A Vermont man’s ride in his glider on Sunday ended with a crash landing into a leafy tree — prompting a rescue mission by officials in New Hampshire.
The glider pilot was uninjured after crashing in the White Mountain National Forest in Benton, N.H., around 4:20 p.m. but ended up dangling from a tree about 20 feet off the ground while stuck inside his cockpit, according to the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department.
“Luckily he had cell service and was able to text 911 to request assistance,” officials said.
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Henry Swayze, 84, of Tunbridge, Vt., took off from Post Mills, Vt., around 2 p.m. and flew to Canon Mountain in Franconia, N.H. But when he tried to navigate his way back to Post Mills, he soon found himself in trouble, officials said.
Swayze encountered difficulty getting lift — the force that holds the aircraft in the air — and tried circling near Hogsback Ridge. On his final try, his glider hit a downdraft and crashed.
Fish and Game officials were notified of the crash around 4:50 p.m. and rescuers reached Swazye shortly before 7 p.m. Firefighters used a pulley and harness system to lower Swayze from the tree, where he remained in his glider, officials said.
By 9:50 p.m., Swayze and rescuers were back on the road. The Federal Aviation Administration was given Swayze’s information and location for further investigation, officials said.
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Shannon Larson can be reached at shannon.larson@globe.com. Follow her @shannonlarson98.
The New Hampshire Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025 results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from Dec. 23 drawing
15-37-38-41-64, Mega Ball: 21
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 23 drawing
02-04-12-37-42, Lucky Ball: 10
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Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from Dec. 23 drawing
Day: 1-9-3
Evening: 0-1-6
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from Dec. 23 drawing
Day: 4-9-8-7
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Evening: 6-4-8-4
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Gimme 5 numbers from Dec. 23 drawing
21-25-31-36-39
Check Gimme 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
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When are the New Hampshire Lottery drawings held?
Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Pick 3, 4: 1:10 p.m. and 6:55 p.m. daily.
Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. Tuesday and Friday.
Megabucks Plus: 7:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily.
Gimme 5: 6:55 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.
Where can you buy lottery tickets?
Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a New Hampshire managing editor. You can send feedback using this form.
A federal appeals court has ruled officials in Nashua, N.H., engaged in unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination when they denied requests to fly certain politically charged flags, while allowing others, on the city’s “citizen flag pole.”
Bethany and Stephen Scaer, whose requests to hoist banners with the slogans “Save Women’s Sports” and “An Appeal to Heaven” were rejected, teamed up with the Institute for Free Speech and filed a lawsuit in 2024 alleging their First Amendment rights were violated.
The trial court in New Hampshire initially concluded the Scaers hadn’t demonstrated a likelihood that their case would succeed, since the flags approved for display at City Hall constitute government speech. But three judges on the First Circuit Court of Appeals reversed that decision Monday, finding that the flagpole in question had actually been a venue for private speech all along.
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The case relates to one Boston lost in 2022, when the US Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the city had unconstitutionally rejected an application to fly a Christian flag.
Even though Nashua sought to clarify its policy in response to that 2022 precedent, the city’s process for deciding which flags from the general public would be allowed still didn’t convert private speech into government speech, according to the First Circuit ruling.
“Nashua was doing no more than simply approving that private speech with which it agreed,” Judge Sandra L. Lynch wrote in the ruling, joined by judges Gustavo A. Gelpí and Jeffrey R. Howard.
In a statement, Beth Scaer said the ruling offers a sense of vindication.
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“No one should have to face government censorship for expressing their beliefs,” she said. “We’re thrilled with this victory for free speech rights throughout New England.”
Nathan Ristuccia, an attorney with the Institute for Free Speech who argued the case on appeal, said his team is delighted by the ruling.
“As the First Circuit recognized, governments cannot get away with censorship by labeling that censorship ‘government speech,’” Ristuccia said.
Before the lawsuit was filed, Nashua Mayor James W. Donchess said the city declined to fly the “Save Women’s Sports” flag because officials interpreted it as implying transgender people should face discrimination.
The Scaers, who regularly demonstrate against gender-affirming medical interventions for minors and against inclusion of transgender athletes in women’s and girls’ sports, rejected the notion that their messaging is transphobic.
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As for the “Appeal to Heaven” flag, which features a pine tree, Donchess said city officials want to avoid endorsing the additional meaning it has taken on in recent years.
The banner emerged during the American Revolution, with a nod to the Pine Tree Riot in New Hampshire, an act of American resistance that preceded the Boston Tea Party. More recently, the flag has also been used by Christian nationalists, including some who carried it to the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, when a violent mob delayed the certification of President Trump’s 2020 electoral defeat.
An “Appeal To Heaven” flag is pictured as people gather at Independence Mall to support President Donald Trump as he visits the National Constitution Center to participate in the ABC News town hall on Sept. 15, 2020, in Philadelphia. Michael Perez/Associated Press
In her application to raise the “Appeal to Heaven” flag, Beth Scaer said she wanted to honor the soldiers from Nashua who fought and died at the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775. She and her husband said their request has nothing to do with the Capitol riot.
Nashua has also declined to fly several other flags since the 2022 policy update, including a “pro-life” flag and a Palestinian flag, according to the lawsuit.
Nashua’s attorney, Steven A. Bolton, said on Tuesday that the city has not yet determined whether to file an appeal. He noted that the appellate ruling calls for the trial court to grant interim declaratory relief while the case proceeds.
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Bolton said the city has stopped inviting community members to fly their own flags.
“A new policy was adopted more than a year ago, and we no longer use the term ‘citizen’s flag pole,’” he said. “We no longer accept applications from other parties to fly flags on any of the poles on the City Hall grounds.”
Steven Porter can be reached at steven.porter@globe.com. Follow him @reporterporter.
CANDIA, NH (WGME) – Early Monday morning, a Nashua man died following a crash on Route 101 eastbound in Candia, New Hampshire.
Joseph H. Lavoie, 58, of Nashua, had been driving along Route 101 eastbound near Exit 3 when he lost control of his car, resulting in a drift off the right side of the highway before striking the cement bridge at the Old Candia Road overpass.
State troopers arrived at the scene to find Lavoie’s car on fire, though several passing drivers had helped to pull Lavoie out of his car. The fire was quickly extinguished.
Lavoie was taken to the hospital where he later died from his injuries.
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The crash remains under investigation. Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is asked to contact Trooper Kevin LeDoux via email at Kevin.P.LeDeoux@dos.nh.gov.