Category: News

Covid-19 news

State health officials reported 310 new positive cases of Covid-19 in New Hampshire on Aug. 12, the highest number announced in a single day since April 22. During an Aug. 12 press conference, state epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan said that New Hampshire had averaged between 160 and 170 new infections per day, a majority of which have occurred in people who are unvaccinated. As of Aug. 16 there were a total of 1,704 active infections statewide, with all 10 counties at substantial community transmission.

Dr. Beth Daly, Chief of the Bureau of Infectious Disease Control of the New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services, also provided an update on vaccine distributions in the state during the press conference. More than 800,000 Granite Staters have received at least one dose of vaccine to date, with around 752,000 of those now fully vaccinated. “While the number of people getting vaccinated each week has slowed down, we do still have 1,000 new people each week who are making that choice to initiate vaccination,” Daly said.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending a third dose of either the Pfizer or the Moderna vaccine for moderately to severely immunocompromised people, according to an Aug. 13 statement from Director Rochelle Walensky. The CDC recognizes about 3 percent of the U.S. adult population as being immunocompromised, including recipients of organ or stem cell transplants, people who are actively being treated for cancer, and those who have an underlying condition that weakens their immune system, such as an advanced or untreated HIV infection. According to the statement, the third dose should be of the same vaccine they originally received, administered at least four weeks after the second shot.

Vetoed

Last week, Gov. Chris Sununu vetoed HB 239, after New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella, as well as all of the state’s county attorneys, wrote to him expressing concerns with the language of the bill as written, according to a press release. “Occasionally, well-intentioned legislation can fall apart because of a few misplaced words or technical language that was left out,” Sununu wrote in his veto message. “Unfortunately House Bill 239 contains a fatal flaw that must prevent it from moving forward. I support the legislative intent to extend the statute of limitations for juvenile victims of first-degree and second-degree assault. However, this bill presents severe negative consequences that could greatly hinder ANY prosecution of first-degree assault in New Hampshire.” According to the release, the bill fails to make clear that the extension of the statute of limitations for prosecutions under RSA 631:1 to a victim’s 24th birthday only applies to juvenile victims. “[The bill] could readily be interpreted to preclude any prosecution for a crime under RSA 631:1 beyond a victim’s 24th birthday,” Formella and the state’s 10 county attorneys wrote in their Aug. 6 letter to Sununu. “As such, cases under RSA 631:1 with adult victims over 24 years of age simply would not be able to be charged or prosecuted.”

Sununu also vetoed SB 141, relative to the procedure for conducting firearm background checks, and HB 334, relative to prohibitions on carrying a loaded firearm on an OHRV or snowmobile and relative to the procedure for conducting firearm background checks.

More Powerball

The New Hampshire Lottery will introduce a third weekly Powerball drawing each Monday starting Aug. 23, with the anticipation that it will increase the number of cash prizes and jackpots awarded each year. According to a press release, the Monday drawing will join the weekly Wednesday and Saturday drawings but will not change the Powerball game odds or set cash prizes. Players will still choose five numbers from 1 to 69 and one Powerball number from 1 to 26. Most recently, Darin Lazzard of Rochester and Margaret Walsh of Atkinson split a winning $1 million Powerball ticket for the drawing on July 24, and William Metzger of Hudson claimed a $1 million winning Powerball ticket for the drawing held on July 10. NH iLottery also saw a $2 million Powerball win on July 10, though there has been no prize claim yet, according to the release.

Police Academy

The Manchester Police Department will be hosting its 34th session of the Citizen’s Police Academy, with the first class scheduled to be held Wednesday, Sept. 15, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Manchester Police Department, 405 Valley St. According to a press release, the academy is an eight-week program that gives residents the opportunity to learn about the role of the police department in the community. It is a classroom format with some limited participation, if you choose. The program is free, but you must fill out an application, and a background check will be required. All classes will be held on Wednesday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. Visit manchesterpd.com and click on the citizen’s police academy link to access the online application.

Charter school grants

Last week the New Hampshire Department of Education announced the first recipients of the federal public charter school grant program. According to a press release, the grants are part of a $46 million federal public charter school grant, and 14 programs applied for the funds. Northeast Woodlands, Spark Academy, Gathering Waters and Heartwood were each selected to receive new start-up grant awards, which can be up to $1.2 million, with an additional $300,000 for meeting department-identified priorities such as opening schools in under-served areas, targeting services for at-risk students, and showcasing unique and innovative educational programs not widely offered in the state, the release said. Founders Academy and MicroSociety received expansion grants, which can be up to $600,000 and provide funds for schools to expand enrollment, grade levels and educational programming. And CSI chartered public school received a replication grant, which can be up to $1.2 million and provide funds to replicate a successful charter program in another part of the state. The department anticipates releasing a second round of funding in the late fall, the release said.

Vaccines at state parks

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, in partnership with the New Hampshire Department of Natural & Cultural Resources, is making it easier for people to get Covid-19 vaccines with the new NH Mobile Vaccine Van. The van will provide free vaccinations at select state parks on select dates now through Sept. 30. Everyone who gets their vaccine at a state park will receive a complimentary day pass to any New Hampshire state park or historic site, valid through December 31, 2022. Visit dhhs.nh.gov for vaccine locations and dates.

Shtudy, which was founded in 2018 by two UNH Durham graduates and whose mission is to help bring more racial diversity to New Hampshire’s tech industry, is hosting the first ever virtual Shtudy Tech Diversity Career Expo to connect tech job seekers of color with companies actively hiring STEM talent, on Wednesday, Aug. 25, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Find more information at shtudy.co/career-expo.

On Aug. 11, Gov. Chris Sununu visited the Inn at Sunset Hill in Sugar Hill to sign SB 105, which established April 8, 2024, as Solar Eclipse Day in New Hampshire.

Local entrepreneur Melissa Davis is opening up the first Blo Blow Dry Bar in the Bedford community. According to a press release, the New Hampshire native has returned to the Granite State after a 20-year hiatus and saw the need for a high-quality blow out option in the area. Blo Blow is scheduled to open on Friday, Aug. 20, in the Bedford Grove Shopping Center.

The NH Senior Games Annual Track and Field Event will be held at the Gatsas Athletic Complex in Manchester on Sunday, Aug. 22. According to a press release, the day-long event will include sprinting and running events, throwing events like shot put, javelin and weight throw, plus high jump, long jump, triple jump and pole vault. Same-day registration will be available for athletes, and event volunteers are also welcome. Visit nhseniorgames.org.

Covid-19 news

State health officials announced 96 new positive cases of Covid-19 on Aug. 9. The state averaged 168 new cases per day over the most recent seven-day period, an increase of 62 percent compared to the week before. As of Aug. 9, all but three counties in the state were at substantial levels of community transmission.

Body cameras

Last week the Executive Council approved a $3.4 million contract to equip New Hampshire State Police with body cameras, according to a press release. The use of body cameras was one of the recommendations made by the New Hampshire Commission on Law Enforcement Accountability, Community and Transparency, which was established through Executive Order by Gov. Chris Sununu in June 2020 and charged with developing recommendations for reforms deemed necessary to enhance transparency, accountability and community relations in law enforcement, the release said. “This effort provides yet another layer of transparency and accountability in our continued efforts to further bolster public trust in the incredible work done by New Hampshire’s law enforcement officers, who set the gold standard for the rest of the country,” Sununu said in a statement following the contract approval.

Juvenile justice

A new advisory group that will update and replace the State Advisory Group for Juvenile Justice has been formed, Gov. Chris Sununu announced last week. According to a press release, the New Hampshire Juvenile Justice Reform Commission will “assist the state in aligning New Hampshire’s juvenile justice system with advances in scientific understanding of adolescent development and youth offenders.” The group’s primary role is to advise the state on its use of federal juvenile justice grants and supporting compliance with federal juvenile justice requirements. The original advisory group had been in place for more than 20 years, created by Gov. Jeanne Shaheen, and the formation of this new group is an effort to bring in fresh perspectives and ideas, the release said. “The Department continues to transform the state’s juvenile justice system to be a more proactive one that identifies and addresses youths’ needs before at-risk youth become involved with the courts,” said Joe Ribsam, director of the Division for Children, Youth and Families. The advisory will include representatives from the juvenile justice system, including those working within the court system, organizations that work with children and youth, people working in education, youth mental and behavioral health providers, and those who have been or are currently involved with the juvenile justice system. Anyone who meets those requirements and is interested in serving on the commission should email a letter of interest and resume to [email protected].

Housing Commission

Last week the Manchester Board of Mayor and Aldermen approved the creation of a city Housing Commission, following the recommendations made by the Mayor’s Affordable Housing Task Force. According to a press release, this commission will be responsible for following up on recommendations made by the Task Force and continuing its work by “recognizing, promoting, enhancing, encouraging, and developing a balanced and diverse supply of housing to meet the economic, social and physical needs of the City of Manchester and its residents.” It will work with city departments and boards to develop plans for the future while meeting the city’s current housing needs, Mayor Joyce Craig said in the release. The commission will be made up of five members and two alternates. Anyone interested should send a resume and statement of interest to [email protected].

Bias trainings

Last week, Manchester School District Superintendent Dr. John Goldhardt issued a statement in response to requests for public records regarding staff trainings that cover the topics of diversity and bias. “Manchester School District values community members’ desire to better understand our students’ education, which is why we are happy to share the professional development options our teachers and staff get to choose from,” Goldhardt wrote in the statement. A list of those trainings and their descriptors was included with the statement. Trainings on the list were: Safe Schools: Social & Behavioral > Cultural Competence & Racial Bias; Youth Equity Stewardship (YES!): Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Learning for Justice: What Is White Privilege, Really?; Better Lessons: Bias and Privilege: Self-Reflecting and Using our Power for Change; and City Year: Implicit racial bias and cultural competence, as well as a list of Amplify curriculum materials. Links to most of the trainings were included unless the material is no longer accessible. “It should be noted that all training shared in this list … was voluntary and in place prior to the June 25, 2021, enactment of the Right to Freedom from Discrimination in Public Workspaces and Education law,” Goldhardt wrote in the statement.

Mental health care

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services announced last week that it will be requesting an amendment to the Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Access Research and Demonstration Waiver from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. According to a press release, the goal of the proposed amendment is to add coverage for short-term inpatient and residential treatment services for beneficiaries with Serious Mental Illness and to allow Medicaid to pay for short-term stays in Institutions for Mental Disease for beneficiaries ages 21 to 64 with SMI. This would help reduce the use of ERs by Medicaid beneficiaries with SMI while they await mental health care in specialized settings, improve the availability of crisis stabilization services, and improve access to community-based services for Medicaid beneficiaries with SMI, the release said. Prior to submitting the amendment request, DHHS is seeking comment from the public until Tuesday, Aug. 31, at dhhs.nh.gov/sud-imd.

Evictions on hold

The New Hampshire Circuit Court, which just recently resumed eviction proceedings, has paused them again in six counties, in cases that are covered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s partial eviction moratorium. According to a press release, as of Aug. 4, Belknap, Cheshire, Grafton, Hillsborough, Rockingham and Strafford counties are covered by the moratorium, which was put in to place for counties that are considered to have substantial or high risk of transmission of Covid-19. All landlord-tenant cases arising out of those counties that were previously stayed by the moratorium — that is, where a tenant has provided a declaration in compliance with the CDC order to their landlord — will be stayed again,” the release said. All other courts will continue processing and holding hearings in all landlord-tenant cases.

Ann Scholz, who lives on Pleasant Lake in Deerfield and Northwood, has been awarded the 2021 John F. Morten Memorial Award for Exemplary Lake Stewardship. According to a press release from NH Lakes, Scholz was nominated by nine people and unanimously chosen by the NH Lakes selection committee, for the “countless hours she has volunteered over the past seven years preparing grant applications, meeting with town officials, and working with state agencies to implement projects to protect the lake from polluted runoff water.

The YMCA of Greater Nashua will use the $100,000 it was awarded from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to fund outreach and education efforts to build vaccine confidence among city communities that haven’t been vaccinated for Covid-19 and have not consistently received annual flu vaccines. According to a press release, the YMCA will partner with Harbor Care, which hosts regular vaccine clinics at its High Street location, to have two part-time community health workers provide vaccine education at community events in Nashua over the next year. The funds will also be used to recruit and train 13 Vaccine Ambassadors who want to help spread the word about the importance of vaccinations.

The 38th annual Gail Singer Memorial Blood Drive will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 17, and Wednesday, Aug. 18, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel at 700 Elm St. in Manchester. According to a press release, the Red Cross is experiencing an emergency need for donors, and this blood drive honors the memory of Gail Singer, who died in 1984 of leukemia.