A shooting that took place on Interstate 195 early Sunday morning, April 19, sent one victim to the hospital with a gunshot wound. 

Sgt. Ross Aubin of the Fall River Police Department’s Office of Professional Standards said the incident occurred between a motorcyclist and the driver of a pickup truck on the state highway, before it “spilled into the city” close to eastbound exits 12 and 13.

The victim of the shooting was treated for their injuries at a local hospital, Aubin said.

The incident is currently under investigation by the Massachusetts State Police.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Two people were injured in a rollover crash on I-195 East in Westport Sunday morning, according to Massachusetts State Police.

Investigators believe the driver hit a guardrail and rolled over around 6:30 a.m.

The driver and passenger were trapped inside the vehicle and had to be freed by Dartmouth and Westport firefighters, according to police.

Both were transported to the hospital for treatment, though the severity of their injuries remains unknown at this time.

See more at wpri.com.

Eight dogs were found in “extremely unsanitary conditions” at a New Bedford apartment following an animal cruelty investigation, according to police..

On April 15, officers were called to an apartment building on Davis Street for a welfare check after receiving a report of a strong odor coming from one of the units.

Police said officers knocked several times with no answer while hearing dogs barking inside, prompting them to force their way inside.

Officers found three adult dogs and five puppies confined to cages and a pen, surrounded by feces, urine, garbage-covered floors and a heavy ammonia odor, according to police.

See more at wpri.com.

 A 47-year-old man is facing charges after a fire broke out in Taunton Tuesday morning.

Firefighters rushed to Grant Street around 7:15 a.m. and found heavy smoke coming from a triple-decker.

Taunton Fire Chief Steven Lavigne said firefighters and two officers entered the home to help the three occupants get out safely.

“The fire had gotten into the walls, so we had to do some overhauling,” Lavigne said. “We had to take down some ceilings and walls to get to the hidden fire.”

See more at wpri.com.

A 62-year-old Fall River man is sentenced to up to five years in prison for possession and distribution of child pornography. 

Mark Nicholson was found guilty Thursday in Fall River Superior Court. 

The Bristol County District Attorney's Office said about 86-hundred images of child porn were found on Nicholson's home computer and two hard drives.  Police traced files of child pornography being shared to Nicholson's home in 2020.

An armed robbery Friday night in New Bedford that left the victim with stab wounds is under investigation. 

Responding officers found the victim in the vicinity of Acushnet Avenue and North Front Street.  He said a man asked for money, stabbed him and fled with his wallet. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact New Bedford police. 

Arthur T. Demoulas lost his bid for reinstatement Monday after a judge determined Market Basket’s Board of Directors “acted in good faith” by suspending him last May and then firing him in September.

“The CEO sought to prove that the [board] breached their duty of loyalty by acting in bad faith to benefit his sisters and their families,” the judge wrote in his decision. “He failed to carry his burden.”

The board “rationally concluded” that Demoulas’ “longstanding resistance to board oversight, imperious manner, and refusal to compromise” threatened the grocery store chain’s success, according to the judge.

The sisters each control 20% of the Tewksbury-based grocery store chain, while Demoulas owns 28%. The remaining 12% is owned by a trust for the grandchildren.

See more at wpri.com.

The online auction for the city's surplus property, including decommissioned vehicles, is live, and registration is free for bidders interested in getting their hands on a few big-ticket items for entry-level prices.

Online municipal marketplace service, GovDeals, is handling the sale and advertising of old property. Using the online platform that services over 15,000 federal, state, local and educational agencies, potential bidders can gain access to view and purchase items up for auction.

GovDeals' membership and bidding process allow interested parties to register online, create an account, and login to view Fall River's lots.

At the March 24 City Council Committee on Finance meeting, Councilor Linda Pereira spearheaded talks revolving around how exactly the city might declutter old junk that costs more to repair than it’s worth.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Governor Maura Healey is signing a sweeping overhaul of Massachusetts's cannabis laws. 

On Sunday, Healey restructured the embattled Cannabis Control Commission.  This will raise the number of licenses businesses can hold and increase legal possession limits for adults. 

The law dissolves the current commission and reduces the body from five to three members.  Now Healey has 30 days to appoint the new panel.

A Freetown home is likely a total loss after a fire Sunday night.

Freetown Fire Department Chief Harrie Ashley told a 12 News crew at the scene that first responders were initially called to the area around 7:24 p.m. for a report of a car fire in a garage.

When crews arrived, they found heavy fire on the first and second floors of the home. Firefighters were able to knock down the flames relatively quickly.

They say April showers bring May flowers, but you don’t have to wait until next month to catch one of spring’s most breathtaking sights — daffodils in bloom.

At Parsons Reserve in Dartmouth, the first bursts of white and yellow signal the season’s arrival, offering a quiet reminder of new beginnings.

For more than 80 years, the 32-acre property, part of the Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust, has drawn visitors each spring. Roughly four acres are filled with hundreds of daffodils, originally planted during World War II along the banks of Destruction Brook.

The trailhead, located across from Dartmouth Town Landing, leads to an eight- to 10-minute walk with a somewhat steep climb through the woods. Beneath a canopy of beech trees, the path opens to a stunning display of blooms, a small utopia tucked quietly away from the bustle of everyday life.

See more at heraldnews.com.

More than 50 students participated in the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth School of Law's first in-house mock trial competition April 10 to 12.

The event, organized by mock trial coaches Amy McNamee and Dana Sargent, featured a bracket-style format where teams advanced through multiple rounds of simulated criminal trials. Students argued both prosecution and defense positions, gaining experience in trial advocacy, including opening statements, witness examinations and evidentiary objections.

See more at heraldnews.com.

The MBTA is planning services changes on several subway and commuter rail lines in May. 

Service suspensions will be necessary for various infrastructure maintenance and upgrades. The Blue, Green and Red subway lines will be affected.

Commuter rail lines impacted will be the New Bedford/Fall River, Greenbush, Kingston and Framingham/Worcester lines. 

Details will be on the MBTA's website.    

Officials have declared the city is ready for Monday's 130th Boston Marathon.

Heightened security measures will be in place throughout the weekend.  Multiple local, state and federal agencies are also involved in security in all eight communities along the race route. 

At a media briefing Friday morning authorities said there are no known credible threats to the safety of 30-thousand runners and tens-of-thousands of spectators.  

A Massachusetts judge on Friday temporarily blocked a turbine manufacturer from pulling out of a major offshore wind farm project, saying it would be “fanciful” to imagine a new contractor could finish the installation.

Vineyard Wind went to court last week after GE Renewables said it would be terminating its contracts for turbine services and maintenance. GE Vernova, the parent company for GE Renewables, argued that Vineyard Wind owes it $300 million for work it performed, but Vineyard Wind countered that the manufacturer remains on the hook for about $545 million to make up for a catastrophic turbine blade collapse in July 2024 that set the project back by two years.

See more at wpri.com.

An investigation is underway after a child was hit by a car in Fall River Friday evening.

Police said the child was struck by an oncoming car on Choate Street. The child was brought to a nearby hospital for treatment and is expected to be OK.

The driver who hit the child took off after the crash. Investigators believe the driver was bringing a gunshot victim to the hospital at the time.

Police said the gunshot victim is also expected to survive their injuries, but didn’t specify where the shooting happened or if anyone is in custody.

See more at wpri.com.

The former Bishop Connolly High School is in process to come under city ownership, but it’s unlikely the city will be able to close on the property before January 2027 — after the purchase and sales agreement gets a rubber stamp from the Vatican. 

At a joint meeting of the Fall River Public School Committee and the City Council on April 14, the school district’s Chief Operating Officer Ken Pacheco spoke not only of the prospect of a drafted sales agreement, but what buying the property would mean to Fall River’s “youngest and most vulnerable” students in terms of providing programs and classes “breathing room.”

The $29.8 million, 55-acre property with outdoor facilities and seven buildable acres is just over 600,000 square feet. It houses 18 classrooms and 133 students — both of which are expected to double in number after the purchase is finalized and updates to the building are made. 

“There’s a lot more work to do to get there,” Pacheco told councilors and members of the school board. “This is where we want to go.”

See more at heraldnews.com.

A 22-year-old Fall River man was found guilty this week of a 2022 shooting in Providence that left one man dead and another injured.

Following a 10-day trial in Providence County Superior Court, a jury found Fall River resident Je’avonie Dorvil guilty of one count of second-degree murder, two counts of discharging a firearm while committing a crime of violence, one count of assault with a dangerous weapon resulting in serious bodily injury, one count of carrying a pistol without a license, and one count of possession of a stolen firearm.

“I hope this conviction provides the victims and their families some measure of peace, and I hope it deters others from committing similar acts of violence,” R.I. Attorney General Peter Neronha said.

See mroe from heraldnews.com.

Four Fall River residents face criminal charges after being arrested for allegedly stealing scrap metal from the former Montaup Power Plant in Somerset.

Somerset Police Department responded Wednesday, April 15, to a local business reporting a suspicious truck parked behind their building, according to a release posted Thursday on SPD's Facebook page.

Officers determined that the suspect vehicle matched one that had been previously involved in a break-in at the site of the now-abandoned Montaup Power Plant on Riverside Avenue, which ceased operations in January 2010.

Believing that individuals were likely inside the power plant stealing scrap metal, their release states, officers remained in the area to conduct surveillance. A man was seen attempting to enter the truck a short time later and was approached by police.

See more at heraldnews.com.

A new Suffolk University-Boston Globe poll shows 81-percent of respondents have a favorable opinion of  Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey. 

Seventy-five-percent rate her job performance as excellent or good.  In her bid for another term, nearly one-third of voters said top issues for Healey to address are the high cost of living, housing and responding to President Trump. 

The poll of 500 likely voters has a margin of error of four-point-four percent.

After more than a decade of planning, a long-envisioned bike path connecting Fall River and New Bedford is finally taking a real step forward as regional planners begin seeking proposals to design the nearly 10-mile Northern Scenic Greenway.

Residents traveling between Westport, Dartmouth and New Bedford do not have a safe way to walk or bike along the busy corridor.

The goal of the shared-use path is to change that, while also opening up access to stretches of coastline, wetlands, and neighborhoods that are difficult to reach without a car.

“This is the first time we’ve collaborated with three communities on one project,” said Sandra Medeiros, president of the South Coast Bikeway Alliance.

See more at heraldnews.com.

The City Council and the city’s administration have, at times, been at odds over the interpretation of the City Charter, the governing legal basis between councilors’ policymaking and the mayor’s executive role.

As of late, the council has attempted to bypass the authority of the Coogan Administration when it comes to the matter of who gets a say in municipal employee contract renewals.

At the April 6 City Council’s Committee on Ordinances and Legislation meeting, Corporation Counsel Alan Rumsey offered the opinion that one approval of municipal department heads from the City Council is enough. But some councilors at the table struck back, led by City Councilor Shawn Cadime, to offer a contrasting view: that all contract renewals ought to return to the Council floor for reapproval. 

“You’re essentially suggesting,” Rumsey told councilors, “That this City Council has the power to terminate, because if [an employee] doesn’t get approval, they’re gone.”

See more at heraldnews.com.

A new poll shows Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey with a double-digit lead over his primary opponent Congressman Seth Moulton for the Democratic Party nomination. 

The Suffolk University-Boston Globe survey found 47-percent of voters would support  Markey if the election were held today, 30-percent would vote for Moulton and 20-percent remain undecided. 

The poll of 500 likely primary voters has a margin of error of four-point-four percent.  

Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley has announced that an MS-13 member living unlawfully in New Bedford admitted his role in three “brutal” murders.

Franklin Antonio Amaya Paredes, 28, pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to racketeering involving murder, conspiracy to participate in a racketeering enterprise involving murder, and two counts of murder in aid of racketeering.

According to Foley, Amaya Paredes is a Salvadoran national and member of the Uniones Locos Salvatrucha (ULS) clique of La Mara Salvatrucha, also known as MS-13, which operated in various parts of the country, including northern Virginia and southeastern Massachusetts.

After a dinner at another MS-13 member’s home in New Bedford on Aug. 25, 2018, Amaya Paredes and others allegedly beat and strangled a victim to death. They then dismembered the body and buried the remains in nearby woods, the U.S. Attorney said, adding that the victim’s remains have not been found.

See more at wpri.com.

Vineyard Wind 1 is now at the center of a high-stakes legal disagreement, as it asks a judge to step in quickly to keep GE Renewables — a key contractor — from walking away just as the 806-megawatt project off the shores of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard is expected to begin full operations.

In a 22-page filing submitted April 8 in Suffolk Superior Court, Vineyard Wind said turbine and blade supplier GE Renewables is threatening to end its contracts, a move the company says could derail the entire project and leave behind a "dormant wind farm graveyard."

The developer is asking the court for two things: to rule that GE has no legal right to terminate its contracts, and to issue an emergency order to block GE from doing so while the dispute is resolved. A hearing was set for April 16.

See more at heraldnews.com.

One hundred fourteen years ago, the RMS Titanic struck an iceberg and sank in the icy waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

The legendary maritime disaster — observed on April 15, known is Titanic Remembrance Day — claimed the lives of 15,000 people aboard the British ocean liner that was deemed unsinkable.

More than a century has passed since the Titanic’s ill-fated 1912 maiden voyage, but the ship’s enduring legacy remains unsinkable and continues to captivate the public, spawning research expeditions, historic exhibits, books, and films.

Fall River even has its own Titanic ties.

Fall River is home to one of the world’s largest collections devoted to Titanic and nautical history located at the Maritime Museum at Battleship Cove.

For nearly six decades, the waterfront museum, founded in 1968, has helped thousands of visitors understand the full scope of the Titanic tragedy.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

The man accused of stabbing and nearly killing former mayor Will Flanagan was deemed dangerous and held without bail on Tuesday, but his lawyer insisted a fair trial won’t be possible.

Corree K. Gonzales stood silently in the dock at Bristol County Superior Court while defense attorney Thomas Dougherty argued to Judge Brian Glenny that Flanagan’s notoriety — and the media attention on the case — will make it “very, very, very difficult to find an impartial jury.”

Gonzales faces felony charges including armed assault to murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon resulting in serious injury, and four counts of assault and battery on a police officer.

See more at heraldnews.com.

This year's annual town election on Monday, April 14, saw voters elect Alanna Solitro to the Board of Selectmen, defeating Gary Lund in a decisive race, according to unofficial results.

Lund, who forged his second consecutive campaign around solving local gripes while acting “in the town's best interests,” received 468 votes; newcomer Solitro, who vowed to focus on the “big picture” when it comes to Swansea's progress, received 1,184 votes, according to the Town Clerk's Office.

It was the sole competitive race in the town election, which saw 1,666 voters turn out to cast ballots.

Voters were also given the unusual opportunity to write in candidates to fill seats for positions with no campaigners.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

A 28-year-old Fall River woman awaits sentencing in July after pleading guilty in federal court in Boston last week in a sex trafficking case. 

Christine Parker, known as Lula, was arrested in June, 2024, along with five other people in connection with a sex trafficking conspiracy. 

The U.S. Attorney's Office said Parker used beatings, sleep deprivation and starvation to coerce at least one adult and two minors to engage in repeated commercial sex acts between January and August, 2023.  The scheme ended when one of the minor victims sought help.   

Several members of the congressional delegation are seeking a federal disaster declaration for the historic February blizzard.

Several feet of snow fell across the state with southeastern Massachusetts particularly hard hit measuring nearly four-feet in some areas. 

The delegation said a major disaster declaration would allow FEMA to provide public assistance, snow assistance and hazard mitigation funding in a "timely and efficient manner."   

Voters decided three major races on Monday, April 13, in the 2026 annual town election that saw ambitious campaigns waged against incumbents of key municipal offices, and heard complaints that voter turnout dipped lower than last year from spectators at the polls.

According to unofficial election results, a total of 1,862 voters selected a new town moderator, and decided who on the ballot would fill vacancies on the Board of Selectmen and the Somerset Berkley Regional School Committee.

In the race for a new member of the town's Board of Selectmen, Joseph Francais Bednarik Jr. received the most votes at 894, narrowly defeating Kathleen Souza with 823 votes. Candidates Elizabeth Anne Paskowski and Donna Jean Cook trailed the frontrunners with 74 and 47 votes, respectively.

See more at heraldnews.com.

The School Department is preparing to discuss its budget for the upcoming 2027 fiscal year, which amounts to nearly $300 million.

The cost to run city schools represents an 8.6% increase from last year.

Budget talks for the next fiscal year come as the Fall River School Department is in the midst of a leadership shakeup and a potential DESE review, with no permanent superintendent in place after an ouster attempt by members of the School Committee; two administrators have tapped to fill the job on an interim basis.

The School Committee will hold a public hearing on the budget on Wednesday night, April 15, at 6 p.m. at B.M.C. Durfee High School. A full breakdown of the fiscal 2027 budget is available on the Fall River Public Schools website.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

State Police Lieutenant Brian Tully is retiring. 

Tully oversaw the controversial murder investigation in Karen Read's case.  His retirement went into effect on Wednesday, April 8th. 

Previously, Tully commanded the State Police detective unit assigned to the Norfolk County District Attorney's Office.  He was responsible for leading investigations into the deaths of Sandra Birchmore and Read's boyfriend,Boston Police Officer John O'Keefe, in two unrelated cases. 

Portsmouth’s town council voted Monday night to delay approving the license for the Portuguese American Citizens Club’s annual St. Anthony’s Feast.

Last year’s feast was postponed indefinitely after the concrete base of a staircase at the entrance to the club’s Power Street building collapsed during a graduation party, killing 15-year-old Kelly Nevitt and injuring four other people.

An attorney for the club told the council the stairs have been rebuilt and safety inspections are underway, but the council opted to wait until those inspections are complete before revisiting the matter.

See more at wpri.com.

Voters will head to polls on Monday, April 13, to make decisions that could send the town sprawling in a new direction following an election season that boasted major races and ambitious campaigning.

The 2026 annual town election features a mix of incumbents of municipal offices gracing the ballot, or bracing for an ouster, as newcomers vie for seats in town government ahead of the Town Meeting in May. 

In what could be an administrative shakedown with ripple effects, this year’s election will ask voters to fill a seat on the Somerset Berkley Regional School Committee. A new town moderator will be chosen from two candidates seeking to replace longtime moderator Lucia Casey, who announced in February her plans to retire. Four candidates are closing in on one available office on the Board of Selectmen.

See more at heraldnews.com.

The 2026 annual town election, scheduled for April 13, has arrived. Voters headed to the polls Monday will have the opportunity to shape the future of Swansea in key races on the ballot.

Those casting a ballot on Monday will be tasked with electing a new member to the Select Board.

Candidates running for reelection or to fill vacancies, and newcomers to the race will be decided by residents who also have the opportunity to write in candidates to fill seats for positions with no campaigners.

See more at heraldnews.com.

A motorcyclist from Fall River has died after a crash on Main Road in Westport late Saturday night.

According to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office, first responders were called to the scene of a single motorcycle crash just after 11:30 p.m., where they found a damaged motorcycle and its operator, who had suffered life-threatening injuries.

John Soares IV, 29, of Fall River, was pronounced dead at the scene, the DA’s office said.

Police said debris from the motorcycle was scattered in the roadway, and a stone wall and utility pole in the area both appeared to have been struck.

See more at wpri.com.

After a raucous two-hour discussion that heard quips from all interested parties, Swansea said yes to the plan to move forward with providing a contractor access to the site of the town's old dump at the April 7 Board of Selectman’s meeting.

The majority 2-1 vote, with lone dissenter Select Board Vice Chairman Michael Beaudette in opposition, will provide third-party environmental remediation firm Charter Contracting Co. access to the public portion of Sears Road that runs adjacent the U-Haul facility property along Route 6. The vote in favor of access does not altogether promise that the town's former landfill will be capped, but it does open the door to the prospect of the project moving forward according to state laws and regulations.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

When Matthew Medeiros of Dartmouth is running the 130th Boston Marathon in less than two weeks, he’s going to be thinking about 14-year-old Vraj Hirapara.

“Sometimes family doesn’t come from the same blood,” Medeiros told 12 News. “Sometimes, it’s the people you meet along the way of your journey in life.”

Boston Children’s Hospital has a program that connects patients with marathon runners who will be making the 26.2 mile trek to raise money and awareness for the hospital and the community it serves. Medeiros and Vraj first met through the program when Medeiros ran the marathon back in 2019.

Vraj has cerebral palsy, seizures and other disabilities, but according to his mom Bhavina Hirapara, her son faces those challenges with strength.

See more at wpri.com.

After police received an anonymous tip Monday night that a second-grade student may have brought a gun to school last week, police said the student’s parents initially denied having any firearms in their home, Target 12 has learned.

Earlier this week, Swansea police charged Christopher Spangler, 51 and Heather Spangler, 43, with multiple firearm related violations, plus two counts of reckless endangerment of a child. They are scheduled to be arraigned in Fall River District Court later this month.

According to a police report obtained by Target 12, the principal at Mark G. Hoyle Elementary School did not inform the school resource officer or police about the incident right away. The police were later informed when they received an anonymous tip.

The principal was first made aware that a student may have brought a firearm to school when he received an email on Friday, April 3, from a woman who said a second-grader showed her son a gun. The principal told the woman that he would follow-up Monday, according to police.

See more at wpri.com.

A Fall River woman known as “Lula” pleaded guilty Wednesday, April 8, in federal court in Boston to her role in a sex trafficking ring involving two minors and one woman that operated out of a Somerset motel.

Christy Parker, 28, who prosecutors allege was one of the ringleaders of a sex trafficking operation that spanned three states, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking; two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion; and one count of sex trafficking a minor.

Parker was among six people arrested and charged in July 2024 with sex trafficking three victims in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and South Carolina. She has remained in federal custody since.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Healthcare workers are increasingly facing threats and violence on the job, a growing crisis that has prompted Southcoast Health to bring in a new chief of police to lead efforts to protect staff and patients.

According to the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association, every 38 minutes in a Massachusetts healthcare facility, an individual, typically a healthcare worker, is either physically assaulted, endures verbal abuse, or is threatened.

Last month, Southcoast Health announced the hiring of Marc Duphily as its first police chief for the Southcoast Health Division of Police and Public Safety.

“Our healthcare environment is experiencing rising workplace violence in both frequency and severity,” said Craig Forcina, executive director of the Southcoast Health Division of Police and Public Safety. “We created a Police Department to meet these evolving challenges and ensure a safer environment for everyone.”

The Southcoast Health Division of Police and Public Safety operates across the Southcoast Health system, including Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford, and Tobey Hospital in Wareham.

See more at heraldnews.com.

The Massachusetts House of Representatives is passing a youth social media ban over privacy concerns. 

The bill passed on a 125 to 25 vote on Wednesday.  It prohibits social media use by children under 14 and requires parental consent for users aged 14 and 15. 

If the bill passes, Massachusetts would be the 18th state to ban or restrict kids' access to social media. 

The bill leans on the attorney general to write regulations, but doesn't restrict any particular social media platforms.

Just months ago, he was riding dirt bikes and snowboarding. Now, a Fall River teenager is awaiting a bone marrow donor to save his life following an aggressive leukemia diagnosis.

Broeden Sabin, a 17-year-old high school senior, is an active, easygoing kid, but shortly after Thanksgiving, he began experiencing frequent exhaustion, body pain, and cognitive issues — symptoms his mother, Kerynn Morss, says were completely out of character.

Concerned, Morss scheduled a visit with her son’s primary care doctor. She received a call the next day with alarming results: Broeden’s white blood cell count was dangerously low, leaving him highly vulnerable to infection. They were referred to Boston Children’s Hospital for further evaluation.

At first, doctors suspected a virus and assured the family there was no immediate cause for concern. Still, Morss pushed for additional testing, concerned that this might be a lingering effect of the mold in their Taunton home that forced the family to relocate to Fall River in 2024.

See more at wpri.com.

The Bristol Planning Board signed off on the next phase of a developer’s proposal to build a hotel in town, despite residents’ concerns about the project.

The board approved D&M Boca Development’s master plan 4-1 Thursday night. The developer is looking to build the Comfort Inn and Suites on the freshwater wetlands along Gooding Avenue.

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) granted a permit for the project earlier this year after scientists and engineers reviewed the proposal and determined it wouldn’t have adverse impacts on the wetlands.

A special master has cleared a former New Bedford District Court judge and a prosecutor of allegations of a secret romantic relationship, while flagging concerns about the judge’s conduct and handling of evidence.

Special Master Ernest Sarason Jr. concluded in a report released after five days of evidentiary hearings that former Judge Douglas Darnbrough and Assistant District Attorney Karyn Butler did not engage in an inappropriate relationship, nor did they coordinate on criminal cases.

Darnbrough did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday afternoon.

The investigation, ordered by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, was triggered by a motion for a new trial filed by Gerson Pascual-Santana, a defendant who alleged his conviction was tainted by the purported affair.

See more at wpri.com.

A car crashed into a commercial building in Swansea Wednesday morning.

Crews responded to the scene on Swansea Mall Drive around 6 a.m.

The fire department said the female driver was able to get out of the vehicle on her own and was not hurt.

It was an electric vehicle, so the fire department said they followed protocol to ensure there was no further damage to the building due to the lithium-ion battery.

See more at wpri.com.

Dartmouth will have a new member of the Select Board after Nathan Silva was victorious in the town’s election on April 7.

Silva will occupy the seat held by Select Board Vice Chairperson Stanley M. Mickelson for the past 12 years.

Silva was one of four people running for the seat. According to unofficial results, Silva received 53.4% of the vote, or 1,575 votes.

In second place, Kevin Melo received 26.6% of the vote, or 784 votes; Curtis Craig Nunes received 11.9% of the vote, or 350 votes, and Adelino Oliveira received 7.2%, or 213 votes.

Silva will join the five-person board, led by Chairperson Heidi Silva Brooks, along with David Tatelbaum, Shawn McDonald and Christopher O’Neil.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Two people in Swansea are facing charges following reports that a second-grade student may have brought a gun to school last week.

Swansea police launched an investigation after receiving an anonymous tip late Monday night that a student had brought a firearm to Mark G. Hoyle Elementary School and showed it to at least two classmates on a previous day.

Investigators determined that no one living at the home has a valid firearms identification card.

See more at wpri.com.

A 26-year-old Seekonk man is sentenced to four-and-and-a-half years in prison followed by three-years of probation with conditions. 

In a split jury decision, James Oakes was found not guilty of strangulation, kidnapping and assault with intent to rape.  However, he was convicted of assaulting a person over 60, interfering with a driver for hire and robbery. 

Oakes was accused of assaulting a female Uber driver in Seekonk in April of last year.

Police announced today a routine traffic stop led to a major drug bust in Fall River last week. 

A large quantity of narcotics was found inside the vehicle shortly before midnight, March 31st, on Plymouth Avenue. Officers seized 115 grams of fentanyl, another 115 grams of cocaine,  methamphetamine pills and other drugs. 

Forty-three-year-old Joshua Mazzilli faces multiple possession and trafficking charges. 

Warwick Police are looking for the person who caused a lockdown at the Community College of Rhode Island's Knight Campus. 

Police were called to the school on Tuesday morning after reports of a man carrying a backpack with a partially exposed firearm.  The campus was placed on lockdown and police located the backpack in a wooded area, finding it contained an airsoft gun and a pellet rifle.

Police say there was no known threat to the school or the community, and the lockdown was lifted at around 1:30 p.m.

A new study by finance website WalletHub takes a look at the best and worst states for children's healthcare. 

The study used several key factors, including access to affordable insurance, the number of pediatricians in each state and kids in excellent health. 

Massachusetts was first when it comes to healthy kids and keeping them that way.  Rhode Island came in second. 

On the other side of things, Mississippi was ranked last.

Police are investigating after receiving a report that a student may have brought a handgun to a Swansea elementary school and showed it to at least two classmates.

The Swansea Police Department first became aware of the report Monday night and immediately launched an investigation. The report claimed that a second-grader at Hoyle Elementary School may have brought the firearm into the building “on a previous day,” according to police.

Throughout the investigation Tuesday, police said officers developed probable cause to search a house in Swansea that was connected to the report.

Officers searched the house and discovered five firearms, as well as various rounds of ammunition.

See more at wpri.com.

A former teacher’s assistant was arraigned in Fall River District Court on April 2 on an assault and battery charge involving a student at Westport Elementary School, including allegations she dragged a third-grader through a hallway.

Bethany Bronhard, 44, of Westport, had a pre-trial hearing set for May 14.

Bronhard was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation by Westport school officials following the alleged incident on Nov. 5, 2025, according to a Westport Police report. School officials told police they had also contacted the state Department of Children and Families. She no longer works for the schools, according to a school official contacted April 2.

Westport Police were contacted by school officials on Nov. 7, 2025 regarding the allegation.

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A status hearing involving an investigation into an alleged sexual relationship between a former New Bedford District Court judge and assistant Bristol County District Attorney will be held April 9 before a Mass. Supreme Judicial Court associate justice.

The investigation stems from an appeal of the denial of a new trial in the conviction of Gerson Pascual-Santana in 2023 in New Bedford District Court.

The presiding judge in Pascual-Santana’s conviction was Douglas J. Darnbrough and the case was prosecuted by the assistant district attorney in question.

The case could potentially serve as a precedent in any of the other cases involving Darnbrough and the ADA.

The Committee for Public Counsel Services “preliminarily identified approximately 3,700 docket numbers with which both the prosecutor and the judge at issue were involved,” according to a motion with the court to become part of a prior SJC hearing.

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After this winter took an unprecedented turn with a historic February blizzard, Fall River school staff and families have been left wondering how that might impact end-of-year plans.

For Fall River Public Schools it will mean their 2025-26 year will be slightly shorter than normal, according to acting superintendent Brian Raposo.

On April 3, Raposo informed the FRPS community that the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has approved the district’s request to waive the 180-day requirement, cutting this academic year by one day.

The last day of school for students in grades kindergarten through grade 11 is now Friday, June 26, 2026.

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The case against a Seekonk man accused of attacking his Uber driver is now in the hands of the jury.

After days of testimony, jurors are expected to begin deliberations on Monday.

James Oakes, 26, faces multiple charges, including strangulation or suffocation, kidnapping, unarmed robbery, and assault with intent to rape.

The case stems from an incident in April 2025, where prosecutors said Oakes lured an Uber driver down a secluded driveway, then suffocated and threatened her while making sexual comments, as well as allegedly stealing her phone before jumping out and running off.

See more at wpri.com.

A multicultural fashion and food event celebrating the diversity of Fall River is scheduled for May 9, according to a community announcement.

HealthFirst Family Care Center Inc. will host its second annual Fashion Fusion event at 5 p.m. at its facility at 387 Quarry St. The event is designed to highlight the cultures represented throughout the Greater Fall River community through fashion and cuisine, according to the announcement.

Tickets are available at two levels. General seating is priced at $30, while VIP seating is available for $50, according to the announcement. VIP seating includes reserved seating closer to the runway.

The event will include a “model spotlight” segment featuring local participants, including area realtor Holly Bronhard, who is scheduled to walk the runway. Organizers said the runway models reflect the diversity and spirit of the Fall River community, according to the announcement.

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There is now an interim school superintendent in Fall River.  Kathleen Smith will oversee the district until a permanent superintendent is hired. 

Former Superintendent Tracey Curley resigned last month following a tense meeting.  A Providence TV station reported Mayor Paul Coogan, who chairs the school committee, claims some members wanted to terminate Curley without cause. 

The state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is investigating the school committee at the mayor's request.   

Massachusetts State Troopers are pleading not guilty to manslaughter in the death of an academy trainee. 

On Thursday, Lieutenant Jennifer Penton, troopers Edwin Rodriguez and David Montanez pleaded not guilty.  They are charged in connection with the 2024 death of Enrique Delgado-Garcia. He died after being knocked out during a boxing match at the State Police Academy. 

A special prosecutor said Delgado-Garcia had been in an unauthorized match the day before being knocked out, which resulted in concussion symptoms.

A jury could begin deliberations soon for a Seekonk man accused of assaulting an Uber driver during a ride last year.

James Oakes has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including strangulation or suffocation, kidnapping, unarmed robbery and assault with intent to rape.

Prosecutors allege Oakes attacked the driver and forced her down a dark, secluded driveway before threatening to kill her on the morning of April 26, 2025.

The victim told police Oakes had finished a beer before getting into the car. During the ride, he repeatedly asked to confirm the destination address, and at one point, the trip was unexpectedly canceled even though he was still inside.

See more at wpri.com.

Local artists have an opportunity to showcase their work in an upcoming exhibition exploring Fall River's identity.

The FRNB Artist Collaborative is accepting submissions for “The City Of… Past, Present, Future Fall River,” according to a community announcement.

The exhibition, which is a free exhibition, is open to artists from all mediums. It will open May 16 as part of SouthCoast Art Week and will be featured as a stop on the Fall River Arts & Culture Coalition’s Spindle City Arts Tour. The show will run at the Captain Thomas Hudner Jr. Memorial Building in Heritage State Park.

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The Case High Theatre Company won the state title at the 2025-26 Massachusetts Educational Theatre Guild Festival.

The group earned the top spot for its performance of "The Woodsman," an adaptation of the Obie Award-winning production, according to a community announcement. The play, directed by Neil Jeronimo, is a prequel to "The Wizard of Oz" and tells the story of how the Tin Man lost his heart.

The festival featured more than 100 schools, with the finals held at the Back Bay Events Center in Boston. Each school performed a 40-minute, one-act play, with the competition including preliminary and semifinal rounds judged by a team of METG adjudicators.

This is the eighth time Case High School has won the state championship in its 46 seasons participating in the festival. The school has advanced to the state finals 32 times.

"Winning the METG Festival is the highest honor in the state for a high school theater company," Jeronimo said. "It is with immense pride that I share that Joseph Case High School earned the title of State champions this year. This achievement is especially meaningful given the subjective nature of theater adjudication. Unlike regular competitions, where outcomes are determined by points or scores, this honor reflects the thoughtful evaluation of a panel of judges, making it both unique and deeply rewarding."

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Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport in Warwick has become the 40th airport in the country to deploy biometric eGates.

According to CLEAR, the company behind the technology, the eGates will help improve both security and efficiency.

“CLEAR’s eGates are designed to conduct real-time biometric verification, matching a traveler’s facial image with their identity document and boarding pass,” the company explained when it first launched the technology back in August. “TSA retains complete operational control: triggering gate access, conducting security vetting, and enforcing government security requirements.”

The Attleboro community’s support for the Capron Park Zoo didn’t go unnoticed, and now, the zoo will remain as such.

Mayor Cathleen DeSimone confirmed to 12 News on Wednesday that the zoo will be funded “using free cash” through the 2027 fiscal year.

“This will give us more time to explore other options to make the zoo more financially sustainable in the long term,” DeSimone said. “Whatever future the zoo may have, the Friends of Capron Park Zoo are a key part, and I met with them again recently to discuss ways to increase their contributions to the zoo.”

Last month, DeSimone announced plans to transition the zoo into a nature reserve and wildlife rehabilitation center. The proposal was met with swift backlash from Attleboro residents and city council members.

DeSimone’s initial plan was developed to help the city address growing budget pressures as the zoo needs around $57 million in capital improvements.

See more at wpri.com.

City councilors at a public hearing questioned how Fall River would foot a $428 million bill for years of building renovations, roadway repairs and infrastructure enhancements, and wondered why these projects were not listed on last year's city budget.

The city issued its comprehensive Capital Improvement Plan in January, available for public view online or at the City Clerk’s Office, covering fiscal years 2027 to 2031. It defines what needs fixing in Fall River, and how the city would commit free cash and state funding, or take on debt, to launch dozens of local infrastructure projects.

Chief Financial Officer Emily Arpke and Department of Community Maintenance Director Al Oliveira discussed — with prompting from councilors and audience input during a March 24 public hearing — the spending plan with the firmest-to-date figures.

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First responders were called to a fiery two-car crash in Swansea Tuesday afternoon.

The crash happened on Route 6 just before 4 p.m. Police said the driver of the burning vehicle was able to free himself and no rescues were needed.

Four people from the two vehicles involved were taken to local hospitals with non life-threatening injuries, according to police.

The road was shut down for a brief period, but reopened around 4:50 p.m.

See more at wpri.com.

A New Bedford man was arrested following an incident at a bar Monday night.

Police said they were called to a lounge off Acushnet Avenue just before 11 p.m. for reports of a fight involving a firearm.

Officers spoke with 31-year-old Brent Lagoa, who said there had been an argument between friends but claimed no gun was involved and that the others had already left.

While checking the area, officers reportedly found a handgun inside a jacket on the floor of the men’s restroom.

According to police, security footage showed Lagoa entering the lounge earlier with the gun in his right hand and placing it on a shelf behind the bar. He was then seen trying to put the gun into his jacket before walking into the bathroom and leaving without it.

Lagoa was placed under arrest and charged with carrying a loaded firearm without a license and possession of ammunition without an FID card. Police said he does not have a license to carry in Massachusetts.

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The dog that was allegedly stolen from an 89-year-old woman’s front yard in Fall River has been found.

There has been nothing confirmed yet from police, but Christopher Silvia, owner of Christopher’s Cafe on South Main Street, posted on his Facebook page that he believes they have located 9-year-old Jazz.

Silvia said in the videos that a woman sent him a message Wednesday morning that her mom believed she had seen Jazz by the Tipsy Seagull around midnight.

She asked Silvia for help retrieving the dog inside the parking lot near the river and when he offered her the reward, which jumped to $3,000, she said she didn’t want it.

See more at wpri.com.