BOSTON

Poor air quality predicted for some areas on weekend

Environmental officials are predicting heat-related unhealthy air quality for parts of New England over the next two days.

With warmer air and increased humidity, the poor air quality is predicted for Friday and Saturday in western Connecticut, southwestern through northeastern Massachusetts, southeastern New Hampshire and along the coast of Maine, from Kittery through Acadia National Park.

Exposure to elevated ozone levels can cause breathing problems, aggravate asthma and other lung diseases, and make people more susceptible to respiratory infection.

To help reduce ozone levels, environmental officials urge people to use public transportation and avoid the use of small gasoline-powered engines, such as lawn mowers and tractors, chain saws, power washers, string trimmers and leaf blowers. They also urge people to refrain from strenuous activity, especially children and adults with respiratory problems.

WESTFIELD, Mass.

Officer: AC blowing hot air killed nine dogs in kennel

An investigator says a malfunctioning air conditioner at a Massachusetts kennel has caused nine dogs to die from heat stress.

Westfield animal control officer Kenneth Frazer said the deaths were “a tragic accident.”

Frazer says he, a Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals investigator and an air conditioning technician found the unit’s coil frosted over, causing it to blow hot air.

MSPCA spokesman Rob Halpin also said Friday it appears the July 5 deaths were an accident.

Coggin Creek Stables owner Brenda Coggin says the air conditioner was emitting a mist and chemical odor when she found her Australian shepherds. The dogs bled through their noses, likely from broken blood vessels.

CONCORD, N.H.

British aerospace trade event draws nine firms from region

Nine companies from New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine have taken part in the Farnborough International Airshow in England, a big trade event for the aerospace and defense industries.

Tina Kasim, project manager for the New Hampshire Office of International Commerce, said the aerospace and defense sector is one of New Hampshire’s fastest growing industries.

Corfin Industries of Salem, EPTAM Plastics of Northfield and Keipura Aviation Corp. of Littleton were part of the Best of New England booth. Their attendance was made possible through a grant from the state Trade Export Program offered by the U.S. Small Business Administration.

“While we have connections in the industry, this has provided a great opportunity to make new ones,” said Don Tyler, managing director of Corfin Industries of Salem. The 80-employee company provides component preparation services to the defense, medical and telecommunications industries. “Being here shows that we are serious about doing business in Great Britain and Europe.”

Tex Tech Industries of Portland, Maine, also attended.

Vermont companies at the show included Liquid Measurement Systems of Georgia; Mansfield Heliflight of Milton; MicroStrain of Williston; Concepts NREC of White River Junction; and Mobile Medical of St. Johnsbury. The show south of London is held in even-numbered years and is the sister event to the Paris Airshow. At this year’s show, which ended Thursday, British tycoon Richard Branson of the Virgin Galactic empire announced he and his two children will make a journey next year aboard the SpaceshipTwo.

KEENE, N.H.

Corrections officer charged with sneaking drugs into jail

A New Hampshire corrections officer has been charged with smuggling drugs into the Cheshire County Jail.

Keene police and jail officials say they caught 23-year-old Shane Stockwell of Swanzey taking a delivery of drugs outside the jail on Wednesday night.

Police have not said what kind of drugs were involved.

New Hampshire Public Radio reports Stockwell has been released on bail and is scheduled to be arraigned on Aug. 1.

— From news service reports