal calls for the closure of Engine 9 and laying off the firefighters who work there.

Mitchell said it’s a decision he is not making lightly.

“The city’s budget has reached a boiling point,” he said. “We had to make some tough decisions.”

But residents like 80-year-old Carol Strupczewski argue that Mitchell made the wrong decision.

“You’ve got to fight for what’s right,” Strupczewski said. “I sent an email to the mayor and I told him it’s insane to close a fire house.”

See more at heraldnews.com.

A Bristol County Superior Court judge has granted a temporary restraining order allowing the Venus de Milo restaurant to operate, and stopping the Swansea Board of Health from enforcing a license suspension and cease-and-desist order against it.

In a May 19 letter to Venus De Milo owner Monte Ferris, Swansea Health Director Jonathan Abreu said the health board was issuing a cease-and-desist based on allegations of "raw chicken being served to guests, as well [as] poor sanitation and prevention of cross-contamination" at the Swansea Fire Department Ball on May 16.

Abreu states in his letter that Fire Chief Eric Hajder "confirmed he also received multiple complaints from colleagues and guests during the event who experienced issues with raw chicken."

See more at heraldnews.com.

The Board of Selectmen unanimously favored Mitch Ruscitti for the next town administrator, citing his municipal leadership skills and his long-game financial literacy, among other “top qualities” that rival the legacy of Swansea’s previous administrator, Mallory Aronstein. 

At the board’s May 21 meeting, the “burdensome” ordeal of choosing one of three finalists up for the job of managing Swansea’s daily operations was put to rest as Chairman Michael Beaudette led his fellow board members Robert Medeiros and Alanna Solitro in explaining why Ruscitti rose to the top of the candidate pool.

Solitro said there were two of the three candidates that could “do what we need” at a time when Swansea faces financial turbulence, the kind that Ruscitti’s “chops for handling money,” said Medeiros, could calm.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Governor Maura Healey has ordered flags in Massachusetts lowered to half-staff in honor of a fallen firefighter. 

Robert Kilduff died in the line of duty at the scene of a triple-decker fire in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood Saturday night. 

The governor said his death is "heartbreaking" and "a reminder of the dangers firefighters face everyday." 

Flags will remain at half-staff through the day of Kilduff's funeral. 

The price of gasoline is slightly lower but remains high in Massachusetts. 

The average per gallon is now four-dollars-48-cents.  That's down a penny from a week ago. 

According to Triple A the current national average is four-dollars-50-cents a gallon. 

Memorial Day may be seen as the unofficial start of summer, but it holds a much deeper meaning.

It is a day set aside each year to honor and remember the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.

This solemn holiday became a federal observance in 1971 and is celebrated on the last Monday in May each year.

Across the United States, people observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries and memorials, attending parades, and gathering with family and friends to reflect on and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Dartmouth

The Memorial Day Parade will kick off at 9 a.m. Monday at the Town Landing on Gulf Road. The participants will cross the Padanaram Bridge and Causeway, where the VFW Auxiliary will conduct the ceremonial wreath placement.

Fairhaven

The annual Memorial Day Parade steps off from Fairhaven High School at  9 a.m. Monday for the raising of the flag. Then it continues north on Main Street to Riverside Cemetery. At the cemetery, there is a ceremony at the Civil War monument with participation from military and veterans’ groups and others.

Fall River

The Global War on Terror Monument Ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at North Park on Snake Hill. 

The Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony will start at 1:30 p.m. starting from Kennedy Park and heading along South Main Street to Government Center.

New Bedford

The New Bedford Port Society’s annual Fishermen’s Memorial Day Service will take place at 10 a.m. Monday at Pier 3, 51 MacArthur Drive, following a procession from Seamen’s Bethel that begins at 9:30 a.m. In the event of rain, the event will be held inside Seaman’s Bethel.

The parade will form at the intersection of Hathaway Boulevard and Parker Street beginning around 10:30 a.m. before stepping off at 11:30 a.m.

The parade will march east on Parker Street to County Street, where it will turn left and head north on County Street. The parade will then turn right to head east on Pope Street, where it will make its final turn into Clasky Common Park.

Swansea

The annual Memorial Day Parade will step off at 10:30 a.m. Monday. It will begin at St. Francis of Assisi Church on Gardners Neck Road, proceed down Wilbur Avenue, and conclude at Private Joseph Butler Boulevard.

Somerset 

The annual Memorial Day Parade starts at 10 a.m. Monday at Somerset Berkley Regional High School. It steps off at Luther Avenue, travels down County Street to Center Street, and down Center Street to the World War I Memorial for a wreath-laying. The procession then continues on Riverside Avenue to Wood Street, up Wood Street to County Street, and then left to the VFW, where events will wrap up with a short ceremony at the VFW Post 8500.

Westport

Westport’s annual parade on Monday will start at 9:30 a.m. at Westport Town Hall, 816 Main Road, with the placing of a wreath, rifle salute, and playing of Taps at the World War I monument. The half-mile-long parade will then proceed south along Main Road, ending at Beech Grove Cemetery.

More details at heraldnews.com.

St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River is getting another boost in its ongoing restoration efforts.

The Diocese of Fall River is hosting its fifth Lumen Christi Cathedral Gala on June 3 at White’s of Westport, according to a community announcement.

The fundraiser supports repairs and improvements to St. Mary’s Cathedral, the mother church of the diocese.

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn III is set to receive the gala’s Luminary Award. Quinn, who is not seeking reelection and will conclude three full terms in January, has been involved with the gala since its inception, serving as its first emcee and a yearly member of the planning committee.

Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha will present the award.

See more at heraldnews.com.

An early morning fire Saturday on Tuttle Street in Fall River has left 10 people without anywhere to live.

Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon said crews arrived to find heavy flames and smoke coming from the second floor and blowing out bay windows. Firefighters quickly extinguished the flames.

One police officer was treated at a hospital for smoke inhalation.

Bacon told 12 News the fire is believed to have been accidental, caused by an electrical malfunction.

See more at wpri.com.

A Boston firefighter died while fighting a 3-alarm fire in Dorchester Saturday night.

Robert Kilduff Junior died after he fell from the third floor of the building.

Kilduff was a veteran among the department, serving there for over two decades.

Those who are now remembering him shared words of his devotion to saving others.

“He was a third generation firefighter who proudly served this city. He was our friend, our brother and a dedicated family man,” Boston Fire Department President Sam Dillon said.

“Bobby was known as one of those guys throughout the department that you could go to for anything. He was just a firefighters firefighter. He would do anything for you, he would do anything for the city,” Boston Fire Department Commissioner Rodney Marshall added.

See more at wpri.com.