A 28-year-old man is charged after police said he barged into a house on Laurel Street in Fall River Saturday night.
Gahetan Jean-Louis allegedly stabbed the homeowner multiple times and fled the scene. He was arrested nearby a short time later and charged with home invasion and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
The victim was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
Bitter cold weather over New Year’s Day will open the city’s Extreme Cold Weather Temporary Shelter for people experiencing homelessness.
From 4 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 1, to 8 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 2, the First Step Inn will open its first-floor conference room at 134 Durfee St.
The shelter is open in collaboration with the city’s Community Development Agency.
The National Weather Service predicts Thursday night’s temperatures will dip as low as 13 degrees, with wind gusts up to 20 mph.
Read more at heraldnews.com.
As we say goodbye to 2025, one popular Route 6 eatery has also offered its final farewell.
Bearded Chicken has officially flown its coop at 1160 GAR Highway — its home for two years — ending a decade-long run for the Somerset catering-business-turned-restaurant.
According to owner and chef Eric Thomas, Sunday, Dec. 28, marked the last day of business at Bearded Chicken, where they served up one final batch of their fan favorites such as wings and tenders with scratch-made sauces, fries, Texas toast, and apple pie egg rolls.
See more at heraldnews.com.
New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs is facing criminal charges after an incident involving his private chef earlier this month.
Court documents show Diggs has been charged with felony strangulation and misdemeanor assault and battery related to the Dec. 2 incident.
Boston media outlets reported that Diggs’ attorneys appeared in court Tuesday in Dedham in an effort to keep the details sealed.
According to the police report obtained by 12 News on Tuesday afternoon, the chef went to the Dedham police station on Dec. 16 to report the alleged assault and was initially hesitant to name the suspect, given his fame.
See more at wpri.com.
A Fall River man will spend the next 28 to 35 years in state prison for stabbing and shooting a New Bedford woman to death at a Fall River car wash in broad daylight.
Angelo Leo of Fall River, 35, sat impassively in Bristol County Superior Court in Fall River on Monday, Dec. 29. Earlier this month, a jury found him guilty of manslaughter in the May 29, 2023, death of Jessenia Simmons of New Bedford. On Dec. 18, Leo pleaded guilty to the Armed Career Criminal Act — a sentence enhancement in force because Leo had been previously convicted of two violent crimes.
“Needless to say, Jessenia Simmons’ life mattered,” said Judge Thomas McGuire. “It mattered to her children. It mattered to the community.”
See more at heraldnews.com.
At the Hoy Tin bar, Jon Morse wore a sweatshirt with the words “Always win at the Tin,” and called himself a regular. Owner Ben Wong and former waitress Chelsea Diogo jokingly corrected him.
“We call them family — we don’t call them regulars,” Diogo said.
The atmosphere was wistful at the iconic Chinese restaurant on Route 6, which on Monday, Dec. 29, was marking its last day in business after 50 years.
“The family has finally decided to say it’s time,” said Wong, manning the bar.
He said his family decided earlier in the year that a half-century of serving chow mein, egg rolls and crab rangoons earned them a rest.
See more at heraldnews.com.
A resident and a firefighter were injured in a house fire in New Bedford Monday evening, according to authorities.
New Bedford Deputy Fire Chief Daniel Coons told 12 News firefighters responded to the Topham Street home and were met with flames and smoke pouring from the first floor.
Coons said a resident was rushed to Rhode Island Hospital to be treated for burn injuries. The severity of his injuries is unknown at this time.
A firefighter was also transported to the hospital with a minor foot injury, Coons added.
See more at wpri.com.
Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River shared a Christmas message reflecting on hope, peace, and unity during the Jubilee Year of Hope.
He emphasized the significance of the Jubilee Year, inaugurated by Pope Francis and continued by Pope Leo XIV, and highlighted the importance of hope in the Christmas celebration.
"In the Incarnation, as the divine and human are united, hope becomes flesh in Jesus Christ," da Cunha said in his Christmas 2025 message.
He referenced the Gospel of Luke, where Angel Gabriel announces the birth of Christ to the shepherds, bringing a message of hope and joy.
See more at heraldnews.com.
The adventures and tragedies of Moby Dick will echo in three different continents as the New Bedford Whaling Museum hosts a mini reading marathon of the Portuguese language adaption of Herman Melville’s legendary novel on Saturday, Jan. 3.
“The Portuguese Moby-Dick Mini-Marathon, like the full reading in English, is a fun, engaging way to start a new year with a collective of culture and literacy enthusiasts,” said Robert C. Rocha Jr., the New Bedford Whaling Museum’s Associate Curator of Science and Research, who is coordinating the event. “The exciting bonus for those of us participating in this mini-marathon is that we connect with many other Portuguese-speaking sites across the Atlantic.”
Starting at 2 p.m., there will be simultaneous readings in the Whaling Museum’s Cook Memorial Theater, mainland Portugal, the Azores, Madeira, and Cape Verde of excerpts from an abridged version in Portuguese of Melville’s novel, using the adaptation created by Tiago Patri?cio.
See more at heraldnews.com.
Police are investigating a potential heist after $400,000 worth of live lobsters was stolen from a truck transporting the seafood to Costco locations in Illinois and Minnesota.
The shipment was picked up in Taunton, Mass., but never arrived at its final destination, according to Dylan Rexing, CEO of Rexing Companies.
“It directly impacts businesses and contributes to higher prices for consumers,” he added.
The possible theft follows a seafood shipment incident earlier this month, where items were stolen from the same Massachusetts facility.
See more at wpri.com.
Firefighters knocked down a garage fire in Seekonk Friday that caused the structure’s roof to collapse.
Seekonk Fire Chief Shaun Whalen told 12 News that firefighters were met with heavy fire when they first arrived at the scene. Whalen noted that the fire may have been burning for “quite some time” as the roof collapse happened a short time after firefighters arrived.
No one was inside the structure at the time of the fire, and there were no reports of any injuries.
See more at wpri.com.
A man who was arrested in Fall River is facing charges in Rhode Island for his alleged involvement in a Molotov cocktail incident.
Fall River Police located Armando Gonzalez Wednesday, and he was arrested after running from police.
He's being charged with fugitive from justice and resisting arrest in Massachusetts and he's being extradited to Rhode Island to face charges related to the Molotov cocktail.
First responders blocked off a portion of Route 44 in Rehoboth Wednesday after a car crashed and damaged two telephone poles.
The car rolled over in the area of 454 Winthrop Street, snapping one telephone pole, knocking over another, and destroying a business’s sign.
A 20-year-old New Bedford resident is sentenced to three years in state prison.
Prosecutors said Josiah Sweeney fired five shots in the direction of a man walking his dog on April 24th, 2024.
The Bristol District Attorney's Office said the two men were members of rival gangs.
Sweeney pleaded guilty last week to charges including carrying a loaded firearm and attempted assault and battery by firearm.
Flu cases are on the rise in Massachusetts and officials are urging residents to get vaccinated.
Authorities say cases are surging roughly a month earlier this season than they did last season. During the week of December 7th to the 13th, the state Department of Public Health says the southeast region of Massachusetts has seen very high influenza-like illness levels.
Despite this, the department says the influenza is of low severity this year.
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The Taunton man charged with animal cruelty after an officer discovered a severely malnourished puppy in his car during a traffic stop faced a judge Tuesday.
Devin Preeper, 27, pleaded not guilty to felony animal cruelty in Brockton District Court. He was released on personal recognizance and ordered not to own any domesticated animals.
Preeper was pulled over on North Main Street for running a red light the morning of Nov. 24, according to police.
A Portsmouth police officer waded into icy waters Tuesday morning to rescue a dog that had fallen into a pond at Montaup Country Club.
In a post on social media, the Portsmouth Police Department shared images of Lieutenant Khatu Khubchandani pulling the dog out of the pond. The dog was then reunited with her owner.
“Fortunately, this is just a wet uniform, a cold pond, and a happy dog back with her person,” the police department wrote. “Animal Control followed up on the incident and the dog is safe and warm.”
The Massachusetts Division of Wildlife said pets should always be leashed while walking near ice. If a pet falls into a frozen body of water, owners should not attempt to rescue them and instead call 911 for help.
See more at wpri.com.
The Vineyard Wind offshore wind project was one of five large-scale offshore wind projects immediately paused by the federal government under President Donald Trump on Monday, Dec. 22, throwing the future of East Coast offshore energy into question — and according to New Bedford's mayor, threatening hundreds of local jobs.
Besides Vineyard Wind, the Department of the Interior also paused:
Construction on all projects has been put on hold “due to national security risks identified by the Department of War in recently completed classified reports,” according to the Department of the Interior.
Read more at heraldnews.com.
The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office said Jordan Lyttle was riding his bike on Stafford Road around 5:15 p.m. when he was struck from behind by a green 2005 Subaru Legacy, which fled the scene.
Lyttle was transported to the hospital with serious injuries, the DA’s office said. He was pronounced dead a few hours later.
“A second vehicle was also involved as Mr. Lyttle entered the opposite lane of travel after being struck by the Subaru,” the DA’s office said. “The second vehicle remained on scene.”
See more at wpri.com.
Some people usher in the new year with a champagne toast, others by dutifully eating black-eyed peas, and then there are those who celebrate by diving into ice-cold water.
Taking the plunge into the New Year has become an annual tradition for many and a memorable way to raise funds for charity.
This unique approach to fundraising began in Massachusetts, where, in 1904, a Boston swim club decided that braving frigid water was the perfect way to support local causes.
More than a century later, the tradition is still going strong and still just as cold.
See more at heraldnews.com.
State gas prices slightly declined for the second consecutive week and reached an average of $2.92 per gallon of regular fuel on Monday, down from last week's price of $2.94 per gallon, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
The average fuel price in state declined about 4 cents since last month. According to the EIA, gas prices across the state in the last year have been as low as $2.88 on April 14, 2025, and as high as $3.11 on Sep. 8, 2025.
A year ago, the average gas price in Massachusetts was 2% higher at $2.97 per gallon.
Read more at heraldnews.com.
The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office said a Lakeville man was killed in a crash late Saturday night.
Just after 11:45 p.m., Massachusetts State Police received a call about a motor vehicle crash that happened on Route 140 South, at Exit 10, in Freetown.
When troopers arrived on scene, they found a black Hyundai Elantra in the center median, that had appeared to have struck part of the guardrail head on. No other vehicles were involved.
The driver of the car, identified as 50-year-old Justin Graham, of Lakeville, was taken to a local hospital and pronounced deceased a short time later.
See more at wpri.com.
Mary L. Fonseca Elementary School is no longer considered underperforming, according to a community announcement.
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education made the decision official Dec. 16 at the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education’s meeting.
The exit is pending approval of the school’s Exit Assurances and Sustainability Application.
DESE Commissioner Pedro Martinez highlighted the school's progress, particularly in improving academic outcomes for multilingual learners.
See more at heraldnews.com.
Remembered by family and friends as “an unforgettable spark to every life he touched,” Adam Ahmad Khan died on Dec. 10 in North Carolina from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident.
The 21-year-old U.S. Marine and Dartmouth High School graduate was the grandson of state Rep. Alan Silvia, D-Fall River, who said the family was devastated by the loss.
“He was planning on coming home on Dec. 23. Now he’s coming home and his funeral is on the 23rd. It’s an awful loss,” Silvia said.
His office issued the following statement:
“It is with profound sadness that state Rep. Alan Silvia announces the passing of his grandson, Adam Khan, age 21, a United States Marine serving on active duty.
See more at heraldnews.com.
The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has recognized Samuel Watson Elementary School for surpassing pre-pandemic student achievement levels in MCAS math and literacy, according to a community announcement.
The recognition comes after Watson’s exit from underperforming status in November 2023 and highlights the school’s continued academic growth. A leadership team from Watson Elementary was invited to participate and present at the Celebrating Academic Success Conference, a statewide event honoring schools with notable MCAS gains.
Watson Elementary was among 94 schools out of approximately 1,500 statewide serving grades 3-8 whose student achievement data in MCAS math and literacy has met or exceeded pre-pandemic levels.
See more at heraldnews.com.
A bar in Fall River has had all of its licenses suspended after a shooting on Thursday, according to the mayor’s office.
Police said the shooting happened just after 2 a.m. at Iced Out Pub on East Main Street.
When officers got there, they found a man suffering from a gunshot wound and two other people with minor injuries.
One person was brought to a nearby hospital, police said, while the others were treated at the scene.
See more at wpri.com.
A Rehoboth man has been sentenced for killing his father more than four years ago, the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office announced.
Joseph “JD” Housley Jr., 25, was ordered to serve life in prison on Friday.
Police said 66-year-old Joseph Housley was pronounced dead after officers found him suffering from a gunshot wound at a Seekonk apartment complex on the night of July 7, 2021.
Housley Jr. was convicted of the crime in October.
See more at wpri.com.
Governor Maura Healey is pressing federal officials to halt ICE immigration flights at Hanscom Field as local leaders say they are being kept in the dark.
Members of the Hanscom Field Advisory Commission say ICE has not shared basic information about flight activity or detainee numbers. A report shows 114 ICE flights left Hanscom this year through late November, a 143-percent increase, as Healey criticizes enforcement tactics that led to more than 14-hundred arrests in a recent operation.
ICE says it will not release details, citing operational security.
Brian Walshe was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for murdering his wife, Ana, in January 2023, the mandatory sentence for first-degree murder in Massachusetts.
Judge Diane Freniere also sentenced Walshe to the maximum time allowed in the two lesser charges to which he pleaded guilty right before jury selection was set to begin in his trial. The maximums are 20 years for misleading a criminal police investigation and 3 years for improperly disposing of Ana Walshe’s remains.
Each of the charges are to run consecutive to the life sentence.
“The seriousness of your acts cannot be overstated,” Freniere said when explaining her decision in the last charge. “Your acts in dismembering your wife’s body and disposing of her remains in multiple area dumpsters can only be described as barbaric and incomprehensible.”
See more at heraldnews.com.
Jason Hall has played in big games during his football career.
None bigger than the upcoming NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision semifinal playoff game.
The Fall River native's college team — the Villanova Wildcats — will host the Illinois State Redbirds this Saturday with a chance to advance to the championship game.
Hall, a 6-2, 230-pound sophomore linebacker, was key on defense in the Wildcats' latest win over Tarleton State, 26-21. He finished the contest with 6 total tackles, 2 solo and a sack. In 13 games this season for Villanova, Hall has 36 tackles, including 4.5 for losses, forced fumble and 3.5 sacks.
See more at heraldnews.com.
Images of amber-colored water filling sink basins and bathtubs have long been the bane of town residents, who have been quick to call on the Water Department to do something about the so-called “brown” water. As complaints persist, Water Commissioner Jim Pelletier and Swansea Water District Superintendent Jeffrey Sutherland offered “an explanation” during a recent interview.
Sutherland said his own concerns about the water is what caused him eight years ago to take the helm of “a special tax-levying entity” operated by volunteer labor that is neither private company nor nonprofit organization. He likened the town’s Water District, established in 1949, to the Vatican within Rome — an independent body within the city that supports residents as both customers and owners alike.
See more at heraldnews.com.
A man convicted in the death of a New Bedford woman at a car wash in 2023 pleaded guilty on Thursday, Dec. 18, to the Armed Career Criminal Act — a sentencing enhancement that could add an additional decade or more to his prison sentence.
Angelo Leo appeared in Bristol County Superior Court in Fall River where he pleaded guilty to carrying a firearm without a license while being previously convicted of two violent crimes.
On Dec. 11, a jury found Leo guilty of manslaughter in the May 29, 2023, death of Jessenia Simmons of New Bedford.
The enhancement, Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 269 Section 10G(b), calls for an additional mandatory minimum sentence to the manslaughter conviction, of another 10 to 15 years in state prison.
Read more at heraldnews.com.
A Taunton man was sentenced to prison Wednesday for hitting and killing a woman while driving under the influence of drugs back in 2021.
Roland Escobar, 46, pleaded guilty to charges of manslaughter while operating under the influence, leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, and two counts each of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and leaving the scene of property damage, according to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.
He was sentenced to serve 9 to 12 years in state prison, followed by three years of probation, the DA’s office said.
On the afternoon of Aug. 3, 2021, the crash claimed the life of 59-year-old Lisa Rocha, of Taunton.
See more at wpri.com.
Authorities say the man responsible for both Saturday’s deadly shooting at Brown University and Monday’s killing of an MIT professor has been found dead in New Hampshire, Target 12 confirmed Thursday night.
Two people familiar with the investigation confirmed the news around 9 p.m., and authorities identified the dead suspect later in the hour as Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, 48.
“We got him,” FBI Boston special agent in charge Ted Docks said during a news conference at the Providence Public Safety Complex.
Police believe Neves Valente shot and killed himself. His body was found after police swarmed a storage facility in Salem, New Hampshire.
See more at wpri.com.
Authorities released another photo and a map Wednesday as they entered a fifth day of searching for the person wanted in connection with Saturday’s deadly shooting at Brown University, as doctors reported progress on treating the injured students.
See more at wpri.com.
The Providence Police Department issued a mutual aid request yesterday.
Officers from other communities are needed as the investigation continues into Saturday's mass shooting at Brown University that left two dead and nine wounded.
The Boston Globe reported the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association said Providence needs help to patrol the streets and respond to calls.
The operators of Gabriel House assisted living facility in Fall River, where 10 people died as a result of a historically catastrophic fire and 30 people were injured, had no liability insurance on the property protecting the residents in case of bodily injury or wrongful death.
Presiding before a room of about 20 attorneys in Bristol County Superior Court, Judge Raffi Yessayan spoke plainly.
“How do you conceive of a building with 70 elderly people in it and not have any liability insurance?” Yessayan told an attorney for Gabriel House owner Dennis Etzkorn.
The cadre of attorneys attending a special hearing on Wednesday, Dec. 17, represented the 11 plaintiffs suing Gabriel Care LLC — including residents who were burned out of their apartments and the estates of three who died — attorneys for Etzkorn and Karen Etzkorn, and attorneys for inspection company Fire Systems Inc.
Read more at heraldnews.com.
A man accused of shooting and killing a man in the Flint was held without bail on Monday, Dec. 15, in the case.
Kendrick O’Neal Williams, 32, appeared in Fall River District Court and pleaded not guilty to a charge of murder in the death of Taiquan Teixeira in November. Judge Kevin Finnerty ordered Williams held at the Bristol County House of Correction without bail on the basis of dangerousness.
According to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, on the afternoon of Nov. 22, Fall River police responded to the area of 1331 Pleasant St. after receiving a report of men fighting. When officers arrived, they found 31-year-old Teixeira unresponsive and suffering from a gunshot wound.
See more at heraldnews.com.
A Fall River teenager has been accused of endangering the lives of his passengers and marijuana possession after a rollover car crash in Portsmouth, Rhode Island.
Portsmouth Police said on the night of Dec. 13, around 9:44 p.m., officers responded to a single-car rollover on Route 24 North near Cedar Island with multiple passengers trapped inside.
Police said they found a gray Toyota Camry with Massachusetts plates lying on its roof in the woods near the road. All airbags had been deployed, and the car had extensive damage. Police said the car had hit a construction traffic message board, which was resting against the car.
Police said two passengers, both juveniles, had exited the car before police arrived. The driver was conscious but trapped inside along with an unconscious juvenile. They were both rescued with help from the Portsmouth Fire Department.
Read more at heraldnews.com.
The Brian Walshe murder trial has ended in a guilty verdict.
A jury handed down that verdict yesterday to Walshe, finding him guilty of first-degree murder in the death and dismemberment of his wife Ana.
Jurors deliberated for about six hours over two days before reaching a verdict.
Electricity and natural gas companies are being asked to explain their soaring fees and look for ways to reduce costs, as the Department of Public Utilities announced Monday, Dec. 15, it is investigating rising prices and aiming to make bills more understandable.
According to the DPU, the department will look at “delivery rates and charges with the aims of containing customer costs.”
The move comes two months after the DPU concluded public comment on a request by natural gas supplier Liberty Utilities to jack up Fall River area customers’ rates by an average of 55% next year — and up to 90% by the start of the next decade.
Read more at heraldnews.com.
An investigation is underway after a man’s body was found in Rehoboth Tuesday morning, according to police.
Offiers were called to a Brook Street home just after 9 a.m. following reports of an unconscious man lying in the driveway.
Police said the 67-year-old man was pronounced dead by first responders. He has not been identified at this time.
The man did not live in the home but did live nearby, according to police.
See more at wpri.com.
AG Neronha appeared Monday night on Erin Burnett’s CNN program and gave some additional details about the status of the investigation, emphasizing authorities’ focus on the individual seen in the additional surveillance footage released earlier in the day.
“We believe that this person is a significant person of interest — possibility more than that — so we want to identify him and detain him very quickly, if we can,” Neronha said, describing the individual as “our primary person of interest right now.”
See more at wpri.com.
The gunman who killed two Brown University students and wounded nine others remained at large late Sunday after authorities announced they were releasing the man detained earlier in the day as a person of interest.
At a hastily called 11 p.m. news conference, Attorney General Peter Neronha said lab tests on evidence linked to the detained man “came back negative,” and that the evidence “now points in a different direction.”
“There is no basis to consider him a person of interest,” Neronha said.
Asked whether the shooter is still in the Providence area, Mayor Brett Smiley said, “We have no way of knowing.”
See more at wpri.com.
Fall River police are investigating the origin of a threat at Durfee High School this week.
A caller claimed there was a bomb and a gun in the building and the school went into lockdown as a precaution. A search found nothing.
Investigators believe it was a hoax consistent with similar calls elsewhere referred to as "swatting."
Closing arguments were presented Friday in the Brian Walshe murder trial. He's the Cohasset man accused of killing and dismembering his wife Ana around New Year's Day, 2023.
The defense said Ana Walshe suffered a sudden, unexplained death and that he disposed of her body for fear of being blamed.
The prosecution said Walshe killed his wife believing she was having an affair and urged jurors to use common sense in reaching a verdict.
Catherine Dillon, a longtime BankFive executive, has been named chair of the One Southcoast Chamber, according to a community announcement.
Dillon, who serves as executive vice president and chief operating officer of BankFive, has been on the chamber’s board for nearly a decade. She has served on several committees, including the executive and governance committees.
“It’s an honor to step into this role and continue supporting the incredible work of the One Southcoast Chamber,” said Catherine. “At BankFive, we’re deeply committed to strengthening the communities we serve, and our support of the Chamber is an extension of that mission. Our region’s foundation lies in its collaboration, innovation, and community partnerships, and I look forward to continuing to work alongside our local business leaders as chair to keep that momentum growing.”
See more at heraldnews.com.
At the Dec. 8 School Committee meeting, members of the board issued official statements related to accounts of a Westport Community Schools incident that placed Fall River School Committeeman Kevin Aguiar on paid administrative leave, temporarily relieving him from his position as Principal of Westport Elementary School, until he resigned.
Several Fall River residents spoke out during public input, referencing rumored allegations of “abuse” sustained by a Westport student that Aguiar was allegedly privy to, and that he allegedly did not immediately report observations or evidence of a disabled student being “inappropriately” handled by a Westport School Department staff member.
Aguiar’s attorney, Joseph Fingliss, issued a statement Dec. 11 related to the incident.
See more at heraldnews.com.
Closing arguments are set for today in the Brian Walshe murder trial. He's the Cohasset man accused of killing and dismembering his wife Ana in January, 2023.
The defense rested without calling any witnesses.
Without the jury present, Walshe told Judge Diane Freniere he would not testify in his own defense. She said she would tell jurors he has the right to not testify and that they may not speculate about his decision.
A federal judge has pushed back on the Trump Administration's pause on wind energy projects carried out by federal agencies, raising new questions for offshore plans near Cape Cod — a ruling that some welcome, but disappointed others.
The finding, released from the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts on Dec. 8, does not cancel President Trump’s original executive memorandum calling for a pause on wind approvals, but it does call for ending federal agencies’ enforcement of his directives.
The Sierra Club Massachusetts is among those applauding the court’s finding. In May, the organization joined nine other environmental groups in a filing arguing that the administration’s “wind directive” was arbitrary and not based in science, lacked a clear purpose and timeline, and jeopardized climate goals and public health.
Read more at heraldnews.com.
The city is “definitely considering” buying Bishop Connolly High School, the Diocese-owned Catholic school that closed in June 2023 after 57 years.
Mayor Paul Coogan said the property was “a very viable alternative” to alleviate overcrowding in the Fall River Public School district. Coogan said Bishop Connolly was “functional,” but the second floor will need further renovations — “nothing too overwhelming” — before being brought back as a fully operational school.
Besides the second floor that “hasn’t been used at all,” Coogan said, the gym and the auditorium accessible on the first floor have been utilized by the FRPS’ pre-kindergarten program, which currently serves anywhere between 280 and 300 students, Coogan said.
Read more at heraldnews.com.
Three families were forced out into the cold by a fire that broke out in a Fall River apartment building Thursday night.
Fall River District Fire Chief Jason Poissant told 12 News firefighters rushed to the Bradford Avenue triple-decker for a bedroom fire that had spread to the attic.
Poissant said firefighters were able to quickly knock down the flames despite the gusty winds and frigid temperatures.
A 52-year-old man faces criminal charges for illegal dumping in Fall River.
The police department's environmental unit received a tip about patio furniture and a pool liner dumped recently near the Watuapa Pond reservoir.
Based on surveillance video Daryl Parrent was identified. He allegedly offered to remove the illegally dumped items, but police said they don't make deals with people who break the law.
The City Council on Dec. 9 narrowly approved a measure that could lead to Fall River trying a new form of city government — one without an elected mayor.
The council voted 5-1 to ask for a home-rule petition requesting the state allow the city to put a question on the 2026 ballot that would ask voters if they want the city to use a Plan E form of government, with a city manager instead of an elected mayor.
Councilor Michelle Dionne, who sponsored the resolution, said the idea was intended to give voters a greater say in how the city is governed.
“It’s called democracy. This last election, and this last year, we’ve seen that a lot of people are very discontent,” Dionne said. “People want change. Well, there’s multiple ways to have change.”
Read more at heraldnews.com.
Water damage remediation at B.M.C. Durfee High School is underway with sheetrock and carpeting in two areas replaced after three flooded first-floor office spaces were discovered on Monday, Dec. 1.
At the Dec. 8 meeting of the School Committee, Superintendent Tracy Curley shared an update with the district. A shutoff valve has been used to turn off the water rather than a sink's faucet handles, Curley said.
"When that valve failed, the water flowed from a sink basin and down to the first floor. It was not clear how long the water had been running when it was discovered Monday," she said.
The affected areas were "immediately assessed" and abatement work began on the northeast corner of the first floor. Carpets in two of the office spaces were replaced, said Curley, and 24-inch cuts of sheetrock were made to remove sodden panels. Twelve ceiling tiles were replaced, in addition to a fire alarm fixture and LED paneling.
Read more at heraldnews.com.
The prosecution rested its case after emotional witness testimony in day eight of the murder trial of Brian Walshe.
The 50-year-old Cohasset man is accused of killing his wife, Ana Walshe. She was last seen alive on New Year’s Eve 2022 and was reported missing several days later. Her body was never found.
Prior to the start of the trial, Brian Walshe pleaded guilty to improper conveyance of a human body and misleading a police investigation. He pleaded not guilty to a charge of first-degree murder, with the defense maintaining that Ana died from a sudden medical event.
On Wednesday, Brian’s parole officer and two of Ana Walshe’s friends were among those who took the stand.
See more at wpri.com.
The yearslong lawsuit that has left the former Watuppa Heights housing project property in legal limbo could be over in less than a month.
A mediation by a judge could potentially end the lawsuit, and pave the way for that 10-acre property at Rodman and Warren streets to be reused.
The lawsuit was first filed in 2021 in Bristol County Superior Court by two former Watuppa Heights residents and the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, a statewide nonprofit dedicated to helping those experiencing homelessness and housing inequality.
On Feb. 9, 2021, former residents Juanita Thompson and Marilyn Gomez and the nonprofit sued the Fall River Housing Authority; the city of Fall River; Timothy Barrow, then-executive director of FRHA; and Mayor Paul Coogan.
See more at heraldnews.com.
Swansea has completed its Route 103 Corridor Study, mapping out big changes for Wilbur Avenue, or Route 103, with plans for safer intersections, walkable streets and a boost for Ocean Grove's small businesses, according to a community announcement.
The study, which focused on Wilbur Avenue from the Coles River to Gardners Neck Road, was funded by state Sen. Michael Rodrigues and conducted in partnership with the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District (SRPEDD), according to the announcement.
Route 103 serves as the spine of Ocean Grove, with dense residential neighborhoods on both sides and more than two dozen small businesses along the corridor. It is also a key connector to Somerset, Fall River and Warren, R.I.
See more at heraldnews.com.
More than a dozen people were forced into the bitter cold early Tuesday morning after a fire broke out at an apartment complex in Taunton.
Crews responding to Taunton Gardens on Hopkins Road around 2:30 a.m. were met with heavy flames and smoke coming from one of the buildings.
A second alarm was struck due to the magnitude of the fire and temperatures dropping into the single digits.
Bristol County Sheriff Paul Heroux is reiterating his call to close Ash Street Jail, saying it could be done for $10 million.
The job would pay for itself in three years through savings in utilities and maintenance costs and staff overtime, he said.
The over 200,000-square-foot, 137-year-old building is owned by the state. He said it needs about $11 million in essential repairs.
Heroux said the $10 million would be used to outfit three housing units at the Dartmouth House of Correction in North Dartmouth with cell locks and toilets.
Read more at heraldnews.com.
A man is facing several charges after he allegedly shot a gun from a window in Fall River over the weekend.
Police said officers responded to an apartment off Dover Street on Saturday. Witnesses told the officers they heard yelling outside and saw a man in a second-floor window shouting at someone in the parking lot before seeing a flash and hearing a loud pop.
The man later left the building, continued yelling and then returned inside, according to police.
Officers encountered several people in the apartment, including 45-year-old Matthew Vieira, who reportedly matched the description given by witnesses. Everyone denied being involved or hearing a gunshot.
See more at wpri.com.
Crews are working to extinguish a fire that broke out at an apartment complex in Taunton Tuesday morning.
Crews were called to the Taunton Gardens on Hopkins Road just before 3 a.m. and found smoke and flames coming from one of the buildings.
“I was watching TV and saw the lights from my window, and I went out and saw all the crews and everything, and units 6 and 8 were pretty much engulfed in flames,” Michael Dias said.
A 12 News crew on scene saw firefighters focusing on the second floor of the affected building.
See more at wpri.com.
Court filings indicate that the Gabriel House assisted living facility had been notified about the building’s recalled sprinkler heads several months prior to the fire that killed 10 residents and injured dozens of others.
Fire Systems Inc. (FSI), the vendor hired by the Gabriel House to inspect the sprinkler system, filed a cross-claim Monday in response to a lawsuit naming both FSI and the Gabriel House as defendants. In its claim, FSI states that the assisted living facility had been warned about the faulty sprinklers 10 months before the deadly fire broke out.
In its complaint, FSI says it told the Gabriel House after a 2024 inspection that the sprinkler heads had been recalled back in 2001 and needed to be replaced because they “might not operate in the case of a fire.”
See more at wpri.com.
The old Davol School at 112 Flint St. has found a potential buyer.
Contractors Landing LLC, the business of developer John Ferreira, the city-owned property on Oct. 15 at the end of a bidding review process that opened Sept. 19 and closed on Nov. 3. According to official request for proposals documents made available to the City Council, Ferreira has an eye for turning the three-story brick building into 16 one- and two-bedroom apartments.
The 30,000-square-foot property that has traded several hands over its colorful history was inspected and appraised by Assessor Mark Freitas at $355,000 at the end of April.
Ferreira has a record of repurposing old, established buildings around the city, and in a letter to the city’s Purchasing Department, he calls the Davol School a “diamond in the rough,” believing the property has “great potential as a market-rate apartment building.”
Read more at heraldnews.com.
The Fall River Diocese announced earlier this week their televised Masses along with its monthly newspaper will move to a digital format.
“This was a difficult decision to make,” Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha said. “Both the printed Anchor and the Television Mass have well served the Diocese over the past 60-plus years. Times change, however, and after a careful analysis of media usage trends and costs, we think investing in other communication endeavors will help us to better connect with and engage a wider segment of our Diocesan community.”
The change starts in January. Currently, the Mass airs weekly on WLNE-TV, while the newspaper, The Anchor, is a print publication.
The Anchor will still be viewable on its website and through an email newsletter. The Diocese said people who want to sign up for that newsletter can do so here. The first newsletter will come out in February.
See more at wpri.com.
One person was killed in a fire in Middleboro on Sunday morning.
According to Chief Owen Thompson, crews were called to Ashley Lane just before 10 a.m. for a report of a fire in a building.
When they arrived on scene, crews found heavy smoke and flames coming from the first and second floors of the attached condo, at both the front and back of the building.
The fire had also spread to the attached units.
See more at heraldnews.com.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation is scheduled to inspect the Veterans Memorial Bridge eastbound and westbound on Route 6 in Fall River and Somerset this month.
The work will take place between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Dec. 8-12, and between 9 p.m. and 4 a.m. Dec. 15-16, according to an announcement from the department. The inspection is expected to be completed by the morning of Dec. 17.
Dec. 8 through 10, pedestrian/bike path will be closed during work hours.
A right lane closure on Route 6 eastbound and Route 138 southbound is scheduled for Dec. 11-12, but exit ramps will remain open.
See more at heraldnews.com.
Police arrested a Freetown man after officers found more than 20 firearms inside his house Thursday evening.
Lance Cambra, 63, has been charged with 22 counts of possession of a firearm without a license, possession of ammunition without a license, two counts of improper storage of a firearm, and drug possession.
Officers were called to a home off Gray Oaks Drive to assist the Freetown Fire Department. Police said the officers noticed “concerning behavior from a third party,” which led to them finding two unsecured firearms inside the home.
The officers determined Cambra did not possess a valid firearms license and obtained a search warrant for his residence.
See more at wpri.com.
A classroom assistant at Westport Elementary School has been accused of using “excessive physical force” on a student with disabilities, according to the district.
In a statement, Westport Community Schools Superintendent Dr. Fran Roy announced the unidentified classroom assistant no longer works for the district.
“The safety of our students is our top priority and conduct of this type by any staff toward any student is absolutely unacceptable,” Roy said.
The Westport Police Department and the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families are both investigating the incident.
See more at wpri.com.
Governor Maura Healey vows vaccines for children will be available in Massachusetts regardless of what is recommended at the federal level.
She said vaccines are safe, effective and lifesaving and they will be accessible to keep the state's families healthy, especially children.
A federal advisory committee is discussing changes to the infant hepatitis B vaccination recommendations and the full childhood immunization schedule.
Healey said the Commonwealth will continue to provide evidence-based vaccine recommendations based on data and science.
The results of recent testing detected mold in various locations within Alfred Letourneau and Westall Elementary Schools, but concluded that levels were “not alarming.”
Fall River Educators Association President Keith Michon explained that the mold growth was detected in dust that had not been wiped clean with a fungicidal disinfectant, according to Massachusetts Teachers Association Environmental Health and Safety representative Scott Fulmer's recommendations. “Airborne mold levels were normal to slightly above by his conservative standards in some areas,” Michon said.
After collecting the samples, Fulmer's recommendation for remediation for those areas was a “deep cleaning.”
“We have been in discussions with the superintendent about when that cleaning will take place and if it will be done by district personnel or a third party,” Michon said.
See more at heraldnews.com.
South Main Street was temporarily closed in both directions Thursday afternoon due to a serious single-vehicle crash.
Freetown police said the crash happened around 3:45 p.m. in the area of 170 South Main St.
First responders arrived within minutes and rendered aid to a man and a woman on scene, according to police. The two people were taken to Charlton Memorial Hospital, and police said Massachusetts State Police were notified due to “the severity of the operator’s condition.”
The SUV was towed from the scene and the street has since reopened.
See more at heraldnews.com.
Twin brothers Logan and James McKenzie have been turning heads in football since they were playing youth football.
In Wednesday's Massachusett Vocational Large School Super Bowl, the McKenzie twins dialed up their most triumphant moments on the biggest stage of their lives.
"We've been doing this since we were little kids," said James McKenzie after Diman defeated Whittier, 31-6, before a large gathering at Hormel Stadium. "I always have trust in (Logan) and I love him to death."
The Bengals (10-3) captured their first vocational state championship in school history. After the game, the Diman players celebrated with their fans and family on the field as they brought back the city of Fall River's first high school football championship trophy home.
See more at heraldnews.com.
Police are asking the public for help to identify a Fall River robbery suspect.
A masked man did not show a weapon when entered a gas station last week on Plymouth Avenue and demanded cash. It's unclear if he got any money, but he stole several phone chargers and three gallons of windshield wiper fluid.
Surveillance photos are posted on the police department's Facebook page.
Testimony continues today in the murder trial of Brian Walshe, the Cohasset man accused of killing and dismembering his wife.
Prosecutors called multiple witnesses during yesterday's session. A State Police forensic scientist described items linked to Ana Walshe that were found in a dumpster. These included a hacksaw, a tarp, a cleaning suit, stained towels, and Ana Walshe's vaccine card. An insurance salesman also testified that Ana Walshe received a high health rating for a policy holder.
Brian Walshe claims his wife died suddenly and he panicked by disposing of her body.
On Dec. 1, the Fall River Public School district reported to School Committee members that a hose was “inadvertently” left on in a second-floor B.M.C. Durfee High School closet, and over the holiday weekend, flooded three first-floor offices.
“Much of the cleanup has been done in-house, but we have secured ServiceMaster,” a company specializing in disaster remediation and restoration in Bristol County, “to finish up the work,” Superintendent Tracy Curley wrote in an email to members of the school board.
More information regarding the damage to the school at 460 Elsbree St. was expected to become available in the next couple of days.
See more at heraldnews.com.
An injured owl that was found in Westport is now receiving the care it needs.
According to a Facebook post from Westport Animal Control, the agency got a call from police on Monday after the small Eastern Screech Owl was seen on the side of Main Road in the area of Cornell Road.
An animal control officer used a towel to carefully place the owl into a cage before transporting it to the Dartmouth Humane Society.
From there, the owl will be transferred to the Cape Wildlife Center for additional care and observation.
See more at wpri.com.
A 36-year-old man is dead after crashing last night in Westport.
Police responded to a vehicle that had veered off Horseneck Road around 11 p.m. The driver, identified as Zane Martin of Warren, Rhode Island, was extricated from the wreckage and he died a short time later.
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
The City Council remained mostly intact after a Nov. 4 biennial municipal election saw a rare recount of the mayoral race and assembled a new School Committee with only three returning members. Seven incumbents will return to their seats along with two new councilors.
Newcomer Michael Canuel and Christopher Peckham will join Shawn Cadime, Joseph Camara, Michelle Dionne, Paul Hart, Linda Pereira, Cliff Ponte and Andrew Raposo after being sworn in January 2026.
Canuel and Peckham say they are planning to make an impact while serving on the Council and have vowed to carry the promises that bolstered their campaigns — to lower the cost of living, reinforce public safety, improve city infrastructure and crack down on community maintenance — into their new roles.
See more at heraldnews.com.
Three people were taken to the hospital with serious injuries after a crash in Middleboro Monday morning.
Police and fire officials said the crash happened just before 11 a.m. near Highland and Spruce Streets. When crews arrived, they found two cars significantly damaged with one person inside one and two people inside the other.
Firefighters had to use specialized hydraulic tools to rescue two of the victims.
One person was treated at the scene, taken to a nearby landing zone and then flown to Rhode Island Hospital. The other two were taken to local hospitals by ambulance.
See more at wpri.com.
Police are asking for the public’s assistance identifying the man who robbed a Fall River gas station last week.
The suspect walked into the Shell gas station on Plymouth Avenue and demanded the cashier open the register, according to police.
It’s unclear if the man made off with any cash, but police said he did steal several phone chargers and three gallons of windshield wiper fluid.
A Seekonk police officer was involved in a crash Tuesday afternoon on Route 6 in Seekonk.
Seekonk Police Captain Matthew Jardine told 12 News that the officer was heading to a disturbance call on Highland Avenue when their cruiser hydroplaned and flipped multiple times, ending up in the parking lot of Advanced Auto Parts.
Jardine said the officer was trapped and had to be cut out of the vehicle by Seekonk firefighters.
The officer was taken to the hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening, according to Jardine.
Read more at wpri.com.
An attorney for Brian Walshe says he disposed of his wife Ana's body, but that she died from natural causes.
Walshe's trial got underway yesterday in Dedham, where the Cohasset man is accused of first degree murder.
The attorney said during opening statements that Walshe panicked and disposed of his wife's body because he didn't think anyone would believe that her death was natural.
Prosecutors say Walshe killed his wife and disposed of her body, indicating he wanted to collect on her life insurance policy.
Testimony in the case continues today.
For 50 years, Jane "Mrs. V" Vieira was the first and last adult many SouthCoast school children saw going to and coming home from school.
On Thursday, Nov. 20, Westport Community Schools recognized Vieira for her half century of service during that night's School Committee meeting, presenting her with gifts and flowers.
"She really doesn't know why she's here," said Westport Community Schools Business Manager/Transportation Director Michelle Rapoza as she introduced her that evening.
Vieira had been the bus driver for Rapoza's daughter about 32 years ago, "and then she drove bus for my other two children after that, and ended with my grandson," Rapoza said.
See more at heraldnews.com.
The new standards for a Massachusetts high school graduate would include statewide tests, replacing the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System test that voters opted to remove as a graduation requirement in November 2024, under recommendations announced by Gov. Maura T. Healey Dec. 1.
Healey announced proposals for new graduation standards during a press conference at Dedham High School. For the past year, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has been developing the new standards to replace the MCAS test requirement.
The state announced that the new standards, which require final approval in June from the K-12 Statewide Graduation Council, include new standardized tests that would be designed, administrated and scored by the state and given at the end of certain core courses, such as algebra 1 or U.S. history.
See more at heraldnews.com.
The Joseph Case softball team took time to reflect on last season's accomplishment during their end of the season banquet.
The road to the program's first three-peat was harder than anyone expected. The Cardinals played a harder schedule and was tested early. After losing just two games combined in the prior two seasons, Case finished last spring with a 14-6 mark.
But in the playoffs, the Cardinals rose to the occasion, sweeping all five games including the Division 4 state final game, 7-6, against Tyngsboro at Worcester State University's Rockwood Softball Field. It was Case's seventh state championship.
On Sunday, there were smiles, tears and gratification for the Cardinal players and coaches as they gladly accepted their third straight state championship rings at the Fall River Country Club.
Read more at heraldnews.com.
The city has a new finance chief and auditor — two permanent positions that were vacant until a recent City Council meeting confirmed the names of those appointed, but not without discussion and a radical change of contract terms for the chief finance officer job.
At the Nov. 25 meeting, a divided Council voted 6-3 to confirm Emily Arpke, who has served as the city’s interim CFO for months that have spanned terse budget talks and fiscal management of the city’s half-a-billion-dollar budget, as the new CFO with a one-year contract that carries an annual salary of $142,000.
The Council voted 5-4 on a motion of City Councilor Cliff Ponte’s to add new terms to Arpke’s confirmation that said Arpke would need to be reconfirmed for the job after her one-year contract expires.
See more at heraldnews.com.
An investigation is underway into a car crash that happened in Attleboro Monday night.
First responders were called to South Avenue near Greenfield Street after receiving reports of a serious crash.
The Attleboro Fire Department said one of the drivers had to be removed from their vehicle and was rushed to Rhode Island Hospital for treatment. The other driver was able to get out of their vehicle and was brought to Sturdy Memorial Hospital.
Both vehicles involved in the crash sustained significant front-end damage.
See more at wpri.com.
Legendary R&B singer Antone “Chubby” Tavares, who made a name for himself alongside his five brothers in the 1970s, has died, his family announced Monday.
Tavares passed away at home Saturday night in “peace and comfort,” according to his son Antone Tavares Jr. He was 81 years old.
“Within the past year his health has declined, but his spirit and attitude always remained positive,” Tavares Jr. said.
Tavares was the lead singer of “Tavares” — an R&B and soul group he formed in 1973 with his brothers Ralph Edward Vierra Tavares, Victor Earl Tavares, Feliciano “Butch” Vierra Tavares, Perry Lee “Tiny” Tavares and Arthur Paul “Pooch” Tavares.
See more at wpri.com.
Dartmouth police are urging residents to be alert of a group of cows who may have escaped from a property Friday.
The cows were last seen in the 500 block of Old Fall River Road, police said.
Drivers in the area are asked to be cautious since the cows could be a hazard in the road during the dark, and if they see them, to contact police right away.
See more at wpri.com.
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