Black Friday officially kicks off the holiday shopping season each year, with customers flocking to stores the day after Thanksgiving to score all the best deals.

Check out the list below to see what will be on sale in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts — and how early those stores will open their doors — on Friday, Nov. 29.

Click on wpri.com for the list.

Multiple companies have shown an interest in rebuilding the defunct westbound Washington Bridge, after a first round of bidding ended in July with no interest from contractors.

Halmar International LLC and Walsh Construction Company II, LLC submitted documents along with joint submissions from American Bridge and MLJ and Skanska and Aetna.

“I think it’s wonderful for the state of Rhode Island that these large multinational companies have the confidence in Rhode Island to come here and want to compete for our work,” RIDOT Director Peter Alviti said at an unrelated event in Richmond on Tuesday.

See more at wpri.com.

Get ready to enjoy the sounds of the season, as local singers and talent from "The Voice" prepare to provide a unique medley of holiday cheer.

The City of Fall River will present its sixth annual Christmas in Fall River Holiday Concert on Friday, Dec. 20, at 7:30 p.m., at the B.M.C. Durfee High School Nagle Auditorium, 460 Elsbree St.

Featuring the B.M.C. Durfee High School Chorus, the Christmas in Fall River Holiday Concert will also include "The Voice" season 25 semi-finalist Madison Curbelo and the "The Voice" season 1 winner Javier Colon.

This concert is sponsored by Bristol County Savings Bank.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Thanksgiving Day is going to be stormy in the Northeast.

Most of Massachusetts will get rain although there will be mixed precipitation in central and western parts pf the state.

It will be all rain in Connecticut and Rhode Island.

However, holiday travelers should be aware that in much of northern New England it will be mostly snow in New Hampshire and Maine except near the coast, and all snow in Vermont.   

In February this year, Fall River counted 140 people living on the streets — and it may not be possible to find beds for all of them before the winter arrives.

And one homeless advocate said even if shelter is available, the barriers to entry may be too high for people to stay there.

At an Oct. 22 meeting of the City Council, Community Development Agency Director Michael Dion said, “Homelessness in Massachusetts and in Fall River is an issue that needs constant attention.”

According to data supplied at the meeting, Massachusetts ranks seventh out of 10 states with the largest homeless population in the United States. Massachusetts has 15,507 total homeless people, with 223 per 1,000 residents, Dion said.

“We worked very hard to establish a relationship with them, and we do know where they are located,” Dion said, adding that now more than ever, the city combats homelessness with very scarce resources.

The First Step Inn at 134 Durfee St. is at capacity year-round, though it recently increased its number of beds from 20 to 30. Dion said there is talk of bumping up the shelter to 50 beds year-round.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Contract negotiations continue between healthcare workers at Women & Infants Hospital and their employer Care New England.

On Monday, caregivers will vote on whether or not to go on strike.

This comes after they held an informational picket two weeks ago, where a couple of hundred frontline staff members spoke out against chronic staffing shortages, working conditions, and a “failure by management to bargain in good faith.”

See more at wpri.com.

The family of Anthony Harden, the man shot and killed by Fall River police in 2021, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city and several members of its police department.

Eric Mack, Harden’s brother who oversees his estate, along with his other brother – Antone Harden – filed the civil rights lawsuit earlier this month in Massachusetts federal court. The family accused police of unlawfully killing Harden and then covering it up by making it look like he had attacked police with a knife.

The men also accused the city of illegally detaining Antone at gunpoint the same night Harden was killed in violation of his civil rights. Antone lived in the same building and police took him in handcuffs to headquarters after the shooting where they were “pressuring him to give them information that police could try to use to support the false narrative” about Harden, according to the lawsuit.  

See more at wpri.com.

Karen Read will be back in Dedham Superior Court today for hearings on motions for her upcoming retrial. 

Read's first trial over the 2022 death of her Boston cop boyfriend in Canton ended in a mistrial in July. 

One hearing is for a motion by prosecutors seeking cell phone records for Read's parents, which was criticized in a motion submitted yesterday. 

The defense response is that prosecutors are making a blatant attempt to fish for salacious information about Read, who claims she is being framed by corrupt law enforcement officers.

Hundreds gathered Saturday evening in Attleboro for first day of the annual Christmas Festival of Lights at La Salette Shrine.

The annual display opened up earlier than usual this year, with it typically beginning on Thanksgiving night.

Organizers told 12 News there are over 100 new light displays, making it their biggest to date.

See more at wpri.com.

Taunton police say they are investigating after a man was shot early Monday morning.

A 38-year-old man showed up at Morton Hospital around 2:30 a.m. with serious, but non-life-threatening, gunshot wounds.

Police say the shooting is believed to have happened in the area of 31 Winthrop Street (Route 44).

No word on any suspects or what led up to the shooting at this time.

Anyone with information is urged to call Taunton police detectives at (508) 821-1475.

City councilors heard it from anguished citizens and members of United Interfaith Action advocating to ease the city’s homelessness problem and revitalize Watuppa Heights during the Nov. 19 City Council meeting: what’s taking so long?

The Fall River Housing Authority, current owners of the barren 10-acre field at the corner of Rodman and Warren streets, say there’s not much to report about the once-developed site in Fall River’s Niagara neighborhood, once a public housing project demolished in 2013. 

Watuppa Heights' woes lead back to 2001. “This goes back over 20 years. … Unfortunately for the council and our fellow citizens, there’s not much else we can say. We're currently in litigation,” said Fall River Housing Authority Executive Director Kevin Sbardella. The lawsuit, according to FRHA's attorney Michael Sousa, is “still in the discovery phase,” he said.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Thanksgiving dinner will eat up less of your wallet this year.   

According to the Farm Bureau Federation, a traditional Thanksgiving meal for ten people will cost around 50 bucks this year.  That's about ten dollars less than in 2023 due to falling prices for turkeys and other staples. 

However, a survey from Lending Tree shows the overall cost of hosting Thanksgiving has gone up 19-percent from last year.  Hosts can expect to shell out a total of 431-dollars on food, drinks and decorations. 

A watch belonging to Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce was found in Providence, according to a report from ABC News.

12 News is working to learn more information, but Col. Oscar Perez confirmed the Providence Police Department was not involved.

The investigation comes after the homes of Kelce and Patrick Mahomes were broken into within days of each other last month. Kelce’s losses included $20,000 in cash, according to a police report.

See more at wpri.com.

Stop & Shop stores are “stocked and largely recovered” from an unspecified cybersecurity issue that impacted product delivery.

In a statement to 12 News, Stop & Shop’s Caroline Medeiros said Medeiros confirmed that stores have been racing to stock shelves ahead of Thanksgiving.

“We recognize the high trust our customers place in us to nourish their families and our communities, and we deeply appreciate their patience as we worked to restock our shelves,” Medeiros said. “Our stores are stocked and ready to serve our shoppers in advance of their holiday celebrations.”

See more at wpri.com.

Massachusetts is ranked in the top ten for worst roads in the country according to the federal Bureau of Transportation Statistics. 

The Boston Globe reported that at 28-point-seven-percent, the Commonwealth has the 8th highest percentage of unacceptable roads among the 50 states between 2012 and 2022, the year with the most recent available data. 

As for neighboring states, Rhode Island is ranked first with the worst roads and Connecticut is ranked 4th.

Superintendent Tracy Curley has explored different roles and "different worlds" in her career, but in the end came home.

“There is something special about Fall River,” she said.

Curley has been a teacher since 1997, and has worked for the Fall River school district since 2009. She served as the associate principal at B.M.C. Durfee High. She led Henry Lord Community School as principal from 2014 to 2017. She later moved on to district administration as math and science curriculum director, then director of Data, Assessment, Accountability and Research, and in 2022 became assistant superintendent under then-Superintendent Maria Pontes.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Two men are sentenced to life in prison for the robbery and deadly stabbing of a man in Taunton. 

Prosecutors say Khaylon Cruz of New Bedford and Jerome Middleton of Fall River killed 31-year-old Justin Paulo in a 2019 attack that was captured on a Ring doorbell camera. 

Cruz is sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole, while Middleton will be eligible for parole in 30 years. 

The killing was the first homicide in Taunton in three years when it happened in 2019.

Karen Read has sold her Mansfield home for 810-thousand-dollars as legal bills mount and her second trial approaches. 

A judge declared a mistrial for Read in July on charges that she killed her Boston cop boyfriend with her SUV in January of 2022. 

Read indicated in a recent Vanity Fair interview that her legal bills are over five-million-dollars. 

Read's retrial for second degree murder, manslaughter and leaving the scene of a death is scheduled to begin in January, but both sides have asked the judge for a delay.

Elon Musk is criticizing Massachusetts sanctuary cities, accusing them of protecting child rapists. 

Musk took to his social media platform X last night to highlight a post detailing three alleged Massachusetts child rape incidents involving illegal immigrants. 

Musk posted that its unconscionable that  sanctuary cities would protect child rapists.  He also says any politician that does so should be recalled immediately.

An extensive internal review of the “blade failure incident” at Vineyard Wind resulted in some employees being suspended or terminated at the Canadian plant that makes the blades.

GE Vernova said they were able to trace the problem to a manufacturing deviation from the factory in Gaspé, Canada.

“We determined that the quality controls in our Gaspé factory did not meet our expectations,” a spokesperson said.

Vineyard Wind CEO Klaus Møeller was asked about the plant at an offshore wind economic announcement in New Bedford on Monday, specifically regarding a recent report by Radio-Gaspésie that raised questions about the quality control data used there.

“Obviously, it’s concerning reporting,” Møeller said. “GE has confirmed that they’re looking into it and investigating it. I’m looking forward to hearing the result of those investigations.”

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs is also actively monitoring the situation.

See more at wpri.com.

With a quick three-count and a flick of their wrists, Gov. Maura Healey and Brown University Health CEO John Fernandez flipped a sign outside Saint Anne’s Hospital along South Main Street, covering the old Steward Health Care logo with a sign for the hospital’s new parent company. 

Switching owners from Steward to Brown has, in reality, been much more complicated than a simple logo-switch. 

“This was a crisis in Massachusetts,” Healey said, “but we showed what’s possible when we work together as a team, when we work in partnership for a greater good.” 

Speaking of bankrupt Steward and its CEO Ralph de la Torre, Healey added that “we did something important and got a bad, unethical operator out of Massachusetts once and for all.”

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Some much needed rain appears headed to Massachusetts as wildfires continue to burn all over the state. 

A large fire was still being battled yesterday in the Blue Hills Reservation in Milton, which is one of around 40 wildfires that were still burning around the state. 

The National Weather Service is predicting that significant rain will fall in the state tomorrow and Friday, with snow falling in higher elevations. 

Massachusetts has received less than an inch of rain in the last month, and much of the state is under critical drought conditions.

Fairhaven firefighters knocked down a fire believed to have spread to a home and shed from a nearby fire pit Monday afternoon.

The Fairhaven Fire Department received reports of black smoke billowing from an Ebony Street property just after noon.

Firefighters pulled up and noticed that the fire had spread across the property to include a shed filled with lawn equipment, a 20-pound propane tank, an attached deck and the home itself.

The resident escaped the house uninjured and firefighters were able to rescue a cat from inside.

The home sustained significant damage, according to the fire department, and the flames were traced back to a fire pit on the property.

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection generally prohibits outdoor burning statewide between Jan. 15 and May 1. Right now, Massachusetts Department of Fire Services’ Jake Wark said more than 200 cities and towns have issued their own burn bans due to the dangerously dry conditions.

More at wpri.com.

Bristol County Sheriff Paul Heroux unveiled the repurposed former ICE Detention Center building at a press conference Monday that will house a training academy, as well as K-9 and Special Response Team units.

But the building won't hold federal immigration detainees as it had under his predecessor, Thomas Hodgson. The Bristol County Sheriff's Office lost the contract in 2021 following a riot in the building a year earlier.

An agreement where Bristol County Sheriff's officials could be deputized to perform limited immigration duties was also ended at that time by the federal Department of Homeland Security.

Heroux was asked whether he would be willing to reimplement those detention programs if approached by the Trump Administration.

"Not interested," Heroux said.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

The U.S. District Court of Appeals for the First Circuit on Friday upheld the right of Miss Lizzie’s Coffee at 292 Second St., a cafe? that moved in next door to the Lizzie Borden House in 2023, to continue serving patrons using its name and a logo that features a cup of coffee and a stylized axe with a bloodied blade. 

This signage, paying homage to the grisly history and lore of the Borden family’s unsolved murders, spurred US Ghost Adventures, owners of the Lizzie Borden House bed-and-breakfast and museum at 230 Second St., to file a lawsuit on Sept. 18, 2023, and later a temporary restraining order aimed at barring neighboring coffee shop owner Joe Pereira from conducting business over what USGA alleges are trademark violations.

USGA was denied its request to close Miss Lizzie’s down pending the resolution of the lawsuit. After an ugly legal battle for both sides that entailed intimidation and alleged buyouts, their appeal of that denial has gotten the axe.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Westport residents are warned rabies has been confirmed in town. 

A rabid woodchuck was found on Main Road.  A coyote pup that was rabid was located on Old Bedford Road. 

Animal Control is advising the public to make sure their pets are up to date with vaccinations and that their dogs are licensed.   

Three people including a firefighter were sent to the hospital after a fire in New Bedford Saturday night.

Around 7 p.m., crews were called to the area of South Second Street for a report of a house fire.

When they arrived on scene, there was heavy flames coming from the second floor of the home.

The fire ripped through the top floor and into the attic while crews worked to put out the flames.

“We had initial reports of heavy fire coming from the second floor. Confirmed report when we got on scene. All occupants had been self-extricated and then once it got into the attic it burned the roof off the house,” said New Bedford District Chief Scott Gomes.

The victims were taken to Saint Luke’s Hospital and are expected to be ok.

From wpri.com.

 Those Christmas lights are about light up downtown.

The City of Fall River announced this week that the annual Tree Lighting Celebration will be taking place after the Children's Holiday Parade.

There's nothing quite like that moment when the Christmas tree lights go on, and illuminate the night, and the whole community is invited to come out and celebrate.

Get into the holiday spirit with lots of free activities, entertainment, and, of course, some hot cocoa to keep you warm while you make merry.

There will be plenty of food from local vendors too.

The City of Fall River announced the 2024 Tree Lighting Celebration will take place on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 3 to 5 p.m.

It will take place at Government Center, following the 40th annual Children's Holiday Parade.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

After a brief season break, Heritage State Park returns with a whole new slate of programs for November and December.

They're bringing back an exhibit in the Community Gallery dedicated to one of Fall River's favorite sons: "Sesame Street" composer Joe Raposo.

They've also installed their latest exhibit from the Commonwealth Museum: "The Origins of Massachusetts Foods and Why It Matters."

They will also be celebrating Kwanzaa in December with a fun and educational program.

All programs are free and open to the public.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Several arrests were made Thursday during a search of a home police described as a “long-time nuisance” in a Fall River neighborhood.

Officers executing a search warrant at 169 Windsor St. said they found crack cocaine and charged 56-year-old Michael Carmello with drug-related offenses.

Four others were arrested on outstanding warrants: Amanda Medeiros, 41, Adrienne Longtin, 38, Christopher Bellavance, 54, and Andrew Cleaves, 29.

See more at wpri.com.

 B.M.C. Durfee High School’s homecoming and senior night football game was not played Friday night as planned.

Fall River Superintendent Dr. Tracy Curley said the game was postponed “out of an abundance of caution” with advice from police after “safety concerns related to an altercation” that happened off-campus on Thursday.

The game will now be played at noon Saturday.

“While this incident is not directly connected to our school community alone, we believe it is in everyone’s best interest to take extra precautions to ensure the safety and enjoyment of this special event,” Curley explained.

According to Fall River Det. Sergeant Matthew Mendes, 10 juveniles will be charged for their involvement in a fight that happened after school on Thursday in a parking lot on President Avenue. Eight of the juveniles were arrested on Friday.

See more at wpri.com.

No. 13 Somerset Berkley football team's hopes of reaching the Final Four came down to inches on Friday night.

Trailing No. 5 Tewksbury by six points early in the fourth quarter of the Division 4 Round of 8 game at John F. Ryan Elementary School, it appeared Raiders quarterback Brendan McDonald had enough for a first down on a fourth-and-2 play.

But after a measurement, the ball was short the nose of the football. It was the first stop of the contest for either side.

That defensive stand ignited two late scores for the Redmen, who iced the game and went on to beat the Raiders, 40-20.

Read more from Steven Sanchez at heraldnews.com.

South Main Street’s iconic Mee Sum restaurant still plans to close its doors on the last day of the year, New Year’s Eve. 

“We’re retiring,” owner Regina Mark said of herself and her husband, Kenny Mark, who has helped run the business.

The acclaimed Chinese eatery, housed in the decades-old building that hit the market in April, has been owned and operated by the Marks for the past 52 years. Real estate agent John Viveiros of LaMacchia Realty had said in an earlier interview that the business has no liquor license, and the interior was a bit dated. The Marks were asking $499,000 for the building and its equipment.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

The Supreme Judicial Court has ruled that the initial hearings will be public for men accused of patronizing high end brothels in Cambridge and Watertown. 

The ruling supports a previous decision by a court magistrate to open the hearings to the public. 

The accused men are reportedly prominent individuals that include elected government officials and contractors, along with military officers. 

Two of the three men accused of running the brothels have entered guilty pleas, and the third man is expected to plead guilty next month.

The state House is taking steps to make sure State Auditor Diana DiZoglio is not the one to conduct the audit of the legislature. 

The House has passed an internal rule change that allows DiZoglio to choose an outside auditing company to conduct the audit. 

State voters overwhelmingly approved a ballot question last week giving DiZoglio's office the power to conduct the audit without restrictions. 

House Speaker Ron Mariano says only an outside firm should conduct the audit because of the constitutionally mandated separation of powers.

The state legislature has given final approval to a bill that could lead to a pro soccer stadium on the Mystic River in Everett. 

The wide ranging, four-billion-dollar jobs package frees up the 43 acre property as the site of a stadium for the New England Revolution. 

That's one of many jobs related initiatives in the bill, which also includes millions of dollars for climate initiatives. 

Lawmakers yesterday also approved a clean energy bill that makes key reforms to siting and permitting of renewable energy projects.

More questions are being raised about the wear and tear of the eastbound Washington Bridge, after the state was forced to increase the amount of traffic on the span to deal with the closure of the westbound span, emails reveal.

On Sept. 13, R.I. Department of Transportation project manager Anthony Pompei emailed Aetna Bridge Co. officials to notify them that some expansion joints on the eastbound bridge needed repair work after gaps had been discovered.

Pompei’s email expressed a sense of urgency, pointing out the material was “temperature sensitive,” and that the work needed to be done at night to avoid traffic disruptions.

The request triggered a round of emails, including at least one from a subcontractor that expressed concern regarding the state’s proposed fix for the problem. The emails carry the subject line “Washington Bridge ? Eastbound Expansion Joint Extra Work” and were first reported by The Boston Globe.

See more at wpri.com.

The Maritime Museum at 70 Water St. is soon to get a new look.

The city will deploy a little over $78,000 of Community Preservation Act funding to remove the existing fac?ade — the steel matrix and infill panels imitative of a New York City terminal that the Fall River Line frequented back in the day — from the front of the building.

The museum has been closed “for safety issues,” Battleship Cove COO Chris Nardi said in a City Council meeting on Nov. 5. These concerns are related to “the problem” of the building’s fac?ade, he said. 

In an August storm, third-story infill panels were disengaged and wound up on the lawn. Nardi estimated this happened at about 3 a.m., when no visitors were present.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

If you've noticed bare shelves when visiting your favorite Stop-and-Shop location, the blame is going to hackers. 

The grocery chain's parent company says it found a cybersecurity problem in its network last week and had to take some systems offline to keep them safe.  That move has caused delivery issues and led to setbacks within its e-commerce and pharmacy operations. 

The chain has notified law enforcement about the hack.

Former Massachusetts Air National Guardsman Jack Teixeira says he's deeply sorry for all of the harm he's caused.  That's what the 22-year-old Dighton native told the judge at his sentencing hearing Tuesday where he was sentenced to 15 years in prison for leaking classified docs online. 

He shared intel about Russia's war with Ukraine and North Korea's nuclear ambitions on Discord and even acknowledged in messages on the platform that he could face criminal charges if he was caught.

A large protest was held outside the Canton offices of Norfolk District

Attorney Michael Morrissey.  The protest yesterday had multiple factions, including those who believe Morrissey's office is conspiring to frame Karen Read for the death of Boston police officer John O'Keefe in 2022. 

Others criticized Morrissey for failing to properly investigate the 2021 death of Sandra Birchmore, as his office ruled her death a suicide. 

Stoughton Police officer Matthew Farwell was charged with murdering Birchmore by the feds this year.  

When a woman at the 99 Restaurant & Pub at 404 Pleasant St. in Fall River showed signs of choking, Ben Courville sprang into action.

“I asked if she was choking,” said Courville, a sophomore at Diman Regional Vocational Technical School, “and she nodded.” That’s when Courville performed the Heimlich maneuver, remembering what he’d been taught at Dighton Fire Department, where he has served as a junior firefighter since April of 2023.  

“I just remembered my training,” Courville humbly explained, mentioning that as part of the onboarding with Dighton Fire Department, all junior members are placed on a six-month probationary period, during which time they are required to complete a CPR certification course.

Since that day in June, Courville has been recognized by the city of Fall River, and his actions have even catapulted him to a national stage — to Times Square in New York City, where he was recently an honoree of the Junior First Responder Hero Award, which commemorates selflessness and bravery in first responders who "serve our community every day," the website reads, presented by the First Responders Children’s Foundation.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

A federal judge has held that Buttonwood Park Zoo's elephant Ruth “received consistent and high-quality veterinary care,” while dismissing a lawsuit against the city, according to a press release.

U.S. District Court Chief Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV wrote in his decision that the plaintiff, Joyce Rowley, failed to present any evidence that the zoo failed to properly care for its two Asian elephants, Emily and Ruth.

“Plaintiff also contended that one of the elephants, Ruth, was suffering from certain physical and other issues as a result of the conditions at the zoo,” Saylor wrote in his Oct. 31 decision. “She did not, however, offer any expert veterinary or other evidence as to either the existence of those conditions or their cause.”

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Staffing shortages and recent agency restructuring has shadowed the city’s public safety departments, but as of last week, Fall River will receive a little over $1.6 million in grant funding from the Massachusetts Public Safety Staffing Grant Awards. 

State Sen. Michael J. Rodrigues, in a tandem effort with the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security, announced the win, saying he was pleased that Fall River, a city he represents, would be able to continue its commitment to public safety.

“They make the most of the resources available,” Rodrigues said, adding that, “This grant will go a long way towards continuing their excellence,” referencing Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon, and Police Chief Kelly Furtado.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Most of Massachusetts will again be under a Red Flag Warning today, due to the ongoing risk of wildfires. 

While temperatures will be cooler, dry conditions remain and there could be wind gusts of 35-miles-per-hour, especially along the Cape. 

The Red Flag Warning will be in place from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.

The Massachusetts Air National Guard member convicted of leaking military secrets has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison. 

Twenty-two-year-old Jack Teixeira of Dighton previously pleaded guilty to violating the Espionage Act. 

Teixeira admits that he posted classified military documents on the gaming focused social media site Discord. 

Prosecutors say the case is one of the most significant violations of the Espionage Act in U.S. history.

The man who was hit by a car in Fall River last week has died, according to police.

Police said an off-duty officer saw the man, who was riding a motorized scooter, get hit by the car while crossing the road near Rodman and Manchester streets Friday evening.

The victim was rushed to the hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. He has not yet been identified.

See more at wpri.com.

Stop & Shop services may be impacted after a cybersecurity issue was detected within its parent company’s U.S. network.

On Friday, Stop & Shop’s parent company, Ahold Delhaize USA, announced that it had launched an investigation into the breach. The company is working with external cybersecurity experts and law enforcement to “assess and mitigate the issue.”

While all Stop & Shop locations remain open, some services, including certain brands, pharmacy offerings, and e-commerce operations, may be affected as the company has taken some systems offline to protect them.

“We will continue to take actions to further protect our systems. The security of our customers, associates and partners is a top priority. We apologize for any inconvenience this issue may have caused customers and partners,” Ahold Delhaize USA said in a statement.

See more at wpri.com.

Exactly 100 years ago, nearly 500 people stood on the corner of Rock and Walnut streets to sing, pray, and watch the cornerstone being laid for what became United Presbyterian Church.  

A century later, the building still stands over the Lower Highlands neighborhood, an icon of stone and stained glass – though it’s Christ the Rock Assembly of God now. But even stone doesn’t last forever. 

“We’re always fighting a losing battle with the water,” said Pastor Rob Canavan, indicating damage to the rows of columns in the sanctuary. 

The church has been undergoing substantial work to its tower, with masons repointing the stone along its base — water seeping in is running through the structure and causing damage. Christ the Rock received $100,000 in Community Preservation Act grant funding to do the repointing work. But, Canavan said, that’ll pay for about half the job. They’re seeking donations for the rest.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Congressman Seth Moulton is continuing to defend his comments blaming identity politics for losses by Democrats on Election Day. 

Moulton says his comments were meant to spur on discussions in the Democratic party about contentious issues. 

The Salem Democrat says the party is also struggling with messaging on the economy and the border. 

Moulton also says he has received positive responses from constituents to his comments opposing biological males participating in female sports.

 A man arrested in Swansea Saturday night is accused of driving under the influence and crashing into the woods behind a gas station.

Police said around 8:42 p.m. they found a white van parked in a grassy area near a gas station on Grand Army of the Republic Highway.

The driver of the van was 67-year-old Gary Silva of North Dighton, according to police.

Police said their initial investigation determined Silva went through a red light while speeding on Route 118 before crashing into the wooded area.

Silva has been charged with operating under the influence of liquor, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, failure to stop for a red light and marked lanes violation.

From wpri.com.

A man was rushed to the hospital after getting hit by a vehicle in Fall River Friday evening.

Police said around 5:15 p.m. an off-duty officer on his way home saw the incident at Rodman and Manchester Street.

The driver stayed at the scene.

The man was crossing the road on a motorized scooter when he was hit, according to police, and his status is currently unknown.

From wpri.com.

State gas prices fell last week and reached an average of $2.98 per gallon of regular fuel on Monday, down from last week's price of $3.03 per gallon, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The average fuel price in state has fallen about 4 cents since last month. According to the EIA, gas prices across the state in the last year have been as low as $2.98 on Nov. 4, 2024, and as high as $3.76 on Aug. 7, 2023.

A year ago, the average gas price in Massachusetts was 14% higher at $3.47 per gallon.

Madilyn Botelho and Deanna Brightman will never forget the two-and-a-half-hour ride west to Frontier last season.

Not only that, their Case girls volleyball team was eliminated from the postseason in four games by the Redhawks on that fateful night in South Deerfield. Friday night, however, turned out to be a different story for Botelho and Brightman on their home court.

The No. 3 Cardinals advanced to the Final Four for the second time in three seasons after sweeping all three games — 29-27, 25-20 and 25-13 — to win 3-0 against No. 6 Frontier in the Division 4 Elite 8 contest at Joseph Case High School.

Case (18-5) takes on second seed Ipswich (21-0) at a time and date to be determined.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Republican candidate Christopher Thrasher said he will seek a hand recount in the close race for 8th Bristol District state representative.

According to Tuesday's results, which are still uncertified, Democrat Steven Ouellette won the race by 143 votes, 7,290 to Thrasher's 7,147.

Thrasher said he will pursue a formal request for a hand recount in all five district communities: New Bedford, Fall River, Acushnet, Freetown, and Westport.

The 8th Bristol District includes Precincts 2 and 3 in Acushnet; Ward 1 Precinct A and Ward 6 Precincts A and B in Fall River; Precincts 2 and 3 in Freetown; Ward 1 Precinct B1 and C in New Bedford, and all of Westport.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Somerset Berkley football coach Nick Freitas has had some memorable moments during his illustrious 16-year career on the sidelines.

Friday night's Division 4 Round of 16 football playoff game against No. 4 Malden Catholic has to rank right up with all of them.

"Teams that go on the road in the first round are not suppose to win," said Frietas after the Raiders stunned the Lancers, 12-6. "I never thought of it as an upset. We did not have a lot of big plays on offense and we kind of grinded it out. It was good to get that W.

"It's something to be proud of along with the kids' work ethics. They buy in and they loved to be coached. We get after them and they respond. A lot of good feeling tonight."

The Raiders (7-2) advanced to the Round of 8 for the second consecutive season and will face No. 5 Tewksbury Memorial, who defeated Westwood 37-7.

Brendan McDonald scored both touchdowns on fourth-down plays for SBR, including the final one with 2:46 remaining in the contest to give the Raiders the lead for good.

Read more from Steven Sanchez at heraldnews.com.

A New Bedford man with an extensive criminal history, including dozens of arraignments, is now facing eight additional charges after a shooting outside a local bar, police announced Thursday.

On Sunday, Oct. 27, officers responded to reports of gunfire near Redwood Saloon off Cove Road, where they found multiple shell casings and a live round.

A week later, police searched the apartment of 43-year-old Jordan Caetano, discovering a backpack containing an unsecured large-capacity handgun, a high-capacity feeding device and 255 rounds of ammunition.

Police noted that Caetano is “no stranger” to law enforcement, with 84 adult arraignments and a recent four-to-six-year prison sentence for armed robbery. Since his release, he was also arrested on a domestic violence charge, though he only received a suspended sentence.

See more at wpri.com.

A Middleborough woman is charged with 20 counts of animal cruelty after numerous malnourished dogs were found in her home. 

Police say animal control officers went to the home of Kimberly Ann Savino on October 17th after receiving concerning reports about horses on the property.  The officers found 17 dogs, two cats and a turtle in the home, and all were in need of medical care. 

The house has been condemned as a health and fire hazard.

The drought in Massachusetts has reached a critical stage and is getting worse. 

The U.S. Drought Monitor reports that stream flow rates in the state are at their all time lowest in many locations. 

The National Weather Service has issued a red flag alert for all of southern New England because the ongoing dry conditions and expected strong winds will create a serious brush fire danger.  More than 90 wildfires have been reported in Massachusetts so far in November.

Governor Maura Healey says she will not support any efforts by Donald Trump to conduct mass deportations of illegal immigrants. 

Healey has been critical of how the federal government has responded to the immigration crisis, which has the state shelter system at capacity. 

Trump has promised to make addressing illegal immigration a top priority when he takes office in January. 

Healey says Massachusetts will do everything possible to protect its citizens, and expects Trump's plan will be challenged in court.

PACE food bank in New Bedford is now collecting donations for “Turkeymania 2024.”

The nonprofit organization said the goal is to feed 500 families this Thanksgiving.

Donations are being accepted until Nov. 16 at 477 Park St. from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

PACE said it will pick up donations too. Anyone with questions can call (508) 999-9920 ext. 333 or email jmedeiros@paceinfo.org.

The 2024 election has taken bizarre twists like no other in American history.  

It began as a rematch between President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump. Amid worries from both sides that an increasingly frail Biden was incapable of mounting a campaign, the party swerved to nominate Vice President Kamala Harris instead. Trump was convicted of 34 felonies and nearly assassinated. He accepted the support of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who admitted to wanting to eat, then dumping, a roadkill bear carcass. And neither party seemed sure about how to handle Americans' reaction to the Israeli war in Gaza. 

Now that this episode is over, let’s zoom in to Bristol County, which has its own issues. Here are five takeaways from the night.

Read more from Dan Medeiros at heraldnews.com.

Veterans Day is approaching and there are numerous events around the SouthCoast to honor those who have served in the Armed Forces. 

U.S. veterans represent less than 10% of the total adult population, with around 19 million veterans living in the U.S. 

Although first called Armistice Day, Veterans Day was established on May 13, 1938, as a legal holiday, to be held on Nov. 11.  It began after World War I to remember the “war to end all wars,” when on Nov. 11, 1918, an armistice occurred in Europe.

Today, it is a day set aside to commemorate those individuals in the community who have served and those who are currently serving.

See more at heraldnews.com.

The Steamship Authority's new vessel is on its way to Massachusetts from Mobile, Alabama and it should arrive within days. 

The M/V Barnstable is expected to complete its eight-day journey to the Steamship maintenance facility in Fairhaven on November 9th.

When the vessel is ready, it will mostly cover the Nantucket route, but there is no word yet on when it will be in service.

Governor Maura Healey is pledging to make protecting women's rights a priority with Donald Trump returning to the White House. 

Healey says Massachusetts will always be a place where they will stand up for people's rights and freedoms.  She says it will also continue to be a place where women have control over their own health care decisions. 

The governor says she will continue moving forward with efforts to create new housing, protect education and promote clean energy.

The Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System test will no longer be a graduation requirement for high school students, after voters passed Question 2 on Election Day.

As of early Wednesday, with 89% of the vote counted, according to the Associated Press, 59% of voters in the state had voted "Yes" on Question 2, which removes the test as a graduation requirement.

"In passing Question 2, Massachusetts voters have proclaimed that they are ready to let teachers teach, and students learn, without the onerous effects of a high-stakes standardized test undermining the mission of public education: to prepare all students for future success as citizens, workers and creative, happy adults," said a joint statement from Massachusetts Teachers Association President Max Page and Vice President Deb McCarthy.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

After a tumultuous campaign season, 2024 general election is over in Massachusetts, with results emerging about the region's and the state's future.

Besides the U.S. presidential race, which saw former President Donald Trump re-elected over Vice President Kamala Harris, there are national and state candidates on the ballot, along with five state referendums. 

Read the latest updates at heraldnews.com.

Elizabeth Warren has cinched her third term in the U.S. Senate.

While very few votes have been counted, the Associated Press has already called the race in favor of Warren.

"AP only makes such a call if results from AP VoteCast at poll close show a candidate leading by at least 15 percentage points," the Associated Press said, explaining their process.

Warren was up against Republican John Deaton, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and practicing attorney who fashioned himself as a moderate during the campaign.

But in blue Massachusetts, Warren's progressive record appealed to voters.

In a rematch between Republican Justin Thurber and Democratic state Rep. Patricia Haddad vying for the 5th Bristol District seat, Thurber garnered 52% of votes to oust Haddad, who claimed 48%.

Haddad is considering asking for a recount.

“I'll make up my mind tomorrow,” Haddad said of the poll count at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, which had her down by 972 votes.

Haddad has served constituents in her longtime incumbency, having served 12 consecutive terms representing Dighton, Somerset, Swansea and Taunton since 2001, where housing shortages, inflated costs of living, offshore energy and immigration were a cause of concern. A self-described moderate, Haddad worried over the health of smaller businesses, campaigning on education, energy initiatives and the welfare of aging populations.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

An investigation is underway after a man was hit and killed by a pickup truck in Bristol Monday evening.

Bristol Police Lt. Paul Medeiros told 12 News the 59-year-old Bristol man was hit on Metacom Avenue near Hopeworth Avenue.

Medeiros said the man, who was pinned underneath the truck, was rushed to Rhode Island Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

The driver is cooperating with the investigation, according to Medeiros. It’s unclear whether any charges will be filed.

From wpri.com.

Its COVID-induced hibernation finally history, Diman Regional Technical High School's house building program is active again. With supervision and assistance from school staff, students are on their way to getting an approximately 2,200-square-foot house at 175 Tess Abigail Lane weather proofed (siding, roof, windows, doors) by December.

Project completion is scheduled for the end of the school year in June.

Diman house building, which started in 1970, had been inactive for about five years due to COVID concerns, program director and Carpentry-Cabinet Making Program senior instructor Jeff Cabral said recently when The Herald News visited the house site, off Bark Street.

Students and instructors from the school's Carpentry-Cabinet Making program have been on site since the start of this school year, their lumber cutting/measuring/nailing numbers augmented by students from Building and Property Maintenance. Once the privately-owned ranch with attached garage is weather proofed, a host of other school programs – Electricity, HVAC/R, Plumbing – will join the party after Christmas. Drafting got the project rolling at the end of the last school year by creating the house plans. Business Technology and Metal Fabrication have also been involved in house builds.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Both sides in the Karen Read case have requested a three month delay in the scheduled start of her retrial. 

Read is charged with second degree murder and other offenses in the 2022 death of her Boston cop boyfriend John O'Keefe in Canton. 

The defense and prosecution filed a joint motion seeking to delay the start of the trial from January until April of next year. 

Read is accused of hitting O'Keefe with her SUV and leaving him to die in the snow, which Read denies and says she's being framed.  Read's first trial ended in a hung jury in July.  

Secretary of State Bill Galvin says Massachusetts could set a turnout record in today's election. 

Galvin says one point seven million people have already cast early ballots, which is around a third of the state's registered voters. 

The state set a record in 2020 when well over three million people voted. 

Polls close today at eight p.m., and the state has put protocols in place to make sure anyone in line when that time arrives will be able to cast a ballot.

Two men have been convicted in the brutal 2019 stabbing of 31-year-old Taunton boxer Justin Paulo.

Jerome Middleton of Fall River and Khayon Cruz of New Bedford were found guilty of first-degree murder and armed robbery in Fall River Superior Court on Friday, Nov. 1, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced on Friday.

“I am pleased the jury held both defendants accountable for this senseless and brutal killing,” District Attorney Quinn said.

Middleton and Cruz are scheduled to be sentenced on Wednesday, Nov. 20 in Fall River Superior Court.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

A property at 78 Thomas St. claimed by the city several years ago for non-payment of taxes was transferred this week to the Community Development Agency. Though currently dilapidated, it will be rehabbed and placed on the market as affordable housing for first-time homebuyers.

The city’s CDA, headed by Executive Director Michael Dion, is responsible for administering Housing and Urban Development Community Planning and Development Programs — known better as HUD — with the primary objective of providing Fall River with affordable housing . 

Homes like the one at 78 Thomas St. near Lafayette Park are made available to increase safe, affordable housing for qualifying first-time homebuyer applicants in partnership with the CDA. 

How does Fall River's First-Time Homebuyer Program work?

Click on heraldnews.com to read more.

The case of Karen Read heads to the state's highest court this week.  Read is seeking to have two of the three charges against her related to the death of her Boston cop boyfriend John O'Keefe dismissed. 

Read's attorneys say multiple jurors from her first trial that ended in a mistrial had decided she was innocent of two of the charges, second-degree murder and leaving the scene of a death. 

The trial judge ruled that the decision was not given in court, and agreed with prosecutors that she should be tried again on those charges.

State officials are warning that the brush fire danger in Massachusetts could last for weeks. 

There were over 200 wildfires in the state during October, driven by extremely dry conditions that are expected to continue.  There were more than 100 brush and wildfires reported in the last week, and officials say those fires have charred over 600 acres of land. 

They also say that there has been little to no lightning during the last month, meaning nearly all of those fires have been the result of human involvement.

Massachusetts voters will decide Tuesday whether to decriminalize psilocybin, the mind-altering drug in mushrooms. 

Advocates point to studies showing that some use of the drug can help people overcome depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.  Opponents argue that much more research needs to be done. 

If approved, Massachusetts would be the third state to decriminalize psilocybin after Oregon and Colorado.

Fall River police are investigating a stabbing that happened late Friday night.

Just before 9 p.m., officers were called to the area of Borden and Fourth Streets for a man that had been stabbed several times.

Investigators said the victim, along with a woman, were sitting inside of a vehicle that was parked at the intersection when they were approached by two suspects.

One of the suspects reportedly entered the vehicle and stabbed the victim several times.

The suspects then took off from the scene inside the victim’s vehicle. Investigators later found the vehicle unoccupied.

The victim was taken to an area trauma center and is reportedly in stable condition.

From wpri.com.

FALL RIVER — Joseph Case, Durfee, Somerset Berkley and Westport field hockey are representating Greater Fall River schools that will compete in the 2024 Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association state tournament.

The Hilltoppers, seeded 16th in Division 1, will host their first-ever home game against 17th seed King Philip. The 24th-seeded Wildcats travels to No. 9 seed Melrose in a Division 4 matchup Saturday while 27th-seeded Cardinals will take on 6th-seeded Melrose Monday.

The Raiders, seeded second in Division 2, will have a bye and will face either No. 31 Wayland or No. 34 Everett in the Round of 32 matchup.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Somerset Berkley's Brendan McDonald and Apponequet's Brody Joly had a night for the record books.

For nearly 36 minutes, the two senior star players put on quite a performance for the large gathering at Griffith Field in Lakeville.

But in the end, it was McDonald and the Raiders who made a few plays more the Lakers.

"At times we were sloppy out there but we came up big when it mattered," said McDonald after SBR came away with a 35-20 victory over ARHS. "We got big stops on defense and making big plays on offense. Our line blocked really well."

McDonald got things rolling right from the first play of the game by scoring a 45-yard run to give the visiting Raiders (6-2) an early lead. He finished with a season-best 268 yards rushing on 13 carries with three touchdowns. McDonald also threw for a touchdown pass to Finn Bjork in the third quarter.

Students and families gathered outside of Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha’s home on Friday, Nov. 1, to demand answers, despite a letter released by the Diocese of Fall River on Thursday claiming that the Rev. Jay Mello admitted to the sexual misconduct allegations against him.

The letter, provided to The Herald News and dated Oct. 31, stated that Mello initially denied the allegations. The investigation into the information shared with the diocese relieved Mello of his priestly duties since June and has been ongoing for the past four months to determine whether Mello violated standards of ministerial behavior as outlined in the Code of Conduct for Priests.

“I’m back to church because of Father Jay,” said parishioner Natalie, who asked to refrain from using her last name.

“What is a ‘Code of Conduct’? None of us knew. They just assumed he did something wrong,” she said, worried that allegations are the result of personal strife between da Cunha and Mello.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

A female humpback whale washed ashore in Westport on Thursday.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) said the marine mammal was previously seen in poor condition before being spotted dead in the water on Monday.

Scientists with IFAW performed a necropsy before burying the whale on site.

IFAW estimates the whale was about four years old.

From wpri.com.

Daylight Saving Time is ending this weekend. 

That means you have to set your clocks back an hour at 2:00 Sunday morning, which will give you an extra hour to sleep. 

Fire officials also remind us  that it's also a good time to check the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

A motion to stay a wrongful death civil trial against Karen Reed of Mansfield was granted Friday by a Superior Court judge. 

She's accused of killing her boyfriend, Boston police Officer John O'Keefe, in January, 2022, after a night of drinking.   

His family filed a wrongful death lawsuit in August, blaming Reed for his death, as well as two bars in Canton, claiming they over-served alcohol to O'Keefe the night he died. 

Her first trial ended in a hung jury, and she's scheduled to be retried in January. 

In his ruling, the judge said Reed could not be involved in civil and criminal trials at the same time.

Five residents were forced from their homes in New Bedford Thursday afternoon after a fire broke out inside an apartment building.

Firefighters responded to Acushnet Avenue just before 3 p.m. and saw flames shooting out of a third-floor apartment.

New Bedford Fire Chief Scott Kruger told 12 News a closed door prevented the flames from spreading through the rest of the building.

See more at wpri.com.

Providence Place has been ordered into receivership, a state-level version of bankruptcy, after its largest private lenders alleged the company that manages the mall owes $259 million, casting a question mark over the future of the state’s largest shopping center.

Target 12 has learned that R.I. Superior Court Judge Brian Stern has granted a petition for receivership filed by U.S. Bank National Association, which represents multiple lending entities for the mall.

Joseph DiOrio, a well-known bankruptcy and creditors attorney representing the lenders, outlined the request in documents filed in court earlier this week.

See more at wpri.com.

Bishop Edgar da Cunha said Thursday that the Rev. Jay Mello “recently admitted to serious misconduct” while on leave and under investigation. 

Da Cunha revealed the information in a letter dated Oct. 31 released to parishioners and provided to The Herald News. 

Mello was placed on administrative leave in June after the diocese began an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct with an adult. He initially denied the allegations. 

The diocese normally does not disclose the status of investigations while they are underway; the bishop took the unusual step of writing the letter a day before parishioners and students at St. Michael’s School planned to protest outside the Diocese of Fall River headquarters, seeking information about the investigation.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Shining beacons that dot the coast lure legions of lighthouse enthusiasts from far and near each year to take in these stunning, historic landmarks.

And if you're a fan in the Fall River area, now you have the unique opportunity to own your own piece of maritime history — one that's a familiar sight to those on both sides of the Braga Bridge.

The Borden Flats Lighthouse — the 143-year-old lighthouse located in the Taunton River on Mount Hope Bay, between Fall River and Somerset — is on the market, and can be yours for $1,250,000.

Kevin Ferias, a Rhode Island native and Swansea resident who took ownership of Borden Flats in May 2018, is looking to sell his 50-foot-tall "lighthome" — a popular, one-of-a-kind overnight destination for the public — as he looks toward retirement next year.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Many restaurant owners and their staff in the state are concerned about ballot question five. 

The question seeks to gradually increase the minimum wage for tipped workers from the current six-dollars and 75-cents until it reaches 15-dollars an hour in 2029. 

The national group Our Fair Wage petitioned to get the tipped minimum wage onto the ballot, clearing the threshold by less than 150 votes. 

Opponents say the measure would devastate an already struggling restaurant industry in the state.

Richard Henning has been installed as the seventh Roman Catholic Archbishop of Boston. 

The installation and mass for the 60-year-old Henning took place yesterday at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross. 

The former bishop of Providence succeeds the retiring Cardinal Sean O'Malley, who has led Boston area Catholics for over two decades. 

O'Malley stayed on for five years past the normal retirement age of 75 for Catholic bishops at the request of Pope Francis.