Shaheen, Ayotte Vote Against Internet Sales Tax

TELL US: What could the so-called 'Marketplace Fairness Act' mean for tax-free NH?

U.S. Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) voted against the Internet sales tax bill on May 6, calling it burdensome legislation that would harm New Hampshire small businesses. What do you think of the so-called Marketplace Fairness Act? TELL US in the comment stream below. The Senate voted 69 to 27 to pass the legislation. It now goes to the House, where Republicans may scuttle it. Senator Shaheen's statement after the vote: "I was disappointed the Senate passed such a misguided piece of legislation this afternoon and did so without giving the bill the comprehensive review that it deserved. This internet sales tax bill would impose countless new burdens on small businesses and could stunt their ability to expand and create …

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Twitter Threat Made to Windham Schools, FBI Informed

Superintendent Dr. Henry LaBranche notified parents tonight.

WINDHAM, NH -- A Twitter threat originally thought to have been directed at the Windham, CT school district was actually meant for Windham, NH, according to an alert sent to parents by the school superintendent. Dr. Henry LaBranche said in his alert that at 9:20 p.m. he was informed of a letter generated by the principal of a school in Willimantic, CT: The letter explains that a tweeted threat, originally thought to be directed at their district, which is the Windham, CT school district, was not intended for them but for Windham, NH. Further the letter indicated that the matter had been referred to the NH State Police. LaBranche confirmed in the alert that after contacting Windham Police, N.H. he learned that State Police were actually not…

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Man Accidentally Shoots Self in Hand

The incident took place over the weekend.

The Eagle Tribune reported on Sunday that a Pelham man living on Mammoth Road accidentally shot himself in the hand while cleaning his gun. According to the report, Steve Castiglione, 57, shot a single round into his hand and was taken to Southern New Hampsire Medical Center in Nashua. The paper added that the incident is considered accidental and no charges will be file.d

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Lynch Pushes I-93 Widening in State of the State

Governor calls on Legislature to identify ways to fund and finish project by 2016.

Gov. John Lynch, in his State of the State address now underway at the Statehouse, challenges the Legislature to act fast on funding for widening Interstate 93 from Salem to Manchester. He said New Hampshire should complete the widening by 2016. Here is an excerpt from his prepared speech today: "Interstate 93 was built in the early 1960s for 20,000 cars a day. Now, we can see as many as 100,000 cars a day around Salem. With the available funding, the Interstate 93 widening will sputter to a dead stop in Windham. Delaying this project hurts our citizns who must commute on this road every day. It hurts the businesses that depend on Interstate 93 to transport goods. It hurts our tourism industry. And it undercuts the economic development of …

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Biden: Companies are Choosing America Again [VIDEO]

In NH, vice president applauds partnership between Great Bay Community College and Albany Engineering Composites and Safran.

Vice President Joe Biden told Albany Engineering Composites workers in Rochester on Thursday morning the Obama administration knows that "people are tired of being tired" and "people are looking for some hope" that an economic recovery is at hand. As he looked out at the several dozen manufacturing workers who sat in the audience, Biden said the "dream partnership" formed between the State of New Hampshire, Great Bay Community College in Portsmouth, Albany Engineering Composites and Safran that will create 400 new, well-paying jobs is one of many examples of how the economy is turning around. During his State of the Union address on Tuesday night, President Barack Obama encouraged partnerships like this one to be duplicated nationwide to …

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Vice President Joe Biden to Talk Jobs in Rochester

Biden to speak at Albany Engineered Composites and Safran USA on Thursday.

Vice President Joe Biden will visit a Rochester manufacturing firm Thursday and discuss how the Obama administration's policies encouraging partnerships between community colleges and employers are creating jobs. According to the White House Press Office, Biden will speak at Albany Engineered Composites and Safran USA at 11 a.m. on Thursday. With plans to hire 400 workers over the next decade, Albany and Safran have teamed up with Great Bay Community College in Portsmouth to design a training program that will ensure workers have access to the advanced manufacturing skills necessary for employment, according to the White House. Safran is a global high-technology company with annual revenues exceeding $15 billion and core concentrations in …

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NH Lawmakers Eye Life, Liberty, Taxes

Bills on tap this week include voter ID, health care, guns, death and taxes.

Life, liberty, guns, signs and size matters. Plus mind games and the Magna Carta? Warning: an epic legislative week is dead ahead. Your state lawmakers are busy this week in Concord. Here is just some of what is on tap: Signs: The House Public Works and Highways Committee holds a public hearing Tuesday on a bill to require DOT to post signs on all roads that cross the border into Massachusetts. The signs shall say, “Warning: Massachusetts Border 500 Feet.” Tuesday, 9:30 a.m., Room 201, Legislative Office Building. Co-sponsors of House Bill 1412 include Rep. Donna Mauro, R-Windham, and Rep. Mary Griffin, R-Windham. Photo Finish: Legislation to require photo identification to vote gets a public hearing Tuesday. After the James O’Keefe voter …

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N.H. Primary

What is Newt's NH Secret?

We asked Newt Gingrich's NH staff and a local political expert about the candidate's recent surge in popularity.

One GOP candidate has a lot to be thankful for when it comes to the Granite State. Newt Gingrich recently surged into second place in the latest WMUR/UNH NH Primary Poll and landed the coveted endorsement from New Hampshire's biggest newspaper this week. “I think he got the Union Leader endorsement because he is the conservative that has the best chance of winning the nomination,” said Gingrich’s New Hampshire Director Andrew Hemingway. The 2012 presidential candidate has had some obstacles in his campaign, but it seems like he has caught up and become a real threat to current front-runner Mitt Romney. So what is the secret to Gingrich’s success in our state? We talked to key leaders in his campaign and a local political expert to find out…

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N.H. Primary

Ron Paul: 'War Propaganda' Hurting Economy

Candidate explains his approach to foreign policy.

Mitt Romney said that cutting defense spending would be a “doomsday scenario,” but Ron Paul believes it is the answer to our economic woes. First he said the American people need to see through the "propaganda" that is attempting to control public opinion on foreign policy. “It is all war propaganda to get the people's emotions going up to accept the next war going on,” said Paul. “Enough is enough, we don’t need any more of these wars, besides we can't afford them anymore. What we need is a healthy dose of truth so we can have a better foreign policy." Paul dove further into his views on foreign policy during a Q&A session with Patch editors and voters at The Draft in Concord earlier today. He aims to cut trillions of dollars in debt by …

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