The unemployment rate in New Hampshire continued it’s decline last month, reports WCAX.
According to state unemployment officials, August’s unemployment rate was 6.5%. This represented a 1.5% decrease from the month of July. This number still reflects the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on unemployment.
NH’s number of employed residents was 689,750 for August 2020, this was a 14,270 person increase from July.
However, there was a decrease of 65,970 employed residents from August 2019.
One of the three black bear cubs left orphaned by the death of their famous mother Mink has been found dead, reports MyChamplainValley.com.
According to authorities, the 30-pound bear cub was struck and killed Monday when it ran onto Route 10 in West Lebanon and was struck by a bus. One of Mink’s other cubs was rescued on August 31st, and it was determined that this cub was its sibling.
Ben Kilham, who took the rescued cub to his rehabilitation center in Lyme, buried the remains of the deceased cub and told the Valley News that it was one of Mink’s.
At this time, the third cub’s status is unknown.
Repairs are set to begin on two “red list” bridges in the Upper Valley, reports the Associated Press.
According to the New Hampshire Department of Transportation, the two bridges carry traffic from Lebanon, NH to Hartford, Vermont, by crossing the Connecticut River and the New England Central and Washington Country railroads.
The $43.8 million project, which will begin on Tuesday, is expected to be completed by September 26, 2025.
A Valley News report states that the deck and superstructure of these bridges will be removed and replaced. Both structures will also be widened for merger lanes, which will allow traffic to travel between Interstate 89 and 91 without having to merge through traffic.
“Red list” bridges are considered to be in poor condition, and are inspected more frequently.
Members of the Vermont Air National Guard will be performing night-time training throughout the month of September, reports NBC 5.
The training is set to take place between Tuesday and Thursday next week, as well as September 22nd and 24th.
According to the Guard, the F-35 fighter jets are scheduled to return to base by 10 PM each night. Area residents may hear and see the jets taking off and landing at the Burlington International Airport.
The Guard states that the 158th Fighter Wing is required to complete these night operations to meet Air Force proficiencies and requirements.
On Friday, the Vermont House of Representatives passed a bill that aims to automatically expunge all criminal records for past low level cannabis possession violations, reports NBC 5.
If passed, the bill would also decriminalize cannabis possession in amounts that are up to two times the adult legal limit, while also reducing some other cannabis-related activities.
According to the report, it appears that House and Senate negotiators are heading towards a final agreement on legislation that would legalize, regulate, and tax the sale of cannabis in VT.
The bill now requires a final vote from the House and Senate before moving to the desk of Governor Phil Scott for possible approval.
A Merrimack, New Hampshire family’s missing exotic cat has been returned home safely, reports WMUR.
The African Serval originally went missing from a home on Merrimack’s Peaslee Road last Wednesday.
According to police, the cat was trapped near the home, but has since been returned and is in good health.
The 4-year-old, named Spartacus, is said to weigh 40 pounds. Spartacus is legally owned, and was permitted by the NH Fish and Game Department.
All of the state of New Hampshire is now in a drought, according to NH Public Radio.
Until now, the state’s North Country has largely been unaffected by drought conditions, but a new update from the national drought monitor shows they are under moderate drought conditions.
At this time, 28% of the state are currently experiencing severe drought conditions, even with the recent precipitation across the state.
Approximately 150 municipalities and local utilities have put restrictions in place for outdoor water use, with over 100 of these restrictions being mandatory.
People with private wells are being urged to use their water conservatively and to stagger their heavy water uses.
Researchers are reportedly “encouraged” by the results of a new COVID-19 test kit, reports NH Business Review.
Recently, a team at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon has been conducting a 20-sample pilot study, which aims to evaluate the accuracy and performance of a new COVID-19 test kit being manufactured by Sherlock Biosciences.
Sherlock Biosciences is a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based engineering biology company.
According to William J. Blake, the company’s chief technology office, “Results from this pilot study have demonstrated – in real patient samples – that our CRISPR-based diagnostic test accurately reports the presence or absence of the COVID-19.”
This test kit, which recently received Emergency Use Authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration, is currently the only CRISPR-based diagnostic test to receive approval to date. The test is reportedly designed to be a faster alternative to the current testing protocols.
The Lebanon Police Department is eyeing changing some city ordinances to require ticketing violators instead of sending them to court, reports NBC 5.
At this time, according to documents, police can only enforce ordinances by issuing a court summons, but they hope to change that.
The current proposal by police calls for any individual with an open alcohol container on city property, or who is caught with drug paraphernalia (needles, pipes) to be given a ticket rather than a court summons. The documents state that fines will go along with these tickets.
Deputy Police Chief Phil Roberts states, “It won’t go on your criminal record, it’s kinda like a speeding ticket that you know you don’t have to check off that you’ve been convicted of a crime if you get a speeding ticket 5 years ago so it’s the same.”
A city public hearing on the subject has been scheduled for October 7th.
The cause of the apartment fire in Barre, Vermont this past weekend has been identified, reports WCAX.
On Saturday, flames ripped through a two-story, five unit apartment building on Brooklyn Street in Barre.
Investigators one serious injury occurred, when a resident had to jump from a second-story window to the ground. However, all others inside the building escaped unscathed.
After an investigation, the cause of the fire has been deemed to have been smoking materials that were tossed into a trash can.
The report states that the building was heavily damaged in the blaze.
WNTK Local News 