Category: News

Covid-19 update	As of September 21	As of September 28
Total cases statewide	7,952	8,208
Total current infections statewide	288	339
Total deaths statewide	438	439
New cases	238 (Sept. 15 to Sept. 21)	256 (Sept. 22 to Sept. 28)
Current infections: Hillsborough County	97	130
Current infections: Merrimack County	24	36
Current infections: Rockingham County	78	71

Covid-19 news

On Sept. 24, during a press conference, state epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan reported that New Hampshire continues to see between 35 and 40 new infections of Covid-19 on average per day, while the percent-positivity rate relative to all tests remains low, around 1 percent or less. Chan also reported that the number of new hospitalizations as a result of the virus has “crept up slightly,” from 10 or fewer total people in the state to around 16 to 17 on any given day.

During the same press conference, Gov. Chris Sununu announced the creation of the Special Education Provider fund, which provides $4 million in federal CARES act funding to Granite State schools, aimed to help students and families with developmental disabilities. According to Sununu, the fund will benefit 21 schools in New Hampshire that serve more than 750 students.

Sununu also provided updated guidance to restaurants and bars in New Hampshire. Effective Oct. 1, the six-foot distancing rule for tables and booths at restaurants can be lifted, as long as protective barriers are in place. “We do continue to see positive data in restaurants. They are currently not a source of widespread transmission,” Sununu said, “and so we’re very confident that we can move forward with this model in a very safe manner.”

With Halloween around the corner, Sununu announced the release of a trick-or-treat safety tip sheet, which is available to view online at nh.gov. The sheet contains all the regular tips for motorists and families to remember on Halloween night, but with additional safety suggestions, such as wearing a mask or face covering when handing out treats and bringing a bottle of hand sanitizer with you while out trick-or-treating.

On Sept. 28, the governor’s office announced in a press release that the state will be able to conduct 25,000 more Covid-19 rapid antigen tests per week once a new shipment of BinaxNOW Rapid Antigen testing kits from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration arrives. The nasal swab tests, which provide results in 15 minutes, are expected to be distributed across the state to community testing locations in the next few weeks, and the FDA expects the state to be able to conduct up to 400,000 rapid tests by the end of the year. They will be targeted to symptomatic individuals who are in in-person school settings, as well as frontline health care workers, emergency responders and other high-risk populations. “The BINAX test will allow the state to significantly ramp up testing in a targeted fashion — specifically for students and vulnerable populations,” Sununu said in the release. “The rapid results will make decisions much easier for parents and educators.”

Details of Sununu’s Emergency Orders, Executive Orders and other announcements can be viewed at governor.nh.gov.

City school changes

The Nashua School District will delay switching to hybrid learning for most students and continue with remote learning until January 2021, according to a letter from Superintendent Jahmal Mosley that was sent to the community on Sept. 18. “We have decided to maintain the current course and predictable remote schedule, which has proven to be a steady course for many of our students’ families and our staff as they navigate work schedules, day care arrangements, and, for some of our families, caring for loved ones during this trying time,” the letter reads. Students with special needs will start attending school in person next week, and students in kindergarten and in first grade, “who learn best through play and hands-on learning,” will start to attend school later in the season following a hybrid schedule. All other students will continue to be fully remote. “We need to be confident in having students and staff return to school. Safety and well-being is paramount and, by taking additional time this fall, we will make a decision with greater confidence about our return to in-school for all students. Right now, we are still facing too many unknowns,” the letter reads.

Meanwhile, the Manchester School District announced last week that on the week of Oct. 12 it will start a multi-week process of transitioning to hybrid learning for more grade levels, despite receiving confirmation Friday that two staff members who had been in school buildings (Memorial High School, Beech Street Elementary School and McDonough Elementary School) had tested positive for Covid-19. According to a press release, those staff members are isolating at home, and the Health Department is completing a public health case investigation and contact tracing process. “We understood from the beginning it was likely we would eventually see positive Covid-19 tests in our schools once students and staff returned,” Dr. John Goldhardt, Superintendent of Schools, said in the release. “I will be clear: I would not further open schools if I did not feel it was safe to do so; however, I also want to make sure families understand that if the situation worsens, we may need to pull back.” Students in kindergarten, first grade and some specialized programs started the year with the option for some in-person learning, and other grades will gradually start hybrid learning, if families choose, throughout mid and late October, according to the release. High school students’ return dates are tentative right now, as those schools have asked for more time to prepare for the return to in-person classes.

Interim chief

Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig announced in a press release that she has named Assistant Chief of Police Ryan Grant as interim chief of police for the Manchester Police Department, effective Oct. 1, the day after Chief Carlo Capano retires. Craig plans to announce her nomination for chief of police at the Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 6, though the board will note vote on the nomination until the next board meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 20.

Operation SOS

When the Department of Justice launched Operation Synthetic Opioid Surge, intended to reduce the supply of synthetic opioids, in 2018, it targeted 10 districts with some of the highest drug overdose death rates in the country, which included New Hampshire, according to a press release from the office of United States Attorney for the District of New Hampshire Scott Murray. As part of Operation SOS, Murray was asked to designate a county to focus on prosecuting every readily available case involving fentanyl, fentanyl analogues and other synthetic opioids. In a Sept. 25 press release, Murray said that since the operation started, approximately 93 defendants have been charged with drug trafficking offenses in federal court. “By taking aggressive action against drug traffickers in Hillsborough County, Operation SOS is limiting the supply of fentanyl and other drugs in the community and helping to reduce the overdose death rate in that county,” Murray said in the release.

Southern New Hampshire University in Manchester recently received two honors: It was named to the “Great Colleges to Work For” list put out by ModernThink for the 13th consecutive year, while Forbes named SNHU the best employer in New Hampshire in late August, according to a press release.

Arhaus, a retailer that sells handcrafted home furnishings, will open a 15,000-square-foot store next spring at Tuscan Village in Salem, according to a press release. Tuscan Village has previously announced lease agreements with LL Bean, Ulta Beauty, Old Navy, Williams Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Chipotle Mexican Grill and Chase Bank, as well as local brands Drive Custom Fit, Pressed Café and Tuscan Market, all scheduled to open in the spring.

The Hudson and Bedford fire departments have been awarded $2,170,180 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to recruit and train new firefighters, according to a press release. The funds come from FEMA’s Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response Grants program, and each department will be able to hire four new firefighters, with Hudson getting $1,098,456 and Bedford getting $1,071,724.

Alene Candles in Milford is looking to recognize four community members who have gone above and beyond to help their friends, families and neighbors during the pandemic, according to a press release. Alene is asking the public to nominate people for its Milford Luminaries program, through which it will donate $4,000 to area nonprofits, with each luminary choosing where to direct a $1,000 donation. Nominations are due by Oct. 16 and can be submitted at alene.com/milfordluminaries.

Covid-19 update	As of September 14	As of September 21
Total cases statewide	7,714	7,952
Total current infections statewide	291	288
Total deaths statewide	436	438
New cases	238 (Sept. 8 to Sept. 14)	238 (Sept. 15 to Sept. 21)
Current infections: Hillsborough County	93	97
Current infections: Merrimack County	22	24
Current infections: Rockingham County	94	78

Covid-19 news

On Sept. 16, Gov. Chris Sununu issued Emergency Order No. 69, authorizing the commissioner of the state’s Department of Health and Human Services to appoint new members of the state’s health ethics committee.

On Sept. 18, Sununu issued Executive Order 2020-18, extending the state of emergency in New Hampshire due to the Covid-19 pandemic for another three weeks through at least Oct. 9. It’s the ninth extension he has issued since originally declaring a state of emergency on March 13.

On Sept. 21, Sununu issued Exhibit R 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 R, the expiration of any child day care agencies and licenses in New Hampshire are stayed during the state of emergency. Renewal application deadlines for child care agencies have also been deferred until 90 days after the end of the state of emergency.

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

House upholds vetoes

On Sept. 17, the New Hampshire House of Representatives sustained every veto from Gov. Chris Sununu, including paid family and medical leave and a minimum hourly wage, prompting divisive responses from House and Senate leaders. “Over the past two years, Governor Sununu has vetoed a record-breaking 79 pieces of legislation, 65 of which had bipartisan support,” Senate Majority Leader Dan Feltes (D-Concord) said in a statement. “This year, in the middle of a global pandemic, Sununu vetoed over one-third of the bills sent to his desk, many helping working families, frontline workers, and small businesses.” “This year’s session has been filled with Washington style political stunts from Democrats,” House Republican Leader Dick Hinch (R-Merrimack) said in a statement following the votes. “They want to raise taxes so badly that they have clearly abandoned professional protocol throughout the pandemic and pushed through their radical partisan agenda. Today Republicans stood united together to push back against these stunts on behalf of the citizens of New Hampshire.”

LEACT

New Hampshire can begin to implement all recommendations from the New Hampshire Commission on Law Enforcement Accountability, Community and Transparency, after Gov. Chris Sununu issued a roadmap on Sept. 17 for how to move forward, according to a press release. LEACT was established through an executive order in June after the murder of George Floyd, and it recently released a report that focused on reforms to training, reporting and investigation of police misconduct, and community relations. “Today I am endorsing every single recommendation from all three parts of the LEACT report,” Sununu said. “Their charge was difficult — to come up with recommendations on how to improve law enforcement here in New Hampshire.” The release said that Sununu will issue an Executive Order to take immediate action on many of the reforms within the next two weeks, while the Attorney General will lead the effort to craft legislation for any of the reforms that require passage through the legislature.

Mental Health Plan

A report highlighting the progress that the state has made on the New Hampshire 10-Year Mental Health Plan of 2019 was released last week, according to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services. The department published the plan in January 2019, and it prioritized 14 recommendations to advance the mental health system within the first two years of implementation. The new report highlights several improvements since then, including an increase in permanent housing for individuals with mental illness, new transitional housing program beds, increased the state’s Housing Bridge Subsidy Program, established more integrated primary and behavioral health care programs at community mental centers, increased the number of children served by the Care Management Entity, and expanded Assertive Community Treatment to increase accessibility throughout the state. “The 10-Year Mental Health Plan provides the pathway to a mental health system that makes services and programs available to patients when they need them,” DHHS Commissioner Lori Shibinette said in the release. “We are committed to realizing this goal, and while our work continues, this report highlights the important progress that is being made.”

First Lady Melania Trump visited Concord Hospital on Sept. 17 as part of her efforts to combat opioid use, according to a report from WMUR. She was there to learn about the hospital’s “Eat, Sleep, Console” protocol, the goal of which is to wean babies from addictive drugs with minimal or no medication.

Middle-school student Kaylin Emerson of New Boston recently won the Walter A. Felker Memorial Award from the New Hampshire Maple Producers Association for a paper she wrote about maple chemistry, according to a press release. Emerson took part in the annual statewide contest, which is open to kids 16 and younger.

Livingston and Bronstein parks in Manchester have been chosen as two of 14 sites nationwide to transition to organic grounds management as part of Stonyfield Organic’s #playfree initiative, according to a press release. Stonyfield is donating $5,000 and access to experts from Osborne Organics, and Hannaford is matching the monetary donation.

The construction of Exit 4A on Interstate 93 in Derry and Londonderry has been put on hold after price proposals for the design-build project exceeded the New Hampshire Department of Transportation’s cost estimate by more than $30 million, according to a press release. The department will work with both towns and affected property owners to figure out its next steps and will work toward a more cost-effective design.

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.