New Hampshire
New Hampshire performs Heimlich maneuver on choking man at eating contest: Watch video
Gov. Sununu uses Heimlich maneuver to help choking man
Gov. Chris Sununu performed the Heimlich maneuver on a man who choked on a lobster roll during a competition in New Hampshire.
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu stepped in to aid a choking this weekend, performing the Heimlich maneuver in front of a crowd of people gathered to watch an eating contest.
Video shows Sununu grabbing the man, Christian Moreno, and performing several abdominal compressions until the food – in this case, a lobster roll – was dislodged.
Moreno participated in the lobster roll eating contest at the Hampton Beach Seafood Festival on September 8. He attempted to eat as many lobster rolls as possible in 10 minutes. After a couple of rolls, though, he began choking.
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Quick thinking: ‘That was the governor?’
Sununu, who had been addressing the crowd earlier, noticed that Moreno was in distress, and quickly intervened, wrapping his arms around Moreno and performing the Heimlich maneuver.
“I started saying, ‘He’s choking, he’s choking,’ and I could tell people weren’t responding. So I just moved forward and immediately started to kind of give him the Heimlich,” Sununu told WMUR, adding, “It was crazy because it wasn’t so much the jumping in and doing it – I mean, that was wild in itself – but there was so much commotion.”
A paramedic soon took over for Sununu and freed the bits of lobster roll from Moreno’s throat, at which point he continued eating. Moreno eventually finished having consumed nine lobster rolls.
Having taken his glasses off before the contest, it wasn’t until later that Moreno realized it had been the New Hampshire Governor performing the Heimlich maneuver on him.
“My counter came up to me and, like, made a joke. And was like, ‘Oh, like, I bet nobody else can say that they’ve gotten a Heimlich from the governor before.’” Moreno told WMUR. “And I looked at him, and was just like, that was, that was the governor?”
Max Hauptman is a Trending Reporter for USA TODAY. He can be reached at MHauptman@gannett.com
New Hampshire
NH National Guard activated in connection with Iran war
The federal government has activated the New Hampshire National Guard’s 157th Air Refueling Wing in connection with the war with Iran.
“I’ve had a briefing myself, a classified briefing, but it’s really important on the messaging on this that we really coordinate with the Pentagon,” Gov. Kelly Ayotte told reporters during a press briefing following Wednesday’s Executive Council meeting.
Ayotte said she was unable to share additional details about the nature of the New Hampshire National Guard’s activity related to the conflict, including how many guard members have been activated or what role they are playing.
“We’re going to respect what messaging comes out of the Pentagon just to make sure that our men and women in uniform are fully protected and that we aren’t providing any information that could be used in a way that would be harmful to them,” Ayotte said.
In a statement Thursday, Ayotte said the unit had been deployed in late February to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in support of the operation.
Earlier this week, Pentagon officials confirmed that members of the Vermont National Guard were involved in attacks against Iran over the weekend, though our news partners at Vermont Public were not able to confirm additional details on the nature of the operation.
During the briefing with local reporters, Ayotte also stressed her support for servicemembers and those close to them.
“I have such respect for our men and women in uniform,” Ayotte said. “As you know, I come from a military family, and they have our full support, and we appreciate them and their families, and obviously anyone who is serving right now, and my thoughts and prayers go out to those who have lost someone that they love.”
New Hampshire
NH Senate Votes To Hike Turnpike Tolls for Out-of-State Vehicles
By PAULA TRACY, InDepthNH.org
CONCORD – While Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte has said she opposes increasing highway toll rates across the state, the Senate voted Thursday to increase rates for out-of-state license plate holders.
It now goes to the House for consideration.
This would be a $1 increase for those who have out of state plates going through the tolls at Hooksett, Hampton and Bedford for out-of-state plates, a 75 cent hike for those taking Hampton’s Exit 2 and on the Spaulding turnpike at Rochester, and a 50 cent hike for those taking the exit off I-93 to Hooksett.
An analysis in the bill shows that this would increase toll revenue by $53.3 million in fiscal year 2027 and go up each year to generate $81.4 million a year in 2036.
Senate Bill 627 passed on a voice vote with two Republicans, Senators Regina Birdsell of Hampstead and William Gannon of Sandown opposing.
Senator Mark E. McConkey, R-Freedom, moved to take the bill off the table and offered an amendment.
He said the last time there was a systemwide increase to the turnpike toll was 19 years ago.
“I am sure we could all agree the cost of operations…has continued to escalate when revenue is not rising with it,” and he noted that with an enterprise fund, the state can only spend what it takes in.
The state has just completed a 10-year highway plan and there was a $400 million shortfall in projects that could not be paid for under the current income.
McConkey said the measure would not increase tolls for New Hampshire drivers with a state license plate.
“Why don’t we ask our neighbors,” to pay a toll increase. “We are getting the best of all worlds,” by passing the bill, he said, including “protecting our residents” and having resources for improvements to the turnpike system.
Sen. Gannon, R-Sandown, asked McConkey if there are any studies on impacts near the border on businesses.
If implemented, McConkey said the state will be the 27th lowest in per mile cost still. McConkey said the bill would also increase from seven to 14 days the amount of time for those with NH license plates to pay for a toll adding there are other states that also have different rates for out-of-state users.
The Hampton toll cost would go from $2 to $3, while Hooksett and Bedford would rise from $1 to $2 for out-of-state plates.
New Hampshire currently has the lowest rate per mile among states with tolls roads.
The governor said she does not support a toll increase.
“We are not going to put a burden on drivers for a toll increase,” Ayotte said. “Families are struggling.”
New Hampshire
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