Officers responded to reports of shots fired near Globe and South Main streets around 2 a.m. Upon arrival, the officers saw Josiah Steward, 23, fleeing the scene but apprehended him following a short pursuit.

According to police, Steward told officers he attempted to fire back after a group of people fired several shots at him, but discarded the gun before they arrived.

See more at wpri.com.

Massachusetts Republicans will choose candidates to challenge U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch in state primaries on Tuesday. The contests top the list of federal, state and local races that will be held across the commonwealth.

Warren is seeking a third term and is unopposed for the Democratic nomination. The possible Republican nominees are industrial engineer Bob Antonellis, Quincy City Council President Ian Cain or attorney John Deaton. Deaton is by far the best-funded candidate in the GOP field, thanks mostly to the $1 million he loaned to his campaign. He more than doubled Cain’s spending and had about $975,000 in the bank as of the end of June. In comparison, Cain had about $22,000 left in his war chest.

See more at wpri.com.

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WPRI) — A New Bedford man was arrested Tuesday after detectives witnessed a suspected drug deal at the corner of Acushnet Avenue and Deane Street.

Jacob Matthew-Almeida, 26, was taken into custody after being found with crack cocaine, a digital scale, a black fanny pack with a gun inside and $197 cash, police said.

Matthew-Almeida faces numerous charges, including possession of a large-capacity firearm and ammunition without a license, distribution of crack cocaine and conspiracy to violate the controlled substance laws.

See more at wpri.com.

SOMERSET — Zachary Deane would have approved of the venue. He loved the times he spent on the front soccer fields at Somerset Berkley Regional High School.

That is where friends, teammates, schoolmates, family members, teachers, administrators and more gathered at dusk on Wednesday for a candlelight vigil to honor the memory of Deane, the town resident and SBR senior who on Aug. 10 died of the rhabdomyosarcoma, a fast-attacking and lethal form of cancer.

As estimated 200-plus people took part in the vigil, adjacent to the scoreboard, which was lit up with Deane's soccer jersey number, 16. The event was also a fundraiser for both a scholarship and a memorial bench to be established in his honor.

“This just meant the world to me,” said Ashley Deane, Zachary's mother. “Just what I needed.”

Read more at heraldnews.com.

A Fall River man is accused of selling drugs and machine guns on the Telegram app. 

Benjamin Hunt allegedly used the U.S. Mail to ship drugs and other contraband around the U.S., and was paid in Bitcoin. 

He was arrested this week after allegedly selling drugs to undercover law enforcement officers on two occasions this year. 

Hunt is being held without bail, with a detention hearing scheduled for September fifth in Boston federal court.

State officials are confirming the second human case of eastern equine encephalitis. 

Officials say a woman in her 30s in Plymouth County has tested positive for the mosquito-borne illness. 

The state Department of Public Health reported earlier this month that a man in his 80s in Worcester County had contracted the disease, which was the state's first human case since 2020. 

Two horses have also tested positive for Triple-E in the state this summer.

Purchase agreements have been signed that would shift four of the eight Steward Health Care hospitals in Massachusetts to new owners. 

Lifespan Corporation has agreed to buy Saint Anne's Hospital in Fall River and Morton Hospital in Taunton from the Bankrupt Steward. 

Lawrence General Hospital has agreed to buy both campuses of Holy Family Hospital in Haverhill and Methuen. 

The deals must be approved by the bankruptcy court at a hearing on September fourth.

FALL RIVER — Jim Soule, the longtime president of the Preservation Society of Fall River and a champion of the city’s history, died Tuesday at home surrounded by family after battling cancer. He was 59.

Soule was born in Bridgewater and relocated to Fall River in the late 1980s when he married his wife, Connie. They restored a historic home they purchased at 577 Rock St., a project that led to his re-establishing the city’s defunct Preservation Society.

The nonprofit group, incorporated in the mid-2000s, became an advocate for saving historic Fall River properties destined for the wrecking ball like the Central Congregational Church. Soule urged passage of the Community Preservation Act, setting aside funds for historic preservation and housing development, and the creation of Fall River’s only protected historic district in the Highlands.

Read more from Dan Medeiros at heraldnews.com.

STOUGHTON, Mass. (WPRI) — A former Stoughton police officer is now accused of killing a woman he sexually exploited while on duty and staging her death as a suicide.

Matthew Farwell, 38, has been charged with killing a witness or victim in connection with the suspicious death of Sandra Birchmore back in February 2021.

The 23-year-old Canton woman was found dead in her apartment after her employer requested a wellbeing check, having not heard from her for several days.

It has since been revealed that Farwell allegedly strangled Birchmore to death with a duffle bag strap following a “nasty argument” in which he called off their relationship, according to prosecutors. Investigators also believe Farwell killed Birchmore to prevent her from revealing the truth about how long the two had been intimate.

Farwell then used his police knowledge to stage her apartment and make it look as though she had committed suicide, according to acting United States Attorney Joshua Levy.

Read more at wpri.com.

Labor Day travel in the U.S. is expected to increase by around nine-percent over last year and a transportation data company has some tips for folks driving to the Cape and Islands. 

INRIX is expecting a busy travel day, with heavy vehicle traffic from around 1:00 this afternoon until 7:00 p.m. and again from 2:00 until 6:00 Friday afternoon and evening. 

FALL RIVER — Students in city public schools are heading back to phone-free classrooms, but not everyone is hitting the Like button. 

Earlier this summer, Superintendent Tracy Curley announced that public schools would ban cellphones in class for grades 6 to 12, with most schools using Yondr locking pouches to enforce the ban — the same pouches Atlantis Charter School has already used the past year to enforce its policy.  

“We ask the Fall River school board to reconsider the policy, for the safety of our children and to foster responsible use of technology," reads a notice on a Change.org petition begun earlier this month. 

As of Tuesday evening, the petition to rethink the policy has just over 1,500 signatures.

Read more from Dan Medeiros at heraldnews.com.

The family of the police officer boyfriend Karen Read is accused of killing by hitting him with her vehicle and leaving him to die in the snow has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against her and two bars where they had been drinking that night.

The lawsuit blames the death of John O’Keefe on Read, and also on what it describes as the bars’ negligence by continuing to serve drinks to her despite signs she was drunk. It says the first bar served her seven alcoholic drinks in about 90 minutes the night of Jan. 28, 2022, and that Read carried the last drink into the second bar, where she was served a shot and a mixed alcoholic drink within an hour.

The lawsuit doesn’t say how much alcohol O’Keefe was served that night before he got into Read’s SUV.

See more at wpri.com.

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WPRI) — A new day means more students are heading back to school including some in New Bedford.

The district has almost 13,000 students this year. Those in grades 9 and 12 will return to the classroom on Wednesday, with the rest having their first day on Thursday.

Superintendent Andrew O’Leary said they are excited for the new school year, but one of the biggest issues they hope to combat is chronic absenteeism, which they saw increase during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our enrollment is very, very strong this year. Large record numbers in Pre-K, and our numbers here at New Bedford High and throughout the grades are very, very high so we have the students we have the staff and we’re ready,” O’Leary said.

See more at heraldnews.com.

FALL RIVER — The 2024 preseason for high school football is currently underway for Greater Fall River teams.

Atlantis Charter/Westport, Case, Diman, Durfee and Somerset Berkley get set for a new season this fall. The season begins on Sept. 5 when the Tritons host St. John Paul. The Hilltoppers and Raiders will have important Week 1 home matchups while the Bengals and Cardinals will go head-to-head on Sept. 6.

They will need plenty of help from their stars to get over the hump.

Here are 15 returning players on whom we have our eyes to make an impact when the offense has the ball this season:

Read more from Steven Sanchez at heraldnews.com.

The Stop & Shop supermarket chain is going to stop selling cigarettes and other tobacco products in all 360 of its stores at the end of this month. 

The company said it's part of its commitment to community wellness. 

Stop & Shop has 125 stores in Massachusetts.  The company also has locations in Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey and New York.

A New Bedford man accused of stabbing his nephew to death over the weekend has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge. 

Juan Padilla-Santana was ordered held without bail during a brief appearance in New Bedford District Court yesterday. 

Prosecutors say Padilla-Santana stabbed his nephew Omil Padilla-Corsino on Saturday in a New Bedford apartment. 

An attorney for Padilla-Santana says it was the nephew who started the fight, and the killing was in self defense.

State Police announced yesterday that a recent traffic stop on Route 24 in Bridgewater resulted in a significant drug bust. 

A car was pulled over shortly after midnight August 17th, for a revoked registration and no insurance. 

One of the three people in the vehicle was found to be in possession of 70 grams of crack and cocaine. 

Twenty-eight-year-old Daria Cananzey of New Bedford, was arrested and the car was towed from the scene.

The New England Patriots have reportedly cut quarterback Bailey Zappe according to ESPN and other sources.

Zappe started eight games during two seasons with a 4-4 record.   That leaves the Pats with three quarterbacks, veteran Jacoby Brissett, 3rd round pick Drake Maye and fellow rookie, 6th round pick Joe Milton. 

New England had to cut its roster down to 53 players by 4 p.m. today.

FALL RIVER — The city is in the midst of celebrating the Great Feast of the Holy Ghost of New England, a five-day festival of Azorean culture. 
 

Arguably the largest event honoring the Azorean heritage in the United States, the feast features a mix of religious rituals, Portuguese cuisine, live entertainment, crafts and two parades.
 

It will take place through Sunday, Aug. 25, at Kennedy Park in Fall River.

Historically, the celebration draws more than 100,000 visitors, from as far as Canada and Portugal.

See more details at heraldnews.com.

Bill Belichick could be eligible to be selected for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2026 instead of 2029 following significant changes made to the selection process.
 

The Hall of Fame announced the new rules that were approved by the Board of Directors on Friday. They go into effect immediately, including reducing the waiting period for coaches to be considered from five years out of the game to one year.

That would make six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach Belichick eligible to be selected for the 2026 class after he parted ways with the New England Patriots after last season.

Read more at WPRI.com.

Karen Read's attempt to have her murder charge dismissed in Massachusetts is being denied.  
 

Read is accused of killing her Boston police officer boyfriend, with her trial ending in a mistrial due to a hung jury in July.  
 

Read's lawyers had argued her second degree murder and leaving the scene charges should be dismissed because a number of jurors told them the jury had voted to acquit Read of two of her three charges.  
 

The judge said an acquittal must be public in an open court, meaning Read was never acquitted on two charges.  
 

Read's new trial is set to begin in January.

FALL RIVER — The Diman Regional Technical Institute School of Practical Nursing, a post-secondary program that prepares students for jobs as LPNs, was forced to suspend this fall’s full-time program for lack of qualified teachers. 

Diman Superintendent Brian Bentley said the school has refunded tuition to 52 students and is helping place them in other licensed practical nursing training courses. 

“It’s always unfair when you’ve promised something to someone ... and now it has to fold," Bentley said in an interview. “And the students didn’t do anything wrong.” 

The move does not affect any students at the high school level.

Read more from Dan Medeiros at heraldnews.com.

DARTMOUTH, Mass. (WPRI) — Dartmouth police are investigating a stabbing that happened Wednesday at a hotel on State Road.

Police said they were called to the Capri Motel around noon after witnesses reported a fight involving a knife.

Upon arrival, officers found a man suffering from a stab wound, which police said is not believed to be life-threatening. He was taken to an area hospital for treatment.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Correia at (508) 910-1700 or submit an anonymous text to 847411 with ‘Dartmouth PD’ in the message body.

See more at wpri.com.

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WPRI) — A woman accused of attacking a man in New Bedford a few hours before he died faced a judge on Wednesday.

Nina Busnengo, 31, of Mattapoisett, was arraigned on charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and unarmed robbery.

Busnengo was arrested Tuesday after 58-year-old Stephen R. Oswald was found bleeding from the head on a bench outside the Seabra Foods on Rockdale Avenue. Police said they arrived around 3:40 a.m. and he was pronounced dead about 15 minutes later.

See more at wpri.com.

FALL RIVER — Superintendent Tracy Curley is telling kids to keep their eyes off their phones and on their books this fall with a new cell phone policy.  

At an Aug. 12 School Committee meeting, the board approved new rules prohibiting cell phone use in schools for grades 6 to 12.  

“We understand that cellphones have great utility, but cellphone use has increasingly become a source of distraction, antisocial behavior and conflict at school,” wrote Curley in a memo sent to parents in the Fall River Public School system on Monday. 

Starting Sept. 23, all middle and high school students will have to either turn in their phones or lock them in special pouches for the day. 

Read more from Dan Medeiros at heraldnews.com.

FALL RIVER — Though he’s taken Diman on a journey, Andrew Rebello said he’s “ready for the next step.” 

The assistant superintendent-principal at Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School will be stepping away from the school where he's devoted over eight years of his education career. The news comes one week before the start of classses.  

Effective Sept. 3, he will be the assistant superintendent at Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School in Taunton, “a new opportunity I feel compelled to pursue.” 

"We have had a lot of success at Diman over the past four years, and that has come with many opportunities,” Rebello said in an interview Wednesday morning. “Many opportunities which I did not consider — many opportunities that I did turn down.”

Read more from Dan Medeiros at heraldnews.com.

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WPRI) — It’s been nearly 75 years since a train has carried passengers from New Bedford to Boston.

But that will soon change.

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) told 12 News the Church Street Station is ready to welcome passengers. The final step before opening is to simply to peel the protective plastic off of the station’s screens.

See more at wpri.com.

A 31-year-old Mattapoisett woman is facing charges in the death of a 58-year-old man in New Bedford early yesterday. 

Officers responding to a 911 call around 4 a.m. found Stephen Oswald in a supermarket parking lot dead from an apparent head injury. 

Last night police announced that Nina Busnengo was taken into custody on a charge of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

NEW BEDFORD — City Council President Naomi Carney is suing former employer Bristol County Sheriff Paul Heroux for race, age and gender discrimination in connection with losing her job.

The lawsuit, filed in Bristol County Superior Court on June 14, states she was discriminated against by Heroux and the Bristol County Sheriff's Office on the basis of age, race, gender, and national origin, and was retaliated against after raising the issue.

The lawsuit states she was unlawfully terminated from her job and that the Sheriff's Office was also discriminatory in refusing to rehire her for other positions for which she was qualified.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

FALL RIVER — An independent investigative firm has cleared two Fall River police officers of allegations that they lied on police reports related to the federal conviction of former patrol officer Nicholas Hoar. 

Fall River police officers Brendan McNerney and Zachary Vorce were the focus of an investigation conducted by Comprehensive Investigations and Consulting LLC on whether they allegedly lied on police reports and were untruthful regarding the injuries suffered by a man in police custody, caused by Hoar, in December 2020. 

The private investigators found that the allegations were not sustained “because of inadequate or insufficient evidence.” 

The Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission ordered the Fall River Police Department to conduct an internal investigation into the matter after Hoar was convicted in February.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Bankrupt Steward Health Care is suing the company that owns the land where their hospitals operate. 

Steward claims Medical Properties Trust is interfering with their efforts to sell their hospitals, including multiple facilities in Massachusetts.  Steward claims this interference is a violation of federal bankruptcy rules. 

The landlord claims it has been accommodating as Steward has sought to keep operating their hospitals during the bankruptcy process.

FALL RIVER, Mass. (WPRI) — A 62-year-old woman died after being hit by a vehicle in Fall River on Friday night, according to police.

Officers were called to President Avenue around 9:06 p.m. for reports of a vehicle hitting a person.

Police said a preliminary investigation determined the woman was trying to cross the street when she got hit by the vehicle.

The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office identified the victim as Donalda Ferreira and the driver as a 42-year-old Fall River woman.

See more at wpri.com.

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WPRI) — A homicide investigation is underway after a 26-year-old man was shot and killed in New Bedford on Saturday.

Officers were called to Acushnet Avenue around 12:47 a.m. after reports of men fighting and a gunshot in the area.

When crews got there, they saw Nicholas Miller of Bridgewater suffering from a gunshot wound, according to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.

Miller was taken to Saint Luke’s Hospital and was pronounced dead around 2:42 a.m.

New Bedford police and Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the DA’s office are investigating.

From wpri.com.

A 34-year-old Fall River man is dead after a motorcycle crash in Somerset. 

Police say Eric Mareiro was riding a motorcycle that was involved in a crash with two other vehicles on Route Six on Saturday. 

Mareiro was rushed to the hospital, but was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.  The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

SOMERSET — Spirits are low in Somerset.

It appears the annual Spirit of Somerset Family Fun Day has been called off with just over three weeks until it was set to take place at Village Waterfront Park, 274 Main St.

The popular festival, which has been going on for more than two decades, was initially slated for Saturday, Sept. 7.

But according to an announcement on Spirit of Somerset's Facebook page and its official website earlier this week, the event has been canceled "due to lack of support from the town."

Read what happened at heraldnews.com.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Rhode Island’s biggest hospital group is set to take over two Massachusetts facilities owned by bankrupt Steward Health Care, in a major change for the health care industry in both states.

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey announced Friday that Lifespan has reached an agreement to purchase Morton Hospital in Taunton and St. Anne’s Hospital in Fall River. It’s part of a set of “deals in principle” that also includes transition plans for three other Steward hospitals elsewhere in the state, she said.

See more at wpri.com.

The state of Rhode Island is suing 13 companies over the failed Washington Bridge. 

The westbound side of the bridge on I-195 just a few miles from the state line was abruptly closed last December due to deteriorating structural issues. 

The suit alleges the companies failed to identify and address the problems on the bridge which will be demolished and rebuilt.

The westbound side of the bridge over the Seekonk River carries 90-thousand vehicles daily, many from Massachusetts.

Governor Maura Healey's Office says deals in principle have been reached to save four Steward Health Care hospitals in Massachusetts. 

If the deals are finalized, Saint Anne's Hospital in Fall River, Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton, Holy Family Hospital in Methuen, Saint Elizabeth's in Boston Brighton neighborhood and Morton Hospital in Taunton will transition to new operators. 

However, Carney Hospital in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood and Nashoba Valley Center in Ayer will still close at the end of this month.  Steward Health Care filed for bankruptcy in May.   

FALL RIVER — When comes to Fall River’s city motto, I guess you had to be there to really get it. 

Seemingly every day, people discover for the first time Fall River's official city seal: a waterfront view of sailboats and steamships before a skyline of churches and mill smokestacks. Hovering over it: the slogan “We’ll Try.” 

Not “We’ll Do,” but “try,” which feels like our whole deal is a mild shrug. 

Many have noted that “We’ll Try” is especially cringeworthy on Fall River police cruisers and patches. If you need help in a crisis, the last thing you want to hear is “I guess I’ll give it a whirl.”

Read more from Dan Medeiros at heraldnews.com.

FALL RIVER — Things are looking brighter in the Flint.

With a little help from some talented teen artists, the struggling neighborhood is getting some much-welcome attention.

The YEAH! Corps team has taken to the streets this summer to add a splash of color to Pleasant Street, joining in the city's effort to make what was once considered Fall River's second downtown — which has been plagued by blight over the years — vibrant again.

Over the past few weeks, the teens have been busy beautifying the area with an outdoor mural and painted crosswalks with the goal of "making their community better through art," said YEAH! Corps founder Susan Wolfson.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WPRI) — A mosquito sample collected near the New Bedford Business Park on Aug. 7 has tested positive for West Nile virus (WNV), according to the city.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health notified regional health officials of the discovery.

While the sample was found in a type of mosquito that primarily bites birds, it is possible that mosquitos are carrying the virus elsewhere in the city. Samples of mosquitos collected in the Hicks Logan neighborhood have tested positive for WNV twice so far this summer.

See more at wpri.com.

Karen Read supporters are demanding Norfolk County DA Michael Morrissey step down.  His office is prosecuting Read who is accused of killing her boyfriend, Boston Police officer John O'Keefe. 

The lead investigator on the case, who was employed by Morrissey's office, was suspended on account of misconduct while investigating officer O'Keefe's death and Read's involvement. 

A mistrial was declared on account of a hung jury, but Morrissey's office vows to retry the case.

FALL RIVER — In a world that can feel overwhelming, Sam Freitas has built a sanctuary. 

Inside People Incorporated offices in the Clover Leaf Mill on Father DeValles Boulevard, he created the Infinity Library.  

Like other libraries, it’s a calm space filled with books and warm lighting freely open to the public, but the Infinity Library was specially created by and for people who are neurodivergent. 

"It’s not just some library ... but a safe space for them," Freitas said. “We want to be able to really stick up for the people that we serve and know that they can make progress in a society that has traditionally been stacked against them.”

Read more at heraldnews.com.

BOSTON (WPRI) — Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey is expected to sign a bill into law on Thursday that would protect firefighters from toxic chemicals.

Firefighters can be exposed to hundreds of different chemicals in the form of gases, vapors, and particles. They can breathe them in, get them on their skin or in their eyes, or even ingest them, which can increase the risk of cancer.

Even though they wear gear to protect themselves from getting burned, it could be hurting them in the long haul since they contain forever chemicals known as PFAS.

Read more at wpri.com.

NEWPORT, R.I. (WPRI) — Vice Presidential candidate and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will be in Newport on Thursday for a fundraising event.

The event will take place at Salve Regina University and is expected to feature several state and local democratic leaders including Gov. Dan McKee and Rhode Island’s congressional delegation.

Walz’s stop in the Ocean State is part of his cross-country tour to raise money for his campaign with Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris.

The Newport event’s organizers surpassed their goal of raising at least $500,000 for the campaign as of late Wednesday, according to a person familiar with the effort.

The starting donation to attend the event is $1,000 and anyone who gives at least $10,000 will get a photo with Walz.
 

See more at wpri.com.

The sky over Massachusetts is hazy today due to wildfires in western states and in Canada.

The fires create large plumes that drift to the high levels of the atmosphere and pushed in the direction of upper level winds.

For the next few days noticeable haze will be over the area for the first time this summer. 

Even as investigations continue into what caused the blade on Vineyard Wind turbine AW-38 to collapse last month, sending splintered fiberglass, rigid foam and balsa wood into the ocean, limited construction is resuming on the 806-megawatt offshore project.

On Tuesday, Foss Maritime's Prevailing Wind barge — one of only two vessels in the world capable of transporting Vineyard Wind's massive turbine components in an upright position — left the New Bedford Marine Commerce terminal loaded with tower sections and a nacelle and headed for the project area south of Martha's Vineyard.

Also on board was a rack of three blades, though according to the wind developer this was "solely for the purpose of ensuring safe and balanced composition for the transport," not for installation. The company said the blades will be returned to the commerce terminal later this week.

Read more  at heraldnews.com.

Steward Health Care has agreed to sell its physician network to private-equity backed Rural Healthcare Group for $245 million in cash.

Steward runs eight Bay State hospitals and is in the process of selling or closing them. The for-profit company declared bankruptcy in May. Steward's physician group, known as Stewardship, serves more than 800,000 patients nationwide via roughly 3,250 affiliates, according to a Monday court filing. The group directly employs more than 290 doctors.

The sale's impact on patients isn't immediately clear. The Nashville-based RHG said Monday it plans "significant investments in Stewardship’s infrastructure, which will allow providers to continue seeing patients in existing clinics across the Stewardship network."

Read more at heraldnews.com.

FALL RIVER, Mass. (WPRI) – When Fall River police shot and killed Anthony Harden in November 2021, the two officers involved said it was necessary because Harden attacked one of them with a knife.

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn agreed and ruled the deadly force was “justified.” He indicated one of the officers, Michael Sullivan, feared for his life and the other, Chelsea Campellone, had no option but to kill Harden.

“There is no basis to conclude that either Fall River police officer committed a crime,” Quinn wrote in his April 2022 deadly use of force report.

In most of these types of cases involving police in Massachusetts, Quinn’s ruling would have ended the matter. But that didn’t happen with Harden, whose brother Eric Mack has spent more than two years challenging Quinn and his conclusions.

Read more at wpri.com.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — New data 12 News has obtained from Rhode Island State Police is revealing what rules drivers are breaking the most near the Washington Bridge.

Since April, state police have issued more than 600 citations in the area. Of those citations, 192 went to people texting and using handheld devices while driving.

Daisy Chimborazo commutes over the bridge regularly. she says that statistic isn’t surprising. “I’ve seen people text. You can look over and people are on their phones.”

See more at wpri.com.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health and Boston Public Health Commission are not planning on taking over Carney Hospital. 

That is what state officials told dozens of Carney employees of the Dorchester hospital at a community meeting yesterday.  It was the group's "last ditch effort" to save the hospital that is due to close at the end of the month. 

Days ago, Boston City Council voted to request the Public Health Commission declare a state of emergency to help delay the closure, but it doesn't appear to have worked.

FALL RIVER — Thanks to a $396,000 planning grant from the Seaport Economic Council, a fenced off 1.6-acre parcel on the Taunton River adjacent to the City Pier could be developed as a public space, including a spot for fishing. 

The Fall River Redevelopment Authority, which oversees the Thomas Norton City Pier, received the award recently and hired the BETA Group of Lincoln, Rhode Island, to plan the development of the land.

The land is just north of the City Pier near the Point Gloria condominium complex. The RDA is calling the area Northfield Point, according to executive director Sarah Page.

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

SEEKONK, Mass. (WPRI) — Market Basket has been the talk of the town in Seekonk after the chain’s owner, Demoulas Super Markets Inc., bought the Showcase Cinemas off Route 6.

To add to the confusion, work is also underway at the long-abandoned Showcase Cinemas on Fall River Avenue. Though Demoulas doesn’t own that property, the renovations are causing many to wonder not just whether the grocery store will be coming to town, but also where and when.

Unfortunately for Market Basket fans, they’ll have to hold onto that hope for now.

Showcase Cinemas confirmed it will continue to operate the active theater for the time being under a leaseback agreement. However, the length of that agreement is unclear at this time.

“I actually really enjoy it there, so I’d be disappointed if they closed down altogether versus maybe possibly they can relocate or something,” East Providence resident Mark Bowen said Monday.

Those wishing for a Market Basket say another grocery store would add to the convenience of the area.

See more at wpri.com.

NANTUCKET, Mass. (WPRI) — It’s been almost a month since Vineyard Wind was ordered to halt operations after a “blade failure incident,” and clean-up efforts are still underway.

Debris from the damaged turbine first washed ashore on Nantucket, then later showed up at other beaches in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island too.

Brooke Mohr, the chair of the Nantucket Select Board, said at first, people were scared about the possible impacts the debris could have on the environment.

See more at wpri.com.

DARTMOUTH, Mass. (WPRI) — The Bristol County House of Correction has dramatically increased its staffing, adding more than 90 new officers in the last year, Sheriff Paul Heroux highlighted on Monday.

Heroux noted that during his 2022 campaign for sheriff, he found from the family and friends of Bristol County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) employees that morale among them was low, with forced overtime being a key factor.

During that time, the department was having trouble with staffing due to “attrition outpacing recruitment,” according to Heroux.

However, he said that trend has changed.

See more at wpri.com.

FALL RIVER — The Fall River School Department may soon be getting a “new to you” school, after it paid off its more than $7.5 million lease on the former Atlantis Charter School at 2501 S. Main St.  

“That will be coming up shortly,” said Mayor Paul Coogan, who is also the chairman of the School Committee. 

In its meeting this week, the Fall River Redevelopment Authority was informed that, at the end of July, the School Department cut a check for the balance of the lease. 

In May 2023, the RDA purchased the 77,000-square-foot property, a former school and nunnery, for $7.5 million with the express purpose of leasing it to the School Department.

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

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — The date for Democratic vice presidential candidate Tim Walz’s visit to Rhode Island for a campaign fundraiser is set.

R.I. Democratic Party Chair Liza Beretta-Perik told 12 News that Walz will be coming to the state on Thursday.

The fundraiser is taking place during the mid to late afternoon, Beretta-Perik said, with additional details to be decided.

More details at wpri.com.

BOSTON (WPRI) — Federal immigration authorities say they are on pace to file a record number of deportation cases this year in Massachusetts.

Data shows an estimated 59,000 cases by the end of the fiscal year, which is on Sept. 30. It would be the largest number of new filings in Massachusetts since 2001

According to the data, there’s been a 300% increase in cases seen at U.S. immigration courts over the last five years.

Sarah Sherman-Stokes, with the Immigrants’ Rights & Human Trafficking Program at BU School of Law said she is not surprised cases are going up.

See more at wpri.com.

A Plymouth man is facing charges in connection with a deadly crash at the base of the Sagamore Bridge.

The Friday night accident on the mainland side of the bridge claimed the life of a 79-year-old woman and sent an 83-year-old man to the hospital with serious injuries. 

According to the preliminary investigation, Massachusetts State Police say 19-year-old Paul Myers was illegally trying to pass a vehicle when it collided with the car carrying the victims.  Myers has been charged with operating under the influence of drugs.

The identity of the woman who drowned in a Taunton pond Saturday afternoon is now public. 

Police identified 23-year-old Elfreda Nenen Yovonie as the victim. 

The drowning was first reported around 4:30 Saturday afternoon and her body was located after 7 p.m.  Yovonie was pronounced dead at the scene.

State gas prices fell for the second consecutive week and reached an average of $3.43 per gallon of regular fuel on Monday, down from last week's price of $3.45 per gallon, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The average fuel price in state has fallen about 7 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 9% higher at $3.76 per gallon.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Initial filings for unemployment benefits in Massachusetts dropped last week compared with the week prior, the U.S. Department of Labor said Thursday.

New jobless claims, a proxy for layoffs, fell to 6,272 in the week ending August 3, down from 6,729 the week before, the Labor Department said.

U.S. unemployment claims dropped to 233,000 last week, down 17,000 claims from 250,000 the week prior on a seasonally adjusted basis.

Utah saw the largest percentage increase in weekly claims, with claims jumping by 44.0%. Virgin Islands, meanwhile, saw the largest percentage drop in new claims, with claims dropping by 90.4%.

From heraldnews.com.

FALL RIVER — Fall River police captain and former internal affairs head Gil Costa filed a lawsuit against the city and Police Chief Paul Gauvin under the state whistleblower's law for allegedly retaliating against him for internal affairs investigations he’d conducted for the department, claiming he was passed over for promotion multiple times since 2022 as a result.

Costa had demanded the city settle the matter for $150,000 or he would initiate the lawsuit.

“They have stalled Captain Costa’s career, damaged him financially, delayed his retirement, and forced him to work in unfavorable conditions,” wrote his attorney, Joseph Daigle in a July 9 demand letter submitted before the lawsuit filing. “He has been treated unfairly for merely doing his job and for reporting illegal activities.”

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

FAIRHAVEN, Mass. (WPRI) — Prosecutors have determined that the force used by police in a deadly shooting last year in Fairhaven was justified, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn III announced Thursday.

On the afternoon of Friday, Dec. 29, 2023, Fairhaven police were called to Bayside Lounge on Sconticut Neck Road for reports of an intoxicated person trying to drive.

Upon arrival, an officer found 55-year-old Paul Coderre Jr. with a group of people in the parking lot. Coderre was reportedly armed and had already fired a shot. When approached by the officer, police said Coderre reached for his gun and refused to surrender it.

Additional officers from Acushnet and Mattapoisett responded to help deescalate the situation.

According to the report, Coderre repeatedly threatened to use the gun on himself or the officers if they tried to intervene. Police tried to find a peaceful conclusion by talking with him, but were unsuccessful. Instead, officers resorted to “less-lethal” weapons, including a Taser, a BolaWrap, and beanbag rounds, which also failed.

See more at wpri.com.

Vineyard Wind says debris from its damaged wind turbine should only be collected and removed by authorized employees and contractors. 

Foam and fiberglass pieces of the failed blade have been washing ashore on Nantucket Sound coastlines and anyone finding the pieces should call Vineyard Wind's Debris Reporting Hotline at 833-609-5768.

Officials say the debris should not be mixed with home garbage or taken to the Bourne landfill.

Governor Maura Healey believes federal investigators should be looking into Steward Health Care CEO Ralph de la Torre. 

The leader of the bankrupt company has been in France attending Olympic equestrian events in Versailles as two Steward hospitals in Massachusetts prepare to close. 

Healey says she's disgusted by de la Torre, saying he stole millions of dollars from the company while buying yachts and mansions. 

The governor says she's hopeful the feds will open an investigation soon.

FALL RIVER — With Matthew Desmarais taking a new position in administration, B.M.C. Durfee High School will have a new principal in Jessica Stephens. 

Superintendent Tracy Curley introduced Stephens as the school’s new leader in a letter on Wednesday. 

“Dr. Stephens brings a wealth of experience, dedication and passion that will propel her in this new role,” Curley stated. “I am confident her student-centric approach will ensure that Durfee students are well-prepared for college, the workforce, or whatever challenge they pursue.” 

Stephens has a doctorate in education from American International College, and has degrees in psychology and social work, including a master’s from Boston College. She joined Durfee’s faculty in 2015 as a vice principal, and has worked at schools in New Bedford, Brockton and Foxboro.

Read more from Dan Medeiros at heraldnews.com.

FALL RIVER — It’s been a vision a decade in the making, although local leaders and educators have known the importance of early childhood education for 20 years. 

On Wednesday, there was a groundbreaking ceremony for the $13.5 million state-of-the-art People Incorporated Early Education Center on Weaver Street that, when completed in 2025, will serve up to 213 infants, toddlers and preschoolers.  

“It will provide more jobs for educators and will foster strategic partnerships in the community, thereby helping to transform a landscape of early education in our city,” said Megan Stirk, president and CEO of People Inc. 

A collaboration with the city to provide early education, Stirk said it will “lead to long-term academic success."

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

FALL RIVER, Mass. (WPRI) — Fall River is hosting an event next Tuesday with its newly purchased trolley.

They’re calling it “trolleyoke” and guests 18 and older can take a scenic ride around the city with on-board karaoke.

The night begins at the gates of the city on Ponta Delgada Boulevard with the trolley leaving at 5:30 p.m.

See more at wpri.com.

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — In November 2022, ground was broken on a former industrial site in East Providence. The plan was to build a new concert venue on the city’s waterfront, with the goal of holding events there by 2024.

But here we are in August 2024, and still the parcel of land sits undeveloped.

However, Mayor Bob DaSilva tells 12 News the project is “moving along.”

DaSilva and other city officials held a meeting last week with the developers and owners of the property which they hope will house a new Live Nation amphitheater by June 2026.

Once complete, the venue will hold up to 5,000 concertgoers and host 40 to 50 shows a year, according to DaSilva.

See more at wpri.com.

Big crowds are expected in Dedham tomorrow as a hearing is held on a motion to dismiss charges against Karen Read. 

A mistrial was declared in Read's murder, manslaughter and leaving the scene of a deadly crash trial in connection with the death of her Boston cop boyfriend John O'Keefe in Canton. 

The defense says they have learned that jurors were unanimous not guilty on the murder and leaving the scene charges, and were only hung on manslaughter. 

Read supporters and those who think she's guilty are both actively recruiting people to protest at the courthouse tomorrow.

Steward Health Care CEO Ralph de la Torre has been in Versailles since late July, attending equestrian events for the 2024 Olympics. 

The trip to France by de la Torre has taken place while Steward is negotiating bankruptcy proceedings with plans to close two Massachusetts hospitals. 

The state is delivering 30-million-dollars to Steward in order to keep the rest of its hospitals in the state operating until they can be sold.  

FALL RIVER — Sen. Elizabeth Warren told a crowd of educators that, in her day, she was able to get a college education for $50 a semester.

“You could pay for college on a part-time job and not have to take on debt,” Warren said.  

The American Federation of Teachers and the Student Borrower Protection Center hosted a debt relief clinic on Tuesday at Kuss Middle School, where Warren promoted relief from burdensome college loans by using programs promoted by the Biden-Harris administration.  

“The shift from my life to yours has been, to get the education that you need to do the work that needs to be done, people are taking on mountains of debt,” Warren said. “And ultimately those mountains fall over on them and they’re getting crushed.”

Read more from Dan Medeiros at heraldnews.com.

BROCKTON, Mass. (WPRI) — A hospital in Brockton will reopen next week, more than a year and a half after a devastating electrical fire.

Signature Healthcare Brockton Hospital will reopen on Tuesday, Aug. 13, with a new outpatient surgical facility, an updated emergency department, a new lobby, and a new solar power system.

The 10-alarm fire in February 2023 began in a transformer room and spread to other parts of the building. It forced officials to shut off power and emergency generators.

See more at wpri.com.

FAIRHAVEN, Mass. (WPRI) — Fairhaven police have arrested the driver accused of hitting and killing a Brockton man over the weekend.

Ryan Almeida, 35, was arraigned Tuesday on charges of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

The incident happened Saturday night on Main Street, near Riverside Cemetery and the I-195 overpass. Police said Almeida’s pickup truck collided with a moped that was going in the same direction before Almeida allegedly drove off.

The moped rider, 29-year-old Alexis Alvarez, was rushed to St. Luke’s Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

In court Tuesday, Assistant District Attorney Russ Eonas said the crash may have been the result of road rage.

See more at wpri.com.

Debris from the Vineyard Wind turbine blade failure is turning up in some Cape locations.

In Falmouth, town officials say suspected blade debris has been found in the water and shores of Black Beach, Chapoquoit Beach, Woodneck Beach and Old Silver Beach.

The Town says it plans to hold Vineyard Wind responsible for the cleanup cost.

In Chatham, foam and fiberglass debris from the turbine blade has been washing ashore on area beaches.

Representatives from Vineyard Wind are searching Chatham beaches for any additional debris.

Massachusetts and the other New England states have scored a 389-million-dollar energy grant. 

The Power Up New England proposal calls for investments in regional energy infrastructure to prepare the grid for offshore wind power off Massachusetts and Connecticut. 

The plan also includes a multi-day energy storage system in northern Maine that will help maintain grid resilience. 

Governor Maura Healey says these game changing federal funds will mean more jobs, lower energy costs and cleaner air in the commonwealth.

FALL RIVER — With three weeks left before the start of school in Fall River, the public school district is building its administrative team. 

Superintendent Tracy Curley on Thursday promoted Brian Raposo, principal of Talbot Middle School, to assistant superintendent and chief academic officer — her old job. On Monday, she named B.M.C. Durfee High School Principal Matthew Desmarais as the new director of social studies. 

“Having worked within our district for the past 15 years, I have seen firsthand how the dedication, hard work, and passion of our staff, families and community members can enhance the student experience," Curley wrote in a letter introducing herself to parents in the school district on Monday. “I am hopeful that, together, we will achieve great things.” 

Who are the school district’s new leaders? 

Read more from Dan Medeiros at heraldnews.com.

DARTMOUTH — The Bristol County Sheriff’s Office is installing air conditioning in all the House of Correction's remaining housing units at the Dartmouth campus that lack AC.

Sheriff Paul Heroux said his office will not install air conditioning in New Bedford's Ash Street Jail because they expect to be closing it in the near future, according to a press release.

Making sure all all housing units in the county jail have AC has been Heroux's aim since last summer, and the project is now coming to fruition, he said.

Heroux said air conditioning in housing units is necessary for several reasons:

• Courts have held that excessive heat can be a violation of inmates’ Eighth Amendment rights against "cruel and unusual punishment." Part of the test is whether the temperature presents a substantial risk of serious harm to an inmate’s health.
• Inmates with health conditions and older inmates don’t fare as well in extreme temperatures.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

NEWPORT, R.I. (WPRI) — A 52-year-old man has died after he was struck by a car Monday night in Newport, according to police.

Police say the victim was crossing Broadway in a crosswalk near Bedlow Avenue when he was hit around 10:30 p.m.

The victim was rushed to the hospital where he died from his injuries.

Police say the 56-year-old driver is not facing criminal charges, but he was cited for right of way in a crosswalk and operating without evidence of insurance.

Learn more at wpri.com.

The town is looking to work with Rhode Island Commerce on business ideas for the North Tiverton Industrial Park, as well as other ideas for development from the Route 24 intersection to the state line, according to Town Administrator Chris Cotta. 

Meanwhile, one business owner within the industrial park – Jim Long – is in negotiations with the town toward developing approximately 35 to 40 acres for an indoor ice skating rink, as well as a high-end parking/car garage, according to Long’s attorney Dan Reilly. 

The revitalization subcommittee met last week but no decisions were made. Cotta said the town is in the process of filing an application with Rhode Island Commerce for development ideas.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WPRI) — The Bristol County District Attorney’s office said they are investigating a deadly shooting that happened early Sunday morning in New Bedford.

The incident took place on Earle Street, according to the DA’s office.

No additional information is being released at this time.

From wpri.com.

The Archdiocese of Boston has reportedly found its successor to Cardinal Sean O'Malley. 

The Boston Globe is reporting that Providence Bishop Richard Henning will replace O'Malley as the head of the Catholic Church in greater Boston. 

The 80-year-old O'Malley became Boston's archbishop in 2003 and was elevated to cardinal by Pope Benedict three years later. 

Henning has only been bishop in Providence for around a year, and previously led the diocese covering most of Long Island, New York.

A Brockton man has died after he was struck by a hit and run vehicle while driving a moped in Fairhaven. 

The crash happened Saturday night on Main Street near the Interstate 195 overpass.  Police say 29-year-old Alexis Alvarez died after being hit from behind by a pickup truck that did not stop. 

No arrests have been made, and police are investigating.

The closely-watched Karen Read case will be back in court in Massachusetts this week after a jury came back deadlocked. 

The Norfolk Superior Court judge in the case is holding a hearing on motions to dismiss two of the three charges against Read. 

The defense says the jury in her first trial in connection with the death of her Boston cop boyfriend John O'Keefe had decided to acquit on second-degree murder and another charge. 

Prosecutors say Read killed O'Keefe with her SUV and left him to die in a snowstorm in 2022, while the defense claims she's being framed by corrupt cops. 

The hearing is scheduled for Friday, and her second trial is tentatively set to begin next January.

It's every shopper's favorite weekend of the year - tax free weekend is almost here in Massachusetts.

This year, the sales tax holiday will take place on Saturday, Aug. 10 and Sunday, Aug. 11. For these two days, retail items under $2,500 purchased for personal use will be exempt from the Massachusetts state sales tax. The sales tax in Massachusetts is 6.25%.

Shop! All MA businesses open Aug. 10 and 11 that make taxable sales are required to take part in the sales tax holiday. If any retailer does charge sales tax, the individual business is responsible to give a refund.

Learn more at heraldnews.com.

Aerosmith says Steven Tyler’s voice has been permanently damaged by a vocal cord injury last year and the band will no longer tour.

The iconic band behind hits like “Love in an Elevator” and “Livin’ on the Edge” posted a statement Friday announcing the cancellation of remaining dates on its tour and provided an update on Tyler’s voice.

“He has spent months tirelessly working on getting his voice to where it was before his injury. We’ve seen him struggling despite having the best medical team by his side. Sadly, it is clear, that a full recovery from his vocal injury is not possible,” the statement said. “We have made a heartbreaking and difficult, but necessary, decision — as a band of brothers — to retire from the touring stage.”

See more at wpri.com.

NORTH ATTLEBORO, Mass. (WPRI) — An investigation is underway after a dump truck tipped over on the highway Friday evening.

Massachusetts State Police confirmed that the dump truck overturned on I-95 North near the Kelley Boulevard overpass.

The driver of the dump truck was injured, according to police. The severity of the driver’s injuries is unknown.

See more at wpri.com.

The Sumner Tunnel will reopen to traffic Monday at 5 a.m.  It's been closed since July 5th, for ongoing restoration. 

During the closure work was done on the road surface, walls and drainage system. MassDOT said the improvements will increase safety and climate resiliency. 

First opened in 1934, the tunnel under Boston Harbor, links East Boston to the downtown area.  

State gas prices fell for the second consecutive week and reached an average of $3.45 per gallon of regular fuel on Monday, down from last week's price of $3.47 per gallon, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The average fuel price in state has fallen about 1 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% higher at $3.64 per gallon.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

FALL RIVER — A city man was recently sentenced to the Bristol County House of Correction for performing uncertified commercial hood-cleaning services at several Fall River area restaurants.

Antonio Borges, 62, former owner of Borges Cleaning Pro in Fall River, was convicted in connection with a series of criminal complaints in the Fall River and New Bedford District Courts, according to the Bristol County District Attorney's office.

They allege that between April 2022 and October 2023, Borges engaged in a scheme to perform uncertified commercial hood-cleaning services at various Bristol County restaurants by forging the inspection stickers of legitimate, certified companies to continue to operate, despite the fact that his certificate to operate had been suspended and then later revoked by the State Fire Marshal, states a press release from the DA.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

An investigation is underway after an off-duty police officer hit a bicyclist in Fairhaven on Monday.

The crash happened around 3:15 p.m. at the intersection of Route 6 and Narragansett Boulevard. Police said the officer was driving on Route 6 when he collided with a 35-year-old man who rode his bicycle in front of the pickup truck.

The officer remained at the scene after the crash, according to police.

Massachusetts State Police was called in to investigate, as per policy.

The bicyclist was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital for treatment. The officer was not injured.

From wpri.com.

Police have a plan to ease traffic congestion during this weekend's Newport Jazz Festival at Fort Adams State Park. 

Up to ten thousand people are expected to attend the festival between tomorrow and Sunday. 

The traffic plan includes streamlined exiting from the festival area, traffic flow enhancements and access to downtown businesses. 

More details are available on the Newport Police Department's Facebook page.  

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (WPRI) — Thursday marks the start of the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament in New Bedford.

The 108th feast features a variety of food, wine and entertainment including live music, a parade, a 5K road race and a carnival.

The celebration will kick off with the assembly of the festeiros at the intersection of Earle Street and Acushnet Avenue at 5 p.m. They’ll march in a special procession to Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church for a special Benediction to the Blessed Sacrament.

see more at wpri.com.

It was another day of celebration for the Joseph Case softball team.

The Division 4 back-to-back state champion Cardinals were honored prior to Tuesday night's Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners game in the Night of Champion ceremony. It was the second straight trip to historic Fenway Park for Case.

The Cardinals (23-1) won their sixth state title in program's history. It is the first time in school history that Case has gone back-to-back since doing it in 1995-96. The Cardinals moved into sole possession of fourth place with Massachusetts titles and first time back-to-back since the 1995-96 season.

Case ended its season with a 17-game win streak, including a 1-0 final against Tyngsboro in the Division 4 state final game at UMass-Amherst.

The Boston Red Sox hosted Massachusetts baseball and softball finest annually from the spring.

From Steven Sanchez at heraldnews.com.

The state will be allowing homeless and migrant families to extend stays in overflow shelters for up to 30 days. 

The new state policy only allows five day stays at the overflow shelters.  However, families will be allowed to apply for the extensions of up to 30 days if their housing plans are uncertain, or if they are finalizing plans to travel elsewhere. 

Families will have the option to be flown out of Massachusetts, or to apply for assistance to help cover the cost of rent.