Month: August 2022

A grass fire Wednesday afternoon burned a section of Lithia Park. [Photo from City of Ashland website] Illegal fire by the cook caused the fire on Wednesday night A grass fire in lower Lithia Park drew a response from city, county and state agencies, which knocked it down around midnight Thursday. The fire between the park band shell and the playground was definitely human-caused, with the kitchen fire still burning and food actively heating when crews arrived, Chambers said. Some personal items were recovered from the point of origin, but the suspect had already fled the scene, he said. Chambers…

A man has died after being rescued from the pool at Hubbard Park in Meriden, police say. The 72-year-old man was rescued from the pool after 3.30pm on Wednesday. Emergency responders and firefighters responded to the scene to render aid before the victim was taken to Mid-State Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will determine the manner and cause of death. Police said once that is done, they will better understand if there were underlying medical issues that contributed to his death. Police said foul play is not suspected at this time….

US women’s basketball star Brittney Griner was convicted of drug smuggling in Russia on Thursday and sentenced to nine years in prison in a case that has sparked concern. used as a political pawn in Russia’s war against Ukraine. Judge Anna Sotnikova of the Khimki city court handed down the sentence and fined Griner 1 million rubles, or about $16,400. He said the court took into account Griner’s partial admission of guilt, remorse for the act, state of health and charitable activities. The prosecution had requested that she be sentenced to 9.5 years in prison. Before the verdict, Griner apologized…

See Jay Gordon’s work, like this print piece, during Ashland’s First Friday Art Walk at Fiber Arts Collective. Courtesy image In focus: Friday’s first artistic walk Galleries, studios and restaurants in downtown Ashland and its railroad district present new exhibits, host art demonstrations and more from 5-8pm on the first Friday of each month. Art walk maps are available at either location. For a complete list of participating galleries and events, see ashlandgalleries.com. American Trails: The gallery, located at the Columbia Hotel, 250 E. Main St., Ashland, features arts and crafts from the indigenous peoples of North and South America….

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Thursday that the Department of Justice has filed charges against four former and current Louisville police officers in connection with the death of Breonna Taylor. Charges include civil rights violations, unlawful conspiracies, unconstitutional use of force and felonies of obstruction. “The federal charges announced today allege that members of a Police Investigative Unit falsified the affidavit used to obtain a search warrant for Ms. Taylor’s home and that this act violated laws federal civil rights laws, and that these violations resulted in Ms. Taylor’s death.” Garland said at a news conference. Federal charges against…