An area hospital is on limited access, after a number of staff and patients have become ill in recent days with symptoms of norovirus. The gastrointestinal ailment first surfaced several days ago at Monadnock Community Hospital in Peterborough. Hospital officials are limiting access to its four largest entryways, and providing hand-sanitizer and face masks at each one, in hopes of limiting the spread of the highly-contagious disease. About five percent of the 720 MCH staff members have shown symptoms of norovirus, including nausea and diahrrea. State health officials say the norovirus has been reported across the state ... typical for this time of year, they say.
There's a party in Keene tonight -- for ONE party. Typically, a Presidential State of the Union address is not occasion for a party, per-se. But this is an election year, and those who are already campaigning for Obama's re-election will MAKE it a party occasion. The speech-watching event ... one of nearly a dozen such events statewide ... takes place at Obama's local campaign headquarters at 268 West Street, with doors opening at 8:30 ahead of the scheduled 9pm address.
It was once one of Keene's largest employers. Now the assets of local manufacturer Kingsbury Corporation will be put up for auction beginning Thursday. The Sentinel reports that one of the bidders will be a company called Optimization Technology, based in New York. If that company succeeds in its bid, the plan is to step up production at the factory on Laurel Street. Kingsbury began bankruptcy proceedings back in September.
Ice-in conditions are declared for Lake Winnipesaukee, but that could change as soon as today. Ice-in is when the Broads, the deepest part of the lake is frozen over and the MS Mount Washington cannot travel any of its routes. While pilot Dave Emerson of Emerson Aviation says the lake was frozen over as of Sunday afternoon, temperatures Monday and today are in the 40s again. He says he may have to declare a second ice-in this winter.
Under legislation being considered by the New Hampshire House, people could refuse to provide accommodations, goods or services to gay couples getting married in the state. Today the House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the bill that allows the practice if a business owner, an employee or anyone else felt providing the services related to a marriage or its celebration would violate his or her conscience or religious faith. Supporters touted the bill as a balance between freedom of religion and sexual orientation while opponents called it codified discrimination.
Granny-D would be 102 years old today. And that fact will be observed at the statehouse, by state law enacted last year. A proclamation will be read today, within the context of this being "Granny D Day" in Doris Haddock's home state. The long-time Dublin resident who died two years ago gained national fame for walking across the nation over a decade ago to call attention to her pet cause of campaign finance reform. Even as this one-time celebration of Haddock's life takes place, a State Senate committee is consering a bill to make this date Granny D Day every year.
Speaking of bills under consideration: A House committee got an earful from state AND local officials, against a bill which would exclude from property valuation consideration, any scenic view from a property. The so-called "View tax" has been subject to endless criticism by property owners for years, arguing that it is arbitrary and unevenly applied. The measure specifically states that a view from a home or building cannot be factored into its assessed value. That could cost some municipalities a bundle in reduced property taxes. The officials argued that such a restriction actually would lead to more value assessment complaints.
New Hampshire lawmakers are considering a tax credit helping more low-income students to attend the private school of their choice. Republican legislative leaders support the pair of bills making New Hampshire the ninth state in the US offering tax credits for businesses supporting scholarships to private schools. Opponents are against it, saying this would rob public schools of $15 million and does not have accountability for the quality of programs.
Vermont governor Peter Shumlin says the jury is out so far, on whether the state should or will appeal the Federal Court ruling blocking Montpelier from padlocking Vermont Yankee the day its current operating license expired on March 21st. The Attorney General's office undoubtedly will be asked for an opinion as to the likelihood of a successful appeal. Vermont AG William Sorrel says the cost of the litigation so far has been over a third of a million dollars, and an appeal could push the cost the rest of the way to a million.
Vermont lawmakers will take testimony from the public at a hearing on the future of the state's mental health system, following the closure of the Vermont State Hospital in Waterbury. Residents had to be evacuated from the Waterbury facility because of flooding during Tropical Storm Irene, and Gov. Peter Shumlin says he does not want to reopen the antiquated hospital. Instead, the administration has proposed a group of smaller, mental health facilities around the state, and more use of community placements for patients. Lawmakers have set a public hearing for 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday to hear from the public in Statehouse Room 11. Those wishing to testify can begin signing up at 4 p.m.
The Vermont company that runs much of the electric distribution system in the state is joining with IBM to build a fiber optic control system designed to make the system more efficient and reliable. The Vermont Electric Power Company and IBM announced Tuesday an agreement to build what's called an intelligent fiber optic communications and control network across the state. The system will span more than 1,000 miles and connect transmission substations to Vermont's distribution utilities and be part of the smart grid that's being designed. The companies say IBM will provide project management and networking services. The system will provide the communications capability to relay information back to the utility about usage, existing or potential outages, and equipment performance.
