NHPR Staff

NHPR is continuing to cover the developing story around coronavirus in New Hampshire. Bookmark this page for the latest updates, including case numbers and other important news of the day. Click here for all of our COVID-19 coverage.

As NHPR tracks the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Hampshire, we’ve been asking you to tell us how your life is changing because of coronavirus - and we’ve welcomed your questions. 

Here, we answer some of your questions, and share other important information about the coronavirus and how to stay safe.

Gov. Chris Sununu says the state is ready for the 12,000 fans expected to gather for this weekend's NASCAR race in Loudon.

At a press conference this afternoon in Concord, Sununu said 90 percent of the people attending Sunday's race will be coming from New England.

He announced modified quarantine requirements and restrictions for NASCAR staff and drivers when they're in the state. They'll need to limit their travel to between the racetrack and their hotels.

New Hampshire identified its first case of COVID-19 on March 2. NHPR has been tracking new developments since then, as the number of confirmed cases and testing capacity — at public and private labs — has expanded.

Gov. Chris Sununu continued a string of summertime vetoes Friday, rejecting bills on renewable energy, the state minimum wage, and education.

The record number of vetoes underscores the partisan and policy clashes that have defined the governor's second term, with Democratic majorities in the Legislature repeatedly passing priority bills, only to have Sununu strike them down with his veto pen.

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Leading up to the 2020 New Hampshire presidential primary, NHPR tried something different: We invited you to tell us how we should cover the election. 

Gov. Chris Sununu added to his record number of vetoes this legislative session Friday, rejecting bills dealing with energy policy, unemployment benefits and privacy laws. Here’s a rundown.

In an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus, Gov. Chris Sununu issued a series of executive orders in March shuttering huge segments of both economic and community life in New Hampshire. Suddenly, workers and industries were split into two camps: those deemed essential, and those not. 

More than 100 days later, nearly all corners of the state’s economy now have permission to reopen. At 11:59 p.m. on June 15, Sununu’s ‘Stay at Home’ order expired, as did the cap on gatherings of more than ten people. 

President Trump holds a news conference as schools grapple with how to reopen and coronavirus cases continue to climb.

President Donald Trump's campaign announced it has postponed its rally Saturday in Portsmouth due to anticipated bad weather.

Moderate drought conditions across New Hampshire have elevated the risk of wildfire.

The N.H. Forest Protection Bureau and the N.H. Fire Marshal’s Office say dry weather has increased the amount of potential fuel that can easily ignite and become a wildfire.

President Donald Trump will hold an outdoor campaign rally at the Portsmouth International Airport on Saturday night, July 11.

This will be the Trump campaign's second rally-style event since the coronavirus pandemic took hold. In a statement, the campaign said attendees in Portsmouth will be strongly encouraged to wear face masks, and hand sanitizer will be available on site.

The president was last in New Hampshire in February, to host a rally in Manchester on the eve of the state's presidential primary. 

This post gathers NHPR's past updates on coronavirus in New Hampshire with a date range beginning May 21, 2020.

NOTE: Some of the stories below may contained outdated guidance and stories that have since evolved. Please click the links below for the most up-to-date coverage and guidance. 

Fireworks are legal to purchase in New Hampshire, but not all towns allow residents to use them.

Scroll down to see our map of N.H. towns that allow (and ban) fireworks.

Each year, the State Fire Marshal's office asks towns to respond to a survey about fireworks rules. The map below reflects the latest survey responses posted on the department's website. The list was updated on June 5, 2020.  

New Hampshire’s ban on evictions lifts on Wednesday, July 1, removing protections imposed early on in the COVID-19 emergency to prevent renters from losing their homes.

Sign up for our newsletter to get the latest news on COVID-19 and reopening New Hampshire.

The ban did not require landlords to forgive rent, creating a backlog of unpaid rent which many still might not be able to pay.

Dr. Anthony Fauci is among those testifying before the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee Tuesday, June 23, on the Trump administration's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sign up for NHPR's email newsletter for more coronavirus news in New Hampshire.

Top public health officials including CDC director Robert Redfield are scheduled to testify. Watch the hearing via this NPR livestream:

Since the very start of coronavirus in New Hampshire, NHPR has relied on your voices to help us report the news in these unprecedented times. The news cycle is constantly changing as the pandemic has taken its twists and turns.

In our previous surveys, we wanted to know how COVID-19 had impacted and affected you. Now, NHPR wants to understand how you’re evolving during this time and how you plan on moving forward, as so much more comes to the fore - including an economic crisis and a nationwide push for racial justice.

This post gathers NHPR's past updates on coronavirus in New Hampshire with a date range beginning May 21, 2020.

NOTE: Some of the stories below may contained outdated guidance and stories that have since evolved. Please click the links below for the most up-to-date coverage and guidance. 

A New Hampshire Fish and Game conservation officer was seriously injured Saturday while conducting speed enforcement in Dummer. 

Shortly before 5 p.m., Officer Matthew Holmes was trying to stop two off-highway recreational vehicles that were speeding when he was struck from behind by another OHRV that was also speeding, according to the Fish and Game Department. 

Holmes was thrown from his ATV and landed several feet away. Several other riders stopped to render first aid.

A day after George Floyd's funeral in Houston, the U.S. House Judiciary Committee is holding hearings on racial profiling and policing practices in America.

Floyd's brother is among those scheduled to testify before the committee today, June 10.

New Hampshire Calling: What Does It Mean To Be An Ally

Originalmente publicado en inglés por el NHPR staff

Traducido al español por María Aguirre

Con la finalidad de frenar la propagación del coronavirus, el gobernador Chris Sununu anteriormente publicó una serie de órdenes de emergencia que limita la operaciones de algunos negocios, mientras que otros establecimientos deben cerrar.  En las recientes semanas, ha emitido nuevas órdenes que permite que ciertos locales vuelvan a abrir bajo restricciones. 

The funeral service for George Floyd, 46, who was killed by police in Minneapolis on Memorial Day, will be held Tuesday, June 9, at The Fountain of Praise in Houston. 

While life in New Hampshire starts readjusting to a new normal, the coronavirus is still ravaging long-term care facilities across the Granite State.

The most recent data show the toll COVID-19 has taken on New Hampshire's nursing homes, assisted living facilities and similar institutions, accounting for more than three-quarters of the state's COVID-19 deaths to-date.

New Hampshire Fish and Game officials are reminding the public to practice good water safety after three drowning incidents over the weekend. The bodies of two people reported missing Saturday were found Sunday morning in the Merrimack River in Canterbury.

Fish and Game says the 21-year-old female and 27-year-old male were located in approximately 15 feet of water. The victims' friends had reportedly contacted police Saturday night after trying to rescue them.

The SpaceX Dragon crew with NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley successfully launched Saturday on a journey to the International Space Station.

The launch came shortly before 4 p.m. Saturday.

Watch the launch via this NASA YouTube video. The launch countdown begins about an hour into this video:

Portsmouth Fire Chief Todd Germain says someone set fire to Portsmouth Middle School early Saturday morning.

The call came in around 3:15 a.m.

Sprinklers suppressed the fire until firefighters arrived and extinguished the flames around the main entrance foyer.

Preliminary damage estimates exceed $100,000.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is assisting Portsmouth police and fire officials with the investigation.

Material from The Associated Press was used in this report.

This post gathers NHPR's past updates on coronavirus in New Hampshire with a date range beginning May 1, 2020.

NOTE: Some of the stories below may contained outdated guidance and stories that have since evolved. Please click the links below for the most up-to-date coverage and guidance. 

Update: The National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for parts of Cheshire County and Hillsborough County, that expired at 8:15 p.m. Friday. A tornado watch remains in effect for parts of central and southern New Hampshire until 10 p.m. Friday.

Severe thunderstorms and heavy rain are expected across central and southern New Hampshire Friday night.

There is a tornado watch in effect for central New Hampshire, including Merrimack and Hillsborough counties, and stretching into Strafford and Rockingham counties, until 10 p.m. Friday.