Democrats call for deeper audit of New Hampshire Education Freedom Account after initial review

By ETHAN DeWITT

In five cases, families approved for an Education Freedom Account did not present sufficient documentation that they lived in New Hampshire, according to a Department of Education review.In two cases, families were found to be above the income limit...

McAuliffe statue unveiled at Concord State House grounds in day of history, emotion and inspiration

By CHARLOTTE MATHERLY

Six-year-old Ollie Tyrrell knows all about Christa McAuliffe. He hopes to be an astronaut someday and frequently visits the planetarium at the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord.When his mom, Danielle Vincent, heard a statue of McAuliffe,...

Granite Geek: Medical research is great, sure, but how can you get it out to actual patients?

By DAVID BROOKS

Moving results from the research world into the real world can be a real challenge but I think the challenge is hardest when the research concerns people’s health.It’s one thing to show that a medicine or treatment or practice helps patients in a lab...

Alert system can keep people from taking ownership of your home

By DAVID BROOKS

Consider this scenario: You go away on vacation and then come home to find that somebody has bought your house without your knowledge and without paying you anything. They lock you out, and your only remedy is to take them to court.Sounds far-fetched,...

Asian Thai Kitchen which opened in Concord in June is run by a family of eight sisters

By JEREMY MARGOLIS

The newest Thai restaurant in Concord is a family affair – or more precisely, a Sister Act.Asian Thai Kitchen on Pleasant Street, which opened in June, is run by a family of eight sisters.Four members of the Senasy family, who immigrated to the United...

Talk of the towns in the Capital Region

AllenstownThe Allenstown Supervisor of the Checklist will hold voter registration on Aug. 31 from 11 to 11:30 a.m. at the Allenstown Town Hall, 16 School St.The Allenstown Historical Society will meet on Sept. 4 at 6 p.m. at the MRF Building off Rte....

NH's state fish find refuge in the White Mountains amid threats from climate change

By JACKIE HARRIS and RICK GANLEY

Fly fishing is one of the activities that draws people from all over to New Hampshire’s White Mountains. Brook trout thrive throughout the region’s cold waters, so I asked fly fisherman Steve Angers to show me one of his favorite spots for New...

New Hampshire Supreme Court upholds Manchester school district’s gender identity privacy policy

By SRUTHI GOPALAKRISHNAN

The New Hampshire Supreme Court upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit that challenged a Manchester school district policy that protects transgender students’ privacy and requires staff to refer to those children using their chosen pronouns.This policy...

Franklin City Council to vote on opera house bond following Tuesday's public hearing

By DANIEL SARCH

Despite a unanimous vote at the last city council meeting, Councilor Valerie Blake (Ward 3) said she can't predict the outcome of an upcoming public hearing regarding a bond to restore the Franklin Opera House, but expects a lengthy discussion.The...

New Hampshire’s first forensic psychiatric hospital on track to open in 2026

By SRUTHI GOPALAKRISHNAN

Construction of New Hampshire’s first forensic psychiatric hospital is progressing steadily, with the state targeting an operational start by late 2026.This 24-bed hospital, located next to the existing New Hampshire Hospital, an inpatient psychiatric...

After a quarter century, Gerulskis leaves the Discovery Center on a high note

By DAVID BROOKS

Jeanne Gerulskis remembers her first impression of the Christa McAuliffe planetarium when she interviewed for the job of director back in 1997.“The lights on the walkway were broken, there was nobody at the desk to greet me. There was no parking lot...

New buyer for Laconia site offers $10.5M, would have two years to close

By ANNMARIE TIMMINS

The state has chosen a new buyer for its 217-acre former Laconia State School property. The $10.5 million offer is about half what the state’s previous buyer offered but ultimately could not deliver.But a sale is not imminent.The Executive Council...

Concord gearing up for start of community power with cheaper electricity

By DAVID BROOKS

Concord is gearing up for the start of lower electricity rates through the community power system, with a public information meeting set for Sept. 4, but one question about rates has arisen.The program is set to begin in October, making Concord one of...

Concord residents voice rare opposition to reopening debate on location of new middle school

By JEREMY MARGOLIS

Ally Snell, the mother of a third grader at the Abbot-Downing School, had never attended a Concord School Board meeting until Thursday night.But, a day after the board’s clerk certified a citizens’ petition that could re-open deliberations on the...

Alan Quimby suddenly resigns as Chichester’s fire chief

By RACHEL WACHMAN

Alan Quimby, who has served as Chichester’s longtime fire chief, co-emergency management director, and forest fire warden, resigned suddenly from his position effective Sept. 1, a move that caught town officials off-guard.“This board has supported...

Lawsuit stalls Steeplegate Mall demolition and redevelopment

By CATHERINE McLAUGHLIN

Demolition of most of the Steeplegate Mall is on hold due to two lawsuits filed by the owner of the land beneath the neighboring TD Bank.Onyx Partners, the company planning to remake the former mall into a mixed-use housing development with hundreds...

Boscawen’s Highway View Farm, known for its sought-after corn, ending season early

By ALEXANDER RAPP

Since the farm at the intersection of Routes 3 and 4 in Boscawen was bought by the Crete family in 1958, they have expanded the operation steadily to over 500 acres to support cattle, soybean, wheat, and notably, corn.Highway View Farm is renowned for...

300-pound orange ‘baby’ to make an appearance at Hopkinton State Fair

By SRUTHI GOPALAKRISHNAN

Big Apple is Rebecca Chartier’s baby, tipping the scales at around 300 pounds and only 52 days old.Chartier has poured months of care and attention into nurturing this giant wonder at home in Weare and is now ready to showcase her orange marvel at...

Court docs: Spirko wanted to 'kill a cop,' threatened to burn down a cottage

By GABRIEL PERRY

WEIRS BEACH — Justin Spirko, charged last week with the attempted capital murder of a Laconia police officer, apparently told New Hampshire State Police he wanted to “kill a cop” after law enforcement officers arrested him. Court documents indicate he...

Fish and Game catches criticism from fly fishermen concerned about rule changes

By TODD BOOKMAN

An overflow crowd of anglers piled into the state’s Fish and Game Department headquarters Tuesday night in Concord to express concerns about proposed regulatory changes to fishing in New Hampshire.The proposed rules, which are still being adjusted and...