The Venus de Milo restaurant and banquet hall remains open for business.

A civil hearing between the owners of the Venus de Milo restaurant and the Swansea Board of Health was not heard as scheduled on Thursday, May 28, after attorneys for owner Monte Ferris Jr. voluntarily dismissed their civil action.

The matter, to be heard in Bristol County Superior Court, was a hearing on a preliminary injunction that has kept the iconic restaurant and banquet hall open despite recent orders from the Swansea Board of Health suspending its food license and demanding it cease and desist from operating.

The Bristol County Superior Court Clerk Magistrate’s office said the hearing had been taken off the day’s list of cases and would not be heard.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Heroes are born each year during the Massachusett Interscholastic Athletic Association state tournament.

In Thursday's Division 1 preliminary baseball game at B.M.C. Durfee High School, Malden senior outfielder Thomas Lynch Jr. put on his superhero cape.z

With two outs and the tying run just 90 feet away, Hilltopper senior Will Labrie hit a line drive in the gap in right center that appeared to heading for extra bases. But Lynch Jr. made a miraculous, diving grab that ended Durfee's season.

"It feels great right now," Lynch Jr. said after the No. 37 Golden Tornadoes stunned the No. 28 Hilltoppers, 3-2, before a large gathering at the Joseph “Skip” Lewis turf baseball field. "It's our first state tournament win since I've been here. It feels good to back up my pitcher."

See more at heraldnews.com.

Johnston officials are scrambling to get the high school’s yearbooks fixed after they were printed with an error on the cover.

Superintendent Scott Sutherland tells 12 News they received 125 yearbooks with “Johnston Senior High Shool” written on the spine.

The error, he said, was made by Treering, the company responsible for the printing.

In a letter to families, Sutherland said the school’s yearbook club reviewed a digital proof and a sample version of the book before it was printed. However, the proof that was provided didn’t include a visible image of the spine.

See more at wpri.com.

Trips on the MBTA commuter rail system, including the South Coast Rail service from New Bedford and Fall River to Boston, will be fare-free every Friday in June, July and August.

The fare-free trips are part of a series of summer promotions announced by the Healey administration earlier this spring that cut costs for regular commuters or people going on day trips.

There are also half-price monthly passes, $1 guest rates and more — but riders should also be prepared for a reduced service on certain days to accommodate trains headed to the World Cup in Foxboro.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

Newly food safety regulations, updated last month, could shut down the Venus de Milo restaurant and banquet hall by suspending its license to operate.

The restaurant and Swansea's Board of Health have been at odds in recent months over issues of food safety, including allegations that it served "raw chicken." The town issued a first license suspension in March, which was successfully appealed. It issued another suspension on May 14 on the grounds that the restaurant was not providing certain food safety logs, then issued a cease-and-desist order on May 19 to Venus De Milo owner Monte Ferris.

But per the town's new food safety rules which came into effect April 9, restaurants can only appeal license suspensions once. Another license suspension cannot be appealed, which shuts the doors indefinitely.

See more at heraldnews.com.

The public is asked for help to find a Fall River vandalism suspect whose photo is posted on the police department's Facebook page. 

Authorities were alerted last week regarding damage to a memorial in honor of a 23-year-old victim who was shot and killed three years ago. Thanks to surveillance footage, investigators identified the culprit as William Acosta Abreu. 

He is considered dangerous and anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is asked to contact Fall River police. 

Swansea resident Camden Huck has graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s Call/Volunteer Recruit Firefighter Training Program.

Huck was one of 40 firefighters from 14 Massachusetts departments to complete the program, according to a community announcement. The graduation ceremony took place at the Department of Fire Services’ Bridgewater campus.

“I'd like to congratulate Camden, who worked very hard to complete the Call/Volunteer training program,” Swansea Fire Chief Eric Hajder said, according to the announcement.

Huck joined the Swansea Fire Department in November 2025 and is assigned to Station 1, according to the announcement. His family has a history in public safety ? his father is a retired police officer, and his brother is also a firefighter at Station 1.

Read more at heraldnews.com.

A man has been arrested in connection with an incident that prompted a massive law enforcement response in a Fall River neighborhood last week.

Kysim Noble, 49, was taken into custody Friday on multiple charges, including armed assault with intent to murder and home invasion, after a search warrant was executed at his Osborn Street residence.

According to police, Noble was wearing clothes that matched the description provided by witnesses at the scene on Lindsey Street earlier that night.

Police are asking for the public’s assistance finding a 20-year-old man accused of vandalizing a murder victim’s memorial in Fall River earlier this month.

In a social media post shared Tuesday, the Fall River Police Department explained that detectives were first made aware of the vandalism on May 18.

The County Street memorial was made to honor 23-year-old Diamonte Odom, who was shot and killed there three years ago.

Detectives uncovered a video shared to social media showing a man purposefully smashing candles and destroying the memorial, according to police.

See more at wpri.com.

New Bedford residents and firefighters banded together Tuesday evening to rally against the city’s plan to close Engine 9.

Mayor Jon Mitchell laid out his proposed budget, which aims to close a $32 million gap with cuts to various services. His proposal calls for the closure of Engine 9 and laying off the firefighters who work there.

Mitchell said it’s a decision he is not making lightly.

“The city’s budget has reached a boiling point,” he said. “We had to make some tough decisions.”

But residents like 80-year-old Carol Strupczewski argue that Mitchell made the wrong decision.

“You’ve got to fight for what’s right,” Strupczewski said. “I sent an email to the mayor and I told him it’s insane to close a fire house.”

See more at heraldnews.com.

A Bristol County Superior Court judge has granted a temporary restraining order allowing the Venus de Milo restaurant to operate, and stopping the Swansea Board of Health from enforcing a license suspension and cease-and-desist order against it.

In a May 19 letter to Venus De Milo owner Monte Ferris, Swansea Health Director Jonathan Abreu said the health board was issuing a cease-and-desist based on allegations of "raw chicken being served to guests, as well [as] poor sanitation and prevention of cross-contamination" at the Swansea Fire Department Ball on May 16.

Abreu states in his letter that Fire Chief Eric Hajder "confirmed he also received multiple complaints from colleagues and guests during the event who experienced issues with raw chicken."

See more at heraldnews.com.

The Board of Selectmen unanimously favored Mitch Ruscitti for the next town administrator, citing his municipal leadership skills and his long-game financial literacy, among other “top qualities” that rival the legacy of Swansea’s previous administrator, Mallory Aronstein. 

At the board’s May 21 meeting, the “burdensome” ordeal of choosing one of three finalists up for the job of managing Swansea’s daily operations was put to rest as Chairman Michael Beaudette led his fellow board members Robert Medeiros and Alanna Solitro in explaining why Ruscitti rose to the top of the candidate pool.

Solitro said there were two of the three candidates that could “do what we need” at a time when Swansea faces financial turbulence, the kind that Ruscitti’s “chops for handling money,” said Medeiros, could calm.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Governor Maura Healey has ordered flags in Massachusetts lowered to half-staff in honor of a fallen firefighter. 

Robert Kilduff died in the line of duty at the scene of a triple-decker fire in Boston's Dorchester neighborhood Saturday night. 

The governor said his death is "heartbreaking" and "a reminder of the dangers firefighters face everyday." 

Flags will remain at half-staff through the day of Kilduff's funeral. 

The price of gasoline is slightly lower but remains high in Massachusetts. 

The average per gallon is now four-dollars-48-cents.  That's down a penny from a week ago. 

According to Triple A the current national average is four-dollars-50-cents a gallon. 

Memorial Day may be seen as the unofficial start of summer, but it holds a much deeper meaning.

It is a day set aside each year to honor and remember the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.

This solemn holiday became a federal observance in 1971 and is celebrated on the last Monday in May each year.

Across the United States, people observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries and memorials, attending parades, and gathering with family and friends to reflect on and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Dartmouth

The Memorial Day Parade will kick off at 9 a.m. Monday at the Town Landing on Gulf Road. The participants will cross the Padanaram Bridge and Causeway, where the VFW Auxiliary will conduct the ceremonial wreath placement.

Fairhaven

The annual Memorial Day Parade steps off from Fairhaven High School at  9 a.m. Monday for the raising of the flag. Then it continues north on Main Street to Riverside Cemetery. At the cemetery, there is a ceremony at the Civil War monument with participation from military and veterans’ groups and others.

Fall River

The Global War on Terror Monument Ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at North Park on Snake Hill. 

The Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony will start at 1:30 p.m. starting from Kennedy Park and heading along South Main Street to Government Center.

New Bedford

The New Bedford Port Society’s annual Fishermen’s Memorial Day Service will take place at 10 a.m. Monday at Pier 3, 51 MacArthur Drive, following a procession from Seamen’s Bethel that begins at 9:30 a.m. In the event of rain, the event will be held inside Seaman’s Bethel.

The parade will form at the intersection of Hathaway Boulevard and Parker Street beginning around 10:30 a.m. before stepping off at 11:30 a.m.

The parade will march east on Parker Street to County Street, where it will turn left and head north on County Street. The parade will then turn right to head east on Pope Street, where it will make its final turn into Clasky Common Park.

Swansea

The annual Memorial Day Parade will step off at 10:30 a.m. Monday. It will begin at St. Francis of Assisi Church on Gardners Neck Road, proceed down Wilbur Avenue, and conclude at Private Joseph Butler Boulevard.

Somerset 

The annual Memorial Day Parade starts at 10 a.m. Monday at Somerset Berkley Regional High School. It steps off at Luther Avenue, travels down County Street to Center Street, and down Center Street to the World War I Memorial for a wreath-laying. The procession then continues on Riverside Avenue to Wood Street, up Wood Street to County Street, and then left to the VFW, where events will wrap up with a short ceremony at the VFW Post 8500.

Westport

Westport’s annual parade on Monday will start at 9:30 a.m. at Westport Town Hall, 816 Main Road, with the placing of a wreath, rifle salute, and playing of Taps at the World War I monument. The half-mile-long parade will then proceed south along Main Road, ending at Beech Grove Cemetery.

More details at heraldnews.com.

St. Mary’s Cathedral in Fall River is getting another boost in its ongoing restoration efforts.

The Diocese of Fall River is hosting its fifth Lumen Christi Cathedral Gala on June 3 at White’s of Westport, according to a community announcement.

The fundraiser supports repairs and improvements to St. Mary’s Cathedral, the mother church of the diocese.

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn III is set to receive the gala’s Luminary Award. Quinn, who is not seeking reelection and will conclude three full terms in January, has been involved with the gala since its inception, serving as its first emcee and a yearly member of the planning committee.

Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha will present the award.

See more at heraldnews.com.

An early morning fire Saturday on Tuttle Street in Fall River has left 10 people without anywhere to live.

Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon said crews arrived to find heavy flames and smoke coming from the second floor and blowing out bay windows. Firefighters quickly extinguished the flames.

One police officer was treated at a hospital for smoke inhalation.

Bacon told 12 News the fire is believed to have been accidental, caused by an electrical malfunction.

See more at wpri.com.

A Boston firefighter died while fighting a 3-alarm fire in Dorchester Saturday night.

Robert Kilduff Junior died after he fell from the third floor of the building.

Kilduff was a veteran among the department, serving there for over two decades.

Those who are now remembering him shared words of his devotion to saving others.

“He was a third generation firefighter who proudly served this city. He was our friend, our brother and a dedicated family man,” Boston Fire Department President Sam Dillon said.

“Bobby was known as one of those guys throughout the department that you could go to for anything. He was just a firefighters firefighter. He would do anything for you, he would do anything for the city,” Boston Fire Department Commissioner Rodney Marshall added.

See more at wpri.com.

Back in 2005, the sporting world witnessed the Chicago White Sox baseball team end an 88-year-old World Series drought.

On the high school scene in Fall River, Floriano Lima took over the coaching ranks for the Diman baseball team that year after several seasons as an assistant.

In the span of over two decades, the Bengals have consistently been in the mix for league championships.

In his final regular-season game as head coach Thursday against league opponent Blue Hills, Lima went out with bang.

See more at heraldnews.com.

The Swansea Friends Meeting House is the oldest historic structure in town, the oldest Quaker meeting house in the state, and as of Wednesday, May 20, it’s one of a handful of historic preservation sites to be named on an annual list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places.

Built in 1701, the historic structure on Prospect Street in Somerset could one day become a “cultural center” and museum for public education, said Richard Peirce, chairman of the Friends of Somerset Historic Preservation nonprofit.

“It really has a lot of meaning for the community,” Peirce said, adding that he’s hopeful when it comes to partnering with town officials to “reach a consensus for how the building could best be used to serve the community.”

See more at heraldnews.com.

Tributes are pouring in for former Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank. 

Governor Maura Healey remembered Frank as "brilliant, fearless, quick-witted, and never afraid to say exactly what was on his mind."  Former President Barack Obama said Frank was "one of a kind" and credited his efforts to help pass the Dodd-Frank Act. 

Frank passed away Tuesday night at the age of 86.

Seven Fall River teens and two Medway teens were arrested mid-day Tuesday, May 19, in connection to a melee at Second Beach in Middletown.

They are facing charges after a gathering of 1,200 high school-aged people at the popular Rhode Island beach led to violence, according to reports from WJAR. Tuesday was the hottest day of the year so far with temperatures breaking records and hitting 93 degrees at T.F. Green Airport, according to the National Weather Service.

This incident occurred about two hours before a disturbance at Narragansett Town Beach around 3 p.m. during which three people suffered minor stab wounds. Two adults were arrested on charges not related to the stabbings.

Police were called to Second Beach at 12:45 p.m. Tuesday to monitor the large crowd.

See more at heraldnews.com.

Barney Frank, the longtime Democratic U.S. House member, has died at 86.  He died from congestive heart failure Tuesday evening at his home in Maine. 

Frank was a pioneering gay rights advocate and a leading figure in the effort to recover from the 2008 Great Recession. 

In a 1987 interview, he became the first member of Congress to voluntarily come out as gay. 

His most notable legislation was the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010.

A primary suspect has been identified in the homicide investigation at a Newport hotel where an 85-year-old woman was found dead earlier this week.

According to Newport police, they were asked by Bristol police Monday morning to notify Terry Costello at Harbor Base Inn that her son, 66-year-old Bernard Costello, had died by suicide after jumping from the Mount Hope Bridge.

However, when officers arrived, they discovered Terry dead inside one of the rooms and immediately ruled her death suspicious. Police later observed she had upper-body stab wounds.

Based on evidence at the scene, police said Bernard Costello is their primary suspect, noting that the incident was isolated and they do not believe anyone else was involved.

See more at wpri.com.

It’s been nearly one year since flames ripped through the Gabriel House assisted living facility in Fall River, killing 10 residents and injuring dozens of others.

Fall River Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon emphasized Wednesday afternoon that he never wants anything like it to happen again.

“As we approach the one-year anniversary of the Gabriel House fire, we’ve been looking for meaningful ways to honor the victims and ensure this tragedy doesn’t repeat itself,” Bacon said.

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

See more at wpri.com.