Chris Jensen

Following the shootings at Columbine in 1999 the New Hampshire State police developed a free course to help local police departments face such a deadly challenge.

Now, after the killing of 20 children and six adults in a Newtown, Ct. school, some police departments are showing more interest.

NHPR’s Chris Jensen attended one course over the weekend in Bristol.

Here’s the sound nobody wants to hear for real in a school.

Sound of teens screaming and running….

Events compiled by Tova Cohen of Franconia.

The newsletter typically announces events in the next week. The calendar shows you events in the coming months.

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Several bills that would expand gambling in New Hampshire are likely to be introduced this session.  One North Country lawmaker plans to file a bill to allow two casinos in the state.

NHPR’s Chris Jensen reports.

As the legislative session begins, Governor-elect Maggie Hassan has repeatedly said that she’s open to expanded gambling in the state.

And she thinks New Hampshire would benefit most from a single high-end casino near the Massachusetts border.

Among the bills to be considered by the legislature in 2013 is one that would significantly increase the value of a gift that could be accepted by legislators, who are paid only $100 a year.

NHPR’s Chris Jensen reports.

Last year Edmond Gionet, a Republican rep from Lincoln, asked the legislative ethics committee whether it was okay for him to accept free ski passes to Cannon Mountain.

Gionet volunteers on Cannon Mountain’s advisory board and he saw the tickets as a nice thank-you.

For much of the year officials at Northeast Utilities have been saying they would have the new route for Northern Pass submitted to the US Department of Energy by the end of the year.

But the New Year is here and while nothing has been posted with the DOE Northern Pass says it has a new route.

NHPR’s Chris Jensen reports.

In a conference call with analysts early in October Northeast Utilities official Lee Olivier said the company was “still on track” to file a new route with the Department of Energy by the end of the year.

Two Canadian men who were lost in the White Mountains overnight were rescued Monday afternoon after an extensive search by Fish and Game and a National Guard Black Hawk helicopter.

NHPR’s Chris Jensen reports.

The two Canadian men had planned to climb Mt. Lafayette, a 4,000-footer in the Franconia Notch.

But they lost their way late Sunday afternoon due to fog, high winds and blowing snow, says Dany Daigle of Quebec, one of the hikers.

A group of North Country residents is much closer to creating a community forest alongside the White Mountain National Forest.  

Now they’re beginning to think about what kind of playground it should be.

For years people in the western part of the White Mountains –have admired an 840-acre tract of privately owned land.

It is located in Easton, which abuts the better-known towns of Sugar Hill and Franconia.

From its ridgeline there are fabulous  views of the nearby White Mountain National Forest.

Among the hundreds of bills proposed for the 2013 Legislature one seeks to change the somewhat unappealing name of a pond in the North Country.

NHPR’s Chris Jensen reports.

Blood Pond.

It sits just off Route 3 in Lancaster and it sounds more like the perfect location for a horror movie, than a vacation.

That’s the concern of the Mountain Lake Campground located nearby.

Its owners want the name changed to Mountain Lake Pond.

Rep. Leon Rideout is one of the sponsors.

Next month the town of Colebrook in the North Country is expected to take a big step in a plan designed to make the region more friendly to ATV-riding tourists, increasing the profits for local businesses.

The storm made snowmobilers and skiers happy, but caused a few problems for motorists in the North Country.

NHPR’s Chris Jensen reports.

Overall the roads in the North Country remain manageable, says Sgt. Todd Cohen with the state police Troop F, which covers the North Country.

“The majority of the accidents have been on the I-93 corridor between Lincoln and Ashland.”

But, he says, by early afternoon no serious injuries had been reported.

Sgt. Cohen reminds people to adjust their driving conditions to the weather.

Compiled by Tova Cohen of Franconia.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS:

Hikers could be charged for their  rescues even if they didn’t do anything wrong under a bill being filed by the NH House’s top republican.

Currently much of the money for rescue operations carried out by New Hampshire Fish and Game comes from fees such as licenses for hunting, fishing and snowmobiles.

Only those guilty of the most reckless behavior risk having to pay for their rescues.

But rescues cost about $300,000 a year, says Major Kevin Jordan, of Fish and Game.

Compiled by Tova Cohen of Franconia

Senator Kelly Ayotte says he North Country should have a major voice in what happens with the Northern Pass hydro-electric project.

Ayotte spoke about the project while in Pittsburg in the North Country on Friday for a town meeting.

NHPR’s Chris Jensen was there.

Pretty much the first issue raised with Sen. Kelly Ayotte was the Northern Pass project which – if approved – would probably cross the border near here.

“It seems to me you all should have the voice in this.”