Kyrie Irving returning to Boston. Luka Doncic’s first trip to the title round. Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum, getting another chance at a ring. Kristaps Porzingis facing his former team, too.

Pick a storyline. There are many in these NBA Finals.

The matchup is now set: It’ll be Boston against Dallas for the Larry O’Brien Trophy, a series that starts on the Celtics’ home floor on June 6 — meaning everyone will be sitting around and waiting for about a week, a byproduct of the Celtics and Mavericks making short work of their respective conference finals.

Dallas eliminated Minnesota on Thursday night, winning 124-103 to finish off a 4-1 victory in the Western Conference finals. Boston’s spot was clinched Monday night, after the Celtics beat Indiana 108-105 to cap a 4-0 series in the East.

Read more at wpri.com.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) – A federal judge has ruled the Rhode Island Interscholastic League violated the Americans with Disabilities Act when it told a high-school senior he couldn’t continue playing sports.

“Let the kid play,” U.S. District Judge William Smith concluded in his 39-page order filed in federal court Wednesday. “The league’s point amounts to saying that accommodating people with disabilities is hard and they should not have to do it.”

The case pitted the RIIL against an unnamed high schooler along with and his parents over a rule that forbids student athletes from playing sports after more than eight semesters in high school. Student athletes are only allowed to play beyond that time if they obtain a waiver from the organization.

See more at wpri.com.

SOMERSET, Mass. (WPRI) — An investigation is underway into a deadly crash that happened in Somerset Thursday evening, according to Massachusetts State Police.

Troopers were called to I-195 West for reports of a car that veered off the highway and crashed into the woods.

Police said the driver, who was the only one in the car, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver has not been identified and the cause of the crash is unknown at this time.

From wpri.com.

FALL RIVER — Are you ready to rock?

Are you also ready to rock the dock?

The Office of Mayor Paul Coogan and the Fall River Redevelopment Authority have announced the grand opening of new docks at the Senator Thomas Norton City Pier.

On Saturday, June 1, there will be a ribbon cutting, followed by "Rock the Dock: A Grand Opening Concert."

This event will be held at the Senator Thomas Norton City Pier, from noon to 3 p.m.

The docks were funded in part by a grant from the Seaport Economic Council and an earmark facilitated by state Rep. Carole Fiola and the legislative delegation. 

Through the boating season, the docks will be open from sunrise to sunset for daytime dockage.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Ben Bernier has never stopped loving the game of baseball.

Bernier was born with a congenital birth defect called 'Tibial Hemimelia' — a condition that is incredibly rare and occurs in about 1 out of every 1 million births. Two weeks after his first birthday, the Westport native had his foot amputated at Boston Children’s Hospital.

Shortly afterward, Bernier's fibula was relocated with pins and surgical screws. He was fitted with his first prosthetic soon after surgery. Bernier was walking by about 18 months.

"The journey has been definitely difficult," Bernier said. "But along the way, there has been so many supporters and so many people that have helped me out and get to where I am today."

Read more from Steven Sanchez at heraldnews.com.

FALL RIVER, Mass. (WPRI) — Overnight construction got underway on the Braga Bridge Wednesday night.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) said it will be upgrading the bridge’s lighting over the next 16 weeks.

Work on I-195 East will be happening nightly from Sunday to Thursday, while work on I-195 West will be nightly, Monday through Friday.

There will be right lane closures while the work is taking place between 9 p.m. and 4 a.m.

Read more at wpri.com.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) is brainstorming ways to mitigate the significant traffic backups on I-195 East before the Washington Bridge, 12 News has learned.

RIDOT Director Peter Alviti told 12 News on Wednesday that traffic on the eastbound side of the bridge, specifically near the merges from I-95 to I-195, has continued to be a challenge despite the installation of a third lane last month.

“We have two lanes each coming from I-95 North and I-95 South,” Alviti explained. “Now, instead of [merging] into four lanes and everyone being able to stay in their lanes, we have had to narrow it down to three.”

Though Alviti acknowledged that lane reductions typically cause backups, RIDOT has “fiddled with the geometry” of those merges several times over the past few weeks to try to alleviate the congestion.

Read more at wpri.com.

The Dartmouth fifth-grader's meeting with English singer and songwriter Ed Sheeran was an unexpected but a wonderful surprise. 

Nora McNeil, 11, was at Boston Children’s Hospital on an in-patient basis for a few days last week and was being discharged May 23 when her child life specialist asked if the McNeils would like to stay a few hours longer to meet a special guest singer. 

“She was happy to stay since it was only going to be a few hours’ difference and found out just a short while later it was going to be Ed Sheeran coming to the hospital,” said Nora's mother, Shannon McNeil. 

Read more at heraldnews.com.

A website that ranks small to mid-sized cities across America has, for the second year in a row, listed Fall River among the 100 best cities in the country thanks to its parks, restaurants and colleges.

But Fall River took a slight dip in its rankings from last year.

“The waterfront community of Fall River … is New England at its finest," wrote Livability.com. “The city of nearly 95,000 is culturally diverse, combining Old World charm with a modern urban atmosphere.”

This year, Fall River landed at No. 86 on the top 100, down just slightly from last year’s spot of 80.

Read more from Dan Medeiros at heraldnews.com.

 A long lost John Lennon guitar is expected to fetch over a million dollars at auction. 

The 12-string acoustic guitar is up for bid today as part of Julien's Auctions' Music Icons sale.  The head of the auction says it's the same guitar Lennon played on the song "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" in the movie "Help!" 

The guitar was presumed lost for 50 years until it was found recently in the attic of a home in the British countryside. 

The auction is being held today and tomorrow at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York's Times Square.  Bids can be made online at juliensauctions.com.

Your Stop & Shop may be closing.

The Northeastern supermarket chain announced at its investor meeting last week that it's closing underperforming stores.

Details like how many stores and which ones have not yet been named, but its corporate parent company Dutch-based Ahold Delhaize did offer some insight in the investor meeting.

Chief executive for the United States JJ Fleeman said the company would be taking into account brand density, the position each store holds in the market and how well it performs.

Fleeman also said since 2018, Stop & Shop remodeled 190 stores, with the remodeled stores outperforming stores that were not updated, making it less likely a Stop & Shop that was recently remodeled would close.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

NEW BEDFORD — June is a month of celebration, unity and empowerment within the South Coast LGBTQ+ community.

The South Coast LGBTQ+ Network has announced plans for Pride Month 2024, which include various outdoor events in New Bedford, Fall River and Taunton aimed at bringing together the community and showing support for LGBTQ+ rights.

"There's still a problem in this country with LGBTQ+ rights, especially transgender rights," said Andrew Pollack, president of the South Coast LGBTQ+ Network.

The Network is kicking off Pride Month with an event at the Eagle Event Center in downtown Fall River on May 31. The organization chose Fall River to kick off Pride this year, as it has begun making efforts to provide more resources and outreach there than it has in New Bedford and Taunton.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Bruce Springsteen is postponing several shows during his world tour because of what's being described as a vocal issue. 

In a statement on social media Sunday, Springsteen's team said the singer made the decision this weekend on the advice of his doctor. 

"The Boss" plans to  reschedule the shows in France, Italy and the Czech Republic at a later date. 

The 74-year-old rock star was forced to halt his tour last fall while being treated for a peptic ulcer.

FALL RIVER, Mass. (WPRI) — Fall River police say a fight at a fast food restaurant led to gunfire Sunday night, though no one was hit.

Sgt. Moses Pereira told 12 News the incident happened around 9 p.m. at the Taco Bell on Mariano Bishop Boulevard, located just off William S. Canning Boulevard.

While no one was shot, one person suffered a minor injury, possibly from a “cutting instrument,” according to Pereira. That person was taken to the hospital for treatment.

So far, no arrests have been made.

From wpri.com.

ATTLEBORO, Mass. (WPRI) — Detectives are actively investigating a homicide that happened early Monday morning in an Attleboro neighborhood, according to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.

Police said they responded to a home on Melissa Drive around 3:30 a.m. for a reported domestic disturbance. Upon arrival, they found Richard McCormick, 47, of North Attleboro, suffering from multiple stab wounds.

He was rushed to Sturdy Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later, the DA’s office said.

The victim’s brother, 51-year-old James McCormick, of Attleboro, has been arrested and charged with assault with intent to murder and assault and battery, police said.

He is expected to be arraigned Tuesday morning in Attleboro District Court.

From wpri.com.

NEW BEDFORD —The man who stole 190 artifacts from the New Bedford Whaling Museum worth $150,000 while working as a maintenance man was sentenced to three to five years in state prison Friday.

Robert M. Burchell, 44, pleaded guilty in Fall River Superior Court to one count of larceny over $1,200 and six counts of larceny under $1,200.

He must serve two years of probation after his prison sentence, and pay restitution to pawnbrokers in New Bedford and Taunton where he sold some of the items.

Judge William White Jr. asked Burchell if he had anything to say prior to sentencing.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Massachusetts is notorious for its drivers, earning the name "Massholes." What was until now just a dubious reputation has become codified in the most indelible of institutions, however.

Car insurance. After all, the numbers don't lie.

The Bay state has been identified as having the tenth highest annual car insurance costs in the country, according to new research released by MarketWatch Guides. Annual costs statewide came to an average of $873, alongside a 8.8% rate of uninsured drivers.

Over the course of their research, MarketWatch analyzed the percentage of uninsured drivers, the average minimum-liability car insurance costs and the laws and the potential consequences for uninsured drivers in each state.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Major League Baseball will honor fallen U.S. Armed Forces members with a special patch today. 

Players will take the field wearing a red poppy flower patch on their jerseys. 

The origin of using a poppy to remember those who died in war comes from the 1915 poem "In Flanders Fields" written by Canadian poet and World War I [[ One ]] soldier Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae. 

This marks the fifth year MLB teams have worn the commemorative patches for Memorial Day.

 The Boston Celtics will look to advance to their second NBA Finals in three seasons tonight. 

They have the chance to complete a four-game sweep of the Pacers in Indiana.  This after they stormed back from an 18-point deficit to take Game Three of the Eastern Conference Finals on Saturday.  Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. Eastern. 

Meanwhile in the Western Conference Finals, the Dallas Mavericks took a commanding three-to-nothing lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves with a 116-107 win last night.

PLYMOUTH, Mass. (WPRI) — Police are investigating two violent incidents that send six people to the hospital over the weekend.

The Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office said 26-year-old Jared Ravizza of Chilmark, Mass., was arrested Saturday after he allegedly stabbed two employees at the McDonald’s at the Route 3 South service plaza in Plymouth.

According to Massachusetts State Police, surveillance video appears to show the suspect reach into the drive-thru window and stab a 29-year-old man with a large knife. Ravizza then allegedly parked his vehicle, went inside and stabbed a second worker, a 21-year-old woman.

Both were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

Ravizza took off, but police chased him down and arrested him after he crashed in Sandwich.

Police said the incident was likely connected to an earlier stabbing in Braintree.

Read more at wpri.com.

NORTH ATTLEBORO, Mass. (WPRI) — State Representative Adam Scanlon said the migrants started arriving at the Best Western on Washington Street right after the town dealt with flooding last September.c

“We got the call two days later,” the democrat from North Attleboro said. “We were already trying to [deal] with the other crisis.”

Since then, the second-term lawmaker said the migrants have been moved out of the hotel, and there are currently no migrants in North Attleboro.

But he said the roughly 7,500 families throughout Massachusetts are straining resources locally.

“State dollars impact everyone,” he said. “Whether we’re in North Attleboro, or Winchester, or Worcester. We have schools we need to fund.”

That’s why Scanlon said he was frustrated to find out Senators Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren once again opposed a border bill in the U.S. Senate, saying he would have voted differently.

Read more at wpri.com.

NORTON — Case head softball coach Shannon Silva had to devise something in the offseason after the graduation of four key starters on her 2023 Division 4 state champion team.

When the start of the season began in March, Silva wasn't sure how her plan would work after she plugged in five different starters, including moving outfielder Skye Dupre to second and first baseman Breanna Fontes behind the plate to fill the void of her daughter — South Coast Conference All-Star catcher and Herald News Player of the Year Olivia Silva.

On Friday after the defending Division 4 state champion Cardinals mercy-ruled Division 3 opponent Norton (ranked fourth in power rankings) 14-1 for their 12th straight win, it seemed clear Silva has done her homework quite well.

Read more from Steven Sanchez at heraldnews.com.

SEEKONK, Mass. (WPRI) — An investigation is underway after a car crashed into a wooded area in Seekonk Friday morning.

Crews responded to the scene around 1 a.m. near Miller Street and Fieldwood Avenue.

The white convertible was seen with front-end damage.

No word on the driver’s condition or what may have caused the crash.

From wpri.com.

With the upcoming Memorial Day weekend the official start of the boating season, and it being National Safe Boating Week, safety is the key word. 

“Typically, we like to give information out to the public before you get ready to set sail and get underway on any body of water in Massachusetts,” Massachusetts Environmental Police Lt. John Girvalakis said. 

The Environmental Police are responsible for enforcing boating and recreational vehicle laws and regulations and patrol both inland and coastal waters, ensuring compliance with safety rules.  

They focus on ensuring that boaters follow safety guidelines, including wearing life jackets and adhering to speed limits. 

Read more at heraldnews.com.

SWANSEA — The Stoico/FIRSTFED YMCA isn't just in the community. It's excited to show that it's very much part of the community.

On Saturday, June 1, the Y will be holding its first Spirit Day at its sprawling 36-acre facility at 271 Sharps Lot Road. The hours are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission is free.

The lineup of activities and offerings is designed to create a lot of smiles and satisfied palates:

• Touch a truck 
• Baseball 
• Outdoor pickleball. 
• Food trucks 
• Dunk tank 
• Vendors
• Opening day of the splash pad

Read more at heraldnews.com.

As Steward Health Care bankruptcy proceedings continue, Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr filed a budget amendment allowing the attorney general to appoint a special counsel to handle the commonwealth's interests in the case.

"There's a bankruptcy proceeding that's going on here — we want the commonwealth to be fully engaged in that, and any dollars that come back to us a result of that engagement, we'd like to place into that fund and allow the fund to be used to mitigate the impacts of the Steward bankruptcy on other health care providers and patients in the commonwealth of Massachusetts," Tarr told reporters during the Senate's dinner break Tuesday, May 21.

"Certainly, it is foreseeable that that bankruptcy is going to disrupt care for patients, and it's going to disrupt the remaining providers that are in the commonwealth."

Steward owns multiple hospitals in Massachusetts, including Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton, Morton Hospital in Taunton and Saint Anne's Hospital in Fall River.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

When word got out earlier this spring that Mark Foley had been appointed chief of the Swansea Police Department, his phone was besieged with texts.

Many of those texts, from old football teammates and co-workers past and present, not only congratulated Foley but praised him for being a leader.

Now more than a month into his elevation to chief, succeeding the retired Marc Haslam, the former Case High School and UMass Dartmouth football lineman has found his new job challenging and satisfying and educational. He's also doing, in a sense, double duty as his replacement as lieutenant had not, as of this writing, been hired.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

DIGHTON — The strength and determination of her 17-year-old daughter inspired Aimee Rodrigues, 35, to pursue a degree as an occupational therapy assistant at Bristol Community College. As a senior in high school, Rodrigues gave birth to her daughter Leanna, who suffered a stroke in utero and was subsequently diagnosed with a rare brain abnormality.

Doctors told Aimee that her daughter would never be able to talk on her own, eat on her own or walk on her own. Years of therapies followed and she started achieving goals, ultimately walking independently at age 14. But when the pandemic hit, Aimee was thrust into serving as Leanna's teacher and therapist, which ultimately inspired her to go back to school.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

SOMERSET – The School Department got almost half of its desired budget money back.

In the most discussed and debated issue at Monday night's town meeting at Somerset Berkley Regional High School, voters approved an amended article which increases the School Department's budget to $25,072,623 for Fiscal Year 2025.

The School Committee and Board of Selectman had clashed recently over the school budget article on the town meeting warrant. On April 18, the School Committee had submitted a budget recommendation of $25,200,123, a 5.52% increase over the previous year. In preparing the town meeting warrant, the Board of Selectman subsequently reduced that budget article by $250,000. Monday's amended article reflected an increase of $122,500.

See more at heraldnews.com.

FALL RIVER — The Fall River Veterans Service Office and the Fall River War Council have planned a slate of events in the city in honor of Memorial Day.

Events kicked off this past weekend with a Civil War Monument Ceremony at Oak Grove Cemetery and washing of the Fall River Vietnam Wall, and will continue through the Monday holiday.

The placing of flags on veterans' graves will take place at various times, across the city's various cemeteries, throughout the week.

Memorial Day weekend in Fall River gets underway Saturday, May 25, at Veterans Memorial (Bicentennial) Park with Italian American War Veterans Ceremony at 7 p.m., followed by a Gold Star Families Candlelight Vigil at 7:45 p.m.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

FALL RIVER — It’s got a shiny new gloss to it, a great sound system and party lights and the Fall River logo just recently painted on the side.

 And this Saturday for the first time, the old time trolley with recently purchased American Rescue Plan Act money will hit the city’s streets shepherding riders to favorite points of interest.

On Tuesday, Mayor Paul Coogan and his staff were on hand at the City Pier and cut the ribbon on the city’s trolley.

The city purchased the used trolley for $60,000 from a company in Delaware and Coogan credited staff from the Department of Community Maintenance with performing the upgrades in house.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Drivers using Interstate 195 on Monday may have seen a few new messages on the billboard near the Broadway exit in East Providence.

“If they had done their job you would be home already,” one reads. The other proclaims, “They knew in 2012.”

The billboard messages criticize Governor Dan McKee’s administration and the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) for their response to the emergency closure of the westbound Washington Bridge. They were paid for by Watchdog RI, which describes itself as a non-partisan nonprofit organization.

See more at wpri.com.

TAUNTON, Mass. (WPRI) — It’s been nearly a year since 15-year-old Justin Andrews reportedly spray-painted antisemitic symbols on a Taunton synagogue.

The teenager was taken into custody after he was caught on camera vandalizing the Congregation Agudath Achim of Greater Taunton, as well as a nearby home.

But Andrews has since learned from his past mistakes, according to Rabbi Coleman Reboi.

Read moe at wpri.com.

FALL RIVER - Ray Pimental and Doug Rodrigues were honored for their service by their colleagues at a recent meeting of the Fall River Chapter of the Prince Henry Society. They received the Pilot Award.

“The Pilot Award is presented to those members who went above and beyond by unselfishly giving their time and passion to support the Society and its mission,” said President Dave Rocha.

Pimental has served as secretary and vice president of the Society. He has been active in the food drive and other Society efforts. A member of the Elks and other community groups, Pimental works for the Internal Revenue Service.

Rodrigues served as president during a time of transition and kept the Society moving forward. The local accountant continues to be active in the Society’s community service and is involved with other organizations in the Fall River area.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

SWANSEA – Installation of business district sewers got a thumbs up from voters while the Preserved Gardner House was likely issued a death sentence during a town meeting doubleheader on Monday night at the Joseph Case High School auditorium.

The four-plus-hour gathering consisted of the annual town meeting preceded, in part, by special town meeting that addressed transfers and appropriations to be performed before the end of Fiscal Year 2024 on June 30.

There were actually three articles, involving both meetings, pertaining to the sewers. The article for a proposed renovation and restoration of the nearby Preserved Gardner House at Swansea Memorial Park was part of the annual town meeting. It was rejected 227-111 on a ballot after a voice vote was deemed inconclusive.

Citizens immediately thereafter approved 204-92 by stand-up vote an article to spend $85,000 for demolition of the boarded-up 213-year-old house in need of costly renovations.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

FALL RIVER — Amazon.com in a recent commercial touted Fall River as a birdwatching destination — which was news to area birdwatchers. But the city of Fall River and Mass Audubon are working together to manifest it. 

The city and the environmental group are collaborating for Wings on the Watuppa Reservation: Birdwatching in the Bioreserve, a free event introducing people to our feathered friends in the city’s forest. Transportation is even included. 

May 25, with a rain date of June 1.  There are four sessions: 8, 9, 10 and 11 a.m. 

Read more at heraldnews.com.

ATTLEBORO, Mass. (WPRI) — Train service at the South Attleboro station resumed Monday morning for the first time in three years.

The station has been closed since February 2021 when it was determined the pedestrian bridge was unsafe and beyond repair. The structure is now being demolished.

It’s now up and running on a limited schedule, with three inbound trips each morning and three outbound trips every evening.

The trains will use both sides of the tracks, so riders won’t have to cross them to board.

State representatives and other officials said this is a big win on multiple levels for the city, including MBTA General Manager Phillip Eng.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

In March, Steward Health Care, the for-profit corporation that owns Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton and Morton Hospital in Taunton, announced that it had plans to sell their now-bankrupt company to Optum, a division of the UnitedHealth Group.

The deal would involve Optum acquiring all issued and outstanding capital stock of Steward Health Inc., which includes the company's physicians in nine states, including Massachusetts, according to the notice of material change form.

“As described in the notice, this is a significant proposed change involving two large medical providers, both in Massachusetts and nationally, with important implications for the delivery and cost of health care across Massachusetts," the Health Policy Commission (HPC) announced in a press release on March 27.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

President Joe Biden is scheduled to visit Boston next week, though the exact travel plans have not been disclosed yet, according to Wicked Local media partner WCVB Channel 5.

WCVB stated Friday that President "Biden will head to Boston next week after visiting New Hampshire. The president is expected to hold an official White House event on Tuesday in Merrimack (NH)."

President Biden last visited Boston in December, 2023 for a campaign reception featuring musician James Taylor, according to The White House.

From heraldnews.com.

BOSTON — Imprisoned former Fall River mayor Jasiel Correia II filed a motion Thursday with a Boston federal judge seeking to reduce his prison sentence, claiming that his defense attorney, Kevin Reddington, attempted to extort money from him and take a 20% portion of ownership of Correia's now-defunct app company SnoOwl. 

“He’s a liar,” said an impassioned Reddington, a highly revered defense attorney in the region. “And by the way, 20% of nothing is nothing.” 

Reddington said he only learned of Correia’s accusations against him on Thursday morning, after the request for early release was filed at federal court. 

Correia authored the 26-page court filing. He is currently incarcerated at the Federal Correctional Institution Ashland in eastern Kentucky, a low-security prison with a minimum-security satellite camp that houses 1,313 male inmates.

Read more from Jo C. Goode at heraldnews.com.

Swansea voters have a full slate of items on their agenda for the annual and special Town Meetings, from adding more liquor licenses to funding a new sewer system, and either fixing or demolishing a historic home. 

Both meetings are scheduled to take place Monday, May 20, at the Joseph Case Senior High School auditorium, 70 School St. The Special Town Meeting starts at 7 p.m., with the Annual Town Meeting scheduled to begin at 7:30. 

Voters will decide on six articles in the Special Town Meeting, with 39 articles on the Annual warrant. To see the full warrants, visit swanseama.gov.

Read more from Dan Medeiros at heraldnews.com.

FALL RIVER, Mass. (WPRI) — Officers are searching for a Fall River man accused of trafficking heroin and cocaine who didn’t show up for the start of his court trial earlier this week, according to Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn.

An arrest warrant has been issued for 56-year-old Willie Young, who Quinn said was supposed to appear in Fall River Superior Court on Monday.

Quinn said Young was arrested back in February 2020 after officers searched his McClure Place apartment and found the drugs.

Young had been free on personal recognizance while awaiting trial and is known to have ties to New York, Quinn added.

Read more at wpri.com.

TAUNTON, Mass. (WPRI) — Police in Taunton are asking for the public’s help finding a 66-year-old man who wandered away from a day program Thursday afternoon.

Thomas Cassidy was last seen around 1:45 p.m. at 72 Church Green. Police said he was wearing a dark green jacket with a striped polo shirt underneath and jeans.

Though Cassidy lives on West Britannia Street, police said he is unlikely to find his way home.

He typically frequents the Taunton Green, Joe’s Diner and St. Mary’s Church. He also has previous addresses in Taunton and Attleboro.

Anyone who knows of Cassidy’s whereabouts is asked to call the Taunton Police Department at (508) 823-5000.

See more at wpri.com.

SACO, Maine (WPRI) — Three New Bedford men have been charged in connection with a daytime drive-by shooting earlier this year in Maine, according to U.S. Attorney Darcie McElwee.

Joshua Estrada, 19, Yancarlos Abrante, 20, and Jason Johnson-Rivera, 18, have each been charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine, perpetrating a drive-by shooting and conspiracy.

McElwee said the men fired at least five rounds into another vehicle in Saco during a drug dispute back in February. The men are also accused of distributing cocaine in and around Saco and Biddeford for at least a month prior to the drive-by shooting.

Estrada was arrested in New Bedford on May 6 and faced a judge in Maine on Thursday, according to McElwee. She said Abrante and Johnson-Rivera are currently in custody on unrelated charges and will be arraigned in Maine sometime next week.

Read more at wpri.com.

A new set of COVID-19 variants, nicknamed FLiRT, is rising in prevalence in the United States.

The variant, labeled KP.2, made up about 25% of the COVID-19 cases in the U.S. in April, according to USA Today. That rise makes it the new dominant variant in the country, surpassing JN.1.

"The CDC is tracking SARS-CoV-2 variants KP.2 and KP.1.1, sometimes referred to as 'FLiRT,' and working to better understand their potential impact on public health," the agency said in an emailed statement to USA TODAY in May.

"Currently, KP.2 is the dominant variant in the United States, but laboratory testing data indicate low levels of SARS-CoV-2 transmission overall at this time. That means that while KP.2 is proportionally the most predominant variant, it is not causing an increase in infections as transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is low," the CDC said in the statement.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Jack Teixeira, the Massachusetts Air National Guardsman stationed on Cape Cod accused of leaking classified Pentagon information on Discord, could face a trial by court-martial.

During a Tuesday hearing at Hanscom Air Force Base, Air Force prosecutors urged a military hearing officer to make that recommendation.

Teixeira, 22, of North Dighton, pleaded guilty in March to all six counts of willful retention and transmission of national defense information. Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Massachusetts Joshua Levy has said Teixeira faces between 11 and 17 years in prison.

The preliminary hearing officer will review the evidence and determine whether probable cause exists to support charges against Teixeira, according to an Air Force spokesperson.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

FALL RIVER — Brayton Point LLC is offering to reach a plea deal with the town of Somerset over a criminal complaint pending in Fall River District Court. 

But while the town is seeking $3.5 million in fines for two misdemeanors charges brought by Somerset, the company is offering to now pay $70,200.

Lawyers for the town and for Brayton Point were in court Tuesday, but the case is still pending, and the offer will now go before the Somerset Board of Selectmen.

The next court date on the matter is June 18. 

Fall River District Court Judge Paul Pino, who has presided over the case since the town filed criminal charges in November, again urged the two sides to come to a reasonable agreement on the amount of the fines.

Read more from Jo C. Goode at heraldnews.com.

FALL RIVER — The Massachusetts Parole Board has granted so-called “satanic cult” murderer Robin Murphy release from prison just nine weeks after the 61-year-old Fall River woman made her case to be free once again related to the triple murders that occurred in 1979 and 1980. 

State Rep. Alan Silvia, who was one of the lead Fall River police detectives in the case against Murphy and two other co-defendants back then, said he was contacted late Tuesday morning by the parole board and notified of their decision. 

Silvia, who has attended several parole hearings for Murphy including the most recent on March 5 where he spoke against releasing Murphy, indicated that he was shocked by the parole board’s decision.

Read more from Jo C. Goode at heraldnews.com.

Private equity firms have been buying up hospitals and health care systems, like Steward Health Care, at an increasing rate over the past few decades, according to the Institute for New Economic Thinking.

This growing trend, however, has left patients, doctors, and local politicians concerned that the private equity business model, which consists of acquiring hospitals with the end goal of quickly extracting financial value to deliver large returns to investors, does not lend to high-quality patient care.

That couldn't be clearer in the case of Steward. This now-bankrupt for-profit corporation owns eight Massachusetts hospitals, including Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton, Morton Hospital in Taunton and Saint Anne's Hospital in Fall River.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Joe Feitelberg didn't just speak to people. He engaged them. Rich, poor and everything in between. He asked questions. He absorbed the answers. He knew everyone he met had a story and he wanted to hear it.

That approach serverd him well, in both business and life. Enormously loved and respected in Greater Fall River and beyond, Joe Feitelberg, civic leader and insurance entrepreneur, died on May 10 while in hospice care in Lincoln. He was 89.

“We lost a good one,” said John Feitelberg, the third of Joe's six children and his father's successor as president of Feitelberg Insurance on Milliken Boulevard in Fall River.

Read more from Greg Sullivan at heraldnews.com.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — The Providence Fire Department is mourning the loss of one of its members.

Providence’s firefighter union posted on social media that Cipriano Illiano died at the age of 41.

Cip, as he was known, worked for the Tiverton Fire Department from 2010 to 2013 before continuing his career in Providence.

Read more at wpri.com.

Comcast is planning a bundle that will include access to Peacock, Netflix and Apple TV, the company’s chair said this week.

The new service, which will be called “StreamSaver,” will be available to Comcast broadband, TV and mobile customers later this year, Variety reported, citing remarks from Comcast Chair Brian Roberts at the Moffet Nathanson Investor Conference on Tuesday.

The service will “come at a vastly reduced price to anything available today,” Roberts said, though he did not offer any details on pricing, the outlet noted.

Read more at wpri.com.

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — An investigation is underway after a crash in East Providence left four injured and knocked out power to the vast majority of the Riverside neighborhood.

East Providence Battalion Chief Joe Crowshaw told 12 News firefighters rushed to Forbes Street just after 8 p.m. following reports of a two-car crash that took down a utility pole.

Crowshaw said both vehicles were heavily damaged and a nearby tree had caught fire from the downed power lines. That fire eventually spread to the vehicle that had slammed directly into the utility pole but was quickly extinguished, he added.

Read more at wpri.com.

As the black storm clouds of the Steward Health Care system financial boondoggle start to rain ramifications, state lawmakers are seeking silver linings.

“This crisis creates an opportunity, allows us to preemptively design what the health care system should look like in this region and across the commonwealth,” said Sen. Paul Feeney, D-Foxborough, the vice chair of the Senate Committee on Post-Audit and Oversight at its April 24 meeting, held at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW 223) building in Taunton. “It’s an opportunity for a more global view on the way to deliver health care services across Massachusetts.”

The meeting brought together legislators, state officials, policy advisors and the leaders of hospitals most affected by the possible closure of the Steward facilities.

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — The unofficial start to summer is two weeks away and AAA Northeast says it’s going to be a busy one.

With Memorial Day Weekend around the corner, AAA predicts that nearly 44 million people will hit the road or take to the skies, which is a 4% increase from last year and exceeds pre-pandemic levels for the first time.

Read more at wpri.com.

FALL RIVER — The Spindle City has lost one of is great servants.

Manny Papoula, who gave much of his time and a good deal of his money to help others, died this week. The former Durfee High School and Boston College basketball player was 80.

Paul Silva, of Silva-Faria Funeral Homes, said late Saturday morning that the precise day of Papoula's death was not known and that arrangements are not yet set.

A mathematics teacher, Papoula taught professionally for 30 years, the final 26 in Fairlawn, N.J. In New Jersey, he was once honored as a state teacher of the year. His state pension, which he described as very good, allowed him to take an early retirement and return to his hometown.

Read more at heraaldnews.com.

FALL RIVER — In Steve Winarski's humble assessment, he was but the Durfee softball Ralph Kramden.

“I just drove the bus. The kids did all the hard work,” the Hilltoppers' former head coach said last week.

If Winarski's name isn't already synonymous with Durfee softball, it's about to be. On Tuesday, the beautiful new artificial turf softball field at Durfee will be named for the retired physical education teacher. The dedication ceremony is set for 5 p.m., with a game against Diman Regional to follow at 6 p.m. The public is invited and urged to attend.

The Durfee boss on the diamond from 1997 to 2011, Winarski enjoyed great success, most notably with his Hilltoppers winning two state Division 1 championships — in 1998 and 2004.

The players' hard work, he mentioned, included Sunday practices before Monday games, two-hour practices preseason, and 90-minute/no-standing-around practices during the season. “I wanted to keep everyone busy, everyone always moving,” said Winarski, who recently turned 70.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

FALL RIVER — It’s been a fenced-in eyesore on South Main Street for years, but the renovation of the tiny, but very visible, Jerry Lawton Memorial Plaza pocket park on South Main Street across from the Fall River Justice Center could finally see its much-needed renovation soon. 

“The contract has been awarded to Century Paving. We have had some fits and starts with trying to get the bids,” said assistant planner Christopher Parayno on Thursday. 

Mayor Paul Coogan earmarked $250,000 in American Rescue Plan Act money to upgrade the park, which is noted in the city’s downtown redevelopment plan. 

Parayno, who oversees the project, said the city has gone out for three different bids on the project. 

Read more from Jo C. Goode at heraldnews.com.

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WPRI) — Alex DaLomba Tavares was having the time of his life while on vacation in Puerto Rico with his girlfriend.

But it quickly took a turn for the worse when the New Bedford man was swept away by rising floodwaters.

Tavares’ cousin Sandy Duarte told 12 News the couple was visiting the Gozalandia Waterfall in San Sebastian when he was caught off guard by the rapid storm surge.

"He tried so hard to hold on, but the water just took him away,” Duarte explained.

Tavares’ body was eventually found Friday on the banks of the Culebrinas River following an intensive two-day search.

Read more at wpri.com.

State gas prices fell last week and reached an average of $3.59 per gallon of regular fuel on Monday, down from last week's price of $3.60 per gallon, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The average fuel price in state has risen about 28 cents since last month. According to the EIA, gas prices across the state in the last year have been as low as $3.07 on Jan. 29, 2024, and as high as $3.76 on Aug. 7, 2023.

A year ago, the average gas price in Massachusetts was 5% lower at $3.41 per gallon.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

With warm weather now upon the region and East Beach Road still damaged from winter storms, the Board of Selectmen approved funds for road repairs this week, which Town Administrator Jim Hartnett said he hopes will result in a fixed road sometime next month.

On Thursday, Harnett said officials were "hoping to get the paving completed within the next 4-6 weeks depending on bidding and contractor schedules."

At their Monday meeting, the selectmen approved up to $45,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for the repairs, which Hartnett said consisted of repaving two areas of the road at East Horseneck Beach.

"It's not too bad.... It's drivable," Hartnett said of its state as of Thursday.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

WESTPORT — On Wednesday night, Westport Town Meeting said "no" to legalizing short-term rentals and a project that would have brought town water service to a prime stretch of Route 6. It also amended Westport Community Schools' budget to provide some additional funds Superintendent Thomas Aubin and others said will be badly needed to keep local education moving forward.

"In exchange for a positive vote, I won't make an enthralling speech about how this is all for our children, but it is," said Town Meeting member Kevin McGoff after motioning to add $152,125 to the district's Finance Committee-recommended budget amount of $22,499,082, for a new total of $22,651,207.

The amended total — which was approved by voters after some discussion — was noted as matching the amount recommended by the Board of Selectmen before it was further reduced by the FinCom.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Former Boston Celtics player Glen “Big Baby” Davis was sentenced Thursday to 40 months in a federal prison for his participation in a scheme New York prosecutors said defrauded an insurance plan for NBA players and their families of more than $5 million.

More than 20 people were convicted in the case, many of them onetime NBA players who submitted fictitious dental and medical claims to the NBA Players’ Health and Benefit Welfare Plan. A jury found Davis and former Detroit Pistons guard Will Bynum guilty in November.

Davis will have three years of supervised release after he serves his term, and he has been ordered to pay $80,000 in restitution. Davis’ attorney, Sabrina Shroff, declined to comment. Bynum was sentenced last month to 18 months in prison and three years of supervised release and also must pay $182,224 in restitution.

Read more at wpri.com.

SWANSEA, Mass. (WPRI) — Three Massachusetts men were arrested Wednesday in connection with an armed robbery outside a Swansea bank.

Federal court documents obtained by 12 News show Steven Madison, Christopher White and Quentin McDonald were taken into custody after investigators executed search warrants at each of their homes.

Prosecutors allege Madison and White committed the robbery, while McDonald acted as the getaway driver.

A courier was zip-tied, pepper-sprayed and robbed of more than $436,000 in cash at the BayCoast Bank on Swansea Mall Drive on the afternoon of Feb. 19, according to police. Since the bank was closed for Presidents’ Day, the courier was trying to use the drop-box outside when he was approached by the masked suspects.

Read more at wpri.com.

REHOBOTH, Mass. (WPRI) — An investigation is underway after a rollover crash in Rehoboth early Thursday morning.

Officials responding to the scene just after 4:30 a.m. in the area of Routes 118 and 44 found a red pickup truck on its roof.

The driver, a 61-year-old East Providence man, was taken to Rhode Island Hospital with serious injuries.

See more at wpri.com.

Several employees of Steward Health Care — which owns hospitals in Brockton, Taunton and Fall River and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this week — said they did not receive their paychecks this morning, according to reporting by WCVB.

Steward Health Care President Mark Rich blamed the delay on a "processing error within the Bank of America system" in a message shared with employees at 8 a.m. this morning, according to WCVB.

"We followed all of Bank of America's procedures following the Chapter 11 filing and were assured by them that this would not happen," Rich said in the message. "We know that this is not an easy time for any of you and we recognize your inconvenience," he said.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

The Massachusetts State Senate has unveiled a proposal for free community college tuition as part of the 2025 state budget.

This proposal would expand on last year’s MassReconnect Plan, extending free tuition to all Massachusetts residents to boost the state’s workforce and expand educational opportunities for all as soon as this fall.

The new program is called MassEducate and would invest more than $75 million in new spending from the fiscal year 2025 budget to cover tuition and fees for all community college students. It would also offer a 1,200 stipend for books and supplies and other fees for students who make 125 percent or less of the state median income.

22News asked administrators at Holyoke Community College what costs are left over in these types of funding models, and they said pretty much all that is left is housing and transportation, but for the latter, the state has baked in some help for low-income students, or those experiencing hardships.

“It removes the stress and the worry of maybe having to use loan dollars to pay for tuition and fees and books and supplies. Now students can use some of that to cover living expenses maybe take a few more classes or work a little bit less,” said Mark Hudgik, Interim Dean of Strategic Recruitment Initiatives.

Read more at wpri.com.

Could America's funniest firefighter be one from Freetown?

On May 17, we'll find out if it's a possibility when Freetown Firefighter Mark "Larry Legend" Lawrence takes the stage to perform a stand-up comedy routine, competing against five other firefighters for the title of New England's Funniest Firefighter in the America's Funniest Firefighter regional finals in Boston.

Lawrence, who lives in Rochester with his wife and two children, started his firefighting career as a call/volunteer firefighter in Rochester in 2012 before going full-time in Freetown, where he says there's no shortage of laughs at the fire station.

"We're all kind of humorous in our own way," Lawrence said.

But the comedy bug bit Lawrence earlier in life, having had his first taste of stand-up as a member of Old Rochester Regional High School's class of '06.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

FALL RIVER — Steward Health Care filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection has led to uncertainty at the company’s 33 hospitals nationwide, including Saint Anne’s. 

The for-profit hospital chain employs more than 30,000 people nationally, 1,500 of them at Saint Anne’s. The hospital on South Main Street is a major medical center for patients across the SouthCoast, serving thousands from walk-ins at its emergency room to cancer patients at the Hudner Oncology Center.

But whether its services will continue long-term is a fluid situation as the matter proceeds through bankruptcy court. The Dallas-based chain is tens of millions of dollars in debt to over 100,000 creditors, including its landlord, Medical Properties Trust.  

Here’s what Saint Anne’s patients in Greater Fall River need to know:

Read more from Dan Medeiros at heraldnews.com.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — The Rhode Island Judiciary said the Licht Judicial Complex in Providence was evacuated Tuesday morning due to a “security concern.”

Providence police told Target 12 the state bomb squad detonated an unattended suitcase that was found outside the building out of an abundance of caution.

The suitcase was not an explosive device, police added, and found it was filled with clothes.

Read more at wpri.com.

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WPRI) — A man suspected of fatally shooting another man in New Bedford was in court Tuesday to face an upgraded charge.

Police allege 38-year-old Christopher Smith shot 60-year-old Ronald Sinclair in the area of Austin and County streets on the afternoon of April 29.

Sinclair died at the hospital several days later.

See more at wpri.com.

FALL RIVER — While sheltered at Nichols College in Dudley during the winter months, Josh Boria received an unexpected phone call.

The 2023 Durfee graduate took the call from his native homeland in Puerto Rico from his old coach, who relayed to him that he was eligible to get drafted for pro baseball.

Boria jetted to Puerto Rico and began practicing with a team. On the day of the draft, the former Hilltopper pitcher was selected in the first round at number 8 by the coach and owner of the Cocoteros de Loiza team.

"In that moment my emotion, hard work and dedication came together," said Boria via phone call from Puerto Rico. "A dream come true since I was 5 years old."

Read more from Steven Sanchez at heraldnews.com.

Steward Health Care, the operator of eight Massachusetts hospitals, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection early Monday morning, according to a statement posted on the company’s website.

The Dallas-based company has been at the center of a year-long financial crisis that began when they were forced to shut down Quincy Medical Center in 2014 after financial difficulties amid complaints of filthy conditions and neglected patients.

Since then, flooding and fires at their hospitals, combined with lawsuits and business dealings gone wrong have plagued Steward.

Here’s everything you need to know about Steward Health Care and where things went wrong for one of the largest private hospital operators in the country.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

BOSTON (WPRI) — Hospital operator Steward Health Care has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

The company, which owns eight Massachusetts hospitals, made the announcement on its website Monday morning.

Steward said the company is finalizing the terms with Medical Properties Trust to support restructuring. It would include $75 million to start and up to an additional $225 million.

The company says its hospitals, medical centers, and doctor’s offices will stay open, and employees still have their jobs.

In Bristol County, Steward owns Saint Anne’s Hospital in Fall River and Morton Hospital in Taunton.

Read more at wpri.com.

BOSTON (WPRI) — Boston sports fans don’t need to worry about figuring out what to watch on TV this week.

It’s going to be another busy week at TD Garden with both teams moving on to Round 2 of the playoffs.

For the second straight year, the Boston Bruins and the Florida Panthers will meet in the playoffs. The Panthers upset the Bruins in the first round last year by overcoming a 3-1 series deficit.

The Boston Celtics will meet the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round of the playoffs.

Boston will be well-rested for the series after beating the Miami Heat in five games on Wednesday. Cleveland moved on to the next round Sunday afternoon after beating the Orlando Magic in seven games.

See the schedules at wpri.com.

AUNTON, Mass. (WPRI) — The Bristol Country District Attorney’s Office has identified the victim of a Taunton homicide.

According to District Attorney Thomas Quinn III, Taunton Police went to 155 Highland Street at 9:45 a.m. on Saturday for a report of a dead man in a shed.

When police arrived, they found 32 year-old Jhonny Lajoie. Investigators say the victim was shot and killed.

Learn more at wpri.com.

FALL RIVER — With the city receiving a windfall of $8 million from settling lawsuits with prescription opioid manufacturers and distributors, Fall River should set aside some money to pay the funeral expenses of people who will die from drug overdoses, said Niki Fontaine, director of Substance Use and Homeless Outreach Services. 

To the board tasked with distributing the funds, Fontaine called it “blood money more than a grant.”  

It was one of several ideas floated before the Fall River Opioid Settlement Funds Advisory Committee at a public meeting on Wednesday at Government Center.

Meanwhile, the city has published a request for proposals so nonprofits that service people with addiction can apply for funds they’ll get this fall.

See more from Dan Medeiros at heraldnews.com.

The Danish ship Sea Installer recently carried all the components for another wind turbine one twelve miles south of Martha's Vineyard at the Vineyard Wind site. 

See all the photos at heraldnews.com.

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WPRI) — Anyone interested in a career in emergency medical services (EMS) can now register for a new program in New Bedford.

The New Bedford EMT Training Academy offers 180 hours of classroom and hands-on instruction to prepare students for their state certification test and a “rewarding, in-demand career,” Mayor Jon Mitchell said in a press release.

The academy covers a “wide range of subjects,” according to the city, including first aid, EMS operations, anatomy and physiology. Students will also get to go on ride-alongs and do field work with EMTs and paramedics.

Learn more at wpri.com.

State officials have launched a command center to coordinate a response to clinical care in Eastern Massachusetts in the wake of Steward Health Care's financial struggles.

Gov. Maura Healey's office announced Friday that the Massachusetts Department of Public Health activated an Emergency Operations Plan, which includes its regional Incident Command System, on Wednesday "as part of our ongoing commitment to ensure patient safety, protect access to care and preserve jobs."

In March, Steward Health Care revealed plans to sell Stewardship Health. The for-profit company has been behind on rent and payments to vendors.

Healey has called on financially challenged Steward to hand over its hospitals to other operators.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Across the country, college students have set up encampments protesting the war in Gaza. Police crackdowns on these encampments have captured national attention. 

The protests call on universities to divest themselves financially from companies that contribute to Israel's war effort in Gaza. In the past few days, thousands of students have been arrested around the nation.

In the past week, Brown University students took down their encampment voluntarily after a deal was made that school would vote on divestment. But around New England, many of these protests are still happening. Here's a look at where protests are happening.

ew England colleges with ongoing protest of the war in Gaza

• University of Vermont in Burlington, Vermont
• Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont
• Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts
• Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts

Read more at heraldnews.com.

TAUNTON, Mass. (WPRI) — An investigation is underway after two bicyclists were hit by a car in Taunton Thursday afternoon, according to Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn.

Donald MacManus, 76, of Seekonk, was riding his bike down North Walker Street with a 72-year-old Attleboro man when Quinn said both of them were hit by an oncoming car.

Quinn said MacManus was rushed to Morton Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The other bicyclist was brought to Rhode Island Hospital with significant trauma to his lower extremities, he added.

Read more at wpri.com.

FALL RIVER — Nelson Coelho told a woman he’d recently met and shared crack cocaine with that he was involved in the deadly robbery that killed 54-year-old convenience store owner Lal Kishor Mahaseth during an attempted armed robbery and that it was an accident, prosecutors alleged. 

And they said Coelho, 40, asked the woman if she would be his alibi as police searched for Mahaseth’s shooter. 

Coelho is on trial for Mahaseth’s murder, which occurred inside Mahaseth's convenience store on Rock Street on Oct. 18, 2021. He is also charged with possession of an illegal firearm and armed robbery, which prosecutors say he committed at another convenience store on Durfee Street the night before Mahaseth was fatally shot with a bullet to his heart.

Coelho has been held on bail since his arrest a week after the murder.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Fallon Health, a not-for-profit healthcare services organization based in Worcester with more than 45 years of experience providing care, has plans to open a new Summit ElderCare PACE Center in Dartmouth by the end of this year. 

PACE, a Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, provides services to adults 55 and older, including adults with complex medical needs, so they can age with dignity in their home or community. It's the biggest PACE program in Massachusetts. 

Kristine Bostek, senior vice president of PACE Programs, said if the service area that would include Bristol and Plymouth counties and part of Barnstable County receives final approval, there may be as many as 9,000 residents eligible for PACE in the area.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

FALL RIVER — Fifteen jurors were presented images of a disturbing scene caught on surveillance video inside the Stop N Save convenience store on Rock Street. It showed 54-year-old owner Lal Kishor Mahaseth being gunned down during a robbery by a man disguised head to toe in black in October 2021. 

Mahaseth would be hit by a single fatal bullet to the chest when he attempted to fend off the robber by throwing a desk chair over the store’s counter. He was found by a customer more than an hour later. 

The murder and robbery trial of Nelson F. Coelho, 39, began in Bristol County Superior Court on Wednesday.

Read more from Jo C. Goode at heraldnews.com.

State gas prices rose for the second consecutive week and reached an average of $3.60 per gallon of regular fuel on Monday, up from last week's price of $3.57 per gallon, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The average fuel price in state has risen about 32 cents since last month. According to the EIA, gas prices across the state in the last year have been as low as $3.07 on Jan. 29, 2024, and as high as $3.76 on Aug. 7, 2023.

A year ago, the average gas price in Massachusetts was 4% lower at $3.47 per gallon.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

FALL RIVER — Since taking over at his alma mater at Durfee in 2020, Mike Martin is finally living his dream as a manager.

Going back to his hay days as a high school baseball player in 1986-1990 and even as head coach, the Hilltopper Hall of Famer haven't had a fast start to the season like he's seen in 2024.

Durfee is off to its best start in nearly two decades with an 8-1 mark and is currently ranked 15th in the Division 1 power rankings. Monday's 6-5 win over Bishop Stang gave the Hilltoppers their sixth straight victory. They are also unbeaten in league play at 3-0. Their only blemish on the year is a loss to neighboring Diman.

Read more from Steven Sanchez at heraldnews.com.

The state Legislature races are shaping up, now that the deadline has passed for nominees to seek a place on the September primary ballot. And one state rep race could be a repeat of 2022. 

For those seeking a seat on Beacon Hill in November, April 30 was the deadline to submit their nomination papers to local election officials.

In the 5th Bristol District state representative race, incumbent state Rep. Patricia Haddad, a Democrat, and Republicans Justin Thurber and Melissa Terra of Somerset all returned nomination papers.

Haddad has represented the 5th Bristol District since 2000, winning 12 general elections. In her time in office, she has faced a primary challenger only her first time, and has faced a challenger in the general election only three times. Before winning state elective office, Haddad was a teacher; she served on town offices in Somerset for years, including the School Committee from 1993 to 2001. 

She is a member of the board of delegates on the New England Board of Higher Education. She has cited among her achievements securing funding to ease the loss of Brayton Point Power Station to Somerset’s tax base, obtaining revitalization funds for Swansea Town Beach, and working to bring offshore wind projects to Somerset.

Thurber challenged Haddad in the 2022 general election. An Air Force Reserves veteran, he mounted a successful write-in campaign to get on the Republican ticket in the primary. He ran on a platform of conservative economics including lowering taxes and supporting businesses, and opposition to COVID vaccine and mask mandates.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

RAYNHAM, Mass. (WPRI) — A 35-year-old Raynham man was shot and killed after he pulled a gun on officers responding to his apartment Tuesday afternoon, according to Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn III.

Quinn said the four officers were called to Stephen Maclean’s King Philip Street apartment for the second time in less than 24 hours to conduct a well-being check.

Maclean had been arrested and charged with intimidation of a witness and disorderly conduct on Monday during an ongoing court case involving his girlfriend, Quinn said. Probation officers allegedly asked for him to be held, as he was on probation for OUI at the time of the arrest, but a judge released him.

Read more at wpri.com.

Families use every measure to find lost or missing pets. Affixing posters around the community is one way to get help in locating their dog, cat or other family pet. Contacting your local animal control office is another means many use.

Photographs of missing or lost dogs and cats and other animals are constantly being posted to the New Bedford Police Animal Control Facebook pages.

Some will be reported as found, whether they returned home on their own or were dropped off at the new animal control headquarters at 890 Brock Ave. to be reunited with their owners. Sadly, some are lost forever. 

New Bedford's Director of Animal Control Emanuel “Manny” Maciel and two other animal control officers work seven days a week and log in all calls about missing dogs, cats and other pets, including the owner’s contact information, when they went missing and where they were found. This allows officers to match descriptions of lost pets with those that are found and help reunite them with their owners.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

FALL RIVER — The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office can no longer withhold the identities of police officers it is investigating in cases of possible police misconduct on privacy grounds, according to a ruling by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. 

The 37-page ruling was released Friday over an appeal brought by Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn III after Fall River resident Eric Mack filed a public records lawsuit in Suffolk County Superior Court against Quinn's office and won. 

A Superior Court judge in March 2023 ordered Quinn to release records from an investigation after the shooting death of Mack’s brother, 30-year-old Black man Anthony Harden, which involved two Fall River officers.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

DARTMOUTH — A newly created state agency charged with the Herculean task of addressing the state housing crisis has taken to the road to seek input.

The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities was established in 2023 by Gov. Maura Healey to create more homes and lower housing costs to state residents.

Secretary Ed Augustus and agency officials are making 14 stops around the state to solicit feedback by folks in the front lines dealing with housing issues, which is, preeminently, a lack of housing.

Their third stop was UMass Dartmouth on Tuesday to discuss South Coast housing issues.

Augustus said the input will be used in developing a state housing plan, which is something that hasn't been done in 40 years.

Read more at heraldnews.com.