24 people hospitalized in Rhode Island rehab center fire

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — A fire at a respiratory and rehabilitation center in Rhode Island has sent 24 people to the hospital and displaced about 40 residents, authorities said.

The fire began Thursday at about 9 p.m. at Genesis Respiratory and Rehabilitation Center, Coventry Fire said. It was contained to one room, causing the alarm and sprinkler system to go off, authorities said.

Coventry Fire Chief Frank Brown said 24 residents were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation, and about 40 others were temporarily relocated to other facilities because of water damage from the sprinkler system, WPRI-TV reported. It is unclear what facilities rehoused displaced residents.

About 100 residents live at the facility in Coventry, about 15 miles (24 kilometers) southwest of Providence. According to its website, the center provides its patients with access to respiratory therapists, ventilators and piped-in oxygen.

The State Fire Marshal’s office is investigating the cause of the fire.

Family of man killed by police sues to release information

FALL RIVER, Mass. (AP) — The family of Anthony Harden, who was shot and killed by Fall River police in November, is suing the district attorney over the refusal to release information about the investigation that cleared the the officers involved.

A statement from the family’s attorney, Eric Mack, said, “The D.A.’s denials of our requests are disingenuous and in direct violation of the law.”

Gregg Miliote, spokesperson for the Bristol County prosecutor’s office, said that District Attorney Thomas Quinn has communicated with the Harden family throughout the investigation and also gave the family a copy of the report before its public release.

Anthony Harden, 30, was shot and killed in his bedroom after police received a domestic complaint two days prior from his girlfriend, The Herald News reported Wednesday.

Two officers attempted to arrest Harden when he allegedly attacked one of them with a knife. He was shot twice by an officer, the newspaper reported.

Harden’s family has called for transparency from authorities after the investigation’s initial report was released and signaled the shooting was justified.

Mack said that the family’s independent autopsy also contradicted the district attorney’s description of where Harden was shot.

Quinn’s office has denied the Harden family’s repeated requests for the investigation’s documents to be released publicly, citing issues of privacy and an ongoing police investigation.