News Feeds

***Concord Monitor***

Selectmen to mandate pay-by-bag

At a standing-room-only meeting last night, the Hopkinton selectmen decided to press onward with the town's new pay-by-bag program by making it mandatory starting Oct. 4 for both individual residents and private haulers who bring trash to the town's transfer station.

Last week, G. Dockham Trucking, the private hauler that picks up trash from most of Hopkinton's residents, said it would opt to pay a $70-per-ton tipping fee instead of participating in the program, which was set to begin last Wednesday. Dockham made the decision after losing business to All Clear, a smaller hauling company that chose to not make its customers buy the new, town-issued trash bags.

Campaign aides' pay questioned

Both sides in the race for governor have questions about how top staff in the other camp earn their keep.

Republicans are questioning whether Gov. John Lynch's campaign manager was allowed to work for both the state and on his re-election campaign at the same time. And Democrats want to know why a top aide to Republican candidate John Stephen is not getting paid for his work - and if that violates state campaign finance laws.

The New Hampshire Republican Party yesterday filed a request with the state attorney general asking whether campaign payments to Pam Walsh, Lynch's former deputy chief of staff, comply with the state's ethical code of conduct.

Walsh, now Lynch's campaign manager, received payments totaling close to $22,000 over the past year - and before she resigned from her taxpayer-funded job in the governor's office in July. The payments are in exchange for consulting services, according to campaign finance reports filed by the Lynch campaign.

Kuster calls jobs foremost priority

Ann McLane Kuster says she wants to be part of the Congress that helps President Obama move the country forward.

Right now, the Hopkinton attorney said, that means encouraging businesses to create jobs.

"There's no silver bullet," Kuster, a Democrat, said in a recent interview with Monitor editors. "There's not the deepest tax cut or the greatest stimulus that is going to pull us out of this recession in one fell swoop. . . . But what we can do, there are a series of very practical steps we can take to move forward."

If she wins election to Congress in the 2nd District, Kuster said she would support increasing tax breaks for companies that create jobs in the United States. She would eliminate the capital gains tax for investing in small business. And she would give community banks more flexibility in assessing loan applications from small businesses.

Announcements

Clean house

The town of Pembroke will hold a household hazardous waste collection for residents Sept. 18 from 8 a.m. to noon at the department of public works solid waste facility, 8 Exchange St. Proof of residency will be required.

Each household may bring up to 5 gallons of unwanted household chemicals.

Waste products should be kept in their original containers, closed securely and placed in a box (not a bag).

Acceptable products include oil-based paint, thinners and solvents, pesticides, sealants, waxes, cleaners, polish, pool chemicals and products that contain mercury.

Earl no match for Labor Day weekend

New Hampshire tourism officials are reporting a strong Labor Day weekend, despite the threat of Hurricane Earl.

Officials say the state's beaches, lakes and mountains were packed during the long holiday weekend.

Some visitors canceled hotel reservations along the coast Friday because of concerns about Hurricane Earl. But officials say bookings went up Saturday as the weather improved.

Throughout the state, campgrounds were nearly full and state parks were busy with visitors.

The Mount Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce says 70 percent of businesses reported an increase in spending this Labor Day weekend over last year.

The Beatles' Best

EVERYONE IN MY family is a huge Beatles fan. The three kids know the words to all of their songs, even the more obscure ones. You might hear us belting out the tunes in our minivan. But Grace is an uber-fan. She loves the Beatles movies and cartoons and has the Beatles action figures, books and posters. She even has a Beatles nightlight.

Here are their favorites:

Jack Smith, 7: "Don't Let Me Down"

Sam Smith, 2: "Yellow Submarine"

Gracie Smith, 4: "All of the songs are my favorites!"

5 Questions

Ryan Haynes, just 20 years old when he was killed while filling a pothole nearly five years ago in New London, will soon be memorialized, along with other public workers in the state who've died on the job.

House Bill 608, created last summer after the death of Haynes, paved the way for a tribute on the grounds of the Department of Transportation on Hazen Drive.

A six-member committee, began planning last December. Included on the committee is Jim Rivers of Concord, whose father died while working as a public works employee when Rivers was 9. Carl Quiram, the chairman, shed some light on the project.

How receptive was the Legislature? It was very smooth. Most everybody was very supportive.

What vision do you have for the memorial? We want it to be a site of reflection where families can go and reflect upon their loss. But we also hope there's a component of public education and awareness that it's a dangerous job that we do.

Candidate seeks return to table

Peter Spaulding wants his old job back.

Spaulding, a Hopkinton Republican, served 10 terms on the Executive Council before losing to Councilor John Shea, a Democrat, in 2006. He's now running for the Republican nomination for that seat. The other Republicans in the race are Jim Adams and Dan St. Hilaire.

Spaulding said, if elected, he'd focus on the council's core duty: reviewing and approving state contracts.

"A large number - in fact, far too many - are not put out to bid," Spaulding told a meeting of Monitor editors and reporters. "I think it's just good business practice to put contracts out to bid."

Guinta attacked over ethics

Four Republican candidates vying to take on U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter in this fall's 1st District House race stood together in a televised debate last night in criticizing current economic policies and what they described as out-of-control government spending.

But when it came to ethics, the candidates began attacking each other.

"I think it's absolutely vital that Republicans put up a nominee free of ethical clouds," said Sean Mahoney, referring to rival Frank Guinta's failure to list a bank account worth between $250,000 and $500,000 on financial disclosure forms.

Mahoney, a magazine publisher, also accused Guinta, the former mayor of Manchester, of "saying one thing and doing another." Mahoney's campaign is running an ad that describes Guinta as raising taxes and spending, citing votes Guinta made as a state representative in 2001.

Condos attract an offer

A Dover construction firm has made an offer to buy the bankrupt Abbott Village housing development for $2.8 million in cash and hopes to transform the property into a condo community for first-time homebuyers.

North & South Homes has signed an agreement to purchase the unfinished, 15-acre development on North State Street, but the sale must be approved by a bankruptcy judge. Other bidders can still make offers on the project, though they must meet the terms already laid out by North & South.

If the judge okays the purchase, it would mark a decisive change for Abbott Village, which has been stalled for years over financing problems and the downturn in the real estate market. It would also mean a big tax payment for the city, which claims $1.1 million in unpaid property taxes against the project. The city's payment would come out of the project's purchase price.

***Union Leader***

Goffstown Marine killed in Afghanistan

GOFFSTOWN - Cpl. Philip Gerald Eichner Charte, 22, was killed while supporting combat operations in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, according to a statement Rep. Carol Shea-Porter's office received yesterday from the United States Marine Corps.

Family of 3 flees burning home

LEE - A family had no choice but to flee out a window this morning when flames trapped them inside their second-story home.

Deadly break-in came after spree, prosecutors say

In the months before Steven Spader and three friends allegedly broke into a Mont Vernon home to kill and rob, Spader and his accomplices burglarized another Mont Vernon house, tried to rob a Nashua drug dealer and broke into the Brookline home of Spader's neighbor, court documents reveal.

Power shut-off an accident, not a crime

BRENTWOOD - Prosecutors have concluded National Grid went above and beyond state regulations before cutting power to the home of a Salem woman who died in June after electricity was cut off to a respirator she depended on to breathe, according to a report by the county attorney's office.

Only in Print: Developers to get $8.96m in stimulus money

MANCHESTER - Three of the city's largest developers will share $8.96 million in low-interest financing, money that comes from the federal economic stimulus program, city officials said yesterday. For more on this story, pick up a copy of today's print edition of the New Hampshire Union Leader, on newsstands today. Or check out our e-Edition.

House candidate in deadly crash in Colchester, Vt.

MERRIMACK - . Two women died when their vehicle struck the car in which Dave Randlett and his wife were traveling.

Developers questioned about their vision for orchard

LONDONDERRY - A standing room only crowd at the Woodmont Orchards storage facility weighed in on plans to transform the bucolic orchard in town into a bustling town center district last night.

Teens turn themselves in after accident

FRANCESTOWN - Two teenage boys who police believe fled a serious accident last week, leaving two young girls behind at the scene, have turned themselves in, police said.

Derry firm's beagle sniffs out bed bugs

DERRY - Life for a working dog in the pest control trenches means if you don't sniff out the bugs, you don't eat. That's no problem for Rascal, the bed bug-sniffing beagle. He's well-fed, and earning his keep.

Car strikes child in Radio Flyer wagon

MONT VERNON - Brady Bertrand's birthday falls on Thanksgiving this year, but his family is giving thanks early after the 3-year-old survived a wild wagon ride into traffic on Route 13, where he was struck by a car.

1st District debate: GOP rivals go after Guinta

MANCHESTER - Ethics became a point of contention between four Republican candidates vying for the party's First Congressional District nomination in Tuesday night's Granite State debate at the St. Anselm College Institute for Politics.

► IN TODAY'S PRINT EDITIONS: Candidates for the U.S. Senate respond to our survey questions on key campaign issues; plus, candidate profiles in State Senate Districts 2 and 9.

Swett: Focus is on the middle class

MANCHESTER - Katrina Swett, human rights activist, attorney, university lecturer, mother and grandmother, cites her roots as a first-generation American whose parents came to the United States "penniless, with nothing" as her inspiration for wanting to work "for the little guy" as a member of the next Congress.

GOP asks attorney general to examine Lynch payments

CONCORD - The reelection campaign paid $22,000 in consulting fees to deputy chief of staff Pamela Walsh.

At Labor Day Breakfast, it's all about creating jobs

MANCHESTER - Bernie Sanders, the Independent senator from Vermont, joined labor leaders and their advocates yesterday in calling for a new prosperity based on government-funded investment in rebuilding the nation's roads, bridges, water systems and other infrastructure.

Politico: New polls point to tsunami

With just two months to go before the November elections, pollsters and political scientists are predicting a blow-out loss for Democrats that could rival the Republican Revolution of 1994.

Bearse: I'm a Reagan Republican

NORTH HAMPTON - First Congressional District candidate Peter Bearse says he'll bring his experience as a veteran economist to Washington while turning the "congressional office operation" inside-out to let the outside in.

Governor candidate Testerman says state needs to back off

MANCHESTER - Longtime activist says Democrats have left state "upside down economically and socially.

Testerman proposes returning to the last state budget balanced without raising taxes and fees, and then using a "zero-based budget process" to reduce the size of government.

Woodmont Commons: A 629-acre, $1b vision

LONDONDERRY - Neighborhoods, town center, parks and shops part of massive Londonderry plan; Forums on it will be held soon.

Tom Fahey's State House Dome: Many questions surround gubernatorial campaign aides

Stephen spokesman's work has been on a volunteer basis; GOP wants to know about Lynch campaign manager's consulting fees.

Beth LaMontange Hall's City Hall: Big change coming to mayor’s senior luncheon

The twice-a-year event, which has honored the city’s elder residents for more than two decades, has been running at a loss since 2006, according to the Finance Office. Last year the two events were $3,700 over budget and in 2009, they lost more than $7,000.

***Nashua Telegraph****

MERRIMACK Millions of shares of GT Solar stock offered GT Solar International Inc. said Tuesday a shareholder is offering 10 million shares of common stock. The selling stockholder has also granted the underwriters an option to buy up to 1.5 million additional shares to cover excess demand. Concurrently with the offering, the selling stockholder has entered into agreements to sell up to 15 million additional shares of stock to UBS Securities LLC and one of its affiliates in connection with an offering by UBS AG of its Mandatory Exchangeable Notes due 2013. GT Solar International will not receive any proceeds from either offering, but will pay the expenses of the selling shareholder. UBS Securities LLC, Credit Suisse Securities LLC and BofA Merrill Lynch are the joint bookrunning managers for the stock offering and UBS Securities LLC is the sole bookrunner and underwriter for the exchangeable notes offering. – The Associated Press

BAE plans to buy firm for $55m
ARLINGTON, Va. – BAE Systems said on Tuesday that it has signed an agreement to buy privately held Oasys Technology, which designs and manufactures optics for the military and commercial customers. The size of the deal was not disclosed. Oasys is based in Manchester. BAE, a global aerospace and defense company, said Oasys and its 65 employees would be integrated with BAE’s location in Nashua. The proposed acquisition needs U.S. regulatory approval.

HP sues ex-CEO Hurd over new job
SAN FRANCISCO – Hewlett-Packard Co. is suing Mark Hurd, the chief executive it ousted last month, to stop him from taking a top job at rival Oracle Corp. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday in a California state court, came a day after Oracle hired Hurd as co-president to help lead the database software maker’s efforts to lure business away from HP. HP claims that Hurd won’t be able to perform his job at Oracle without spilling HP’s trade secrets and violating a confidentiality agreement. This type of complaint isn’t unusual in the technology world, nor is the confidentiality agreement that Hurd had signed as part of a severance package from HP that could top $40 million. Technology companies often require such agreements because workers walk out the door with valuable technical information. But the stakes are higher with Hurd than a rank-and-file employee, and the lawsuit may delay when Hurd could start his new job. The latest lawsuit also underscores the growing rancor between HP and Oracle. The companies have cooperated for 25 years to make sure that their products work well together. But that relationship is straining now that Oracle, like HP, sells the computer servers that power companies’ back offices.

Telegraph New Business Bio: Koko FitClub
Type of business: Automated personal training club. Main location: 225 Daniel Webster Highway, Nashua. Other locations: Four more will open between Nashua and Manchester on either side of the Merrimack River. Contact name: Corine Murphy. Contact phone: 888-4025. Contact e-mail: nh.nashua@kokofitclub.com. Company website address: www.kokofitclub.com/locations/nashua. Date began doing business in southern New Hampshire: Aug. 9. Date opened at this location: Aug. 9. Is this a franchise? Yes. Owners: Corine and Brian Murphy. Manager: Corine Murphy. Days/Hours: Key access seven days a week, 5 a.m.-11 p.m.

Owner’s cancer bringing end to Hollis grain store
HOLLIS – For 27 years, Brian Spence’s customers at the Hollis Grain & Hardware store gladly shelled out an extra dime or dollar to support the local business. Now they’re shopping in bulk to help their friend clear his shelves before he closes at the end of the month. Spence, 53, was diagnosed with cancer about a month ago and is unable to continue running the store at 60 Broad St. (Route 130). On Friday, a sign that hangs outside the store announced a liquidation sale. Everything, with the exception of propane, shavings and grain, has been reduced by 20 percent. But customers, who are also friends and neighbors, say there wasn’t ever a time when Spence didn’t give them more than they paid for. “You’ll get a better understanding of this when it’s gone, when people can’t come in,” said Nate Armstrong, a Nashua firefighter and Hollis farmer who worked at the grain store in the late 1990s. Spence greeted his customers by name, carried heavy packages out to cars for anyone who needed a hand, and delivered and assembled many of the products he sold. “If you wanted to know what was going on in town, you came to the grain store to talk to Brian,” said Helen Bywater, the office manager. For most of the year, Spence operated the store seven days a week, closing Sundays after Dec. 24 and resuming the seven-day schedule in the spring. “It really attracted the type of person who’s a hard worker and also enjoys people,” Armstrong said. Spence grew up in town and worked for farmer Alan Orde, a local dairy farmer whose son, David, owns and operates Lull Farm here and in Milford. Years back, the grain store was Orde’s hen house.

Colleges buy land they don’t have use for
NEW YORK – Colleges and universities are buying up chunks of land at bargain prices, sometimes without a clear idea how they’ll be used. Some are taking advantage of good sales during a sluggish economy, while others, like Columbia University, are continuing a practice they’ve done for decades, buying even if the price isn’t discounted. The University of Dayton last year acquired the 115-acre world headquarters of technology company NCR Corp. for the fire sale price of $18 million after buying 50 acres from the company for three times the per-acre price in 2005. And the University of Delaware last year bought a 272-acre former Chrysler auto plant in Newark, Del. for $24 million. The schools are banking on future growth to make their purchases good investments.

Troubled Kabul Bank still running on its own cash
KABUL, Afghanistan – Afghanistan’s largest bank is operating with its own money with no infusion of cash from the government despite a nearly weeklong run on the troubled institution that is being closely monitored by international banking experts, the nation’s top banking official said Monday. The governor of the Afghan Central Bank, which is standing by to help if Kabul Bank collapses, assured customers that their deposits were safe and would be guaranteed by the government. At the same time, Abdul Qadir Fitrat said that, as a safeguard, the central bank had moved to ban the sale of properties that some of the bank’s shareholders own in the capital. Uncertainty about the future of the nation’s largest bank, which is partly owned by Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s brother, has further destabilized the war-torn country and efforts to build an effective government. At the request of Afghan officials, a team from the International Monetary Fund arrived in Kabul on Sunday to review recent developments in the economic, financial and banking systems, an IMF official said. Fitrat did not disclose details of the bank’s financial condition and it remained unclear how much money would be needed to shore it up if customers keep draining deposits. “The Afghan government said that it has sufficient funds to cover this,” said the president’s brother, Mahmood Karzai, who holds a 7 percent share in the bank. “They have $4.6 billion in the central bank so there is no problem. We’re not talking about billions of dollars here.” The run on the bank began last week after its top two executives were removed from their positions amid allegations of mismanagement, unorthodox lending practices and risky investments in property in Dubai where values have plummeted. The central bank said Sherkhan Farnood, former chairman of Kabul Bank, and Khalilullah Ferozi, former chief executive officer, resigned because, under new reforms, only banking professionals can hold the top operating positions at banks.

Argentines risking all to carry wads of cash
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina – The “marker” lurks inside the bank, looking for people pulling large amounts of cash from a safe deposit box or bank account. The gunmen linger outside, usually on motorcyles, waiting to make their move. For people like Carolina Piparo, eight months pregnant and carrying a purse full of cash for a down payment on her first home, gangs like these are an unavoidable risk in today’s Argentina, where the underground cash economy is fueling a frightening new crime wave. The July 29 attack that left Piparo comatose and killed her child added to a toll of thousands of crime victims – 4,998 reported “withdrawal robberies” in the first half of this year alone, according to Louis Vicat, a security consultant who keeps track privately because the government hasn’t published detailed crime statistics since 2007. Many victims don’t even report being robbed, because they wouldn’t be able to explain to tax agents where they got the money, says Vicat, who retired as deputy internal affairs chief of the Buenos Aires provincial police. And yet cash on the table is simply the only way to do business – even when buying homes or entire companies – for many people in Argentina. Transferring such money electronically would solve the problem in an instant. But in a society where income tax evasion runs about 50 percent and taxes eat up 65 percent of the money people do declare, many people are reluctant to use banks that way. Even people who want to pay all their taxes have a hard time complying, because there’s always someone demanding to hide all or part of the transaction by paying in cash – preferably U.S.

Domino’s Pizza founder giving away billions
AVE MARIA, Fla. – Domino’s Pizza founder Tom Monaghan entered the world penniless and plans to leave the world the same way. Monaghan, 73, an orphan abandoned by his mother, has used the billions he’s earned from starting one of the world’s largest pizza chains to benefit others. Now Monaghan has joined “The Giving Pledge,” a $125 billion charity drive organized by Bill Gates that involves some of the wealthiest families in the world. “I think it’s a great idea to encourage people who have that kind of money to give it to charity,” Monaghan said. “When Bill (Gates) recently contacted me, I was more than happy to participate. I’ve already committed virtually everything I have to charities.” Gates and Buffett, worth $100 billion combined, convinced 40 others from the Forbes 400 list of richest Americans to join them in the pledge.

BAE wins $50 million contract
NASHUA (AP) – Defense contractor BAE Systems said Thursday that it received a $49.9 million contract to develop a processor for a military surveillance system. BAE said its electronic solutions sector will work on the advanced processor for the Autonomous Real-time Ground Ubiquitous Surveillance Infrared system, which is designed to conduct surveillance on battlefields and in urban areas. The ARGUS-IR system will be able to perform nighttime surveillance because of its infrared capabilities, and it is developed for compatibility with unmanned aerial systems. BAE received the contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. It expects to perform the first flight test by the second quarter of 2012. The company is currently working on an early version of a similar device called the ARGUS-IS.

Smaller banks see big fit in communities
In the tough economy, community banks have rooted themselves in areas across Southern New Hampshire. With the freedom to lend and more time to spend with customers, the small businesses have focused more on the ways they can benefit the community and cared less about big-name competitors. One example is Enterprise Bank, which will open a location in Hudson by late December this year or early January 2011. The branch will be on Lowell Road in the same building Bank of America vacated earlier this year. Robert Gilman, executive vice president for administration at Enterprise Bank, said the bank has gone out to bid on a contractor for the renovations, and construction should start in the next few weeks. “Community banks have really taken hold, and I think that has to do with the hard economy,” Gilman said. “Our belief is that we want to be part of the community. We want to be recognized as a player in the community we serve.” Enterprise Bank’s Hudson location will join Enterprise branches in Salem and Derry as another spot in Southern New Hampshire where local communities will have access to a commercial lender for small business loans. “We believe the business community should be able to deal with a lender in their community and not have to drive out of their way to try and get a small business loan,” Gilman said.

Tool speeds hiring search
A Nashua-based startup has developed a product it claims will accelerate searching, screening and selection of prospective employees. NirvanaJobs, a newly released audio/Internet technology, will allow employers to review maximal amounts of applicants in minimal amounts of time, boosting hiring productivity and cost saving at one go, according to GoldenWare, the company that spawned NirvanaJobs. “It’s funny how much you can tell by hearing someone’s voice,” said Matt Goldworm, CEO of GoldenWare, which provides client-branded web technology to airlines. Eliminating such pests as phone tag and awkward interpersonal moments, NirvanaJobs will give managers the ability to hone in on the most suitable candidates without having to burn valuable time on the rest. The company said its product will make strides against lost productivity and talent drain. NirvanaJobs is easy to use as 1-2-3, its developers say.

ICAD team visits Nasdaq in marking of Prostate Cancer Awareness
Nashua-based iCAD’s executive management team, including President and CEO Ken Ferry rang the closing bell at the NASDAQ MarketSite in New York City’s Times Square on Thursday in recognition of Prostate Cancer Awareness month. “I am honored to ring the NASDAQ closing bell, and pleased to be provided the opportunity to raise awareness about prostate cancer,” Ferry said in a prepared statement. “Early detection is an important first-line defense towards the goal of successful cancer treatment, and iCAD is proud to provide advanced image analysis solutions that help clinicians make more accurate diagnosis in conjunction with available screening tools.”

Companies add 67k workers, but jobless rate rises
WASHINGTON – Private employers hired more workers over the past three months than first thought, a glimmer of hope for the weak economy ahead of the Labor Day weekend. But the unemployment rate rose because not enough jobs were created to absorb the growing number of people looking for work. Companies added a net total of 67,000 new jobs last month and July and June’s private-sector job figures were upwardly revised, the Labor Department said Friday. While the report hardly suggests the economy is out of danger, it’s a reassuring sign after weeks of troubling data and comes after some encouraging economic figures in the past week. Scott Brown, an economist at Raymond James, said he sees no sign of the country slipping back into recession. “You’re still seeing broad-based job gains. It’s not strong, but it’s positive,” Brown said. Overall, the economy lost 54,000 jobs as 114,000 temporary census positions came to an end. For the first time this year, the manufacturing sector lost jobs – down a net total of 27,000 for the month.

Burger King to go private in $4b deal
NEW YORK – Burger King Holdings Inc. shares jumped nearly 25 percent Thursday, rallying as the fast-food giant said it will be gobbled up by investment firm 3G Capital for $24 a share in a deal valued at $4 billion. The buyout represents a 46 percent premium to the shares’ price before media reports Wednesday that a deal was in the works, the Miami-based company noted. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter. TPG Capital LP, Goldman Sachs Capital Partners and Bain Capital Investors own about 31 percent of Burger King between them, and all have agreed to tender their shares. “We look forward to partnering with 3G Capital, whose proven track record as an investor, together with its financial and consumer brands experience, will serve to further strengthen the company, our restaurants and franchisees worldwide,” said John Chidsey, the chief executive, in a news release. Burger King, founded in 1953, isn’t new to private-equity takeovers. In 2002, beverages giant Diageo sold the No.

When’s the best time to lock in a mortgage rate?
When is the timing right to lock in your mortgage rate? With a rate lock, lenders are obligated (with a few exceptions) to offer a home loan at an agreed-upon rate regardless of whether mortgage rates have changed between the time of the loan approval and the closing date. Consumers looking for a mortgage who find a great rate typically choose to lock it in for a specified period of time. Todd Dal Porto, a national sales executive with Bank of America Home Loans, says most lenders offer a loan-lock period of 30, 45, 60 or 90 days. If you’re shopping for a home loan, when is the best time to lock your mortgage rate? “The time to lock in a loan depends completely on individual circumstances, so borrowers should work closely with their loan officer to make the decision,” Dal Porto says. The earliest point at which a borrower can lock in a loan is after the initial loan approval. However, many borrowers wait until they have found a home to purchase. “The vast majority of homebuyers wait until they have a ratified contract to lock in their loan,” says Brent Mendelson, a senior loan officer with Monarch Mortgage in Rockville, Md. Borrowers typically wait because they don’t know how many days it will take to find a home and have an offer accepted. They worry that by locking in too early, they may miss the opportunity for a better rate before they complete a purchase or get stuck paying extra to extend the lock once it expires. In addition, a longer rate lock is more costly.

Survey: Employers shift more insurance costs on to workers
WASHINGTON – An annual survey released Thursday finds that workers are paying, on average, about $482 more for job-based family health insurance this year as companies force employees to shoulder more of the burden of health care costs. The increase in premiums, up 14 percent from last year, means that workers are paying nearly all of a $495 increase in the average cost of family coverage this year. Employers’ contributions to family coverage showed no increase at all in 2010, according to the Employer Health Benefits Survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research & Educational Trust. Drew Altman, the president and CEO of the Kaiser Family Foundation, said it was the first time he could remember employers moving so boldly to shift health costs to workers. “Added health costs for workers means added economic insecurity for working people in tough times,” Altman said. He called the move a “recession survival tactic” for struggling employers, who provide coverage for about 157 million Americans. “It speaks to the pressure that companies are under from the recession,” he said. Over the past five years, workers’ share of premiums has increased by $1,300, or 47 percent, Altman said, while overall coverage costs are up 27 percent. Over the same period, wages climbed 18 percent and general inflation rose 12 percent. With health coverage costs growing faster than wages and inflation, weary consumers can’t seem to catch a break. “If premiums and costs continue to be shifted to consumers, households will face difficult choices, like forgoing needed care or re-examining how they can best care for their families,” said Maulik Joshi, the president of Health Research and Educational Trust. Family coverage now costs an average of $13,770 a year, up 3 percent from 2009, the survey found.

Stocks move higher following jobs, housing reports
NEW YORK – Stocks rose Thursday, extending their gains from the day before, after reports on housing, manufacturing and jobs all indicated that the economy continues to grow. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 50 points, having jumped 254 on Wednesday thanks to strong reports on manufacturing in the U.S. and China. Broader indexes also rose. Trading was somewhat muted ahead of the government’s closely watched monthly report on employment due out today. “We’re treading water,” said Dan Genter, CEO of RNC Genter Capital. Traders are waiting to see if today’s jobs data “provides more of a rescue or a shark attack.” The monthly report is likely to provide further evidence that the jobs market remains weak.

Microsoft makes move to combine games, phones
SEATTLE – Microsoft Corp. is bringing its video-game expertise to the forthcoming Windows Phone 7 line, an attempt to capitalize on the success of the Xbox 360 as the software maker tries to compete with Apple Inc.’s iPhone. Microsoft says a dedicated group inside of Microsoft Game Studios will develop video games for Windows phones, help outside game publishers and scout out small, independent game makers. Video game companies will be able to use the same tools to make a game for a Windows phone or for the Xbox 360 console. The company has also announced a preliminary lineup of games that will be available when the phones go on sale during the holidays. The list includes popular Xbox 360 console games such as “Halo Waypoint,” “Crackdown 2: Project Sunburst” and “Guitar Hero 5,” as well as newcomers including “ilomilo,” a puzzle game in which players try to unite cute little cartoon critters separated by increasingly tricky paths and mazes. Microsoft is linking the Windows phone games hub to its Xbox Live service, which about 25 million Xbox and PC gamers already use to check out new games, keep track of scores and send messages to fellow players.

US manufacturing grows for 13th month
NEW YORK – U.S. manufacturing expanded in August for the 13th straight month, lifting hopes that economic growth won’t stall. The Institute for Supply Management said Wednesday its manufacturing index rose to 56.3 in August from 55.5 in July. A reading above 50 indicates growth. Manufacturing has helped lead the economy out of the worst recession since the 1930s. The trade group’s index has surged since late 2009 and hit a 6-year high in April.

Weakest auto sales for August seen since 1983
DETROIT (AP) – Americans nervous about the drumbeat of bad economic news stayed away from auto showrooms. Automakers nervous about their bottom lines didn’t offer deals to lure them in. As a result, it was the worst August for U.S. auto sales since 1983, when the country was at the end of a double-dip recession. General Motors, Toyota, Honda and Ford all reported declines from the month before and from a year earlier. The bleak results were a reminder that, for all the good news about the turnaround of the Detroit automakers, the market for cars and trucks in the United States remains frail.

Market kicks off September with strong gains
NEW YORK – Stocks jumped Wednesday after surprisingly strong growth in U.S. and Chinese manufacturing allayed some of the worries that had been building over the global economy in recent weeks. The new reports snapped a string of disappointing economic data that sent stocks slumping in August. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index, the benchmark most widely used by professional investors, lost 4.7 percent in the month, its worst August performance since 2001. The Dow Jones industrial average jumped 221 points on the first day of September. Broader indexes also rose more than 2.5 percent.

Center uses virtual reality for medical teaching
Dr. Paul Friedman insists he wasn’t distracted by the woman in the second row wearing a pair of wings and a rainbow bodysuit. And he didn’t even seem to notice when a visitor teleported into the audience, scanned the crowd and vanished into thin air. Friedman, a Mayo Clinic cardiologist, has given medical lectures worldwide. But earlier this month, he entered a new dimension, when he gave a presentation on the online fantasy world known as Second Life. To most people, virtual reality and avatars are the stuff of games.

Germans wary of Google ‘Street View’ program
BERLIN – Germans have long harbored an obsession about protecting privacy, with memories of Nazi-era denouncements of neighbors and East German secret police snooping still alive. Now they have found a new target for their fears: Google “Street View.” Under strong government pressure, the Internet giant made Germany the only country where people can request to have images of their homes deleted from the project before it goes online in November, along with other concessions. It has all stirred debate about how to define and defend privacy in the digital age and revealed a yawning generational divide between those old enough to recall invasive past regimes and those who have grown up with the Internet. “There is a fear of becoming a ‘See-through Citizen’ in a totalitarian surveillance state,” said Jesko Kaltenbaek, a professor of psychology at Berlin’s Freie University. “Both under the Nazis and in the former East Germany, the exact knowledge of citizens’ lives served as a decisive instrument of power for government leaders.” That concern lies at the heart of the current debate, where politicians have been criticizing Google for allegedly trampling the rights of citizens who are disturbed by the idea that “Street View” might help strangers locate them in their homes. Germany’s Consumer Protection Minister Ilse Aigner has repeated called for Google to reveal more about the information that it holds and how it is collected. “I expect far-reaching information to be made public, about existing measures to opt out of the program, as well as future routes of camera cars,” Aigner told Spiegel Online last month . Google has responded by making rare concessions in Germany. “We take the concerns very seriously,” said Google Inc.’s European chief, Philipp Schindler in an interview with Germany’s mass-circulation daily Bild. He said the Mountain View, California, company has gone out of its way to accommodate fears, working closely together with data protection authorities since 2009 to try to convince Germans to trust “Street View.” “We respect people’s privacy,” Schindler said. “In Germany we offer rules for ‘Street View’ that do not exist in any other countries. Only in Germany can you request your house be omitted before the start.” For more than a year it has been possible to send Google a written request for omission – via e-mail or the post.

New Business Bio: Always There Friends
Type of business: Help for the elderly/disabled and everybody that needs something. We provide transportation to appointments, help around the house, yard work, cleaning, cooking, pet care/dog walking and help with moving. We also provide companionship for activities such as watching TV, playing cards, having tea, shopping, yard sale-ing, going out to eat, watching movies and exercising. Main location: We are based in Greenville but serve all of southern New Hampshire, including Nashua, Manchester, Milford, Wilton, New Ipswich, Jaffrey, Amherst, Bedford and Keene. Contact name: Tiana Collins. Contact phone: 765-7760. Contact e-mail: Alwaystherefriends@yahoo.com. Date began doing business in southern New Hampshire: Aug.

Business People
Lori Robertson-Stoudt Lori Robertson-Stoudt has joined Virtual Homes Real Estate of Amherst as associate broker and recruiting manager. She comes to Virtual Homes from RE/MAX, where she was managing broker. Virtual Homes evolved from a business merger between former RE/MAX franchises and an Internet marketing company. The company hires tech-savvy agents who rely heavily on Internet marketing and work remotely, rather than out of a central office.

Nashua firm seeks $324k in FRM case
The Nashua law firm representing the trustee in the Financial Resources Mortgage Inc. bankruptcy wants to be paid about $324,000 for its work and expenses over the past six months – and wants $260,000 of that money now. The funds would bring the amount due to Donchess & Notinger to more than $500,000. Thus far, FRM’s estate has raised about $1 million through the sale of various assets, and another $5 million is expected to be raised – a small fraction of the $82 million in principal payments owed to investors. Meredith-based FRM and CL&M allegedly ran a Ponzi scheme that bilked investors over a period of several years. The state Banking Department filed an involuntary petition Nov. 20 to force both companies into bankruptcy.

Worker protected from retaliation
The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals clarified in an Aug. 5 decision that an employee who assists another employee in presenting a grievance to management about employment discrimination would be protected from retaliation pursuant to federal employment discrimination laws. The case of Luis R. Collazo v.

Residents angry over potential pot farm
LONGMONT, Colo. – The investor saw potential in the scrubby 67 acres tucked away amid multimillion dollar homes: He would turn the land into a vast pot farm and capitalize on the booming medical marijuana industry. But Scott Mullner, a city councilman from Laramie, Wyo., infuriated his Colorado neighbors with his plan to place a marijuana farm in the midst of their idyllic Northern Colorado countryside. They say the project will damage property values and attract more unwanted attention than the previous business at the location – an organic egg farm. “Nobody is going to come out and steal a chicken,” said Lance Messinger, 56, who lives less than a mile from the proposed marijuana site. “So it was pretty benign to the neighborhood, is what I’m saying.” Despite a flurry of e-mails and calls from residents opposed to the idea, Boulder County commissioners decided against holding a public hearing on the issue on Tuesday, allowing Mullner’s application to proceed. The county banned medical marijuana growing operations in agricultural areas in June but Mullner was able to get his application in before that. Commissioners said they had to abide by the rules at the time. Mullner still must proceed through the rest of the regulatory process and opponents say they’ll continue the fight. “We’re going to keep working on it, we’re going to make it difficult for them and we’re going to grow our numbers.

Investors brace for a traditionally weak month
CHICAGO – The economy is weakening, home sales are plunging and stocks are on a long slide. Now comes something even scarier for investors – the beginning of what is traditionally the worst month in the market. Could stocks be headed for another September swoon? “If history is any guide, for it’s never gospel, we may be in for another rough ride,” says Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at Standard & Poor’s. Mutual fund managers tend to clean house after Labor Day, taking profits on winning stocks and weeding out portfolios before putting out the rosiest possible end-of-quarter reports for their clients. Workers coming back from summer breaks are also inclined to sell stocks as they get their financial affairs in order. Any festering issues with the economy or stocks during the summer, when trading volume is light, tend to get put off until fall. The result: September is usually a dog of a month for the market.

Genzyme says no to $18.5b buyout offer
NEW YORK – Biotechnology company Genzyme Corp. said Monday it rejected Sanofi- Aventis SA’s $18.5 billion buyout offer because it undervalues the company. On Sunday, French drug developer Sanofi-Aventis offered $69 per share for Genzyme, which has been struggling in the aftermath of manufacturing problems for key drugs. Genzyme shares traded above the offering price Monday, suggesting shareholders expect the bid to go higher. In a letter to Sanofi-Aventis, Genzyme Chairman and CEO Henri A. Termeer said the board unanimously rejected the offer. He said the board is “not prepared to engage” in negotiations with an “unrealistic” starting price. On Sunday, Sanofi-Aventis, based in Paris, made the buyout offer following months of rumors.

Google, AP reach new deal on licensing rights
SAN FRANCISCO – Google Inc. will be able to continue posting content from The Associated Press under a new licensing deal the two companies announced Monday after months of sometimes thorny negotiations. The AP said in a statement that the two companies also will work together in ways to improve discovery and distribution of news. Financial terms and the duration of the contract were not disclosed. “We think this is a good deal for both sides,” said Jane Seagrave, AP’s chief revenue officer. “We have had a long relationship with Google and are pleased we were able to work out our differences.” Google, the Internet’s most profitable company, began to pay for AP’s content in 2006 after the not-for-profit news agency threatened to sue. That contract expired in January but was extended while the negotiations on a new deal progressed.

Americans spend more as economy hobbles
WASHINGTON – Americans are spending a little more this summer, but hardly enough to rejuvenate the weakening economy. What is needed is a bigger boost in salaries and more jobs. Economists don’t see either coming this year, which is why the economy is likely to limp along. Still, modest gains in spending were a welcome sign after a string of economic reports last week raised fears of the country slipping back into a recession. “The consumer hasn’t taken the economy back into recession,” said Stuart Hoffman, chief economist at PNC Financial Services Group. “The consumer is still moving forward but they are doing it at a very modest pace.” Consumer spending rose 0.4 percent in July, with much of the strength coming from increased demand for autos, the Commerce Department reported Monday. It was the best showing since March, but it followed three lackluster months when spending was essentially flat. Americans did earn a little more in July after seeing their incomes unchanged in June.

Change is more of the same
I’m weary of discussing the economy. As mentioned weeks ago in this column, second quarter GDP was revised substantially downward to 1.6 percent. The financial markets are so desperate that they spent the week attempting to pressure Fed chair Bernanke into making a “don’t worry, be happy” speech. We are in the midst of what is likely to be a prolonged period of economic ups and downs.

NH near top for nest egg building
A recent report by U.S. News & World Report has named New Hampshire the second best state in the country to build a nest egg prior to retirement. Creating an index based on data including per capita income, annual growth in home prices, state and local tax burden, unemployment rate and treatment of capital gains, U.S. News gave the Granite State a score of 39 out of a possible 42. Citing New Hampshire’s low unemployment rate – currently 5.8 percent – the study said New Hampshire’s “state and local tax burden, expressed in terms of taxes as a percentage of income, is just 7.6 percent. Only four states sport better numbers in that category.

Former Kilkenny Pub reopens, serving beer, wine
Jason Parker is not the least bit superstitious. The 27-year-old Keene resident opened his tavern, The Olde Kilkenny Pub, on Friday, Aug. 13, and he’s been lucky so far. “We’ve been getting busier and busier every day we’ve been open,” he said. People tell him they are happy to see the Milford building at 30 Middle St. in business again, Parker said.

Restaurants scrambling after massive egg recall
CHICAGO – Eggs sunny-side-up are still on the menu. But restaurants nationwide are keeping a closer eye on egg suppliers and reminding diners of the dangers of undercooked food after a massive recall tied to a salmonella outbreak. “If someone asks for eggs over-easy, what do you do, put a skull and crossbones on their table?” said Louis Tricoli, who owns three Wisconsin restaurants with his family, including one where nearly two dozen people were sickened in late June after likely eating the now-recalled eggs. “Undercooked beef, undercooked pork, chicken, eggs, anything you ask to be undercooked, it’s at your own risk.” And so, instead of taking eggs off the menu, many restaurateurs are relying on long-standing menu warnings about the dangers of eating undercooked food. And waitstaffs are fielding questions from concerned guests worried that what they’re being served may not be safe. At Atlanta’s West Egg Cafe, business was brisk last weekend when customers chowed through nearly 2,900 eggs over the course of three days.

Fact check: Stimulus assessments overly optimistic
EDITOR’S NOTE – This is an occasional look at government assertions and how well they adhere to the facts. WASHINGTON – The Obama administration claimed last week that $100 billion invested in innovative technologies under the economic stimulus law is “transforming the American economy” by putting the nation on track for technological breakthroughs in health care, energy and transportation. But an examination of details in the 50-page report unveiled Tuesday by Vice President Joe Biden reveals something a bit different: a collection of rosy projections that ignore many of the challenges, pitfalls and economic realities in all those areas. A look at how the administration’s claims compare to the facts: Increasing renewable energy The claim: Thanks to the stimulus, the United States is on track to “doubling U.S. renewable energy generation capacity and U.S. renewable manufacturing capacity by 2012.” The facts: While the Recovery Act has helped increase renewable energy, the fact that it is a one-time jolt makes it difficult to project that the growth will continue for the next couple of years. George Sterzinger, executive director of the Renewable Energy Policy Project, a Washington think tank that promotes renewable energy, said the Recovery Act’s cash grant program for renewable energy projects “jump-started a lot of stuff.

Merrimack stove shop moves to new spot
All Basics Chimney and Stove Shop has moved to a new location in Merrimack at 236 Daniel Webster Highway. Construction started in December of 2009, and was recently completed. The new shop has a larger showroom and approximately 2 acres of storage space for wood pellet fuel. With the larger location, the business will be able to service most brands of hearth products, including those purchased elsewhere, according to a press release from All Basics. All Basics began as a chimney sweeping company in 1986. In the late ’80s, owners Paul and Dave Yakuboff decided to start selling gas, wood and pellet stoves.

UNH offers classes on forestry-, farming-based business
Interested in starting or expanding a farming or forestry-based business? Learn the essentials by attending UNH Cooperative Extension’s 13-week Agriculture and Natural Resource Business Institute, running Sept. 8 through Dec. 8 at Alvirne High School in Hudson. Extension staff team up with industry experts to help participants develop a business operating plan.

Area companies recipients of job training grants
Two Greater Nashua companies received state job training grants this month, Gov. John Lynch has announced. Southeastern Container of Hudson and Airmar Technology Corp. in Milford received grants under the state’s Job Training Fund to train new workers or retrain long-time employees. The fund, reinstated in 2007, helps companies train their employees to compete in a changing economy.

Art gallery picks place closer to downtown
NASHUA – Elizabeth’s Art Gallery has relocated to 89 Amherst St., Nashua, to be closer to downtown. The former location was 74 Northeastern Blvd. The gallery was founded in November 2005 and features art classes for students of all ages, including after-school programs. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.

Landmark family restaurant to close
MILFORD – Elisha’s, a landmark family restaurant on Nashua Street for 36 years, will close its doors for the last time Saturday. Alex LoVerme , who has owned and managed the restaurant for seven years, said he was not trying to sell the place, but about a week and a half ago, a real estate agent conveyed to him “a good offer that I couldn’t refuse,” he said. The new owner wants to renovate the place completely and change its name and menu, he said. A Dec. 1 opening is planned. Business at Elisha’s, which he believes is the oldest continuing full-service restaurant in Milford, has been “up and down,” he said, and was affected by the recession. And there has been a lot of new competition in recent years, including the opening of Giorgios, Granite Town Tavern and Amigos. “It’s all competition, no matter what they sell,” LoVerme said. The Wilton native has worked in restaurants since he was 13 and said he will continue catering and is looking to buy a small restaurant and bar. “I can’t stay out of this business,” he said. Erin Trubacz of Milford has been waiting tables at Elisha’s for five years, and she is one of about 15 employees who will lose their jobs. The closing came as a shock. “But (LoVerme) has to do what’s best for him and his family,” she said.

Skipping on mortgage debt can be risky
Some homeowners underwater on their home loan – meaning they owe more on the mortgage than the home’s current value – are turning to “strategic defaults” in which they simply walk away from mortgage debt. But financial experts warn that the cost of skipping out on mortgage debt can be high. The American Bankers Association recently warned homeowners about the consequences of strategic default, including the possibility of the bank obtaining a judgment to pursue the homeowner’s assets, such as bank accounts, cars and investments. A foreclosure – regardless of whether it is because of a strategic default or other circumstances – also has a negative impact on a consumer’s credit score. “A foreclosure is one of the stronger predictors of future credit risk,” says Craig Watts, public affairs director of FICO. Foreclosures remain on a credit report for seven years, with the impact gradually lessening over time. “For someone who has a foreclosure on (his or) her credit report, (his or) her FICO score can generally begin to recover after a couple of years, assuming the consumer stays current with (his or) her payments on all (his or) her other credit accounts,” Watts says. Watts says the impact of a foreclosure on a credit score depends on other factors in the borrower’s credit history. The ABA says a foreclosure drops a FICO score by 100 to 400 points. In addition, a voluntary foreclosure can impact a homeowner’s ability to qualify for a new mortgage for years to come. Peter Fredman, a Berkeley, Calif., consumer attorney, says Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will not approve a mortgage within four years after foreclosure, while the ABA says it can take three to seven years to qualify for a new mortgage. In addition, mortgage giant Fannie Mae recently announced a tough new sanction on people who deliberately default on their mortgages. Such borrowers will be ineligible for a new Fannie-backed mortgage for seven years after the date of foreclosure. Tax liability is another potential danger of defaulting. Although the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 (extended through 2012) offers widespread protection from federal taxes following a foreclosure, state taxes still may be due on unpaid debt. A lender can also pursue the remaining debt from an unpaid loan by obtaining a deficiency judgment against the delinquent borrower, or may work with a collection agency to recoup losses. And, of course, ethical questions surround strategic defaults.

Stocks slip as economy caution returns
NEW YORK – Stocks fell Thursday after early gains from a better report on jobless claims ebbed. The Dow Jones industrial average closed below 10,000 for the first time since July. The Dow lost 74 points, having been up as much as 45 earlier. The market has struggled to hold on to gains in recent trading as many investors remain unconvinced that the economic recovery will hold. Stocks have been on a generally declining trend in August after charging ahead in July. A bevy of poor indicators on the economy, especially weak home sales, has pierced a sense of optimism brought about by a series of strong corporate earnings reports the month before.

Toyota recalls 1.33 million Corollas, Matrixes
NEW YORK – Toyota recalled 1.33 million Corolla sedans and Matrix hatchbacks in the U.S. and Canada on Thursday because their engines may stall, the latest in a string of quality problems at the Japanese automaker. The recall covers vehicles from the 2005-08 model years sold in the U.S. and Canada. Three accidents and one minor injury have been reported, though Toyota said a link to the engine issue has not been confirmed. Toyota’s latest recall is one of its largest since it began recalling cars and trucks last October.

Jobless claims drop for first time in 4 weeks
WASHINGTON – New requests for unemployment benefits fell sharply last week, the first decline in a month and a hopeful sign after a raft of negative economic reports. New claims for jobless aid dropped by 31,000 to a seasonally adjusted 473,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. Still, claims remain much higher than they would be in a healthy economy. Employers are reluctant to hire as economic growth appears to be slowing. The drop comes after a steep rise the previous three weeks that sent claims to their highest level in nine months. Those increases raised fears that businesses were starting to lay off more workers. Wall Street economists had expected a smaller drop, according to surveys by Thomson Reuters.

Questions and answers about BlackBerry objections
Looking at nations proposing to ban BlackBerry service use NEW YORK – Some questions and answers about foreign countries planning to ban the use of BlackBerry’s messaging and Web services: Q: Which countries are involved? A: India, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have threatened to shut down some BlackBerry services in their respective countries. Lebanon and Indonesia have said they’re considering similar moves, but have no firm plans. Q: Which services would be affected? A: In general, the countries are targeting BlackBerry’s corporate e-mail service and the proprietary chat service, known as BlackBerry Messenger Service. Phone calls, text messaging and BlackBerry’s consumer service, which is not encrypted, would not be affected. Q: Why are they going after BlackBerry? A: In short, the corporate version of the BlackBerry system is too hard to eavesdrop on. The e-mails and messages are encrypted while in transit, and even Research In Motion Ltd., the Canadian company that makes the BlackBerry, doesn’t have the keys to decrypt them.

Social media can help, hinder on the job
Companies are swarming to social networking sites, including Facebook and Twitter, hoping to boost their brands, connect with customers and even find new employees. But they’re also struggling to rein in potential problems. Employers cringe at the thought of employees revealing proprietary information, hackers making mischief or a roomful of workers busy reconnecting with old high school friends on Facebook instead of doing their jobs. The ubiquity of social networking – 77 percent of workers have a Facebook account, for example, and 61 percent of those access Facebook on the job, according to Boston-based Nucleus Research – complicates matters. “Everyone’s on Facebook, even grandmothers,” said Amelya Stevenson, president of human resources consultancy e-VentExe. “Companies don’t want to limit their activity, but they have to arm themselves. It depends on the culture and if they trust their employees.” Nucleus Research last July estimated that on-the-job use of Facebook alone costs companies 1.5 percent of total employee productivity. Policies on employee use of social networks are all over the map, from total bans on Internal access to no policy at all. A 2009 survey by the Minneapolis-based Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics found that just one in three businesses have a general policy for employee online activity including use of social networks. The survey – titled “Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Compliance: What are Companies Doing?” – also found that half have no policy for employee online activity outside work, and just 10 percent have a specific policy addressing social networking sites. “So much of the Internet seems to come out of nowhere,” said society vice president Adam Turteltaub.

Gadget makers forced to look at links to Congo war
NEW YORK – Does that smart phone in your pocket contribute to rape and murder in the depths of Africa? Soon, you’ll know: A new U.S. law requires companies to certify whether their products contain minerals from rebel-controlled mines in Congo and surrounding countries. It’s a move aimed at starving the rebels of funds and encouraging them to lay down their arms. But experts doubt the law will stop the fighting. Furthermore, they say, it could deprive hundreds of thousands of desperately poor Congolese of their incomes and disrupt the economy of an area that’s struggling for stability after more than decade of war. “For many, many people, it’s the only livelihood they have,” said Sara Geenen, a researcher at the University of Antwerp in Belgium, who just returned from a trip to the Kivu provinces in eastern Congo. At issue are three industrial metals – tin, tantalum and tungsten – and gold.

***Fosters****

Gov. candidate questions lack of debate invitation

Three escape early morning Lee fire

USS Redfish sponsor returns to shipyard 66 years later

Yellow jackets attack Dover students during outside science lesson

Somersworth city manager Belmore gets 1 percent raise: Council mum on details of evaluation

Somersworth thrift shop facing closure over disagreements with landlord

Three injured, one in critical condition in alleged DWI accident in Wakefield

Cigarette disposal blamed for fire that destroyed Rochester barn, vehicles

Portsmouth Medical volunteer lends hand in Peru

Authorities still counting estimated $1m cash seized from truck in York