News

The New Hampshire state Senate rejected several controversial gun bills Wednesday.

All of the proposals originally passed the House.

The move suggests that the Senate’s patience for 2ndAmendment legislation may be about up.

The Senate made brisk work of the so-called gun bills in front of them.

“We spent a grand total of 6 minutes on 5 bills because we want to focus on the issues that are important to the New Hampshire people,” Senate President Peter Bragdon said.

The bills the Senate down include a measure allowing people to carry loaded weapons – including crossbows – in their vehicles and one that permits weapons in public places like college campuses, the Verizon Center and the state psychiatric hospital.

New Hampshire is known for being one of the safest places to live in the United States. According to a recent study, its crime rate is the fifth lowest in the country.  

But that doesn’t mean detectives have an easy time recovering stolen merchandise. In fact, police officials say they could respond to crime faster by tightening regulations among pawnshops and second-hand dealers.

Gary Galbo manages Nashua Coins & Jewelry in downtown Nashua. For collectors, it’s a gem of a store. Under the glass showcases, you might find a Susan B. Anthony dollar coin. Or, for several thousand more dollars, a shiny diamond vintage brooch. The shop is typically quiet. 

Removal of the historic Memorial Bridge between Portsmouth and Kittery, Maine is finally underway. 

Shortly after noon-time Wednesday, the center lift-span was lowered into position to be placed on a barge.

Mike Pillsbury, Assistant Commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Transportation, says that the structure will then be carefully “floated out.” down the Piscataqua River.

“Secure it, move it upriver a little, then further secure it, in order to have it it seaworthy so that they can ship it perhaps tomorrow," Pillsbury said. "A lot depends on how the tides are running,” he said.

A report shows that home foreclosures spiked at the end of last year, up 35% from November.

Jane Law of New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority says foreclosures have been declining since their peak in 2010, and December’s jump might be an anomaly.

Law says, "The biggest factor is just mortgage companies are kind of clearing out some inventory before the end of the year, which is the end of their tax year usually" 

Law notes while there were 2% fewer foreclosures in 2011 than 2010, the recovery in the home market will be slow.

The New Hampshire House today voted to eliminate the Chancellor’s Office within the University System. The bill calls for many of the responsibilities of the Office to be shifted to the Board of Trustees and to school presidents. Created in 1974, the Chancellor’s duties include government relations, purchasing and audits.

"There is unneeded repetition," says Representative Robbie Parsons. He told colleagues that the four colleges already have many of the same structures in place, allowing them to move a lot of the work to the respective offices of the four schools. Republicans say this will save money that can be used to keep tuition down, and to help achieve the Board's goals. 

The New Hampshire House voted to put off making a final decision on a pair of bills that would withdraw the state from No Child Left Behind, and forego $61.6 million dollars in federal funding.

House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt from Salem cited the lost money as he urged collegues to table the bills.

"There are significant and justifiable concerns about withdrawing from this program," Bettencourt said, "concerns regarding the potential loss of significant federal funds currently being received by our local school districts."

The bulk of the funds go to low-income students and students studying English as a second language.

The law has never been popular with educators, who have criticized its strict testing standards.

Paws for a second: Author Josh Dean's new book tells the story of Jack, an award-winning purebred Australian Shepard and his endevours as a show dog. We'll hear a little about the book, and get answers to some questions that make our heads cock.

Still hanging on to that new year's resolution, but love going out to eat? How about splitting your meal with local nonprofits and global hunger organizations? A new program appropriately named "Halfsies" is looking to help.

After a history of closures, repairs and re-openings which mottle its 88-year lifespan, the Memorial Bridge replacement project has begun. The bridge which crosses the Piscataqua River between Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Kittery, Maine, is set for completion as early as July, 2013.

The "float-out", which is the removal of the lift span and the first stage of demolition, is scheduled for today.

The build of a boxer, the face of a beagle, the fur of a schnauzer, the energy of a german shepard... One writer takes a look at how the size, shape, and other traits of man's best friend are decided merely by a handful of genes.

Lawmakers are now considering whether to give exemptions to for-profit cancer centers so they can do business in the state. Under current regulations these cancer centers are likely  to be deemed redundant. But a new bill would allow them to avoid what is known as a Certificate of Need--to which all other hospitals must comply. These centers would also be exempt from Medicaid taxes.

Good news could be on the horizon for New Hampshire homeowners with mortgage troubles.

Later this week, the state may sign onto a multi-billion dollar settlement with the nation’s five largest banks over past foreclosure abuses.

More than 40 states are negotiating with the country’s top banks to reduce principal and in some cases refinance mortgages.

Nationwide, the deal could be worth up to $25 billion, depending on which states ultimately join this lawsuit.

Here in New Hampshire, Senior Assistant Attorney General James Boffetti said the settlement could mean tens of millions of dollars.

“This proposal offers the possibility of real assistance that would keep people in their homes,” said Boffetti.

Former Barrington state Sen. Jackie Cilley stressed her blue collar roots has she kicked off her campaign at the Manchester YWCA. Cilley recalled growing up in a tenement and taking a job at the Waubec mill before heading to college and going on to teach at UNH’s Whittemore School of Business. Cilley said she believes in compromise, but said she won’t stand for what she called attacks on education, workers, women and gays being made by “The Free State/Tea Party/John Birch politicians in Concord.” Cilley also she won’t be taking a pledge to veto a sales or income tax.

The New Hampshire House of Representatives is currently awash in education bills, many of which will never see the light of day. However, some of these bills are setting the stage for big discussions about public schools, the role of the state, and the rights of parents.

To help sort through the confusion, the following is a roundup of bills coming before the House between now and Crossover day.

About 200 people showed up to hold signs and hear speeches by gay marriage critics. House speaker William O’Brien, GOP gubernatorial candidate Ovide Lamontagne and  Republican national committeewoman Phylliss Woods all said its time to undo the two year old law allowing gays to marry.  David Bates, a State Rep. from Windham, wrote the repeal bill and MC'd the rally.

"There is no truth that should be more self evident than men and women were created for each other. Nature itself dictate that marriage will be between men and women, other arrangement are unnatural and incapable of sustaining the human species."