Ready or not, darkness is on its way. When the clock strikes 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 2, it's time to "fall back" and end daylight saving time.

As we set our clocks back, we must prepare for darker evenings and earlier sunsets. On Nov. 4, the sunrise will be at 6:20 a.m., and the sunset will happen at 4:37 p.m.

This means that we will have an hour more of daylight in the morning, but an hour less at the end of the day.

This change will lead us into weeks of darkness during our after-work and after-school activities.

See more at heraldnews.com.

A Dartmouth man charged in connection with a spectacular garage explosion in a Dartmouth neighborhood on Sept. 2 posted $500 bail following arraignment in New Bedford District Court on Oct. 28.

Kevin Ruiz, 54, is charged with possession of component parts capable of creating a destructive/incendiary device, possession of explosives, three counts of wanton destruction of property over $1,200, and disturbing the peace.

He is due back in court on Dec. 23 for a probable cause hearing.

See more at heraldnews.com.

A 41-year-old man faces up to three years in state prison for an altercation with police during which he deployed an electric shock weapon on an officer.

Hector Fernandez, previously homeless, pleaded guilty to charges of assault and battery, attempting to disarm a police officer, three counts of assault and battery on a public employee, carrying a firearm without a license, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and resisting arrest. 

He was sentenced Oct. 28 in Bristol County Superior Court in Fall River to two to three years in state prison, followed by two years of probation in connection to the March 2024 incident, according to a release from the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Massachusetts has launched a new online resource hub as millions of Americans are set to lose food assistance next week.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) said Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will not be issued on Nov. 1.

On Thursday, Gov. Maura Healey announced the creation of the state’s SNAP Resource Hub, which includes information on how Massachusetts residents can both give and receive help.

The hub also features a map that shows about how many people depend on SNAP in every Massachusetts city and town.

See more at wpri.com.

The Madeira Feast grounds will be converted for the first time into an European-style Christmas market this holiday season.

Just like Europeans have done for centuries, visitors will have the chance to wander outside with a warm beverage while sampling different delicacies, checking out holiday gift ideas from vendors and listening to Christmas music.

The event will take place on Sunday, Dec. 7 from 2 to 7 p.m. at 50 Madeira Ave., New Bedford.

“We got the idea from all the Christmas markets that you see happening in Portugal and all over Europe,” said Tony Abreu, chairman of the special events committee for the Clube Madeirense S.S. Sacramento, the sponsor of the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament, commonly known as Madeira Feast. “What we’re trying to do is get as much use and people down here throughout the year, not just for the feast.”

Read more at heraldnews.com.

The Diman Regional Vocational Technical high school football team recently had its Week 7 win against Old Colony erased from the books.

According to Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association assistant director Jim Clark, the Bengals informed Old Colony and the MIAA earlier last week that it is forfeiting that game because of a violation of an ineligible student athlete.

Diman had defeated the Cougars in its Week 7 matchup, 48-7. Instead, the Cougars are now credited with a 14-0 win.

The MIAA handbook states the Rule 86: Participation of an Ineligible Student:

The principal of a school which plays a student who is later found to be ineligible, whetherbecause of the student's own misstatement or lack of care on the part of the school authorities,shall notify in writing the principal(s) of the opposing school(s) and the Executive Director of theMIAA, forfeiting every competition in which the ineligible student competed.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Investigators have determined that a man who exchanged gunfire with Fall River police during a July standoff died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday.

Police were called to a Langley Street home around 1:30 a.m. on July 15 after family members expressed concern that 38-year-old Domonick Knight was potentially armed and in crisis.

Once nearby residents were evacuated, a crisis negotiator responded, but police said attempts to make contact with Knight for nearly two hours were unsuccessful. Officers forced their way into the home around 3:15 a.m.

“Investigation into this matter has determined that the decedent, who was in possession of firearms, was the first to fire a weapon,” the DA’s office wrote. “The decedent fired his weapon at police shortly after their entry into the residence.”

See more at wpri.com.

Days before Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are set to run out due to the ongoing government shutdown, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell co-led a coalition of 22 other attorneys general and three governors in suing the Trump administration over the funding lapse.

The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, Oct. 28, in Boston, called a looming food aid cutoff "both contrary to law and arbitrary and capricious."

More than one million Massachusetts residents receive SNAP, more commonly known as food stamps. The funding is set to lapse Nov. 1. The average monthly benefit amount per household member is $196.

 “More than one million people in Massachusetts rely on SNAP?to put food on the table,” said Campbell in a press release.?“Despite having the money to fund SNAP, the Trump Administration is creating needless fear, angst and harm for millions of families and their children especially as we approach the holidays. It is past time for the Trump Administration to act to help, rather than harm, those who rely on our government.”

Read more at heraldnews.com.

More than 430 town residents made their voices heard at the Oct. 27 Special Town Meeting where several agenda items, from infrastructure updates — such as park accessibility improvements, dam removal, and solar arrays — to new rules of development that could dynamically increase Swansea’s housing stock, were struck down by a vocal majority.

The biannual town meeting that began 7 p.m. in the auditorium of the Joseph Case High School, 70 School St., invited all registered Swansea voters to weigh in on the 21 issues up for deliberation on the agenda, many of them recommended for approval by the town’s Advisory and Finance Committee.  

Amid of flurry of social media posts urging residents to attend the meeting, the Oct. 27 hours-long public forum saw higher turnout that usual that contributed to raucous tamping down of proposed bylaws and funding for the purchase of new equipment.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

A Dartmouth man accused of stabbing his girlfriend to death last year has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.

Tyler Dow Baglini, 31, admitted in Fall River Superior Court on Tuesday that he killed 31-year-old Kerri Fidalgo of Dartmouth.

Baglini entered St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford just before 5 p.m. on Sept. 20, 2024, with a large, blood-stained kitchen knife, claiming his girlfriend had been stabbed by a serial killer at her Atlantic Street apartment.

Police said they observed dried blood on his face. Officers went to the apartment and encountered Fidalgo’s grandparents, but due to a language barrier, they were directed across the street to speak with her sister, Kaila Whalen, who said she did not know anyone named Tyler and that everything at home was fine.

Read more at wpri.com.

Former Fall River Mayor William Flanagan is sharing his feelings of gratitude after he was attacked last week and survived being stabbed in the neck.

Flanagan posted on social media Tuesday morning and revealed what he experienced.

“I came face to face with death. A man, lost in psychosis, stabbed me multiple times — in my face, in my body, and in my neck,” Flanagan explained. “I can still feel the weight of those moments. The sound. The fear. The realization that I might never see my family again.”

The former mayor credited first responders, his doctors and nurses with saving his life. “Thank you for being angels on Earth,” he wrote.

See more at wpri.com.

As the government shutdown approaches the four-week mark, dwindling SNAP benefits are becoming a point of contention.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which oversees the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), said there will not be enough funding to give enrolled Americans their November food benefits due to the shutdown. More than a million Bay Staters will be without SNAP benefits, according to the state.

"Bottom line, the well has run dry," the USDA said.

While a banner on the USDA website points a finger at Senate Democrats for prolonging the government shutdown, the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance tosses the blame onto President Donald.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Congressman Seth Moulton is making generational change the centerpiece of his challenge to U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, arguing that Democrats need new leadership after the 79-year-old senator’s nearly half-century in Congress.

“I’m just not afraid to challenge my own party when the status quo isn’t working and we need change,” Moulton told 12 News on Friday during his first campaign swing through Bristol County.

The 47-year-old Salem Democrat, a veteran of the Iraq War, won his current seat when he beat an incumbent Democrat in a 2014 primary. But Markey has his own experience with primary challengers, having defeated then-Congressman Joe Kennedy III in 2020.

See more at wpri.com.

An investigation into a reported stabbing Sunday is underway in Fall River, according to police.

Officers responded to the incident near the 300 block of North Main Street around 3:45 p.m.

Police said a man was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

See more at wpri.com.

A motorcyclist has died after he was involved in a crash in Acushnet late Saturday night, according to police.

The incident happened near the intersection of Main Street and Heritage Road around 10:10 p.m. Police said first responders arrived to find a motorcycle leaning against a house and its rider, identified as a 27-year-old man, on the ground.

The victim was reportedly unresponsive at the scene and given medical care. Police said he was taken to St. Luke’s Trauma Center, but later died from his injuries.

Main Street was shut down for several hours as investigators worked to clear the scene.

See more at wpri.com.

The New Bedford Police Department said that one of their retired K-9’s, Thor, has died.

According to a post on social media, the department said Thor served the department from 2015 to 2021 as an Explosive Ordinance Detection dog, certified through both the ATF and the Boston Police Department.”

“Thor was much more than his incredible skill set. He was a loyal partner, a beloved member of our NBPD family, and a familiar, friendly face in our community,” the post added.

They said that Thor assisted helped finding firearms, explosives and other evidence during his time with the police force.

See more at wpri.com.

Matthew Dion will perform a recital at 4 p.m. Oct. 26 at St. Mary's Cathedral in Fall River.

The event is in honor Madeleine Grace, who is celebrating her 40th anniversary as organist and director of music at the cathedral, according to a community announcement. Dion began his organ studies with her.

Dion, a Somerset native, is a doctoral student in organ performance at the University of Houston's Moores School of Music. He earned his master's degree in organ from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and currently serves as director of music and organist at St. Francis Episcopal Church in Houston.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Friday night lights return for Week 8.

Four Greater Fall River area football teams — Atlantis Charter/Westport, Joseph Case, Diman and Durfee — were in action. Somerset Berkley is idle this week.

See heraldnews.com for scores.

Battleship Cove has shared some gloomy Halloween news.

Their annual not-so-scary Battleship Boo Bash aboard the USS Massachusetts was abruptly canceled, just one day before the weekend trick-or-treat event was set to kick off.

According to an Oct. 23 Facebook post, the museum stated “unforeseen logistical issues” forced the cancellation of the popular kid-friendly festivities slated for Friday and Saturday night, Oct. 24 and 25, at Fall River’s floating museum at 5 Water St.

“We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience and full refunds will be issued as soon as possible,” the Battleship Cove post reads.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Food-insecure Massachusetts residents who use SNAP benefits to cover their groceries will not get funding in November, due to the effects of the ongoing government shutdown, Gov. Maura Healey said.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which oversees the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), said that there won't be enough funding to pay next month's benefits if the shutdown continues. Healey told reporters on Oct. 22 that funds for Massachusetts residents will be frozen by Halloween.

The struggling federal nutritional program gives underserved residents monthly funds on a debit-like EBT card to spend on healthy food. SNAP also gives thousands of Massachusetts children access to free school meals. In a little over a week, Healey said, these benefits will go away.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Lt. Col. Emmanuel “Manny” Fernandes, a retired U.S. Army Reserve officer from Fall River, has been named the 30th annual Southeastern Massachusetts Veteran of the Year.

The award, presented by the Veterans Transition House, recognizes Fernandes for his outstanding contributions to veterans and the community, according to an announcement.

A reception and dinner to honor Fernandes is set for Nov. 6 at Century House. Tickets are available for purchase at vetshouse.org.

Fernandes, a New Bedford native, enlisted in the Massachusetts Army National Guard in 1988 as a Private First Class. He later earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Medical Department.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Incumbent Mayor Paul Coogan and challenger Gabriel “Boomer” Amaral debated a spate of issues stacked against the city of Fall River on Tuesday night — all in time for the Nov. 4 biennial municipal election.

At an Oct. 21 forum hosted by Fall River Community Media at Bristol Community College, Coogan and Amaral spoke about finding Fall River’s residents affordable housing, the city’s school system, the growing need to fund public safety, the municipal budget, and pitfalls in the city’s reaction to homelessness during an hourlong live-streamed forum. 

Coogan, seeking his fourth consecutive term as mayor, referred to a host of programs that have come about during his tenure as city chief; Amaral spoke of the current administration as one wracked by kickbacks and nepotism. 

Read more at heraldnews.com.

 A Massachusetts lawmaker is pushing to limit self-checkout at grocery stores across the state.

Sen. Paul Feeney is pushing for the state to take a step back and prioritize human interaction.

“We just don’t think it’s right that we have this mentality … where we’re just going to throw these jobs away,” Feeney said.

12 News spoke to several local shoppers to get their thoughts on self-checkout.

“I had mixed emotions when self-checkout started because I did feel it was hurting staff in all the local stores,” shopper Patricia Estill said.

“I don’t ever go to them. I always go to where there’s a cashier to check me out,” Donna Deoria added. “I just feel better doing that — I feel we’re paying enough for groceries now that we shouldn’t need to check them out and bag our own groceries.”

See more at wpri.com.

Dighton Police Officers Local 306 is sounding the alarm over “critically low” staffing levels that has impacted their response times.

Sgt. Nicholas Barros, president of Dighton Police Officers Local 306, told 12 News each shift is currently staffed with only two officers covering the entire town.

Barros said the Dighton Police Department needs to hire at least five more officers to meet their goal of having three per shift.

“We want to provide the best service that we can, but we’re strapped and we’re feeling it,” Barros explained.

See more at wpri.com.

Former Fall River Mayor Will Flanagan is expected to undergo surgery again as he faces a difficult recovery from a stabbing attack earlier this week, Target 12 has learned.

Flanagan remained hospitalized on a ventilator as of Thursday morning, his mother, Cathy, told Target 12 in a text message. She said his family hopes to schedule a surgery “soon” to repair the wounds in his neck, which she said are near the artery.

“Please keep him in your prayers,” she wrote.

Police allege Corree Gonzales, 31, stabbed Flanagan early Monday evening on Hartwell Street, near a cannabis dispensary in which the former mayor has an ownership interest. Surveillance video shows Flanagan was walking on the sidewalk when an individual came up behind him and stabbed him several times.

See more at wpri.com.

The former Montaup Electric coal-fired power plant on Riverside Avenue closed Jan. 1, 2010. Since then, it’s gained a few weeds behind a chain-link fence cordoning off the 38-acre site, part of which could become the home of a proposed battery energy storage system. 

Flatiron Energy, a Boulder, Colorado-based firm that delivers sustainable energy storage solutions with a focus on the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, in conjunction with Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc., a consulting firm, hosted an open house on Oct. 20 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Somerset Public Library that attracted nearly 60 residents keen to learn more about the proposal. 

Read more at heraldnews.com.

The Zeiterion Performing Arts Center is set to reopen in January after an 18-month renovation.

The New Bedford theater will kick off its new season with "Big Night, Bright Lights!" on Jan. 17, according to a community announcement. The event is a collaboration between the Zeiterion, New Bedford Festival Theatre and New Bedford Symphony Orchestra, featuring Emmy Award-winning comedian Dulce? Sloan.

The reopening marks the return of the Zeiterion's Schooltime series for students in grades pre-K to 12 throughout the SouthCoast. Tickets for "Big Night, Bright Lights!" and Schooltime shows are on sale now. All other events are on sale for Zeiterion members and will be available for public purchase on Oct. 22.

The Zeiterion's 2026 lineup includes Get the Led Out, The Commodores, STOMP, Isaac Mizrahi, Marlon Wayans, Step Afrika!, Elida Almeida, Mariza and "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" with Barry Bostwick.

A 46-year-old Swansea man is sentenced to one year in the Bristol County jail for tax evasion.   

The District Attorney's Office said Linwood Cowen pleaded guilty to tax evasion and the illegal sale of cigarettes.  Prosecutors said he would but large amounts of cigarettes in New Hampshire and sell them at discounted prices in Massachusetts, avoiding the state tax. 

According to the DA's office Cowen avoided the tax for 18 months, costing the state Department of Revenue about 78-thousand-dollars. 

The man killed over the weekend in a fiery two vehicle crash in Lakeville is identified as a local resident.   

Authorities said 65-year-old Timothy Crowley was pronounced dead at Saint Luke's Hospital in New Bedford.

Two people in the other vehicle suffered non-life-threatening injuries. 

The cause of the collision around seven p.m. Saturday on County Road was under investigation. 

A race car driver who was critically injured in a crash at Seekonk Speedway this month remains unconscious in intensive care. 

Family members say Jonathan Levins has not opened his eyes since the crash October eleventh, and that he remains sedated and intubated. 

Levins suffered a brain bleed, multiple broken ribs and a collapsed lung when his car collided with another car and a wall in an Enduro series race at Seekonk.  

The town will make its voice heard at the Oct. 27 special Town meeting on several agenda items, from infrastructure updates — such as roadway safety, dam removal, and solar arrays — to new rules of development that could dynamically increase Swansea’s housing stock.

The biannual town meeting is a public forum that invites all registered Swansea voters to weigh in on the 21 issues up for deliberation on the agenda, many of them recommended for approval by the town’s Advisory and Finance Committee.  

The meeting will be held in the auditorium of the Joseph Case High School, 70 School St., starting at 7 p.m.

See more at heraldnews.com.

A suspect has been arrested in connection with the stabbing of former Fall River Mayor Will Flanagan.

Fall River police said on Facebook that 31-year-old Coree Gonzales was being detained in connection with the stabbing on Tuesday morning when he assaulted four police officers, leading to his arrest. He was charged with four counts of assault and battery on a police officer and arraigned Tuesday afternoon.

A not guilty plea was entered on Gonzales’ behalf, and he’s being held without bail pending a mental health hearing.

Mayor Paul Coogan told 12 News he believes the Gonzales has “severe mental health issues.”

See more at wpri.com.

The Fall River Fire Department has released a report detailing the deadly fire at the Gabriel House assisted living facility and offering recommendations to try to prevent further tragedy.

The fire on the night of July 13 left more than 30 people hurt, displaced dozens and claimed the lives of 10 people.

In a press release on Monday, the fire department announced the release of its comprehensive After Action Report which both recognizes the heroic efforts of the first responders who saved lives that night and identifies areas for improvement.

“The Gabriel House Fire tested our department and our community in profound ways,” Fire Chief Jeff Bacon said in the release. “This report is about learning and improving, but it’s also about recognizing the courage, professionalism, and teamwork shown by every firefighter on that scene. Lives were saved that night because of their actions.”

See more at wpri.com.

A suspect has been arrested in connection with the stabbing of former Fall River Mayor Will Flanagan.

Mayor Paul Coogan told 12 News that police made the arrest Tuesday morning.

“Once the individual has been arraigned on charges, we will release their identity and photograph,” Fall River police said on Facebook.

Officers were called to a reported stabbing on Hartwell Street around 5 p.m. Monday. When first responders arrived, they found Flanagan significantly injured.

See more at wpri.com.

It was a not so pretty sight at a city flower shop Tuesday morning, Oct. 21, as police responded to an SUV that plowed into the front of the South Main Street building.

A black SUV came to a full stop inside Main Street Florist at 936 South Main St., leaving a gaping hole where a window once was, and the brick fac?ade around it in pieces.

An employee at the florist, who was on scene Tuesday morning but preferred not to be identified, said no one was in the building at the time of the crash at around 7 or 7:30 a.m.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Former mayor Will Flanagan was stabbed on the afternoon of Monday, Oct. 20, according to Fall River police.

Police said they received multiple calls that a man had been stabbed near the 100 block of Hartwell Street. Upon arrival, police and EMS discovered the victim was Flanagan.

Police said Flanagan suffered “significant injuries and was transported to an area hospital, where is currently listed in serious but stable condition.”

A source told The Herald News that Flanagan suffered multiple stab wounds to the neck.

Mayor Paul Coogan stated: “My thoughts and prayers are with Former Mayor Will Flanagan, his family, and friends. The full support of the Mayor’s Office is with the Fall River Police Department as they work tirelessly to bring justice in this case. We stand firmly behind Chief Kelly Furtado, and the dedicated men and women of the FRPD as they continue this active investigation.”

See more at heraldnews.com.

Authorities are investigating after the remains of two people were found in the woods in Fall River Saturday morning.

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn said police were called to the Fall River portion of Freetown State Forest just before 10 a.m. for reports of skeletal remains found.

According to police, the remains were spotted near a vehicle deep in the woods off Copicut Road by a group of hunters who were in the forest for pheasant hunting.

When police got there, they found the remains of two adults in and near the vehicle, and a suicide note, Quinn said.

Read more at wpri.com.

Police in Lakeville are investigating a deadly crash that happened Saturday night.

Around 7 p.m., police were called to the 100 block of County Rd. for a report of a two vehicle crash.

One of the drivers involved in the crash, a 66-year-old man, was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The driver and a passenger in the other vehicle were both taken to the hospital with injuries that are not believed to be life-threatening.

See more at wpri.com.

The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office says a girl, not even two years old, was killed in a crash Saturday night.

Just after 7 p.m., Taunton EMS was called to 400 Broadway, for a report of a motor vehicle crash.

When first responders arrived on scene, they found a white Chevy van and a blue Toyota Rav 4 SUV that we involved in a head-on collision.

An initial investigation showed that the Rav 4 appeared to have crashed into the van, and both vehicles were heavily damaged.

See more at wpri.com.

A Haitian national with pending charges out of Fall River has been arrested as part of a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) sweep in Massachusetts, according to the federal agency.

Jordani Joseph, 26, apprehended, during “Patriot 2.0” — a weeks-long operation which ICE said focused on “transnational organized crime, gangs and egregious illegal alien offenders” in Massachusetts.

A senior Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson told 12 News that the crackdown would target “the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens living in the state.”

See more at wpri.com.

See the scoreboard at heraldnews.com.

Human services agency People Incorporated unveiled its $13.5 million Early Education Center on Friday, Oct. 17, after a little over a year of planning and preparation since the groundbreaking last August.

“What a milestone this is,” said People Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer Megan Stirk, outside the new 21,000-square-foot, “state-of-the-art” facility at 145 Weaver St., the same site as the flagship location of People Incorporated’s Children’s Services Division.

In her remarks to local, state, and federal elected officials, she shared that the new early education center can capably provide services for 212 infants, toddlers, and preschoolers from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m., year-round, in addition to creating new jobs and strengthening citywide public-private partnerships.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

A longtime town tradition is drumming up excitement for its grand finale this weekend.

Somerset's annual Musictown Festival is celebrating its 52nd year with foot-tapping festivities that kicked off Oct. 9 and will culminate Sunday, Oct. 19 with its main event: the Musictown Parade.

Spectators will line the streets along the parade route — which starts at Somerset Berkley Regional High School and ends at Gifford Avenue — as the event shines a spotlight on local music and sports talent, along with an appearance from the newly crowned Musictown Royal Court.

The festival is organized by Somerset Friends of Music, a nonprofit that supports the music program in the Somerset Public Schools and the Somerset-Berkley Regional High School.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Crews responded to a crash involving an 18-wheeler in Somerset Friday morning.

The crash occurred around 6:30 a.m. in the area of Lees River Avenue and Route 6.

An SUV was seen with heavy front-end damage and the tractor-trailer also had damage.

Somerset Police Chief William Tedford told 12 News the crash was caused by the SUV turning right at a red light without yielding for the truck.

See more at wpri.com.

The nurses of St. Luke's Hospital will no longer be the lowest paid in the region, after the St. Luke's Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) Bargaining Committee came to agreement with the nonprofit employer Southcoast Health for a new three-year contract, a union spokesperson has confirmed.

The agreement was reached tentatively during negotiations on Sept. 30 and the contract was ratified on Wednesday, Oct. 15, according to MNA Associate Director of Public Communications Joe Markman.

According to an MNA press release, the nurses of St. Luke's "voted overwhelming" to ratify the contract.

See more at heraldnews.com.

A 54-year-old man from Puerto Rico pleaded guilty to molesting a disabled woman in Fall River, and is accused of abusing her family.

Fernando Rodriguez was sentenced Tuesday, Oct. 14, in Bristol County Superior Court in Fall River on charges of rape and indecent assault and battery on a person with an intellectual disability in connection with a 2015 attack, according to the Bristol County District Attorney’s office.

He was sentenced to serve six to nine years in the state prison followed by three years of supervised probation.

According to the DA’s office, the female victim and her family came to know Rodriguez while living in Puerto Rico, where he abused the victim's mother and all of her four children, both physically and sexually.

See more at heraldnews.com.

In light of a recent increase in federal immigration activity in New Bedford, the city’s police department has issued new policy outlining how officers should respond during future encounters.

Although immigration enforcement is not a responsibility of local police, officers may still be called to areas where U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations are taking place to provide information, de-escalate situations, enforce laws and maintain order. Because of this, and amid community criticism and national attention, New Bedford Police Chief Jason Thody sent out a memo last month outlining what sworn personnel can and cannot do when ICE agents are present.

If ICE shows a judicially issued federal arrest warrant, officers are required to treat it the same as they would a warrant from the FBI, DEA or U.S. Marshals. While the Tenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects state and local governments from enforcing federal laws, officers are prohibited from actively interfering with ICE operations.

“Any actions that deliberately impeded federal officers could expose officers or departments to legal liability,” the guide states.

See more at wpri.com.

A staffer at a residential youth therapeutic school in Swansea has died after she was kicked by a student Wednesday evening, according to Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn III.

Quinn said the assault happened as the 14-year-old student was attempting to leave a dorm building at Meadowridge Academy without permission.

The victim, identified by Quinn as Amy Morrell, 53, of East Providence, was attempting to restrain the student alongside other staffers when the teenager kicked her in the chest.

Morrell, who collapsed shortly after the assault, was rushed to the hospital where she was pronounced dead Thursday afternoon, according to Quinn.

See more at wpri.com.

Drivers are warned to be vigilant during the current deer mating season, especially between dusk and dawn. 

Four people suffered were injured in a collision with a deer late Monday night on Route140 south in Lakeville. 

Authorities said the deer did not survive the crash.

Safety tips include using high beams to spot animals, and if a deer is seen in a vehicle's path, the driver should bake firmly rather than swerve.  

U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Massachusetts, announced Oct. 15 that he will challenge U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Massachusetts, for his seat in the Senate, arguing that it’s time for change.

“The future we all believe in is on the line. Our party has clung to the status quo, insisted on using the same old playbook and isn’t fighting hard enough,” Moulton said in his announcement video. “We need new leaders to step up and take us forward.”

Moulton and Markey are not so different ideologically; instead, the battle reflects current tensions within the Democratic Party around age and the establishment.

“We’re in a crisis, and with everything we learned last election, I just don’t believe Senator Markey should be running for another six-year term at 80 years old,” Moulton said, referring to the 2024 presidential election that former President Joe Biden ended up exiting due to concerns about his age. 

Read more at heraldnews.com.

A request by Liberty Utilities to jack up natural gas rates for customers by an average of 55% next year — and up to 90% by the start of the next decade — met with widespread condemnation as customers and public officials called the idea “absolutely absurd.”

Liberty, the area’s natural gas supplier, has proposed to increase its rates for the first time in 10 years. It is also attempting to implement a performance-based ratemaking plan that could see further increases over the next five years.

At a public meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 14, held by the Department of Public Utilities at Bristol Community College, the three-member DPU commission heard no formal presentation from Liberty. Instead, it got an earful from residents who noted that Fall River is one of the poorest cities in a state with notoriously high energy costs.

See more at heraldnews.com.

A New Bedford man is facing charges after he reportedly attempted to smuggle cocaine into the Bristol County Jail, 12 News has learned.

Bristol County Sheriff Paul Heroux announced Tuesday that Raymond Molina-Caraballo, 28, has been charged with trafficking cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and delivering drugs to a prisoner.

Heroux said the investigation into Molina-Caraballo began last month, when the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office received word that a former inmate who had warrants out for his arrest planned to intentionally turn himself in so he could smuggle drugs back into the jail.

Investigators learned on Aug. 25 that Molina-Caraballo was at New Bedford District Court in connection with those arrest warrants and had been ordered held without bail.

See more at wpri.com.

A tribute spanning Aquidneck Island was held Wednesday for Thomas and Agatha Perkins.

The Middletown couple died on Monday after their plane crashed on I-195 in Dartmouth.

Dozens of people came out to offer their condolences and support the Perkins family. Escorted by Middletown police, the family drove past Second Beach, waving and signing “I love you” to the community members who had gathered there.

The procession then headed to Brenton Point in Newport where the family was further honored.

See more at wpri.com.

A Fall River Public Schools safety officer is suing the school department, Superintendent Tracy Curley, former Superintendent Maria Pontes, and several other FRPS employees, alleging she was sexually harassed on multiple occasions and faced retaliation after speaking out.

The lawsuit by Carla Cruz, filed Oct. 9 in Bristol County Superior Court, seeks $10 million and a jury trial for “intentional infliction of emotional distress.”

Also named in the lawsuit are FRPS Human Resources Executive Director Thomas Coogan, Title IX Coordinator Brian Lally, and three people Cruz accuses of sexual harassment: Joseph Correia, Kyle Frizado and Jordan Periquito.

Cruz previously made the allegations in a complaint lodged with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination in July.

See more at heraldnews.com.

A Fall River paramedic is receiving recognition after he attempted to rescue someone from the Taunton River last week.

Fall River Emergency Medical Services Chief Bethann Faunce described paramedic Edward Holland’s actions Friday morning as “nothing short of meritorious.”

Faunce said first responders were called to Charles Street after learning someone there may be in need of medical attention.

Holland and his colleagues immediately began searching for the person, according to Faunce. National Grid employees working nearby told them the person in question appeared to be unsteady and was last seen walking near the end of Birch Street.

See more at wpri.com.

A Middletown couple is being remembered as people who always gave back to the community.

Thomas Perkins, 68, and Agatha Perkins, 66, died after a private plane crashed Monday morning on I-195 in Dartmouth.

Sen. Lou DiPalma told 12 News their loss is being felt deeply across Aquidneck Island.

The Perkins were known locally through their family business, Kirby-Perkins Construction, which specializes in high-end work, particularly restoring historic properties and custom homes.

See more at wpri.com.

A man is facing felony charges after he allegedly broke into a home in Somerset and assaulted an elderly resident last week.

Officers were called to a home on Highview Avenue around 5:30 p.m. Thursday for reports of a break-in.

Police said the victim told officers that a man, later identified as Jesse Brule, 35, had knocked on her door and asked if a specific person lived there. When told that no one by that name lived there, Brule allegedly forced his way inside and knocked the victim to the ground.

The victim got away and ran to a neighbor’s house, who immediately called 911, according to police. She later told investigators that several items were stolen from her home.

See more at wpri.com.

A driver suffered serious injuries in an “on-track incident” at Seekonk Speedway on Saturday.

Ed St. Germain, Seekonk Speedway’s director of business development, said emergency personnel responded “immediately” to rush the driver to the hospital.

“We have comprehensive safety protocols in place for every event, developed in accordance with industry standards,” St. Germain told 12 News in an email.

“Our on-site safety team includes certified EMTs, paramedics, and fire/rescue personnel stationed around the track any time cars are on the surface,” he explained. “We maintain a direct communication system between race control, safety crews, and local emergency services to ensure immediate and coordinated response.”

See more at wpri.com.

The investigation continues into a deadly plane crash that happened Monday in Dartmouth.

Federal investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are expected to visit the scene on Tuesday.

Massachusetts State Police troopers remained at the crash site overnight to “ensure the integrity of the scene” until their arrival. State police also asked drivers to use caution near the area.

According to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, the single-engine Socata TBM 700 crashed into the woods by the highway. The fuselage ended up in the median, and both occupants were pronounced dead at the scene.

The victims have been identified as Thomas Perkins, 68, and Agatha Perkins, 66, of Middletown, R.I.

A car also hit a portion of the crashed aircraft, the DA’s office said. The driver was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

See more at wpri.com.

State police are reporting that two people aboard the plane in this morning’s crash on I-195 in Dartmouth were killed.

At approximately 8:15 a.m., a fixed-wing airplane crashed on the median of Interstate 195 in Dartmouth. The crash resulted in a fire on the ground. 

State police say they are aware of one person on the ground who suffered injuries, the severity is unknown at this point. They were transported in a passenger car to St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford. 

No information is available regarding their identities until the appropriate next-of-kin notifications have been made.

More details available at heraldnews.com.

State gas prices slightly declined for the second consecutive week and reached an average of $2.98 per gallon of regular fuel on Monday, down from last week's price of $3.01 per gallon, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The average fuel price in state declined about 7 cents since last month. According to the EIA, gas prices across the state in the last year have been as low as $2.88 on April 14, 2025, and as high as $3.11 on Sep. 8, 2025.

A year ago, the average gas price in Massachusetts was 1% higher at $3.02 per gallon.

See more at heraldnews.com.

By the end of her legal battles and advocacy for change, Katelynn Spencer — a former resident of Wareham and Fairhaven — had lost friends, a husband, career, her community, and, at one point, her will to live, she says. But she never lost the strength to fight for what was right, even when the law wasn't on her side.

Spencer, now 35, says it all started from a mistake she made as an 18-year-old, which was trusting a man she once considered her "best friend."

"We never dated, just hooked up," Spencer said.

According to Spencer, her male friend was getting ready to head off to continue his education when he presented the idea of having sex on video.

"He begged and begged. He said, 'I want something to remember you by while I'm away,'" Spencer said.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Christopher Medeiros has worn quite a few hats – law enforcement officer, successful business owner and altruist to name a few – but his roles all have shared a deep and profound commitment to giving back and helping others.

On Oct. 18, Medeiros will be honored with the 2025 Person of the Year award from the New Bedford Chapter of the Prince Henry Society for his contributions to the community.

“Through his actions, Chris embodies the values celebrated by the Prince Henry Society: community, heritage, service, and leadership,” according to a PHS press release. “Despite personal tragedy, including the loss of his younger brother Gary in 2018, Chris remains a beacon of strength and resilience, using his experiences to uplift others and advocate for those in need.”

Read more at heraldnews.com.

James McKenzie and the Diman football team played with a sense of urgency on Thursday night.

The end result, a resounding road win over league opponent Southeastern.

"No matters who's in the game, you have to come with energy," said McKenzie after the Bengals rolled to a 35-7 victory over the Hawks. "Eleven guys to the football. That's what we're coached to do. Coach Bahry and coach Valente express that every day."

It was a total team effort on offense, defense and special teams.

Learn more at heraldnews.com.

Bridge repairs are scheduled to begin Oct. 14 on Interstate 195 in Westport.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation will work on the I-195 bridge eastbound and westbound over Sanford Road from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through Oct. 31, according to a community announcement.

Lane closures will be in place on Sanford Road under I-195, and temporary traffic changes, including lane and shoulder closures, will occur as needed. At least one lane of travel will remain open at all times, and police will assist with traffic control and safety setups.

Signage will guide drivers through the work area. Drivers should expect delays, reduce speed and use caution.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Fresh off its first league win of the season, the Somerset Berkley football team was looking for another one on Friday against archrival Old Rochester.

The Bulldogs had something to say about that.

"We found our identity tonight," said ORR head coach Bryce Guilbeault after the Bulldogs posted their first win of the season with a 35-12 win over the Raiders. "We have a lot of freshmen and sophomores playing and those guys are getting better each week. I told them before the game, let's put it all together tonight."

Both SBR and ORR each started the fall campaign 0-4 before heading into their league schedule. The Bulldogs, who were idle last week, looked like a different team than in their first four games.

See more at heraldnews.com.

A jury next year will hear a lawsuit over the 2020 land-taking of Weaver’s Cove where the MBTA has built its commuter rail layover station, another lawsuit for the MBTA in its series of land-takings to build South Coast Rail.

Weaver’s Cove Industrial Park LLC alleges it was not paid fair market value for 68 acres of land along North Main Street that the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority took by eminent domain in February 2020.

In a 2022 civil lawsuit filed in Bristol County Superior Court, Weaver’s Cove Industrial Park LLC said it was “offered a sum of money as compensation for the taking of its land, which is grossly inadequate and does not reflect the fair market value.”

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Dartmouth, Fall River, Freetown, New Bedford and Westport will receive a total of $390,625 in MassTrails grant program funding to add miles of recreational trails for their residents, including a bike connection between Fall River and New Bedford. 

In collaboration with the South Coast Bikeway Alliance, Dartmouth, New Bedford, and Westport will receive $285,000 in funding with a $90,000 match. The funds will be used for permitting, design and engineering expenses related to the Northern Scenic Greenway, a proposed 9.8 mile “off-road,” “multi-use path” routed through Dartmouth, New Bedford and Westport.

According to a list of recipient cities and towns across the state, this segment of land fills a “key gap” in the South Coast Bikeway by connecting New Bedford and Fall River, both of which have completed pathways. 

Learn more at heraldnews.com.

Police arrested a man in connection with a shots fired incident in Fall River Friday morning.

Officers were called to County Street and Eastern Avenue after receiving several 911 calls reporting gunshots just before 6 a.m.

Police said one caller reported there was a bullet hole in the wall of a home on Eastern Avenue.

The officers learned on their way to the neighborhood that 28-year-old Thaddeus Quinones also called 911 and stated he fired shots at several individuals he believed were following him, according to police.

See more at heraldnews.com.

A Taunton man has died following an accident at a scarp yard in Westport on Friday morning.

According to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, first responders were called to Mid City Scrap Yard on State Rd. just after 11 a.m. for a medical incident.

When they arrived on scene, they found the victim, identified as 49-year-old Mark Peters with “a crushing injury to his lower extremities.”

Peters was taken to a local hospital where he died a short time later.

See more at wpri.com.

Eight candidates in the running for a seat on the Fall River School Committee in the Nov. 4 election shared their vision for the district's schools at a Bristol Community College forum on Oct. 7.

For 90 minutes, the panel took turns debating what to do about several developments the school board has been wracked with in recent months — hiring woes, a growing school-age population in the city, an impending district-wide strategic plan, a dip in test scores, declines in attendance, and more. 

A panel of local journalists, including Herald News Senior Digital Producer Dan Medeiros, asked candidates questions that placed schools, students, and educators at the center of the discussion.

See more at heraldnews.com.

The New Bedford Police Department has launched an internal investigation into how a man who was arrested last week came into possession of an officer’s firearm.

Officers were called to Tarklin Hill Road and Lawrence Street to check on the driver of a vehicle that was stopped in the middle of the roadway, according to a police report obtained by 12 News.

The first officer to arrive discovered a man slumped over behind the wheel of the vehicle, which was still running and in drive, the police report continued.

The driver, identified in the police report as 27-year-old Igor Lima, woke up after the officer knocked on his car window numerous times.

See more at wpri.com.

A woman was seriously injured in a fire that tore through a New Bedford apartment building Thursday evening.

New Bedford Fire Chief Brian Medeiros told 12 News firefighters rushed to the Elm Street home and were met with flames shooting from the second floor windows and extending up to the roof.

Medeiros said the woman was trapped in her third-floor apartment, but firefighters could not pull her to safety through the window and had to make their way into the apartment from the back stairwell.

Firefighters were able to find and carry the woman, who was unconscious, out of the burning building. Medeiros said she was brought to St. Luke’s Hospital for treatment.

See more at wpri.com.

Joan Kennedy, the former wife of Senator Ted Kennedy, has died at the age of 89. 

The chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party said she died in her sleep at her home in Boston. 

Joan Kennedy was married to the late senator through heart-breaking family tragedies.  Her brothers-in-law John F. Kennedy and Robert F. Kennedy were both assassinated during their marriage.

A New Bedford man was killed in a single motorcycle crash in Fall River on Tuesday night.

According to the Bristol County District Attorney's office, the Massachusetts State Police responded to the accident at 10 p.m. on Oct. 7 at Exit 2 on Route 24.

Police located the driver of the motorcycle, identified as 51-year-old Scott Langlois of New Bedford, in the grass near the highway crash barrier.

Langlois was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later.

The crash is being investigated by the Massachusetts State Police and the State Police Detective Unit assigned to the District Attorney's Office.

It does not seem suspicious, the DA's office states.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

After a full morning of weighing legal arguments, the Mass. Supreme Judicial Court’s seven justices returned to court to field questions from Diman Regional Vocational students.

The SJC session was held in Fall River Superior Court Oct. 8 instead of the John Adams Courthouse in Boston as part of an effort to familiarize the public with the court system, including the state’s highest appellate court.

Toward that same goal, the seniors and juniors in Tom Librera’s AP U.S. Government class at Diman observed the proceedings from the gallery and followed up with the Q&A session.

See more at heraldnews.com.

A city man was sentenced to 3½ years in state prison on Tuesday, Oct. 7, for domestic assault charges.

Damien Gouse, 46, pleaded guilty in Bristol County Superior Court in Fall River to charges of stalking, domestic assault and battery and malicious damage to a motor vehicle.

According to a release from the Bristol County District Attorney’s office, the incidents occurred between January and February of 2022.

On Jan. 10, 2022, Fall River police responded to a report of domestic assault, and found a female victim who had suffered injuries to her face, bruising and swelling to her left eye and a mark on her neck.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Gov. Maura Healey announced Wednesday that she has “zero tolerance” for the drag racing street takeovers that have recently disrupted cities and towns in Massachusetts.

Following several incidents police described as “deliberate public disturbances,” Healey said she is personally disturbed by the behavior and wants to see it stopped.

“I just want to be really clear on a couple of things: Do not engage in that behavior. Anyone who engages in that conduct will be found and will be held accountable to the furthest extent of the law,” Healey stressed.

Firefighters removed a trampoline that “went airborne” and landed on the roof of a Seekonk home.

In a social media post, the Seekonk Fire Department explained that the trampoline blew up onto the Ledge Road home during Wednesday morning’s storm.

Dorris Carrier, who owns the home, told 12 News she was sleeping at the time.

“I heard a thud, so I got up and looked out the window,” Carrier recalled.

Carrier couldn’t see the trampoline from her window, and was shocked when she went outside to see what the commotion was about.

“It was stuck on the roof,” she said. “I was in shock. I just looked up and said, ‘What the heck.'”

See more at wpri.com.

A 24-year-old Rehoboth man awaits sentencing in December after being found guilty  for the murder of his father. 

The Bristol County District Attorney's Office said Joseph "JD" Housley was convicted yesterday following a three week trial. 

Sixty-six-year-old Joseph Housley was shot in his Seekonk apartment in July, 2021.   Another man involved in the killing was previously convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced in June to life in prison. 

The Swansea Free Public Library settled into the basement of the First Christian Congregational and “Olde White Church” on Route 6 earlier last summer, keeping up its programming, and has greeting long-time patrons and new faces all the while. But a temporary closure and a big move to a gleaming new building is coming up over the next four weeks. 

According to a timeline posted to the town library’s website, library administrators are calling on community members to book it to the library before Friday, Oct. 10, and borrow what materials they need to get them through a month-long hiatus. 

“People are walking out with armfuls of books,” Marie Shea said from her post at the circulation desk.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Adam Gauthier, the man accused of driving drunk and crashing head-on into a family of three on the Veterans Memorial Bridge on Christmas 2023, has had his trial moved to March 2026.

Gauthier, of Manhattan and formerly of Somerset, appeared in Bristol County Superior Court with defense attorney Kevin Reddington on Monday, Oct. 6, for a scheduling hearing in the long-delayed trial.

Court records show several delayed events in the case, including a trial that was already supposed to have started. Reddington apologized to Judge Raffi Yessayan for struggling to schedule a trial date, saying the “present situation is not going to make the court happy, I’m sure.”

The trial is now scheduled to begin March 23, with a status hearing in December and a pretrial hearing in February to ensure the trial is on track.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

“Millions will come together in civic friendship and solidarity on Oct. 18 to make it clear to Donald Trump: we don't do kings or dictators in America,” said Kevin Costa, eight years a Massachusetts State Democratic Committeeman for the First Bristol and Plymouth districts, including Fall River.

No Kings rallies debuted on June 14 with more than 2,000 cities holding volunteer-organized protests, including Fall River and Swansea. The coordinated political action events have mobilized millions and are planned in opposition to President Donald J. Trump's administration.

Costa, who is hosting the No Kings 2 rally in Fall River, said the protest is scheduled to kick off at noon on Saturday, Oct. 18, and run until 2 p.m. Those in attendance are asked to gather on public sidewalks and grassy areas at the intersection of Amity Street and William S. Canning Boulevard.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Fall River police arrested five people over the weekend in connection to illegal street racing incidents during which large crowds blocked roadways throughout the city.

Officers responded to multiple reports of reckless driving and blocked-off city streets at around 12:26 a.m. on Sunday, Oct, 5, which were part of a “preplanned event intended to disrupt traffic and disturb the peace of the community,” the police department states.

On Innovation Way, a private ambulance was forced to detour after participants refused to allow passage.

Not long after, about 200 participants shut down the roadway at Central and Davol streets, the latter of which provides direct access to Saint Anne’s and Charlton Memorial hospitals, “posing a serious public safety hazard for Fall River and surrounding towns.”

See more at heraldnewscom.

Growing up, Brayden Cabral always stayed active by playing sports.

He played flag football, basketball, baseball and, most recently, learned the game of golf.

In February of 2024, the Swansea native had his whole world suddenly come to a grinding halt.

Cabral, 14, was diagnosed with high-risk acute myeloid leukemia — a type of cancer that affects the bone marrow, where blood cells are produced. Over the next 128 days, he fought the toughest battle of his young life.

See more from Steven Sanchez at heraldnews.com.

A suspect has been arrested in connection to a stabbing death in Fall River early Monday morning, Oct. 6, the Bristol Count District Attorney’s Office confirmed.

According to a statement from the DA’s office, Fall River Police received a 911 call at approximately 2:15 a.m. Monday regarding a fatal stabbing at 57 Chesworth St.

When Fall River Police and EMS arrived on scene they discovered a 53-year-old man with an injury to his chest.

The victim was transported to Charlton Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. 

The DA confirmed that a homicide suspect is in custody. The identity of the suspect and the victim are not being released at this time amid the active investigation.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Mayoral candidate Gabriel “Boomer” Amaral is embroiled in a civil lawsuit in New Bedford District Court with his ex-mother-in-law, Debra Gordon, who alleges she paid off $26,000 in credit card debt he racked up, but he never repaid her; he is countersuing, saying he overpaid her and is owed more than $6,500.

Case filings show that in March, Gordon sued Amaral and accused him of one count of breach of contract, one count of unjust enrichment, one count of quantum meruit, and one count of violating state general laws Chapter 93A, section 11. 

Court records show Gordon, represented by attorney Gregory M. Sullivan of Woburn, is seeking damages of $26,000 on each of the first three counts and $78,000 on the fourth count. Because of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 93A, the state's Consumer Protection Act, which allows for triple damages including legal fees in a suit of this nature, said Sullivan, Amaral could be liable for a minimum of $26,000 in damages, up to $78,000.

Learn more at heraldnews.com.

A new poll finds that in a hypothetical race Congressman Seth Moulton leads Senator Ed Markey 43-to-21 percent. 

Markey will be 80-years-old on election day, 2026, and the poll from the Fiscal Alliance Foundation shows 63-percent of voters think he should not seek reelection. 

The Boston Globe recently reported Moulton is seriously considering challenging Markey in next year's Democratic primary.  

Week 5 in high school football.

Click here for all the results.

Butterfly Effects, a company offering supportive services to children with autism, is the latest tenant to move into the old Swansea Mall.

In June 2025, Butterfly Effects announced it would be expanding its nationwide reach by establishing six new centers for applied behavioral analysis, or ABA therapy, two of which are in Massachusetts — including the one at 262 Swansea Mall Dr., Suite 701, that expected to welcome the first of its patients this month.

At the time of the announcement, a second location was planned for Feeding Hills, Agawam, Massachusetts.

Butterfly Effects said it looks forward to welcoming new families “into our innovative and nurturing” centers, ready to serve patients with “thoughtfully designed” and “developmentally appropriate” programs and spaces that foster “smooth transitions” that support the unique learning needs of autistic children.

Learn more at heraldnews.com.

Nearly two years after Congregation Beth El announced that its community would have to sell its historic temple at 385 High St., the building is going up for auction.

Southcoast Auctions & Realty will be selling the iconic Temple Beth El on Thursday, Nov. 6, at 4 p.m. at an auction to be held on the premises.

Rabbi Mark Elber, leader of the small but faithful Jewish congregation, said Wednesday while preparing a sermon for Yom Kippur that the group found the decision to sell the building difficult but necessary.

The congregation itself will continue to worship at a new location, but “To part from such a magnificent structure that has such a long, rich history, both in the Jewish community and the wider Fall River community, it’s very sad and painful,” Elber said.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Thursday morning at Buttonwood Park Zoo to celebrate the opening of its Animal Ambassador Center.

The $2.7 million facility features viewing areas and a recreated habitat for the zoo’s Animal Ambassador Program, which brings rescued and rehabilitated animals to schools, libraries and public events for hands-on learning experiences.

The zoo also welcomed twelve new animals, including two red foxes, poison dart frogs, a green aracari and a skink. The foxes — siblings named Finn and Fern — are less than a year old and were among hundreds reportedly rescued from an abusive fur and urine farm in Ohio earlier this year.

According to nonprofit organization Humane World for Animals (HWA), more than 300 animals were saved from the now-permanently closed Grand River Fur Exchange. Foxes, raccoons, coyotes and other animals were found in “filthy wire-bottom cages” with little protection from the cold. WHA said some had missing toes, ears, tails and limbs, while others were emaciated and dehydrated. Survivors were placed with licensed wildlife rehabilitators and sanctuaries.

See more at wpri.com.

Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan and Director of Community Development Mike Dion unveiled plans for a new sensory-friendly facility at Abbot Court Playground Park.

The goal, officials said, is to make sure all children have a comfortable place to play.

The inspiration for “Mae’s Playground” came from resident Marcel Riley, who brought the idea to the city after building a sensory-friendly playground for his daughter in their backyard.

Speaking at Thursday’s announcement, Riley said it’s going to be “more than a park.”

See more at wpri.com.

Students from New Bedford, Fall River and Brockton left the Dennison Memorial Community Center in New Bedford on Tuesday with refurbished laptops to allow them to better keep up with their schoolwork.  

The Massachusetts State Police, Police Activities League of Massachusetts and AT&T distributed 100 laptops to students in need. 

The laptop giveaway is part of AT&T’s five-year nationwide program to donate $5 billion worth of laptops and software for digital literacy programs to close the digital divide, according to John Emra, president of the AT&T Atlantic Region. 

“The reality is in this day and age, that if you don’t have a laptop, you don’t have the ability to get on the Internet and you’re really going to get left behind,” Emra said.

Learn more at heraldnews.com.

The cause of a fire at a recycling business in Freetown late Tuesday night is under investigation. 

Crews responded to Excel Recycling around 11 p.m. and found a large pile of shredded material burning.  Firefighters worked to protect the building which is described on the company's website as a state-of-the-art plant to handle light iron and auto scrap metal. 

There were no reported injuries.   

Mayor Paul E. Coogan will host a Domestic Violence Awareness event at 1:15 p.m. Oct. 10. The event will take place at the atrium of Government Center, 1 Government Center, Fall River, according to a community announcement.

The program will feature guest speakers, a viewing of the Clothesline Project, a flag-raising ceremony and the presentation of a proclamation by Coogan in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

The community is welcome to attend this event.

See more at heraldnews.com.

While the federal government shutdown that took effect Oct. 1 will impact “non-essential” services, ICE activities in New Bedford and Fall River will likely not be affected.

According to the Department of Homeland Security’s website, law enforcement activities that include “irregular migration management will be maintained,” as will “drug interdiction.”

Its website states, “During a lapse in funding, the Department of Homeland Security may only continue ‘exempt’ activities such as law enforcement and maritime protection.”

It also says the website will not be “actively managed” during the shutdown.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

All Block Island Ferry service has been canceled on Wednesday due to high winds and adverse sea conditions.

The Block Island Ferry put out the alert on their website. Service is expected to resume on Thursday.

The Reservation Office will be open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at (866) 783-7996 Ext. 3.

See more at wpri.com.

Four officers kitted out in shorts, body cameras and athletic versions of police uniform shirts rolled along the Quequechan River Rail Trail on new electric bicycles — an upgrade to the department’s mountain bike division that officers said will let them mobilize faster and better.

The e-bikes were officially unveiled at the Rodman Street entrance to the rail trail, one of the main areas they’ll be regularly deployed.

Police Chief Kelly Furtado said the bikes, which cost about $18,000, aren’t stock issue.  They’re fully equipped with heavy frames, wide all-terrain tires, sirens, blue lights, headlights for night riding, first aid kits and more.

Officer Joseph Bailey said the e-bikes can do “anything that we could do in a patrol car, just a lot more compact.”

See more at heraldnews.com.

Months after the deadly fire at the Gabriel House assisted living facility, the city of Fall River and the operators of large buildings there are taking a closer look at their fire prevention systems.

Over the past month, fire inspectors found recalled sprinklers at four separate properties. And these weren’t recent recalls, but rather sprinkler heads that were recalled more than 20 years ago.

A group home, a shelter and two boarding houses were identified by the city’s Fire Prevention Bureau as having these sprinklers with O-ring seals made by the Central Sprinkler Company.

“This O-ring that’s in them is preventing them from flowing water. And it doesn’t impact every sprinkler head, but the recall has shown that a number of them have been impacted and thereby it’s a danger,” Fire Prevention Bureau Captain and Assistant City Fire Marshal Joshua Hetzler explained.

See more at wpri.com.