Friends are rallying around the family of a Fairhaven man who died following a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 195 in Westport, launching an online fundraiser to help with funeral expenses and daily living costs.

The victim was identified as 64-year-old Mario Carreiro of Fairhaven by Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III. Carreiro suffered life-threatening injuries in the July 27 crash and was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Authorities said a green BMW involved in the crash fled the scene, and the investigation remains ongoing.

According to the GoFundMe page, Carreiro was the primary provider for his family, supporting his wife, Anne, their three children and two grandchildren.

The online fundraiser aims to help give the family time to grieve without the added stress of immediate financial worries.

"His loss has created not only an emotional void, but also an overwhelming financial burden for those he leaves behind," the page states.

The fundraising effort was organized by a family friend, who said all donations will go directly toward funeral expenses and helping the Carreiro family with essential living costs in the weeks and months ahead.

Those wishing to support the family can donate through the GoFundMe page at https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-mario-carreiros-family-after-tragedy.

See more at heraldnews.com.

In an effort to prevent fraud and theft, as well as protect tax dollars, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey announced the state is switching to chip and tap-enabled Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards.

These cards, which are used for a variety of benefits including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), will be mailed to recipients throughout the month of August, according to Healey’s office.

The statewide launch follows a successful pilot in which 35,000 residents of the Worcester area received the new EBT cards and made tens of thousands of transactions.

The mayor’s office said Massachusetts is now the fourth state to implement the upgraded security features.

“Families across Massachusetts rely on DTA programs to afford groceries and other essential goods,” Healey said in a press release. “We’re focused on preventing fraud and theft so that these funds are going to the people who need and deserve them.”

“Having a chip and tap-to-pay option on our EBT cards means a safer way to access benefits people use to keep their families fed and is one more tool in our arsenal that supports our ongoing commitment to safeguarding public funds,” DTA Commissioner Michael Cole added.

The preparation for the change began earlier this year as the state notified and worked with retailers to ensure they’ll be able to accept the new EBT cards. 

See more at wpri.com.

Did you know a New Bedford-based sign shop is assisting with the revitalization of Boston’s beloved CITGO sign?

Suffolk Construction began taking apart the 125,000-pound sign piece by piece back in May, starting with the existing letters and trimark logos. The process to dismantle and remove the massive sign took about two months.

The sign, which has overlooked Kenmore Square for decades, will be lifted 30 feet higher and shifted 120 feet to the east so it will remain visible within the city’s changing skyline, according to the developers.

The repositioning and restoration process includes the construction of a new steel truss that will be built into the sign’s existing anchor platform. The developers have repeatedly assured Bostonians that the sign’s overall height and dimensions will remain the same.

New Bedford’s Poyant Signs was tasked with evaluating whether the sign’s original components — specifically the letters and trimark logos — could be safely restored and reused.

Poyant Sign’s Jason Fredette told 12 News the structural assessment of the sign uncovered significant deterioration that was likely caused by its exposure to New England’s ever changing weather patterns.

That’s why “the best path forward” is to replicate the sign, according to Fredette.

“It’s going to be a whole new sign that will match the original sign down to the finest detail,” Fredette explained.

See more at wpri.com.

The Joseph Case softball team recently completed a historic four-peat.

Now the celebration is underway for the state-champion Cardinals, who won their fourth straight state crown and eighth overall in program's history after beating league opponent Apponequet 5-1 in the Division 3 state final game at Worcester State University.

Members of the Case softball team were awarded T-shirts and citations from the school department on Monday, July 27 at Joseph Case High School. State representative Justin Thurber of fifth Bristol District handed out the citations along with Cardinals head coach Shannon Silva.

Thurber also presented each of the players 'Yard Signs' that he made in conjunction with Steven Howitt for State Representative. State Senator Michael Rodriques also joined in on the fun by presenting a team citation.

Case was also honored at Fenway Park for the fourth consecutive year on Monday, July 20 prior to the Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles game.

The Cardinals completed a 23-2 season in 2026. Since losing to Amesbury 1-0 in the 2022 Division 4 state finals, Case has ripped off 20 straight playoff wins, including five this year in a division higher than previous years.

See more at heraldnews.com.

The third time’s the charm.

At a special meeting on July 28, the Fall River City Council allowed for an “unanticipated” quick fix to the annual operating budget. Then councilors sped through a round of votes to approve the next 11 months of city spending after rejecting it two times over.

Councilors voted 8-1 in favor of the $483,583,582 million Fiscal 2027 budget after Chief Financial Officer Emily Arpke agreed to fully fund the Fall River Public Schools’ $17.1 million request to satisfy the costs of getting kids to school. 

City Councilor Christopher Peckham was the lone dissenter when it came time to vote at the end of an hourlong discussion where the two roadblocks — school transportation and a line item reserving $40,000 for a City Council lawyer — were virtually lifted.

When City Council President Cliff Ponte called for a five-minute recess during the meeting, Arpke rushed out of the Government Center hearing room to reduce one line item of $578,517 from the reserve fund and reallocate it, moving it higher up on the balance sheet to school transportation.

The last-minute modification came about as Superintendent Kathleen Smith maintained that the $17.1 million would ensure student transit was covered. The district was looking for an additional $450,000 after the city agree to partially fund transportation out of the gate at around $16,650,000.

The Council’s request that they have an expenditure item to retain legal counsel if they deemed it necessary was satisfied in a Memorandum of Agreement, that stated the city would provide the $40,000 for legal consultation.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Police in Somerset are alerting residents to a scam in which callers are impersonating officers.

In a Facebook post, Somerset police said they’ve received two reports of people getting calls from a male who claims to be from the department, using the name of a real officer. One of the reports said their caller ID even read “Somerset Police Department.”

Police pointed out how officers’ names can be found online and scammers have ways to spoof telephone numbers.

The callers claimed the potential victim owes money and urges them to send it directly, saying they shouldn’t go to the police station since there’s an active warrant for their arrest.

Police are asking residents to notify any relatives or friends who may be a target. Anyone who has concerns about suspicious calls or emails can contact the department at 508-679-2138.

See more at wpri.com.

An investigation is underway after a deadly crash involving three vehicles n I-195 westbound in Westport Monday afternoon.

In a press release Tuesday morning, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn’s office identified the victim as 64-year-old Mario Carreiro of Fairhaven.

First responders were first called to the scene around 3:20 p.m. for reports of a serious crash near mile marker 16.

According to Quinn’s office, a green BMW that was also involved in the crash had fled the scene.

The driver of the blue Audi wasn’t hurt and remained on the scene to talk to law enforcement.

One person is dead after being hit by a train at the MBTA station in Attleboro on Tuesday afternoon, according to police.

Attleboro Fire officials said they responded to the South Main Street train station around 2:50 p.m. where they found an individual who was struck on the inbound side.

The person was pronounced dead at the scene.

The area was blocked off and all tracks were shut down.

The victim’s name has not yet been released and the circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear as Amtrack, Transit and Attleboro police continue their investigation.

In a 3:22 p.m. post on X, the MBTA said all Providence Line trains would hold until further notice at South Station due to “police activity on the right of way in the Attleboro area.” Commuter rail passengers were told to expect significant delays in both directions.

See more at wpri.com.

A veteran correctional officer is suing the Bristol County Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Paul Heroux alleging employment discrimination and retaliation.

The lawsuit was filed in Bristol County Superior Court on July 23 by Juan Rodriguez and also names BCSO Superintendent Joseph Oliver III as a defendant.

It seeks $500,000 for emotional-distress damages and $40,000 for lost wages.

The 24-page discrimination and retaliation lawsuit alleges that Rodriguez was treated differently and was denied advancement opportunities after a serious inmate assault left him injured in 2023.

Rodriguez identifies his race as Spanish with his place of national origin being Puerto Rico, according to the lawsuit.

He began working for the sheriff's office in 2014 under Heroux’s predecessor, Thomas Hodgson. Heroux took office in January 2023.

Rodriguez was promoted to lieutenant in July 2022, which included a standard one-year probationary period ending July 2, 2023.

A Bristol County Superior Court judge has denied a request to reconsider its decision earlier this year that tossed most of a sexual harassment lawsuit by a Fall River Public Schools safety officer.

School safety officer Carla Cruz in October 2025 filed a civil lawsuit in Superior Court seeking $10 million and a jury trial on allegations that three coworkers propositioned her for sex, offered her drugs and groped her, and that school officials were negligent in investigating the matter.

Cruz sued the school department, then-Superintendent Tracy Curley, former Superintendent Maria Pontes, FRPS Human Resources Executive Director Thomas Coogan, Title IX Coordinator Brian Lally, and three coworkers: Joseph Correia, Kyle Frizado and Jordan Periquito.

Judge Thomas Perrino in May dismissed the claims against all parties except Periquito, in part because she let too much time elapse between the alleged incidents and her complaint.

On July 22, Perrino denied a motion from Cruz to reconsider the decision, saying nothing in Cruz’s motion changes the fact that the statute of limitations had run out on her complaints.

He also denied a motion from Cruz to amend her original complaint, because Cruz “failed to submit a proposed amended complaint.”

See more at heraldnews.com.

The Fall River Police Department projects that it spent about $2.8 million on overtime in Fiscal 2026, which ended June 30.

The total includes payments to officers who cover others’ shifts, appear in court, conduct investigations or work special events.

It does not include holiday pay, weekend pay and shift premiums, which are typically paid for working nights. Those categories, combined, cost the department $1.98 million in the most recent fiscal year.

The department’s base payroll was $19,348,531. It listed 218 active sworn officers in city budget documents dated June 30.

That base payroll has crept up from $17,612,287 in the 2024 fiscal year. The cost of overtime and holiday, weekend and night shifts has remained fairly constant since then, rising slightly in the 2025 fiscal year and falling again in 2026.

“Overtime is part of the business because of the inability to always forecast what is going to happen,” he said.

Hoar said detectives had to be called in during the night to solve a recent armed robbery, resulting in overtime pay.

“We don’t halt investigations because we’re running out of overtime,” he said.

See more at heraldnews.com.

One SouthCoast Chamber has selected Anthony F. Cordeiro as the recipient of the Roger Valcourt Outstanding Citizen Award, which will be presented during an awards dinner on Sept. 16 at Venus de Milo in Swansea.

The recognition honors individuals with a longstanding record of volunteerism and leadership in the region, according to a community announcement. The annual award commemorates Roger Valcourt, a business and community leader whose legacy has been recognized through the chamber's Outstanding Citizen Award program since his death in 1979.

Cordeiro founded Anthony F. Cordeiro Insurance Agency LLC in 1987 at age 24 and has built a business portfolio that includes insurance, real estate and development companies throughout the Greater Fall River area. He currently serves as president and CEO of Anthony F. Cordeiro Insurance Agency LLC, Cordeiro Properties LLC and Downtown Development Companies LLC.

His development work includes Commonwealth Landing, a mixed-use project featuring 103 market-rate apartments, and Downtown Lofts, a collection of five mixed-use properties with 146 apartments in downtown Fall River. As managing partner of more than 30 limited liability corporations, Cordeiro oversees more than $130 million in real estate assets.

The price of gas in Massachusetts is climbing. 

The average cost for regular is four-dollars-13-cents a gallon.  That's ten-cents more than a week ago. 

Triple A reports the current national average is four-dollars-11-cents per gallon.

 A man was arrested after a police K9 helped investigators discover illegal drugs he allegedly stored inside his former Fall River home last week.

In 2018, Justin Russell was arrested following a drug bust at his Howland Street home, according to police. He later pleaded guilty to cocaine trafficking and firearm-related charges in Superior Court, for which he was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Then on July 24, a Fall River detective assigned to the FBI Metro Boston Gang Task Force learned Russell had been keeping a “significant quantity” of illegal narcotics at the same residence.

Police obtained a warrant to search the property, which they now described as vacant, uninhabitable and without electricity or running water.

About an hour into the search, Fall River police K9 Marta entered a dirt crawl space under the back of the house, where she alerted investigators to more than one kilogram of suspected cocaine and a loaded gun.

While Russell was not inside during the search, police said they located and arrested him in New Bedford on separate charges later that day.

One person was killed in a crash on I-195 in Westport on Monday afternoon, according to state police.

Troopers responded to I-195 westbound near Exit 16 shortly before 3:30 p.m.

State police said one of the passengers inside a vehicle involved in the crash died from their injuries.

The two right lanes were closed in the area for several hours, but have since reopened.

See more at wpri.com.

Republicans are gaining ground across southeastern Massachusetts.  In 2024, President Trump made some of his strongest statewide gains in Bristol and Plymouth counties. 

Now, candidate for governor Brian Shortsleeve and running mate Shawn Oliver are hoping to capitalize on those gains in the upcoming primary elections. The area also has its first Republican candidate for Bristol County district attorney in more than 50 years. 

Party leaders say economic frustration and dissatisfaction with Beacon Hill are creating new opportunities for the GOP.

When he started patrol work over 20 years ago, Fall River Deputy Chief of Police Barden Castro said, a generic eyewitness account of a crime — “a green car left the scene and I think the plate was, you know, 1-2-3” — could send an officer combing through grainy security footage for hours, knocking on doors and bothering uninvolved people, looking for a match.

Now, he said, it’s the total opposite: “OK, green car, 1-2-3? Well, let’s put it in Flock.”

For the last five years, the Fall River Police Department has used automated license plate reader cameras manufactured by Flock Safety to help investigate shootings, missing person cases, illegal dumping and at least one bank robbery. While the cameras have raised constitutional and privacy concerns nationwide, FRPD says its own policies safeguard the technology from abuse.

Fall River police operates 41 Flock cameras, according to interim Chief of Police J.T. Hoar, located primarily along major streets and entry points to the city.

The cameras record and log the license plates of all passing vehicles, creating a searchable database for law enforcement agencies that subscribe to the service. The cameras catch details like the car’s model, color and any dents or distinctive cargo. Fall River data remains in the database for 30 days, according to FRPD policy.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Fall River city councilors asked the city’s legal department to develop a list of possible ordinances to limit billboards.

The city council’s Committee on Ordinances & Legislation unanimously approved Councilor Linda Pereira’s motion at its July 23 meeting. Pereira introduced the topic to the full city council in June; the council referred it to the committee.

“I do not want to turn our waterfront into Las Vegas,” said Councilor Michelle Dionne.

The future of the recently rebuilt Route 79/Davol Street Corridor along Fall River’s waterfront has sparked lively discussion, with over 20 acres available for residential and retail development. Earlier this year, an electronic billboard went up in the corridor. Its special permit dates to 2021 and allows it to reach a height of 50 feet.

“I want our waterfront to be more in line with Newport, where it makes people happy,” Dionne said.

Though Pereira's motion doesn't single out waterfront billboards, councilors honed in on that area during their discussion. They formally asked the Office of the Corporation Counsel to examine other cities’ and towns’ billboard regulations to get a better idea of what Fall River could implement.

According to the MassDOT’s Office of Outdoor Advertising, the towns of Lexington, Concord and Lincoln are “outdoor advertising free zones,” as is the Boston neighborhood of Charlestown.

There’s no better time to be developer with an eye and an appetite for the Fall River waterfront — now a rolling green space — but soon to be transformed into a vibrant, walkable, multi-use boulevard, and sooner still, to be parceled out at bidding.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation released an official Invitation to Bid on July 24, marking a major milestone for the development of the Route 79-Davol Corridor’s 20-acre frontier, and sending a clear signal that the state-local partnership will remain intact as developers enter the bidding.

MassDOT stated it is seeking proposals that hold the promise of being able to transform a blank canvas of several separate parcels into a vibrant mixed-use district that reflects the community's vision for the Davol Street Corridor.

Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan thanked Gov. Maura Healey and state officials “for their continuing commitment” to the Route 79-Davol Street project. “We are excited to see this transformational project at this stage as the future growth and development of these parcels on our city’s waterfront will bring close to $1 billion of investment and open many new economic opportunities for the City of Fall River.”  

The town’s Zoning Board of Appeals appeared to get bogged down by legal definitions and scientific concepts causing them to stall their decision-making when it came to Salt Cod Storage, a battery energy storage system proposed for the former Montaup Electric coal-fired power plant.

Somerset doesn’t have a zoning bylaw that addresses battery electricity storage systems, or BESS. 

Flatiron Energy, the Denver, Colorado-based company overseeing the battery storage project, claims the Riverside Avenue project can proceed by right. Flatiron Energy plans to harvest and store electrical charge from the electrical grid when there is a surplus and release it back onto the grid when demand is highest.

“Storage is an allowed use within an industrial district,” said Jeffrey Ganguly, the real estate attorney of Boston-based Foley Hoag law practice serving as Flatiron’s counsel at the July 16 ZBA meeting.

“Zoning bylaws are not perfect,” he added, and there’s no way to address every conceivable use of a parcel within a given zoning district.

The site proposed for Salt Cod Storage lies in a predominantly industrial and business overlay district.  

Flatiron says it has committed to building this project solely using union labor, with about 30 union members, many of whom live in Somerset, in attendance at the last ZBA meeting. 

Organizers of the 110th Feast of the Blessed Sacrament say this year's milestone celebration will combine longstanding Madeiran traditions with significant changes aimed at improving safety, reducing waiting times and enhancing the overall visitor experience.

The feast sponsored by Clube Madeirense S.S. Sacramento Inc. will take place from Thursday, July 30, to Sunday, Aug. 2, at Madeira Field in the North End of New Bedford.

Billed as the largest Portuguese cultural festival in the United States, the celebration is expected to draw up to 200,000 people, according to organizers.

"We do want this to be a safe environment,” said Tim Rodrigues, the 2026 feast president and president of Clube Madeirense S.S. Sacramento Inc. “We do want this to be a fun environment for the families to come, and the community to come and celebrate our feast."

Among the biggest changes this year are expanded security measures and a new cashless payment system throughout the feast grounds.

The feast will enforce a new under-21 policy during evening hours. Rodrigues said individuals younger than 21 will not be permitted to enter the grounds after 8 p.m., even if accompanied by an adult.

Organizers said the policy was developed after researching similar measures used at other large festivals and is intended to help maintain a family-friendly atmosphere.

Rodrigues said organizers have invested heavily in security, including enhanced metal detectors designed to speed entry while maintaining screening procedures. Visitors will no longer have to wait in multiple lines for identification checks and wristbands.

The event is also eliminating traditional food and beverage tickets. Purchases at barracas (booths) will now be made electronically, though attendees who prefer cash can exchange it for prepaid cards at kiosks throughout the grounds.

See more at heraldnews.com.

A 64-year-old man has died after he was hit by a car while crossing the street in a mobility scooter in Newport.

Officers were called to the intersection Memorial Boulevard and Chapel Street just after 10:30 p.m. Wednesday after receiving reports of a man in a motorized scooter lying in the middle of the sidewalk.

Police said the victim, identified as John Miles, was discovered lying in the median near the intersection after being thrown from his scooter.

Miles was flown to Rhode Island Hospital in critical condition, where he later died, according to police.

Investigators believe Miles was in the crosswalk when an oncoming truck hit him, throwing the scooter 30 feet away.

Planning a beach day in Massachusetts for this weekend?

If so, you'll want to avoid the beaches closed due to unsafe swimming water, including several SouthCoast spots.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) states that swimming in the water at these closed beaches poses a threat of illness due to high levels of bacteria. Symptoms of water-borne illness can range from nausea and vomiting to a sore throat and fever, or even rashes and infections.

The following Massachusetts beaches, listed by town, are closed as of Thursday, July 23:

• Ashby: Damon Pond Beach (Other)
• Barnstable: Keyes Beach at Sea Street (Bacterial Exceedance)
• Beverly: Mingo (Bacterial Exceedance)
• Danvers: Sandy Beach (Bacterial Exceedance)
• Dartmouth:
  • Anthony Beach (CSO/SSO event)
  • Hidden Bay (CSO/SSO event)
  • Jones Town Beach North (CSO/SSO event)
  • Jones Town Beach South (CSO/SSO event)
  • Moses Smith Creek (Bacterial Exceedance)
  • Oak Hill Shores (CSO/SSO event)
• Holden: Eagle Lake (Bacterial Exceedance)
• Lanesborough: Sunrise Beach (Bacterial Exceedance)
• Middleboro: Camp Yomechas (Bacterial Exceedance)
• Newburyport:
  • Plum Island at 55th Street (Other)
  • Plum Island – end of island 1 (Other)
  • Plum Island – end of island 2 (Other)
  • Plum Island Point (Bacterial Exceedance)
• North Andover: Frye Pond Beach (Bacterial Exceedance)
• Oxford: Carbuncle Pond (Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom)
• Quincy:
  • Merrymount (Bacterial Exceedance)
  • Mound (Bacterial Exceedance)
  • Nickerson (Bacterial Exceedance)
• Salem:
  • Children's Island – Back (Bacterial Exceedance)
  • Children's Island – Wally (Bacterial Exceedance)
  • Ocean Avenue (Bacterial Exceedance)
  • Willow Avenue (Bacterial Exceedance)
• Swampscott: Kings (Bacterial Exceedance)
• Swansea: Coles River Club off Harbor Road (Bacterial Exceedance)
• Tisbury:
  • Owen Little Way (Bacterial Exceedance)
  • Tashmoo Beach (Other)
  • Tashmoo Cut (Other)
• Wareham:
  • Forbes (Bacterial Exceedance)
  • Standish Shores (Bacterial Exceedance)
• Winthrop:
  • Donovans (Bacterial Exceedance)
  • Pico (Bacterial Exceedance)
• Worcester: Coes Pond Beach at Mill Street (Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom)

Massachusetts is unveiling new designs for the new two-billion-dollar Sagamore Bridge. 

The plan would install wider traffic lanes, shoulders and separate lanes for vehicles entering and exiting.  It would also include a protected path for pedestrians and cyclists with a west-facing sunset lookout. 

Construction could begin in late 2027, with the first span opening in 2033.  The second span is expected to open by 2037, replacing the 91-year-old bridge.

Residents, skateboarders and families are set to gather at Lafayette Park's new skate park in Fall River for Summer Jam, a community celebration scheduled from 1 to 6 p.m. July 25.

The event will mark the installation of the skate park and highlight recreational opportunities in the city, according to a community announcement. Organizers say the afternoon will include skateboarding activities, live entertainment, local vendors and food trucks.

Attendees will have an opportunity to explore the new skatepark while taking part in a community gathering focused on Fall River's skateboarding scene.

The event also will feature a Best Trick Contest and Skate Jam designed for participants of varying experience levels. Skaters will compete for cash prizes during the Best Trick Contest.

See more at heraldnews.com.

A fisherman spent hours stranded in the water after falling overboard, until a New Bedford fishing crew rushed to his aid.

Joao DaSilva told 12 News that it was a normal day for him and the rest of the crew on the Seel Jr. as they were nearing the end of a nine-day trip.

They heard a call for help about a man overboard and didn’t hesitate to step in. 

“So, we haul back … and once we got there, Sammy’s like, ‘go out on the bow and see if you can see anything,'” DaSilva recalled.

The fishermen didn’t immediately see anything, but they heard a voice. After calling back and forth, DaSilva said his crew spotted the man who had been stuck in the water for two-and-a-half hours with no life jacket.

“Me and Phil deployed a poly ball … we threw that, but he missed it,” DaSilva recounted. “Then I grabbed the life ring that was on the back of the wheel house, and I threw that and he was able to grab that with one hand.”

The crew kept the fisherman afloat until a helicopter and rescue swimmer arrived at the scene.

The Seel Jr.’s captain Samuel Pereira said he’s glad they turned back.

“It’s unexpected, but you know you’ve got to help when they shout, you know?” Pereira said.

DaSilva is just happy the fisherman is safe. 

See more at wpri.com.

Swansea has a new town administrator who’s willing to listen, and he’s “deeply passionate” about “getting it right.”

Mitchell Ruscitti took the helm of the town’s central administration on July 1, and since then, he’s begun making the rounds of local businesses, meeting municipal department heads, and coming to terms with the buzziest of contentions that plague citizens and tend to circulate among locals.

To Ruscitti, who grew up in Milford, he said Swansea “reminded me of home.” Milford, he said, is lauded as the first point of contact for Italian, Portuguese and Irish immigrants — not dissimilar from Swansea’s heritage and the SouthCoast's most prominent cultural enclaves. 

Town officials in Dartmouth are discussing bringing Fall River municipal water to the town via Westport, calling it a potential solution to persistent challenges with water supply and cost.

Dartmouth is raising water rates by 7.5% for the fiscal year that began on July 1, following a 13% mid-year increase in January 2026.

Rates are increasing because the town relies on water purchased from New Bedford while several of its own wells are offline, said Town Administrator Cody Haddad at a July 13 Select Board meeting. He said this year’s increase will “stabilize” the town’s water budget, avoiding future mid-year jumps.

“Unfortunately, the days of 3 and 4% increases, at least in the near future, are over. Just the costs of things are astronomical,” Haddad said.

Purchasing New Bedford water will cost Dartmouth over $3 million this fiscal year, Treasurer Gary Carreiro projected at the July 13 meeting. The town’s total budget is about $113 million.

Dartmouth began buying New Bedford water after a 2020 storm damaged several town wells, resulting in bacterial contamination. Though the wells have come back online, Haddad said, drought conditions haven’t allowed the town to make full use of them.

At the meeting, Public Works Director Tim Barber said he has met with Fall River officials to discuss bringing water from the city’s North Watuppa Pond reservoir to Dartmouth.

“The city of Fall River is interested and in agreement with us,” he said.

Fall River currently sells municipal water to parts of Freetown, Tiverton and Westport. The city's water primarily comes from North Watuppa Pond, with Copicut Reservoir on the Fall River-Dartmouth line as a backup.

The plan to sell water to Dartmouth would require extending a pipeline across Westport, where voters rejected a funding go-ahead for a similar proposal in 2024. Westport’s water system currently extends roughly halfway to Dartmouth, ending past Davis Road along Route 6.

Dartmouth town officials said a potential extension to the Westport-Dartmouth town line could be funded by a bill from the Legislature or a MassWorks infrastructure grant. Barber estimated an extension would cost upwards of $5 million.

He also said Fall River has offered Dartmouth a drop rate, meaning the town would pay the city less for its water once it had purchased a certain volume.

See more at heraldnews.com.

A Massachusetts physician is permanently losing her state medical license for participating in the January 6th Capitol riots. 

The medical board says Dr. Jacquelyn Starer punched a police officer after joining the crowd that breached the Capitol. 

Starer pleaded guilty to federal charges, including assaulting or impeding officers, and was sentenced to nine months in prison in 2024. 

Her medical license expired in March 2025 after she had previously agreed not to practice following her arrest.  Starer told a judge she took responsibility for her actions that day and wished reason had prevailed over her emotions.

The time has come to learn more about the proposed middle school, the biggest new development the town has ever seen, and get your questions answered. 

A public forum is scheduled to kick off at 6 p.m. in the Joseph Case Junior High School auditorium at 195 Main St. on Wednesday, July 22.

Residents can virtually ask questions from home or attend the meeting in-person, where discussion will revolve around the project’s merits and provide concrete numbers related to tax implications. 

At the July 14 meeting, the Swansea Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to approve placing the project’s funding as an item on the warrant for the fall Town Meeting, on Oct. 19, 2026. The Select Board also approved the project for a ballot question this November. 

See more at heraldnews.com.

A ballot question hoping to repeal marijuana in Massachusetts will be voted on in November. 

State election officials say Question Eight will appear on the November 3rd ballot after rejecting a final challenge from marijuana industry groups.  The measure would repeal state laws legalizing, regulating and taxing recreational cannabis. 

Opponents would have needed to invalidate at least 123 signatures to overturn certification of the question, but failed to do so. 

The repeal effort previously survived another commission challenge and a lawsuit before the state's highest court.

Massachusetts House Democrats are moving to expand abortion access after 24 weeks. 

Lawmakers are expected to vote on Wednesday on a bill allowing abortions at that stage based on a physician's professional judgment.  Current law permits them only to preserve a patient's life or health or because of a lethal or grave fetal diagnosis. 

Supporters say some patients are forced to leave the state, while opponents say the proposal removes existing protections. 

If passed and signed into law, it would make Massachusetts' abortion law among the most expansive in the country.

A crash involving a stolen car and the recovery of a stolen firearm led to the arrest of a New Bedford man on Monday.

Aaron Nunez, 18, faces several motor vehicle and gun-related charges, according to Acushnet police.

Police said they had been investigating a series of vehicle break-ins when they got a call about a man running through people’s yards in the area of Slocum Street just after 1 a.m.

The initial search came up empty, police said, but an officer who remained in the area heard a loud crash at the intersection of Slocum and South Main streets around 1:45 a.m. and found two heavily damaged vehicles there.

According to police, the preliminary investigation showed a silver Hyundai ran a stop sign and collided with another vehicle. Three people wearing black clothing and face masks then got out of the Hyundai and ran off.

After calling for backup, the officer provided aid to the occupants of the second vehicle before they were taken to the hospital for evaluation, police said.

See more at wpri.com.

Firefighters knocked down a fire at Colt State Park in Bristol early Wednesday morning.

Crews responded to the bathhouse on Colt Drive around 3:30 a.m. and found smoke pouring from the building.

It’s unclear what caused the fire at this time.

The park is closed from sunset to sunrise.

See more at wpri.com.

After 32 years of serving the town of Swansea, Officer Shane Mello is preparing to hang up his hats — all of them — which Mello says was “a tough decision.”

Over the last three decades, Mello’s passion for connecting with the Swansea community is displayed by his range of service, from the Swansea Police Department, to working as a school resource officer and serving as the town’s harbormaster, to lending his time and talents as Swansea’s official shellfish warden.

In a July 1 interview at a quieter-than-usual Joseph Case High School, Mello, who had 30 days to go until retirement, reflected on his time serving students since 2000, and serving the town since 1994.

A patrol officer who spent time in the office working for the school district as well as out on the road as a boots-on-the-ground responder to emergency calls, Mello said he’s busier than ever with “a lot of double duty” as the police department’s manpower continues to evaporate during day shift coverage.

This school year especially was particularly “rough” on school administrators who lack sufficient resources to offer support that students needs, Mello said, citing an uptick in mental health cases, bullying, and the scare at Mark G. Hoyle Elementary School earlier this year; in that incident, reports spread that a second-grade student brought a handgun to school and were investigated, but no weapon was found. 

His job, said Mello, is to enhance the safety of the school, the students, and faculty. During his tenure, he said the role — and the way students perceive him — “has evolved.”

“I am a police officer, but I am also a human,” Mello said. “It’s hard to walk away from this,” Mello said, adding that he approached an endless volume of cases in “a job that just doesn’t stop” with the best interest for the students. 

See more at heraldnews.com.

The owner of an 18-acre parcel on Fall River’s waterfront taken by eminent domain to build an MBTA layover station at Weaver’s Cove has labeled a recent jury verdict about the property’s value “a total miscarriage of justice,” and is seeking a new trial.

Weaver’s Cove Industrial Park LLC had sued the MBTA in 2022, saying it was paid $2.28 million for land it alleged was worth $8.2 million. However, in June, a jury determined the land was worth even less than it was originally paid, only $1.65 million. That meant Weaver’s Cove would have to pay back the MBTA almost $639,000 — with interest bringing the tab to over $755,000.

Weaver’s Cove has filed a motion in Bristol County Superior Court asking Judge Raffi Yessayan for a new trial, or to adjust the jury’s verdict, calling it “aberrant.”

“The jury verdict of $1,650,000 not only defies common sense, it tragically results in a total miscarriage of justice,” attorneys for Weaver’s Cove wrote.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Gas prices continue to rise across Massachusetts. 

Triple-A says the current average is four-oh-three [[ $4.03 ]] per gallon.  That's a more than ten-cent increase compared to last week's prices.   

Nationally, the average cost per-gallon is at four-dollars.

An investigation is underway after a woman and her dog were struck by a car in Fall River.

Police were called to the scene on Brayton Avenue around 10 p.m. Sunday.

The woman was rushed to the hospital with critical injuries and the dog died, according to police.

It’s unclear if the driver is facing any charges.

The crash remains under investigation.

See more at wpri.com.

Police are searching for a suspect after two people were shot Sunday night in Newport.

Officers were called to the Park Holm housing complex off Truman Road around 10 p.m.

The victims, ages 22 and 25, were transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to police.

No arrests have been made, but police said the shooting was targeted and there is no threat to the public.

While investigating at the scene Monday morning, police discovered that a stray bullet went through the window of a nearby home.

“My couch is literally on the other side of this window,” Sheila Rivera said while showing 12 News the sizeable bullet hole.

“We didn’t know that anything happened to the house until the police came back this morning, and then there were tons of police in the house,” she added.

Rivera told 12 News that no one in her home was hurt, but as a mother, she couldn’t help but think what could’ve happened.

“I have two older kids. One of my kids couldn’t come home last night because of everything that happened, and then my two girls, 8 and 10, we were asleep on the couch,” Rivera said.

“I’m ready to move,” she added. “I mean, I’m thankful that we’re not like harmed physically, but it’s still scary mentally. It’s exhausting, like even having to think about that … literally my kids were right here.”

See more at wpri.com.

A “Christmas in July” craft and vendor show is planned in Swansea featuring local artisans, food vendors and holiday-themed shopping.

The South Coast Community Chorale will host the event Saturday, July 25, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at American Legion Post 303, 73 Ocean Grove Ave., according to a community announcement. The event is open to the public and will feature a range of handmade goods and activities.

Organizers say the event aims to bring together vendors and community members for a seasonal-themed shopping experience, according to the announcement.
 

Attendees can browse items including handcrafted jewelry, paintings, home de?cor, wreaths, ornaments, candles, soaps, fragrances and books.

Additional offerings include woodworking and quilted goods, knitted and crocheted items, clothing and accessories, kitchen products, toys and personalized gifts, along with baked goods, honey, coffee, ice cream and food truck options.

More information, including vendor details and updates, is available on the organization’s Facebook page at facebook.com/sccchorale.

Event organizers are also seeking volunteers to help dismantle tables following the show at about 3:30 p.m. Those interested in assisting are asked to email organizers directly to coordinate.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Edmond P. Talbot Middle School has been selected as one of eight schools nationwide to begin a multi-year process toward becoming a Smithsonian STEAM School of Distinction.

A team from the Fall River school is participating in a five-day Strategic Planning Institute in Washington, D.C., according to a community announcement, marking the first step in a three-year program led by the Smithsonian Science Education Center.

The initiative recognizes schools that take a comprehensive approach to integrating science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics into instruction and school culture.
 

Representing Fall River Public Schools are Kimberly Laliberte, director of science; Lisa Zagarella Coutu, Talbot’s principal; Yvone Rego, math-science department head; and Aidan Shane, a Project Lead The Way science teacher. Daniela Munoz and Marquis Taylor, representing Coaching4Change, are also part of the team supporting the process.

During the institute, participants are working with Smithsonian educators and peers from across the country to build a five-year plan aimed at expanding STEAM programming and resources at the school.
 

Following the institute, the team will continue working with the Smithsonian Science Education Center while implementing the plan and working toward official designation.

Talbot was the only school selected in Massachusetts and the only one in New England, according to the announcement. Schools from Illinois, Maryland, Indiana, North Carolina, California and Alabama were also selected.
 

"We are honored that Talbot Middle School has been selected for this national opportunity," said Interim Superintendent Kathleen Smith. "Talbot was not only the only school selected in Massachusetts, but also the only school in New England chosen for this prestigious opportunity. The recognition reflects our district’s ongoing commitment to providing students with engaging, hands-on learning experiences that foster creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving."

See more at heraldnews.com.

The Prince Henry Society Fall River Chapter will host its annual fundraising golf tournament on Monday, Aug. 17, at the Fall River Country Club, with a new start time of 11 a.m.

Proceeds from the event will support the society’s scholarship program. This year, $23,500 will be awarded in scholarships to 21 area high school students of Portuguese descent.

“The scholarship program is one of many programs the PHS sponsors for the betterment of our local community,” Fall River PHS President David Rocha said. “However, our success can only be made possible through the generosity of our sponsors and supporters.”
 

The deadline for signing up, sponsorships and raffle donations is Sunday, Aug. 9. Visit www.birdease.com/phsfallriver for event details and to register.

The cost to participate as a golfer is $200 and includes a boxed lunch, 18 holes of golf and a dinner reception. Current Fall River Country Club members may participate for $125.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Governor Maura Healey is proposing 100-million dollars in additional funding for Massachusetts schools. 

Districts would receive about 112 dollars more per student to help prevent layoffs and cuts to school programs.  The money would come from revenue generated by the state's millionaires tax. 

School districts would decide how to use the additional funding based on local needs. 

However, the proposal requires approval from the state Legislature.

A motorcyclist was seriously injured in a crash in Swansea Wednesday afternoon.

Officers were called to Route 6 at Old Fall River Road after receiving reports of a crash involving a motorcycle.

Police said the motorcyclist was brought to the hospital to be treated for his injuries. The driver of the car involved in the crash was not injured.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation at this time.

See more at wpri.com.

Anyone heading outside on Thursday will likely notice a significant haze in the air due to wildfire smoke from Minnesota and Canada.

An Air Quality Alert is currently in effect and will extend into later Thursday since the fine particles in the air make for unhealthy conditions.

Poor air quality, especially when combined with higher temperatures, can cause health complications, so it’s important to take precautions and check on family members, friends and neighbors who may be at risk.

While everyone can be affected by poor air quality, some people are more susceptible, including:

• Children
• The elderly
• People with lung conditions, such as asthma
• People who work or exercise outdoors

Some tips:

• Stay indoors with the windows closed
• Limit strenuous outdoor activity
• Wear a properly fitting N95 mask when outside
• While driving, set the air system to recirculate
• Use high-efficiency (HEPA) air filters in your home’s cooling system

See more at wpri.com,

A small plane crashed into Curlew Pond within Myles Standish State Forest in Plymouth Thursday morning.

The Plymouth Fire Department confirmed that the pilot was recovered from the water with help from the Plymouth County Dive Team.

The pilot suffered serious injuries and was rushed to an area hospital.

First responders are still trying to determine if anyone else was inside the two-seat plane at the time of the crash.

See more at wpri.com.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey is joining the call for an investigation into the deadly shooting of a man in Maine by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent. 

ICE conducted a traffic stop Monday in the city of Biddeford and a 26-year-old Columbian man was killed when he allegedly tried to flee.

Healey said she was "sick to her stomach" when she learned of the incident.  The governor said ICE must be held accountable and quote, "this has got to end."

The Fall River Police Department released its first-ever mid-year public safety report Tuesday, which revealed that overall violent crime is down across the city.

J.T. Hoar, Fall River’s acting police chief, told 12 News the mid-year report is already showing some positive trends.

“Right now, in 2026 we’re seeing a downward trend in crime in general,” Hoar said.

The 2026 Mid-Year Public Safety Report shows that violent crime is down by more than 11%, and there’s been a 12% decline in confirmed shootings.

“

For us a confirmed shooting is defined as when someone has called the police or triggered a police response for a shooting — and then when we get there, there’s evidence that supports that, whether its property damage, there’s a victim, or evidence like shell casings or an actual firearm,” Hoar said.

However, the city has seen more homicide victims, with three killed last year and four reported so far in 2026, according to the report.

The increase comes from two separate incidents, with the first happening in January when a mother and son were killed on Barnes Street. The second happened June 10 on Aetna Street where two men were brutally killed in an attack involving a pitchfork.

“Those raise your stats, but it’s really two incidents with multiple victims,” Hoar explained.

Hoar noted that detectives tracked down those murder suspects, and that overall arrests are up by 23%.

“Our major crimes division over the last few years takes great pride in solving the most serious crime, which is murder,” he said. “In 2025, they had 100% clearance rate and in 2026 that holds true as well.”

Police are investigating a stabbing that stemmed from a fight in a New Bedford neighborhood Tuesday evening.

Officers were called to Salisbury Street around 5 p.m. following reports of a fight between tenants.

The officers arrived to find two victims suffering from stab wounds and several others with various injuries, according to police.

Police also said a dog suffered a facial injury in the altercation.

Three victims were brought to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Investigators believe the fight was related to an ongoing dispute between the tenants.

Officers arrested two men as a result of the investigation, who police identified as 32-year-olds Keven Decarvalho and Chad Saddler.

Decarvalho was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and three counts of assault and battery. Saddler was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery.

Police said 30-year-old Tatyana Reyes and a juvenile were also each charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault and battery. Neither were arrested and were instead issued summons to court.

Frim wpri,com.

Southern New Englanders may notice some wildfire smoke in the sky on Wednesday as temperatures once again approach 90 degrees.

A Heat Advisory is in effect, along with an Air Quality Alert, with hazy, hot and humid conditions expected.

High temperatures and poor air quality can lead to serious health complications, so it’s important to check on family members, friends and neighbors who may be at risk.

Smoke from wildfires in Minnesota and Canada has entered our airspace, causing periods of hazy skies. There’s also an elevated fire risk in Massachusetts currently.

While everyone can be affected by poor air quality, some people are more susceptible, including:

• Children
• The elderly
• People with lung conditions, such as asthma
• People who work or exercise outdoors

The R.I. Department of Environmental Management says the fine particles from wildfire smoke can irritate the eyes, nose, throat and lungs, as well as worsen symptoms of asthma and other health conditions.

See more at wpri.com.

It was an emotional evening Monday as dozens gathered to remember the 10 residents who were killed in a devastating fire that ripped through a Fall River assisted living facility last year.

The tragedy at Gabriel House on July 13, 2025, shook the city to its core and marked the state’s deadliest fire in more than 40 years.

Firefighters rushed to the assisted living facility early that morning after receiving several 911 calls from inside the building. Those firefighters were immediately met with thick black smoke, roaring flames and trapped residents hanging out of windows.

More than 30 residents and five firefighters were rushed to nearby hospitals to receive treatment for various injuries.

There were approximately 70 residents of varying mobility living at the Gabriel House, which first opened in 1999, at the time of fire. The residents who survived their injuries or escaped unharmed lost nearly everything in the fire, including a place to live.

The city hosted a special remembrance ceremony on Olive Street directly outside of the assisted living facility, which remains boarded up and fenced off.

A bicyclist was hit and killed by a truck in Dartmouth on Monday afternoon, the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office announced.

Police were called to Route 6 west just before noon. Upon arrival, they located a dump truck pulled over to the right side of the road.

Investigators determined that a crash had happened between the truck and a cyclist.

The cyclist, identified as 74-year-old Denise Olson of Westport, was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to the DA’s office, the truck driver stayed on scene and cooperated with police.

A portion of Route 6 west and Reed Road southbound from Woodcart Drive to State Road were shut down for several hours. 

See more at wpri.com.

The Bristol County District Attorney’s Office has released the name of the 17-year-old boy who drowned in a Fall River pond on Sunday.

Crews were called to South Watuppa Pond around 9:30 p.m. Sunday for a report of a juvenile who was missing in the water.

An initial search was unsuccessful, but the Massachusetts State Police Air Wing and Dive Team were called in to help.

The victim, identified as Tristan Major, was found about two hours later and was pronounced dead at the scene.

According to the DA’s office, a group of three juveniles were at the pond when two entered the water to swim to a floating dock. Major struggled in the water and did not return to shore.

Fall River Interim Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Smith released a statement on Monday confirming Major was a former student of Fall River Public Schools.

“The sudden and unexpected death of a young person touches an entire community. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and all those who are grieving,” Dr. Smith said. “Although Fall River is a city, we are also a close-knit community, and tragedies like this are felt by many of us, even those who may not have a direct connection to the young man.”

School counselors are available for students and staff on Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Counseling Hub at B.M.C. Durfee High School.

From wpri.com.

Women from across Massachusetts are being recognized for their contributions to their communities.

The Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women celebrated its 2026 class of Commonwealth Heroines. The annual program celebrates women who make a difference through leadership, advocacy and service, according to a community announcement.

This year’s class includes 147 honorees — the largest in the program’s history.

Honorees include eight from the Greater Fall River and New Bedford area.

The program is a partnership between the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women and state legislators. Each lawmaker is invited to nominate one woman from their district who has demonstrated outstanding service and leadership.

The list includes:

• Denise Barbosa Lane, North Easton, nominated by state Sen. William Driscoll.
• Rosemary Gill, Dartmouth, nominated by state Rep. Antonio Cabral.
• Michelle Hamilton, Foxboro, nominated by state Rep. Michael Chaisson.
• Cynthia “Cindy” Brogan, Taunton, nominated by state Rep. Lisa Field.
• Rebecca Frias, Assonet, nominated by state Rep. Carole Fiola.
• Leslie Kola, Raynham, nominated by state Rep. Dennis Gallagher.
• Joanne Roche, Mansfield, nominated by state Rep. James K. Hawkins.
• Keyanna Jones, New Bedford, nominated by state Rep. Christopher Hendricks.
• Frances Kelley, Swansea, nominated by state Rep. Steven Howitt.
• Wendy Morill, New Bedford, nominated by state Rep. Christopher Markey.
• Lisa Feitelberg-Costa, Westport, nominated by state Rep. Steven Ouellette.
• Jenny Mello Reis, Somerset, nominated by state Rep. Justin Thurber.
• Rachel Resendes, Fall River, nominated by state Rep. John R. Gaskey.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell is joining attorneys general from 48 other states in urging the Federal Communications Commission to crack down on scam robocalls. 

The group wants tougher rules to make it harder for scammers to buy and use real phone numbers to trick consumers. 

Officials say Americans received nearly 30-billion scam calls and texts last year, costing victims almost two-billion dollars.

Marcel Riley has a vision for the empty greenspace off King Philip Street in Fall River.

He is the force behind an effort to transform the park into Mae’s Playground, a sensory-friendly facility where kids of all abilities can interact and have fun, including his daughter Mae, who is nonverbal and on the autism spectrum.

The roughly $1 million playground would have been fully funded with a requested $100,000 earmark in the Massachusetts state budget, but a few weeks ago, Riley learned they would only be getting $10,000.

“Those are our most vulnerable,” Riley told 12 News on Thursday. “If they’re not worth fully funding or meeting halfway, what is?”

See more at wpri.com.

The identities of the two people killed in a serious crash on Route 6 near the Westport-Dartmouth line Friday evening have been released.

The two that died are 34-year-old Tristan Bedient of Acushnet and 51-year-old Kate Aldrich of New Bedford, according to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.

The DA’s office says Dartmouth and Westport police responded to the scene of a motor vehicle crash involving two sedans, one with “catastrophic” damage. The male driver of a Toyota Camry, Bedient, and female passenger, Aldrich, were taken to a local hospital, where they were pronounced dead. The driver and passenger of the second car, a SAAB, had non-life-threatening injuries.

Dartmouth police said Route 6 between Highland Avenue and Route 177 will be completely impassable for a significant amount of time as Dartmouth, Westport, and Massachusetts State Police continue their investigation.

See more at wpri.com.

Monday, July 13, marks one year since a devastating fire at the Gabriel House Assisted Living Facility shook the city of Fall River, killing 10 residents and injuring dozens of others.

Fall River’s police chaplain, Fr. Rob Nemkovich, was there that night and spent time with survivors and first responders in the days that followed, listening to their stories. He tells 12 News that experience was behind his decision to help the city organize an evening of reflection and prayer outside the Oliver Street building this coming Monday. 

“We’re going to honor the lives lost,” Nemkovich said. “Then we’re going to hear from survivors, from our first responders and then from those who helped them at the Timao Center.”

He said the idea is to bring some peace to those who lived through the tragedy and are now scattered throughout the area, which is why he’s organizing transportation for the former Gabriel House residents who want to attend.

See more at wpri.com.

Swansea is sounding its sirens about an event 100 years in the making (well, sort of).

A "massive" weekend-long celebration will be descending on Swansea Veterans Memorial Park starting Friday, July 10, to mark the 100th anniversary of the Swansea Fire Department.

“Our department is proud to invite our community and all those who have volunteered as firefighters during our 100 years of service to celebrate this milestone occasion,” reads a Swansea Fire Department’s Facebook post.

Swansea Fire Department 100 Anniversary Family Fun Weekend will feature three days jam-packed with “great food, music, and memories,” according to the Facebook event page.

The interim superintendent of Fall River Public Schools said she hired Aldo Petronio, the embattled former chief financial officer for Brockton Public Schools, because she's confident in his abilities after their years of close collaboration while she was Brockton's superintendent.

Kathleen Smith said she has direct knowledge of his expertise and stellar reputation among school finance officials. Her experience with him outweighed that he led Brockton Public Schools' finance office at the time of the 2023 budget crisis, she said.

“In the end, to me, that trumped what had happened," she told The Enterprise in a July 7 phone interview.

Since November 2025, Petronio has been embroiled in a federal lawsuit against the city of Brockton, school district and multiple officials, including former Brockton Mayor Robert Sullivan. Petronio said he warned Sullivan and other officials of the mounting deficit long before it became public in August of 2023 and proposed solutions that were ignored by the same people who later blamed him for not having taken action. Defendants have pointed out that multiple audits, including one by a state agency, named Petronio as one of the people responsible for the surprise shortfall.

See more at heraldnews.com.

In response to the ongoing housing crisis, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kimberley Driscoll announced a new round of Housing Development Incentive Program (HDIP) tax credit awards to support six projects across the state.

The awards, totaling $18.2 million, will be used to expand housing opportunities and transform underutilized properties, which they said will create 662 homes in cities like Taunton and Fall River.

“The Housing Development Incentive Program is a tremendous catalyst for additional housing in the city of Fall River,” Mayor Paul Coogan said Thursday. “As the need for housing continues to grow, this program helps create valuable housing assets that strengthen our community.”

The Durfee Block Apartments in Fall River and the Whittenton Mill Apartments in Taunton were chosen to receive the HDIP funding. Officials said Durfee Block will get $1.5 million for the “adaptive reuse” of the historic building, which will create 22 new rental homes. Whittenton Mill will be demolished and rebuilt into 390 rental homes with $3.8 million in funding.

See more at wpri.com.

Families gathered at the pond behind Bristol Community College on June 28 for the inaugural Casting Futures Youth Fishing Derby, an event focused on outdoor recreation and introducing children to fishing.

The free community event, held in Fall River, brought together anglers of all ages for a morning of fishing, friendly competition, prizes and family fun, according to a community announcement. The derby reflected Rep. Steven J. Ouellette’s commitment to promoting outdoor recreation and creating opportunities for families to spend quality time together.

“Some of my favorite memories have been made outdoors with family and friends. When I found out Resident Harris was a fan of fresh water fishing, I knew this derby had to happen in partnership with BristolCC and the Fall River Delegation" said Ouellette, according to the announcement. “Seeing children experience the excitement of catching their first fish, while families spent the day together enjoying one of Massachusetts’ great outdoor traditions, is exactly what Casting Futures was meant to accomplish. Events like this strengthen our communities and create memories that last a lifetime.”

Participants celebrated their first catches, learned fishing skills and enjoyed an environment designed to encourage a lifelong appreciation for the outdoors and conservation.

Ouellette was joined by fellow elected officials and community leaders, including Rep. Carole Fiola, president Sedgwick Harris, Sen. Michael Rodrigues and Alan Silvia, whose support helped make the event a success.

See more at heraldnews.com.

There is an active stolen car investigation in Swansea. 

Police responded to a reported crash on Pearse Road shortly after noon Tuesday.  A vehicle that had been stolen was found submerged in Coles River.  It was determined the driver escaped the vehicle after it went into the water and fled the scene. 

There were no reported injuries.  

U.S. Senator Ed Markey and U.S. Representative Seth Moulton are trading jabs in the first debate for the Massachusetts Senate primary. 

Wednesday, the two Democrats traded sharp attacks at WWLP 22News in Chicopee. 

They sparred over age, health care, transgender athletes and personal finances.  Markey questioned Moulton's ties to military contractors, while Moulton argued Democrats need generational change. 

The September 1st primary is approaching, and two more debates are scheduled.

Monday marks one year since flames ripped through the Gabriel House assisted living facility in Fall River, killing 10 residents and injuring dozens of others.

The tragedy shook the city to its core and marked the state’s deadliest fire in more than 40 years.

“That was the toughest day of my life,” Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan recalled.

Three men are facing charges after three officers were hit by fireworks in New Bedford over the weekend.

Officers were called to Monte Park off Acushnet Avenue Sunday night to disperse a crowd that had formed following the city’s Cape Verdean Independence Day festivities.

Police said as officers began dispersing the crowd, someone tossed at least three lit fireworks in their direction.

Though the officers were able to jump out of the way of the first one, police said the second one hit three of them. The third lit firework was thrown into a nearby tree, according to police.

See more at wpri.com.

Alumni of Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School who had hoped to bid farewell to the old building one last time are going to be disappointed: the school has announced a final walkthrough is canceled.

A nostalgic walk of their alma mater’s hallways was originally scheduled for Sunday, July 12. The school announced via social media on Tuesday, July 7, that recent flooding “caused a major power outage and a loss of essential building utilities.”

“Because the building currently lacks electrical power, running water, and restroom facilities, it is impossible to safely welcome visitors inside for a final walkthrough before the transition to the new campus this summer,” the school stated.

The school is instead hosting a “yard sale” from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Diman gymnasium.

Diman is making available “surplus items and memorabilia” from the old building for free on a first-come, first-served basis.

Parking is available in the school’s student lot, which currently has a gravel surface.

Though the school was founded in 1912, the old Diman building on Stonehaven Road first opened to students in September 1968. According to The Herald News at the time, more than 700 students were welcomed inside its doors. But as decades passed, the student population outgrew the aging building.

See more at heraldnews.com.

The Massachusetts Nurses Association is initiating the largest nurses strike in state history. 

As of this morning, about four-thousand union nurses at Brigham and Women's Hospital are walking out.  This comes after months of failed negotiations between the union and the state's largest health care system.  The strike is only scheduled to last one day, but nurses will be locked out of the hospital for an additional four days, returning on July 13th. 

The union is demanding a three-percent pay raise for the first six months and a four-percent raise for the following 12 months of the contract.

East Providence police are asking for help finding 15-year-old Mackenzie Furtado.

In a social media post Tuesday, police said Furtado was last seen around 8 p.m. Monday wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and plaid pajama bottoms.

“We have no evidence to believe she is in any danger as of this time,” the department wrote.

Anyone with information regarding Mackenzie’s whereabouts is asked to call East Providence police at 401-435-7600.

See more at wpri.com.

The Braga Bridge is now shining brighter than ever.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation officially flipped the switch on the bridge’s new color-changing LEDs Tuesday night, illuminating its entire truss for the first time.

Lt Gov. Kim Driscoll, Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan and interim secretary of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation Philip Eng were among several city and state leaders to celebrate the milestone in a special ceremony at the Heritage State Park Visitors Center.

“For years the Braga bridge has faithfully served its purpose,” Driscoll said. “It stands as a symbol of the region’s identity, resilience and continued growth.”

MassDOT began replacing the bridge’s decades-old electrical infrastructure three years ago. It cost the state roughly $20 million to replace the lighting on the bridge, which was built back in 1966.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Coogan said, describing the Braga Bridge as being a “gateway to Massachusetts.”

See more at wpri.com.

Bristol County Sheriff Paul Heroux said he won’t be intimidated or shamed into breaking the law, in response to an ICE post on the social media network X critical of his release of a man in custody.

On July 2, ICE shared a post on X stating, “ICE Boston arrested Jose Raul Martinez-Alvardo, a criminal illegal alien from Honduras, during operations in New Bedford, Mass. Martinez-Alvardo’s criminal history includes pending charges for unlawful possession of a large capacity firearm, unlawful possession of a large capacity feeding device, resisting arrest, carrying a firearm without a license and carrying a loaded firearm without a license.”

It also stated, “Bristol County House of Corrections RELEASED Martinez-Alvardo without honoring the ICE detainer. ICE Boston will do what sanctuary politicians will not: keep dangerous criminals off our streets.”

Heroux said it was a routine release on bail, so routine he added that it only came to his attention after the X post was brought to his attention by the media.

Heroux stated in a release that “ICE Boston made a partisan political statement and tried to pressure or intimidate me and my office to break state and federal law.”

See more at heraldnews.com.

With a dozen tall ships arriving in Boston Harbor in a few days, Sail Boston said four-million visitors are expected between July 11th and 16th.

Organizers note there will be street closures for Saturday's Parade of Sail and use of public transportation is strongly advised.  Subway lines will operate at maximum level and there will be shuttle buses between JFK/UMass and Castle Island. 

There will be designated viewing locations in Charlestown, Castle Island, the downtown waterfront, East Boston, and the Seaport District.

Police arrested a man following an incident on the Block Island Ferry over the weekend.

12 News spoke with a bystander who claimed the incident happened around 7:30 p.m. Saturday on the top deck of the ferry.

The bystander explained that the ferry had just left Block Island and was forced to turn around after 10 minutes.

The New Shoreham Police Department confirmed the arrest in a social media post Sunday morning, but did not go into detail about what happened.

The bystander added that the man appeared to be intoxicated and was arrested once the ferry returned to Block Island.

In cell phone footage shared by another bystander, officers could be seen tackling the man to the ground before escorting him off of the ferry in handcuffs.

Four people were arrested downtown throughout the day, according to police, and two others were charged with underage possession of alcohol.

12 News has reached out to the New Shoreham Police Department for more information but has not yet heard back.

See more at wpri.com.

A man is facing charges after three officers were hit by fireworks in New Bedford over the weekend.

Police responded to Monte Park off Acushnet Avenue to help disperse large crowds following Cape Verdean Independence Day festivities on Sunday night.

As officers were escorting and instructing people to leave, police said a lit firework was thrown in their direction and another one struck three officers.

The suspect, identified as Jahn Carlos Baez, fled the scene but was apprehended after a short pursuit, according to police.

Baez, 19, was charged with three counts of assault and battery on an officer, three counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest.

In a social media post Monday, police shared body-worn camera footage showing the moments the firework went off, as well as the subsequent chase and arrest.

The Fall River Arts & Culture Coalition is finally ready to spend a $25,000 prestigious national grant the city was awarded nearly three years ago, and they promise the results will be worth the wait.

But of course, $25,000 doesn’t go as far in 2026 as it once did — so FRACC is seeking matching donations to help beautify Fall River’s new waterfront. The result will be a mural celebrating the city’s textile and immigrant history.

"This project has taken years of collaboration, perseverance and community commitment to reach this point," said Tracy Silva Barbosa, FRACC executive director. "The Bloomberg Philanthropies Asphalt Art Initiative gave Fall River an extraordinary opportunity to create a transformational public artwork. Now we're inviting our community to help us complete that vision.”

In November 2023, the nonprofit Bloomberg Philanthropies awarded Fall River with a $25,000 grant as part of its Asphalt Art program.

Fall River was one of only 25 communities in the United States, Canada and Mexico to receive this grant, putting the city in rare company with places like New Orleans, Mexico City, San Francisco and Honolulu.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Businesses affected by road closures and traffic disruptions due to an Eversource project are hoping the company can make good on pledges to do better.

But they’re also cautious, said William Russell of Buzzards Bay Brewing. “And we’re all looking at our numbers.”

Buzzards Bay Brewing, Pine Hill Convenience, Paradise Hill Farm and Westport Rivers Vineyard & Winery estimate they’ve lost more than $100,000 in business since customer access was affected in May.

The respective owners said in a June 24 letter to Eversource and town and state officials, “These are not theoretical losses. They are lost customers, lost sales, lost wages, and lost opportunities during the brief summer season upon which our businesses depend.”

Russell said Eversource representatives said they would address the problems.

They said the company would stop installing large road-closing manhole units until after Labor Day. Roads would be closed to one lane occasionally, and work will end at 3 p.m.

But, Russell said, “That's what they were supposed to do in the first place. It's unfortunate that they did what they weren't supposed to do, which was shut roads down.”

See more at heraldnews.com.

On the final day of Fiscal 2026, the City Council slashed through each line item of a second proposed $483.3 million municipal budget, forcing a month-to-month budget for Fiscal 2027.

A special June 30 meeting that summoned councilors to the City Council Chambers heard raucous debate for more than two hours, and eventually led to councilors taking a 6-3 "no confidence" vote in Chief Financial Officer Emily Arpke before rejecting the budget for the second time.

Councilor Shawn Cadime reminded his colleagues that the council "holds the power of the purse-strings," he said, quoting Special Counsel to the city's Finance Department Matthew Thomas.

Budget talks have dragged out for months with the City Council signaling an unwillingness to approve Mayor Paul Coogan's Fiscal 2027 municipal budget.

A shooting incident in Mattapoisett this week is under investigation. 

Officers responded to the Harbor Beach area around three p.m. Tuesday for a report of shots fired. 

A person of interest was taken into custody in neighboring Marion following a pursuit. Police said it was an isolated incident and there is no threat to public safety. 

It's unclear if anyone was hurt.  

Beginning this Friday, anyone under the age of 18 will not be allowed in the Dartmouth Mall at certain times without an adult. 

Management announced today the policy will be enforced Fridays and Saturdays starting at five p.m. and may be in effect at other times as well. 

The new restrictions also includes mall parking lots, garages and walkways. 

Details are available on the Dartmouth Mall's website. 

Police are asking for the public’s assistance identifying the owner of a dog that was found abandoned in Tiverton over the weekend.

In a social media post, the Tiverton Police Department said the dog was found Sunday morning off Lake Road near the Weetamoo Woods East lot.

Police said the dog, who’s believed to be an older male schnauzer mixed breed, was wearing a blue and orange collar.

The dog is believed to be abandoned because he was found severely matted and covered in urine and feces, according to police.

Police said the dog was spotted on home security footage wandering around the night before he was found. Neighbors are asked to check their security footage for any sign of where the dog came from or who may have left him there.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Animal Control Officer Victoria Sartini by calling 401-625-6717 ext. 113 or emailing vsartini@tivertonpoliceri.com.

From wpri.com.

An investigation is underway after a 55-year-old man was stabbed by his girlfriend Wednesday morning in Fairhaven, according to Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn III.

Quinn said officers were called to Middle Street just before 11 a.m. after receiving reports of a stabbing.

The officers found the victim suffering from several stab wounds, according to Quinn. He was rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries and is now stable.

Quinn said the man’s girlfriend, identified as 42-year-old Keira Colon, was arrested and charged with assault with intent to murder and two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon resulting in serious bodily injury.

See more at wpri.com.

Officers responded to a report of a child who fell out of a window Wednesday evening in Fall River.

Police said officers were called to Aetna Street just after 5 p.m. after learning that a 3-year-old had fallen and was crying.

It’s unclear at this time what led up to the incident and whether the child was injured.

Watch for updates at wpri.com.

Fall River is opening cooling centers as temperatures are expected to soar this week.

The Government Center cafeteria will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 2 and 3, according to a community announcement. Residents can access the cooling center through the cafeteria entrance.

A second cooling center will operate at Steppingstone Inc., 134 Durfee St., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 4, according to the announcement.

The city is urging residents to check on family, friends and neighbors, especially those who may be more vulnerable to the heat. People are encouraged to drink plenty of water, stay indoors in cool areas when possible and avoid strenuous activity if they have health conditions that could be affected by the heat.

Residents with questions can call the Mayor’s Office at 508-324-2600.

From heraldnews.com.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River has taken the city and the Zoning Board of Appeals to Land Court, saying the ZBA was wrong to prevent a Highlands church from building a parking lot on its land.

In February, the Church of the Holy Name at 709 Hanover St. was denied a special permit to remove some of the property’s landscaping and build an on-site parking lot on its land.

Initial plans would've seen the church build 70 parking spaces on its land between Hanover and Madison streets; that was reduced to about 50 to 55 parking spaces. After a lengthy meeting that saw input from supporters and opponents from the neighborhood, the five-member ZBA rejected the permit, 3-2.

See more at heraldnews.com.

A portion of a street in New Bedford has been closed off to traffic due to a downed wire.

Purchase Street is currently shut down near Minute Man Car Wash, according to police.

In a social media post, the department shared a video showing flames burning where the wire fell down and a police cruiser blocking the roadway.

Drivers are being asked to avoid the area and seek alternate routes while utility crews work on repairs. Police said travel delays and temporary power outages are possible.

See more at wpri.com.

A woman’s body was pulled from Long Pond in Lakeville early Wednesday morning.

Police said they responded to the pond in the area of Nelson Island and Big Beach around 6 p.m. Tuesday for reports that a passenger had fallen off a jet ski.

Several agencies, including the Massachusetts State Police Air Wing, helped find the 24-year-old Brockton woman around 12:30 a.m.

Her identity is not being released at this time.

See more at heraldnews.com.