As state ends mandatory car inspections, NH auto dealers raise alarm

By JOSH ROGERS

Annual car inspections will no longer be mandatory in New Hampshire starting next year under the state budget Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed into law Friday.

State Supreme Court holds New Hampshire school spending unconstitutionally low

By ETHAN DEWITT

New Hampshire does not provide constitutionally adequate education funding for school districts, the state Supreme Court held Tuesday, in a major decision that could force sweeping legislative changes.

Claremont newspaper suspends operations

CLAREMONT — The Eagle Times announced it is suspending operations, saying it is “not able to achieve business results sufficient to make the paper financially viable,” according to an email sent out Monday.

Gov. Phil Scott signs new campaign finance rules, other election changes into law

By SHAUN ROBINSON

Gov. Phil Scott signed a package of changes to Vermont’s election procedures into law this week, among them an expansion of who has to file campaign finance disclosure forms and a restriction on candidates running in a general election who’ve lost a preceding primary election.

The New Hampshire budget was last week’s main event — but that’s not all lawmakers voted on

By WILLIAM SKIPWORTH and ETHAN DEWITT

ECFiber’s future operator names CEO as legal spat with current operator escalates

By HABIB SABET

As ECFiber and the company that currently runs its operations continue to spar in court, the communication union district announced that its new service provider has hired its first chief executive officer.

Sullivan County budget to increase taxes by 6%

By PATRICK O’GRADY

NEWPORT — The Sullivan County delegation of state representatives approved a $42.1 million budget for the fiscal year that begins Tuesday.

Closing dates set for last of Upper Valley Rite Aid stores

By MARION UMPLEBY

The three remaining Upper Valley Rite Aid stores — in Claremont, West Lebanon, and Windsor — are slated to close by the end of the summer, following the national drugstore chain’s bankruptcy filing in early May.

Grafton County delegation approves budget, debates remote meeting access

By EMMA ROTH-WELLS

NORTH HAVERHILL — The Grafton County legislative delegation has approved a $57.7 million spending plan for the fiscal year that begins Tuesday.

Windsor hires first community nurse

WINDSOR — A community coalition in Windsor has hired the town’s first community nurse who started last week and is currently seeking clients in Windsor over 65.

New child care center under construction in Randolph

By LIZ SAUCHELLI

RANDOLPH — Each time Randolph resident Lindsay Kill takes and picks up her two daughters at the Orange County Parent Child Center in Tunbridge, the process takes at least two hours.

Ayotte signs two-year NH budget, closing turbulent process

By ETHAN DeWITT

Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed New Hampshire’s two budget bills — House Bill 1 and House Bill 2 — into law Friday, approving a $15.9 billion two-year package to fund the state government until July 2027.

Burlington man found guilty of killing wife with meat cleaver appeals his convictions to Vermont Supreme Court

By ALAN J. KEAYS

The attorney for a Burlington man sentenced to serve at least 27 years in prison for killing his wife and seriously injuring her mother with a meat cleaver in 2017 argued Thursday that the convictions for murder and attempted murder against him should be thrown out.

NH lawmakers spike plan for mandatory minimum sentences for fentanyl possession

By JOSH ROGERS

A plan that would both toughen sentences for fentanyl crimes and relax penalties for hallucinogenic mushroom possession in New Hampshire died in the State House on Thursday.

NH lawmakers give final OK to bills banning transgender health care for minors

Staff Report

New Hampshire lawmakers gave final passage to a pair of bills Thursday that ban most gender-affirming care for transgender minors in the state.

Springfield Hospital, nurses reach agreement on contract extension

SPRINGFIELD, Vt. — Nurses at Springfield Hospital have successfully negotiated an extension to their union contract with hospital management, according to a news release. 

A Life: Carl Hussey ‘was a teacher at heart’

By PATRICK O’GRADY

LEBANON — For nearly 30 years, Carl Hussey — “Mr. Wonderful” to his students — taught social studies at Lebanon Junior High School.

Construction to disrupt traffic in West Lebanon

By CLARE SHANAHAN

LEBANON — Starting Monday, traffic on Tracy Street in West Lebanon will be down to one-way and one Advance Transit bus stop will be closed for about two weeks for construction work.

Former Plainfield police chief takes same job in Lyme

By JOHN LIPPMAN

LYME — A veteran Upper Valley police officer with deep ties to Lyme is the town’s new police chief.

Upper Valley School Notes: Newport tech center gets two new vans

The Sugar River Valley Regional Technical Center in Newport has been awarded a $137,500 a Career & Technical Education (CTE) Transportation Aid grant from the New Hampshire Department of Education, which covered the cost of two passenger vans that can fit up to 15 passengers.