(WJAR) — Several federal officials arrested a Fall River man who allegedly is in the country illegally Officers with the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security assisted in an arrest of a man who faces charges of assault and battery on a family member and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon Authorities have not revealed the name of the man (WJAR) — In an effort to try to fill some of the district's open teaching positions Fall River Public Schools hosted a job fair Saturday morning Representatives from several of the district's schools spoke with potential candidates about current opportunities "They get to know each one of our schools and find themselves a best fit," Superintendent Tracy Curley said Curley said there are roughly 135 positions open across the district She said starting pay for the teaching positions is currently around $51,000 annually NBC 10 asked Curley what the district's biggest need is right now "Special education teachers as well as our paraprofessionals in our programs," Curley said she said retaining teachers has become more difficult There's also a smaller pool of candidates applying for positions nationwide She said Fall River Public Schools has implemented initiatives to help those who are interested in teaching "We do have systems in place to support new teachers NBC 10 also asked the president of the Fall River Education Association about his thoughts on the open teaching positions but we always have people coming and going," he said "The times that I really look at these numbers are the beginning of August and of course the end of August when we start school That's when I'm really concerned if those numbers are as large as we start the school year as they were the last couple years that's when we know we really have a problem." For more information about Fall River Public Schools FALL RIVER — The Fall River Public School Committee has changed its mind about a unanimous vote to formally petition the Legislature for an increase in net school spending to cover transportation costs that are reported on the “school side” of a dual ledger between the city and its public schools At an April 29 meeting, School Committee members decided to reverse its previous vote, taken in coordination with the City Council on April 8 during a joint meeting that discussed rising transportation costs That line item has the transportation budget at $13,118,324 with additional costs pushing the total to $15,876,000 Transportation costs are reported on the “school side” of a dual ledger between the city and school budgets but the city remains responsible for most of it Expensive ride: It costs nearly $16M to transport students. Fall River schools are looking to cut costs. City councilors sought to scrub the cost of budget items not yet considered “net school spending,” and therefore not included in the minimum required amount set forth by Chapter 70 of Massachusetts General Laws each school district must spend annually The district covers transportation costs using a mix of grant and operational funding The $13 million in transportation costs represents roughly 5% of net school spending But if the city deflects those costs and lumps it under the allocated net school spending it would be a “cut,” said the school department’s Chief Operating Officer Kenneth Pacheco Superintendent Tracy Curley had struck back at the time “I question whether people really understood what they were voting for.”  Recalculating: Fall River must change how it measures school bus distance. Will this affect students? School Committee reconsiders its request to state LegislatureThe City Council and School Committee Massachusetts Speaker of the House Ronald Mariano and local delegates to lobby for transportation costs to be eligible for and included within net school spending for Gateway Cities like Fall River School Committee members expressed their concerns in how the formula for net school spending is calculated which indicated an increase in state funding could signal a cut to the public school budget Other committee members worried that the additional money — if it were provided by the state — would not be handed over from the city to the school department City Councilors Cadime and Cliff Ponte had the intention of asking for funding for net school spending over the limit “There’s no guarantee that the city wouldn’t just take that money back from us and leave us in a very terrible situation where we could face mass layoffs,” School Committee member Collin Dias said “I don’t believe we have a city administration right now that would fund over 100% net school spending.”   “We’re not going to 104%,” said Mayor Paul Coogan Coogan said he voted on the issue in the affirmative to stimulate more debate on the issue of transportation. When it comes to school transportation, Coogan said, there is a law specified in the Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 71, sections 7A and 16C that says transportation is subject to appropriation but the state does not provide funding for in-city and regular student transportation “They just don’t put any money into it,” Coogan said adding that it was “patently unfair” to have 95% of Diman students’ bus routes paid for while public school students’ transit routes are unfunded It is unknown whether the City Council drafted and mailed a letter to state delegates but the committee members vow that they did not sign it “The state should be funding all transportation spending,” said School Committee Vice-Chair Mimi Larrivee Members of the School Committee agreed that school bus routes need to be remapped shortening the length of routes and ride time for students Fall River’s once-walkable neighborhood schools have been replaced by “mega-schools,” said Pacheco Curley had said there will “definitely” be plans to redistrict schools in the 2027 school year which may include moving some of the boundaries where students are assigned to school The way grades are configured within schools may be a result of changes let's take a look back at the week that was A Swansea man was arrested on April 30 on charges of peeping at a female teenager and capturing video of her nude while she was in the changing room at Target. This is what we know, as of this writing Fifty years ago, the U.S. withdrew from Saigon, Vietnam. The refugee crisis in its wake was the beginning of Fall River's Cambodian community The 2005 Somerset Blue Raiders boys tennis team will be inducted into the Somerset/Somerset Berkley Athletic Hall of Fame, and tickets are on sale for the induction dinner Luke Thornton, a three-sport athlete at Somerset Berkley Regional High School, balances his athletic pursuits with a passion for surfing The 2023 Oscar-winning film "The Holdovers" is being adapted into a television series. Fall River native Pamela Jayne Morgan had a role in film, and she talks about the tv adaptation, here ArtWeek SouthCoast returns soon Kids can win prizes for their superhero costume designs in a new contest from the Fall River Public Library A new tour at Heritage State Park will honor Weetamo and the Pocasset Tribe Swansea plans to clean up its former landfill to stop environmental damage: What to expect These were the most read stories of the week on HeraldNews.com: a four-decade city staple in Fall River that's been on hiatus since late December Owners of the family-run East Main Street spot have announced their reopening is on the horizon Here's what we know, as of this writing Sweet news: Lou's Bakery in Fall River ready to reopen. Here's when you can get your sweet bread fix. The Preservation Society of Fall River on April 24 released its 2025 list of the city’s “Most Endangered” properties: Here's the list, and what we know 'Most Endangered': Fall River's 5 most neglected historic properties are at risk of decay: Where they are Fall River man arrested in Georgia held in 2024 fatal shootingA Fall River man was held without bail on April 28 and charged with murder in the 2024 fatal shooting of Joshua Medeiros Kevin Barton, 33, appeared in Bristol County Superior Court and pleaded not guilty to charges of murder carrying a loaded firearm without a license possessing a large-capacity firearm and larceny near the Stop & Shop supermarket on Rodman Street This is what we know, as of this writing 'He took my son's life': Fall River man arrested in Georgia held in 2024 fatal shooting The Day of Portugal celebration in New Bedford will be taking place from June 12 to 15 and its popular three-day festival will be held in a new location this year O Jornal has the story New venue: New Bedford Day of Portugal celebration returning in June at a new location. What to know Herald News Photo Editor and Photographer Colin Furze has a lens on the community This week, enjoy the great outdoors in Greater Fall River Photos of the Week: Enjoy the great outdoors in Greater Fall River with Colin Furze FALL RIVER, Mass. (WLNE) — The Fall River Police Department is investigating an armed robbery that occurred Sunday night at the Maplewood Mini Mart at 437 Stafford Road. According to the clerk on duty at the time, two men with masks entered the store at approximately 9 p.m., and one brandished what the clerk believed was a gun. Both suspects fled the scene before police arrived. No other details have been released at this time. (WJAR) — The Fall River Police Department is investigating an armed robbery at a convenience store on in the city on Sunday night. Police responded around 9:00 p.m. to the Maple Mini Mart on Stafford Road. According to the store clerk, two masked men entered the store, and one displayed a weapon. The incident is still under investigation. READ MOREHistoric crypt and chapel at Fall River church restored after months of renovationby NBC 10 NEWS (WJAR) — A shrine at a historic Fall River church has been restored to its former glory with financial support from Providence College refurbished the Dominican Crypt and Chapel in the church basement Inside the shrine there are the remains of three Dominican friars who were instrumental in building St Bishop Edgar da Cunha and Providence College President christened the restored shrine with a special mass at the church Saturday afternoon This week's top-selling home in Swansea is a distinguished Story Center Hall Colonial that sold for $700,000 871 Gardners Neck Road is a step back in time full of stunning antique accents The three-level home boasts leather wall and ceiling covers the home has been in the same family for over a century Here are all of the residential property transfers recorded in the Greater  Fall River area this week from Fc Real Estate LLC to C & E Re Holdings LLC from Severino James Est to Yahweh Properties LLC from Bliss Investors LLC to Ryan Rodrigues from Catherine Cordeiro to Celine Ferreira from Rene Realty LLC to M&m Div Residences LLC from Castro Kathleen B Est to 909 High St Investment T from Nelson Borges to Morgan Stanley Abs Cap I from Ptp Realty Ltd to Fall Riv Cmnty Hsng Resou from Cskc Properties LLC to Vladmir Xavier from Moss Home Solutions LLC to Oliveira Investment Inc from Sk & Jc Properties LLC to 12 Goats LLC from Rare Opportunity LLC to Gal Properties LLC from Jc Feiter Real Estate LLC to Kermina & Karol LLC from Jordan Rebello to Ac-State Street LLC from Oliveira Investment Inc to Kevin Cateon from Rivera Hector O Est to State Rd Partners LLC from Caroline Conway to 136 Cadmans Neck Rd LLC from Howland Int to Myricks 130 St Hldg LLC from Driftwood Re & Prop Mgmt to Joshua Ohara Copyrighted material previously published in Banker & Tradesman/The Commercial Record, a weekly trade newspaper. It is reprinted with permission from the publisher, The Warren Group. For a searchable database of real estate transactions and property information, visit www.thewarrengroup Bristol Community College has received a silver designation as a military friendly school for 2025-2026 this recognition is part of the upcoming G.I which highlights institutions that support military personnel evaluates schools based on their efforts to assist military students in their educational journeys The evaluation process includes public data and responses from a proprietary survey completed by the college composed of independent leaders in higher education and military recruitment helped establish the criteria and methodology for the ratings Marshall Veterans Center serves as a central hub for veterans seeking educational benefits The center also organizes veteran-specific job fairs and recruitment activities to support students transitioning to civilian careers The Military Friendly School designation is awarded to institutions that meet specific thresholds for student retention These metrics are crucial for assessing the success of all students Bristol Community College has a long history of serving the region offering over 119 career and transfer programs The college provides flexible online courses that lead to associate degrees or transfer opportunities to four-year institutions Its Business Solutions & Partnerships division offers customized training for local businesses and community members The college also features the National Offshore Wind Institute which provides training and certifications for the growing offshore wind industry Bristol Community College emphasizes student success and lifelong learning aiming to reduce barriers to educational access Bristol Community College will hold its 58th Commencement Ceremony at 11 a.m The event will take place under the solar canopies at the Bristol Fall River Campus the college will award degrees in Associate in Science Certificates of achievement will also be presented Graduates from all Bristol Community College locations The college will recognize several prestigious award recipients during the ceremony has been named the Class of 2025 Valedictorian She will receive an Associate in Arts in Communication earning an Associate in Arts in Liberal Arts - Psychology Transfer Wood achieved a 4.0 GPA while attending Bristol Community College She gained experience as an intern with the college’s marketing and communications department and was a member of the Phi Theta Kappa National Honors Society She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in communication at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth aiming for a career in marketing and communications Ayers began her studies as a human services major but later switched to psychology after finding her passion She developed a technology workshop for senior citizens in partnership with the Fall River Council on Aging as part of her participation in the college’s Experiential Education Showcase Autumn is now continuing her education at Bridgewater State University where she is exploring career opportunities in clinical psychology and healthcare The Distinguished Citizen Award will be presented to Thomas M He has served as the District Attorney of Bristol County since 2015 and has over 25 years of prosecutorial experience Quinn has been reelected three times and is known for his advocacy against elder abuse and domestic violence He actively promotes mentoring for at-risk youth and is committed to investigating and prosecuting crimes against children Polito will receive an Honorary Degree of Associate in Humane Letters She served as the 72nd Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts and has a background in municipal government and real estate development she is the Vice President of Business Development at UMass Memorial Health and serves on several corporate boards Polito is involved in mentoring students and has been married for 28 years She has been selected by students for this honor Rhonda Magnuski has been named the Grand Marshal for the ceremony As a retired staff associate in Purchasing and Business Services she will lead this year’s graduates to the commencement stage Bristol Community College encourages community members to attend the ceremony and celebrate the achievements of its graduates. For more information about the 2025 Commencement Ceremony, visit www.bristolcc.edu/commencement The college looks forward to a successful event that highlights the hard work and dedication of its students and faculty Weather In The Week Ahead: 4 Things To Watch Rain showers in the morning with numerous thunderstorms developing in the afternoon Thunderstorms in the evening with some fog possible overnight Partly cloudy skies during the morning hours will become overcast in the afternoon Considerable cloudiness with occasional rain showers Some clouds early will give way to generally clear conditions overnight Mostly cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy later in the day Mostly cloudy skies early with showers developing late Rain showers early with some sunshine later in the day Intervals of clouds and sunshine in the morning with more clouds for later in the day 10 Gift Ideas For Teacher Appreciation Week Best Mother’s Day Flower Delivery Services Everything You Need To Know About Portable Air Conditioners We recognize our responsibility to use data and technology for good We may use or share your data with our data vendors The Weather Channel is the world's most accurate forecaster according to ForecastWatch, Global and Regional Weather Forecast Accuracy Overview The holiday marks the Mexican army’s pivotal defeat of the French army at the Battle of Puebla Today, it’s not only a commemoration of the Mexican army’s historic victory: it has also become a day to celebrate Mexican cuisine and culture The Greater Fall River food scene offers a wide variety of cultures and cuisines including Mexican fare that will be just perfect for a Cinco de Mayo celebration so there’s sure to be something to please every palate and check out these six local spots serving up Mexican specialties for Cinco de Mayo: Tequila Lime Cantina recently revamped their menu to feature all kinds of fusion dishes like their fusion bowls: ginger-infused ahi tuna which have always been a huge crowd pleaser Guests can also take their pick of burritos Tequila Lime Cantina’s annual Cinco de Mayo bash will be held on Monday, May 5, starting at 11:30 a.m. They’ll have food and drink specials, music, giveaways, prizes, and more. Make a reservation online at https://tinyurl.com/384vf64e On Sunday, May 4, they’ll be hosting a Cinco de Mayo beats and brunch fiesta from 10:30 a.m Menu highlights include carne asada and eggs Taqueria El Habanero has everything from breakfast to dessert and you can enjoy it all while sipping on some Jarritos Their menu is expansive and the currently very trendy birria tacos Quesadilla burritos come in several options and huevos con chorizo (eggs with chorizo) Restaurant moving: Fall River restaurant newcomer Olimpio's announces departure from St. John's Club Address (Fall River): 207 Rhode Island Ave Fiesta Mexican Restaurant has five locations, two of which are in Fall River and Somerset, serving up all kinds of Mexican fare. Their menu is extensive Fall River Eats: Teacher Appreciation Week at Barrett's Alehouse, Waterfront Address: 550 Grand Army of the Republic Highway Pancheros Mexican Grill serves up fast-casual favorites Customers can craft their meals to their taste Pancheros also has a new plant-friendly protein: tofurizo which is tofu crumbled and sauteed with onions noon to 10 p.m.; Closed Monday and Tuesday Recently opened Morgan’s Cantina is serving upscale Mexican fare on the waterfront at Borden Light Marina Start your meal with a view with appetizers like chorizo tamales Tacos are served on homemade corn flour tortillas with a plant-friendly protein option of house Soyrizo sofritas The roasted half chicken is chipotle-marinated The roasted poblano smash burger is served with two smashed beef patties FALL RIVER — Heritage State Park is rolling out a new tour honoring Weetamoo This inaugural tour and reception will honor this warrior and leader by giving guests the chance to hear her words as she might have spoken them Other events at Heritage State Park this May will include a reenactment of the Battle of Fall River; a meet-and-greet with members of the Pocasset Wampanoag Tribe; an exhibit about the Boston Tea Party; "Lifeboat," a play about survivors lost at sea; and much more All programs are free and open to the public Here's a look at what's happening at Heritage State Park in May: This inaugural tour and reception will honor Weetamoo and guests will have the chance to hear her words as she might have spoken them explore the 3.5-mile path tracing the Quequechan River on a self-guided or trolley tour featuring storytelling and accounts of the natural landscape and the Pocasset people's contributions to Fall River introduction and unveiling will be at noon Guided trolley tours will be at 1 and 2:30 p.m Space is limited for the trolley tours; sign-up is required "Echoes of the Pocasset and the Fall River" wayfinders celebrate the rich history of the First People of Fall River and will be on exhibit May 10 to Aug This is a trailways initiative created by the Fall River Arts and Culture Coalition and the City of Fall River in partnership with the Pocasset Wampanoag Tribe Copies of these wayfinders will be on exhibit at Heritage State Park through the summer The community is welcome to a meet-and-greet with members of the Pocasset Wampanoag Tribe Have lunch in the park before or after the presentation This program is presented by the Second Half Learning Institute and the Pocasset Tribe Witness Fall River's role in the American Revolution with a reenactment of the Battle of Fall River Explore a variety of American Revolution-themed activities Discover history you might not have learned yet about the Revolution The Spectrum Empowerment Project presents "Lifeboat," a dramatic play about six survivors lost at sea This original play was written by Steven Manchester Dioramas created by the Lafayette-Durfee House FoundationMay 10 to Aug Dioramas will include the Battle of Fall River and an 18th-century Pocasset Wampanoag village along the Quequechan River Road to Revolution - The Boston Tea PartyDaily through June 16 This exhibit tells the story of The Boston Tea Party one of the most iconic events in America's history Films play continuously throughout the day Story Walk is a self-guided walk along the Robert Correia Boardwalk featuring the book "Some Bugs," written by Angela Diterlizzi and illustrated by Brendan Wenzel The Story Walk Project was created by Anne Ferguson of Montpelier Vermont and developed in collaboration with the Kellogg-Hubbard Library Story Walk is a registered service mark owned by Ferguson This Story Walk is provided by Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation Interpretive Services The park highlights Fall River's industrial legacy seven granite wayfinders Information is available at the front desk and a visionary state legislator all have their names enshrined at Heritage State Park More about Heritage State ParkThe Visitor Center is located at 100 Davol St. Free parking is available in the DCR parking lot at 5 Water St The Visitor Center and boardwalk are wheelchair-accessible call 617-645-0358 or send an email to Monesha.dasgupta2@mass.gov Police: Fall River officer arrested as part of human trafficking sting by Boston PD unitThe Herald NewsFALL RIVER — A Fall River police officer has been arrested as part of a human trafficking sting by the Boston Police Department’s Human Trafficking Unit According to a media release from the Fall River Police Department the officer was taken into custody as part of a sting operation related to an ongoing investigation the officer was on extended leave from the Fall River Police Department due to unrelated personnel matters the department was preparing to initiate formal proceedings under the civil service disciplinary process," the release said "His employment status is now under further review in light of these serious new developments." "The conduct alleged is reprehensible and stands in direct opposition to the values we expect from members of this department We take these matters extremely seriously and are fully cooperating with the Boston Police Department There is no place in law enforcement for anyone who violates the public’s trust." As this is an active criminal investigation no further details were being released at the time of this writing Arraignment information was unknown at the time of this writing This story will be updated when more information becomes available FALL RIVER — It's a kitchen that's been the one-time home to a long line of local — and even world-renowned — cooking talent Now a Rhode Island chef is looking to make his mark at the South End space with his own concept that's a slight departure for the longtime Portuguese food fixture Following the exit of Acores Family Restaurant in late December, executive chef Joey Medeiros has taken the reins at the restaurant space located inside St. John's Athletic Club with the opening of Olimpio's on Thursday "I want to be able to bring some fresh air and new breath of life into a place where Emeril Lagasse cut his teeth and Ines [DeCosta family friend and mentor to Lagasse] was forever known as probably the best cook in the Fall River area," said Medeiros He'll be manning the same kitchen where Lagasse — famous restaurateur author and cooking icon who hails from Fall River — spent his early years "It's a cool company to be in," Medeiros added "It's a nice challenge and it's something that I'm looking forward to doing." The 50-year-old East Providence native is serving a spin on traditional Portuguese fare that's long-defined the 1365 Rodman St But that's only a small portion of his diverse menu centered largely on Italian American cuisine Medeiros said he aims to bring something different to an area already brimming with a bounty of well-established Luso eateries "It'll be a Portuguese-Italian American hybrid .. a place where everyone can get something that they want and not just stuck with one sole cuisine," said Medeiros noting his focus on a menu with "complexity" and that's more "option-heavy" than the Fall River area has seen before under one roof 'I was truly home': Emeril Lagasse talks about how his tour of Fall River plays into his new restaurant Medeiros recalls as a child making the trek across the Braga Bridge with his family on weekends when they craved Portuguese dining "It was the Mecca in the '80s and '90s," he said Medeiros got his start in the food service industry at a young age working at a well-known Italian family restaurant in the East Providence area followed by stints at a similar Seekonk spot and the former Mediterraneo on Federal Hill in Providence so "I picked it up (Italian cooking) and it became my background and backbone." with over 30 years of restaurant experience under his belt — more than 20 as executive chef — Medeiros said he is excited to take on this latest adventure in the Spindle City "The time we've taken has helped round out and complete the vision that I had of what's best for the club and the community," Medeiros said the wheels slowly started turning on his Fall River venture three years ago when talks with owners of the SJAC board initially began the timing wasn't right for either side at the time following the departure of the club's latest restaurant tenant Olimpio's menu goes beyond your "normal Portuguese traditional cuisine with fresh pastas and presents the Portuguese food in a different way than everyone is used to eating it." The goal is to offer a "high-level plate at a blue-collar price." diners will find a large staple menu — which includes highlights like their Portuguese house steak and prime rib offered every night — as well as seasonal offerings and constantly rotating specials and planned specialty nights from wing night to taco night to ramen night Olimpio's will also be offering catering to go and for those who rent the St "We're where you want to be for your special occasions and moments," Medeiros said not counting the bar area with another 25 to 30 Upgrades to the space included lighting changes — out with the stark fluorescent lighting and in with antique-looking LED Edison bulbs that will be strung from the ceiling and dimmed so "instead of the cafeteria or hall kind of look it's a very clean will be Medeiros' third such restaurant with a similar concept He is headed into his third season as owner and chef at a seasonal restaurant located within a Vermont golf course that's only open during the summer months Medeiros had opened an Italian restaurant in a social club in East Providence But a month later the COVID pandemic hit and the shutdown came While he recognizes the challenges of operating a restaurant within a rental space — including the lack of revenue from liquor sales which go to the club — "it's a good fit if you know exactly what you're prices points are 'An adventure in food': Christopher's opening second location in Fall River's downtown. What to expect. John's Club was previously home to Acores Family Restaurant which left after 10 months to expand its business to their own location in Swansea John's space in March 2024 after it was vacated by Ocean Star Restaurant which has since reopened at the former Beira Alta location on Plymouth Avenue in Fall River Though it's been a bit of a revolving door recently in terms of restaurant tenants Medeiros said he plans to be a mainstay at the Rodman Street location "We're staying for the long haul," he said February hours at Olimpio's are Wednesday and Thursday he aims to expand days and hours of operation as they move forward For updates on Olimpio's or a peek at their menu In an effort to help launch his new Spindle City restaurant, Medeiros will be appearing on WPRI's Rhode Show program on Feb He'll be doing a cooking segment and shining a spotlight on Olimpio's and the Fall River area as a whole Snow coming to Greater Fall River on Thursday morning Will schools be canceled?The Herald NewsThis story was updated to add more information The National Weather Service's Boston office has issued a winter weather advisory in Massachusetts for Thursday as several inches of snow is expected to fall across the state Snow will begin Thursday morning in Massachusetts and turn into sleet and freezing rain in the afternoon Most of the state is forecast to see at least 2 inches of snow accumulation Snow forecast Massachusetts: Weather forecast Massachusetts: Snow, ice storm expected Thursday. When it will start How parking bans work: Where you can leave your car during a snowstorm Snow laws: Can you shovel it into a road? Are space-savers legal? The rules in Fall River Parking ban in Somerset Somerset police have announced a parking ban in town from 5 a.m The town of Swansea will have a parking ban in place from 5 a.m The Swansea Council on Aging announced on their Facebook page Wednesday night that due to the storm there will be no delivery of Meals on Wheels for Thursday Those who are enrolled in the program are being asked to use emergency meal kits for Thursday Parking ban in TivertonTiverton will have a parking ban in place from 5 a.m Maura Healey issued several tips for residents during snowstorms: FALL RIVER — Twenty-three softball players from the Fall River area have been placed on our Player of the Week ballot This poll is for performances of roundup from the week of April 28-May 4 Westport's Tess Silvia won last week's Player of the Week poll with 68.87% of the vote Voting will conclude May 10 with the winner announced here and X (formerly known as Twitter) Vote: Who is the Herald News Softball Midseason Player of the Year? 28 nominees Herald News and Taunton Daily Gazette sports editor Steven Sanchez can be reached at ssanchez@heraldnews.com. You can follow him on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @Chezsports. FALL RIVER — A third parcel of land at the corner of Davol and Turner Streets, previously owned by the Fall River Redevelopment Authority, has been sold to Vitaly Fedosik of Heath Development which has already made a sizable impact along Route 79 Fedosik, an entrepreneur-turned-developer, bought the additional 11,000 square feet for $415,000, according to a Fall River Registry of Deeds filing dated Dec. 27 of last year As part of the ongoing construction that will transform the 19 acres of developable land in the Davol Street Corridor along the Taunton River Fedosik is planning a 56-unit apartment complex though the exact number of units may increase Redevelopment Authority Executive Director Sarah Page confirmed the sale of the land — and Fedosik’s plan to build a residential and commercial building on the east side of Davol Street, north of Global Gas “because it will enhance development of the waterfront district and facilitate the clean-up of a historically contaminated and underutilized property.” Building Fall River: 2024 saw a housing development boom in Fall River. Will it continue in 2025? Ken Fiola, executive vice president of Bristol County Economic Development Consultants called the project “exciting,” with “a lot of potential” from the start, and said that Fedosik was granted a variance and special permit for the development project from the Zoning Board of Appeals in July 2022 “With the additional property he recently secured from the Redevelopment Authority, he’ll be expanding the buildout,” Fiola said, and said ZDS Architecture & Interiors The up-and-coming construction is listed on ZDS’s projects webpage with two commercial spaces on the lower level and the remaining five floors dedicated to apartments 'A vibrant neighborhood': Fall River shares opinions on Davol Street master plan Fedosik has entered the process to identify the exact number of units that can be accommodated as his plans grow He’s expected to go before the ZBA in the next two or three months to obtain a permit “Everything is subject to approval,” Fiola said but if the finalization of project specifications goes accordingly construction is expected to begin late this year Based on the size and complexity of the build paid $600,000 for the former Mackenzie & Winslow building near the corner of Davol and Turner streets and an abutting respectively listed as 609 and 577 Davol St. Fedosik later demolished the old industrial building to make room for his upcoming project was floated as a six-story mixed-use building Both parcels sit on the east side of Route 79 and Davol Street A third parcel in between the gas station and 577 Davol St., which has in previous years has been used occasionally for overflow parking by The Cove Restaurant and Marina is the third lot at that corner purchased by Fedosik Fedosik had said his Davol Street mixed-use project Based on the assumption that the property is contaminated Fedosik will be held to an agreement that mandates an abatement and remediation of the land occurs within two years of the sale that construction should begin within 30 months and that the build is completed within five years Fedosik’s portfolio includes residential properties in Roxbury Not sure where to grab a bite to eat? With lots of options around the Fall River area and mouth-watering offerings at local eateries and markets to consider when planning your next night on the town James Irish Pub has rolled out their new burger of the month enjoy some mint juleps with Bootleg BBQ for the Kentucky Derby We've also got new menu items to check out The St. James Irish Pub, 91 Purchase St., Fall River, has dropped their latest burger of the month May’s burger is the stuffed jalapeño popper burger which is made with a half-pound of beef seasoned with jalapeño popper dry rub and served with pepper jack cheese Mint juleps on special for Kentucky Derby at Bootleg BBQBootleg BBQ, 778 Main Rd., Westport, will have mint juleps on special for the Kentucky Derby on Saturday Guests can wear their favorite hat for the occasion Troia Cafe, 278 New Boston Rd., Fall River, has announced that they will be temporarily closed In an April 28 Facebook post “We’re taking a short break to spice up our menu with new beer They hadn’t yet announced a reopening date as of this writing noting in the April 28 post that it would be “soon” and for customers to “stay tuned.” Meet the Pocasset: New tour at Heritage State Park to honor Weetamo, Pocasset Tribe: What to know You can find a few different kinds of handmade rolls at Avo’s Feast Avo’s handmade rolls are a twist on egg rolls packed with house-made fillings of chicken Scottie’s Pub, 202 Pleasant St., Fall River, has announced this week’s specials they’ve got a Portuguese steak flatbread appetizer plus entrees like jumbo butterfly shrimp served over seafood rice shrimp and scallop Mozambique over fettuccine grilled teriyaki chicken over seasoned rice Jillian’s Sports Pub & Grill, 1876 Wilbur Ave., Somerset, is dishing up chouriço chips Their chouriço chips come with crispy fries Plaza Pizza II, 544 Milford Rd., Swansea, has some new breadsticks on their menu Famous Pizza, 433 Main Rd., Tiverton, has also added a new menu item: they’re offering hand-breaded chicken tenders Do you have a special deal, menu item, or food-related event to share with local foodies? Send us an email at kfontes@heraldnews.com or news@heraldnews.com FALL RIVER — The house on 78 Thomas St. may be nearing a century in age, but according to Community Development Agency Executive Director Michael Dion The former single-family home, close to Lafayette Park in the Flint, has been vacant for two years. In February a flurry of activity gave the dilapidated house a new lease on life The rear entrance leading to a hallway with asbestos tiles was missing its door; broken glass littered the lawn Inspectional services had received reports regarding the condition of the home at the time The previous owners abandoned the property and left their belongings Now in place of the standalone garage out back a graded yard provides ample space and spills around to the front where a new driveway was being leveled as of April 28 Scraggly shrubbery has been removed; navy blue siding replaces shoddy shingles City ordinances: Fall River seeks ways to regulate sober homes, but decides against more zoning rules the general contractor assigned to oversee the rehabilitation of the old home said a new washer and dryer unit will be stored in the basement “This is better than some of our commercial spaces,” Dion said watching as a fresh coat of paint was applied to doorway trim in the home's upper level It's slated to become a two-bedroom rental unit A new homeowner would occupy the first floor on the ground level said Ferreira as he showed a reporter the newly floored plastered and painted nooks and crannies of the project and living space with plenty of natural light filtering in through new windows Ferreira’s team has been hard at work for the past 10 weeks Short-term rentals: Fall River's Airbnb, Vrbo listings make lots of money, but do they harm housing market? Dion said the home will be put on the market for first-time homebuyers his office will begin taking applications over the course of a month Applicants will enter a lottery system to be able to purchase the home which will cost in the ballpark of $400,000 Dion priced the rehabilitation out for $480,000 spent to overhaul the interior The applicant’s income — which should be up to 80% of the area median income or AMI — can be combined with the anticipated rental income from the second-floor unit According to the Massachusetts Housing Partnership for the Bristol County district which includes Fall River and neighboring towns in the SouthCoast a single person would need to earn up to $69,200 He envisions a buyer being able to not only own their first home but benefit from collecting the second unit’s rent — around $1,200 monthly — to help pay their mortgage The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development mandates that most two-bedroom rentals listed as "affordable housing" be priced at $1,200 a month What goes into making a sale to a first-time homebuyer?The CDA will take a percentage of the proceeds of the sale but Dion said the $40,000 price tag of developing each unit requires that the terms of the sale The house at 78 Thomas St. was purchased by the HUD-certified Community Housing Resource Board Dion said a buyer may be able to pay off CHRB’s loan and be added to a new mortgage as a second grantee with the CDA or may have the option of purchasing the home outright Looking out into the yard from the second-story floor which will soon be a brand-new rental unit in a neighborhood of triple-deckers Dion said he often gets sentimental when seeing the massive strides developers have taken to construct beautiful safe living spaces for Fall River residents in line with the exclusive work of the CDA He applauded contractors like Ferreira who can be flexible with short turnaround times while making “sure we have it right,” he said itself a historic property that the Preservation Society once helped save from the wrecking ball “Fall River is home to one of the most diverse varieties of historically significant art and architectural styles in the United States,” said Preservation Society President Alex Silva adding that the city's inventory of historic buildings has taken for granted in the past and slowly dwindled “The Most Endangered list was born out of an effort to increase the awareness of these resources to stimulate creative problem-solving and to assist in clarifying which properties should be kept at the forefront of Fall River’s preservation efforts.”  'Not worth risking anybody there': Fall River's dilapidated former Silvia School fire the Preservation Society urged the city to retake the building and put it on the market again One portion of the school complex is undergoing demolition will be spared for now as the city issues a new request for proposals to dispose of the property," Silva said the Preservation Society had been working with the city to tweak an RFP to “maximize the chances of redevelopment — we were trying to change some language to make affordable housing more enticing to developers.”  'Get that building down': Time's up for Fall River's old police station The city has spent years unsuccessfully trying to unload its decrepit contaminated police station on someone — anyone — with a viable plan to redevelop it “The Preservation Society continues to advocate for the redevelopment of this building over demolition suggesting that the city should handle remediation and stabilization efforts rather than expecting a private developer to do it,” Silva said the society “has requested that the city deconstruct and preserve historical elements of the façade Durfee Mill: Group says complex is under-usedThe massive mill complex on Pleasant Street isn’t vacant The complex, which is adjacent to the nearby Union Mills where PrimaCare has its home, was built between 1866 and 1904, and most of its original buildings survive. According to its listing in the National Register of Historic Places is “the finest granite industrial complex in Fall River “Only sections of the complex are in active use every day which makes the potential for redevelopment more enticing,” Silva said The complex on Plymouth Avenue and Rodman Street with the mansard roof was built in 1867, the oldest brick mill building in the city. It’s on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Corky Row Historic District — but is severely dilapidated and largely unused “Potential redevelopment of this mill would have an outsized impact on the city,” Silva said citing its prime location in an economically depressed neighborhood Another former school building at 450 Plymouth Ave., the Connell School was built in 1893 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places Prominent local architect Joseph Darling built the school as a twin of the Davol School in the Flint which according to the National Register application are “fine examples of the type of sturdy late 19th century brick schoolhouses which in their design and detailing rises above the level of simple functionalism.” It was closed in 2008 when the School Department closed an assortment of smaller neighborhood elementary schools and consolidated students into larger buildings and it’s decaying by demolition via neglect at this point.”  (WJAR) — Fall River police said six people were arrested on Thursday after two search warrants the two searches targeted illegal drug activity Fall River police said four people were arrested after a search at Father Diaferio Village Officials said 18-year-old Mason Blake and 22-year-old Arjaray Lewis-Holloway faces multiple firearm charges and 46-year-old Luanda Lewis faces firearm and possession of Class B and C drugs charges who was under house arrest from a previous firearms arrest He will now face additional firearm charges The search at Blackstone Street led to two arrests Officials said 27-year-old Tarsha Sousa and 44-year-old Marteze Taylor faces firearm related charges and trafficking less than 110g of cocaine and more — A vehicle pursuit that began on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and continued into Fall River County resulting in one individual being shot by an officer One person was injured with what officials described as non-life-threatening injuries though they did say that no law enforcement officers were hurt during the incident The suspect from the vehicle pursuit fled the scene and remains at large in Nebraska according to South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley Authorities say there is no known threat to the public in South Dakota “Our first priority is to apprehend the suspect without further incident and then DCI will investigate the portion of the incident that occurred in South Dakota,” added Jackley The South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is leading the review of the shooting which took place on the South Dakota side of the border and Oglala Sioux Tribal Police are all assisting Officials said the shooting is the second officer-involved incident in South Dakota so far this year This story will be updated as NewsCenter1 receives more information FALL RIVER — It appears the revolving door of restaurant tenants at St Just over two months after debuting at 1365 Rodman St. with the hopes of making a home at the South End spot "for the long haul," Olimpio's restaurant announced plans to move According to an April 22 post on the restaurant's Facebook page headed by Rhode Island chef Joey Medeiros is moving from that location and opening in a new space in June What's cooking: Olimpio's restaurant opens its doors in Fall River 6 came on the heels of the departure of Acores Family Restaurant John's after 10 months to expand its business to their own location in Swansea They had opened in the Rodman Street space in March 2024 after it was vacated by Ocean Star Restaurant which has since reopened at the former Beira Alta location on Plymouth Avenue Medeiros brought 30 years of restaurant experience and a slightly different concept to the South End space which has long been a Portuguese food fixture On the diverse menu — where he aims to offer "high-level plates at a blue-collar price" — you can still find Portuguese fare with a twist but it centers largely on Italian American cuisine While their "incredibly short endeavor" at St this isn't the last we'll see of Olimpio's Tuesday's Facebook announcement teased that they expect to be back to serving the community in a little over a month the restaurant is currently mum on we're they are popping up next "We are opening soon in an undisclosed location in town June first," the post reads (This story was updated to add new information.) there sits a shrine to the Buddha before which are laid offerings of dollar bills — portraits of George Washington leaving it to the communist North Vietnamese — Operation Frequent Wind a massive operation to airlift thousands of people from the war zone The United States’ part in the Vietnam War was over It would no longer be involved in Southeast Asia 'I cannot let your people die': Jimmy Carter's compassion saved refugees like me | Opinion The situation was difficult for Americans to cope with The Vietnam War was unpopular — and costly in terms of money and human lives Soldiers may have felt as if the fight had been abandoned with more than 58,000 American troops been killed without decisive victory Saigon’s fall led to years of turmoil and death they don’t want to talk about it because every time when they talk about it they start shedding tears or cannot talk — because they get reminded of the holocaust Jim Hornsby graduated from Harvard College in 1961 involvement in Southeast Asia was starting to build He said he and his friends were offered two years of service if they were drafted or higher pay and rank of second lieutenant if they volunteered for three years “I then went to seminary and served in Puerto Rico,” Hornsby said a Fall River native who would go on to become a longtime Washington Post columnist “We strongly opposed the war,” Hornsby said Throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s the war was a source of profound anger in the culture America's involvement in Southeast Asia grew as the U.S When the United States withdrew all combat troops from Vietnam in 1973 and left Saigon altogether in 1975 it was not necessarily a celebratory time for anti-war protesters ‘You caused us to lose the war.' There was blaming I preached several sermons and talked to people about Jesus’ teaching of loving your enemies.”   Acknowledge the past: 50 years after fall of Saigon, Vietnam can't heal by erasing half its past | Opinion He said he knew of many veterans and their families who felt at least some measure of relief The power vacuum after the United States left Southeast Asia in April 1975 led to years of power struggles “We knew there was incredible danger to the people who picked the wrong side and were still there," Hornsby said both that there was a war and that we didn’t take the people with us.”    The regime is estimated to have murdered 1.2 million to 2.8 million people “I saw my sister was taken out to the field and executed — first they raped His father had been a soldier during the Cambodian Civil War allied with Americans "they were looking for people that had education or were linked to the U.S A lot of folks had to hide their identity.”  His family fled to a refugee camp in Thailand either by the Americans or the United Nations," he said Tith’s family was moved to the Philippines and eventually the United States in 1978 where they settled eventually in South Philadelphia He was among tens of thousands of refugees fleeing the terror at the time “My parents came here with not much in their hands just a couple of dollars and some jewelry that he had with him," Tith said Fall River would welcome its own Southeast Asian refugees the next year — with Hornsby of St Luke’s Episcopal Church as one of their sponsors “We were told they were going to be from Laos the letter said the people would be coming in a month .. “So I sort of put aside any materials I had about Laos and started working.”  Donald Jaikes of the Church of the Ascension sponsored two families of nine each — the families of Phou Uon Not everyone in each "family" was blood-related but considering these people were fleeing concentration camps their sponsors saw no need to quibble about details They were the thinnest people I’ve ever seen in my life," Hornsby said The priests helped set up the families at 144 Cottage St but they were able to communicate through signing and some help from Danny Tow owner of the Mark You Chinese restaurant in the Flint This would’ve been the first time they were safe since the war started.”  “The ‘70s were not very nice years," Hornsby added rather than complain all the time or stand in the streets and say 'the president's bad' or something.”  The Uon and Eng families were the seeds of Fall River's current-day which Tith said now numbers in the thousands Eng Lim and his wife found work in Fall River's Shelburne Shirt Co Their children learned English and earned college degrees now occupies a building in the Highlands where it’s soon to be celebrating Cambodian New Year though Hornsby said some Cambodian families are members of St facing ethnic slurs and harmful stereotyping in school in Philadelphia but worked two jobs and eventually was able to afford property His restaurant is in the old Wamsutta Mill also home to an Asian grocery and other businesses that cater to the community “I want to encourage other minorities” to seek city office “Part of my goal is to be in the middle and reach out to all the resources and be the network and reach out into the community.”  One of his three sons has served in the U.S has “just contracted another four years and got promoted to officer this month.”  Hornsby said bringing refugees to Fall River and giving them a chance to thrive in safety after the end of military involvement in Southeast Asia was part of the nation's responsibility but most of it was a realization of something theoretical," he said “The theory was that wars would cause a disruption among peoples “The way to stop [making] refugees is to stop war Lou's Bakery, a four-decade city staple that's been on hiatus since late December But good news for bakery devotees — owners of the family-run East Main Street spot have announced their reopening is on the horizon pastries and other Portuguese delicacies will be making a comeback on Thursday just in time to play a special part in the community's next holiday: Mother's Day SouthCoast sweet bread challenge: Fall River bakery took top prize "Celebrate the special Moms in your life and make this Mother's Day extra sweet!" reads a post April 29 on the Lou's Bakery Facebook page. run by siblings Louise Fournier and John Arruda announced a "brief pause" in operations for the first time ever from late December They were expected to reopen in time for Easter. However, the temporary closure was extended as one of the owners addressed medical concerns Their loyal customers were saddened to have to go without Lou's famous massa during Easter one of Portuguese bakeries' biggest sweet bread seasons But luckily it won't be long before they can get their Lou's fix once again "We’ve missed you and have been looking forward to the moment we can welcome you back!" the post reads regular hours upon their return will be Thursday Folks are encouraged to call 508-672-5795 and place orders in advance so they don't miss out (WLNE) — Fall River police made six arrests Thursday via two separate investigations and search warrants which also resulted in the seizure of multiple illegal firearms and narcotics The warrants were sought in “targeting illegal drug activity firearms and repeat violent offenders,” according to the Fall River Police Department The first warrant was executed at Father Diaferio Village which led to the arrest of four suspects All four suspects were charged with firearms related offenses and Lewis was also charged with possession of Class B and C drugs The juvenile was on house arrest for a previous firearm charge The second warrant was executed at a residence on Blackstone Street where two suspects were arrested for multiple firearm offenses and trafficking cocaine 44 were arrested at the Blackstone Street residence The library has launched its Superhero Costume Contest where kids can design their own dazzling costume using just crayons According to the Fall River Public Library, this contest is for children ages 3 to 12 and official entry forms can be picked up in the children's section of the library at 104 N We HeART Fall River: Celebrate arts and culture at annual festival. Here's what to expect. "A simple outline is provided on the entry form for children to dress-up with their own unique designs," the press release said. "Costume designs can be inspired from anything — it can come from a child's interests or hobbies, to the qualities that make themselves a 'super' kid!" Fall River library's superhero contest: Are there prizes?All entries must be returned to the children's room at the library by 7 p.m. on May 12. Prizes will be awarded in three categories: ages 3 to 5, ages 6 to 8, and ages 9 to 12. And the winners will get to see their entries displayed throughout the day at the Fall River Public Library's annual Comic-Con on May 24, from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For more information, contact the children’s room at 508-324-2700, Ext. 4. PIERRE.S.D.  – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley confirms that the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), at the request of the Fall River County Sheriff’s Office, is investigating an officer involved shooting that occurred Friday, May 2, 2025.adButlerLazyLoad("1145823004214588252",100,["438081","438081","438081"],"177041"); Friday morning’s incident involved the Oglala Sioux Tribal Police and occurred during a vehicle pursuit that started on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and traveled into Fall River County. One person received non-life-threatening injuries. No law enforcement officers were injured. “Authorities are searching for the suspect who is still at-large in Nebraska, and there is no known threat to the public in South Dakota,” said Attorney General Jackley. “Our first priority is to apprehend the suspect without further incident, and then DCI will investigate the portion of the incident that occurred in South Dakota.” The DCI is being assisted by the FBI, the South Dakota Highway Patrol, and the Fall River County Sheriff’s Office. The Oglala Sioux Tribal Police are cooperating with the investigation.adButlerLazyLoad("1463784602682130254",100,["438081","438081","438081"],"177041"); In its investigation, DCI will process the crime scene, conduct a forensic examination of all collected evidence, interview officers and witnesses, and review all video cameras from the area. After the investigation is complete, the DCI will issue a shooting summary in the case. This is the second Officer Involved Shooting in South Dakota this year. MITCHELL, S.D. (MITCHELLNOW) The Mitchell City Council will meet at 6 p.m. today to […] Authorities in Mitchell, South Dakota, arrested 21-year-old Travis Bullington after a high-speed police chase involving a stolen red pickup truck reported out of Brookings County. The pursuit led officers through city streets and into rural Hanson County, ending in a cornfield after Bullington rammed two police vehicles SD Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources Board of Water and Natural Resources meeting As warmer weather increases pet and wildlife activity, South Dakota health officials are urging residents to remain vigilant about rabies. Though cases have declined over the past 50 years, the virus remains a public health concern. South Dakota Housing’s Grants for Grads program is nearing its May 30th deadline, offering recent college graduates up to 5% of their loan amount toward a first home purchase. Your GPS did not respond. Be sure you have your GPS enabled and try again. FALL RIVER — Twenty-eight softball players from the Fall River area have been selected to the 2025 Herald News Fan's Choice mid-season Player of the Year ballot This poll is for athletes from six different high schools — Atlantis Charter, Joseph Case, Diman, Durfee, Somerset Berkley and Westport Supporters of the schools and athletes can visit heraldnews.com to vote for the athlete of their choosing with the winner announced on heraldnews.com and X (formerly known as Twitter) vote now and often for your favorite choice Vote: 18 athletes up for Herald News Softball Player of the Week for April 21-27 More: Top notch stars, here are 15 Fall River area softball players to watch in 2025 Vietnam veterans gathered at the Bicentennial Memorial Park on Wednesday to mark the 50th anniversary of the fall of Saigon marking the end of the Vietnam War and the reunification of Vietnam under communist control Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan joined veterans commemorating the event at the Vietnam War Memorial was massive exodus of refugees and the withdrawal of U.S As news of the death of Pope Francis spread across the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River Monday morning Catholics headed to Mass and reflected on his legacy He really welcomed everyone to the church,” said Swansea resident Carl Sawejko who was raised Catholic and played the keyboard then the organ when he could reach the pedals He hopes to see another Pope continue the legacy of inclusion that marked his papacy Sawejko said he was a Pope who advised others “not to condemn people.” He recalls hearing Pope Francis advocate for gay rights and remembers it as “a powerful moment.” Sawejko remarked that the Pope’s namesake is one that reflects his willingness to extend indiscriminate grace to all and to live a modest life with minimal possessions “He wanted to be with the people,” Sawejko said said she always wanted to meet Pope Francis "I loved how humble and caring he was and everything he stood for and especially how he always tried to include everyone." His actions inspired her to believe "We should all care for one another really believe we should all care for one another It doesn’t matter what your status in life is or where you come from The world would be a better place if we all did that I was always touched by the way he cared for immigrants" she hope he is as understanding and as inclusive as Pope Francis was Manuel and Maria Amelia Tavares had just exited the early morning Portuguese Mass at Our Lady of Carmel Church in New Bedford said in Portuguese that all the world will miss him who is 80 years old and is a retired instrument maker for Johnson and Johnson Manuel said that all the popes throughout his life have been important to him da Cunha has shared the following reflection on the passing this morning I ask all of the faithful of the Diocese of Fall River to join me in praying for the repose of Pope Francis whom God has called home to his eternal reward We remember with gratitude the extraordinary life and ministry of this faithful servant the first impression he gave to the world was of a humble servant of God and the Church At his first appearance on the balcony of the Apostolic Palace in Rome to greet the people gathered in St his actions already signaled that he was a profoundly spiritual and humble man In a gesture that remains indelibly marked in people’s mind he bowed down and asked them to pray for him headlines around the world captured that gesture and focused on the virtue of humility I had the honor of meeting Pope Francis just a few months later when he presided at World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro One of the events included his meeting and lunch with all Brazilian Bishops I was able to get a ticket to take part in that meeting and luncheon I was able to greet him personally and have a picture taken with him on that memorable occasion Another unforgettable experience I had was when the bishops of New England gathered with him at the Vatican during our Ad Limina visit in 2019 each of us addressed a question to him and he patiently answered each one giving an in-depth answer no matter what the subject was each of us had the opportunity to offer a personal greeting Pope Francis leaves a legacy that will remain with the Church and the world for generations to come His emphasis on the mercy of God and the spirit of Synodality in the Church are trademarks of his papacy and his humble personality He touched the hearts of countless people with his love let us pray for Pope Francis and commend him to the Lord who chose him to serve as his Vicar on earth let us also pray for the Church and for the next successor of St Members of the Diocese of Fall River react"Just yesterday on Easter Pope Francis said that we're not made for death and for life … it could seem to be a strange confluence of events celebrating Easter yesterday and the death of our pope today death is simply the time when we enter into eternal life through our faith in Jesus Christ but also a time for us as believers in Jesus to remember what his resurrection and Easter is all about." of Holy Name Church and School in Fall River "I'm just incredibly grateful for the ministry of Pope Francis so it's obviously sad when our father dies But grateful that he's going to the Father's house." but then during prayer I recognized that the timing was amazing because just yesterday we celebrated the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and in my heart and mind I recognize that Pope Francis has also reached his glory and he will be in heaven meeting our Father." even though you are somewhat prepared for it with an elderly person that's been very ill it still comes as a shock and it's very sad It's a time for our church to remember him for his emphasis on mercy I think that's the message that people take from his papacy And it's a time for choosing for the world and for hope." Surprise because even as recently as yesterday he was in the 'pope mobile' he was greeting crowds and my wife and I had been talking just recently about him seeming to be making a recovery." Announcement of Pope Francis deathCardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber, announced the Pope's death from the Casa Santa Marta with these words, according to Vatican News: What to know about Pope FrancisBorn Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires to Italian immigrant parents, Francis rose through the ranks as a Jesuit priest in his home country of Argentina. Elected in March 2013, Francis was the 266th pope the first pope from the Americas and the first born outside of Europe in over a millennia He is remembered as a humble reformer who sought to make the Catholic Church more inclusive he was praised and criticized for commenting on political issues Francis was admitted to the hospital on Feb 14 after a case of bronchitis lasted longer than a week According to updates issued by the Vatican he had been struggling to speak and even breathe during public appearances His hospitalization included multiple attacks of “acute respiratory insufficiency.” The pope was released from the hospital March 23 and had been back to work on a shortened schedule FALL RIVER — Fall River Public Schools has needed to accommodate students arriving to the district at the same time it contends with increasing expenses — especially the cost of transporting students to and from school A joint meeting between the City Council and the School Committee on April 8 was intended to spark dialogue between members of the school board and councilors and it lived up to its promise when it came time to unpack public school system’s budget line items including the $13,118,324 transportation budget with additional costs that add to $15,876,000 it cost roughly $8 million to bus students to school the school board has been short of its budget goals the city has stepped in to provide the difference Re-measuring the distance: Fall River must change how it measures school bus mileage. Will this affect students? City councilors sought to scrub the cost of budget items not yet considered “net school spending,” and therefore is not included in the minimum required amount set forth by Chapter 70 of Massachusetts General Laws each school district must spend annually The district covers the costs of transportation using a mix of grant and operational funding “I am horrified at the burgeoning cost of transportation,” School Committee member Thomas Khoury said at the meeting Transportation that fails to get students to school translates to poor attendance The meeting revealed that the $15 million expense was fed with $13.1 million in operating money, $1.4 million in McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Act funding, and $1.4 million in Circuit Breaker Program funding $750,000 was considered “in flux” by the school department’s Chief Operating Officer Kenneth Pacheco who said the money would be requested should bus routes remain their usual length or more students fill school bus seats during fiscal 2026 When asked if he thought $750,000 was sufficient the school department’s chief financial officer expects the state to reimburse between $1.4 million and $1.5 million to the district and a portion of out-of-district transportation Some members of the school board were prepared to ask the City Council for more money — “about $3 million” more School hack: Fall River schools chief says no insurance for cyberattack; says computer system remains down Pacheco admitted that due to high rates of ongoing construction More bus routes have been added in recent years A total of four busing vendors have been used historically and 30 buses currently run “door-to-door routes,” Pacheco said if they made more stops to fill the empty seats but it won’t impact students who currently take the bus New methods of measuring the distance from school will only apply to new students “There’s a few new techniques,” said Pacheco when discussing what could be done to combat the rising costs of several busing vendors and the increases in preschoolers now taking the bus curtailing the length of routes and ride time for students The addition of preschoolers now taking the bus have increased and 10 new buses with built-in car seats to accommodate younger students who need them and electric buses awaiting an inspection by the Department of Motor Vehicles will be placed on the road Fall River’s once-walkable neighborhood schools have been replaced by “mega-schools,” said Pacheco Superintendent Dr. Tracy Curley said there will “definitely” be plans to redistrict schools “We anticipate making some changes,” which may include moving some of the boundaries where students are assigned to school Moving special programs that could “live anywhere geographically” in the city may take place especially programs that require transportation families in the community will be invited to chime in but schools want to keep what they haveThe City Council and School Committee and local delegates to lobby for transportation costs to be eligible for and included within net school spending for Gateway Cities allowing the city to “trim” state and federal funding In a great tug-of-war between city and school spending shaving even $2 million off transportation costs could save that money for the city operating budget “I’m not saying the schools don’t need it,” to which City Councilor Shawn E Cadime agreed that the council has always backed school funding where required but if the city deflects it those costs and lumps it under the allocated net school spending Leaders in the Law Fall River judge jails defense attorney over ‘attitude,’ ‘body expressions’ Athanassiou grins and bears his time in a holding cell after he’s found in contempt of court A judge rules that an ex-CFO is entitled to indemnification A judge cannot use his equitable powers to disturb a voluntary acknowledgement of paternity once the deadlines[...] The Superior Court's Business Litigation Session is adding new technology to streamline evidence presentation [...] Did defense counsel stumble out of the gate in Karen Read’s second murder trial by once again engaging in an[...] The 1st Circuit ruled that marijuana odor gave police reasonable suspicion to extend a traffic stop In the nearly seven years it has been in effect Massachusetts’ updated equal pay law has gotten little if a[...] Sign up for your daily digest of Massachusetts News Supreme Court recently heard oral argument on whether the Catholic Church should be permitted to launch the country’s first publicly funded religious charter school Would allowing such a school violate the Constitution’s ban on government-established religion View Results A judge rules that an ex-CFO is entitled to indemnification A judge cannot use his equitable powers to disturb a voluntary acknowledgement of paternity once the[...] but a preposterous legal argument is not funny The Superior Court's Business Litigation Session is adding new technology to streamline evidence pre[...] Did defense counsel stumble out of the gate in Karen Read’s second murder trial by once again enga[...] The hearing on the formal disciplinary charges filed against Judge Shelley M The 1st Circuit ruled that marijuana odor gave police reasonable suspicion to extend a traffic stop,[...] In the nearly seven years it has been in effect Massachusetts’ updated equal pay law has gotten l[...] Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly provides 24/7 legal news coverage and events honoring top legal professionals Get our free MLW e-alerts & breaking news notifications Subscribe for access to the latest digital and special editions At a joint meeting of the School Committee and City Council on Tuesday afternoon Superintendent Tracy Curley told officials “We will be without service for the rest of the week.”  The cyberattack was discovered Monday leaving the district without access to email or the internet Curley also told city officials they do not have insurance to mitigate fallout of what happened; the cost of data recovery will need to be paid out of pocket “We will know more in the next couple of days and whether there is a cost attached to getting up to fully functional again,” Curley said 'No excuses': Fall River schools chief Curley on MCAS, staffing shortages, bullying Sources inside the school system say students have not been allowed to use the internet or their Chromebooks or carry those computers into classrooms; many students have been doing lessons on paper only The schools’ phone lines are still operational Some schools in the district were meant to start MCAS testing this week — that has since been postponed It is unknown if the cyberattack will be resolved before the district leaves for April vacation on Thursday Other schools and even police have been victims of ransomwareIn a statement Monday night there is no evidence that any student or staff personal data was accessed or misused we will immediately notify anyone who has been affected.”  She also stated that law enforcement is involved in the investigation Curley has not specified the exact nature of the cyberattack or if hackers are demanding a ransom; other local school systems and government agencies have fallen victim to ransomware attacks where data is encrypted or locked and hackers will only decrypt or unlock it if paid a ransom It’s not the first time that network systems at local organizations have proven vulnerable to attacks from hackers In 2013, Swansea police paid off scammers who encrypted several files in their computer system and held them for ransom In 2019, the city of New Bedford suffered a major ransomware attack with criminals demanding $5.3 million in Bitcoin The city counteroffered $400,000 from insurance proceeds; when this was rejected the city worked with tech support to successfully recover the data The Fall River Water Department is letting the public explore its oldest properties including the city’s castle-like water tower and its 19th century pumping station on the banks of the North Watuppa Pond A food truck will be on site for those who want to grab a bite Protected area: Visitors roam Fall River's Interlachen and ice house ruins is a 120-foot stone tower visible from Stonehaven Road The tower’s interior features a winding staircase leading to a balcony near its top It was used to pump water to some of the city's highest-elevated neighborhoods Visitors will be allowed to climb to the top and see a 360-degree view of the horizon it's possible to see across Mount Hope Bay and into Rhode Island to the west and the Watuppa Ponds to the east and south The city's original pumping station which began operations in 1873 is at the far end of Bedford Street The ornate granite building was home to equipment that drew in water from North Watuppa Pond and fed it into the city’s water system which is visible to drivers headed along Route 24 North contains antique pumping equipment from its early days Visitors can inspect the machinery and learn how it worked Open for inspection is the city’s Water Department maintenance facility replaced an aging headquarters built in the 1920s The facility contains the Water Department’s offices Drinking water: Fluoride is under the microscope. Which SouthCoast communities add it? The city’s water treatment facility is located near North Watuppa Pond The building is where the city’s drinking water is processed before being delivered to homes Visitors can see the process by which the pond’s water is treated to make it safe and drinkable Parking is limited at the Water Department’s headquarters Visitors can park at Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School Visitors can walk the grounds from one spot to another and transportation will be available for those who need a ride There’s no fee or registration needed to take part FALL RIVER — After an hourlong debate that was launched by colorful infighting between council members, the City Council rejected the appointment of Kelly Furtado as the Fall River Police Department chief of police at its April 8 meeting Police officers filled the majority of seats in the City Council chambers in an unprecedented show of support for Furtado who had been serving as the department’s interim chief since Oct following former Chief Paul Gauvin being returned to his prior rank of captain in September 2024 Arguments in defense of both the third-party investigation conducted by Daniel Bennett’s Comprehensive Investigations and Consulting LLC that resulted in Gauvin’s termination on March 31 — and Furtado’s tenacious ability to lead with integrity and boost officers’ morale — were hurled between city councilors broken only by City Council President Joseph D Furtado could be seen shaking her head as City Councilors Cliff Ponte and Shawn E Cadime railed against interdepartmental “cliques” that ousted Gauvin using “intimidation tactics,” according to Cadime at the same time Furtado served as interim chief Mayor Paul Coogan recommended Furtado for the role in an official letter to the council but the council wasn’t prepared to act on impulse took aim at the events pertaining to Gauvin’s investigation to wield as a measuring stick to evaluate Furtado’s performance to date Councilors voted to send a letter to Coogan Coogan says his administration is ”looking at options,” and wishes to act in the best interest of the city 'We promote the best': Kelly Furtado becomes Fall River's first female police chief Councilors call for a fair interview processPonte maintained that what happened to Gauvin “wasn’t right,” adding that eliminating politics and changing the culture of the department were a must Cadime and City Council Vice President Linda M took turns deducing the process that escalated allegations of Gauvin’s conduct through Lt director of the Office of Professional Standards within the police department Those allegations were brought before Nick Macolini who turned the reported misconduct in to a consulting firm which over the course of two months generated a 90-page report The report stated that Gauvin stored three unregistered weapons in his station locker and left a knife and a loose bullet in the drawer of the desk Furtado inherited as interim “We had confidence in the chief,” Macolini said adding that the administration “was seeing the results they wanted to.” When asked by Cadime what metrics were used to furnish an evaluation “Even though you say it’s not a reflection of Furtado,” Pereira said to Macolini in regard to a presumed lack of a transparent hiring process Ex-Fall River police chief Gauvin fired: Accused of threatening new chief, report says City Councilor Laura-Jean Sampson spoke in support of Furtado’s efforts to increase morale and lead the department on a new trajectory of community policing reframing negative associations with police as positive “The speculation put on this chief is so disrespectful and unwarranted,” she said who had served 31 years with the city department and is a Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training-certified special police officer recalled Furtado’s 37-year tenure with the Fall River Police Department “Her hard-knock approach to problem-solving and working with professionals is often a commodity not found in police work.” City Councilor Michelle Dionne floated an idea: “Let her stay,” but ultimately decided that Furtado deserves a fair interview apart from recent events that have mired the department and raised questions over its transparency and integrity What's in the full report? Ex-Fall River police chief accused of theft, intimidation but public safety is paramountPublic safety was emphasized as councilors later voted to ask the mayor to initiate a new hiring process Fall River police chiefs have notoriously come and gone In 2021, Cardoza, 54, retired from the "beleaguered" department, according to previous reports He was named police chief in June 2020 after a long career with the FRPD including 12 years leading the major crimes unit as police captain and attending the FBI National Academy before being tapped for the top job by Coogan Gauvin had served as the interim chief before the taking the helm after Cardoza’s departure I want our people to be safe,” City Councilor Andrew Raposo said at the meeting “What do you want to do?” If you need an answer to this age-old question for making plans In Things To Do, we take a look at, well, things to do, happening every week in the Greater Fall River area and around the SouthCoast And we’re not only taking a look at what’s happening this week we’re also giving you a heads up for events that are coming soon we’ve got a look at some of the special events happening during AHA a craft you can do with your mom/mom-figure for Mother's Day and even the chance to see night-blooming flowers on a full moon hike So when someone asks you what you want to do Celebrate history, art, and preservation at AHA! Night at New Bedford Whaling MuseumCelebrate ArtWeek and the Preservation Celebration with free access to the entire New Bedford Whaling Museum Explore the museum and enjoy hands-on art activities (available from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.) with art stations in the Jacobs Family Gallery Film to television: 'The Holdovers,' filmed in Fairhaven and New Bedford, to become TV show. Everything we know. Stop by the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center, 38 Bethel St., for a retrospective on “The Barnacle,” an independent magazine that covered the New Bedford and Fairhaven working waterfronts The presentation will be followed by a Q&A session Admission to the center is free as part of AHA The Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum game night will be held on the tented garden patio featuring family-oriented games from 4 to 6 p.m. and games for guests 21 and older from 6 to 8 p.m Guests are encouraged to assemble teammates The museum will provide classic board games and teammates as needed RJD will be hosting its annual Mother’s Day tea on Saturday Groups can enjoy a spring outing in the garden Parties of two to eight people are welcome for seating under the tent Tickets are $45 for museum members and $50 for the public For more information about these and other events, call 508-997-1401, or visit https://rjdmuseum.org/ Afternoon of art and culture: Celebrate arts and culture at annual We HeART Fall River Festival. Here's what to expect. Upcoming concerts at Narrows Center for the ArtsThe Narrows Center for the Arts Singer-songwriter Vanessa Collier will be performing at the Narrows on Friday, May 9, at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $40 in advance and $43 on the day of the show. Find tickets online at https://tinyurl.com/mtzz2dev The John Allmark/Dino Govoni Quintet will be performing there on Saturday, May 10, at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $35 in advance, and $37 the day of the show. Find tickets online at https://tinyurl.com/ywydstyf New Bedford Art Museum, 608 Pleasant St., is hosting a Mother’s Day floral design workshop on Sunday Sign up at https://tinyurl.com/yzdrvp35 South Coast Almanac, the Mattapoisett Land Trust, the Buzzards Bay Coalition, and the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra have teamed up to bring “Life & Death of the Salt Marsh” to life as guests walk along the marshes of Mattapoisett the classic book by John and Mildred Teal will be in the spotlight highlighting the challenges that salt marshes continue to face at the Brandt Island Cove District in Mattapoisett Adam Jeffreys of the NBSO will be there for a presentation will perform a violin piece with the backdrop of the marsh behind him This event is sponsored by the Mattapoisett Cultural Council Although the event is free, registration is required at https://tinyurl.com/27c5z9y9 Singer-songwriter Eddie Dillon will perform selected songs from his new all-original album “All For a Song” at the Shepherd Center for the Performing Arts The concert will also include other old and new songs from his catalog For tickets, and more information, visit https://theshepherdcenter.org/ The Choir School of Newport County will present its 10th annual spring concert This year’s concert will include a mix of classical and secular works around the theme plus a video montage of the choir’s 2024 educational tour to Argentina Guests will also hear from the recently-restarted Angel Choir training division For more information, visit https://www.choirschoolri.org/events The Stone Church Coffee House at the First Congregational Church is closing out its concert season with Mike + Ruthy on Saturday Folk duo — and husband and wife — Mike Merenda and Ruth Ungar will their story-filled folk sounds to the stage Tickets are $25 per person (students are half price; children 5 and under get in free) Walk under the glow of the full Flower Moon and enjoy the beauty of Westport Woods on Monday Learn about spring flowers that emerge at night Guests should be aware that the ground can be wet Parking will be available in the lot at Westport Woods Space is limited, so be sure to register online at https://tinyurl.com/yys2y9v2 Have a community event or activity you’d like to see featured? Send us an email at  kfontes@heraldnews.com or news@heraldnews.com FALL RIVER — Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon said Wednesday the fire that devastated a historic 1848 house in the city’s Highlands neighborhood was accidental and the fire started in a kitchen on the first floor," Bacon told The Herald News Around 2:45 p.m. on Monday, firefighters rushed to the scene at Locust and Rock streets where black smoke poured from the historic Albert S Bacon said five people evacuated the house safely The house was a three-family; five dogs and two cats owned by the occupants did not escape the fire and died 'My life is gone': Fire destroys 177-year-old historic Fall River home; pets presumed dead the doors and the house’s many windows were covered in sheets of plywood and what appeared to be melted roofing tiles were stuck to the pavement Slate-gray paint was powered off the shingles from the pressure of several fire hoses used to put out the flames granddaughter of Norberto and Odete Medeiros I was raised on the second floor,” she said her wife Carissa and their 4-year-old son Maverick were on the second floor She hoped at least something could be salvaged from the wreckage “The tiles from the ceiling are down – everything is everywhere.”    Nunes said although their possessions and pets are gone The Red Cross was on scene to help the affected occupants Two people taken to the hospital as a precaution for smoke inhalation are fine 'Tragically unpredictable': Fall River firefighters remember their fallen with its distinct five gabled dormers alongside one larger gable wraparound porch and well-tended grape arbor along Locust Street Bacon said it’s still unknown if the house can be saved “Extent of damage won’t be known until engineers are able to assess the structure," he said “It sustained an extreme amount of damage from both the fire and water we used to extinguish it.”  “My grandparents worked so hard to be over here," Nunes said A GoFundMe campaign set up for Langella and her family has so far raised more than $15,700 County Fare restaurant in Somerset posted on Facebook that the house was “home to two of our County Fare family,” and would also donate a portion of its sales to Langella and her family “All of us are in shock at just how quickly life can change,” wrote GoFundMe organizer Stephanie Blakeman “We are doing what we can to help to get them through this impossible time.”  FALL RIVER — A Fall River man was held without bail on April 28 and charged with murder in the 2024 fatal shooting of Joshua Medeiros Kevin Barton, 33, appeared in Bristol County Superior Court and pleaded not guilty to charges of murder Assistant District Attorney Russ Eonas told Judge Claudine Cloutier that after the shooting Wrong track: South Coast Rail staffing shortages lead to canceled trains just one month after launch According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation Marshals Service Fugitive Task Force in Stone Mountain Eonas said that Barton was armed with another firearm and that when agents closed in to arrest him Barton “aimed it in the direction of the marshals.”  and he obviously survived those injuries,” Eonas said Barton was treated at a local hospital and held at DeKalb County Jail Records for DeKalb County Superior Court show Barton was arraigned in June 2024 on multiple charges in that incident including possession of a firearm by a convicted felon or first-offender probationer and obstruction of law enforcement officers Barton pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction and two counts of firearm possession which was reduced to 292 days and time served Who is Karen Read: The woman at the center of a sensationalized murder trial police responded to reports of gunfire to find Medeiros Police noticed “a significant number of spent .40-caliber shell casings” several yards from where Medeiros was found which Eonas argued was evidence that Medeiros was not in close proximity to the shooter Eonas said a police canvass of the area after the shooting resulted in the discovery of a cell phone in a nearby yard Eonas alleged that the phone was identified as Barton’s because “the defendant’s photo was on the open screen .. and the defendant’s credit cards were found in a case attached to that cell phone.”  Eonas alleged that Medeiros has bought drugs from Barton near the site of the shooting and that earlier in the day Medeiros had heard Barton “make disparaging remarks” about him Eonas alleged that forensic reports on blood stains a discovered firearm and other evidence found are linked to Barton and alleged that Barton may have injured his hand during the shooting or as he fled The prosecution argued that given Barton’s history of convictions including a past assault and battery on a corrections officer that Barton "demonstrates a likelihood of flight and .. would resort to violence to continue his flight.”  was ordered held without bail at the House of Correction Bristol County District Attorney Tom Quinn III applauded the efforts of prosecutors and investigators in arresting and prosecuting Barton “I’m very pleased he was apprehended with the assistance of the U.S “It’s just kind of a senseless act of violence Several members of Medeiros’ family and friends were on hand for the arraignment Madison said her father could be light-hearted but was a fighter he would always come back and love you no matter what," Madison Medeiros said Reis said Barton being held without bail gives her comfort and I’m going to see it through,” she said Barton is due back in court May 23 for a pretrial conference and for a motion to compel Barton to submit a DNA sample FALL RIVER — The MIAA released its first tournament power rankings on Tuesday for Fall River area spring sports teams. The rankings only include scores entered into Arbiter, verified by MIAA and schools as of April 29 at 4 a.m lacrosse and tennis teams qualify for the tournament Teams 33 and below qualify for a play-in game with a .500 or better record Here's where the Fall River-area sports teams are currently ranked: Select: 12 athletes up for Herald News Baseball Player of the Week for April 21-27 Herald News and Taunton Daily Gazette sports editor Steven Sanchez can be reached at ssanchez@heraldnews.com You can follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @Chezsports Fall River's public schools face tough decisions when it comes to saving costs on transportation that total nearly $16 million A community garden has gotten the green light in Fall River's Flint neighborhood An Attleboro man accused of scamming 47 people out of $325,750 in multiple fraud schemes related to his Swansea used car dealership was arraigned April 10 in Fall River Superior Court, according to the Bristol County District Attorney's Office. This is what we know, as of this writing Fall River's Airbnb, Vrbo listings make lots of money, but do they harm housing market? Everything Easter: Where to find egg hunts, brunch, desserts and more around Fall River Greater Fall River area girls tennis players to watch this spring Diman Regional Voc-Tech High School is asking for feedback from parents and families regarding proposed changes to its lottery system that admits students each year Fall River Eats took a look at New York Platter reopening, a new pizza place in Swansea, and more When Greater Fall River's ice cream spots plan to open for the season Railway Pie is planning to open in the landmark Somerset train. What to know about the new venture The former site of Countryside Market in Westport is seeing new life, with the opening of Til Dusk Cafe and Bakery. Here's what's on the menu The International Portuguese Music Awards were held on Saturday Madonna was recently seen in a custom Vanson Leathers jacket from Fall River. See the look The Fall River Public Schools internal network was breached by hackers A solution may cost the School Department out of pocket Superintendent Tracy Curley told officials at a joint meeting of the School Committee and City Council on Tuesday that they do not have insurance to mitigate the fallout of what happened; the cost of data recovery will need to be paid out of pocket This is what we know, as of this writing Fall River schools chief: No insurance for cyberattack; says computer system remains down The Taunton man accused of killing a beloved Fall River crossing guard in a head-on collision while driving drunk changed his plea to guilty on Wednesday and was sentenced to state prison told Judge Claudine Cloutier in Bristol County Superior Court that he was guilty of all four charges against him: manslaughter while driving under the influence leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death causing serious injury while driving under the influence and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in personal injury What we know, as of this writing 'A horror movie': Man pleads guilty in drunken crash that killed Fall River crossing guard See the view from Fall River's water tower: Historic properties open for a rare tourGet a look at some of Fall River's historic buildings The Fall River Water Department is letting the public explore its oldest properties Here's what to know about the free open house See view from Fall River's water tower: Historic properties open for a rare tour Looking to immerse yourself in more local history The city will commemorate what has been dubbed the Battle of Fall River with a weekend-long living history event on the city's waterfront Saturday Learn more, here Rally the troops!: History to come alive at Battle of Fall River Reenactment Weekend After an hourlong debate that was launched by colorful infighting between council members the City Council rejected the appointment of Kelly Furtado as the Fall River Police Department chief of police at its April 8 meeting What we know, as of this writing Debate over police chief: City Council won't confirm Kelly Furtado as police chief; calls for fair interview process Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission to Meet April 24 in Fall River TOPEKA – The Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission will hold its next public meeting on Thursday, April 24, 2025 The meeting will begin at noon and continue until all agenda items are addressed The meeting will begin with a department report from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) including a public hearing on proposed 2025-2026 Kansas waterfowl season dates Commissioners will also receive updates on regulations currently in promulgation Workshop session items—topics that may be voted on in the future—will also be discussed The meeting will conclude with an additional opportunity for public comment The complete agenda can be viewed HERE An interpreter for the hearing impaired can be requested by calling the Kansas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at 1-800-432-0698 Individuals with disabilities may request other accommodations by contacting the KDWP at (785) 294-2645 The next commission meeting is scheduled for Thursday, June 26, 2025 at the Dole-Specter Conference Center in Russell non-partisan Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission serves in an advisory capacity in formulating policies and plans for KDWP The commission facilitates public hearings on rules and regulations proposed by the Secretary of KDWP or reject those proposed rules and regulations Back to 4-17-25 Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission to Meet April 24 in Fall River News there is no evidence that any student or staff personal data was accessed or misused,” the statement reads Curley's letter says the Chief Information Officer Scott Cabral became aware of the “cybersecurity incident” earlier Monday on Monday many students were not able to use the school’s wireless network or their Chromebooks Curley said "third-party cybersecurity experts and law enforcement” are involved in an investigation to resolve the hack Police officer in court: Fall River cop pleads not guilty to underage sex trafficking charge Curley said most students and staff will have no internet access across the district Students were due to begin MCAS testing; that schedule “will be altered,” with schools postponing testing due to begin Tuesday Attendance calls for absent students “will be paused,” Curley wrote All schools’ phone lines are still working Curley did not specify the nature of the hack it’s not the first time that network systems at local organizations have proven vulnerable to attacks from hackers hackers break into networks and hold data hostage in exchange for a ransom In 2013, Swansea police paid off scammers who encrypted several files in their computer system and held them for ransom Education cuts: Fall River's Diman will lose $115K as Trump's education cuts shock state. What to know. In 2019, the city of New Bedford suffered a major ransomware attack with criminals demanding $5.3 million in Bitcoin Not sure where to grab a bite to eat? With lots of options around the Fall River area we've got a look ahead at how Fall River's Barrett's locations will be celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week Celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week in Fall River at Barrett’s Alehouse get 50% off any food item when you show your school personnel ID This promotion is available for dine-in and take-out customers Fall River Eats: New hot dog eating contest downtown this summer Choco-Latte Cafe, 40 Sixth St., Fall River, now has tacos Kids can eat for free on Wednesdays at Primo on Water Street kids 12 and under eat for free with the purchase of an adult entree Find something special: Food trucks in the Southcoast serving up authentic flavors and dishes. Where to find them. Black Goose Café, 2160 Main Rd., Tiverton, has secret drink items on the menu: the PB&J Lickety Splits, 719 State Rd., Westport, has a senior discount available only on Wednesdays and Thursdays Guests who are 55 and older get 10% off (must be present to enjoy) Do you have a special deal, menu item, or food-related event to share with local foodies? Send us an email at kfontes@heraldnews.com or news@heraldnews.com.