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Portsmouth Activists Plan Accessible Black ...

A Black Lives Matter protest more accessible to those in the disabled community is being organized for next Friday in Portsmouth.

Portsmouth Activists Plan Accessible Black Lives Matter Protest
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State Commission Makes Recommendations on Pretextual Stops

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State Commission Makes Recommendations on Pretextual Stops

[Pretextual stops are] when an officer pulls over a motorist for a minor traffic or equipment violation and proceeds to investigate more serious crimes, usually drug related. Many in law enforcement insist the stops are useful for investigating a variety of crimes, especially drug trafficking, while civil rights and racial justice advocates say the stops disproportionately target people of color.

The issue of pretextual stops was front and center in the deliberations of a commission appointed by Gov. Chris Sununu over the summer, tasked with improving law enforcement accountability and transparency after the murder of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer.

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Police Academy Expands Implicit Bias Training from Two Hours to Two Days

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Police Academy Expands Implicit Bias Training from Two Hours to Two Days

Members of New Hampshire’s Commission on Law Enforcement Accountability, Community and Transparency (LEACT) attended Fridell’s program last year to help brainstorm a new two-day seminar on implicit bias training in the Granite State that launched at the police academy on January 14.

The expanded program for police recruits is one of 48 recommendations the LEACT committee advanced after meeting during the summer months. The 16 hours of implicit bias training draws on the philosophies from the FIP program. It also models lesson plans from Ohio’s Peace Officer Basic Training for Community Diversity & Procedural Justice.

Current outbreaks take deadly toll at nursing homes

Current outbreaks take deadly toll at nursing homes

Despite all that has been learned and all the precautions taken, COVID-19 has continued to find its way into New Hampshire nursing homes with alarming regularity and deadly consequences.

The virus has killed 168 people just in current or recently closed outbreaks in congregate living facilities in the state, according to statistics compiled by the Health and Human Services Department. Hundreds more died in previous outbreaks.

A variety of factors may contribute to some nursing homes having a much worse experience than others, Health Commissioner Lori Shibinette said.

LAWYERS SHOULD DRAFT LEGAL DOCUMENTS IN PLAIN ENGLISH

LAWYERS SHOULD DRAFT LEGAL DOCUMENTS IN PLAIN ENGLISH

Many readers of this column are business owners, and many of them have a need from time to time to hire a lawyer to draft a contract for them. These contracts might include, for example, a contract between your company and its employees or independent contractors; an asset or stock purchase agreement, a nondisclosure agreement or an LLC operating agreement.

CAN NEW HAMPSHIRE BUSINESSES AFFORD A $15 MINIMUM WAGE?

CAN NEW HAMPSHIRE BUSINESSES AFFORD A $15 MINIMUM WAGE?

President Biden’s first 100 days in office began, of course, on January 20. It is certain that before the end of January, he will introduce in Congress one or more bills aimed at dealing not only with the devastating health impact of the Covid pandemic on American middle- and low-income workers but also on the pandemic’s devastating economic impact on them.

Districts See More Remote, Hybrid Learning For Second Half of School Year

Districts See More Remote, Hybrid Learning For Second Half of School Year

In the middle of March when coronavirus first hit the United States, many thought it was a rogue wave: stunning, but isolated and not long-lasting. Schools reacted quickly, thinking that remote education would be a short-term response.

But like everything else since the pandemic hit, there were no timetables in the early going. And decisions having to be rescinded due to spikes and clusters has many parents heads spinning. As the second half of the school year begins, parents and educators alike are overwhelmed by the ongoing uncertainty.

Outdoor activities expected to heat up this winter based on Spring, Summer numbers

Outdoor activities expected to heat up this winter based on Spring, Summer numbers

Outdoor winter event planners and safety officials are anticipating a busy season following the unexpected rise of outdoor enthusiasts earlier this year.

Near-record crowds flocked to the lakes and mountains this summer and fall despite COVID-19 restrictions – or perhaps because of them.

What Would Police Reform Look Like in NH and Will it Happen?

What Would Police Reform Look Like in NH and Will it Happen?

Julian Jefferson, a staff attorney in the New Hampshire Public Defender’s office, has represented victims of racism and experienced it firsthand.

“I am a black man,” he said in his testimony before the Commission on Law Enforcement Accountability, Community and Transparency. “I have lived in New Hampshire since 2008. I have been working in the criminal justice system since 2011. I can tell you that racism exists in this state and in our criminal justice system.”

State Meets Many Police Reform Deadlines, Much Left To be Done

State Meets Many Police Reform Deadlines, Much Left To be Done

The Commission on Law Enforcement Accountability, Community and Transparency has been quietly at work since June. Although its meetings over the summer were public, they received little attention amid the noise of a national election, a public health crisis and a struggling economy.

That’s about to change with the new year, as legislation to implement the commission’s findings begins to work its way through the State House and the reality of what is being proposed becomes more apparent to the many stakeholders.

Keeping the bells ringing: Salvation Army scrambles to find volunteers

Keeping the bells ringing: Salvation Army scrambles to find volunteers

Officials with The Salvation Army are anticipating totals nowhere near last year’s mark. At the Salvation Army office in Concord, Major Richard Sharkey said they have four or five kettles this year instead of the usual nine. Sharkey said typically they have seven locations, (two at some locations) and with nine kettles received about $100,000 last year. But this year Sharkey said he trimmed the anticipated revenue to about $75,000, though it could be less, because he expected some difficulty finding volunteers. While the Concord location hires seasonal staff, they also rely on volunteer groups and charitable organizations during the Red Kettle Campaign.

NH nonprofits look to contactless giving for end-of-year fundraising as community need grows

NH nonprofits look to contactless giving for end-of-year fundraising as community need grows

As Jeremiah and Kathryn Eisley fight to keep their red kettles out this year, COVID-19 is fighting back.

The Eisleys, who run the local Salvation Army in Rochester, NH, are determined to keep this year’s red kettle campaign — long an icon of holiday giving — alive during the pandemic.

They came prepared: the Salvation Army established guidelines to keep volunteers and donors safe, as well as options for contactless giving.

Testing Finds COVID Among NH inmates

Testing Finds COVID Among NH inmates

November’s COVID-19 surge in New Hampshire saw the first outbreak of cases among inmates of the state prison system, including 10 cases in a Concord unit that treats mental illness and substance use disorders.

Although multiple prison employees had tested positive for COVID-19 before then, no evidence had surfaced indicating that the virus was present and circulating in the prison population.

Soon after, the state Corrections Department’s tweaked its testing policy. During much of the pandemic, the policy has been to test “residents who are symptomatic and any resident identified during contact-tracing to have had close, prolonged contact with an infected person.”

New Hampshire Comedians Adjust To COVID Comedy

New Hampshire Comedians Adjust To COVID Comedy

When the pandemic hit in March gigs for standup comedians came to a screeching halt. Comedian and talent booker Rob Steen of Manchester normally books shows throughout the Northeast and on cruise ships. He saw around 1,700 shows canceled this year.

But by mid-summer, when stay-at-home restrictions were lifted, comedy shows returned as one of the safer options for live entertainment -- with only one person performing for socially distanced and stationary audience members.

Nashua Doorways Program Triples Service With New Contract

Nashua Doorways Program Triples Service With New Contract

In May, Catholic Medical Center and Southern New Hampshire Health took over the Doorway programs, through which people suffering from substance use disorder in Manchester and Nashua can access treatment. Since then, there’s been an increase in the number of people connected with treatment through the Doorways program in both cities.

Searching For Solutions To Homelessness

Searching For Solutions To Homelessness

As of October, there are 6,780 applicants waiting for affordable housing through the New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority. The majority of them will wait 7-9 years for subsidized housing.

Many other families are newly housing insecure, after pandemic job-loss undermined their fragile ability to pay rent. While there is currently a federal moratorium on evictions, housing experts are concerned that come January — when that expires — there will be a wave of new families facing eviction and homelessness in the height of the New Hampshire winter.

With cases surging in New Hampshire, those offering free Thanksgiving meals, others still aim to serve

With cases surging in New Hampshire, those offering free Thanksgiving meals, others still aim to serve

For the last 30 years, the Windmill Restaurant has served a free Thanksgiving dinner to the community in and around Concord and this year will be no different, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Owner Kosmas Smirnioudis never thought of canceling the tradition that last year served more than 1,000 meals. But he understands that this will be a new experience for him and his staff.

“I really don’t know what to expect this year,” Smirnioudis said about the plans to do strictly takeout. “I hope it all goes nice and smoothly.”

NH college enrollment down amid pandemic

NH college enrollment down amid pandemic

Preliminary figures suggest that Lafond is not the only New Hampshire student whose college decisions have been affected by the pandemic this year. According to data provided by the University System of New Hampshire and community college officials, Granite State community colleges and four-year institutions are seeing a drop in enrollment this fall, including the state’s public institutions.

The trajectory follows a national trend in higher education amid a public health crisis that has forced colleges and universities to quickly rethink the student experience. A review of 629 schools by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center found that as of Sept. 10, undergraduate enrollment had fallen 2.5 percent across all types of higher education institutions, while total enrollment had dropped 1.8 percent.