federal

NEW BEDFORD - Bristol County Sheriff Tom Hodgson says it's "upsetting" that one of his deputies is facing federal charges in connection to the Carlos Rafael case. Deputy Sheriff Antonio Freitas is accused of helping the New Bedford fishing mogul smuggle large sums of cash through Logan International Airport so Rafael could deposit the money in an account in Portugal...

In an industry that has been bogged down with federal regulations, fishing representatives are hoping for a big silver lining with President-Elect Donald Trump. While many across the country have expressed concern with Trump's stance on social issues, Jim Kendall of New Bedford Seafood Consulting is more concerned with Trump's knowledge and understanding of business to put the fishing industry on

BOSTON (AP) - A conservative Christian organization has filed a federal lawsuit challenging a Massachusetts law that prohibits discrimination against transgender people in public restrooms. Alliance Defending Freedom sued Tuesday on behalf of four Massachusetts churches to protect their right to operate their facilities "in a manner that doesn't violate their core religious beliefs... Read Mo

The owner of a New Bedford gym and former Pop Warner Football coach pleading guilty to supplying heroin to area drug dealers has formally entered a plea agreement. According to The Standard Times, Sharik Mendes entered the agreement in U...

A New Bedford gym owner accused of supplying mass quantities of heroin to a drug dealer has had his plea hearing postponed. 39-year-old Sharik Mendes appeared in federal court in Boston Tuesday, ready to plead guilty to charges of conspiracy and heroin distribution...

The Taunton Fire Department will be able to hire seven new firefighters thanks to a federal grant.

BOSTON (AP) — Federal prosecutors say former New England Mafia boss Francis "Cadillac Frank" Salemme has been arrested in the murder of a witness. Prosecutors didn't immediately release details on Salemme's arrest Wednesday. He is expected to make an initial appearance Wednesday in Boston federal court...

Following a U.S. District judge's ruling against the Department of the Interior regarding land in trust, a New Bedford casino advocate is still holding out hope for something big in the Whaling City. Former New Bedford City Councillor David Alves says he sees this case being taken to the Supreme Court...

Federal prosecutors are looking to dismiss charges against the bookkeeper of fishing magnate Carlos Rafael. In a motion filed today in U.S. District Court in Boston, prosecutors are seeking to drop charges against Debra Messier, who was arrested in February along with Rafael for lying to federal authorities about what species and the amount of fish Rafael's boats were catching in order to avoid fe

New Bedford has been awarded a federal SAFER grant. FEMA announced the grants today, and has awarded New Bedford $4.6 million to cover fire department staffing needs. The grant will fund about 21 firefighters over the next two years. New Bedford Firefighter Union President Billy Cabral tells WBSM News a lot of credit goes to Congressman Bill Keating, and Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey for