New Hampshire's Business News for April 11

A look at today's top business headlines including: electricity rates remain low for summer months, Governor Hassan proposes minimum wage increase, Works Bakery Cafe participates in Equal Pay Day event, Market Basket movie coming soon to a screen near you, and is Dairy Queen take over a vacant space in Concord

Low summer rates for electricity announced After months of record low wholesale prices for electricity, consumers are going to start seeing some benefit in their electric bills. – N.H. UNION LEADER

Hassan says boost N.H. minimum wage to $10 an hour Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan said New Hampshire should raise its minimum wage to at least $10 an hour, days after California and New York decided to gradually push theirs to $15 an hour – the highest in the nation. – CONCORD MONITOR

Wage-hike fight heads to MA State House A broad coalition of workers advocating for a Massachusetts minimum wage of $15 an hour gathered yesterday to prepare for a rally later this week in front of the State House. – BOSTON HERALD

Bakery to partake in Equal Pay Day event Tomorrow, women will get the chance to see how far their dollar really goes at The Works Bakery Cafe. Well, most of a dollar. The company will be charging women customers only 79 percent of their bill. – FOSTER’S DAILY DEMOCRAT

Market Basket story comes to the big screen The compelling story of the Market Basket battle that united 2 million loyal customers and thousands of workers is finally ready to be told on the big screen. – N.H. UNION LEADER

Elliot Hospital looks to its future Since Elliot Hospital opened in the late 19th century, Manchester has seen the world's largest textile mill go out of business and witnessed the rebirth of its downtown.  Costs: How NH hospitals stack up– N.H. UNION LEADER

Phillips Exeter Academy hiring law firm to conduct scandal probe Phillips Exeter Academy is hiring a law firm to investigate allegations of sexual misconduct at the renowned prep school currently embroiled in a controversy over a former faculty member who admitted having inappropriate relations with two students. – N.H. UNION LEADER

More than 7,000 gallons of water distributed in Litchfield As water distribution kicked off in full force on Sunday, state officials said more wells in Litchfield and some in Merrimack have detected elevated levels of contamination. – N.H. UNION LEADER

Lawsuit filed over alleged MTBE contamination   A group of 22 current and former residents of Swanzey’s Westport Village, who say they’ve been sickened for years by MTBE contaminated water in their wells, have filed a lawsuit in Cheshire County Superior Court in Keene. – KEENE SENTINEL

Criticism hangs over beer distribution bill Beer distributors and local brewers were left with a bad aftertaste following the House passage of a bill to permit outside groups to sell products directly to retail outlets.  – NASHUA TELEGRAPH

Nanobrewery opens near Nashua Millyard Craft beer fanatics in New Hampshire have a new destination on their brewery map. – NASHUA TELEGRAPH

Developer fights $153K fee charged by Salem   When voters rejected plans for a $23.4 million police and fire complex last year, the town decided it could no longer compel developers to pay public safety impact fees.  – LAWRENCE EAGLE-TRIBUNE

Portsmouth company markets cooling fabric technology The idea behind Polartec was to create a lightweight fabric that would enhance the insulating ability of your body to keep you warm. Now, what if you flipped that idea on its head?  — FOSTER’S DAILY DEMOCRAT

North Hampton restaurant fire was arson State fire officials believe a blaze at a North Hampton restaurant was intentionally set. – N.H. UNION LEADER

Concord City Council could expand tax incentive for redevelopment The Concord City Council has extended the possibility for tax relief to historic properties redeveloped anywhere in the city, rather than just downtown projects.  – CONCORD MONITOR

Dairy Queen could replace vacant Heights movie theater A long-abandoned plot on Loudon Road – once a movie theater and video rental store – could give way to a Dairy Queen and other development. – CONCORD MONITOR   

New company offers lists of drug risks and successes, just like nutrition boxes on food Ideas to help Americans get healthier don’t usually spring from sugary breakfast cereals. But there are always exceptions, and a new company formed by a pair of Dartmouth professors is one. – CONCORD MONITOR

Adams Farm slaughter plant federally certified The U.S. Department of Agriculture certification means that livestock can be brought from places outside of Vermont. The farm hopes to gain more business from bordering states like New Hampshire.  – BRATTLEBORO REFORMER

NHBR Featured Event: Unlocking the iPhone Controversy  Former New Hampshire Senator John E. Sununu will join the Institute to discuss the recent iPhone debate and its implications on personal privacy, freedom, and national security as part of the Ethics in Governance: Stewardship and Investor Education Forum.  Free, registration required.  Tomorrow night in Manchester.