Chris Jensen

Almost one fourth of Coos teens - girls and boys - say they have “at least one alcohol or drug-use related problem,” according to a new report.

The research was conducted by The Carsey Institute at the University of New Hampshire and was based on 564 youths.

The information was gathered during 2008 when they were in either the seventh and eleventh grades and then researchers followed up the following year.

New Hampshire Fish and Game is accepting nominations for its annual awards honoring organizations or individuals for achievements in “wildlife, fisheries, open land and wild places.”

Here are the seven categories:

     1. Ellis R. Hatch Jr. Commission Award of Excellence -- Recognizes an

individual, group, organization, club, foundation or agency that has excelled in

efforts to promote, enhance or benefit fish, wildlife or marine resources or the

Department’s mission. 

Under federal law the Occupational Health and Safety Administration is responsible for making sure workers are protected on the job.

But the federal agency rarely scrutinizes the North Country.

As NHPR’s Chris Jensen reports, it’s raising questions about how well workers are protected on the job.

 On the morning of May 14th in 2010 Jesse Kennett headed off to his new job at the Black Mag plant in Colebrook.

 That’s where he would be making a gunpowder substitute for use in replicas of muzzle-loading rifles.

With 200 new jobs available at the federal prison in Berlin a group of organizations from the North Country is offering a series of free meetings through the North Country to provide details and help applicants.

 The two-hour meeting will include presentations from officials with the New Hampshire Employment Security, The Gorham Family Resource Center and the White Mountains Community College.

While the jobs are seen as having good pay and benefits the application process can be tricky since much of it must be done on the Internet.

The Union Leader reports a Littleton businessman fighting with the town over a right-to-know request is likely to take his case to the state’s Supreme Court.

 Here’s part of the Union Leader’s story:

 “Littleton pizza shop owner Demetrios “Jim” Sourgiadakis alleges he was one of 13 merchants police officers and their union targeted for boycott last spring in a dispute over the proposed annual town budget.

On Monday, Nov. 28thCongressman Charlie Bass will hold a “senior health-care forum” in Littleton with experts to answer questions about Medicare and Social Security benefits.

There will also be free flu shots and blood-pressure screenings.

The meeting is from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at the Littleton Opera House, which is located at 2 Union Street. 

On the 10th anniversary of a Quebec woman’s murder in the North Country state officials are hoping somebody will remember something than can finally help solve it.

Louise Chaput, a psychologist from Sherbrooke, was visiting the White Mountains to hike and planned to stay at the Joe Dodge Lodge in Pinkham’s Grant the evening of Nov. 15th, according to the police investigation.

That afternoon she asked an Appalachian Mountain Club employee to suggest a short hike. He recommended the Lost Pond Trail. Chaput, 52, left but then never checked into her room.

The Washington Post is reporting that civil rights groups are opposing an amendment by Sen. Kelly Ayotte that they say would legalize torture.

“In a letter to lawmakers Tuesday, more than 30 groups, led by the American Civil Liberties Union, argued that Ayotte’s amendment to a defense bill would legalize torture and other cruelties by rolling back restrictions that Congress overwhelmingly approved in 2005,” the newspaper reported in a story by the Associated Press.

A two-hour meeting for people who want to know more about jobs at the new federal prison in Berlin will be held Monday, November 28th.

The meeting will include presentations from officials the New Hampshire Employment Security, The Gorham Family Resource Center and the White Mountains Community College.

Those North-Country groups have also put together classes to help those who are interested with the somewhat complex application process.

About 30 crafters and artisans from the North Country will be showing their work at the 11thAnnual Craft Fair this Saturday at the Great Glen Trails Lodge in Pinkham Notch.

The displays will include wood workers, jewelry, a spinning demonstration, fused glass, photography and holiday decorations, said Mary Power, the event director at Great Glen.

In addition there will be a bake sale and raffle to benefit the Great Glen Bill Koch Youth Ski League.

The fair (which is free) is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The lodge is located on Route 16. 

Funding was approved today for the new federal prison in Berlin and soon it will be open season on several hundred new jobs. NHPR’s Chris Jensen reports.

With President Obama signing a bill that includes funding for the new federal prison in Berlin hiring can finally begin.

The prison will have about 300 employees. That will include about 200 new hires.

The jobs have good pay and benefits.

But the application process is complicated.

The Boston Globe is reporting there was a small earthquake Wednesday morning near Conway.

The Globe said it was "A tiny, 1.6-magnitude earthquake" that was "small enough that it may have gone unnoticed."

The newspaper said: "The earthquake, with a depth of 15 miles, was recorded just before 11 a.m. by the Weston Observatory at Boston College. The epicenter was 8 miles southeast of Conway, N.H., at the coordinates 43.885 degrees north, 71.040 degrees west. "

The new federal prison in Berlin – which has been sitting empty – could finally be funded this week, providing a huge economic boost to the North Country.  NHPR’s Chris Jensen reports.

Funding for the federal prison in Berlin is likely to be approved this week, according to Sen. Jeanne Shaheen.

“We’re very excited because there has been an agreement reached between the House and Senate on the bill that includes funding for the Berlin prison.”

Shaheen sees it as a done deal.