CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Legislation that would expand eligibility for state veterans cemeteries to allow for the interring of National Guard members and Reservists has been introduced by U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen and U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas of New Hampshire, both Democrats. Under current law, in order to receive Department of Veterans Affairs grant money for improvements, state veteran cemeteries are barred from interring Guard members and Reservists due to rules requiring active service. The legislation would allow state cemeteries to decide whether to inter an honorably discharged Guard member, Reservist, or their spouse without jeopardizing the grants. U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan, also a Democrat, is a bill co-sponsor.

For more information click here.

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A survey that guided work on the reopening of New Hampshire schools shows considerable differences between parents and teachers when it comes to confidence in complying with safety measures. The state’s reopening task force heard from more than 56,000 respondents, including nearly 42,000 parents, as it developed the guidance published last week. According to results released Monday, just 8% of teachers said students would be able to maintain new restrictions such as social distancing, compared to more than 20% of parents. About 80% of parents said their children were eager to return, though parents and teachers were split on whether that should happen.

Locally, SAU 9 Administrators will be holding Zoom Listening Sessions over the next two weeks to give parents an opportunity to share their thoughts and concerns regarding the current draft plans for reopening. For that complete schedule click here.

GORHAM, N.H. (AP) — Officials say a hiker had to be assisted down a trail and taken to a hospital after a snow formation collapsed on him in the White Mountains. The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department says 28-year-old Alphonse Riang, of Quincy, Massachusetts, had gone off the trail and under the Tuckerman snow arch to take a video when the arch collapsed, crushing him. Other hikers helped remove the large ice and snow blocks and moved him to safety. When rescue crews arrived they determined that Riang had suffered serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Raing was assisted down the trail to a shelter where he was then taken by ATV to a parking lot. He was then loaded into an ambulance and taken to Androscoggin Valley Hospital.