Aug. 1—The signed photo has hung on the wall of the gift shop at California Living Museum for close to two decades. The image captured by now-retired Californian photographer Casey Christie on June 9, 2000 shows two young boys, their delighted faces pressed up against the window of a new "grotto-style" bear exhibit, and opposite the boys, a California black bear named Digger has his face ...

Aug. 1—STORRS — Robert Burns has yet to take a handoff and burst through the line, catch a pass out of the backfield or throw a block on game day for the UConn football team. Yet the graduate transfer already has made a positive impression since committing to the Huskies in May. "He's an awesome guy...," said running backs coach Kyle Weiss about the new addition to the backfield. "He's very ...

Aug. 1—NORWICH — Lottie B. Scott has always been a dreamer. That creativity and insight helped shape her rise from Longtown, S.C., farm girl to a host of leadership positions over more than half a century, including president of the Norwich Branch of the NAACP and chairman of the Backus Hospital board of trustees. Now, the 84-year-old is donating to the University of Connecticut Library a ...

Aug. 1—All the highs and lows that Mississippi State coach Mike Leach and his "Air Raid" offense experienced last season overshadowed what may have been college football's most persistent player. Aaron Brule led all linebackers in the Bowl Subdivision last season with a whopping 192 snaps rushing the passer, 39 total quarterback pressures and 27 quarterback hurries, with those numbers courtesy ...

Aug. 1—Updated with more information at 5:25 p.m. on Aug. 2, 2021. When Benny Monroe was hired to take over the McMinn County High School football program in 1972, one of his first responsibilities was to fill out the coaching staff with energetic assistants. Through a recommendation he contacted John Mullinax — Monroe knew him only by reputation as a quality young coach — and extended a job ...

Aug. 1—MYSTIC — While it's still in the early stages, the state Department of Transportation is proposing what Groton Public Works Director Greg Hanover considers "major intersection improvements" at the Interstate 95 north and south exit and entrance ramps with Allyn Street at Exit 89. "The plan is to realign the entrance and exits at Allyn Street and install traffic signals at these ...

Aug. 1—TRAVERSE CITY — Michigan's host with the most can be found right here in Traverse City. Airbnb named Joni and Marco Marcantoni the Most Hospitable Host in the state in a recent report. The San Francisco-based platform based its rankings on reviews received from customers for the online marketplace for lodging, primarily used as vacation rentals. Airbnb named the most outstanding hosts ...

Aug. 1—Grand Forks city leaders are considering paying an Idaho company $1 million to turn a now-empty Kmart building into an aquarium — but the company itself is dogged by allegations of mistreatment of animals and mismanagement. City Council members on Monday informally directed city staff to pursue a grant agreement with SeaQuest, a Boise-based chain of aquariums that hopes to turn a ...