Federal loan helps Claremont continue lead removal efforts

By PATRICK O’GRADY

CLAREMONT — The city received a $2.15 million loan from the federal Environmental Protection Agency earlier this month that will fund continuing efforts to eliminate lead in the lines and connections of the city’s drinking water system.The money from...

NH federal court strikes down ‘banned concepts’ teaching law

By ETHAN DEWITT

The U.S. District Court of New Hampshire struck down a 2021 law Tuesday that barred teachers from advocating for certain topics, siding with teachers unions and the American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire and ruling that the law is...

Man gets DUI at Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery

RANDOLPH — Vermont State Police cited a 35-year-old Barre, Vt., man for DUI after he allegedly crashed into a flagpole at the Vermont Veterans Memorial Cemetery on Furnace Road on Memorial Day, according to a news release. Troopers observed signs of...

Hartford man held without bail following weekend standoff and shelter-in-place advisory

By JOHN LIPPMAN

HARTFORD — A Hartford man will be held without bail after police sealed off and issued a shelter-in-place advisory at a residential complex when the man allegedly threatened to shoot officers and burn down his condo building during a domestic incident...

Lebanon employers seek to meet workers’ child care needs

By CHRISTINA DOLAN

LEBANON — Two new child care options are in the works in the city, as Lebanon employers seek to address their workers’ needs. The Lebanon School District is proposing to create and staff an early child care room at the Hanover Street School, primarily...

Proposed Sullivan County budget up 10%

By PATRICK O’GRADY

NEWPORT — The proposed $42.7 million Sullivan County budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 is up nearly 10%.The increase is driven by the absence of one-time revenue for the current fiscal year to offset taxes combined with the bond payment for...

Grafton County budget proposal up nearly 5 percent

By PATRICK O’GRADY

NORTH HAVERHILL — The Grafton County Commissioners will hold a public hearing on a proposed $56.3 million budget on Tuesday at the county administration building beginning at 6 p.m.The spending plan represents an increase of about 4.8%, or $2.5...

Upper Valley school notes for May 28

Secondary graduationsThe following Upper Valley residents graduated from Kimball Union Academy in Meriden this spring: Josephine Annabelle Blue, Cornish; Colby Boyce, White River Junction; Isabel Brozen, Plainfield; Analena Connors, Hartland; Eliza...

On the trail: Kuster to headline Biden campaign event

By PAUL STEINHAUSER

When U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster announced in March that she wouldn’t seek re-election this year, the six-term lawmaker in New Hampshire’s Second Congressional District said that she still planned to hit the campaign trail on behalf of fellow Democrats up...

Dozens of layoffs at former Vermont Teddy Bear distribution center due to start Thursday

By JUAN VEGA DE SOTO

Roughly 30 people will lose their jobs at a distribution center for the former apparel brands of the Vermont Teddy Bear Company, according to a letter the new owner sent to the Vermont Department of Labor. The first round of layoffs were expected to...

Internal emails reveal UNH administrators’ desire to quell pro-Palestine ‘encampment’ ahead of graduation

By JEREMY MARGOLIS

A day before a pro-Palestine protest at the University of New Hampshire earlier this month, a staff member in the university’s Office of Student Life passed on to administrators that he got word of a “plan to engage in encampment,” according to an...

Police: Vermont man arrested for stealing gas in Newport to refuel stolen vehicle

By JOHN LIPPMAN

NEWPORT — A 57-year-old Vermont man who told police that he “had just run out of gas and needed some,” caused an environmental headache when he used an axe to puncture a truck’s gas tank to drain it so he could refuel a stolen recreational vehicle he...

Child care providers: We like the $25K grant, love the free business coaching

By ANNMARIE TIMMINS

Ellen Grudzien is the founder, executive director, accountant, and landscaper for Let’s Grow Outside, a preschool program with classrooms in Amherst and an outdoor-based program in Bedford. In that, Grudzien is not unique among child care providers...

Kenyon: By charging for after school program, CCBA loses sight of its mission

By JIM KENYON

In the end, what choice did Jim Vanier have, really? He could have continued drawing a paycheck by looking after and mentoring kids at the Carter Community Building in downtown Lebanon as he’s done for more than 50 years. But it would have meant...

Hartford High students walk out in support of Palestinians

By LIZ SAUCHELLIand JAMES M. PATTERSON

WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — Six Hartford High School students, and one home-schooled student who takes classes at the high school, walked out of class this week in protest of the treatment of Palestinians living in Gaza.After leaving the high school on...

In Hanover, Democrats seeking to replace Sununu sound more alike than different

By CHRISTINA DOLAN

HANOVER — With New Hampshire’s gubernatorial primaries just over three months away, three Democratic hopefuls shared a stage on the Dartmouth campus Wednesday night to address issues relevant to young voters.Democratic Executive Councilor Cinde...

Hartford Selectboard continues to mull banner policy

By PATRICK ADRIAN

HARTFORD — A project to hang banners on municipal light poles to honor veterans and first responders remains in limbo as the Selectboard tries to find common ground on the parameters of a banner policy.Two months have passed since a group of residents...

Fairlee and Orford Fourth of July parade canceled due to traffic concerns

By LIZ SAUCHELLI

FAIRLEE — The state has forced the cancellation of the annual Fairlee and Orford Fourth of July parade this year due to an increase in traffic along the parade’s roughly mile-long route.The parade traditionally begins on Route 25A in Orford, then...

Claremont, Unity school district hires new superintendent

CLAREMONT — The SAU 6 School Board has removed the “interim” tag from SAU 6 Superintendent Christopher A. Pratt’s title. Pratt was named superintendent of the district, which includes Claremont and Unity, after the School Board fired Michael Tempesta...