Officials conclude air pollution standards not violated in Balsams Resort fire last January
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
COLEBROOK, N.H. (AP) - New Hampshire officials have concluded that air pollution standards were not violated when two buildings were burned down at the Balsams Resort last January as part of a renovation.
A Department of Environmental Services official says the conclusion is partly based on the word of Colebrook fire officials who said all materials that could have caused air pollution were removed from the dormitory and a factory once used to make rubber products before the fire was started.
New Hampshire Public Radio reports that the state is fining Colebrook fire officials $2,601 for failing to tell DES about the fire beforehand and not having a state-approved inspector present.
NH U.S. Rep introduces amendment to protect pipeline activity between Maine and Canada
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - New Hampshire U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter has introduced an amendment that would protect pipeline activity between Portland, Maine and Montreal, Canada.
The amendment introduced Tuesday protects environmental interests from being affected by pending legislation to approve the Keystone XL pipeline, which would carry 800,000 barrels of oil a day from Alberta across six U.S. states to the TexasGulfCoast. The Obama administration is considering whether to approve the pipeline.
Shea-Porter says her measure clarifies that the expedited process made available for Keystone would not be used to short-circuit any environmental review for possible changes to the Portland-to-Montreal pipeline. There has been concern that the oil-carrying pipeline could have its flow reversed and carry Canadian tar sands oil through Vermont, New Hampshire and western Maine.
NH Senate budget committee says no to House-proposed cigarette tax hike
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - The Senate’s budget committee is saying no to a House-proposed 20-cent cigarette tax hike and delays in several business tax credits worth $53 million in revenue.
The Republican-controlled Finance Committee voted 4-2 on the proposals Tuesday. The committee is in the process of putting together the Senate’s version of the $11 billion, two-year budget for a vote by the chamber on June 6.
Chairman Chuck Morse released a list of suggested changes to the Department of Health and Human Services’ budget that included smaller funding increases for services for the disabled and mentally ill.
That prompted a quick response from Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan, who called the funding levels “nothing short of devastating for the health and well-being of the people of New Hampshire.”
Former Exeter Hospital nurse has sued hospital saying she was wrongfully terminated
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
EXETER, N.H. (AP) - A former ExeterHospital nurse and roommate of a technician accused of stealing drugs and infecting patients with hepatitis C has sued the hospital, saying she was wrongfully terminated.
Kerry Descoteau lived with David Kwiatkowski and worked with him at the cardiac catheterization laboratory.
In her lawsuit, filed last month in Rockingham Superior Court, Descoteau said she was questioned about her connection to Kwiatkowski and about a drug used during procedures. She was placed on administrative leave.
The suit says the state nursing board investigated and dismissed the complaint, but then the hospital fired her a week later, saying she “may have contributed” to the hepatitis C outbreak.
The Portsmouth Herald reports a lawyer for ExeterHospital denies that it wrongfully terminated Descoteau.
Kwiatkowski faces trial in January.
___ Information from: Portsmouth Herald, http://www.seacoastonline.com
NH tourism officials predicting increases in visitors and spending during holiday weekend
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - New Hampshire tourism officials are predicting an increase in visitors and spending this Memorial Day weekend, though the outlook is not as optimistic as it was last year.
Citing a report by the Institute for New Hampshire Studies, tourism officials say they expect more than a half million visitors from out of state during the holiday weekend - a 1 percent increase over last year. They anticipate those visitors will spend upwards of $88 million - more than a 2 percent increase over last year.
Division of Travel and Tourism director Lori Harnois says many of the state's parks, attractions and businesses are opening for the season this weekend.
Last year officials predicted a 2 percent increase in visitors and a 5 percent increase in spending.
(AP) _ A FORMER BANK VICE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN FOUND GUILTY OF CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT WIRE FRAUD IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
JAMES BENDER OF SHARON, MASS., WAS A FORMER SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF TRADE FINANCE FOR SOVEREIGN BANK.
HE WAS ACCUSED OF CONSPIRING TO DEFRAUD SEVERAL LATIN AMERICAN CUSTOMERS OF GOSS INTERNATIONAL AMERICAS CORP., A DURHAM MANUFACTURER OF COMMERCIAL PRINTING PRESSES.
THE U.S. ATTORNEY'S OFFICE SAYS THE 48-YEAR-OLD BENDER ARRANGED FOR THE BANK TO PURCHASE LOANS EXTENDED TO CUSTOMERS AND FORMED SHELL COMPANIES TO DEFRAUD BUSINESSES. THE CUSTOMERS WERE SENT FRAUDULENT INVOICES CHARGING THEM FOR LOAN UNDERWRITING SERVICES THAT WEREN'T RENDERED.
BENDER IS TO BE SENTENCED ON SEPT. 2. PAUL WILSON, A FORMER GOSS MANAGER, PLEADED GUILTY LAST YEAR TO THREE COUNTS OF WIRE FRAUD AND WAS SENTENCED TO A YEAR IN PRISON.
SOME MOSQUITO EXPERTS SAY NEW HAMPSHIRE IS IN FOR A CHALLENGING SEASON THIS YEAR.
A SNOWY WINTER GAVE WAY TO A DRY SPRING. BUT THE LACK OF A HARD FREEZE HAS HELPED THE MELANURA MOSQUITO, WHICH WINTERS UNDER ROOT SYSTEMS.
MICHAEL MORRISON OF SWAMP INC., A PORTSMOUTH MOSQUITO CONTROL COMPANY, TELLS WMUR-TV (HTTP://BIT.LY/13HCTMG) THE MELANURA MOSQUITO FEEDS ON BIRDS AND PLAYS AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE SPREAD OF EASTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS.
OF THE MORE THAN 40 SPECIES OF MOSQUITOES IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, ABOUT FIVE ARE KNOWN TO CARRY INSECT-BORNE DISEASES. THE HABITATS OF THOSE MOSQUITOES ARE MONITORED YEAR-ROUND.
Finance Committee making preliminary decisions in NH spending budget
Monday, May 20, 2013
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - The Senate Finance Committee is making preliminary decisions in putting together its two-year spending budget for New Hampshire.
The committee agreed tentatively Monday to restore $3 million in funding to the New HampshireLand and Community Heritage Investment program that the House had diverted to other state spending. Senate Democratic Leader Sylvia Larsen questioned if funding the program would mean cutting social service programs.
Finance Chairman Chuck Morse said he thought the funding was possible, but it could be revisited if the committee has trouble making the health and human services budget balance.
Morse also proposed restoring the New Hampshire's UNIQUE college scholarship program to its original purpose rather than continuing a practice of using some of the scholarship money as state aid to colleges.
According to WMUR-TV, at least one person was hurt in a boat accident at Chip Island in Tuftonboro early Monday morning. The accident was reported around 12:30 a.m. The powerboat was operated by 18-year-old Michael Peterson. One of five passengers was taken to the hospital. Their condition is unknown. Five other passengers were treated at the scene. The boat was on its way to Cow Island when it collided with Chip Island. Authorities said alcohol was not a factor rather, limited visibility due to rain and fog. The case is still under investigation.
