Category: News

Covid-19 update	As of September 7	As of September 14
Total cases statewide	7,476	7,714
Total current infections statewide	238	291
Total deaths statewide	433	436
New cases	201 (Sept. 1 to Sept. 7)	238 (Sept. 8 to Sept. 14)
Current infections: Hillsborough County	84	93
Current infections: Merrimack County	20	22
Current infections: Rockingham County	55	94

Covid-19 news

On Sept. 4, Gov. Chris Sununu issued Exhibit Q to Emergency Order No. 29, which had been issued on April 9. Emergency Order No. 29 requires state agencies, boards and commissions to submit recommendations to Sununu if any regulatory deadlines should be adjusted in response to the state of emergency. Per Exhibit Q, all continuing education requirements for currently permitted New Hampshire septic system designers and installers who had been scheduled to renew their permits by Dec. 31 have been waived. Exhibit Q also extends certain renewal deadlines for those in the Department of Environmental Services’ Waste Management Division that hold tank operator certifications or hazardous waste coordinator certifications that have expired during the state of emergency.
On Sept. 9, Sununu issued Emergency Order No. 68, an order that expands unemployment compensation to Granite Staters. The order was issued to broaden eligibility for New Hampshire residents collecting unemployment to receive an additional $300 in federal benefits from the Lost Wages Assistance Program, an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on Aug. 8. The next day, during a press conference, Sununu announced that $81 million was paid out to about 57,000 people in New Hampshire through the program.
During the same Sept. 10 press conference, state Department of Health & Human Services Commissioner Lori Shibinette provided an update on the phased reopening statuses of New Hampshire’s long-term care facilities. She explained that long-term care facilities that operate for two weeks successfully in Phase 2 will get to move to Phase 3 if their counties drop below or maintain below 10 cases of Covid-19 per 100,000 residents. Phase 3 allows up to two visitors for each resident at the facility, as well as communal dining and group activities with physical distancing. While long-term care facilities in Belmont and Coos counties were able to remain at Phase 3 of reopening, those in Grafton County fell back from Phase 3 to Phase 2. Facilities in Sullivan County were able to transition to Phase 3 of reopening for the first time, Shibinette said.
Also on Sept. 10, Sununu announced a transfer of $7 million in federal CARES act funding to the New Hampshire Department of Education to support the Virtual Learning Academy Charter School, according to a press release. The public charter school provides online virtual instruction to elementary, middle and high school students in the state. The demand from the school has nearly tripled over the summer, according to the release, with nearly 6,000 students requesting enrollment in more than 18,000 courses.
Details of Sununu’s Emergency Orders, Executive Orders and other announcements can be found at governor.nh.gov.

School funding

The New Hampshire Commission to Study School Funding recently released a report that shows that New Hampshire’s current system for funding schools “may not be working for large segments of students and taxpayers,” according to a press release. The report was prepared by the American Institutes for Research and is meant to guide the commission as it creates a new school funding model. The commission and members of the Carsey School of Public Policy at UNH will examine the report as well as possibilities for more equitable school funding, according to the release, and the commission plans to release its final report later in the year.

Equity in voting

In a letter sent last week to Secretary of State William Gardner, the Manchester Mayor’s Multicultural Advisory Council has expressed concerns about access to voting in the general election. One issue, the letter said, is that immigrants are at risk of missing out on the voting process because materials that explain how to vote are only available in English. “Since expanded Covid-related absentee registration and voting is new and unusual, people who don’t speak English at an advanced level may have difficulty finding out how to exercise their right to vote,” the letter reads. It calls on the state to make the materials available in languages such as Nepali, Swahili, Spanish and French. The second issue is that ballot drop boxes outside of City Hall hours are not allowed. “If there were some drop-off boxes, perhaps at City Hall for a few days before the elections and at the polling places on Election Day, people could drop off their ballots without risk of contracting Covid-19 or having them get delayed or lost in the mail,” the council wrote. The letter invited Gardner to contact the council if he wanted to discuss the matters.

Aluminum tariff

In a letter sent to President Donald Trump on Sept. 8, Gov. Chris Sununu, along with Maine Gov. Janet Mills and Vermont Gov. Phil Scott, asked Trump to reverse the re-imposition of a 10-percent tariff on imports of non-alloyed unwrought aluminum from Canada, according to a press release. The letter said that the tariff will raise costs and reduce competitiveness for aluminum-consuming industries in New England, which would disrupt manufacturing and technical production supply chains. “Ultimately, artificially inflated costs will be passed on to consumers who are already struggling with the economic fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic,” the press release said.

Variance denied

Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics’ Feb. 11, 2021, deadline for completing construction and installation of a regenerative thermal oxidizer at its Merrimack facility, meant to control the emission of perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs), will stand after the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services denied Saint-Gobain’s request for a one-year extension, citing a danger to public health. According to a press release, Saint-Gobain submitted a variance petition for the extension in June, requesting the extension due to delays caused by the pandemic as well as the Town of Merrimack’s appeal of an air permit that was issued by NHDES in February. The variance request was denied, according to the release, because of a state statute that says a variance cannot be granted to anyone who is causing air pollution that creates a danger to public health. “The current emission of perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) and precursors continue to contribute to an exceedance of ambient groundwater quality standards,” the press release said. Saint-Gobain has 30 days from the time of the decision to appeal.

The White Mountains ranked fourth in USA Today’s top 2020 fall foliage destinations, according to a press release. The only other spot in New England to make the top 10 was Stowe, Vermont, which ranked sixth

Concord is hosting its annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day for Concord and Penacook residents on Saturday, Sept. 19, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Everett Arena. Hazardous waste includes cleaners, oil-based paint, pesticides, adhesives, polishes and fuels, according to a post on concordnh.gov. Proof of residency is required.

The Solinsky Center for Cancer at Elliot Hospital in Manchester, which opened in August, received a $100,000 donation last week from Brady Sullivan Properties. The news center offers “state-of-the-art cancer care and treatment,” according to a press release.

Register now to take part in a blood drive for the American Red Cross on Wednesday, Sept. 30, from noon to 5 p.m. at LaBelle Winery in Amherst. Blood donation time slots are available every 15 minutes and all donors will be tested for Covid-19 antibodies, according to a press release. To reserve a donation time, go to redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive.

Covid-19 update	As of August 31	As of September 7
Total cases statewide	7,275	7,476
Total current infections statewide	228	238
Total deaths statewide	432	433
New cases	141 (Aug. 25 to Aug. 31)	201 (Sept. 1 to Sept. 7)
Current infections: Hillsborough County	78	84
Current infections: Merrimack County	16	20
Current infections: Rockingham County	77	55

Covid-19 news

On Aug. 31, Gov. Chris Sununu issued Emergency Order No. 66, extending Emergency Order No. 52, which had been issued on June 15. Emergency Order No. 52 is an order regarding public health guidance for business operations and advising Granite Staters they are safer at home. Emergency Order No. 66 extends that advisory through Oct. 1.
During a Sept. 1 press conference, Sununu announced the launch of an online Covid-19 case dashboard specific to schools in New Hampshire. The dashboard, which can be accessed by visiting nh.gov/covid19, features real-time data on current virus cases that is sorted by schools in the state. You can also search for any specific school’s data by town or by academic level.On Sept. 3, Sununu issued Emergency Order No. 67, an order establishing the Remote Learning Center Verification program. During a press conference, Sununu explained that the program ensures that parents with children enrolled in a school district that has gone remote has safe options available to them. During the same press conference, Sununu announced a new addition to the online jobs portal at nhjobs.nh.gov, specific to schools. “We know that some schools have had difficulties filling … some of their openings as they begin to reopen,” he said, “and so, interested folks can apply for those current job openings through this new portal.”
Sununu also announced that Jerry Little would be leaving his post as Director of the Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery and returning full-time back to the Banking Department. Taylor Caswell, the Commissioner of the Department of Business and Economic Affairs, will replace Little as GOFERR director.
On Sept. 6, the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services issued a press release announcing the investigation of a potential outbreak of Covid-19 at the University of New Hampshire’s Theta Chi Fraternity in Durham. Eleven people associated with the fraternity have tested positive for the virus as of Sept. 6, according to the release. Officials are advising anyone who visited the fraternity since the end of August to seek testing.

MPD chief retires

Manchester Police Chief Carlo Capano announced on Sept. 1 that he will retire after nearly 25 years. “For nearly twenty-five years, Chief Carlo Capano served the City of Manchester with distinction,” Mayor Joyce Craig said in a statement following the announcement. “In his time as Police Chief, he has led the men and women of the Manchester Police Department with honor, addressed challenges head-on, and proved time and time again the safety of our community was his number one priority.” Craig noted that Capano was responsible for implementing body cameras for officers, increasing the number of training opportunities for officers, increasing the police complement and adding more community officers downtown.

Masks for schools

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will provide 229,925 cloth masks to public and private schools in New Hampshire, meant for students who are low-income attending schools that are providing in-person instruction, according to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Education. In August, schools in the state also received 100,000 reusable cloth face masks that were distributed by the New Hampshire National Guard and New Hampshire Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. “In our communications with New Hampshire educational leaders, securing adequate supplies of PPE has been a top concern,” Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut said in the press release. “Health and Human Services has identified masks as one of the important layers of protection that make it possible for our students to return to school safely, along with hygiene, social distancing, and other recommended practices.” Some of the masks will be set aside for schools that are currently providing remote instruction for when they move to in-person instruction.

Rocking the vote

Stay Work Play is encouraging young residents to vote in November through its NH Rocks the Vote nonpartisan campaign, according to a press release. The initiative will use digital media to provide young people with information about how to register to vote and how to vote. The campaign was scheduled to kick off Wednesday, Sept. 9, with a webinar about how to vote absentee, open to anyone interested via stayworkplay.org. Then, on Election Day (Tuesday, Nov. 3), there will be a virtual “get out the vote” live broadcast, also accessible via the website, starting at noon and featuring live entertainment and music, speakers and messages from local leaders.

The public is welcome to attend the public memorial service for former Attorney General and Governor Stephen Merrill, outside the Statehouse Plaza in Concord on Friday, Sept. 11, at 12:30 p.m., according to a press release.

The New England Heart & Vascular Institute at Catholic Medical Center in Manchester has implanted the first Watchman Flx in New England, according to a press release. The release said that the device reduces the risk of stroke in patients who have non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

Londonderry High School has been named the fifth National Banner Unified Champion School in the Granite State, having “demonstrated a commitment to inclusion,” according to a press release from the Special Olympics. The school met the Special Olympics’ 10 standards of excellence to achieve national banner status.

Four-year-olds in the greater Nashua area can now take advantage of a free at-home kindergarten readiness program called Waterford Upstart, funded by a Preschool Development Grant awarded to the United Way of Greater Nashua, according to a press release. The program is designed for children and families who could use extra support.

Covid-19 update	As of August 31	As of September 7
Total cases statewide	7,275	7,476
Total current infections statewide	228	238
Total deaths statewide	432	433
New cases	141 (Aug. 25 to Aug. 31)	201 (Sept. 1 to Sept. 7)
Current infections: Hillsborough County	78	84
Current infections: Merrimack County	16	20
Current infections: Rockingham County	77	55

Covid-19 news

The number of hospitalizations in New Hampshire due to Covid-19 continues to be low. During an Aug. 25 press conference, state epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan said that while just under 20 new infections per day were reported in the previous week, there were fewer than 10 people hospitalized with the virus the day before, on Aug. 24 — the lowest number since early March. “We continue to see good trends in our numbers. But we believe this represents low but persistent community transmission in many areas of our state,” Chan said.

During the same press conference, Gov. Chris Sununu announced that FEMA had accepted New Hampshire’s application to participate in the Lost Wages Assistance Program, just days after the state submitted it on Aug. 21. The program, which was issued through an executive order from President Donald Trump on Aug. 8, provides additional federal unemployment relief of $300, retroactive to Aug. 1. Sununu also announced that the minimum amount of unemployment is being raised to $100 for all Granite Staters, making all filers eligible for the federal benefits.

On Aug. 26, the Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery announced that it is recommending a plan submitted by Sen. Lou D’Allesandro and Rep. Mary Jane Wallner to establish rapid testing sites at community health centers across the state. The following day, during a press conference, Sununu announced that the state will be purchasing 25 rapid Covid-19 test machines to be placed at each community testing center. “The machines are called Quidel Sofia Antigen Rapid Covid test machines,” he said. “We’ve already started looking into buying these machines. … Depending on the backlog, it may be weeks or maybe even a month or so before these devices might be up and running.”

During an Aug. 27 press conference, state Department of Health & Human Services Commissioner Lori Shibinette announced that all long-term care facilities in three New Hampshire counties — Belknap, Coos and Grafton — have entered into Phase 3 under reopening guidelines that were outlined on Aug. 13. Phase 3, Shibinette said, begins once all non-outbreak facilities in that county see a continuous drop in coronavirus cases over a 14-day period, criteria that Belknap, Coos and Grafton all met. “What this really means is the lifting of restrictions around visitors, so having up to two visitors, and then also lessening the restrictions around communal dining and activities,” she said.

On Aug. 28, Sununu issued Executive Order 2020-17, extending the state of emergency in New Hampshire due to the pandemic for another three weeks through at least Sept. 18. It’s the eighth extension he has issued since originally declaring a state of emergency on March 13.

Details of all of Sununu’s Emergency and Executive Orders can be found at governor.nh.gov.

Masks in Concord

The Concord City Council nearly unanimously approved a city-wide mask ordinance during an Aug. 31 meeting via Zoom. After hearing public testimony for nearly two hours, councilors voted 14-1 to require people to wear masks in city buildings and businesses such as retail stores to attempt to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Violators of the ordinance would receive a warning, followed by a fine of $15 for each additional offense. Masks are not required for children under the age of five, nor for those with underlying health issues that would prevent them from wearing one. The ordinance is in effect now through Jan. 2, 2021.

Opioid response

New Hampshire will receive funding for the second phase of the State Opioid Response Program from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, according to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. The grant will cover the first year of funding as part of a two-year, $56 million award that will help the state continue the success of its first two years of SOR funding, which totaled more than $55 million and helped create a better access and delivery system for residents with an opioid or substance use disorder. The first phase established The Doorways-NH, opening up access to services to ensure that no one in the state has to travel more than 60 minutes to begin the recovery process.

According to the release, a CDC survey estimated that about 13 percent of adults have increased their use of substances during the pandemic. “The Doorways continue to see increasing requests for services, with almost 1,000 residents seeking help last month alone,” DHHS Commissioner Lori Shibinette said in the release. The new SOR funds will help expand the Doorways program, and other needs like overnight respite, stimulant misuse and expanding recovery support services will be addressed.

Safe voting

The New Hampshire National Guard is delivering personal protective equipment and election materials to towns and cities to use at polling places in the upcoming elections, according to a press release. The PPE includes masks, face shields, gloves, hand sanitizer and single-use pens and pencils. Other precautions, such as social distancing and sanitation measures, are being taken for anyone who wants to vote in person on Election Day for both the primary and general elections. According to a press release from the Secretary of State’s office, informational mailers have been sent to every household in the state as part of a public awareness campaign to inform voters about their voting options. There are resources for checking registration status, requirements for absentee voter registration, information about how to obtain an Absentee Voter Registration Packet and more. The mailer can be viewed online at bit.ly/2Fjchhi.

5K civil action

The State of New Hampshire has filed a civil action to prevent the Worldwide Push Foundation based in California from promoting or conducting road races in New Hampshire and to refund race registration fees from races that were canceled in 2019 and 2020, according to a press release from the office of Attorney General Gordon J. MacDonald. Worldwide Push Foundation promoted the “Margarita Madness 5K,” scheduled to take place in Loudon on Oct. 12, 2019, and the website and social media posts said the race would benefit the “Worldwide Push (Push Until Success Happens) Scholarship Foundation,” according to the release. The organization allegedly collected thousands of dollars in registration fees but did not obtain the necessary permits and licenses and failed or refused to refund registration fees. In late 2019, WWPF began advertising Margarita Madness 5Ks races at Rollins Park in Concord on July 11 and in Northfield on Oct. 24. “The race on July 11 did not take place, and WWPF has failed to obtain the necessary permits and licenses for the October race. To date, WWPF has collected a total of over $30,000 in registration fees,” the press release reads. The lawsuit claims that WWPF has committed nine violations of New Hampshire charitable trust laws and the Consumer Protection Act, each of which carries a civil penalty of up to $10,000. Anyone who has registered for the Margarita Madness 5K Run/Walk in New Hampshire and has not received a refund can file a complaint with the Consumer Protection Bureau online at doj.nh.gov.

Concord Hospital employees who want to work toward an associate’s, bachelor’s or master’s degree can now get a significant tuition discount at Granite State College, according to a press release. The college also offers a Surgical Technologist Training Program at the hospital that can translate to credits toward an associate’s or bachelor’s degree at Granite State.

The Derry Garden Club recently presented the Community Star award to the Marion Gerrish Community Center, which provides 192 nonprofit organizations rooms for their meetings and is involved with community events such as Derry Fest and Frost Fest, and Derry’s farmers market and annual road race, according to a press release.

NASA has selected proposals from the University of New Hampshire in Durham and Dartmouth College in Lebanon to better understand the sun’s interaction with the space around Earth, according to a press release. Each school will receive $1.25 million to conduct a nine-month mission concept study, and NASA will implement up to two out of five proposals, the results of which will help protect astronauts, satellites and communications signals, according to the release.

A second full-service retail office of St. Mary’s Bank in Nashua is expected to open in mid-October, according to a press release. Part of the Westside shopping plaza, the office will feature new technology in the form of four interactive teller machines, with representatives at the credit union’s remote center in Manchester offering live assistance before, during and after normal branch hours.

Covid-19 update	As of August 17	As of August 24
Total cases statewide	7,004	7,134
Total current infections statewide	279	255
Total deaths statewide	423	429
New cases	164 (Aug. 11 to Aug. 17)	130 (Aug. 18 to Aug. 24)
Current infections: Hillsborough County	127	80
Current infections: Merrimack County	11	23
Current infections: Rockingham County	81	87

Covid-19 news

On Aug. 18, during a press conference, Gov. Chris Sununu announced that the State of New Hampshire will be submitting an application to FEMA to participate in the Lost Wages Assistance Program, an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on Aug. 8 that provides additional federal unemployment relief. Under the program, which is retroactive to Aug. 1, all Granite Staters who get at least $100 per week in benefits would receive another $300 in federal benefits.

During an Aug. 21 press conference, state Department of Health & Human Services Commissioner Lori Shibinette announced the closing of a Covid-19 outbreak that had been at GreenBriar Healthcare in Nashua, leaving just one outstanding outbreak at a long-term care facility, at Evergreen Place in Manchester.

Sununu announced, also on Aug. 21, that all restaurants in New Hampshire can now operate at 100 percent capacity indoors, provided that all guidelines for face masks and social distancing continue to be followed.

Also on Aug. 21, state Attorney General Gordon MacDonald and Business and Economic Affairs Commissioner Taylor Caswell sent letters to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, in regard to a new rule that the latter state is using to tax income earned by non-resident employees who are working remotely. “These comments articulate our serious policy and legal concerns with Granite Staters being taxed in Massachusetts when they have not crossed the state line in months due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” Sununu said in a statement. “It is my hope that this matter can be resolved promptly and in a manner that removes any necessity for New Hampshire to consider legal remedies.”

And the Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery issued a deadline reminder that Covid-19 relief payment requests by municipalities in the state are due by Sept. 15. As of Aug. 21, 51 municipalities in New Hampshire have not yet submitted a Grant Agreement and Reimbursement Request Form, and therefore no reimbursements have been issued.

Insurance rates

The New Hampshire Insurance Department has announced a decrease in premium rates for individual health plans for 2021. For 2020, the second lowest cost silver plan was $404.60, while the second lowest cost silver plan proposed premium rate for the year 2021 is $318.95, representing a 21.2-percent decrease, according to a press release. The decrease in premiums can be attributed in part to the approval of the department’s Section 1332 Waiver, designed to lower rates in the individual market and to provide market stability for the future. The federal government approved the waiver on Aug. 5. Three insurance companies — Ambetter, Anthem and Harvard Pilgrim — have filed rates with the intention of offering individual products on the exchange in 2021 for New Hampshire. The companies have until Sept. 23 to commit to selling plans on healthcare.gov, according to the release.

GoodLife

The state Department of Education has partnered with NextStep Health Tech to launch GoodLife, a mobile application designed to build and strengthen student and social emotional resilience, according to a press release. The app allows students to join communities, set physical and emotional goals, and send and receive positive feedback, all while preserving their anonymity online. In a statement, state Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut said that the app “is designed to harness the power and connectivity of social media to … [equip] young people to tackle anxiety, negativity and a host of other areas that can derail a young person, both online and in person.” NextStep was founded by UNH graduate Sam Warach in response to the passing of his older brother from a prescription drug interaction from medications he was prescribed. The GoodLife app is available free through Google Play and the Apple App Store.

Prosecution units

The Hillsborough County Attorney’s Office now has specialized prosecution units that were created to increase operational performance, according to a press release. The new units include Case Intake & Assignment Units, which reviews new cases coming to the office; a Special Victims Unit, which receives cases relating to domestic violence, child abuse, elder abuse and similar cases where felonies are committed against vulnerable people; a Drug Unit, which receives cases relating to felony offenses arising from the Controlled Drug Act and is involved with investigations of untimely deaths involving drugs; a Major Crimes Unit, which receives cases relating to felony violent crimes such as robbery, burglary, assault, aggravated DWI, negligent homicide, gang-related violence and crimes involving firearms; and a Cybercrime Unit, for the detection, investigation and prosecution of cybercrime.

The Boys & Girls Club of Central New Hampshire in Concord is considering using the former Bon-Ton store in the Steeplegate Mall as a child care and learning center, according to a report from WMUR. As the Concord School District starts the school year with virtual learning, the child care would include support from adults as the kids follow their virtual lessons. The costs are estimated at $135 a week per child, according to the report.

Repairs to the Pembroke Hydroelectric Dam have closed the Suncook Village Main Street Bridge weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to a press release. The closures started Aug. 24 and are expected to last two weeks.

Renovations at the Londonderry Central Fire Station have been completed, according to a press release, and include new equipment bays, a new lobby, a secure Regional Dispatch Center, administrative offices, break room, conference room and a training room, fitness and living spaces, as well as the relocation of the station’s flag poles and the Department’s “Never Forget” Memorial and Last Call bell.

A guided motorcycle ride that starts at 10 a.m. at Stark Brewing Co. in Manchester on Saturday, Aug. 29, will benefit The Way Home, which offers assistance to veterans in Greater Manchester. The Freedom Ride heads to the New Hampshire Veterans Cemetery for a ceremony, and returns to Manchester for lunch, according to a press release.

Covid-19 update	As of August 10	As of August 17
Total cases statewide	6,840	7,004
Total current infections statewide	326	279
Total deaths statewide	419	423
New cases	180 (Aug. 4 to Aug. 10)	164 (Aug. 11 to Aug. 17)
Current infections: Hillsborough County	137	127
Current infections: Merrimack County	13	11
Current infections: Rockingham County	103	81

Covid-19 news

On Aug. 11, Gov. Chris Sununu issued Emergency Order No. 63, an order requiring face coverings for scheduled gatherings of 100 or more people in the state. The order does not apply to children under the age of 2, nor to day-to-day operations for schools, local or state governments or nonprofits, or to gatherings where attendees are seated and separated by at least six feet from any person except that they are a member of that person’s household, party or table.

Although the daily number of new cases of and hospitalizations from Covid-19 continues to fluctuate up and down, the testing positivity rate in the state has remained low, state epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan said in an Aug. 11 press conference. Chan said the rate has stayed at around 1 percent, while the most recent three-day averages prior to Aug. 11 had been below 1 percent. “We do not believe we’re seeing another surge of Covid-19,” he said, but added that Granite Staters should continue to take all precautionary measures necessary.

During an Aug. 13 press conference, state Department of Health & Human Services Commissioner Lori Shibinette announced new reopening recommendations for long-term care facilities in the state. “The goal is to gradually reduce restrictions so that our residents can get back to regular visits from their loved ones,” she said. All non-outbreak facilities had been in Phase 1 since July 1, but on Aug. 13 they entered into Phase 2, which adds limited indoor visitation for the first time. Phase 3, Shibinette said, will begin for long-term care facilities in counties that see a drop in cases over a 14-day period. “Once we get into this phase, we open it up a little bit more to visitors, which are up to two visitors per resident for each resident in the facility,” she said. “Communal dining … and group activities with physical distancing is also allowed.” Shibinette added that there is the possibility that the reopening guidelines will need to be pulled back should case numbers start to go back up.

On Aug. 13, Sununu issued Exhibit P to Emergency Order No. 29, which had been issued on April 9. Emergency Order No. 29 requires state agencies, boards and commissions to submit recommendations to Sununu if any regulatory deadlines should be adjusted in response to the state of emergency. Per Exhibit P, Section Ed 306.18 of the New Hampshire Code of Administrative Rules has been modified to include “distance education,” meaning correspondence, video-based, internet-based and online courses, or remote instruction. The term also includes hybrid instructional models utilizing both distance education and traditional instruction in any combination. The local school board is responsible for all approval, coordination and supervision of “distance education” courses offered by the school district.

Also on Aug. 13, Sununu issued Emergency Order No. 64, which requires school districts to continue to adhere to all state and federal special education laws, no matter the model they are reopening under, and Emergency Order No. 65 authorizes assessments of civil penalties against all businesses, organizations, property owners, facility owners, organizers and individuals who violate any emergency order. Fines of up to $2,000 per day are issued for those who fail to comply with any emergency order, or up to $1,000 per day for those who fail to cooperate in an investigation of a potential violation of an emergency order.

Details of all of Sununu’s Emergency and Executive Orders can be found at governor.nh.gov.

Mask enforcement

Last week, the New Hampshire Retail Association, the New Hampshire Grocers Association and the New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Association submitted a letter to the Nashua aldermen regarding the amendment they are considering to their mask ordinance that would require businesses and employees to enforce the requirement that customers wear masks. “Retail workers are not law enforcement professionals who receive specialized training to enforce public laws and deescalate confrontations,” the letter reads. It says instituting such a policy could create conflicts and make it unsafe for employees and customers. It notes that current ordinances allow businesses to say that masks are required, and that law enforcement can step in if customers become belligerent or violent. “But there is distinct difference between a requirement that allows the business owner or employees to tell a customer that it’s the law, and putting them in the position of being the enforcement arm,” the letter reads. “We respectfully request that you reject the proposed amendment to the current ordinance and leave appropriate law enforcement personnel to enforce the order.”

Manchester Clean-Up Day will take place Saturday, Aug. 22, from 9 a.m. to noon, according to a press release. Four city parks will have stations with trash bags, masks and plastic gloves for all volunteers: Livingston Park (156 Hooksett Road), Rock Rimmon Park (264 Mason St.), Sheridan Emmett Park (324 Beech St.) and Sheehan-Basquil Park (297 Maple St.).

A new patriotic mailbox at Phaneuf Funeral Homes’s Boscawen location has been decorated to match the mailbox at its Manchester location, and now anyone who wants to retire a torn or tattered American flag can leave it in either mailbox. According to a press release, Phaneuf will “give it a proper retirement, per the U.S. Flag Code,” which says a flag in bad condition “should be destroyed in a dignified and ceremonious fashion, preferably by burning.”

DraftKings Sportsbook at The Brook in Seabrook has opened, giving sports fans the chance to bet on major professional and collegiate U.S. sports at a retail location, according to a press release. The sportsbook is the first retail location of its kind in New Hampshire, and it offers betting kiosks and video walls within The Brook’s stadium sports entertainment space, according to the release.

A ribbon cutting ceremony to recognize the completion of the Manchester Road Pump Station in Derry was scheduled to be held Wednesday, Aug. 19, according to a press release from the New Hampshire Drinking Water and Groundwater Advisory Commission and the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services. The release said the pump station is “a significant construction milestone in the Southern NH Regional Water Interconnection Project,” and that it will increase water flow capacity for Derry, Windham, Salem, Plaistow, Atkinson and Hampstead.

Covid-19 update	As of August 3	As of August 10
Total cases statewide	6,660	6,840
Total current infections statewide	395	326
Total deaths statewide	417	419
New cases	219 (July 28 to Aug. 3)	180 (Aug. 4 to Aug. 10)
Current infections: Hillsborough County	197	137
Current infections: Merrimack County	19	13
Current infections: Rockingham County	104	103

Covid-19 news

On Aug. 4, Gov. Chris Sununu issued Exhibit O to Emergency Order No. 29, which had been issued on April 9. Emergency Order No. 29 requires state agencies, boards and commissions to submit recommendations to Sununu if any regulatory deadlines should be adjusted in response to the state of emergency. Per Exhibit O, the deadline to complete two hours of continuing education for licensees as pump installers or well water contractors through the New Hampshire Water Well Board has been extended for one year, from June 30, 2020, to June 30, 2021.

On Aug. 5, Sununu issued a statement in response to reports that some states may be improperly taxing New Hampshire residents who are working remotely during the pandemic. “The New Hampshire Department of Justice will conduct a review of … each state’s Department of Revenue’s actions to determine whether any state is engaging in improper taxation of our citizens,” the statement reads. “We will take immediate steps to stop any attempts to impose income taxes on Granite Staters in a manner that violates the law or the New Hampshire or United States Constitution.”

Also on Aug. 5, Sununu announced the federal government’s approval of New Hampshire’s plan to reduce premium rates in the state’s individual health insurance market. The reinsurance program, according to a press release issued by the Governor’s Office, is estimated to reduce premiums in 2021 by approximately 16 percent over what they would have otherwise been. The individual market’s unsubsidized population is expected to grow by about 8 percent due to lower premium costs resulting from the stabilization of the market.

Also on Aug. 5, Sununu issued Emergency Order No. 62, an order protecting the pre-existing non-conforming use status for summer camps in the state that have been unable to operate, have had their seasons shortened or have had their capacities reduced this year as a result of the pandemic.

On Aug. 7, Sununu issued Executive Order 2020-16, extending the state of emergency in New Hampshire due to the pandemic for another three weeks through at least Aug. 28. It’s the seventh extension he has issued since originally declaring a state of emergency on March 13.

Details of all of Sununu’s Emergency and Executive Orders can be found at governor.nh.gov.

Legislative action

Gov. Chris Sununu vetoed several more bills in the past week, according to press releases from his office. These include:

House Bill 687, also known as the “extreme risk protection” bill. While the New Hampshire Democratic Party said in a statement that the bill would “keep Granite Staters safe by keeping guns out of the hands of people in crisis when there is evidence they pose an extreme risk of harming themselves or others,” Sununu said in his veto statement that while mental health, including suicide prevention and awareness, continues to be one of the state’s top priorities, “the process laid out in House Bill 687 goes too far and would weaken the constitutional rights of law-abiding New Hampshire citizens.”

House Bill 1375, regarding claims for medical monitoring related to exposure to toxic materials. In his veto statement, Sununu said that while the bill was created with good intentions, “this legislation would subject businesses to increased liability by creating a pathway for almost anyone exposed to hazardous or toxic substances to prove a claim for medical monitoring damages, regardless of the level, risk or consequences of exposure.” He also said he is willing to work with proponents to explore a more tailored and responsible approach in the next legislative session.

House Bill 685, the Reproductive Health Parity Act. According to a press release from the New Hampshire Democratic Party, the bill “would have ensured Granite Staters access to a range of affordable reproductive health services, including abortion.” In his veto statement, Sununu called the legislation unnecessary and said it would threaten the state’s ability to get federal funding for health care programs.

House Bill 1494, which would have established benefits for public works employees who die on the job. In his veto statement, Sununu said that while he supports parts of the bill, there are parts that he is unable to support “because of negative policy and financial impacts on the state and municipalities.”

City school reopenings

With all of New Hampshire’s school districts creating their own plans for reopening, “back to school” is going to look different across the state. Some smaller districts are working toward full in-person reopenings or hybrid learning models, but all three of the state’s biggest cities have approved reopening plans that have most students learning remotely for the start of the 2020-21 school year.

The Manchester Board of School Committee voted during a five-hour meeting Monday night to reopen with fully remote learning for grades 2 through 12 for the first quarter of the school year, with students in pre-kindergarten through first grade attending school in person two days a week, according to a report from WMUR. “While a full in-person reopening may work for other communities, it was simply not feasible or responsible for our district to do so. In choosing to slowly bring students back in person — starting with specialized programming and our youngest students — I believe we are striking the right balance for our students, families and staff,” Superintendent Dr. John Goldhardt said in a statement. Mayor Joyce Craig said in a statement that throughout the first weeks of school, “the school administration, along with stakeholders, including the Manchester Health Department and the City Facilities Division will assess whether a blended model can be implemented by the end of November.”

On Aug. 5, the Nashua Board of Education approved a plan that will have students starting the year remotely on Sept. 8. The reopening plan, which is posted on the school district’s website, will start with full remote learning (Model III) until Oct. 5, when a rollout of a hybrid model (Model II) will begin. Based on Nashua’s numbers of Covid-19 cases, public health officials advised that the district eliminate Model I, a return to in-person teaching, from consideration. According to the plan, parents/guardians will be able to choose whether their children will participate in Model II when it is rolled out or stay in Model III. The plan also says that “Flexibility and the ability to pivot between models is key … as local epidemiology may possibly alter our schedules for teaching and learning at any time during the school year.”

On Aug. 6, the Concord School Board voted to “employ a fully remote learning model for students this fall,” according to a letter to students, families and staff posted on the district’s website, with the first day of remote learning starting Sept. 8. The letter said that pushing back the start date will allow staff to continue to train for best practices for remote learning. “We understand that all of the return to school models will present difficulties for some of our families, and we want to assure you that the Board took into account hundreds of concerns and questions which parents, staff and students have expressed,” Interim Superintendent Kathleen Murphy wrote in the letter.

Law enforcement

New Hampshire Police Standards and Training will undergo several changes, including the creation of guidelines regarding use of force as well as improvements to diversity training, after the initial recommendations from the New Hampshire Commission on Law Enforcement Accountability, Community, and Transparency were endorsed by Gov. Chris Sununu last week, according to a press release. These recommendations include the creation of a Job Task Analysis for entry-level law enforcement officers and entry-level corrections officers, as well as a review of the present Academy curriculum; improving police academy training on diversity; amending administrative rules to mandate that background investigations vet police recruit candidates to see if they have ever “demonstrated outward bias of a protected group by way of past history, behavior, affiliation with a subversive group, social media posts and other objective sources to help determine the overall fitness for duty the candidate possesses and to consider those findings in the overall decision to hire the candidate”; and the creation of guidelines relative to: use of force, duty to intervene, code of conduct, duty to report misconduct, prohibition of chokeholds, procedures to guard against positional asphyxia.

Saint Anselm College in Manchester has started welcoming students back and is one of the first schools in the area to do so, according to a report from WMUR. Around 200 students are moving in each day over the course of 10 days, and classes are scheduled to start Aug. 19, which will allow for some classes and other activities to be held outdoors, according to the report.

Susan Downer of Souhegan High School in Amherst and Michelle Morton-Curit of Exeter High School have been named this year’s recipients of the Presidential Excellence Awards in Mathematics and Science Teaching, according to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Education. The award is given by the U.S. government to educators who excel in their roles as math and science teachers for grades K through 12.

The Aviation Museum of New Hampshire in Londonderry is hosting a volunteer open house on Monday, Aug. 17, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., according to a press release. Volunteers are needed in a variety of areas, including tour leaders, administrative work, historical archiving, education outreach, tech support and more. Find details at aviationmuseumofnh.org.

The American Cancer Society recently honored Tracy McGraw of Merrimack with the Sandra C. Labaree Volunteer Values Award for her support of the Society’s mission. McGraw is a two-time cancer survivor and has been a volunteer with the American Cancer Society for the last six years, according to a press release. She is currently the event chair for the Relay For Life of Nashua.