New Hampshire's Business News for August 1
A look at today's top business headlines, including: NH's transparent health care cost, Minuteman Health sues the federal government, new GMO labeling law, NH's aging workforce, Ruger cartridge outlawed in Canada, the latest Powerball winner is from NH, Riverwide Barbeque to expand in Nashua and why your electric bill will be increasing over the next few years
N.H. praised for health care cost transparency Last year, New Hampshire was the only state to receive an “A” rating from two groups, the Catalyst for Payment Reform and the Health Care Incentives Improvement Institute. – CONCORD MONITOR
Latest hospital ratings not as straightforward as they appear Giving consumers a simple tool to guide them in seeking better health care was the purpose when the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services this week issued star ratings for 3,662 American hospitals. At least CMS got the “simple” part right. – VALLEY NEWS
Minuteman Health sues feds over controversial ACA measure The Boston co-op which also insures NH residents on the exchange, is suing the federal government over a measure costing the company millions of dollars a year. – BOSTON GLOBE
Frustration mounts over ObamaCare co-op failures A new wave of failures among ObamaCare's nonprofit health insurers is disrupting coverage for thousands of enrollees and raising questions about whether regulators could have acted earlier to head off some of the problems. – THE HILL
Obama signs into law new federal food labeling requirements The federal law immediately preempts Vermont’s GMO labeling statute, Act 120, which went into effect on July 1. – VT DIGGER
NH's aging workforce puts strain on skilled manufacturing workers With 800 workers, GE Aviation is the largest employer in town. But in the next five to 10 years, about a third of those workers are expected to retire. – NH1
Great Bay's manufacturing program stays nimble Great Bay Community College adjusts its academic programs to reflect changes in the job market and needs of employers in the Northeast, responding to trends and forming partnerships with companies that hire Great Bay graduates. – SEACOAST ONLINE
Logistics, distribution centers taking root in NH Logistics and distribution is "a growth area in New Hampshire that we haven't seen" until the last few years, according to Michael Bergeron of the NH Department of Resources and Economic Development. – N.H. UNION LEADER
Gun advocates up in arms over ruling banning Ruger cartridge Gun advocates are up in arms over a recent ruling by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police that would outlaw the standard Ruger 10/22 calibre rifle cartridge in Canada. — MY PRINCE GEORGE NOW
NH gun clubs and shooting ranges at capacity, forced to turn away new members Gun shop and shooting range operators, and the clients they serve, say recent incidents of violent mass attacks has spurred an increase in gun sales and training. – NH1
Northeast Credit Union, Ocean Communities announce merger If combined, the credit union would serve approximately 124,000 members with 20 branches stretching from the Upper Valley region and Great North Woods across the Merrimack Valley to the Seacoast and southern Maine. – N.H. BUSINESS REVIEW
New commander takes over at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Senator Kelly Ayotte gave brief remarks before Captain William Greene was officially relieved of command by Captain David Hunt. – N.H PUBLIC RADIO
Powerball jackpot-winning ticket sold in New Hampshire The New Hampshire Lottery has announced that the Hannaford Grocery in Raymond sold the estimated $487 million ticket, reaping the store $75,000. – WMUR-TV
Barbecue joint expansion nears end The new section of Riverside Barbeque, the popular downtown restaurant, is well on its way to hosting dinners, beer and cocktail connoisseurs and live blues music. – NASHUA TELEGRAPH
Loggers will miss Concord Steam as a market for wood chips There is one group that’s really going to miss Concord’s unique wood-powered steam heating system as it shuts down over the next year or two: Loggers. – CONCORD MONITOR
Judge declines to issue injunction in slander case Citing restraint of free speech, a judge had declined to gag the owners of a local museum from making critical statements about the operation of a neighboring crematorium, but warned that continued disparaging statements without proof come at their own peril. Motorcycle Museum holds weekend sales for relocation costs – LACONIA CITIZEN
Hannah Grimes Center offers incubator Reinforced with a new state grant, the Keene-based nonprofit Hannah Grimes Center has launched a program to distribute 10 awards to new companies in its business incubator. – KEENE SENTINEL
Books-a-Million reopens in Kmart Plaza with ‘Harry Potter’ event Books-a-Million, which earlier this month relocated from the Valley Square Shopping Center, home to Walmart and Price Chopper, to the Kmart Plaza, organized a Harry Potter-themed event at its new store on Saturday night – VALLEY NEWS
Expect your electric bill to go up for the next few years The price that electric consumers in Maine and New England pay to make sure there’s enough power to meet future demand will more than double next June and more than triple in June 2018, before easing in 2019.—PORTLAND PRESS HERALD
