New Hampshire's Business News for April 28

A look at today's top business headlines, including: Biweekly pay effort gains, ample electricity for New England, another hospital alliance, farm weddings OKd in Henniker, super PAC to back Ashooh in 1st C.D.

NH Senate panel backs biweekly pay changes  Measure would allow employers to pay wages every other week without state OK. – NH BUSINESS REVIEW

New England has enough electricity production even if a heat wave hits  Aided by enough solar power to equal the output of Seabrook Station, plus continuing cuts in requirements created by efficiency programs and a system known as demand response, New England should have more than enough electricity resources to meet demand this summer, even during a heat wave. – CONCORD MONITOR

Deerfield board seeks representation against Northern Pass  As project managers for the Northern Pass continue to seek approval, the board of selectmen will look next week at hiring someone to represent them in legal opposition to the project. – NH UNION LEADER

Three hospitals form partnership to better services  Cheshire Medical Center/Dartmouth-Hitchcock Keene, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon and Brattleboro Memorial Hospital in Vermont announced the partnership Tuesday, saying it will help the agencies provide high-quality, value-based health care to the region. – THE KEENE SENTINEL

NH Senate panel hears renewed call for rail funding  Proponents seek reinstatement of $4m in federal funds for project planning. – NH BUSINESS REVIEW

Suspected Lawrence dumper now cited in NH  Town officials are concerned after learning this week that the state Department of Environmental Services has cited a major Manchester developer for several violations, including dumping potentially harmful waste on property in the northwest corner of town. – LAWRENCE EAGLE-TRIBUNE

North End Portsmouth fight hits the courtroom  Lawyers for a group of about 200 people who filed two separate but related appeals against approvals for a major downtown mixed-use project urged a judge to reverse the approvals and return the project to Portsmouth land-use boards. – PORTSMOUTH HERALD

Shaheen files bill to repair shipyard dry docks  New Hampshire U.S. Sen.  Jeanne Shaheen filed a bill Monday that would fund improvements to dry docks at the four public Navy shipyards. – FOSTER’S DAILY DEMOCRAT

'Age-targeted' housing complex proposed in Portsmouth  Developers have applied for variances to construct a 38-unit "age-targeted" residential complex for seniors along the U.S. Route 1 Bypass in Portsmouth. – NH PUBLIC RADIO

$34 million in NH road paving work awarded for 2016  700 miles of state highway on tap for paving, preservation. – NH BUSINESS REVIEW

Henniker Planning Board OKs weddings on Forster Christmas tree farm  Weddings are back on at Stephen Forster’s Christmas tree farm on Mount Hunger Road after the Henniker planning board voted, 6-1, to approve his site plan. – CONCORD MONITOR

NH Senate once again considers spate of drug-related bills  The Senate today will once again tackle a handful of bills geared at the state’s opioid crisis. Many of the proposals being related to illegal drug use. – NH PUBLIC RADIO

Study: Great Bay towns could benefit from cooperation on runoff  A new study from the UNH Carsey School of Public Policy says towns in the Great Bay watershed stand to save a lot of money if they can coordinate their efforts at reducing the amount of nitrogen entering the bay. – NH PUBLIC RADIO

Thank you trees: New Hampshire's growing forests may make winters more mild  By meteorological standards, weather conditions over the last few winters have been mild. Seasons without harsh temperatures and blankets of snow have become an unexpected reality. – LAWRENCE EAGLE-TRIBUNE

UNH says $17,570 table in dining hall was a mistake  The table, which includes an illuminated top with adjustable LED lights, was first reported by UNH's student newspaper, The New Hampshire. – NH UNION LEADER

Ayotte vs. Hassan: Senate race will come down to records, money, and presidential politics  Except for the presidential contest, no 2016 election will get as much scrutiny in New Hampshire as the U.S. Senate race between Republican incumbent Kelly Ayotte and Democratic challenger Maggie Hassan. – NH PUBLIC RADIO

New super PAC backing Ashooh congressional run  Republican Rich Ashooh will be backed in his run for the 1st District U.S. House seat by a new independent expenditure committee headed by some familiar and high-powered national and Granite State players. – WMUR-TV

Judge delays NH Tea Party leader's trial  A federal judge has pushed off until next year the start date for the trial of a Rochester man accused of being a “mid-level leader” of armed resistance at Cliven Bundy’s Nevada ranch in 2014. – NH UNION LEADER

Target steps out in front of bathroom choice debate  Last week, Target announced on its website that it would allow transgender employees and customers to choose the restroom and fitting room that corresponded with their gender identities. – THE NEW YORK TIMES