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

New jobless claims, a proxy for layoffs, increased to 5,047 in the week ending August 23, up from 4,373 the week before, the Labor Department said.

U.S. unemployment claims dropped to 229,000 last week, down 5,000 claims from 234,000 the week prior on a seasonally adjusted basis.

Virgin Islands saw the largest percentage increase in weekly claims, with claims jumping by 62.5%. Iowa, meanwhile, saw the largest percentage drop in new claims, with claims dropping by 50.2%.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Lisa Zagarella Coutu has been named interim principal of Edmond P. Talbot Middle School, according to a community announcement.

Zagarella Coutu, who has been the director of Multilingual Learner programs for Fall River Public Schools since 2023, takes over the role effective immediately.

The move is a homecoming for Zagarella Coutu, who worked at Talbot as the humanities department chair from 2013 through 2020.

"As many of you know, I was previously a part of the Talbot learning community for many years," Zagarella Coutu said in a message to Talbot staff. "I am looking forward to being able to reconnect with those of you with whom I have worked in the past, and to meeting those of you who I have not yet had the opportunity to work with during my journey in education.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

 A Rehoboth family was left reeling Friday evening after their home was apparently struck by lightning.

Tom Glenn told 12 News he was inside his Williams Street home with his wife, son and dogs as a strong line of thunderstorms moved through.

“We had a lightning strike and then an immediate explosion,” Glenn recalled, adding that the impact “shook the whole house.”

Glenn said he then noticed smoke coming from the basement.

See more at wpri.com.

Frank Caprio, who was known as “America’s nicest judge,” was laid to rest on Friday.

Caprio died last week at the age of 88.

His funeral was held at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Providence. Archbishop of Boston Richard Henning presided over the Mass.

See more at wpri.com.

A woman was injured in a fire that tore through a Tiverton home Friday evening.

Deputy Fire Chief Joshua Ferreira told 12 News firefighters rushed to the Blaisdell Street home after receiving a 911 call just before 6 p.m.

Firefighters were immediately met with flames shooting out of the front of the home and the injured woman. She was brought to the hospital for evaluation and is expected to be OK, according to Ferreira.

See more at wpri.com.

Powerball players will get another chance Monday at a jackpot estimated at over $1 billion, after no one won the big prize Saturday night.

No one has matched all six numbers since May 31, allowing the jackpot to swell to $1.1 billion, which would be the fifth-largest prize in the game’s history. Payments would be spread over 30 years, or a winner could choose an immediate lump sum of an estimated $498.4 million, again before taxes.

The odds of matching all six numbers are astronomical: 1 in 292.2 million. The likelihood of getting struck by lightning is far greater. But with so many people putting down money for a chance at life-changing wealth, someone eventually wins.

The numbers drawn Saturday were 3, 18, 22, 27 and 33, with the Powerball 17.

See more at wpri.com.

Actress Elizabeth Banks, a Massachusetts native, will reportedly star as Karen Read in an upcoming series about the murder trial.

Both Deadline and Variety reported Wednesday that Banks will star as Read in a limited series being developed by Prime Video and Warner Bros Television. The series is reportedly based on the Law & Crime and Wondery podcast "Karen."

Banks, who grew up in Pittsfield, is known for her work in the franchises "The Hunger Games" and "Pitch Perfect," as well as in films including "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," "Spider-Man," and "Wet Hot American Summer."

In June, Read, 45, was acquitted by a jury of killing her boyfriend, Braintree native and Boston police officer John O'Keefe, by backing into him with her SUV outside a Canton home in January 2022 and leaving him to die in a snowstorm following a night of drinking. The jury found her guilty of operating under the influence. She was sentenced to a year of probation and a class.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

A prominent city developer has won $2.5 million in state tax credits to help build more housing in downtown Fall River.

The Cordeiro Group, led by Anthony Cordeiro, was one of six developers statewide to receive funding from the Housing Development Incentive Program. The program is a state initiative to spur the building of market-rate housing in Gateway Cities.

The funding for Cordeiro Group will go toward building Bedford Lofts, a 52-unit five-story building on Bedford Street that will also contain commercial space and an adult day care center.

“HDIP is the medium that makes market-rate housing happen in Gateway Cities like Fall River,” said Melanie C. Cordeiro, vice president and chief marketing officer for the Cordeiro Group.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Three candidates for mayor found themselves almost universally agreeing with each other on every topic at a forum held by the Flint Neighborhood Association on Wednesday night, Aug. 27.

“Too bad the city of Fall River cannot have three mayors,” said Carlos Cesar, flanked by Gabriel “Boomer” Amaral and Christopher Silvia on stage at the Sociedade Cultural Ac?oreana. “I think we’re a good team, all three of us.”

But none of them, he said, likes the direction Fall River has been heading in.

A crowd of several dozen people gathered in the function hall to hear them answer questions on topics including homelessness, public safety funding, trash collection, the city’s rebuilt waterfront and more. On each issue, the candidates shared their platforms, complaints and ideas — which, more often than not, were compatible with the others’, in general if not always the specifics.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Rhode Island’s T.F. Green International Airport is set to undergo $64 million in terminal upgrades, but some local fliers are concerned it may come at the cost of the ground floor’s iconic sailboat installation.

Last week, the board of directors selected a construction firm to complete the project, which will be funded through a combination of federal grants, passenger fees and airport funds, according to RIAC President Bill Fischer. He emphasized that no Rhode Island taxpayer dollars are being used.

Fischer said the next phase focuses on “modernizing the terminal to better accommodate growing passenger traffic,” including improvements to walls, ceilings, seating and lighting.

See more at wpri.com.

Frank Caprio, who was known as “America’s nicest judge,” will be laid to rest on Friday.

Caprio died last week at the age of 88.

A public remembrance and visitation will be held Thursday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Rhode Island Convention Center in downtown Providence. Organizers say there will be two lines: one for paying respects to Caprio and one for paying respects and greeting his family.

For those attending, there will be complimentary three-hour parking available in the North Garage, and Providence Place is also offering free parking in the mall garage from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

See more at wpri.com.

After being fired in March, the Massachusetts State Police lead investigator in the Karen Read case is trying to get his job back.

Former Massachusetts State Trooper Michael Proctor is scheduled to go before the Civil Service Commission on Tuesday, Aug. 26, and Wednesday, Aug. 27, as part of his bid to get his job back. He was put on unpaid leave in July 2024 and ultimately fired in March.

Proctor was the lead investigator in the case of Read, a Mansfield woman accused of killing her Boston police officer boyfriend, Braintree native John O'Keefe. The first trial ended in a mistrial in July 2024 and Read was acquitted on most charges in her second trial, which ended in June.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

The 2025 season is all about being on the winning side of the scoreboard for the Durfee football team.

The Hilltoppers ended the 2024 campaign with two straight wins under their belts, including a dominant Thanksgiving Day win over rival New Bedford.

Brown expressed some of his expectation for the new season.

"We want to compete and give us an opportunity to win," Brown said. "Falmouth and then Taunton so it's a tough schedule to start. The goal is making the playoffs and obviously, win the league."

Read more at heraldnews.com.

The state Department of Transportation will spend almost a week doing some roadwork near Swansea’s shopping district.

MassDOT will be performing some repaving on Route 6 at Gardners Neck Road in Swansea all next week overnight.

The repaving is slated to take place from Tuesday night to Saturday morning, 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., from Sept. 2 to 6.

One lane should be open at all times but drivers should expect lane closures and some traffic changes.

MassDOT said they will have signs and detourn messages in place.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

A New Bedford man is facing charges after leading police on a chase that ended in a crash early Wednesday morning.

Massachusetts State Police said the driver refused to pull over around 3 a.m. and sped off down Route 24 South.

The trooper pursued the car onto I-195 East, then Route 88 and Route 6 West until the driver hit a telephone pole in Westport.

Police said the driver, Tyvaughn Petifort, 21, was charged with negligent operation of a motor vehicle, operating with a suspended license, speeding, a marked lanes violation, leaving the scene of property damage, and concealing a license plate.

See more at wpri.com.

The lawsuits are piling up against Dennis Etzkorn, owner and operator of the Gabriel House assisted living facility, with a total of 15 people claiming injuries and negligence in the deadly fire.

Former Gabriel House residents Albert Almanza, Larry Ashworth, Muriel Boyce, Shirley Cambra, Lorraine Ferrera, Caroline Johnson and James Vicery were the latest to file a joint lawsuit against Etzkorn, Karen Etzkorn, Gabriel Care LLC and Fire Systems.

The seven, represented by attorneys from Keches Law Group and Boston Law, filed the civil suit in Bristol County Superior Court last week.

All seven said they were injured in the July 13 fire that broke out at the Oliver Street assisted living facility, where 10 people were killed and about 30 injured.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Two men are facing charges after allegedly leading officers on a chase through New Bedford early Sunday morning.

Police said officers noticed a “suspicious vehicle,” later determined to be stolen, trespassing in Victory Park on Brock Avenue around 4 a.m. The car then sped off before crashing into a parked vehicle near Brooklawn Park.

Three suspects allegedly ran from the scene wearing ski-masks and rubber gloves, according to police.

Saijah Arnum, 26, of New Bedford, and Jozel Grace, 19, of Taunton, were arrested and charged with receiving a stolen motor vehicle.

See more at wpri.com.

A man has died and a woman is in the hospital after a crash in Raynham Sunday night.

Police said they recieved reports around 8:15 p.m. of a driver driving erratically on South Street West and a short time later learned their truck struck a tree.

The driver, a 31-year-old man, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.

His passenger, a 33-year-old woman, was rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, police added.

See more at wpri.com.

Funeral arrangements have been announced for Frank Caprio.

Caprio, who served as a judge for the Providence Municipal Court for almost 40 years, died last week. He was 88.

A public remembrance and visitation for Caprio will be held Thursday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Rhode Island Convention Center, Hall A, in Providence. Parking will be provided in the North Garage for those who attend.

His funeral mass with Archbishop of Boston Richard Henning will be held Friday at 10 a.m. at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Providence. Burial will be private.

See more at wpri.com.

Massachusetts State Police are investigating an early morning crash where a Freetown woman was killed.

According to police, just before 3:30 a.m., troopers from the Dartmouth Barracks were called to I-195 east, near mile marker 21 in Dartmouth , for a report of a single car crash.

First responders to the scene were able to remove the driver, identified as Crystal Mullens, 36, of Freetown, who was trapped in the vehicle.

She later died of her injuries.

See more at wpri.com.

There's a different voice barking orders behind Cardinal Stadium these days at Joseph Case football practices.

Assistant coach Alex Monteiro takes over the head-coaching duties after Anthony Palladino stepped down from his role after 11 seasons.

Now the first-year mentor wants to carry on the Cardinal tradition.

"I really like my kids," Monteiro said. "I'm going to enjoy this year and I think it's going to be fun. It's going to be new and then I'll figure it out from there."

Read more at heraldnews.com.

MassDOT will be replacing traffic signs along I-195 eastbound and westbound between Dartmouth and Wareham in nightly work from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. starting Aug. 24 that will continue through March 2026.

Drivers traveling through the area should expect delays, reduce speed, and use caution, according to MassDOT.

Lane closures on I-195 eastbound and westbound will be in place, according to a MassDOT press release, though at least one lane of travel will be maintained at all times.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

 A popular Taunton drive-in restaurant will be closing its doors for good after more than 50 years in business.

The Star Drive-In announced in a social media post Friday that the 1964-era restaurant will officially close in March 2026.

Erika Madden, owner of the beloved drive-in restaurant, explained that she plans to close the restaurant once her lease expires.

Madden said there have been issues with her lease since SouthCoast Development purchased the property a few years ago.

See more at wpri.com.

A “Vigil of Hope” will be held Saturday night to honor the life of Kylee Monteiro.

Police say the 18-year-old, who was 11 weeks pregnant at the time, was killed by her boyfriend, 22-year-old Gregory Groom.

The candlelight vigil will be held at 401 Winthrop Street in Rehoboth, at 7 p.m.

According to a post on social media, there will be 1,000 candles provide to those in attendance.

See more at wpri.com.

Do you get your grocery shopping done at Stop & Shop? The supermarket chain announced it would slash prices at its Eastern Massachusetts stores by the end of the month.

Stop & Shop, which is headquartered in Quincy, said it was replacing the price tags on thousands of items across nearly every department, so that customers can buy groceries like chicken broth and shredded cheese for cheaper.

The grocery store will begin rolling out the new prices at 88 Eastern Massachusetts locations on Aug. 22, adding to the 28 Stop & Shop stores that have already implemented them.

"We know that value matters now more than ever, and this price investment – which is the largest one we’ve executed to date – is just one example of the work we’re focused on to deliver a great experience for our customers in terms of value, high-quality products, and service in our stores," Stop & Shop President Roger Wheeler said in a statement.

The store said the lower prices are part of a multi-year "transformation strategy" announced in 2024.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

According to information from the New England Aquarium and other sources, the odds of finding a blue lobster are about one in two million.

Even among that level of rarity, the blue lobster that now resides at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's School for Marine Science & Technology East in New Bedford's South End is a standout example.

"He's a bright, gorgeous blue," said SMAST Seawater Lab Manager Forrest Kennedy, noting the lobster has been determined to be a male. "You don't see many this blue — he's pretty."

According to Kennedy, the blue lobster had been discovered in the catch of a Beverly lobster fishing vessel named the "Michael and Erin."

Read more at heraldnews.com.

The Route 79 road construction project that has tangled traffic along the city’s waterfront will be mostly done much earlier than expected — in a matter of months.

The project has been running ahead of schedule, and according to information from communications analyst John Goggins of MassDOT, the timetable looks good for drivers.

The Route 79-Davol Street Corridor project “is expected to reach substantial completion by fall of 2025. Minor items of work will be completed in the spring of 2026,” Goggins said.

As initially conceived, the project would have been complete in summer 2026.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

A 22-year-old Rehoboth man charged with fatally stabbing his 18-year-old pregnant girlfriend was ordered held without bail in Taunton District Court Wednesday — as the prosecution shared harrowing new details of the victim’s final moments.

Gregory Groom, 22, of Rehoboth, confessed to police that he stabbed Kylee Monteiro multiple times in the neck and chest with a kitchen knife before burying her body in a hole on his property, Assistant District Attorney Jason Mohan said in court on Wednesday, Aug. 20.

"The stab wound to her chest actually broke the blade off," Mohan said.

Groom pleaded not guilty Wednesday to murder, assault and battery on a pregnant victim, assault and battery on a family or household member and aggravated witness intimidation in connection to the alleged altercation with Monteiro on Wednesday, Aug. 6.

Groom is scheduled for a probable cause hearing on Sept. 10.

See more at heraldnews.com.

In the two weeks since police cleared out homeless encampments on the Quequechan River Rail Trail and made 38 arrests, many of those living there have scattered elsewhere around the city.

Nichole Fontaine, director of the city’s homeless outreach programs, knows where they are, and said she and outreach workers continue multiple times a week to offer them services to get off the streets.

Several of them have taken up that offer. Others haven’t yet. That's how it works.

Speaking by phone while visiting a homeless encampment, Fontaine said that day she had spoken with 30 people, nearly all of whom were from the rail trail, and all of whom had been offered but declined services repeatedly.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

In the span of two days, Fall River police have arrested 34-year-old Vincent Valois twice.

In a social media post, the Fall River Police Department said officers have been working to address concerns from local businesses of people trespassing, using drugs and causing disturbances late at night and early in the morning.

On the morning of Aug. 18, officers found Valois in a “group of unwanted individuals” behind a business on South Main Street. Valois ran away from officers, who police said chased him down and placed him under arrest.

See more at wpri.com.

Frank Caprio, who served as a judge for the Providence Municipal Court for almost 40 years, has died. He was 88.

Caprio’s death was confirmed Wednesday by his son.

“Beloved for his compassion, humility, and unwavering belief in the goodness of people, Judge Caprio touched the lives of millions through his work in the courtroom and beyond. His warmth, humor, and kindness left an indelible mark on all who knew him,” a statement posted on his official Facebook page said.

“He will be remembered not only as a respected judge, but as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and friend,” the statement continued. “His legacy lives on in the countless acts of kindness he inspired.”

See more at wpri.com.

The first-ever Herren Outdoor Shootout Summer Jam is set to get underway on Aug. 26-27 in Dartmouth.

Some of the best AAU basketball programs in the area will gather on Burgo Basketball Association asphalt at 101 Slocum Road for under the lights basketball action, beginning at 7 p.m.

Former Boston Celtic Brian Scalabrine is sending five teams to play event. Also the Herren Shootout All-Stars — Tabor's Aidan Smith, Drew Herren, Liam Eccles, Durfee's Jah Stephenson and Ollie Curley. Other AAU programs include Brian Rudolph's LIT, Doug Alves' The Club' and White Mamba.

"It’s always been about the area's best versus big-time AAU programs that will be the top ticket in featured games," founder and tournament director Mike Herren said. "We also try to get as many of the local programs involved as well."

See more at heraldnews.com.

A fall chill is in the air, which means summer break is coming to a close and students are starting to head back to school.

Starting next week, 12 News will have in-depth Back to School coverage on air and online to help make sure families are well prepared.

Click here to see when Rhode Island and Massachusetts students return to school.

Police will be charging a Rehoboth man with murder after human remains “consistent” with those of his pregnant girlfriend were discovered at his home Tuesday evening, according to Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn III.

Gregory Groom, 22, was initially charged with aggravated assault and battery on a pregnant woman, domestic assault and battery and intimidation of a witness.

Investigators believe Groom attacked his girlfriend, 18-year-old Kylee Monteiro, on Aug. 6 at his residence on County Street.

Quinn said detectives found human remains on the property that are believed to belong to Monteiro, who was first reported missing by Groom earlier this month. He confirmed Monteiro was 11 weeks pregnant at the time of her disappearance.

See more at wpri.com.

A fast arrest has been made after a bank robbery in Fall River. 

Police say a male suspect held up the Rockland Trust Bank on Brayton Avenue yesterday morning and fled on foot.  The suspect was jogging away when a dye pack placed with the money activated, coating him with red dye.  Police were able to track the suspect into Rhode Island, and he was arrested in Providence. 

Forty-one-year-old Agostini Poux Domingo is being held as a fugitive from justice pending a warrant request.

The bright lights of Friday Night football is right around the corner.

The Herald News is excited to bring you another great season of high school football. Local area teams — Atlantis Charter/Westport, Joseph Case, Diman, Durfee and Somerset Berkley — are ready to take what they learned in the preseason and bring it into the regular season.

The 2025 season promises to be one filled with exciting moments. Students and fans get ready to pack the stands and cheer loud for your teams.

All that's left is for the Tritons, Cardinals, Bengals, Hilltoppers and Raiders is hit the ground running. The ultimate goal for the season is Gillette Stadium in December.

It's kickoff time for Fall River area teams. Follow and bookmark this page throughout the season.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Once a month, in the wee hours of a clear morning, a group of “citizen scientists” break into teams, set sail, and drop anchor at coordinated points in the Coles and Lees Rivers, and at the mouth of Mount Hope Bay. 

For Kevin Munroe and his son, Luke, this means boarding his 22-foot “bowrider” vessel with one of Swansea’s Conservation Commissioners Nanci Hedgcorth and working with several high-tech instruments that measure the temperature, depth, and oxygen saturation of the water.

Luke collects the brackish water one would find, or attempt to swim in, off Swansea’s coast, while Hedgcorth throws many an instrument overboard, shielding her eyes from sun as she jots copious notes. 

This summer marks the third year that volunteers have been collecting water samples to be delivered to UMass Dartmouth’s School for Marine Science and Technology laboratories in New Bedford.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Suspended Market Basket CEO Arthur T. Demoulas’ three sisters have ousted his last remaining ally from the supermarket chain’s Board of Directors, 12 News has learned.

In a statement issued Monday, Bill Shea announced that Demoulas’ sisters — Frances Kettenbach, Glorianne Demoulas Farnham and Caren Demoulas Pasquale — voted earlier this month to remove him the board after 26 years of service.

The board now consists of Jay Hachigian, Steven Collins and Michael Keyes, who were each appointed by Demoulas’ sisters.

Demoulas was placed on paid administrative leave three months ago alongside his two children and other Market Basket executives. The board’s decision to suspend them followed accusations that Demoulas was in the process of orchestrating a companywide work stoppage.

See more at wpri.com.

What is believed to be the first wrongful death lawsuit filed over the deadly Fall River assisted living home fire has been filed. 

The family of 69-year-old Margaret Duddy filed the lawsuit last week in Bristol Superior Court.  Duddy is one of the ten people who died in the fire at the Gabriel House on July 13th. 

The suit accuses the home owner and the company that maintains its fire systems of negligence.  

A supply drive was held Sunday afternoon in New Bedford to help those impacted by Hurricane Erin in Cape Verde.

The flooding initially killed nine people, and forced thousands from their homes.

In response, the E.Lima Foundation is holding a drop off at Tremblay’s bus company on Myrtle Street. They’re asking for items like non-perishable foods and first aid supplies.

“We have Brockton and New Bedford coming together and that’s all this is about is coming together as a community with different people of the community,” Erika Lima, the foundation’s president and founder, told 12 News Saturday.

See more at wpri.com.

The Bristol County Mosquito Control Project is set to spray the area around Kennedy Park in Fall River to reduce mosquito populations ahead of the Great Feast of the Holy Ghost.

The spraying is scheduled to take place between 2 and 6 a.m. Aug. 19 and 22, according to a community announcement.

The project will use a spray truck with an ultra-low volume spray containing sumithrin, a man-made pesticide similar to the natural components of the chrysanthemum flower. Sumithrin is also found in other pesticide products used indoors, in pet shampoo and on pets. The active ingredients generally break down quickly and do not leave a toxic residue.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

The new Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School will be just about ready to welcome its first class of students, teachers, and staff this time next year, but not before a long-awaited ribbon-cutting ceremony is expected to take place in June 2026.

The build, which has progressed tremendously in the last week alone, is moving along as expected, with a few key spaces rapidly taking shape, thanks to Boston-based Suffolk Construction builders that have labored alongside Kaestle Boos, an architectural firm in on the project's design, in coordination with the build’s project owners, Colliers.

The floors may still be a bit dusty with pipes, wires, and drywall strewn about, but a tour of the new school takes about an hour — long enough to take in the high-ceilinged atrium of the 570-seat auditorium complete with a catwalk suspended overhead; a cafeteria that can feed 500 students with floor-to-ceiling windows; common spaces with “multi-sensory” boards and screens, setting a tone of modernity and inclusion for the Diman community.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

She was a teacher with a big heart, a great sense of humor, and a desire to go above and beyond.

Saddened by Jo-Ellen (Murgo) Paterno's passing on Wednesday morning, Aug. 13, co-workers and former students are fondly remembering one of Somerset's beloved educators. She taught physical education at Somerset Middle School for 19 years. Stricken by cancer three years ago, she was on sick leave for two years before retiring last fall.

Somerset Middle School physical education teacher Mike Johnson worked alongside Paterno for more than a decade. It was easy for him to see why she was so popular with students, whose love for her endured past their days at SMS.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Crews knocked down a barn fire that broke out in Dartmouth Saturday afternoon.

Deputy Fire Chief Corey Pimental told 12 News crews that responded to Old Fall River Road around 4:30 p.m. were met with a fire that affected the barn and two smaller buildings nearby.

According to Pimental, it took firefighters about half an hour to fully extinguish the flames.

Nobody was home at the time of the fire, Pimental said.

See more at wpri.com.

Taunton police are investigating after a teenager was shot early Saturday morning.

Chief Edward Walsh said police were called to Church Street just before 6 a.m. for reports of gunshots.

Walsh said as officers were investigating the scene, they learned a 16-year-old boy was shot and rushed to Morton Hospital.

The teenager suffered a serious, but not life-threatening wound, according to Walsh.

See more at wpri.com.

The last time the bridge, which goes from Bristol to Portsmouth, closed was in 1986 when it underwent a re-decking project.

“Thanks to a great crew and beautiful weather, we were able to complete the resurfacing project ahead of schedule,” Lori Caron Silveira, executive director of the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) said. “I appreciate the hard work of the crew at J.H. Lynch and the engineering team at RITBA, who ran this project with clockwork precision.”

“I also want to thank the town leaders in Bristol and Portsmouth for their collaboration an support,” Caron Silveira continued. “We hope that everyone enjoys the smoother ride over this beautiful bridge.”

See more at wpri.com.

Scattered thunderstorms swept through Southern New England Thursday night, leaving behind damage in some areas.

Just before 9 p.m., crews in East Providence responded to a home on Henry Street for a report of a lightning strike.

A doorbell camera across the street captured the moment the bolt struck the home.

East Providence police said no flames were visible when crews arrived, but the cement on the outdoor front steps was broken, and the siding on the house was charred.

See more at wpri.com.

Every public school in New Bedford has been declared a safety zone from any ICE enforcement. 

The school committee approved the measure earlier this week which allows for a rapid response team if a child's parent or guardian is detained.  By law, ICE agents can enter public areas of schools, but a warrant is needed to enter classrooms. 

The district will also implement "Know Your Rights" sessions.

State and local police were back out in Rehoboth on Wednesday searching for an 18-year-old woman who has been missing since last week.

Police said Kylee Monteiro was last seen on Thursday, Aug. 7, in the area of County Street.

Her sister, Faith Monteiro, told 12 News that Kylee is 11 weeks pregnant and just graduated from Attleboro High School.

“We love her, we miss her and we just want her to come home,” Faith said.

See more at wpri.com.

Karen Read’s legal team is asking a judge to throw out part of the civil wrongful-death lawsuit filed by the family of the late Boston police officer John O’Keefe, who died in January 2022. 

The suit also names two Canton bars, which the family claims overserved her before the night O’Keefe was found fatally injured outside a Canton home owned at the time by another Boston police officer who was O’Keefe’s friend. 

Prosecutors had alleged in the criminal case that Read, who was dating O’Keefe, struck him with her SUV while dropping him off at the home and left him in the snow. Read’s defense argued he died after a fight inside the house, suggesting his injuries came from being beaten and possibly attacked by a dog.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

A review of state inspections at the Gabriel House assisted living facility reveal repeated citations for lax reporting of resident emergencies and staff improperly trained in several respects, including the facility’s emergency management plan. 

It remains unclear what that plan was.  

When asked for a copy of Gabriel House’s emergency management plan, the state Executive Office of Aging and Independence provided a July 2015 document from Gabriel House that promised a plan but did not contain specifics. 

Ten people died and about 30 were injured when a fire broke out at the Oliver Street assisted living facility on July 13. The catastrophe saw Fall River firefighters and other safety officials overwhelmed by having to rescue about 70 elderly and infirm residents from a building that quickly filled with smoke. 

The facility’s parent company, Gabriel Care Inc., and its operator Dennis Etzkorn are facing multiple lawsuits on behalf of residents. Claims of negligence and improper training form the basis of those suits.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

The Mount Hope Bridge will be closed starting Thursday night for some much-needed resurfacing work.

The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) said the bridge will be closed to all traffic from 7 p.m. through Monday at 5 a.m., weather permitting.

According to the RITBA, the road surface will be milled, and then an ultra-thin bonded overlay will be applied to make a smooth surface.

For those who need to drive around the bridge during the closure, signage for detours will be in place, directing drivers to use Route 24 and I-195 through Fall River.

See more at wpri.com.

Firefighters successfully rescued a cow that became stuck in the mud in Dartmouth Tuesday.

Dartmouth Fire District 2 shared in a social media post that the cow was safely removed from the mud and was able to walk away on its own.

Images of the rescue showed firefighters putting the cow in a harness and lifting it out of the mud using a backhoe.

It’s unclear exactly where or how the cow became stuck in the mud.

See more at wpri.com.

Municipal election season is approaching across Massachusetts, with voters in Bristol County’s four cities preparing to select mayors, city councilors and school committee members this fall.

Three of Bristol County’s four incumbent mayors are up for reelection, and voters in all four cities will be going to the polls for other municipal offices. The general election will be Nov. 4 across the region, but the timing of preliminary elections varies by city.

Odd-year municipal elections historically draw far fewer voters than presidential or gubernatorial contests. In 2023, turnout was just 22% in Taunton, 20% in Fall River, 14% in Attleboro and only 13% in New Bedford. The trend has prompted advocacy groups to push for moving local elections to even-numbered years.

See more at wpri.com.

A group of neighbors came to the rescue of a groundhog that got stuck in a storm grate in Swansea, freeing the animal with some dish soap and an icing spatula.

Ken Waddicor sent in photos of the animal before and after it was freed. He told 12 News people only stepped in to help after they were unable to reach animal control or a local wildlife rehabilitator.

See more at wpri.com.

Market Basket is seeking a restraining order against two former executives, one of whom was reportedly caught on camera walking into the grocery store chain’s headquarters unauthorized.

In a civil complaint filed in Middlesex Superior Court Monday, Market Basket accused former Director of Operations Joe Schimdt and Grocery Director Tom Gordon of pressuring store employees into a work shutdown.

Market Basket’s Board of Directors fired Schimdt and Gordon last month, accusing them of insubordination, making derogatory remarks about the supermarket chain and inappropriate communication with colleagues.

See more at wpri.com.

After a fairly slow start to hurricane season, conditions are starting to become more favorable for storms to develop, especially across the Atlantic.

We’ve had three weak, short-lived storms thus far, which isn’t that unusual for June and July, but activity usually starts to ramp up in August. Saharan dust surges, which are common in June and July, should be starting to slow down over the next few weeks.

Read more at hometownforecastservice.com.

A group of Massachusetts citizens have filed an initiative petition to roll back marijuana legalization in the state, according to the MA attorney general’s office.

On Aug. 6, the attorney general’s office announced that 19 groups had filed 47 initiative petitions for new proposed laws or constitutional amendments.

Two of the proposed laws, both filed by Caroline Cunningham and signed by about 14 others, would repeal provisions in the current marijuana law passed in 2016 that allow for the drug to be sold commercially in the state. However, the process to become law is lengthy, and there are other challenges in its way.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

The New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center is bringing back a favored tradition with its revival of a scallop shucking competition.

It will be hosting the inaugural Scallopalooza, a scallop celebration and shucking contest and free public event that will be held during the August AHA! Night from 5 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 14.

Over the years, the scallop shucking contest has been a landmark waterfront event in New Bedford and a showcase of New Bedford’s commercial scallop fishery from the Scallop Festival of the 1950s to the Working Waterfront Festival of the 2000s.

Read moe at heraldnews.com.

Early in the morning of Aug. 5, the Fall River Police Department cleared a section of the Quequechan River Rail Trail of what they term “a colony of criminals” between Rodman Street and Brayton Avenue. 

Operation Clear Path is FRPD's “coordinated enforcement effort” in response to more than 800 emergency 911 calls coming in over the past three years, reporting sexual assaults, overdoses, robberies, fires, assaults with weapons, and the ongoing presence of biohazardous waste along the trail.

In an Aug. 5 Facebook post, the police department described the scale and strategy of the campaign to “reclaim” the public space intended for families from “trespassers,” the overwhelming majority of which “have significant criminal histories" that include “substantial” violent offenses.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Rehoboth police are asking the public for help locating an 18-year-old woman who has been missing since last week.

Police say Kylee Monteiro was last seen on Thursday, Aug. 7, in the area of County Street.

She is six feet tall and has light brown hair and brown eyes. She was wearing a red T-shirt that said “Get Over It” on the front, with ripped blue jeans and tan boots.

Police added that she may have been carrying a white bag with her belongings inside.

See more at wpri.com.

The town’s waterways are under scrutiny, and this time, it isn’t residents taking to social media to ask questions related to the town beach, raise concerns about drinking water, or allege incidents happening down at Swansea’s shore. 

The town, in coordination with the University of Massachusetts Boston's Director of Urban Harbors Institute Kristin Uiterwyk, and the institute’s Senior Research Associate Kimberly Starbuck, are creating a comprehensive Waterways Plan that will serve as a “roadmap” for town decision-making related to its waterfront. 

The plan will establish the community’s objectives in line with environmental standards, while posing recommendations that could affect future policy on public and private use of land and water at two zones along the town's shore.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

At the July 17 Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, the petition to convert the former Holy Union of the Sacred Hearts convent and carriage house on Rock Street into 12 residential units with the potential to be condominiumized was given the go-ahead — but not without stony pushback from neighbors. 

Corporation Counsel Alan Rumsey, and his wife, Maria, purchased the convent, carriage house and rear building at 550 and 570 Rock St., divided into parcels, for $515,000 and $447,500 on Dec. 23, 2024, according to Registry of Deeds records. 

The Rumseys, who live next door at 492 Rock St., “took the chance to protect their own investment,” said attorney Peter A. Saulino at a Zoning Board of Appeals meeting on May 15, when the petition was first heard and tabled. 

Read more at heraldnews.com.

It's the annual tax-free holiday this weekend in Massachusetts. 

The six-and-a-quarter percent sales tax will be waived on most personal purchases up to 25-hundred-dollars. 

The tax break cannot be applied to purchases made by or for a business.  It also does not apply to layaway sales.

An event held in Veterans Memorial Bicentennial Park on Aug. 7, amid the city’s collection of monuments to military veterans past and present, marked the official designation of Fall River as a Purple Heart City.

Fall River joins hundreds of Purple Heart cities across the country, part of a trail that spans 52 states and U.S. territories.

The designation is “a symbol of our deep respect and gratitude for the brave men and women who have been wounded or lost in combat while serving our nation,” Mayor Paul Coogan’s administration said in a statement.

See more at heraldnews.com.

An Aldi location in Swansea will be coming soon.

The town recently approved a building permit for the grocery store to go into a vacant building on 58 and 86 Swansea Mall Drive.

According to Jennifer Howard, an assistant to the town’s building inspector, Aldi filed for a permit on June 25, which was issued July 30.

See more at wpri.com.

New Bedford residents came out in full force Thursday evening to express their concerns with a proposed waste transfer facility.

The New Bedford Board of Health has been considering whether to approve the proposed facility, which would process up to 1,500 tons of solid waste each day within the city’s industrial park.

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection green-lighted the project back in July.

But not everyone is on board with the idea.

See more at wpri.com.

The cost of keeping tow trucks on constant standby at the Washington Bridge has soared to $6.8 million, more than triple the original budget, Target 12 has found.

The R.I. Department of Transportation budgeted $2 million for the emergency towing services just after the westbound I-195 bridge was abruptly closed in December 2023. But monthly progress reports reviewed by Target 12 show the state blew past the $2 million mark last September, and costs have continued to climb since then.

RIDOT has maintained at least two tow trucks on 24-hour standby at the bridge since the closure in order to quickly clear crashes and breakdowns. The state currently contracts with five private towing companies for the service, with two trucks positioned at all times and a third operating from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

The state has been spending an average of $440,000 a month on towing for the last year, though the amount varies widely. RIDOT says the trucks cleared 264 incidents during the 12 months ended May 31, putting the average cost at about $21,000 per incident.

See more at wpri.com.

Saint Anne’s Hospital has been recognized for its commitment to high-quality stroke care, according to a community announcement.

The hospital received the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines - Stroke GoldPlus quality achievement award. This award acknowledges the hospital's dedication to providing stroke patients with the most appropriate treatment based on nationally recognized, research-based guidelines. This commitment ultimately leads to more lives saved and reduced disability.

“Saint Anne’s Hospital has long been committed to improving patient care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines for stroke,” Carole Billington, Saint Anne’s Hospital president and chief nursing officer, said. “Get With The Guidelines helps our teams put proven knowledge and guidelines to work on a daily basis, which studies show can help patients recover better. Under the leadership of Dr. Jeffrey Steinberg, specialist in neurology and chair of Saint Anne’s Stroke Committee, our goal is to ensure more people in our community can experience longer, healthier lives.”

Read more at heraldnews.com.

CPR saves lives, as the Gomes family can attest to.

On Saturday, July 19, while the whole family of four, who live in Assonet, were having a nice day together, Robbie Gomes suffered cardiac arrest while behind the wheel of the family’s Toyota Highlander. 

The rest of the family managed to regain control of the car before a serious accident happened. His son, Joshua Gomes, 16, performed CPR on his father while waiting for emergency response teams to arrive on the scene. 

Joshua Gomes said response team members told him he saved his father’s life that day by performing CPR.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

An investigation continues into a motorcycle crash that killed a 37-year-old man earlier this week in New Bedford.

The crash occurred around 2:30 a.m. Sunday in the area of Route 18 and Union Street, according to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.

Officers arrived to find a bystander performing CPR on the motorcyclist in the roadway, the DA’s office said.

The man, identified as Johan Marquez Marte, was rushed to the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

See more at wpri.com.

An investigation is underway after a fire broke out at a nursing home and rehabilitation center in Somerset.

Crews were called to Somerset Ridge Center around 3:30 a.m. on Thursday.

Fire Chief Jamison Barros said the fire broke out in an empty community room on the second floor, and the sprinkler system kept the fire contained.

“The staff did a fantastic job of isolating that room. They actually used some extinguishers to put out the fire in that room and start to shuttle and shelter in place the residents they had, so they did a fantastic job,” Barros said.

See more at wpri.com.

Convicted former Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia is one step closer to freedom.

Correia, 33, has been moved out of federal prison in Ashland, Ky., and into the Federal Bureau of Prisons Residential Reentry Management program. The designation traditionally means an inmate has been sent to a halfway house near where they will be living once their sentence expires.

An email to the BOP seeking more details has not been immediately returned.

Correia was sentenced to six years in prison in 2021 after a jury convicted him of shaking down prospective marijuana business owners for bribes, defrauding investors in his now-defunct app SnoOwl and lying to the IRS.

See more at wpri.com.

Fall River police are trying to "clean up" an area authorities said is overrun with criminal activity. 

"Operation Clear Path" was launched yesterday morning on the Quequechan River Rail Trail between Rodman Street and Brayton Avenue. 

Police said in the last three years there have been hundreds of calls to that area for sexual assaults, overdoses, robberies, fires and armed assaults. 

During yesterday's sweep, police reported 33 people were arrested.

There's confirmation of West Nile Virus in New Bedford.  It was detected in mosquitoes trapped in the Oak Grove Cemetery area. 

Ground spraying will be conducted early tomorrow morning and residents should keep their windows shut.

The public is also advised to take precautions to prevent mosquito bites. 

A bill in Massachusetts would prohibit law enforcement including ICE agents from wearing masks. 

Attleboro state Representative Jim Hawkins said ICE agents with out-of-state plates, no identification and disguising themselves are taking people. 

He acknowledges that if the bill is passed by the Legislature it's likely to face a court challenge.

A bomb threat that was false is the reason Main Street on Nantucket was shut down around 7:30 last night. 

Police responded to a report of an improvised explosive device in an SUV.  Businesses and streets in the area were evacuated. 

The State Police bomb squad arrived a few hours later and a search found no indication of an explosive device.

Attorney Alan Jackson has confirmed that he and other members of Karen Read's criminal defense team will work together again in Read's defense as she faces her next legal hurdle: a civil lawsuit.

"Karen’s courage in confronting abuse of power and demanding the truth is unwavering ? and so are we. This fight isn’t over. Not until every lie is exposed in every wrong is made right," Jackson said in a statement to The Patriot Ledger's news partner WCVB.

Read, 45, on June 18, was acquitted by a jury of killing her boyfriend, Braintree native and Boston police officer John O'Keefe, by backing into him with her SUV outside a Canton home in January 2022 and leaving him to die in a snowstorm following a night of drinking. The jury found her guilty of operating under the influence. She was sentenced to a year of probation and a class.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Engineers at the Massachusetts Department of Transportation have pledged in previous meetings to replace the intersection of Lees River Avenue and Route 6 — number five on the state’s Top 200 Crash Clusters list — with “something that fits with the context” of Somerset. 

MassDOT, alongside Joe Yoo from the project management section of the state’s Highway Division, MassDOT’s Right-of-Way Bureau’s Lisa Szamreta, and in coordination with engineering firm Fuss & O’Neill’s Project Manager Ajeet Sandhu and Katherine Patch, the firm’s senior transportation engineer, presented tentative plans at an Aug. 5 public informational meeting for a $6 million hybrid roundabout that preliminary research says will help curb vehicular collisions and increase the intersection’s safety. 

The meeting that was intended to provide a glance at proposed plans and invite feedback fueled an hours-long onslaught in which Somerset’s residents and business owners expressed their frustrations with the idea of a rotary that they say could contribute to traffic backups, high project costs, and possible business relocation. They claimed the roundabout would only increase the number of accidents but agreed it could reduce the severity of those accidents.

See more at heraldnews.com.

A 51-year-old Texas man is facing multiple counts of kidnapping, rape, indecent assault and battery and use of a vehicle in the commission of a crime. 

The Bristol County District Attorney's Office said Orlando Robles is accused of sexually assaulting four women in New Bedford in June and July, 2013.

Investigators said he was identified by some victims through photos. Additionally, DNA evidence linked from crime scenes was linked to Robles.  

A Fall River man has been convicted of repeatedly raping three children between the ages of 12 and 16 over a period of eight years.

Daniel Arruda, 46, of Fall River was convicted after a jury trial on Thursday, July 31, in Bristol County Superior Court in New Bedford.

Arruda was found guilty of three counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under age 14, three counts of indecent assault and battery on a child over 14 and aggravated rape of a child with a five-year age difference.

According to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, the children were known to Arruda. He committed the assaults and rapes during visits to his home in Fall River on various dates between 2013 and 2021.

See more at heraldnews.com.

An investigation is underway after a three-vehicle crash in Seekonk left one person dead and sent five others to the hospital late Sunday night.

Troopers responding to I-195 West near Exit 5 around 11 p.m. found an SUV and motorcycle with damage and a truck on its roof, according to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.

The DA’s office said Abriana Herrera Perez, 18, of Providence, was found in the roadway and pronounced dead at the scene. She was reportedly a passenger in the SUV.

The 69-year-old woman driving the truck and the three other people in the SUV, an 18-year-old woman and two 17-year-olds, were all taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

See more at wpri.com.

Drivers are urged to find alternate routes due to downed wires on Route 6 in Seekonk.

Seekonk police said the westbound side is closed at Anthony Street due to wires down.

Eastbound traffic is slow due to only one lane passing, police said.

Crews are currently working to repair the wires.

See more at wpri.com.

A trip to the battleship cove museum in Fall River stirred up memories, and old rivalries, for a group of Taunton veterans.

Taunton Director of Veterans Services Ally Rodriguez, who organized the trip, said that the initiative was "just a very small attempt at getting a handful of veterans to see things and hang out with veterans." She added that she hoped to organize a similar trip in the future to either the Seabee Museum in Rhode Island or the The American Heritage Museum in Massachusetts.

"We had I think two Navy guys, and they were like, 'Oh this brings back memories,' but they weren’t on a ship quite as big as the Massachusetts," Rodriguez added. "They had a great time. It was really nice to see them smiling and poking fun at each other. Army was making fun of Navy, and Navy was making fun of Marines."

Read more at heraldnews.com.

People first discover the Lizzie Borden story via many routes — the “40 whacks” rhyme, a History Channel documentary, or maybe news of the upcoming Netflix series. But once you have a passing interest in her or the case, where do you go next to learn more? 

The true-crime case is deceptively simple: on the morning of Aug. 4, 1892, Andrew Borden and his second wife, Abby, were found slaughtered in their home, what is now 230 Second St. Both their heads were savagely hacked multiple times (but no, not 40 and 41) with what appeared to be a hatchet.

Andrew’s youngest daughter, Lizzie, was the only person ever accused of the heinous crime, but acquitted in 1893 after what is still one of the country’s most sensational trials.

See more at heraldnews.com.

 A Tiverton woman was killed in a motorcycle crash in Little Compton on Saturday afternoon.

Officers responding to Simmons Road around 1:30 p.m. found what appeared to be a head-on collision between a motorcycle and a car.

Little Compton Police Chief Scott Raynes said the motorcyclist, identified as 29-year-old Tammy Boutilier, was rushed to the hospital, where she later died from her injuries.

The operator of the other vehicle, who is not being identified, had minor injuries and refused treatment at the scene.

See more at wpri.com.

Massachusetts State Police are investigating a serious crash that happened early Monday morning on I-195 in Seekonk.

Crews responded to the scene near Exit 1 around 12:30 a.m.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation said the highway was shut down and drivers were diverted to Exit 5.

The highway reopened around 6:30 a.m. and the scene has since cleared.

From wpri.com.

Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has lost his bid to remove the judge that is overseeing the challenge to his death sentence. 

A federal appeals court has rejected claims that U.S. District Court Judge George O'Toole has shown that he's not impartial through comments he has made in podcasts and at public events. 

Tsarnaev is challenging his conviction, claiming two jurors lied during questioning during the trial. 

He was convicted of all charges related to the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and is sentenced to death.

Cape League baseball is heading into its final weekend of action before the playoffs. 

The four teams that have earned the right to play for the East Division crown will be battling for seeding through Sunday as Orleans leads with 42 points and Harwich, Brewster and the Y-D Red Sox are right behind at 41 points. 

In the West, only Wareham has nailed down a playoff berth as the Gatemen are the lone team above .500.  Bourne, Hyannis, Cotuit and Falmouth all still have a chance to make the playoffs.

Police are looking for a 15-year-old boy reported missing from Meadowbrook Academy, a residential school in Swansea. 

Gabriel Dibari was last seen Wednesday in the Elm Street area and he is considered a runaway.  He is from Providence, and has no known acquaintances or family in the Swansea area. 

Dibari's photo is posted on the police department's Facebook page.

It was Sept. 28, 2022, when town and school officials, staff and invited dignitaries from the community gathered in the lobby of Dartmouth High School to honor the district's identity as the "Dartmouth Indians."

"The symbol is an icon of respect, honor and strength — key characteristics exemplified by Dartmouth students," reads the plaque, featuring the logo designed by 1974 DHS alum and Hall of Famer Clyde Andrews, a Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) member.

Leading up to that day were years of fierce debate, then an April 2022 ballot referendum in which town voters sided with keeping the Dartmouth Indian, and, later that month, a School Committee vote to retain the identity while committing to enhancing education on Native American history and culture.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

With summer coming to an end, Fall River Public Schools is looking to hire faculty and staff before students take their seats on Aug. 27, the first day of school. There’s one problem.

The school district is transitioning between one online hiring software, Schoolspring, and another, Frontline Education. In the meantime, positions listed on both sites are collecting applications, adding a layer of confusion surrounding how best to track the number and kind of open positions, School Committee member Kevin Aguiar noted at the July 29 School Committee meeting. 

The school’s Human Resources Department has ramped up job fairs, programming, professional development and local events to meet interested candidates, beginning with a Bristol Community College job fair on May 1 this year, followed by a Fall River Public Schools job fair on May 5 that garnered 24 applications handed in that same day and resulted in eight hires. 

According to June 2025 data, the district is looking to fill 194 vacancies.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Former City Administrator Seth Aitken has plans to run for Bristol County district attorney in the 2026 election as the Republican challenger to long-standing incumbent District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III. 

Aitken said he is “in the initial stages of forming my team” in preparation to launch a campaign, “and a formal announcement will be forthcoming in the next couple of weeks.”

Quinn has not publicly confirmed a run in next year’s election but a check of the Office of Campaign and Political Finance registry reveals Quinn has $192,231.23 in his campaign fund as of the end of June 2025.

See more at heraldnews.com.

A Texas man believed to be responsible for a string of violent sexual assaults in New Bedford more than a decade ago faced a judge Wednesday, according to Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn III.

Orlando Robles, 51, is facing a slew of charges, including kidnapping, two counts of rape, nine counts of assault and battery, and indecent assault and battery on a person over the age of 14.

Robles, formerly of Dartmouth, is accused of brutally attacking four women in New Bedford throughout the summer of 2013.

Quinn said Robles punched and strangled the women while sexually assaulting or raping them. In one instance, Quinn said Robles grabbed a woman’s tongue so she couldn’t yell.

See more at wpri.com.

Three survivors of last month’s deadly fire at Gabriel House are suing the Fall River assisted living facility, claiming negligence led to a blaze that killed 10 residents and injured dozens more.

The three residents — Patricia Martin, Terry Young and Donna Murphy — filed suit Thursday in Bristol County Superior Court. The residents allege they were injured by the July 13 fire. The facility’s owner, Dennis Etzkorn, is also named as a defendant, with the residents alleging he should have known residents smoked in their rooms despite the presence of medical oxygen.

Fire officials last month said preliminary findings suggest the fire was accidental and started in a second-floor room where an oxygen concentrator and smoking materials were found.

The lawsuit also names the alarm company — Fire Systems Inc. of North Dartmouth — as a defendant. The residents allege “the fire panel, fire pump and sprinkler system at Gabriel House were improperly installed and maintained and failed to operate reasonably, at the time of the fire.”

See more at wpri.com.