News

Mother of two convicted of negligent homicide in fatal Loudon crash released on parole

By MICHAELA TOWFIGHI

Maggie Doorlag said she could picture her life outside the walls of the women’s prison, where she’d spent the last 17 months. She’d be reunited with her husband and two young daughters. She would get her cosmetology license and continue with...

After delay over neighbors’ concerns, Christ the King Food Pantry headed for rebuild

By CATHERINE McLAUGHLIN

Plans for a new building for Christ the King Parish’s food pantry are moving forward after they were held up due to safety concerns, and a lack of communication with abutters, in February.The city Planning Board approved revised plans this week, which...

Casinos can no longer charge rent to charities

By SRUTHI GOPALAKRISHNAN

Governor Chris Sununu has signed legislation that no longer allows casinos to impose rent charges on charities.On Tuesday, House Bill 1203 was signed into law, allowing charities to keep the entirety of the money they receive from casinos, some of...

Students’ first glimpse of new Allenstown school draws awe

By JEREMY MARGOLIS

Jaws dropped and cheers erupted as Allenstown students entered their new school building for the first time Thursday morning.“Yo, this looks like a mall,” said an eighth grade boy in a Bruins shirt. “Smell that new school smell,” observed another.“We...

‘Bridging the gap’: Phenix Hall pitch to soften downtown height rules moves forward

By CATHERINE McLAUGHLIN

Sue McCoo knew that adding flexibility to downtown zoning to allow for the repurposing of Phenix Hall would mean her store, Hilltop Consignment, would probably lose its longtime home on Main Street. The zoning change would open the door for the...

Man granted parole for his role in the 2001 stabbing deaths of 2 Dartmouth College professors

By KATHY McCORMACK

A man who has served more than half of his life in prison for his role in the 2001 stabbing deaths of two married Dartmouth College professors as part of a plan to rob and kill people before fleeing overseas was granted parole Thursday.James Parker...

‘I was scared:’ Meehan takes the stand in lawsuit alleging NH enabled child abuse at YDC

By JASON MOON

The man whose accusations of child abuse at New Hampshire’s former Youth Development Center (YDC) inspired more than 1,100 others to come forward began testifying in Rockingham Superior Court Wednesday.David Meehan took the stand in a closely-watched...

‘It all feels so magical’: New England college students celebrate an LGBTQ prom at Dartmouth

‘Money is a driver’: Amid inflation and tight labor market, city fighting to stem employee outflow

By CATHERINE McLAUGHLIN

In another move to stem the flow of city employee turnover, Concord city councilors approved a package of increased leave and other perks last week. Previous efforts — including bonuses and a temporary increase in overtime pay for police, weekly cash...

Pembroke seminar on climate change aims to set the record straight

By RAY DUCKLER

Ayn Whytemare doesn’t like the view from the top of her hayfield in Pembroke.From there, rising from pines like a lonely skyscraper, stands the smokestack used by the Bow coal plant, the last facility of its kind in New England. And while the visible...

Pay-by-bag works for most communities, but not Hopkinton

By SRUTHI GOPALAKRISHNAN

Every time Jolene Cochrane clocks in for her shift at the Hopkinton Transfer Station, she sees residents driving in with their household waste bagged in various colored trash bags.With 19 years of experience at the station — a few years longer than...

Hooksett’s new tower could improve coverage in Bow

By SRUTHI GOPALAKRISHNAN

Hooksett’s plan to replace their emergency radio tower with one integrated with a cell tower could potentially improve cell coverage for certain residents in Bow.The emergency radio tower located at 98 South Bow Road, which houses emergency services...

Rare bipartisan gun bill gets NH Senate hearing

Wildfire season is here: Concord at moderate risk; high risk further south

By DAVID BROOKS

Despite all the wet weather, spring fire season has arrived.For the first time this year, parts of the state were rated Wednesday as being in “high” risk of wildfires by the state’s Forest Protection Bureau.The period after snow melts but before...

Court: Communities can’t reject solar on looks, property value fears alone

By ANNMARIE TIMMINS

Four communities in the state have been recognized as solar-welcoming by SolSmart, a federally funded organization that helps municipalities expand solar power. Franklin is not among them, and a recent state Supreme Court opinion likely won’t help get...

Mayors say need is growing for state homelessness prevention funds

By ETHAN DeWITT

When homeless residents request housing assistance from Keene, the city must help, even when shelters are full. As the number of New Hampshire’s homeless has grown, that has become increasingly expensive.During the fiscal year that ended in June 2023,...

Hundreds gather at discovery center in Concord for eclipse

By CHLOE RATTEE

A rush of excited people poured out of the lobby of the McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center when Cameron Waller, who works behind the front desk, announced that it was just 15 minutes until the eclipse reached totality.The center held a viewing party...

Concord city-schools committee revived, will meet for first time in 2 years

By CATHERINE McLAUGHLIN

After the close of their budget planning seasons and with a mounting list of major construction projects between them, a joint committee between city and school district leaders — including both Concord and Merrimack Valley — will reconvene this...

Now that the eclipse is over, what do I do with my glasses?

By SRUTHI GOPALAKRISHNAN

After months of preparation, New Hampshire, along with many other parts of the country, experienced the solar eclipse. But now, what can you do with the eclipse glasses?Save them According to NASA, eclipse glasses with valid certification can...