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Council approves $16 million change to Bedford tolls, confirms new member of PUC • New Hampshire Bulletin

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Council approves  million change to Bedford tolls, confirms new member of PUC • New Hampshire Bulletin


The Executive Council on Wednesday agreed to convert the toll plaza on F.E. Everett Turnpike in Bedford to all-electronic tolling, meaning vehicles won’t slow down to pay.

On a 3-2 vote, the councilors approved a nearly $16 million contract between the Department of Transportation and R.S. Audley Inc., a construction company based in Bow. They also OK’d a contingency of just under $800,000 for “unforeseen issues” during construction. The project is funded through the state Bureau of Turnpikes’ Capital Program and is expected to be completed by September 2027.

This project will replace the traditional toll plaza with an overhead, boothless system that doesn’t require vehicles to pump the brakes. That means people won’t be able to pay with cash as they pass through the toll, a point that split the council. Instead, E-ZPasses will be captured by the system, or travelers can pay online within seven days or through a mailed invoice.

A minimum of two lanes of traffic will run on both sides of the highway during construction, and there will be three lanes of traffic both ways once completed, according to documents DOT submitted to the council and governor.

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DOT Commissioner William Cass said toll plazas have posed safety concerns, pointing to “horrific” accidents where people have driven into the barriers. Besides eliminating the accident risk posed by the barriers, it will also help “increase capacity” and “decrease emissions from idling cars,” according to DOT.

Gov. Chris Sununu said the all-electronic tolling should be considered on a “case-by-case basis, if it’s expanded at all.” 

The outgoing Republican governor met with the Executive Council for his third-to-last time Wednesday. Come January, the long table on the second floor of the State House will be surrounded by some new faces, but it will have the same party makeup: 4 Republican councilors, one Democrat, and another Republican governor, Kelly Ayotte, at the helm.

In other news from the meeting:

  • On a 3-2 vote, the council confirmed Mark Dell’Orfano, an assistant attorney general at the Department of Justice, to the Public Utilities Commission. 
  • Sununu nominated Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais to serve on the state Boxing and Wrestling Commission, which helps provide “a framework for the conduct and performance of all boxing and mixed martial arts bouts and wrestling exhibitions” under its jurisdiction, according to its webpage.
  • The council approved the use of federal funds for an energy efficiency program, which will provide rebates for income-eligible residents to purchase certain electronic appliances. The program is expected to launch early next summer, said Joshua Elliot, director of the division of policy and programs at the Department of Energy.
  • Sununu gave some hints as to what’s next for him, saying it would probably be a mix of things. He told reporters he has been looking at opportunities in the private sector, which may include sitting on boards, “helping companies navigate and strategize around avoiding political landmines,” or perhaps media. “I haven’t signed on the dotted line with anything yet,” he said.



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New Hampshire

Who is this man? Police say child sex assault suspect was living under false identity

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Who is this man? Police say child sex assault suspect was living under false identity


Police in Manchester, New Hampshire, are seeking the public’s help in determining the identity of a man charged with sexually assaulting a child in the city last year.

Manchester police say the man, who had claimed to be 60-year-old Angel Rivera Laureano, was brought to the attention of their Juvenile Unit in January of 2024 after someone alleged that he had sexually abused a child under the age of 13. He was ultimately arrested and charged with one count of aggravated felonious sexual assault.

During the investigation, police said they learned that the suspect might not be who he said he was. As a result of their investigation, police were able to determine that the man had been living under a false identity for years, and under that name was convicted of numerous crimes in New Hampshire dating back over a decade.

The real Angel Rivera Laureano was positively identified and located living in Puerto Rico, police said.

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The suspect in the sexual assault case, who police are now referring to as “John Doe,” now faces an additional charge of identity fraud. At the time of his arrest he was already being held at the Hillsborough County House of Corrections, and he remains there.

Police said the man’s identity is still unknown, and are asking anyone with information about him to call Detective Guy Kozowyk at 603-792-5560 or email him at gkozowyk@manchesternh.gov.



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Ondris scores 2 in Johnstown Tomahawks’ win over New Hampshire Mountain Kings – The Rink Live

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Ondris scores 2 in Johnstown Tomahawks’ win over New Hampshire Mountain Kings – The Rink Live


The Johnstown Tomahawks bested the New Hampshire Mountain Kings 7-3 on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2025 at 1st Summit Arena.

The hosting team took the lead early in the first period, with a goal from

Caden Olenczak

. Markas Samenas assisted.

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The Tomahawks’

Nick White

made it 2-0 in the first period, assisted by

Hank Reed

and

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Nick Jarmain

.

The second period ended with a 4-1 lead for the Tomahawks.

The Mountain Kings narrowed the gap to 4-2, only 25 seconds into the third when

Alex Gelhar

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found the back of the net, assisted by Kim Hilmersson.

The Mountain Kings’ Kim Hilmersson narrowed the gap again, assisted by

Oli Genest

and

Rogiero Cacciarelli

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at 1:12 into the third period.

Cullen Emery

increased the lead to 5-3 with a goal four minutes later, assisted by

Sam Blanton

.

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Adam Ondris

also increased the lead to 6-3 with a goal one minute later, assisted by

Kirby Perler

and Charlie Zetterkvist.

The Tomahawks increased the lead to 7-3 with 29 seconds remaining of the third period after a goal from Charlie Zetterkvist, assisted by Adam Ondris and

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Dylan Shane

.

Coming up:

Both teams will be back in action on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025 when the Tomahawks face New Jersey at 6:30 p.m. CST at 1st Summit Arena and the Mountain Kings play the Philadelphia Rebels at 6:30 p.m. CST at Hollydell Ice Arena.

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Automated articles produced by United Robots on behalf of The Rink Live.





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3.8 magnitude earthquake off York, Maine coastline rattles Seacoast

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3.8 magnitude earthquake off York, Maine coastline rattles Seacoast


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A magnitude 3.8 earthquake struck 10 miles off the coast of York, Maine on Monday.

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The earthquake was recorded at 10:22 a.m. on Monday and was about 10 kilometers southeast of York Harbor, according to USGS. It shook at a depth of 13.2 km. There is no tsunami danger from this earthquake.

The earthquake was originally reported as a 4.1 magnitude quake by USGS and then downgraded.

People across New Hampshire reported feeling the earthquake.

The New Hampshire Department of Safety, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) said that New Hampshire 911 did not receive any calls about injury or damage as of 10:45 a.m. They encouraged residents to be prepared for all types of hazards, including earthquakes.

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“Include all hazards when you are creating a family emergency plan,” said HSEM Director Robert Buxton. “You should also hold regular drills to practice what to do during an earthquake. It’s the best way to keep you and your family safe.”

Local schools, fire departments react

Staff at Mary C. Dondero Elementary School in Portsmouth, New Hampshire pulled the fire alarm after shaking began and had the entire school briefly evacuate, according to superintendent of schools Zach McLaughlin. No other school in Portsmouth evacuated during the course of the earthquake.

“The reality is, as New Englanders, many of whom have lived here our whole lives, this might be everybody’s first earthquake experience,” McLaughlin said Monday morning. “I think folks did the right thing but once it was clear that we were in good condition, folks returned to the building.” 

City school department officials have not found any property damage in any of the school buildings thus far in the wake of the quake, McLaughlin added.

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Portsmouth Fire Department Chief Bill McQuillen reported there had been no calls regarding personal injuries or property damage as of approximately 11 a.m. Monday. 

The city sent out alerts to residents and automated messages urging any personal injuries or structural damages to be reported to authorities.

“We wanted to try and get out the word as quickly as possible and make sure the city sent out a message as soon as possible,” McQuillen said.

Over the Piscataqua River, calls were made to Kittery, Maine’s fire department but no injuries were reported and no property damage had been found.

“Our dispatch center took a lot of calls from concerned citizens reporting that they think something happened at their property,” Kittery fire Chief Craig Alfis stated. “So far everything has stabilized out and our dispatchers are back to normal operation. We haven’t been out on a call in 15 minutes so fingers crossed we’re past that.”

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No calls had been made expressing concern about the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, per Alfis. 

“Reports are coming in from various parts of town about noticeable shaking. We are aware of the earthquake and are actively assessing impacts. Please only contact public safety dispatch if you have an emergency,” the town of Kittery advised in an email.

Where was the NH earthquake? How far did it reach?

According to the USGS, Monday morning’s earthquake originated off the southeast coast of York Harbor, Maine.

York Harbor is about 10 miles north of the New Hampshire border.

Light shaking from the earthquake was felt as far south as Cape Cod, according to the USGS, though some people in Rhode Island also reported feeling the earthquake.

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How strong was the NH earthquake?

Monday’s earthquake is being measured at 3.8 on the magnitude scale, according to the USGS.

According to Michigan Tech, earthquake magnitudes between 2.5-5.4 are often felt but typically only cause minor damage. Earthquake magnitudes measured at 7.0 and higher are considered major earthquakes.

How common are earthquakes in NH?

New Hampshire has a moderate earthquake risk based on its position in the North American plate: according to a 2019 fact sheet from the NH Department of Environmental Services, there have been 65 earthquakes above magnitude 2.1 since 1638.

New Hampshire’s earthquake risk rating is based on frequency rather than intensity.

What was the biggest earthquake in NH history?

While earthquakes in New Hampshire tend to be smaller, there have been similar magnitude earthquakes in the past, such as a 4.0 magnitude quake in Southern Maine in 2012 and another near Laconia in 1982.

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The strongest earthquakes with an epicenter in New Hampshire in state history happened four days apart in December of 1940. Each had a magnitude of 5.8.

This story will be updated.



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