Southcoast Health System is undergoing a transition at the executive level.

The hospitals group, which operates three major hospitals and multiple urgent care facilities in southeastern Massachusetts, announced Friday, Oct. 30, that President and CEO David McCready was stepping down from the position.

The company’s board of trustees announced that Stephen Canessa, senior vice president of External Affairs, was named interim president and CEO effective immediately.

Southcoast Health operates Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford, and Tobey Hospital in Wareham. The company also operates seven urgent care centers across the region, including Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Fall River, Lakeville, Seekonk, Taunton and Wareham.

The company says it employs more than 8,500 people locally.

McCready had been the group’s president and CEO since July 2023. He had previously been in the executive leadership team at Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital in Boston since 2005, with five years as its president.

According to a statement from Southcoast, the Board of Trustees wished McCready success after his departure.

“Supporting Southcoast Health’s important mission has been an honor. I thank the Board for the opportunity to have led the organization and am proud of the work we have achieved together,” McCready said in a statement.

The reason for the departure was not stated. Southcoast Health has not yet responded to a request for comment.

See more at heraldnews.com.

After being accused of unfairly charging $4.6 million in fees, the city of Fall River is counter-suing cannabis company Northeast Alternatives, saying the city is itself owed unpaid fees and damages.

The dollar amounts sought are not specified in a brief filed Oct. 26 in Bristol County Superior Court.

In June, Northeast Alternatives filed the civil lawsuit claiming the city unfairly charged “community impact fees” for more than three years. Named as defendants are the city of Fall River and Mayor Paul Coogan in his official capacity.

Community impact fees are intended to pay specific costs a city incurs when a cannabis company operates. Northeast Alternatives alleges the city broke the terms of its Host Community Agreement by charging fees from April 2019 to September 2022 without explaining what specifically it was charging those fees for.

Northeast Alternatives’ Host Community Agreement was initially granted by former mayor Jasiel Correia II; three years later, Correia was convicted of extorting potential cannabis company operators and sentenced to federal prison.

The city has retained the New Bedford law firm of Mead, Talerman & Costa to handle the lawsuit.

In its response, the defense denies all charges in Northeast Alternatives’ complaint.

But it further lodges a counterclaim against the company for breach of contract.

According to its filing, the city claims Northeast Alternatives agreed to make “certain payments” as the city worked to shepherd the company through the permitting and licensure process.

See more at heraldnews.com.

“I thank God every day I didn’t die.”

Gratitude was in the back of ex-Fall River mayor Will Flanagan’s mind as he slowly built up to a decision: to try again for the city’s top job. He announced his campaign on social media earlier this month. For him, it was inseparable from his brush with death in a violent stabbing almost exactly one year prior.

“Prior to the stabbing, if you had asked me if I was going to run any time in the immediate future, the answer would be no,” he said in an interview with The Herald News.

Since that Oct. 20, 2025 stabbing, Flanagan said, he’s become closer with his family and his faith. He also found he missed the job of mayor, which he had from 2010 until he was recalled by voters in 2014.

“Being mayor has so much responsibility, so much power and you can use that responsibility and power to help people,” he said.

Rising to the sixth floor of Government Center on a promise of change, 29-year-old Flanagan inherited a city in a serious fiscal bind after the Great Recession. City employees were forced to take pay cuts and while federal grants propped up the police and fire departments. Accusations of cronyism in his appointments sparked an unsuccessful first recall effort in 2011.

But Flanagan bounced back and displayed a marketing flair, courting several casino developers and attracting an Amazon distribution facility. He publicly cracked down on absentee landlords. His downfall came when federal public safety money dried up. Pay-as-you-throw trash pickup was his prescription for funding the fire department; anger over the purple bags crested in the recall that ousted him from office in late 2014.

Now, over a decade later, asked by The Herald News if he’d consider bringing back pay-as-you-throw if elected once more, he quickly answered: “No.”

The 46-year-old said his years out of office have changed him, made him “older, wiser, not as thin-skinned, more of an adult, more invested.”

Meanwhile, he said, people have been asking him if he would run for mayor again. He decided to jump in early, with more than a year left until the 2027 mayoral election.

“Elections are won now, not in November,” he said.

Asked why voters should choose him after booting him from the mayoralty once before, he pointed to the experience he’s gained inside and outside the office.

“When you’re building the prefect mayor, I have a lot of characteristics that people would be looking for in their mayor. And I would put my resume, and my life experiences, pound for pound with anybody else’s and I would find me coming out on top,” he said.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Police have arrested a Portsmouth man accused of stealing nearly two dozen political campaign signs.

The investigation began on Oct. 20, when Tiverton Town Council President John Edwards reported that his campaign signs had been stolen.

Edwards told investigators that he first noticed the signs he and other candidates had placed near the Longplex Family & Sports Center were gone on Oct. 17. He explained that he replaced the missing signs that same day.

Police said Edwards became concerned after learning his new signs had also been stolen few days later.

Investigators were able to identify the suspect using surveillance footage and membership records from Longplex.

Police were able to determine that, on Oct. 14 and Oct. 19, the suspect visited Longplex’s fitness center and removed several campaign signs from the lawn while leaving.

The suspect was taken into custody on Monday and charged with two misdemeanor counts of larceny under $1,500.

Police said he cooperated with the investigation and admitted to stealing campaign signs in both Tiverton and Portsmouth.

In total, investigators recovered 22 campaign signs from the suspect.

See more at wpri.com.

Eight months after the Blizzard of ’26, a big cleanup bill is coming due.

The Fall River City Council on Tuesday, Oct. 27, will be asked to transfer $3.1 million from the city’s "rainy day fund" to cover a different kind of precipitation: the cost of snow removal during Fiscal 2026.

This year saw one of the region’s heaviest snowfalls ever recorded, with the region buried by more than 30 inches. Fall River’s roads were quickly overwhelmed. The cleanup lasted weeks, with Mayor Paul Coogan and Gov. Maura Healey declaring states of emergency; Fall River alone spent more than $3 million digging out.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency twice denied Massachusetts any federal disaster aid for the storm, despite meeting thresholds for assistance; reporting by Politico suggested this aid was denied at the behest of President Donald Trump.

The Blizzard of ’26 struck the SouthCoast on Feb. 23. The devastating snowstorm left Fall River’s 1,000-plus streets unpassable, leaving tens of thousands of residents stuck in their homes behind waist-deep snow.

According to National Weather Service spotters, as much as 36 inches fell in nearby Somerset, with 32 in Westport, and 37 in Dartmouth.

Local and state officials took the unusual step of implementing travel bans in addition to parking bans. After declaring a state of emergency, Healey mobilized the National Guard and received assistance from as far away as Canada to assist with disaster cleanup and emergency rescues.

Fall River took weeks to mop up, with plows operating continuously. With the vast amount of snowfall, plowing became a hauling job as snow was taken to be piled at the city’s “snow farm” at the former Watuppa Heights or dumped into the Taunton River.

See more at heraldnews.com.

As of last Friday, nearly one-million-47-thousand votes have already been cast in Massachusetts ahead of the November 3rd, general election. 

The Secretary of State's Office reported there were 596,641 in-person early voters.  Another 469,145 mail-in ballots had been returned. 

Early voting began October 17th, and continues through this Friday, October 30th.     

The Tiverton Town Council addressed ongoing concerns surrounding PFAS contamination and what’s being done to assist impacted residents Monday night.

Tiverton Town Administrator Patrick Jones told councilors provided an update on both the short-term fixes and long-term solutions being worked on by the town and state.

Jones also referenced a federal allocation secured by Rhode Island’s Congressional delegation, and urged other cities and towns to take note of Tiverton’s  “PFAS crisis.”

“We want to do well testing throughout the entire town and this is an issue that we should be looking at throughout the entire state because, as we have stated numerous times, Tiverton is not going to be alone in this issue,” Jones said.

PFAS are man-made chemicals that have been used in stain-resistant materials, food packaging and nonstick cookware since the 1940s. Also known as “forever chemicals,” PFAS linger for a long time and have been linked to certain health conditions, including cancer.

The PFAS contamination in Tiverton first came to light back in July, when the Rhode Island Department of Management began testing the wells of residents who live near the Crandall Road fire station. The potential contamination is believed to have been caused by the firefighting foam that was historically used at the station.

Since then, the DEM has tested nearly 200 wells in town. Of those wells, Jones said 110 are considered contaminated.

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection found seven wells along Sawdy Pond, just over the state border, are also contaminated.

The council voted in favor of allocating $50,000 from the Casino Special Revenue Fund to continue delivering potable water to residents. That money will also be used to reimburse residents for the state’s PFAS testing.

See more at wpri.com.

Police in Swansea arrested a man on Saturday afternoon on OUI charges after he allegedly drove a pickup truck into a home on Route 6.

At around 4:29 p.m., according to Swansea police, 45-year-old Swansea resident Douglas McLane crashed into a house on Grand Army of the Republic Highway.

According to Swansea police, officers quickly removed McLane from the car because they were concerned about a gas leak. He was taken to Charlton Memorial Hospital, evaluated, and charged with OUI and negligent operation of a motor vehicle.

Firefighters on scene worked to stabilize the house’s porch, which included installing vertical supports beneath the porch’s roof, which was compromised.

No people were inside the home at the time of the crash. One dog was inside, but was taken from the scene by the homeowners.

Neighbor Joseph Fairhurst said the home’s residents didn’t know their house was hit until they arrived at the scene.

“They were in shock,” Fairhurst said. “It’s a tough thing to come home to that… They’re good people.”

Fairhurst was having a fire outside at his house next door at the time of the crash.

“We heard this loud boom,” Fairhurst said. “As soon as I turn the corner, I saw the pickup truck into the house.”

Fairhurst said he joined first responders at the scene to help remove the driver from the car.

“The guy was passed out,” Fairhurst said “I smacked him in the face a few times just to wake him up… When I woke him up, his first reaction was the typical drunk reaction. ‘Oh, what happened? Where am I?’ Guy, you’re in someone’s living room, what do you want me to do?”

The house was determined to be unsafe to occupy. The truck that crashed into it was towed from the scene.

McLane is expected to be arraigned in Fall River District Court on Monday.

See more at wpri.com.

One person was hospitalized after a car crashed into a home on Brayton Ave. on Saturday morning.

According to Fall River police, the crash trapped one of the home’s residents. They were eventually extricated by firefighters on scene.

That resident sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to Rhode Island Hospital for treatment.

Three builders are in the running for a historic opportunity to develop the Fall River waterfront.

In July, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation opened bids on 20 acres created by the demolition of a chunk of Route 79. The deadline for developers to submit bids was Oct. 21.

The Cordeiro Group, a local company, is offering $10,340,500 for the land. National real estate development firm The Michaels Organization put in a bid for $15,220,000, while a partnership between firms Mark Development and Wood Partners has bid $13,968,000, according to a MassDOT spokesperson.

While specific details of each proposal are not yet public, MassDOT has said it’s looking for a new mixed-use neighborhood of apartment buildings, commercial spaces and public amenities, built from scratch between Fall River’s new MBTA Commuter Rail station and the waterfront.

The state decided to award the entire project to one company, while allowing that company to subcontract for parts of the development, which will bring up to 1,500 new market-rate housing units to the city.

MassDOT plans to choose the winning bidder "as soon as practicable," according to the agency spokesperson.

According to its official invitation to bid, the agency will require bidders to meet requirements including financial experience, buying the land as it is, and complying with the city's master plan for the area. Of the bidders who meet every requirement, the state will select the one offering the highest price, the invitation said.

The state’s bid specifications were crafted to align with Fall River’s Davol Street Corridor Master Plan, written by the Fall River Redevelopment Authority, city planning and engineering director Dan Aguiar, consulting firm Stantec and consultant Ken Fiola, who leads the nonprofit Bristol County Economic Development Consultants.

Some local officials have tried to give the city more control over the development. A bill sponsored by state Rep. Carole Fiola that would have transferred the land to the Fall River Redevelopment Authority passed the House but stalled in the Senate. An August letter from Fall River city councilors asking for more of a say in the process did not change the state’s position.

See more at wpri.com.

New Bedford is firing two police officers for misusing its Flock camera system. 

City officials say an internal investigation found repeated personal searches and department policy violations. 

Investigators say Officer Emily Pacheco used the Flock system to track her ex-girlfriend and the woman's new partner.  Officer James Martinelli was also fired, but the details of the allegations against him are unknown at this time. 

The city shut off its Flock cameras in August and is reviewing rules for any future use.

A Massachusetts woman has been accused of running a decade-long fraud ring organizing hundreds of "sham" immigration marriages in the state that net her millions of dollars in profits.

Jennifer Gonzalez, 43, a U.S. citizen living in Fall River, allegedly arranged these marriages to "obtain unlawful immigration benefits and generate more than $6 million in profits" according to U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley's office. Foley announced the arrest of Gonzalez, as well as six others charged in connection with the scheme, on Oct. 21.

At a press conference at the John J. Moakley U.S. Courthouse in Boston Wednesday morning, Foley said six women were charged with conspiracy to harbor illegal aliens, harboring illegal aliens, conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and marriage fraud.

The Stop & Shop and Hannaford websites are back online after their parent company was the target of a security breach last week. 

The weeklong outage prevented shoppers from using digital coupons or placing online grocery orders. 

According to the company there is no evidence that customer or employee information was compromised.   

The Commonwealth will pay $10 million to settle claims brought by the estate of a 14-year-old autistic boy who starved to death inside a Fall River home six years ago.

David Almond was under the care of the Department of Children and Families when he was found unresponsive in a Green Street apartment back in October 2020.

David’s brothers, who are also autistic, are each receiving an independently managed lifelong special needs trust through the settlement, and $750,000 will be given to the SouthCoast Community Foundation to establish two funds in David’s memory.

Specifically, $150,000 will go toward a memorial scholarship for college, vocational or technical training, with neurodivergent children in foster care receiving first priority. The remaining $600,000 will be placed into a memorial fund, which will gift grants to Massachusetts nonprofits and schools that serve neurodivergent residents.

“No settlement can undo what happened to David and his brothers, but this resolution holds the Commonwealth and DCF accountable for the systemic failures that put these very vulnerable boys in harm’s way,” said Paula Bliss, an attorney with the Justice Law Collaborative.

This comes three years after David’s father, John Almond, and his girlfriend, Jaclyn Coleman, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. Both were sentenced to life in prison back in March 2023.

Court documents state that David’s lifeless body was found “in the middle of a deplorable, drug-infested one-bedroom apartment” that he shared with his two brothers, his father, Coleman and an infant.

Prosecutors later compared the squalor in the couple’s apartment to the likes of Auschwitz.

See more at wpri.com.

Voters decisively chose to say goodbye to one part of Swansea’s past while preserving another at a special Town Meeting on Oct. 19.

By a vote of 743 to 217, those in attendance at the Venus de Milo banquet hall on Monday approved borrowing about $88.3 million to build a new middle school. They also chose to conserve Stony Creek Farm, an animal refuge that allows public access, by voice vote.

“It’s a good thing for the town,” said Town Administrator Mitch Ruscitti about the school vote, visibly relieved.

The new Joseph Case Junior High School will be the most expensive project in the town’s history, moving students from a nearly century-old building near the town hall to a state-of-the-art facility next to the current high school.

To pay back the loan, Swansea voters will need to pass a 30-year “temporary” tax increase that is on the town’s Nov. 3 election ballots as a Proposition 2½ override.

“This is a two-vote journey for this school to be done,” said Scott Holcomb, superintendent of Swansea Public Schools.

Swansea won’t be paying for the project alone. Its entire budget of $149,723,734 includes $61,444,746 from the Massachusetts School Building Authority, a state agency.

Despite the sticker price, construction is currently projected to cost about $117 million. The extra $32 million, give or take, are contingency funds; anything left over will reimburse the town’s share of the cost.

Incumbent Democrat Maura Healey leads her Republican challenger Mike Minogue  59-to-36 percent in a new Suffolk University/Boston Globe poll.  Less than four-percent are undecided. 

The survey of 500 likely general election voters was conducted last Wednesday through Sunday and has a margin of error of four-point-four percent.

A proposal from Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey to suspend the state’s gas tax for two months has been stripped out of the state’s $2.35 billion spending bill.

Healey proposed the gas tax suspension in September in an effort to help ease the burdens of families struggling with finances. The move, she said, would lower the price of gas by 24 cents per gallon.

The suspension was reportedly cut in a redraft of the spending bill by the House Ways and Means Committee. It will be up for a vote in the House of Representatives on Wednesday.

A spokesperson for Healey said she would push to get the gas tax suspension reinstated in the bill or through the state legislature in another form.

“Governor Healey’s gas tax suspension would give badly needed relief to Massachusetts residents struggling with the high cost of gas because of President Trump’s war, while making sure savings are passed down to drivers and protecting critical funding for transportation projects,” the spokesperson said.

The current average price of gas in Massachusetts, according to AAA, is $4.26 per gallon. That compares to an average price of $4.40 per gallon one month ago.

In Rhode Island, Gov. Dan McKee previously pushed to remove a 2-cent increase added to the gas tax to help close RIPTA’s $13.8 million deficit. The gas tax in Rhode Island currently sits at 40 cents per gallon.

See more at wpri.com.

The Taunton City Council voted in favor of banning the development of data centers in the city.

Councilors also unanimously approved a one-year moratorium that will allow the city to evaluate zoning laws and assess the infrastructure necessary to construct a data center, as well as electrical demands and environmental impacts.

The council agreed to move forward with the moratorium as well to protect them from any legal challenges that may arise from the ban, which has no expiration date.

Taunton Mayor Shaunna O’Connell told 12 News before the meeting that she expected the moratorium to pass.

“Right now we have nothing in place as far as restrictions, special permits and the potential effects,” O’Connell said. “Our number one job is to ensure that we protect the city and our taxpayers … and really get all the facts before we allow any potential type of project to move forward.”

Taunton resident Brynne Bernier supports the moratorium. She was one of several residents to express her concerns about data centers to the council.

“Data centers are not wanted in Taunton,” Bernier said. “If there’s a horrible storm, you know, what happens to the residents here? If that data center constantly needs all this energy, I feel like we will not be the priority.”

But not everyone is on board with the pause.

VMD Companies, which owns a property off John Hancock Road, claims the moratorium would jeopardize a multimillion dollar development deal.

See more at wpri.com.

The Republican nominee for Massachusetts lieutenant governor faced a judge Monday on an OUI charge stemming from a multi-car crash over the weekend.

Shawn Oliver, 42, appeared in New Bedford District Court, where he pleaded not guilty to operating under the influence, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, a marked lanes violation and speeding.

Oliver, the GOP candidate for state lieutenant governor, suspended his campaign shortly after his arrest. He still serves as a member of the New Bedford City Council.

Officers responded to the scene on Dartmouth Street around 11:40 p.m. Saturday. There, police said they found Oliver’s black SUV flipped over on its roof in the middle of the road. Officers also saw two other cars with extensive damage. One had been pushed over the curb, across the sidewalk and into the grass, while the other was pushed backward into another parked vehicle.

Police said Oliver was sitting in a lawn chair brought out for him by a neighbor, bleeding from a laceration on his head.

A witness told police Oliver’s black SUV had been stopped in the northbound lane at a red light before reversing. According to police, the witness said the vehicle then accelerated through the intersection once the light turned green, began drifting right and abruptly veered left to avoid striking a curb.

Police said the witness saw Oliver’s SUV cross over into the southbound lane and hit multiple cars parked along the curb after speeding through the intersection of Dartmouth Street and Rockdale Avenue. At that point, the SUV flipped upside down.

At the hospital, Oliver allegedly admitted to consuming “at least two” alcoholic drinks earlier that night. Police said he smelled like alcohol and described his eyes as “bloodshot and glassy.”

Oliver was released on personal recognizance and is temporarily prohibited from driving. He is due back in court next month.

See more at wpri.com.

A familiar face in Fall River is throwing his hat back into the ring.

Former Fall River Mayor Will Flanagan announced Monday he’s running to win back his old job — one year after he survived a brutal stabbing.

Flanagan was 29 years old when he was first elected mayor back in 2009. He was recalled from office four years later.

“I was 34 when I left the office of mayor and it gave me the opportunity to focus on my personal life and also to develop more of my professional life,” Flanagan said.

Flanagan was attacked last October while walking in the city. He said he’s doing much better now and leaned on his faith throughout his recovery.

“An attack like that connects you even stronger with your faith,” Flanagan said. “There’s no doubt in my mind it was divine intervention — a miracle that saved my life that day.”

Flanagan believes he’s more mature and better equipped to handle the job today. He also already knows what his priorities would be.

“Public safety, because people want to feel safe,” he said.

“Also the cost of living, because people are struggling right now to survive in Fall River.”

“Your life is precious, so fragile,” he said. “Life can end at any moment, so don’t put anything off. Do the things you want to do.”

So far, no other candidates have announced plans to run for mayor in Fall River’s November 2027 election.

The city has had eight different mayors in the last 20 years.

See more at wpri.com.

Two of the three men arrested in an undercover prostitution sting operation in Swansea last year are on probation.

The operation involved an officer posing as a sex worker under the age of 16.

David Afriyie, of Pawtucket, faced one felony charge of enticing a child under 16 and a misdemeanor charge of paying for sexual conduct. On Oct. 6, both were continued without a finding — meaning Afriyie is neither guilty nor innocent.

Instead, Afriyie must serve a year of probation with no unsupervised contact with persons under age 18. A third charge of attempting to commit a crime was dismissed by prosecutors.

The second defendant, Joseph Wood, of Hanson, faced the same charges as Afriyie. They were continued without a finding on Aug. 4, 2025.

Wood was sentenced to 18 months of probation and a sex offender evaluation. His charge of attempting to commit a crime was also dismissed by prosecutors.

The third man, Manuel Costa, of Westport, still faces the same three charges and has a pretrial hearing scheduled for Dec. 3.

On Oct. 13, a judge granted his lawyer’s requests for evidence from the Massachusetts State Police’s human trafficking unit, body camera recordings and closed circuit camera recordings.

Costa’s defense lawyer is Kevin Reddington, the prominent attorney of Lindsay Clancy, the Duxbury mother accused of killing her children whose case has ended in a mistrial.

Wood and Costa had originally faced felony charges of sexual conduct with a child under 18, but both were amended to the misdemeanor of paying for sexual conduct.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Shawn Oliver, the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor of Massachusetts, has suspended his campaign after being arrested Saturday night on OUI charges.

Oliver, a current member of the New Bedford City Council, had faced calls to drop out after the arrest was made public, including from Mike Minogue, the GOP candidate for governor.

“After careful reflection, I have made the decision to suspend my campaign for lieutenant governor,” Oliver said. “This election is too important to be overshadowed by personal matters. I want to sincerely thank everyone who has supported me throughout this journey and ask that my family’s privacy be respected during this difficult time.”

He faces charges of operating under the influence of liquor, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, a marked lanes violation and speeding.

Those who live near the crash scene said they had never seen anything like that happen on their street before.

“It was like a tornado came through,” witness Dilan Machado said. “Car parts everywhere, just everything smashed up. People’s faces were just in shock, and one girl was even in tears.”

“It felt like I was in a movie,” Bruna Andrade said. “I’ve never seen anything like that in my life in person.”

Massachusetts Republican Party Chair Amy Carnevale released a statement saying the party supports Oliver’s decision to suspend his campaign.

“Lives were put at risk and that is never acceptable,” Carnevale said. “We now stand to assist Shawn in getting any help he needs to ensure he never puts himself or others in harm’s way again. We also recognize that Shawn Oliver is holding himself accountable for his actions and facing the consequences of this situation.”

The man accused of defacing dozens of gravestones and memorials at two Freetown cemeteries four years ago has been convicted, according to authorities.

In a social media post Thursday, the Freetown Police Department confirmed that 24-year-old Jacob Dupuis pleaded guilty to possession or control of an incendiary device or material, two counts of vandalizing a gravestone, vandalizing property, malicious destruction of property over $1,200 and tagging property.

Dupuis was sentenced to 18 months in prison, with 90 days to serve and the remainder suspended, followed by two years of probation. He was also ordered to undergo mental health counseling and to complete 200 hours of community service.

Police said the investigation began in March 2022, when officers were called to White Cemetery on Keene Road after someone defaced nearly three dozen gravestones with red spray paint.

Several of the headstones had swastikas painted on them, while others had cryptic messages like “ha ha ha ha” and “I will be back.” One head stone even had “I’m a psycho” written over the engraving on the front.

Officers were called to Profile Rock two days later to investigate potential vandalism at Profile Rock, where remnants of suspected Molotov cocktails were discovered near a spot that had been burned. Similar graffiti was also discovered nearby, which hinted at a possible connection to the cemetery vandalism, according to police.

Investigators returned to White Cemetery a couple months later after someone defaced nearly three dozen more gravestones and memorial markers with red spray paint.

Police said at least one of those headstones has a swastika painted on it, while others had messages like “catch me if you can, “I’ll be back” and “I’ve been a bad boy” written on them.

See more at wpri.com.

The Massachusetts Board of Fire Prevention Regulations approved new fire safety requirements Thursday in an effort to prevent future tragedies like the deadly fire at the Gabriel House assisted living facility in Fall River.

The new requirements, which will be included in next year’s edition of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Fire Safety Code, include annual checks for recalled sprinkler heads and the prompt replacement of faulty equipment.

“The Gabriel House residents and their families have not left our thoughts in the 15 months since that tragic night in 2025,” Massachusetts State Fire Marshal Jon Devine said. “Nothing can fill the void left by their loved ones, but I hope this makes clear to them that we are committed to saving other families from enduring the same heartbreak.”

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 brought 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.

Investigators believe the fire started in a second-floor room where an oxygen concentrator and smoking materials were later found, but they were unable to confirm the exact origin since the resident who lived there passed away.

Gabriel House’s fire suppression system also failed to activate, and it was later discovered that the sprinkler heads had been recalled more than 20 years ago.

The Fall River Fire Department took a proactive approach in the wake of the Gabriel House fire and discovered recalled sprinklers during at least four building inspections.

The Fall River Fire Department and National Fire Sprinkler Association has been actively pushing to change fire safety codes statewide since the tragedy.

“We owe it to those families to do everything we can to prevent something like this from happening again,” Healey said. “We will continue working to strengthen safety, prevent future tragedies and protect our residents.”

See more at wpri.com.

The sister of a woman who was found dead in Rehoboth last year is drumming up support after learning that the man accused of killing her plans to ask for a plea deal.

Gregory Groom, 23, has been charged with murder, assault and battery on a pregnant victim, aggravated intimidation of a witness, and domestic assault and battery in connection with the death of his girlfriend 18-year-old Kylee Monteiro last year.

Her sister Faith Monteiro told 12 News Groom’s attorney Elliot Levine plans to propose a plea deal in Bristol County Superior Court later this month.

In a letter Levine sent to Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn III over the summer, Levine requested Groom receive a sentence of 19 to 20 years in prison. In exchange, Levine said Groom would plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter.

Levine pointed to Groom’s lack of criminal record and his grandfather’s testimony to a grand jury about how Kylee was wearing his grandson down.

Specifically, Groom’s grandfather described Kylee as being “manipulative,” noting that she “would not do anything around the house,” according to Levine’s letter.

“Gregory was doing her laundry, he was bringing her food to their bedroom, he was bringing her dirty dishes down to the kitchen sink, while she was not even leaving the bedroom,” the letter states.

Groom’s grandfather also testified that his grandson “was too young to handle feeling suffocated and being controlled by [Kylee’s] manipulation.”

Eventually, Kylee moved out of the Groom house and into the Bethesda House, which is a shelter for pregnant women. Levine wrote that Kylee was eventually “thrown out [of the shelter] for violating their policies.”

Groom’s grandfather said Kylee came back “uninvited,” which caused his grandson to explode, according to Levine’s letter.

Faith expressed frustration with Levine’s letter.

“It hurts to know that they can throw everything under the rug and brush it off as if her life didn’t matter, or her unborn baby’s life didn’t matter,” Faith said, referring to the contents of the letter. “The way he wrote it, it sounds like that her life isn’t important and that she deserved what happened to her.”

“I don’t think there’s any reason for anyone to go through what she went through,” she added.

Faith described her sister as being bubbly, fun and full of life.

“I keep waiting for her to call me and say something like, ‘Hey, can you come pick me up? I want to come home now,'” Faith said. “But that phone call never comes.”

Faith said she often struggles to explain the feeling of losing her sister.

See more at wpri.com.

Thirteen members of the Fall River Police Department who responded to the deadly Gabriel House assisted living facility fire of July 13, 2025, were honored in Boston with the state’s highest recognition for bravery in law enforcement.

Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll distributed the Trooper George L. Hanna Memorial Awards for Bravery at the Statehouse to 18 total officers from departments across the state.

The fire at the Gabriel House assisted living facility was the deadliest fire statewide in more than 40 years. About 70 people were trapped inside, most of them elderly, disabled and immobile. Ten people were killed.

The scope of the rescue job, coupled with a fire raging out of control due to malfunctioning sprinklers, stretched the resources of the Fall River Fire Department. Members of the FRPD who arrived on scene risked their lives to pull residents from the burning building, with no fire safety gear or training.

Interim Police Chief JT Hoar, who is himself a previous awardee, nominated the officers.

"I know they were all humble," he said. "They didn't feel it was necessary to be recognized in that way. But I think at the end of the day, what they did was nothing short of heroic."

A five-decade Somerset tradition marches on this week with the return of its annual Musictown Festival – but this time with a little less marching.

Now in its 53^rd year, the festival highlights the town’s rich musical roots with a multi-day celebration showcasing local talent and promoting Somerset schools’ music programs.

Musictown, organized by the nonprofit Somerset Friends of Music, is marked by key events each year, such as a ball with a crowning of the Musictown Royal Court, a concert night, a kids' day, and parade.

This year’s festival will be stepping off without its signature parade, but the beat goes on with other noteworthy events to look forward to.

Festivities kick off Thursday, Oct. 15, with the Musictown Ball featuring dinner, dancing, performances by the Somerset Berkley Regional High School Show Choir and Blue Raider Marching Band and the main event: the crowning of the members of the 53rd Musictown Royal Court.

New this year, the musical monarchy is growing with the addition of a Junior Musictown Court of middle schoolers.

Musictown Ball will be held at White's of Westport from 5 to 10 p.m. Tickets are available at https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/53rd-musictown-ball. 

Musictown Family Fun Day, previously known as Kiddies Day, descends on Somerset Berkley Regional High School on Saturday, Oct. 17, with more activities and more ways to introduce kids to music.

The event, taking place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., will feature performances by the SBRHS marching band and show choir, the Somerset Middle School show choir, a performing arts showcase, food trucks, crafts and more.

Become an honorary member of the Blue Raider Marching Band, as they invite festival-goers to march with them, or learn to twirl flags with the Color Guard or try your hand at a percussion instrument. Guests can also get a first-hand feel for playing at the “instrument petting zoo.”

For a schedule of Family Fun Day events, visit the Somerset Friends of Music Facebook page.

Music town will culminate later this month with its Musictown Concert on Thursday, Oct. 29, at the Dr. Robert Perry Performing Arts Center in Somerset Berkley Regional High School.

See more at heraldnews.com.

The price for a gallon of regular gas in Massachusetts is four-cents lower than a week ago. 

The current price is four-dollars-30-cents. 

Triple A reported the national average is four-dollars-33-cents per gallon.  

David Lucio is still trying to come to terms with the sudden and tragic loss of his friend Carl Colangelo.

“It’s hard to believe that he’s not here,” Lucio said. “We’re all going to miss him.”

Colangelo died in a head-on crash while on a work trip in Bastrop, Texas, according to authorities. He was 66 years old.

Lucio told 12 News he and Colangelo have been friends for decades.

“I don’t think I ever saw Carl frown,” he said. “He was always smiling, and he would make you smile one way or another.”

Lucio and Colangelo both spent more than 30 years together on the Feast of the Blessed Sacrament Committee, which is responsible for organizing the city’s annual Portuguese celebration.

Two Fall River men pleaded guilty on federal drug distribution charges this week, with one also pleading guilty to drug conspiracy and firearm charges, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

On Oct. 7, Wilson Colon-Tirado, 34, pleaded guilty to three counts distributing 40 or more grams of fentanyl, a count of conspiring to distribute controlled substances and a count of being a felon possessing a firearm after an investigation involving controlled buys at the Sunset Hill public housing development in Fall River.

On Oct. 5, Antonio Calderon, 44, pleaded guilty to four counts of distributing 28 grams or more of crack cocaine after an investigation involving controlled buys at a strip mall in the north end of the city.

Court documents do not indicate any connection between the two men. They were charged separately. They were investigated by the same agent in the Bridgewater field office of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Colon-Tirado had a co-conspirator who was charged after the same investigation: on Sept. 22, Antonio Dossantos-Tirado, 36, of Brockton, pleaded guilty to one count of distributing 28 or more grams of crack cocaine and one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.

Clashing in their only scheduled debate, incumbent Ed Markey and John Deaton traded criticism. 

Markey repeatedly tied Deaton to President Trump and warned that a Republican win would give the president's agenda another Senate vote.  Deaton pushed back, saying he has never voted for Trump and would make decisions based on what benefits Massachusetts and the country.  He also questioned whether Markey could effectively serve another six-year term, while Markey called the criticism a distraction. 

The candidates also debated high energy costs, Medicare for All and Markey's vote to authorize the Iraq War.

The long-standing legal battle between the two major Lizzie Borden tourist attractions in Fall River seems to be over.

A federal district court judge has ordered Miss Lizzie’s Coffee to pay its former neighbor, the Lizzie Borden House, just over $31,000 in attorney fees after having lost a trademark infringement lawsuit by default.

The Lizzie Borden House and Miss Lizzie’s Coffee have had bad blood since September 2023, when the museum and inn’s parent company sued its new neighbor on Second Street in federal court.

US Ghost Adventures, owner of the Lizzie Borden House, argued it has the exclusive right to use the wordmark “Lizzie Borden” in the restaurant and hospitality industry, and alleged customers mistakenly thought the businesses were related.

Earlier this year, Miss Lizzie’s Coffee lost the lawsuit by default, when a federal judge ruled that owner Joseph Pereira, acting as his own attorney, did not adequately respond to court requests for information.

USGA had claimed it was due more than $239,000 for lost profits, damages to the trademark, “damages to [USGA’s] goodwill,” expenses spent “mitigating customer confusion” and more.

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Fall River is marking 100 years of service with a Centennial Gala on Oct. 22 in Dartmouth.

The organization serves 28,000 people annually across Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the Islands, according to a community announcement. Founded in 1924 as a welfare and adoption agency, Catholic Charities now provides services that include emergency shelter, food assistance, immigration legal services and mental health support through parish-based programs.

The agency says its work continues to center on three priorities: feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless and welcoming the stranger.

The Solanus Casey Food Pantry in New Bedford distributes more than 600,000 pounds of food each year and serves more than 650 households, according to the announcement. The pantry records more than 31,000 visits annually and provides weekly food deliveries to more than 70 homebound residents. Staff also assist participants with SNAP benefits and connect them with health services, including screenings and vaccinations.

Catholic Charities also operates several shelters and housing programs throughout the region.

St. Joseph's House in Hyannis provides emergency shelter and a day program that includes meals, hygiene support, case management and housing navigation services.

Grace House in New Bedford serves as an emergency shelter for women. Ascension House in Attleboro provides emergency shelter for adults, while Sister Rose House in New Bedford offers emergency shelter and coordinated support services for men.

The Youth and Young Adult Transitional Housing Program, known as YYAP, assists individuals ages 18 to 24 with housing support and wraparound services.

Central to those efforts is the H.O.U.S.E. Program, which stands for Helping Others Until Self Empowered. The program provides emergency shelter, housing search assistance, housing stabilization services and up to two years of post-placement support for families in Fall River, New Bedford, Taunton and Attleboro.

See more at heraldnews.com.

The owner of a Tiverton seafood restaurant is picking up the pieces after a car slammed into the outdoor dining room over the weekend.

Michael Napolitano, owner of Macray’s Seafood, told 12 News he was having lunch with a friend Sunday when he heard the crash.

“There was a big bang,” Napolitano recalled. “I thought it was an earthquake, because it was only for a quick second, I didn’t know what was going on.”

It wasn’t until he looked up and saw the car that he realized what had happened.

“I ran over, saw the driver and just made sure everyone was alright,” he continued.

Thankfully, Napolitano said no one was injured. But the restaurant’s Tiki bar and tented outdoor dining room were significantly damaged upon impact.

Napolitano initially only closed the restaurant’s dining room and remained open for take-out orders, but he eventually had to make the difficult decision to shut everything down.

He said Macray’s Seafood is a seasonal restaurant that stays open as long as the weather allows.

But now, the damage is so extensive he is unsure when the restaurant will be able to open its doors again.

“We’ve got to wait and see,” he said. “This is all new to me, so I’m still trying to figure it out. But as of right now, I don’t have a clue. I’m just trying to get everything in order.”

Napolitano does not plan on pressing charges against the the young driver of the car, especially since it was a total accident.

Right now, Napolitano said he’s getting his affairs in order and working with his insurance to assess the damage.

In order to open back up, Napolitano said he will have to replace the outdoor tent, which could prove to be tricky.

“Without that tent, I don’t know what we will do,” he said. “We want to stay open. I’ve got staff that want to keep working but, without that tent it is going to be tough. It’s not worth being open for just takeout.”

See more at wpri.com.

Stop & Shop’s website and apps are offline as its parent company grapples with a cybersecurity breach.

Ahold Delhaize confirmed in a statement Monday that it’s experiencing “a security issue within its network.”

“Our teams are taking steps to assess and mitigate the issue,” Ahold Delhaize explained. “This includes taking some systems offline to help protect them.”

“Protecting our infrastructure in the best interest of our customers, associates and partners is a top priority,” the statement continued. “We apologize for any inconvenience this issue may have caused customers and partners.”

Stop & Shop’s website and app were “unavailable” Monday night, with maintenance messages alerting customers that stores, pharmacies and gas stations are operating as normal.

“We are working to restore service as quickly as possible,” the maintenance message reads.

The maintenance message also states that any unfulfilled online orders will be refunded.

Hannaford and Giant Food, which are also both owned by Ahold Delhaize, have been impacted by the cybersecurity breach as well.

The extent of the cybersecurity breach remains unknown at this time.

See more at wpri.com.

A 32-year-old man from Westerly suffered serious injuries after a crash on the Braga Bridge Saturday afternoon, according to the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.

The DA’s office said the man drove a motorcycle onto the bridge traveling eastbound at 12:38 p.m. While on the bridge, he turned the motorcycle around and began driving into oncoming traffic.

Shortly afterwards, he struck a Massachusetts State Police cruiser, as well as a second vehicle, before fleeing the scene on foot. He then entered I-195 West, where he was hit by a car, according to the DA’s office.

The DA’s office said the man was brought to Rhode Island Hospital with significant injuries.

The crash, which closed down the eastbound side of the Braga Bridge for several hours, remains under investigation.

See more at wpri.com.

The Fall River Police Department investigated an incident that occurred on Friday, October 9, 2026, involving an unauthorized individual entering Espirito Santo School.

At approximately 1:30 p.m., an adult male entered the school through an exterior door that was later determined to have a malfunctioning locking mechanism. The individual proceeded a short distance into the building before being confronted by an attentive faculty member who recognized that he did not belong there. The faculty member promptly escorted the individual out of the building without incident.

School administrators immediately took steps to secure the affected entrance and cooperated fully with our investigation.

At no point during the incident was there any reported physical confrontation, threat of violence, or injury to students or staff. Nevertheless, we take any unauthorized entry into a school seriously, regardless of the circumstances or the individual's intentions.

Through a coordinated investigative effort, including a review of surveillance footage, interviews with school personnel, and additional investigative measures, officers worked to identify and locate the individual.

On the morning of Saturday, October 10, Fall River Police officers successfully located and identified the individual as Joshua Halladay, Age: 37. During their interaction, officers observed signs that Halladay may have been experiencing a behavioral health crisis. He was subsequently transported to a local hospital for further evaluation.

Halladay has also been charged for his actions regarding the unauthorized entry to the school.

The safety and security of our schools remain a priority for the Fall River Police Department. We commend the faculty member for her attentiveness and immediate action, as well as the school administration for its prompt response and cooperation throughout this investigation.

We recognize that incidents of this nature can understandably raise concerns among parents, students, and school personnel. As an additional precaution, the Fall River Police Department will be increasing its presence around all schools to provide reassurance to families and maintain a visible commitment to school safety.

While this incident occurred at a private parochial school, we recognize the importance of sharing information and maintaining awareness across all of our educational institutions. We have notified our partners at Fall River Public Schools, Local Charter Schools, and Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School of the incident. Additionally, all Fall River Police Officers are being briefed on the circumstances to ensure they remain informed, vigilant, and prepared to address any concerns.

School safety is a shared responsibility, and our commitment extends to every school in our city, regardless of whether it is public, private, or charter. We will continue working closely with school administrators and our educational partners to reinforce security protocols, address potential vulnerabilities, and ensure that students, staff, and families can feel safe and confident in their learning environments.

A Fairhaven man and his two daughters are without a home after a fire tore through it Saturday evening.

Fairhaven Fire Chief Todd Correia told 12 News firefighters rushed to the Main Street home around 5 p.m. after receiving several 911 calls.

Correia said it took firefighters about an hour and a half to knock down the flames. He added that the fire is believed to have started on the first floor.

No one was home at the time. Correia said the family’s dog and cat died in the fire.

The house has been deemed a total loss and the residents are being assisted by the American Red Cross, according to Correia.

The cause remains under investigation, however, Correia said it appears to be accidental in nature.

See more at wpri.com.

The city of Fall River is looking for a donated tree to stand outside Government Center during the holiday season.

They are asking for a “nicely tapered spruce, fir, or pine tree measuring approximately 30 to 40 feet tall.”

Residents and property owners who have a tree that fits those parameters are encouraged to take a photo and submit it online for consideration.

The city of Providence has a similar request, as they look for two trees to stand in front of City Hall.

See more at wpri.com.

A seafood restaurant in Tiverton is temporarily closed after a car crashed into the front of the building over the weekend.

Macray’s Seafood was forced to close its dining room on Sunday and remained open for takeout until they had to close due to the circumstances.

The owner told 12 News they hope to reopen by Wednesday, but cleaning up may push their reopening back further.

No one was hurt in the crash.

See more at wpri.com.

Two Fall River men pleaded guilty on federal drug distribution charges this week, with one also pleading guilty to drug conspiracy and firearm charges, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

On Oct. 7, Wilson Colon-Tirado, 34, pleaded guilty to three counts distributing 40 or more grams of fentanyl, a count of conspiring to distribute controlled substances and a count of being a felon possessing a firearm after an investigation involving controlled buys at the Sunset Hill public housing development in Fall River.

On Oct. 5, Antonio Calderon, 44, pleaded guilty to four counts of distributing 28 grams or more of crack cocaine after an investigation involving controlled buys at a strip mall in the north end of the city.

Court documents do not indicate any connection between the two men. They were charged separately. They were investigated by the same agent in the Bridgewater field office of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Colon-Tirado had a co-conspirator who was charged after the same investigation: on Sept. 22, Antonio Dossantos-Tirado, 36, of Brockton, pleaded guilty to one count of distributing 28 or more grams of crack cocaine and one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.

Colon-Tirado and Calderon are scheduled to be sentenced in early 2027.

Calderon’s cocaine charge carries a sentence of five to 40 years. Colon-Tirado’s fentanyl charge carries a sentence of five to 40 years, while his conspiracy charge carries a sentence of up to 20 years and his firearm charge carries a sentence of up to 15 years.

Both men have criminal histories: Calderon has 13 convictions, including for trafficking cocaine, which led to a sentence of 10 to 15 years in state prison. Colon-Tirado has “at least” 32 criminal convictions, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including one for cocaine trafficking that led to a state prison sentence of two to three years.

According to unsealed affidavits filed by an ATF investigator, a cooperating witness recorded video and audio during buys from Colon-Tirado and Calderon.

Early voting is set to begin Saturday Oct. 17 for Greater Fall River voters to cast their ballets ahead of the State Election on Nov. 3.

Voters with have no shortage of decisions to make when the step up to the cubicle. The Nov. 3 election will feature races for governor congress house and senate seats and more.

There are also nine statewide ballot questions that voters will be asked to weigh in on including housing conservation recreational marijuana and state policy.

Early voting will run from Oct. 17 through Oct. 30. Greater Fall River voters can cast their ballots at designated early voting locations.

Polls throughout the state will be open on election day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday Nov. 3.

Voter registration deadline is Saturday, Oct. 24, you can check your status or register online at https://www.sec.state.ma.us/OVR.

All Fall River residents can early vote at the Government Center Atrium, 1 Government Center, at the following times:

Fall River will offer early voting every day from Oct. 17 through Oct. 30 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekends.

The average price of a gallon of regular gas in Massachusetts is lower than it was a week ago. 

It's currently four-dollars-34-cents,  that's down three-cents.

Triple A reports the national average is four-dollars-36-cents per gallon. 

The Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport employee arrested for attempting to bring an unloaded firearm and knife through a security checkpoint was just days into working as the director of operations, 12 News has learned.

Nathan Brown, 48, was taken into custody and charged with possession of a firearm without a permit and possession of a weapon other than a firearm.

The firearm, a .40-caliber Glock 22, was discovered after Brown was stopped for a random security inspection, according to a police report.

“When informed his bag needed to be searched, he replied, ‘I need to drop something off first,'” the police report states.

When Brown was told the bag needed to be searched first, the police report said he “admitted he had an unloaded pistol in the bag.'”

Officers did not find any ammunition in Brown’s bag, according to the police report. Brown also told TSA agents he did not mean to bring the gun to work and had forgotten he put it in his bag a few days earlier.

The police report adds that officers found a knife with a 4-inch blade after taking possession of Brown’s bag.

Brown has an active concealed-carry permit in Washington state, according to the police report, but it is not valid in Rhode Island.

Rhode Island Airport Corporation Bill Fischer told 12 News Brown was hired as a contract worker about a month ago.

Brown’s attorney John Calcagni told 12 News he was hired to work as the airport’s director of operations.

Calcagni said Brown moved to Rhode Island from Washington with his family on Sept. 6, just two days prior to his first day on the job.

“Brown was fully cooperative with them throughout the entire process,” Calcagni said, noting that he didn’t try to conceal the weapons or sneak them through the checkpoint.

Calcagni said it’s clear Brown’s conduct “was more the product of negligence rather than criminal intent,” and asked the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office to consider the circumstances of the crime before moving forward with a felony prosecution.

“Brown has already been terminated as a result of this incident, and now finds himself and his family in a new state, with no real relationships or resources, and now no job,” Calcagni said. “These are very unfortunate circumstances.”

See more at wpri.com.

A former Fall River woman has won a $1.15 million judgment against her ex-husband, a fired former Fall River police officer who beat and strangled her on multiple occasions, including while on duty and in uniform.

It is unclear, however, if she will be able to collect — the judge’s ruling notes that the ex-cop is in “parts unknown,” having not responded to any outreach in the case.

In November 2023, a year after suffering injuries in multiple attacks at the hands of her husband, Brenna Custadio sued Bryan Custadio both individually and in his official capacity as a police officer.

She also sued the City of Fall River, the Fall River Police Department and a host of officers, both individually and in their official capacities.

Her initial complaint accused Bryan Custadio of three instances of assault and battery, covering up the attacks, and violating her civil rights.

She alleged that Bryan Custadio, on Oct. 15 and 20, 2021, threatened her with an axe, stole her phone, pulled her by the hair and strangled her. In an incident on Nov. 28, 2021, Bryan Custadio arrived at their home on North Main Street while on duty in his patrol car and in uniform, beat and choked her, and used his phone to remotely delete home surveillance footage that showed the attack.

Bryan Custadio was placed on paid leave from the Fall River Police Department in November 2021 after the third attack. The following February, he also faced allegations of domestic abuse against a different partner.

He was fired from the force in July 2022; months later in January, the state Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission decertified him for criminal conduct and other allegations, making him unable to work as a police officer.

Custadio in December 2023 pleaded guilty to three domestic violence cases against both women. He was sentenced to 14 months in prison, which he served at Dukes County House of Correction. He has since been released.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Massachusetts is among the safest states in the country according to the personal financial website wallethub.com. 

Findings are based on multiple factors ranging from assaults, mass shootings and hate crimes to natural disasters. 

The five safest states ranked are all in New England, Vermont is first followed by Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and Connecticut.  Rhode Island is ninth on the list. 

Jury selection is underway in federal court for the trial of former Stoughton police detective Matthew Farrell.  He's accused of sexually exploiting Sarah Birchmore when she was an underage teenager and then killing the 23-year-old pregnant woman.   

Birchmore's death in her Canton apartment in 2021, was initially ruled a suicide until federal prosecutors got involved. 

The presiding judge reportedly told lawyers they should be prepared for opening statements as soon as this Friday. 

Nearly $3.2 million will be distributed to Fall River, Westport and Berkley over the next four years to help address substance abuse and overdoses across the region.

Officials announced the funding as local leaders continue efforts to reduce overdose deaths and connect people struggling with addiction and mental health to services.

According to city officials, fatal and non-fatal overdoses in Fall River have declined since 2018, when the city recorded more than 1,000 overdoses. Even so, officials said outreach efforts, community partnerships and employee training remain critical.

“When you embed a team with a policeman, with an outreach worker, with an intake worker, with therapists, and get people the help they need, it does make a difference,” said Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan.

Fall River police, along with the Westport and Berkley police departments, received the funding through a Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) grant and another grant from the U.S. Department of Justice.

The combined funding has supported the creation of a “High Risk HUB,” which brings together hospitals, courts and other organizations to coordinate services for people at risk.

Since 2020, the Fall River Addiction Support and Treatment (FAST) Response Team has helped about 1,500 people annually, according to program director Niki Fontaine. She said the additional funding could allow the team to serve even more residents.

“Just because we help someone in that crisis, we’re following up for at least six months, regardless [of] if it was mental health, substance use, or homelessness. I think the follow-up is key,” Fontaine said.

Fontaine said cases are handled based on each person’s circumstances. For some, the team may take a holistic approach, while for others, it could be different. “Sometimes we have to be tough, you know, and I think just making sure you have a good balance,” Fontaine said.

Fontaine said this is the first year the FAST Response Team has received increased funding and credited the program’s sustained efforts with contributing to the decline in overdose rates.

See more at wpri.com.

Bristol County District Attorney candidates staked out their claim for the seat in a debate that touched on ICE, police misuse of Flock cameras and the Lindsay Clancy case.

WPRI hosted the Oct. 2 debate between Republican former Fall River City Administrator Seth Aitken and Democrat Chris Markey, who has been state representative of the 9th Bristol District since 2011. He stepped down to run for DA.

The candidates took questions from hosts Tim White and Ted Nesi, and were allowed 60-second closing statements.

They’re seeking to replace retiring incumbent District Attorney Tom Quinn III, a Democrat who has served in the post since 2015.

It’s the first open race for Bristol County District Attorney since 1978 when five Democrats competed for the nomination ultimately won by Ronald Pina. Aitken is the first Republican to run for the post in more than 50 years, according to election records.

On ICE, the candidates took differing approaches.

Markey said the DA should ensure federal immigration enforcement does not interfere with the administration of justice in Bristol County.

He said he cannot impose his views on the federal government, but as DA he would act if ICE enforcement disrupted a prosecution.

“I can't impose my beliefs onto the federal government, but what I can do is make sure that it doesn't interfere with the administration of justice, which is the oath that I will take for Bristol County,” Markey said.

Aitken said he would not take ICE off the table as a law-enforcement partner but acknowledged potentially systemic problems with the agency's training and tactics.

“I can't impose my beliefs onto the federal government, but what I can do is make sure that it doesn't interfere with the administration of justice, which is the oath that I will take for Bristol County,” Markey said.

Aitken said he would not take ICE off the table as a law-enforcement partner but acknowledged potentially systemic problems with the agency's training and tactics.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey is declaring an energy emergency. 

Monday's declaration calls for more heating aid and a three-month pause on a solar program charge on electric bills starting in January.  About 50-thousand middle-income households could receive up to 680 dollars toward heating oil. 

The state also plans to add 15-million dollars to heating aid for low-income residents.  This comes as the price of heating oil is up more than 70-percent from last year.

A driver is facing attempted murder charges after hitting two Bridgewater State students. 

The university says the driver veered toward the students during Saturday's Homecoming Weekend.  One student was hospitalized with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, while the other suffered minor injuries. 

The driver is an East Weymouth man in his 40s who was involved in a road-rage incident before, according to the university.  However, officials say there is no evidence he specifically targeted these two students in particular.

Republican nominee for governor Michael Minogue is setting a Massachusetts spending record. 

The Boston Globe reports Minogue spent nearly five-million dollars on media buys last month.  In September, he spent roughly double the amount his opponent, Democratic incumbent Maura Healey, spent in any single month during her campaign. 

Healey's campaign is criticizing the spending as an attempt by Minogue to "buy the election."  Minogue has put about 16-million dollars of his own money into his campaign.

Two boaters suffered serious head injuries after a crash in the Taunton River on Saturday.

According to the Somerset Fire Department, the crash happened around 9:25 p.m. when a 14-foot vessel hit a pier at Weaver’s Cove and began to sink.

Marine units with the Somerset and Fall River fire departments responded to the scene, and pulled both victims out of the water.

The two people were transported to Rhode Island Hospital for treatment.

See more at wpri.com.

The U.S. Coast Guard announced Sunday night they have suspended their search off the coast of Nantucket for six people who went missing after contact with their plane was lost.

“Suspending a search is not an easy decision,” Coast Guard Northeast District Commander Matthew Lake said in a statement. “We express our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones affected by the tragedy and our gratitude to our partner agencies who helped support search efforts.”

Around 2 a.m. Saturday, the Federal Aviation Administration told the Coast Guard that contact had been lost with the Gulfstream G100 aircraft, tail number C-GRJP.

The aircraft was flying from Bermuda to Boston. The passengers and crew consisted of four Canadian nationals and two Bermudian nationals.

On Saturday afternoon, the Coast Guard announced that search crews had located debris from the aircraft.

A spokesperson for Nantucket Memorial Airport released a statement that read in part, “At this time, search and rescue efforts are being led by the United States Coast Guard. The airport has been informed that the aircraft reportedly declared an emergency prior to the loss of contact; however, details regarding the circumstances of the incident remain unconfirmed.”

See more at wpri.com.

A 52-year-old Fall River man is dead after being hit by a front loader yesterday at a recycling facility in Freetown. 

First responders were called to the scene at Excel Recycling on Ridge Hill Road just before noon.  Police said David Torres died from his injuries at an area hospital.

The cause of the accident was under investigation.     

To hear city Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon tell it, the scene wasn’t that much different from what firefighters would have done over a century ago, save for the diesel engines, smartphones and modern clothing.

On Oct. 1, the Fall River Fire Department welcomed its newest truck, Pumper 9, in a ceremony rich with firefighting traditions at the Flint Reney/Eastwood Fire Station on Eastern Avenue.

The truck received a traditional “wet down” and was towel-dried by firefighters and local officials including Mayor Paul Coogan, state Sen. Michael Rodrigues and state Rep. Alan Silvia. It received a blessing from fire chaplain Rev. Michael Racine, who sprinkled it with holy water.

Bacon said the truck shares its name with a horse-drawn pumper used by the department at a Pleasant Street station over a century ago.

“If you could somehow bring one of those firefighters from 1899 here today, and show them the truck sitting here, I don’t think he’d know what to make of it,” Bacon said.

The new pumper truck is one of six in the city’s frontline fleet, which also includes three ladder trucks and a heavy rescue truck. It replaces a pumper truck built in 2017 that will be kept as a reserve.

Bristol Community College has appointed April Lynch of Somerset as vice president of Strategy and Innovation.

The new leadership role will focus on institutional priorities, organizational performance and innovation, according to a community announcement. Lynch will oversee implementation of the college's strategic plan and provide executive leadership on strategic initiatives across the institution.

Her responsibilities include project management, organizational learning, assessment, professional development and college programming. The position also is intended to strengthen data-informed decision-making and support partnerships that align with the college's strategic priorities and regional goals.

Lynch brings more than two decades of experience at Bristol Community College. During her tenure, she has served as an adjunct instructor, associate professor of Business Administration, director of the Academic Center for Entrepreneurship, strategic fellow, chief of staff and chief strategy officer.

In addition to her academic leadership experience, Lynch has owned and operated businesses in manufacturing, marketing communications and strategic branding.

She also serves on the boards of the Southeastern Economic Development Corporation and the Fall River Deaconess Home. Lynch is participating in the LEAD SouthCoast program, which is designed to strengthen leadership skills and community engagement.

See more at heraldnews.com.

A 48-year-old airport contract employee has been arrested after police said he tried to bring an unloaded firearm and knife into a secure area of Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport, Target 12 has confirmed.

Nathan Brown, of Warwick, was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm without a permit and possession of a weapon other than a firearm, according to a police report.

Police said the firearm, a .40-caliber Glock 22, was found after Brown was stopped for a random security inspection.

“When informed his bag needed to be searched, he replied, ‘I need to drop something off first,’” police wrote in the report. When Brown was told the bag needed to be searched first, he “admitted he had an unloaded pistol in the bag,” according to the report.

Police confirmed there was no ammunition in the bag. Brown told TSA agents he did not mean to bring the gun to work and had forgotten he put it in his bag a few days earlier.

Brown was taken to the airport police station, according to police. While he was being processed, police said they found a knife with a 4-inch blade.

Brown has an active concealed-carry permit in Washington state, according to police, but it is not recognized by Rhode Island.

Airport spokesperson Bill Fischer said Brown was hired as a contract worker about a month ago. He worked for Airport Operations, according to the police report.

Fischer said Brown appeared before a justice of the peace Friday afternoon to be processed on the criminal charges.

Possession of a firearm without a permit is a felony in Rhode Island.

See more at wpri.com.

A bid to get Lindsay Clancy's murder charges dropped has been thrown out by a judge in Massachusetts. 

Judge William Sullivan denied a motion filed by attorney Kevin Reddington on Thursday that would have found her not guilty of murdering her three children.  Reddington had said there was no evidence that said Clancy admitted to the murders. 

Clancy's first trial ended last month with jurors deadlocked over her insanity defense.  She's due back in court on November 2nd.

An investigation is underway after a worker died at a Freetown scrap metal recycling facility Thursday.

First responders were called to Excel Recycling around noon after receiving reports of an injured employee.

Freetown Police Chief Scott Rose told 12 News first responders determined the worker was injured in an incident involving a front-end loader.

It’s unclear exactly how the worker died at this time. Rose said the Occupational Safety and Health Administration was notified and is assisting with the investigation.

See more at wpri.com.

Republican gubernatorial nominee Mike Minogue brought his campaign to the South Coast on Thursday, criticizing Democrat Maura Healey’s first-term record as polls show him trailing by double-digits.

Minogue’s itinerary included a meet-and-greet with congressional candidate Tyler Macallister at Merrill’s on the Waterfront in New Bedford and a campaign fundraiser at White’s of Westport. In an interview with 12 News, he said he is feeling momentum.

“People understand this is the tipping point election,” he said. “We cannot afford four more years of Maura Healey overspending, overtaxing and overregulating. And if we think people have been leaving in the past — if she wins again, it will be a massive exodus of young people and entrepreneurs and businesses. And we cannot let that happen.”

See more at wpri.com.

An investigation is underway into a crash in Fairhaven that stemmed from a driver fleeing a traffic stop on Wednesday night.

Police said an officer attempted to pull over a vehicle near Bridge Street, but when the officer stepped out of his cruiser, the driver sped away on Alden Road.

The suspect then ran from the scene after crashing into another vehicle, a utility pole and a residential fence in the area of Howland Road.

According to police, the vehicle’s three passengers and the driver of the other car were taken to St. Luke’s Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

As of noon Thursday, the suspect hadn’t been located.

Police assured there is no threat to the public at this time, saying that no weapon was involved, nor was there any indication that the driver was armed.