Welcome to InDepthNH.org’s roundup of news that matters in New Hampshire, Dec. 10
Colebrook Chronicle
The News and Sentinel
More than a mansion: Bridges House has a long and storied history (Concord Monitor)
When former Gov. John Lynch was first elected in 2004, he suggested to his wife Susan that their kids could have a sleepover in the Governor’s Mansion, also known as the Bridges House.
Cog Hotel: Could Ordinance Designed To Protect From Development Allow It Instead? (InDepthNH.org)
LANCASTER: A section of the Coos County zoning ordinance designed to preserve and protect high-elevation areas such as Mount Washington contains a section that one planning board member is arguing could allow a 35-room hotel along the Cog Railway.
2nd class-action lawsuit filed in NH against Saint-Gobain (Union Leader)
MERRIMACK — A second class-action lawsuit has been filed against Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics here in New Hampshire — this time on behalf of several Merrimack residents who say they have been exposed to high levels of perfluorinated chemicals (PFC).
Bente Torjusen’s Three Decades of Influence on the Arts and the Upper Valley (Valley News)
About a week before her retirement on Dec. 2, Bente Torjusen, the longtime director of AVA Gallery and Art Center in Lebanon, settled a yellow hard hat firmly on her head and left the Carter-Kelsey building on Bank Street to inspect the almost-completed sculptural studio out back, where the construction crew was putting finishing touches on the interior and exterior.
Verdict awards couple $5M after procedures leave woman legally blind (Union Leader)
A Derry couple won a $5 million verdict Friday after a jury found a Londonderry ophthalmologist was found liable of committing medical malpractice for procedures that left a 67-year-old woman legally blind.
Colby-Sawyer Eliminates Five Majors to Stay Afloat (Valley News)
New London — In announcing the layoffs of 18 employees this week, Colby-Sawyer College is the latest small private school to make a difficult choice in response to national trends that have put pressure on institutions with its profile.
2 men arrested for armed home invasion Wednesday; beat residents with hammer and crowbar (NH1)
KEENE — The two men that broke into a Keene home and beat the residents with a hammer and a crowbar on Wednesday have been arrested.
Tasker headed to jail while awaiting trial on sex solicitation, drug charges (Concord Monitor)
A former New Hampshire lawmaker will await trial on drug and sex solicitation charges from jail.
Self-described sidewalk counselors challenge abortion clinics’ buffer zone law in NH (NH1)
A law which passed in 2014 allowing abortion clinics to create “buffer zones” is being challenged.
Gorham’s Herriott is ‘King of the Mini Stocks’ (Berlin Daily Sun)
BERLIN — It has been an incredible race season for Gorham driver Heywood Herriott with three tour victories, a triple crown series and a championship title under his wheels.
Nadeau back in session; Hudson School Board won’t take action against member charged with assault (Nashua Telegraph)
HUDSON – The Hudson School Board will not take action against a member who was recently charged with Class A misdemeanor reckless violence and reckless conduct, per recommendation of its lawyer.
Uncertainty Plagues Regional, Town Planners On Energy Siting (Caledonian Record)
White Mountains Civil Air Patrol Seeking Pilots (Caledonian Record)
Officer and a refugee; New Manchester policeman straddles worlds (Nashua Telegraph)
MANCHESTER – Soon after arriving in New Hampshire as a teenager, Abdesselam Baddaoui met two fellow refugees who accidentally ended up involved in a criminal case because, after being instructed about domestic violence laws, the wife mistakenly believed she had to call police any time she and her husband argued.
NH Job Corps’ Manchester center sends its first grads into workforce (Union Leader)
The New Hampshire Job Corps held its first-ever graduation on Friday, an event that recognized young adults who had taken their first steps out of poverty or trouble.
New Hampshire student speaks out on harassment after Trump tweet (WMUR)
Accused of being Jeb Bush staffer planted in Manchester event crowd
COLUMNS
My Turn: Let’s foster a new normal of understanding and empathy (Concord Monitor)
Over the Thanksgiving Day weekend, there were numerous cautions on radio, TV and in print media urging the avoidance of political conversations around the Thanksgiving table.
Little Paws, Old Friends and All Surprises Big and Small (InDepthNH.org)
As I muse joyfully, I realize I’ve had a plethora of surprises this week – mostly good, some daunting, some uncomfortable.
Mark Hayward’s City Matters: Dad with terminal cancer has tough decisions – and tough days – ahead (Union Leader)
THIS TIME of year, parents wonder about when their children will learn the truth about Santa Claus. Michael Richert wonders when his boys — 5 and 8 years old — will learn the truth about his terminal cancer.
AROUND THE WORLD AND NATION
$3 million settlement to family of teen shot by Chicago police (Chicago Sun Times)
It is one of four settlements totaling $9.2 million on the agenda for Monday’s meeting of the City Council’s Finance Committee.
U.S. Agencies Believe Russia Hacked G.O.P. but Kept Data (New York Times)
U.S. intelligence agencies found that Russia hacked the Republican National Committee’s computer systems but did not release the information, officials said.
Paris attacks: State of emergency ‘to protect elections’ (BBC)
The state of emergency imposed in France after the Paris attacks must be extended to protect elections next year, PM Bernard Cazeneuve has said.