NH News

The creation of a new fraud unit at the state Attorney General’s office has stalled again.  Thursday, the Legislative Fiscal Committee voted to table a request to approve funding for it. 

The governor and Executive Council have approved the unit, which would be funded by the state’s mortgage settlement with big banks.  But the Republican-dominated committee has resisted allocating money to it, saying it would ultimately add staff to the government payroll.  But the AG’s Consumer Protection Bureau Chief James Boffetti says a fraud unit is needed.

A civilian worker at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard has pled guilty to two counts of arson. The Portland, Maine US Attorneys office says 24-year old Casey Fury set fire to the USS Miami on May 23rd, causing extensive damage to the attack submarine.

Five first responders were injured fighting the first blaze.

Fury was hired as a sandblaster and painter at the shipyard.

The parties have agreed to recommend a federal prison sentence of between 15 and 19 years.

Anti-nuclear groups from New Hampshire--and around the country--will be in court Thursday in Boston. They will argue for inclusion into the Seabrook Nuclear Plant re-licensing process.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission rejected the groups' call for intervenor status in the plant's relicensing application. That ruling superseded that of the NRC's own Atomic Safety and Licensing Board decision to allow the groups to hold a public hearing on nuclear energy alternatives like wind energy.

New data from NH Housing Finance Authority shows 263 New Hampshire homes fell into foreclosure in September. That’s a 13% decline from 2011 levels.

The report says the numbers are a sign that the worst of the housing crisis could be behind us.  

But, cautious optimism aside, there is some tangible good news here: total foreclosures are on track to be their lowest since 2009. Foreclosure auction notices are also way down.

Democrats have unseated incumbent Republicans to win New Hampshire’s two congressional seats.

After losing in 2010 by about 3,500 votes, Hopkinton Democrat Ann McLane Kuster easily beat Republican Charlie Bass in the second district.  She promised common sense and compromise in Washington.

"I will work with anybody from any party on any issue if I believe it is in the interested of this great state…and I will always stand up for what I believe in."

Races for State House and Senate were still wrapping up early this morning. Republicans lost some ground in the House, but we’re still learning how many seats were gained by Democrats.To start with, the Speaker of the House, Bill O’Brien, was reelected. He finished second to a Democrat in a two-member district.

A rainbow of political signs await voters outside of Peterborough Town Hall.

Inside, it’s a white Voter ID sign, explaining what forms will be accepted.

This is the first election that voters in New Hampshire will be asked to show an I.D. Those without one can sign an affidavit.

In nearby Hancock, Dick Ray says the new law isn’t slowing things down.

"In and out in 5 minutes. Took me longer to figure out who I was going to vote for than to go through the process, so it was fine."