Several small businesses across New Hampshire participated in a general strike on Friday in solidarity with those protesting the immigration crackdown in Minneapolis. While some businesses decided to close for the day, others are donating some — or all — of their profits to organizations that advocate for immigrants’ rights.
That’s the case for Wonderland Books and Toys, an independent bookstore in Manchester. Owner Deirdre A. L. Shaw said she’s donating 10% of her profits from Friday to support an immigrant and refugee support group run by the United Church of Christ in New Hampshire.
It wasn’t an easy decision: Shaw said she was balancing being a one-employee business against what she saw as her civic responsibility.
“There are always so many potential things going on,” she said. “And as a local business owner, I can’t always participate in those things. I own my store and we’re a one-employee location, so being closed means there is no income for the day.”
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Instead, she decided to lean into one of her goals for the business: providing resources for teachers and parents to have age-appropriate conversations about difficult topics with kids. She hosted two special story times centered around books for civic responsibility and immigration, including “Just Help!” by Sonia Sotomayor.
“Having resources for parents or for themselves is very helpful,” Shaw said. “There are so many things going on in the world that kids either hear about inadvertently or they have conversations with their friends, or they read about something, or it’s a topic that’s brought up at school for whatever reason. But maybe they don’t get all the answers or information, or they only hear a part of it.”
Other businesses, like Brewbakers coffee shop in Keene, decided to stay open for the day Friday and donate all their profits to organizations that support immigrants.
While owner Jeff Murphy felt a responsibility to his employees, he said that the events in Minneapolis are personal to him: His sisters live in the heart of the city and helped him pick the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota as an organization that is helping immigrants with their legal representation.
“It’s heartbreaking to see what’s happening in this country,” he said. “We love our country, we support our law enforcement and our service members, and trust that they can do a good job. But it’s been obvious and apparent that the actions in Minneapolis have been a gross overreach and abuse of power. So we’re just doing the little bit that we can.”
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For other businesses, like MrSippi’s BBQ in Rochester, participating in the strike meant closing altogether on Friday. Owner Cecil Abels said it was a sacrifice, since business is slow this month and Fridays are usually busy. But he decided to participate in the strike in solidarity with other parts of the hospitality industry that have been targeted by immigration enforcement, especially in nearby Maine in recent days.
“It’s going to be a financial hardship,” he said. “I’ve lived 42 years of not having to feel a lot of pain or sacrifice, and if we want change in this country, then things are going to get harder whether we want it to or not.”
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.”
WILTON, N.H. (WHDH) – A woman died in a Wilton, New Hampshire, house fire Wednesday morning, according to the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office.
At 9:08 a.m., Wilton firefighters responded to Burns Hill Road after a caller said their home was filling up with smoke. When they arrived, a single-family home was on fire and they found out two people were still inside on the second floor.
A man and a woman were both taken out of the house by firefighters and taken to Elliott Hospital. The woman was pronounced dead and the man is in serious condition.
Officials have not released the name of the victim at this time.
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At this time, investigators are looking into the cause of the fire and are trying to determine if a power outage in the area played a factor. The fire is not currently considered suspicious.
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