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Harris is visiting New Hampshire, away from bigger swing states, to tout her small business tax plan

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Harris is visiting New Hampshire, away from bigger swing states, to tout her small business tax plan


WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris is using a New Hampshire campaign stop on Wednesday to propose an expansion of tax incentives for small businesses — presenting a pro-entrepreneur plan that may soften her previous calls for wealthy Americans and large corporations to pay higher taxes.

She wants to expand from $5,000 to $50,000 tax incentives for small business startup expenses, with the goal of eventually spurring 25 million new small business applications over four years. Harris is making the announcement while visiting the Portsmouth area, across the Piscataqua River from Maine.

New Hampshire has been reliably blue in recent presidential elections, but the trip could also have some benefit across state lines since Maine splits its electoral votes, allowing candidates to win some without carrying the full state. Still, it marks a rare deviation from Harris spending most of her time visiting a tight group of Midwest and Sun Belt battlegrounds likely to decide November’s election.

Since President Joe Biden dropped his reelection bid and endorsed Harris, the vice president has focused on the “ blue wall ” states of Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania that have been the centerpiece of successful Democratic campaigns.

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She’s also frequently visited Arizona, Nevada and Georgia, all of which Biden narrowly won in 2020, and North Carolina, which she’s still hoping to flip from Republican former President Donald Trump.

Wednesday’s stop comes after Harris marked Labor Day with Monday rallies in Detroit and Pittsburgh and before she heads back to Pittsburgh on Friday — marking her 10th visit to Pennsylvania in 2024. By contrast, Wednesday is her first visit to New Hampshire in years.

Trump has called for lowering the corporate tax rate to 15% — a break with Biden who in his budget proposal in March suggested setting the corporate tax rate at 28%. Harris has released relatively few major policy proposals in the roughly six weeks since taking over the top of the Democratic ticket, but has not suggested she’s planning to deviate greatly from his administration on tax policy.

The small business plan Harris is presenting Wednesday has lots of facets that many in the business community would like. But that contrasts another proposal Harris unveiled last month, where she promised to help fight inflation by working to combat “price gouging” from food producers that she suggests have driven grocery store prices up unnecessarily.

Harris has built her campaign around calls to grow and strengthen the nation’s middle class — and suggested that rich Americans and large corporations should “pay their fair share” in higher taxes.

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Biden, who similarly built his campaign around promoting the middle class, won New Hampshire by 7 percentage points in 2020, but Trump came much closer to winning it against Hillary Clinton in 2016. Still, the Harris campaign notes that it has 17 field offices operating in coordination with the state Democratic party across New Hampshire, compared to one for Trump’s campaign.

Some of the state’s Democrats were angry that Biden directed the Democratic National Committee to make South Carolina the first state to vote in the party’s presidential primary this year — displacing Iowa’s caucus and a first-in-the-nation primary New Hampshire held for more than a century.

What to know about the 2024 Election

Despite that, New Hampshire pressed ahead with an unsanctioned primary. Though Biden didn’t campaign in it, or appear on the ballot, he still easily won via a write-in drive.

Trump is nonetheless hoping to use what happened to his advantage, posting on his social media account that Harris “sees there are problems for her campaign in New Hampshire because of the fact that they disrespected it in their primary and never showed up.”

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“Additionally, the cost of living in New Hampshire is through the roof, their energy bills are some of highest in the country, and their housing market is the most unaffordable in history,” the former president wrote. “I protected New Hampshire’s First-In-The-Nation Primary and ALWAYS will.”





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Satanic Temple installs holiday display in front of New Hampshire State House – Concord Monitor

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Satanic Temple installs holiday display in front of New Hampshire State House – Concord Monitor


On one side of Concord’s City Plaza is a nativity scene. On the other is a pentagram — a symbol of Satanism — encircled by a wreath.

The display, installed by the Satanic Temple’s New Hampshire and Vermont congregation, honors the Dec. 25 Satanic holiday of Sol Invictus, which translates to “unconquered sun” in Latin.

Sol Invictus is a “celebration of being unconquered by superstition and consistent in the pursuit and sharing of knowledge,” according to the group’s website.

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The wreath, adorned with lilacs, New Hampshire’s state flower, will stay up through Dec. 31 alongside other religious and seasonal exhibits that are on display in front of the State House.

“We, like any other religion and organization, are allowed to participate in this public forum, and we are proud to stand with these other displays,” Vivian Hess-Mahan, the congregation’s co-leader and minister, said in a press release.

The Satanic Temple’s holiday display, including a Baphomet statue and 7 tenets of the religion, was placed Saturday in the city plaza in front of the NH State House. Credit: GEOFF FORESTER

This is the second annual holiday display by the Satanic Temple, which erected a statue of its part-goat, part-human deity, Baphomet, last year.

The robed figure and an accompanying plaque of the group’s guiding tenets garnered attention on social media and were repeatedly knocked down and shattered, leading Concord Police to arrest three people on vandalism charges.

The City of Concord approved the permit for the first display based on the First Amendment and to avoid a lawsuit, officials said in a statement last year.

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State Rep. Ellen Read, a Newmarket Democrat, asked the Satanic Temple to install something on City Plaza.

“As a secular lawmaker, I believe it is critical that the City of Concord does not appear to endorse one specific religion over another,” Read said in the press release, arguing that the public place of City Plaza should be “neutral and inclusive.”

“Pluralism is the heartbeat of the ‘Live Free or Die’ state,” she said. “We must ensure that no single perspective dominates the public conversation and that all groups feel safe and represented in their own government.”



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Nursing assistant accused of sexually assaulting child patient at N.H. hospital – The Boston Globe

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Nursing assistant accused of sexually assaulting child patient at N.H. hospital – The Boston Globe


A nursing assistant at a hospital in Manchester, N.H., has been charged with sexually assaulting a child who was receiving medical care at the facility, according to police.

Alexander Colbath, 25, was arrested on Friday, several days after the alleged assault was reported, Manchester police said in a statement on Monday.

Colbath is accused of fondling an 8-year-old girl on Nov. 29 at Elliot Hospital, according to court records. A hospital spokesperson said Tuesday that the defendant no longer works at the organization.

“Please know the safety of our patients, staff, and visitors at Elliot Health System remains our highest priority,” communications manager Crystal Mockler said, referring further questions to local authorities.

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Colbath is charged with aggravated felonious sexual assault. It was not clear whether he has a lawyer. He did not immediately respond Tuesday to a request for comment.

Colbath made his initial court appearance in Manchester District Court on Monday. He didn’t enter a plea and was released on personal recognizance, with conditions that include having no contact with the victim or her family, and staying away from Elliot Hospital except in the case of a medical emergency.

His next court hearing is scheduled for Jan. 8.

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Amanda Grady Sexton, public affairs director for the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence reminded parents that they are not alone. Confidential services are available around-the-clock for those who may need help or guidance, she said.

“The allegations in this case are heartbreaking and remind us that even in places dedicated to healing, children can be vulnerable,” Grady Sexton said. “Ensuring strong safeguards, clear reporting pathways, and immediate support for families is vital.”

Those impacted by domestic and sexual violence or stalking can access free and confidential support services by calling the 24/7 statewide helpline at 866-644-3574.

Those who suspect that a child has been abused or neglected are required to report that concern to the state. The New Hampshire Division for Children, Youth, and Families central intake unit can be reached at 800-894-5533 (from within New Hampshire) or 603-271-6562 (from anywhere).


Steven Porter can be reached at steven.porter@globe.com. Follow him @reporterporter.

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Five New Hampshire Hospitals Earn Top Safety Grades For 2025

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Five New Hampshire Hospitals Earn Top Safety Grades For 2025


One thing is for sure, when you are sick and need medical care, you want to know that you are going to a safe hospital.  Lucky for us, here in the Granite State, 5 Hospitals received an “A” grade for safety for 2025.

About 3,000 hospitals across the country are graded on safety and the “Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade” is known as the gold standard measure of patient safety.

The methodology for the patient safety scores were based on a number of measures including the “CMS Medicare PSI 90 Patient Safety and Adverse Events” report.  From what I know from my family that work in Healthcare, this report is very, VERY important for the hospital.
  • WENTWORTH DOUGLAS HOSPITAL, 789 Central Avenue, Dover, NH. This is the only hospital within the 5 that received a “STRAIGHT A.”  I’m assuming that’s a little better than a plain ol’ A.
  • EXETER HOSPITAL, 4 Alumni Drive, Exeter, NH
  • FRISBIE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, 11 Whitehall Road, Rochester, NH
  • PARKLAND MEDICAL CENTER, 1 Parkland Drive, Derry, NH
  • ST. JOSEPH HOSPITAL, 172 Kinsley Street, Nashua, NH

It is really important to look into these scores, especially if you are going in for surgery.  People don’t always realize that they have a choice in where they go for health care.  Luckily, we have amazing hospitals here in New Hampshire, with affiliations with Boston Hospitals.

I’m happy to see St. Joseph’s Hospital on the list.  Not only was I born there, but my son was also born there.  It was a great hospital back then and the have only gotten stronger.

The Top Hospitals In Maine (2025/2026)

Newsweek recently put out their list of the best hospitals in Maine.

14 ‘Most Booked’ Restaurants in Greater Boston, Massachusetts and New Hampshire

14 ‘Most Booked’ Restaurants in Maine/ Greater Boston – New Hampshire

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Gallery Credit: Sarah Sullivan





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