When the Fall River Public Library first opened to the public in March 1899, the Fall River Daily Herald and the Evening News both were careful to note that the building was “entirely fire-proof.”

But when it comes to water, poor workmanship on the building’s roof in recent years has led to chronic and alarming leaks — not ideal for a building full of rare paper.

The library is currently undergoing more than $800,000 worth of major repairs both inside and out that Director Fellisha Desmarais said will “stop the leaks, hopefully completely.”

Work on the North Main Street building is expected to last a few months. But beyond the vital maintenance, Desmarais has renovation plans that will beautify the building and expand what it offers to patrons, including adding a theater space.

On the Fall River Public Library’s second floor, the vaunted research room is shrouded in plastic. Where research librarians and patrons used to do their work, you’ll find scaffolding, power tools and exposed brick.

The rear of the historic 19th century building is covered in scaffolding as well, busy with workers from East Coast Masonry & Restoration, hired to repoint the building’s exterior, made of original Fall River dressed granite.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Massachusetts gas prices are dropping amid optimism over a potential U.S.-Iran peace deal. 

AAA says the statewide average is about four-dollars-39-cents a gallon.  That is down about nine cents from a week ago. 

Analysts say crude prices have fallen sharply as talks continue over reopening the Strait of Hormuz. 

Gas prices remain well above last year's average, but drivers are seeing signs of relief at the pump.

A woman is facing charges after police seized various drugs, including fentanyl and methamphetamine, from a home in Rehoboth on Monday.

State and local officers were outside a property on Winthrop Street for several hours to execute a search warrant for reported narcotics, according to police.

As a result, detectives discovered:

• 250.5 grams of cocaine
• 13 grams of oxycodone
• 7.3 grams of MDMA
• 23 grams of fentanyl
• 69 grams of methamphetamine
• 142 grams of psilocybin mushrooms
• 242 grams of marijuana

Police said other drugs that have yet to be identified were also found.

Melinda Archambault, 36, of Bristol, was taken into custody on drug charges. She is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday in Taunton District Court.

Police added that “charges for others involved will follow.”

See more at wpri.com.

The city moved one step closer to sealing the deal on the former Bishop Connolly High School earlier this week.

A $29,800,000 loan order requested by Mayor Paul Coogan gained the authorization of seven councilors at the May 26 City Council meeting. Councilor Christopher Peckham opposed the motion and Councilor Andrew Raposo abstained from voting. 

The authorization was referred to the City Council Committee on Finance. 

The city is intends to convey the purchase to Fall River Public Schools, where the former Catholic high school’s halls will greet the district’s youngest and “most vulnerable” students. The purchase, once official, is part and parcel of a districtwide move to consolidate classrooms, economize space, disperse staffing, and devote a single location to pre-K education. 

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. 

See more at heraldnews.com.

Remnants of a meteor that exploded over New England on Saturday afternoon landed in the middle of Cape Cod Bay. 

According to NASA, the fireball fragmented above northeast Massachusetts and southeast New Hampshire at around 75-thousand-miles-per-hour, releasing an energy equivalent of close to 300-tons of TNT, causing a loud boom.  NASA officials say the water depth at the fall site is rou.ghly 100-feet. 

According to NASA, the fireball was not associated with an active meteor shower or the re-entry of space debris or a satellite.  NASA says the object was a bolide - a bright meteor that exploded in Earth's atmosphere.

U.S. Senator Ed Markey has won the Democratic endorsement in the Massachusetts U.S. Senate Race. 

At Saturday's Massachusetts's Democratic Party convention in Worcester, Markey cemented his role as the front-runner in the primary. 

The endorsement solidified Markey's support among party activists as Representative Seth Moulton challenges the 79-year-old incumbent.  Markey won 73-percent of the vote while Moulton got 27-percent of among the thousands of voting delegates. 

Moulton told reporters he was "proud of the support" he had in the room, but was "just aiming to get on the ballot."

Four men were arrested following a several fights outside a New Bedford bar early Sunday morning.

In a social media post, the New Bedford Police Department explained that officers who were on patrol near Pleasant Street noticed Bento’s Bar & Grill was still occupied by patrons after 2 a.m.

The officers spoke with management and urged them to begin clearing patrons from their establishment.

Police said several fights broke out around the same time, causing a crowd to grow outside the bar.

The officers attempted to separate those involved in the fights and disperse the crowd, but the fights continued to escalate as other bystanders joined in, according to police.

Police said the crowd consisted of approximately 75 people and the fights resulted in four arrests. The officers recovered a loaded firearm and a knife from two of the men who were taken into custody.

See more at wpri.com.