Skating Club of Boston CEO Doug Zeghibe said 16-year-old Spencer Lane and his mother, Christine, were among 60 travelers and four crew members on the plane.

Douglas Lane told 12 News that he and his wife Christine adopted their two sons, Spencer and Milo, from South Korea.

He described Spencer, who was their oldest son, as a “force of nature.”

“Whether he was in his home club in Boston, [Spencer] was just loved by everyone,” Douglas explained. “From adults running the club to smaller skaters, to the people that are competing for a shot at the Olympics, they all adored him.”

See more at wpri.com.

Bird flu is now considered widespread in Massachusetts, and the public is advised not to touch birds or other animals that are dead or seem sick. 

State health and environmental officials said the virus is the suspected cause of death of both wild and domestic birds in several communities.  They said evidence suggests the bird flu is widespread in the state even where it hasn't been confirmed. 

People can be infected but no human cases have been diagnosed in the Commonwealth.  

Massachusetts students are ranked first in all categories of the National Assessment of Educational Progress. 

The test measures fourth and eighth graders on core subjects including math and reading. About ten-thousand students in the state took the 2024 test. 

Governor Maura Healey said the goal is to be the best in terms of ensuring the true success and well-being of every student.

Sheriff Paul Heroux said a memo from the Trump Administration pausing all federal grants and loans affects nearly $2 million out of his $60 million jail budget.

He said the federal assistance is used to help reduce recidivism, decrease drug abuse and enhance re-entry services. It also affects 18 employees at the Bristol County House of Correction.

He stated in a press release, “I (and likely many other sheriffs and recipients of federal grant programs throughout the country) hope that the Trump Administration quickly reconsiders this pause. Public safety and prisoner re-entry depend on assistance from the state and federal governments.”

Read more at heraldnews.com.

One person is dead and four others injured after a single-family home under construction in Weymouth collapsed on them while they were working on the building at about noon Tuesday.

The roof of the unfinished structure at 19 Vine St., next to the RK Mart at 141 Broad St., rested atop a pile of rubble as emergency responders brought a stretcher with them searching for a man who was trapped inside. They emerged not long after with a man on a stretcher.

The man, Mario Diaz Obando, 29, of Fall River, died at South Shore Hospital after he was critically injured during the collapse, Norfolk District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey said Tuesday evening.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Greater Fall River could get more money to fix local streets and bridges — particularly in the suburbs — under a proposed bill being filed by Gov. Maura Healey’s administration to boost Chapter 90 funding. 

The bill would allow the state to borrow $1.5 billion over the next five years, or $300 million per year, to improve local transportation. Traditionally, Chapter 90 funds have been capped at $200 million per year.  

Some of the extra money would come from the state’s millionaire’s tax, which is an extra 4% tax on personal incomes over $1 million per year with the money set aside for education and transportation.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

A Massachusetts man was arrested this week at the U.S. Capitol after allegedly admitting to plans to kill Trump cabinet members. 

Prosecutors say 24-year-old Ryan English approached a U.S. Capitol police officer and turned himself in, admitting to plans to kill cabinet members and Speaker Johnson.  English was reportedly in possession of a folding knife and two Molotov cocktail explosive devices when he was arrested on Monday. 

Capitol Police have not disclosed what town in Massachusetts English is from.  He's facing weapons charges.

Blount Fine Foods is planning to move its corporate headquarters from Fall River, Massachusetts, back to Rhode Island. 

The seafood company was awarded tax incentives and financing yesterday through the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation. 

The location of the new headquarters was not immediately available.   

Blount was founded in Barrington in 1880, and maintains a processing plant and retail store in Warren.

Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport is the fastest growing airport in New England, according to Federal Aviation Administration data. 

In 2024, it handled over four-million passengers, a more than 27-percent increase over the previous year.

State officials said recent investments in infrastructure, marketing and passenger amenities have increased the airport's appeal as an alternative to Boston's Logan International Airport.

Four people are facing charges in connection with a home invasion last Tuesday, January 14th, on Rocliffe Street in Fall River. 

Police said a victim was zip-tied and beaten severely. 

Three of the suspects were arrested Friday, the fourth was taken into custody Saturday.  Charges include assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, armed assault to murder, conspiracy and home invasion.

 A new letter from Rhode Island’s congressional delegates to the federal Office of Management and Budget asks the office’s acting director, Matthew Vaeth, to confirm that all previously approved funding for local projects will be released to the state.

Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, along with Representatives Seth Magaziner and Gabe Amo, signed on to the letter, which reads in part, “We are alarmed that the Administration is blocking the release of over $600 million in competitive grant funding for more than ten Rhode Island transportation projects.”

.

These transportation grants include $221 million for the Washington Bridge (broken into a $125 million mega grant and a $95.6 million INFRA grant), as well as more than $250 million for bridges along the state’s I-95 corridor.

“These are essential projects that have already been evaluated and selected in a competitive process for funding,” the delegates wrote. “We ask that you promptly confirm that all of these funds, as well as others being held for review, will be released to the State.”

See more at wpri.com.

As President Donald Trump’s second term dawns, his administration rolled back longstanding policy that prevents federal agents from raiding “sensitive locations,” including K-12 schools. 

Mayor Paul Coogan said he hasn’t heard of any changes to policy, and noted that traditionally ICE officials notify the local police chief before entering a community to carry out a search.

The Trump administration's hardline stance on immigration enforcement has led some Massachusetts public school districts to prepare to shield students from the chance of a visit from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. In Brockton, Superintendent Priya Tahiliani said federal agents who attempt to arrest students will be directed to the superintendent's office and the district will seek legal counsel.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

If President Donald Trump puts a 25% tariff on products coming from Canada starting next weekend, as he said this week he is considering, electricity costs in Massachusetts could increase by as much as $200 million a year, Gov. Maura Healey told business leaders Thursday morning.

The governor said she is very concerned about the president's idea to impose higher tariffs on China and new, steep tariffs on products imported from Canada and Mexico. She told Associated Industries of Massachusetts that it will be important for the business community and her administration to speak with one voice as they urge the White House to reconsider.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

The City Council Committee on Public Safety is set to discuss property vandalism that “had persisted” at the Executive Plaza on President Avenue, and in a Madison Street neighborhood, despite residents’ and business owners’ efforts to report incidents to the Fall River Police Department. 

When City Councilor Paul B. Hart brought forth the issue at the City Council meeting on Jan. 14, it was unanimously referred to the Committee on Public Safety.

Hart, the chair of the committee, along with other members Michelle Dionne and Bradford Kilby, are inviting Kelly Furtado, Fall River’s interim police chief, to sit down and “develop a strategy to combat property vandalism and increase public safety overall,” according to the resolution.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Two teenagers were arrested Tuesday following a brief chase through New Bedford.

Police said Damian Breton, 19, and a 17-year-old boy have been charged with carrying a loaded firearm without a license, possession of ammunition and possession of a large-capacity firearm.

Detectives spotted the suspects near Myrtle and Weld Streets wearing ski masks and walking with their hands in their pockets.

See more at wpri.com.

A beloved local pastor has died after suffering severe injuries in a car crash last week, and his church is seeking donations to pay for medical expenses. 

Brian Weeks of Rehoboth founded and was a pastor at Spindle City Church on Bay Street in Fall River.  

According to information from the church and family members, Weeks was involved in a single-car crash in the early morning of Jan. 13, returning home after finishing a shift volunteering at the Timao Center, where the church operates a winter overflow shelter for the homeless. 

"He was working at two homeless shelters until midnight or overnight depending on the day, six days a week," said Weeks' daughter, Crystal. "The man never slept."

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Blount Fine Foods, a longtime fixture in the city and in Fall River’s Industrial Park for over 20 years, is here to stay — when it comes to its 250,000-square-foot manufacturing facility at 100 Graham Road and its nearby market.

But Blount’s corporate offices at 630 Currant Road may be moving back to Rhode Island, where the company first put down roots in Warren, Rhode Island, as a clam and oyster business in the 1800s. 

Lauren Ahern, a corporate communications and digital media specialist for Blount, confirmed that the company has applied for qualified job incentives through Rhode Island Commerce, and that its application will be considered on Monday, Jan. 27. 

Read more at heraldnews.com.

A man is in custody after police responded to a report about a suspicious vehicle Wednesday night in Fall River. 

It turned out the vehicle was a stolen van and a suspect identified as Billy Cordeiro was arrested on charges including possession of cocaine and possession of a stolen vehicle. 

Police also discovered he was wanted on several outstanding warrants.

The cause of a fire that destroyed a barn at a cranberry farm in Lakeville Thursday night is under investigation. 

A loud explosion was reportedly heard as flames erupted at the Angers Conway Farm on Southworth Street around 7 p.m.  Horses and other farm animals were moved from a nearby barn as crews worked to keep the fire from spreading to other buildings. 

There were no reported injuries.

The SouthCoast community was left with heavy hearts this week following the sudden death of a familiar face at a longtime city bakery.

Joshua Ponte, who ran Modern Ponte's Bakery on Rodman Street with his father, was killed in a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 195 in Seekonk this past Tuesday. 

Family, friends and those local business owners who got to know Joshua as the bearer of their locally sourced breads and baked goods, remember the 37-year-old Fall River resident for his kindness, generosity, and big personality.

Relatives described Joshua as a family man who loved his job and could always be counted on for a laugh.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

The loss of a $300 million Prysmian Group undersea cable factory last week signaled a reverse in the development of Brayton Point Commerce Center, coming as a shock to residents’ expectations and the town’s plans to welcome new markets for clean energy and large-scale business to the SouthCoast.

Prysmian on Jan. 17 announced its decision to abandon plans for Somerset, where the company would have purchased 47 acres to build a manufacturing plant that created cables for offshore wind farms.

Prysmian did not mention President Donald Trump in its announcement, but it came three days before Trump's inauguration, the end of a long campaign where Trump had been repeatedly and openly hostile to offshore wind energy and promised to shut down projects on taking office — a potential financial blow to the SouthCoast despite it heavily supporting him at the polls.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Governor Maura Healey says tariffs imposed on Canada could raise the cost of electricity in Massachusetts by 200-million-dollars. 

Healey says a 25 percent tariff on products from Canada as proposed by President Trump would harm the entire state economy.  She says there is no doubt that tariffs will lead to higher costs for residents, including for basic items they depend on. 

Healey made her comments to the business community yesterday at an executive forum hosted by the Associated Industries of Massachusetts in Waltham.

Attorney General Andrea Campbell has cosponsored a bill that would ban cell phone use in Massachusetts public schools during class time. 

The STUDY Act seeks to improve the overall learning environment in schools by creating a distraction free environment.  The bill also proposes standards for social media companies that encourage safe and responsible use by children. 

Campbell says the bill puts students and their mental health first, making sure they have the tools to succeed without unnecessary harm.

Senator Elizabeth Warren has sent her ideas on eliminating government waste to Elon Musk. 

The billionaire is heading up the Department of Government Efficiency created by Trump to cut excess federal spending. 

Warren is suggesting 30 different changes that she believes could cut two-trillion-dollars from the federal budget.  Her ideas include huge cuts at the Department of Defense, along with ending federal funding for charter schools and closing tax loopholes for the rich.

A Fall River man was killed in a single-vehicle crash in Seekonk on Tuesday afternoon. 

According to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, State Police troopers and Seekonk firefighters and EMS reported to a single-vehicle crash site at mile 1.4 of Interstate 195 eastbound in Seekonk on Tuesday around 5 p.m. 

The DA’s office said troopers found a black GMC pick-up truck behind a guardrail on the median side of the highway against a bridge support pillar.  

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Adding to the city’s affordable housing stock is paramount to housing Fall River’s residents, but with 27% of citywide housing deemed “affordable,” what more can be done to increase housing options for mid- to lower-income residents while maintaining a balanced housing market?

On Jan. 14, the Committee on Ordinances and Legislation debated the function of, and the need for, an Affordable Housing Trust Fund that would contain additional revenue to be used in developing and preserving affordable housing — with a new minimum five-member board of trustees reporting to the mayor and the City Council.

The City Council debated the matter and referred an ordinance to the Committee on Finance, of which City Councilor Cliff Ponte is a member.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Police have determined it was not a random act.  

Anyone with information is asked to contact Acushnet police and ask to speak to a detective.   

Students at Joseph Case High School in Swansea won’t have school again on Wednesday.

The school was closed after the superintendent said the power went out over the weekend.

When power was restored, the HVAC system didn’t restart, causing the pipes to burst.

Officials say they are working to reopen the school on Thursday.

See more at wpri.com.

The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife) is investigating after a number of dead Canada geese were spotted near Lake Sabbatia in Taunton earlier this week.

Taunton Police Chief Edward Walsh said upwards of nine dead geese were found on the lake and are being tested for the bird flu.

This comes after MassWildlife and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced that the deaths of more than 60 Canada geese, swans and ducks at Plymouth’s Billington Sea were “likely caused” by the bird flu.

See more at wpri.com.

The city’s largest teachers’ union has “overwhelmingly” ratified a three-year deal with the Fall River Public School system, with the end now in sight after a nearly yearlong negotiation process. 

According to a statement from the Fall River Educators Association, the contract includes wage increases between 18% and 21% over the life of the deal, improved paid family leave benefits, safer buildings, and “guardrails designed to keep workloads manageable.” 

FREA President Keith Michon and other FREA members have been lamenting a discrepancy between the Fall River and neighboring school districts, saying Fall River’s pay and conditions are not competitive.  

“This new contract begins to correct that problem, and I am hopeful we will attract and retain the highly qualified educators that our students deserve,” said Michon.

Read more at heraldnews,com.

The man who died in a fire at a home in New Bedford has been identified as 88-year-old Alfred Martin. 

Officials say Martin died at the scene of the two alarm fire Monday on Cotter Street, and four other people were injured. 

Investigators believe the fire started on or near a sofa, with either smoking materials or an electrical problem believed to be the cause.  The exact cause has not been determined and remains under investigation by multiple agencies. 

A 14-year-old boy has serious injuries after a crash involving a miniature motorcycle in Taunton. 

Police say the boy was riding a Kayo mini-motorcycle when it collided with a car yesterday afternoon.  The collision took place at the intersection of Somerset Avenue and Silverwood Drive, and the teen was rushed to the hospital by ambulance. 

The car was driven by a 17-year-old female who was not injured.

Dozens gathered in the bitter cold Monday evening to remember a 6-year-old Norton girl who died after being pulled from an icy river near her home last week.

Josephine “Josie” Pinto passed away Friday nearly an hour after her parents first reported her missing from their Power Street home. Her disappearance triggered an extensive search of the nearby Barrowsville Pond and Wading River.

Divers eventually found her unresponsive in the water near the bridge over Power Street, which is just across the street from her home. She was rushed to Sturdy Memorial Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

Read more at wpri.com.

A person has died and four others are injured from a house fire in New Bedford. 

The fire was reported yesterday afternoon at a multi-family home on Cotter Street, and arriving crews found flames coming from the windows and the roof. 

Three people were able to escape on their own, and one person had to be rescued from the home by firefighters. 

One person was pronounced dead at the scene, and the four residents were taken to the hospital with unspecified injuries.  

State gas prices fell for the second consecutive week at an average of $2.948 per gallon of regular fuel on Monday, down from last week's price of $2.952 per gallon, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The average fuel price in state has fallen about 2 cents since last month. According to the EIA, gas prices across the state in the last year have been as low as $2.95 on Jan. 13, 2025, and as high as $3.60 on April 29, 2024.

A year ago, the average gas price in Massachusetts was 6% higher at $3.15 per gallon.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

A new skid steer will soon be hitting the roads in town, clearing land for sports courts and helping with snow removal.

Petite but mighty, "it's the little engine that could," Town Administrator Mallory Aronstein said. And, “It’s on its way.”

The decision to purchase a new skid steer for $130,000 was narrowly approved in a 266 to 238 vote at a Special Town Meeting on Oct. 28 last year. Then, the order was placed, Aronstein said, but since the COVID-19 pandemic, shipping times have been significantly delayed. 

At another Special Town Meeting in May 2024, a new skid steer was proposed, but ultimately struck down.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

The first plowable snowfall in Southern New England has arrived.

After a mild and rainy day on Saturday, widespread snow developed Sunday afternoon and continued into early Monday morning.

The R.I. Department of Transportation asks drivers out early Monday morning to give snowplows plenty of room to clear the roads.

The overall travel impact will be lessened since schools and some businesses will be closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Multiple flights at T.F. Green International Airport were canceled.

See more at wpri.com.

Three people were transported to the hospital after a fire at a home in Fairhaven early Saturday morning.

Just after 4 a.m., crews were called to a report of a fire on the 200 block of Main Street.

When they arrived, heavy smoke was found coming from the first floor.

Crews were able to put the fire out about 10 minutes after arriving on scene.

Three victims, two adults and one child, were taken to St. Lukes Hospital to be treated for for smoke inhalation.

According to a release by Fire Chief Todd Correia, he fire was caused by “extension cord that was overloaded and too close to combustible material.”

See more at wpri.com.

Prysmian Group announced Friday it has decided to abandon its plans to locate a manufacturing plant in Somerset, where it would have built undersea cables for wind farms. 

Representatives from the Italian company contacted Jamison Souza of the Somerset Board of Selectmen on Friday to deliver the news. 

“It was an unfortunate call to let us know that they’re going to be pulling out of the project down at Brayton Point, and they’re not going to be moving forward,” Souza said Saturday. 

The project would have been a 47-acre manufacturing plant at Brayton Point Commerce Center, the site of a former coal-fired power plant. In 2022, President Joe Biden specifically chose the site to deliver a speech about the dangers of climate change and the benefits of clean energy like offshore wind.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

The investigation continues into a deadly crash that happened on the highway in Berkley earlier this week.

Massachusetts State Police said Scott Thibeault, 57, of Attleboro, was driving down Route 24 South Tuesday afternoon when he slammed into a maintenance truck that was parked in the breakdown lane.

No one was inside the maintenance truck at the time, according to police. Thibeault died as a result of the crash.

Read more at wpri.com.

The Rhode Island State Police have fired two troopers who posted a video on social media of 21-year-old Alex Montesino getting hit and killed by a car on I-95 in October.

In the video obtained by 12 News, the troopers can be heard laughing in the background. One of the troopers recorded the short clip on a cell phone and posted it on Snapchat.

Montesino’s uncle, Frank Vidal, told 12 News his nephew’s twin sister stumbled upon the video the day before her brother’s funeral.

See more at wpri.com.

Governor Maura Healey says she plans to stay focused on the things that matter to the people of Massachusetts. 

In her State of the Commonwealth address last night, Healey pledged to continue addressing transportation, housing, education and the economy in 2025.  The governor also says she will work to address the overwhelmed emergency shelter system, and says program costs will be dramatically reduced. 

Healey also referred to the upcoming transfer of power in Washington, and says the new administration must act quickly on immigration reform.

Police arrested a Dartmouth High School student who reportedly tried to stab a classmate with a makeshift weapon Wednesday afternoon, according to authorities.

Officers responded to the high school around 10:30 a.m. to investigate a 911 call that came from inside the building.

An investigation revealed that a student had retreated into a nearby office shortly after being approached by the suspect in the hallway. The suspect tried to stab the victim using “a pen with a screwdriver on the other end,” according to police.

See more at wpri.com.

Short-term rental offerings may soon be legalized — but with strict guidelines that would not allow the city's iconic Highlands mansion to operate as an Airbnb.

At a meeting of the Committee on Ordinances and Legislation on Jan. 14, and at a City Council meeting later that evening, councilors debated a new ordinance that would allow residents to rent their primary residence in short-term rental agreements “under carefully controlled conditions,” according to a letter from Corporation Counsel Alan Rumsey.

The ordinance, which would legalize the operation of short-term rental businesses in the city, passed unanimously during its first reading but will go before the City Council once more for a second vote after stipulations are added that will require operators to buy business-scale insurance. 

Read more at heraldnews.com.

The cause of a two-alarm fire Tuesday night in New Bedford is considered accidental according to investigators. 

Firefighters responded to the scene on Cedar Grove Street around 11:30 p.m. 

Everyone safely escaped from two-story house.   Ten people including five children are displaced and receiving help from the Red Cross.

A Taunton man is sentenced to ten years in federal prison for selling thousands of counterfeit Adderall pills containing methamphetamine to an undercover officer last August. 

The U.S. Attorney's Office said 29-year-old Shavon Gurley was involved with a Brockton-based organization in trafficking fentanyl and methamphetamine. 

He pleaded guilty last October to distribution and possession with intent to distribute charges. 

Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey is co-sponsor of a bill to extend the deadline on a ban of the social media app TikTok.  It would leave the app in place for an additional 270 days beyond the current January 19th, deadline. 

Markey believes the deadline was rushed without adequate consideration of the consequences for 170 million Americans who use TikTok. 

He said he believes the owner should divest due to its ties to China, but that it should be given sufficient time to sell.  

Governor Maura Healey will deliver her State of the Commonwealth address tonight at the State House. 

Healey is expected to touch on the key issues facing Massachusetts in the speech, including problems with the emergency shelter system and the housing crisis.  She's also expected to highlight some of the accomplishments of her administration since taking office in early 2023. 

The speech will begin at seven p.m.

Bristol Community College officially has a new president after the state Board of Higher Education unanimously confirmed Sedgwick Harris to the position Tuesday. 

“You just don’t know my level of excitement at this point,” Harris said in an interview shortly after his approval. 

Harris is the school’s fifth president since its founding in 1965; he succeeds Laura Douglas, who retired after serving as the school’s president since 2017. 

He has most recently been the vice president of administrative affairs at Northampton Community College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and previously served in administrative positions at community colleges in Illinois and Michigan, with more than a quarter-century of experience.

At a Jan. 13 meeting, the School Committee voted in favor of teaching 11th and 12th graders how to administer nasal Narcan, or naloxone, spray — commonly known as the antidote for an opioid overdose — adding it to list of “necessary” Health II skills, like CPR and first-aid training.

On Jan. 7, the Fall River Public School Instructional Subcommittee discussed the curriculum addition, citing the rise in illicit fentanyl use and subsequent overdoses to justify teaching high school upperclassmen where to obtain and how to administer nasal Narcan to save friends or family members by reversing an opioid overdose. 

Daniel Fitzgerald, the director of health and physical education for the city’s public schools, said Narcan delivery training helps keep the community safer, with opioids more available, especially to vulnerable populations — by prescription or otherwise.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

The lounge in New Bedford where a deadly shooting happened over the weekend is closed indefinitely. 

The Morna Lounge and Grill was ordered closed yesterday by the police department.  Authorities said the decision is based on a history of incidents there. 

A man was killed and two women were injured in a shooting at the lounge early Saturday morning.  

A driver has died after a crash on Route 24 south in Berkley. 

Police say the unidentified person was driving a vehicle that slammed into an unoccupied truck in the breakdown lane of the highway yesterday afternoon.  That vehicle burst into flames, and the driver was pronounced dead a short time later. 

Route 24 south was closed in the area for hours after the crash, which remains under investigation.

Suspended trooper Michael Proctor will face a State Police Trial Board today following an internal affairs probe into his conduct. 

Proctor was suspended without pay following the hung jury in the Karen Read trial in Dedham in July. 

On the stand in the trial, Proctor admitted to sending degrading and unprofessional texts to friends and colleagues about Read and her attorney David Yannetti. 

It's possible that Proctor could be fired at today's hearing.

A 19-year-old has been arrested in connection with a deadly shooting in New Bedford over the weekend.

Danielson Varela is charged with first-degree murder, unlawful possession of a firearm, carrying a loaded firearm, and two counts of assault and battery with a firearm, according to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.

Officers responding Morna Lounge and Grill on Acushnet Avenue early Saturday morning for a report of a shooting found three victims inside suffering from gunshot wounds.

New Bedford Police Chief Paul Oliveira ordered Morna Lounge closed Monday “in the interest of public safety.”

“The New Bedford Police Department will not tolerate environments that foster violence and disorder,” Oliveira said. “The safety and well-being of our city is our top priority, and we will take appropriate measures to address any establishment that fails to uphold its responsibility to the public.”

Read more at wpri.com.

A Springfield woman is facing charges after allegedly stealing and forging a check from a Rehoboth town worker, according to police.

The stolen check, totaling more than $22,000, was initially made payable to a vendor for work performed for the town. Police said it was altered and reissued to “Jordyn Richardson.”

Investigators determined that 23-year-old Jordyn Richardson deposited the altered check into her bank account via an ATM. She has been charged with larceny over $1,200, forgery of a check, uttering a false check, and conspiracy.

See more at wpri.com.

Monday night’s non-league girls basketball game between Dartmouth High and Durfee was ended abruptly by game officials late in the fourth quarter after an on-the-court scuffle between players from both teams escalated into a melee when fans got involved.

Dartmouth was leading 51-36 with 2:13 remaining in the game when play was stopped for the incident and the hosts were declared the official winner.

“It’s just unfortunate that that had to happen,” said Dartmouth head coach Brian Jalbert, whose team improved to 8-0. “I’ve got to watch the film and see exactly what happened, but it’s too bad.

It was the second skirmish of the game. In the first half, a player from each team was given a technical foul.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

A year after beginning a major project to scan and upload its newspaper microfilm archives, the Fall River Public Library has added to its collection at fallriver.advantage-preservation.com. 

As of Thursday, more than half a million newspaper pages from Fall River’s past are online — every story, every ad, every headline, full pages that are free to look through. All the text is searchable. 

Even without a library card, people can read and snip copies of The Herald News, the Fall River Globe, the Evening News and other papers from the early 20th century.  

“If you're looking for primary sources for historical research, or just want to find out what was happening on a certain day in history, this is a treasure trove!” the library stated in a Facebook post.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

A 38-year-old Fall River man is accused of intentionally driving a car into a bank in Sandwich. 

Police said Kevin Coelho is charged with breaking and entering a depository and multiple counts of property damage. 

The incident happened at a TD Bank branch on Route 6A around 3:30 this morning. 

The judge in the Karen Read case is allowing a retired California emergency room doctor to testify in her upcoming retrial. 

Dr. Marie Russell testified in Read's first trial that the wounds on the arm of her Boston cop boyfriend John O'Keefe were likely from a large dog. 

The prosecution wanted her banned from the second trial, saying the arm injuries happened when Read backed her SUV into O'Keefe in Canton and killed him. 

Read contends she dropped O'Keefe off at the home of another Boston cop where his body was found on the lawn in January of 2022, and that people there killed him.

The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office is investigating after a 27-year-old man was killed in a triple shooting early Saturday morning.

Officers responding Morna Lounge on Acushnet Avenue around 1:30 a.m. for a report of a shooting found three victims suffering from gunshot wounds.

Cristiano Macedo, of New Bedford, was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time after his arrival, the DA’s office said.

Read more at wpri.com.

SRTA’s first full year of fare-free bus service has been successful, according to the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, with significant increases in ridership and better on-time service — and a majority of people polled approve.  

A new report released today from the MBPC, a statewide think tank, looked at data from the Southeastern Regional Transit Authority since SRTA first stopped collecting fares on Jan. 1, 2024.  

According to the numbers, the number of people riding SRTA buses grew 56.5% from July to November 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.  

Ridership also increased significantly compared to other nearby regional bus systems that continued to charge fares. Moreover, buses kept on schedule more often, since drivers didn't have to wait for riders to pay before sitting.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Though a Fall River Educator’s Association Facebook post may herald a new “tentative agreement” with the Fall River School Committee, at a meeting on Jan. 2, committee members claim no deal has been finalized. 

FREA President Keith Michon confirmed that, on Dec. 20, “there was an agreement between our bargaining team and their bargaining team,” the result of which established sizable increases in salary for multiple occupational steps for every year of employment, an increase in hourly wages, flexible parental leave, and other desirable terms such as bereavement for miscarriages, and stipends for specially licensed educators.

During bargaining negotiations, Michon said, educators, who are represented by FREA and Massachusetts Teachers Association during these negotiations, are sorted into three groups. Michon said the tentative agreement that has been reached applies only to Unit A employees, which includes about 1,000 educators.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

A Fall River man is accused of shipping cocaine in the mail from California, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.

Justin Dupras, 42, is charged with attempting to possess cocaine with intent to distribute.

Dupras allegedly mailed a package containing about two kilograms of cocaine from Los Angeles to Fall River on Dec. 17, 2024, prosecutors said.

Two days later, Dupras arrived at the Fall River post office, where another person reportedly signed for the package and handed it to him. He was arrested later that day by Fall River police.

Investigators say Dupras did this on prior occasions, including mailing a package from Chino Hills, California, to Fall River on Sept. 17, 2024, and from Los Angeles to Fall River on Oct. 29, 2024.

See more at wpri.com.

A three-alarm fire that broke out around 3:42 a.m. Friday morning in the third-floor apartment of a multi-family home at 143 Choate St. has displaced 19 residents, including 10 children.

One woman who lived on the third floor is being treated for second-degree burns at Rhode Island Hospital but remains in stable condition, according to Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon. Another resident and a child were treated for smoke inhalation. 

Djeny Joseph, who has owned the home since 2022, said she received the call at 3:49 a.m. from one of her tenants alerting her that the home was engulfed in flames. Joseph, who lives in Randolph, “flew here,” she said. “When I came, it was really heartbreaking.”

Read more from Emily Scherny at heraldnews.com.

New Hampshire's new governor is no fan of Massachusetts. 

During her inaugural address this week, Kelly Ayotte called the Commonwealth "a cautionary tale."  She said out-of-control spending, tax increases and the illegal immigrant crisis have families and businesses fleeing the state. 

During her campaign, Ayotte vowed to protect New Hampshire from becoming Massachusetts.

A 31-year-old Wareham woman is alive thanks to the quick work of first responders in Bourne.  They were called to the Cape Cod Canal around 12:45 Thursday afternoon.

 Authorities said it was a difficult rescue due to the woman's distance from the shoreline and the tide. 

Police said there was no foul play involved. 

Fifteen people were forced from their homes early Friday morning after a fire broke out in Fall River.

Crews responding to the triple-decker on Choate Street around 3:45 a.m. found heaving fire and smoke coming from the third floor.

Fire Chief Jeffery Bacon said there were initial reports that children were trapped on the third floor but learned all the residents made it out safely.

See more at wpri.com.

Freetown-Lakeville Superintendent Alan Strauss has resigned from his position as superintendent effectively immediately.

In a statement he read at Wednesday's School Committee meeting, Strauss alleged "abusive treatment" and "defamatory statements about my health" from two school committee members — Crystal Ng and Carolina Hernandez. Strauss also alleged "abusive treatment" by unnamed "Freetown officials."

"A person in a leadership position inevitably draws scrutiny and criticism. As a leader, I embrace constructive conversations, even when frustrations arise, and I respect the balance of criticism and praise," Strauss said in his public statement. "What I did not anticipate, however, was the reaction from a small group of local elected and appointed officials, including two School Committee members - Carolina Hernandez and Crystal Ng - and others in town government, who have made defamatory statements about my health."

Read more at heraldnews.com.

The Supreme Judicial Court on Wednesday upheld a controversial state law that mandates multi-family housing zones for cities and towns serviced by the MBTA — including those that will soon get commuter rail service via South Coast Rail. 

The SJC ruled that the 2021 MBTA Communities Law is constitutional and Attorney General Andrea Campbell had the authority to enforce it. But it also ruled that the guidelines by which the law can be enforced were improperly created, sending enforcement back to the drawing board. 

The court took up the case after the state sued Milton for rejecting proposed zoning rules that would’ve complied with the act.  

Are SouthCoast communities on the new commuter rail route complying with the law? Most are — but some aren’t, leaving them open to legal action or loss of funding. Let’s break it down.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Governor Maura Healey's administration concedes that not all emergency shelter residents have been subjected to background checks. 

State officials say they will begin conducting the criminal offender record information searches on shelter residents immediately. 

The issue came to the forefront with the recent arrest of a migrant at a Quincy hotel shelter with ten pounds of fentanyl and an assault rifle. 

All people will now be screened before being allowed into the emergency shelter system.

Cristiane Freitas chose the cash option for her prize. Freitas told lottery officials that she plans to invest her winnings.

She bought the winning ticket at Canaan Fuels on Court Street in Taunton.

From wpri.com.

A locally-owned clothing and gift shop in Westport is changing hands after nearly 48 years in business.

Country Woolens announced Monday in a social media post that owner Ann Squire is passing the torch to the next generation, with ownership of the store being transferred to her son and daughter-in-law, Ben and Liz Squire.

“The transition should be seamless after working together for the past 11 years,” Country Woolens wrote. “We are thrilled to embark on our 48th year of business and want to assure our amazing customer base that we will still be here for you — same as always.”

See more at wpri.com.

The city won big for its high schools’ expansion and design of college preparatory programs, with Argosy Collegiate Charter School, 240 Dover St., set to receive $60,000, and B.M.C. Durfee High School, 460 Elsbree St., awarded $100,000 in support of a pathway linking its graduates to UMass schools via the Commonwealth Collegiate Academy. 

The Jan. 7 announcement is the result of Gov. Maura Healey's administration working to secure $8 million in Early College grant funding. The money is designated for high schools and higher education institutions across Massachusetts, as they design new or expand existing Early College programming.

The administration estimated the funding would help an additional 2,300 students, allowing high school students to take college classes and earn college credit for free. 

Read more at heraldnews.com.

After a long and happy life at the Buttonwood Park Zoo, beloved Asian elephant Ruth passed away on Dec. 28, 2024 at the age of 66. Now the staff is monitoring Emily as she continues on without her friend.

In a Dec. 30 Facebook video from the BPZOO, Shara Rapoza, assistant director of Buttonwood Park Zoo and the elephants' longtime caregiver, shared updates about Emily since Ruth's passing.

"Emily seems to be transitioning well into being alone up at the barn right now. She was a little quiet the day afterwards, which is to be expected. However, she was still participating in the normal daily routine," Rapoza said.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

A drone was used to track down the driver who allegedly hit and broke a utility pole in Dartmouth over the weekend. 

Police said 41-year-old Joshua Gallaudet, a Dartmouth resident, hit the pole shortly after 9 p.m. Sunday and then fled into the woods according to witnesses.  Investigators said it's suspected he may have been driving under the influence of alcohol. 

Charges against Gallaudet were pending.  

Good news for local cat lovers.

Less than a month after being abruptly shut down, the beloved cat cafe at 137 Main Road will be welcoming back its feline friends once again.

In a Facebook video shared Monday, Jan. 6, owner Amanda Souza introduced a handful of new cats ready to greet you at Bajah's Cat Cafe as she announced a grand reopening this weekend.

"We’re Back with Kitties! We’re so excited to share that we’re getting back to normal at Bajah’s Cat Cafe!," reads a post on their Facebook page.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

A passenger on a JetBlue flight has been arrested for allegedly opening a plane door while it taxied for departure at Logan Airport. 

The incident happened last night as a JetBlue flight prepared to depart Boston for Puerto Rico.  The opening of the over wing exit door caused the emergency slide to deploy.  State

Police were called to the scene and took the man suspected of opening the door into custody.  His identity was not released last night, and he's expected to be arraigned today.

More than $23,000 in GoFundMe donations has been raised as of Monday afternoon to help pay the medical bills for a Somerset woman who was body-slammed to the pavement in what she described as a road-rage incident.

After striking another car in what Attleboro police called "a minor motor vehicle crash," police said Hailea Soares of Somerset was pulled from her car by the other vehicle's driver, and after a brief argument she was picked up and thrown to the road. She suffered several broken bones and head injuries.

"Hailea is the sole provider for her 2 small children, but these injuries will keep her out of work for months," reads a post on the GoFundMe page. "The financial strain of medical bills, therapy costs, and providing for her children is overwhelming. We are asking for your support to help Hailea focus on recovery without the added stress of financial hardship."

See more at heraldnews.com.

Close to 70 years after the last train departed, southeastern Massachusetts is preparing to reconnect with Boston.

South Coast Rail, expected to launch public service in spring 2025, promises to transform the job market, economic conditions and regional connectivity by restoring direct service to Fall River, New Bedford and Taunton, the only major cities within a 50-mile radius of the state capital that lack commuter rail access to the city, according to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.

But for communities already grappling with housing affordability crises, the long-awaited rail link raises questions about who will benefit.

Housing advocates warn that the project could exacerbate a crisis for low-income families and push longtime residents out of their neighborhoods.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

State trooper Michael Proctor will face a termination hearing before a State Police trial board on January 15th. 

Proctor has been suspended without pay since the end of the Karen Read trial over the death of her Boston cop boyfriend John O'Keefe, which ended in a mistrial in July. 

Norfolk DA Michael Morrissey has warned the courts that Proctor faces possible immediate and permanent discipline at that hearing. 

Read's attorneys say she was framed by Proctor and others, with his crude texts about Read coming out during shocking testimony at her trial.  

A hearing on whether a defense expert will be allowed to testify in the Karen Read case resumes today in Dedham. 

Prosecutors want a judge to block Dr. Marie Russell from testifying that injuries to Boston cop John O'Keefe's arm were caused by an animal attack.  Prosecutors claim the arm injuries were actually caused by Read's SUV striking her boyfriend and causing his death in Canton in January of 2022. 

The hearing began last month and was continued until today after running long.  Russell did testify in Read's first trial, which ended in a mistrial last July.

Governor Maura Healey is asking the legislature for an additional 425-million-dollars for the emergency shelter system. 

Healey says the money is needed to make sure the shelter system for homeless migrant and local families is funded through the end of the fiscal year. 

Healey has filed a bill that would shift pandemic era surplus money to pay for the shelter system.  The measure would also reduce the amount of time a family can stay in state run shelters from nine to six months, and phase out the use of hotels for the program.

Josh Levy has submitted his resignation as U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts, effective January 17th. 

Levy is joining many other U.S. attorneys in announcing plans to resign before Donald Trump returns to office. 

Levy was appointed to the position in 2023 following the abrupt resignation of Rachael Rollins over allegations she violated ethics laws. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Mary Murrane will become acting U.S. attorney when Levy's resignation takes effect.  

The Showcase Cinemas in Seekonk showed its final movies on Sunday.

“We are sad to let you know that Showcase Cinemas Seekonk Route 6 is closing. It has been our pleasure to serve the southern Massachusetts community with great movie-going for many years. Due to a business decision January 5, 2025 will be our last day of cinema operations,” a statement read on the Showcase Cinemas website.

The cinema will be replaced by a Market Basket, the town planner confirmed to 12 News.

The Seekonk store will be located beside a Target and down the road from a Walmart, Stop & Shop, and where a new Whole Foods is being built.

See more at wpri.com.

Police said the suspect, 29-year-old Lim Rodrigues, suffers from “severe mental health challenges” at this time.

Around 11:30 a.m., yellow spray paint was used to vandalize the statue and granite memorial stone, according to police.

See more at wpri.com.

State gas prices rose for the second consecutive week and reached an average of $2.98 per gallon of regular fuel on Monday, up from last week's price of $2.97 per gallon, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The average fuel price in state has risen about 2 cents since last month. According to the EIA, gas prices across the state in the last year have been as low as $2.95 on Nov. 18, 2024, and as high as $3.76 on Aug. 7, 2023.

A year ago, the average gas price in Massachusetts was 7% higher at $3.19 per gallon.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

The owners of Mee Sum are holding a second estate sale, clearing out what's left of the iconic and now-closed Chinese restaurant’s dishware and other items. 

“Found teacups and the traditional dishes with the red flowers on it,” reads a post on Mee Sum’s Facebook page, with an invitation to a sale on Jan. 11. 

Regina and Kenneth Mark, owners of Mee Sum, served their last customers on New Year’s Eve after owning the restaurant for more than 50 years.   

Since closing, the Marks have remained busy, according to social media posts. They cleared out the refrigerators and delivered food to Fall River police and firefighters, and held an estate sale on Jan. 4 where they parted with dishes, cups, plates and even old menus.

Read more at heraldnews.com.  

New Bedford’s latest piece of public art will honor its legacy as the Whaling City: a statue of “Moby-Dick” author Herman Melville.

The city kicked off its annual “Moby-Dick” marathon weekend by unveiling the winner of its Melville statue design contest— an eight-foot bronze statue of the writer surrounded by a swirling sea, titled “Melville and Jonah’s Journey” by sculptor Stefanie Rocknack.

Rocknack’s proposal was chosen from a pool of 41 submissions and pays homage to the Seamen’s Bethel’s cameo in Chapter 9 of “Moby-Dick,” where the narrator Ishmael attends a sermon about the Biblical figure, Jonah at the historic New Bedford chapel.

See more at wpri.com.

A Pawtucket man is facing felony charges after he allegedly slammed a woman to the ground in a busy Attleboro intersection on Friday.

Police responded to reports of a crash near Newport and Highland Avenues and found the victim in the roadway, crying and bleeding from her head.

Standing over her was the suspect, identified as 26-year-old Gladior Kwesiah, according to police.

Witnesses told police the confrontation began after the woman rear-ended Kwesiah’s vehicle.

One witness reported seeing Kwesiah bang on the roof of the woman’s car before pulling her out of the vehicle. Another witness said they heard the two shouting, with the victim yelling, “Leave me alone!”

Moments later, Kwesiah lifted the woman and slammed her “head first” onto the pavement, police said. A witness captured the incident on video, which police provided to 12 News.

Brendan McDonald needed just 23 points to become the eighth boys basketball player to reach 1,000 career points in school history.

After 16 minutes of play against unbeaten Bourne on Friday night, some might have thought the Somerset Berkley senior might have to wait another day. He was just 3-of-7 from field in a defensive, minded contest at Somerset Berkley Regional High School.

However in the third quarter, McDonald knocked down 3-of-5 shots en route to a 10-point, third quarter as he guided the Raiders to a 49-38 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

In the fourth quarter, he missed his first three shots before knocking down a deep three-pointer to come within three points of reaching a milestone.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Fans of Herman Melville’s famous novel “Moby-Dick” have a weekend of events to look forward to.

The New Bedford Whaling Museum’s 29th annual “Moby-Dick” marathon will take place this weekend from Friday, Jan. 3, until Sunday, Jan. 5.

On Friday, “Moby-Dick” enthusiasts can purchase tickets to a dinner in the Harbor View Gallery, which will be followed by a presentation from “Dayswork” co-authors Chris Bachelder and Jennifer Habel.

The city will also reveal the winning artist and design for a public statue of Melville in a 3 p.m. ceremony at Seamen’s Bethel. More than 40 artists applied to create this statue, according to a city spokesperson.

Then on Saturday, a 25-hour marathon reading of “Moby-Dick” will begin at noon with an appearance by Karyn Parsons, who played Hilary Banks in “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” Parsons will read the book’s iconic first words, “Call me Ishmael.”

Scholars, students, and community members will then continue the reading, which is expected to wrap up on Sunday, Jan. 5.

See more at wpri.com.

Dartmouth Police announced they've fully encrypted their radio communications, upgrading their system in a move they described as safeguarding the public's personal information and ensuring increased security for the community.

According to the Dartmouth Police Department, traditional public police scanner broadcasts can expose sensitive information such as Social Security numbers, criminal records and medical data in real-time. With encrypted transmissions, information shared over the radio will be kept confidential and secure. This new system will also prevent unauthorized online rebroadcasts, they said in a statement.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

 As holiday lights get hauled back to the attic and electricity bills are expected to plateau, the city aims to keep energy consumers informed about the source and pricing of electricity in a newly revised community electricity aggregation plan.

In July 2024, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities, which is responsible for overseeing any changes made to municipalities’ aggregate electric programs, issued new guidelines that expanded local authority for cities like Fall River to make decisions regarding the operation of its electricity aggregation program, which has been active since 2016. And with that, it's shining a spotlight on public transparency around energy costs.

Aggregate electric programs supply power to more than half of all households statewide. From now until Jan. 13, Fall River residents are encouraged to review the revised plan dated Dec. 4, linked on the city’s official website, and offer comments.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Massachusetts lawmakers approved a bill that will allow cities and towns in the Bay State to install automated traffic enforcement cameras on school buses.

According to the bill, cameras would take photos and videos of cars that may drive by stopped buses.

Local police departments are then required to review the footage and decide if fines should be issued.

See more at wpri.com.

The estate of a former New Bedford fire chief killed after he shot at police has filed a lawsuit against the city.

The suit was filed in Bristol County Superior Court by lawyers representing the estate of Paul Coderre Jr., New Bedford’s former acting fire chief. It accuses the city of defamation, emotional distress and wrongful termination.

Coderre was fired after the city claimed he was lying about the extent of work-related injuries.

See more at wpri.com.

A pedestrian died on New Year’s Eve after they were hit by a vehicle in the area of Plymouth Avenue and Nashua Street in Fall River.

Fall River police said the incident happened around 8 p.m.

The victim was taken to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries and later died.

See more at wpri.com.