New Hampshire's Business News for April 15

A look at today's top business headlines including: NH's small business person of the year, Uber regulations in NH, Joseph Faro interested in Rockingham Park racetrack land, raising the minimum wage in NH to $15 an hour and Andy Crews honored as Citizen of the Year at Manchester Chamber dinner

NH Senate hearing shows differences on Uber regulations  Should state override municipalities’ efforts? – NH BUSINESS REVIEW

Faro hopes to buy more of 'The Rock'  Restaurateur Joseph Faro Faro, who seeks approval for a major hotel, restaurant, retail and residential development in Salem, said Thursday he is interesting in purchasing more property at the historic Rockingham Park racetrack. – LAWRENCE EAGLE-TRIBUNE

Saint Gobain's groundwater has PFOA concentrations 58 times the NH threshold  New Hampshire's Department of Environmental Services says test results of groundwater and soil taken at the Saint-Gobain plastics plant in Merrimack show a high level contamination at the plant. – NH PUBLIC RADIO

EPA, state officials hold public panel discussion on Greenland's Coakley Landfill  A variety of experts from the state and federal government gathered for a public panel discussion about Coakley Landfill and local water safety on Thursday night. – NH UNION LEADER

Report offers picture of commercial drone use in New Hampshire  Aerial survey, photography, real estate are the top applications. – NH BUSINESS REVIEW

Panel approves nearly $75m for Portsmouth Naval Shipyard The Senate Appropriations Committee proposal includes $17.8 million for new housing for single sailors and married couples without children; $27 million for a new dental and medical clinic; and $30.1 million for utility improvements for nuclear platforms. – NH PUBLIC RADIO

Nuke plant's license renewal hearing postponed  A hearing that is part of the license renewal process for Seabrook Station nuclear power plant has been postponed pending results from a study on the plant’s concrete degradation. – PORTSMOUTH HERALD

‘Fight for $15’ workers protest at Manchester McDonald's  More than a dozen low-wage workers and union activists gathered outside McDonald's on South Willow Street about 6 a.m. Thursday demanding $15 an hour and union rights. – NH UNION LEADER

In annual address, Bouley previews economic development plans for Concord  Mayor Jim Bouley has a new phrase for Concord: “An economic development strike force.” – CONCORD MONITOR

Henniker: Agritourism debate continues as two ordinances clash  Stephen Forster still wants to host weddings at his Christmas tree farm atop Mt. Hunger Road in Henniker, despite the state’s highest court denying him and siding with the town in a 4-1 decision last June. – CONCORD MONITOR

Mega-X convenience store chain owner named NH Small Business Person of the Year  SBA announces winners of annual honors. – NH BUSINESS REVIEW

Eversound founders named SBA’s Young Entrepreneurs of the Year for New England  Manchester-based firm explores new markets for wireless headphones. – NH BUSINESS REVIEW

Andy Crews honored as Citizen of the Year  AutoFair President and CEO Andy Crews was honored as the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce’s 2015 Citizen of the Year during a dinner and reception held Thursday night at the Radisson Hotel in downtown Manchester. – NH UNION LEADER

Reception cool to end of free skiing for seniors Some of the attendees at a community hearing at Franconia Town Hall Thursday weren’t keen on a proposal to eliminate free weekday skiing at Cannon Mountain for New Hampshire residents 65 and older. – NH UNION LEADER

Mixed responses to UNH dining’s change in yogurt brand causes an uproar on Twitter  The University of New Hampshire recently switched from serving Stonyfield Yogurt to Sunrise Farms Yogurt. – THE NEW HAMPSHIRE

Liberal political operative says phony concession email was satire  The phony press release sent days before a special election last year – purporting to be a concession from the young Republican in the race – was a form of political satire, according to its author’s attorney. – CONCORD MONITOR

Last-minute minimum wage increase attempt by LePage falls short in Maine Senate  An attempt by Republicans and Gov. Paul LePage to set a minimum wage lower than the eventual $12 an hour voters will decide about in November fell short Thursday night in the Senate. – BANGOR DAILY NEWS

UltraCell Insulation, Near Field Magnetics to Headline Entrepreneur Forum  May 18 event to feature two groundbreaking technologies. – NH BUSINESS REVIEW