New Hampshire's Business News for March 8

Northern Pass investing in The Balsams  Northern Pass has invested $2 million in the Balsams, developer Les Otten said Monday night at a public hearing in Colebrook, according to a transcript released by a spokesman. – NH PUBLIC RADIO

Biweekly pay bill OKd in House committee  Measure would allow employees to be paid every other week without state permission. – NH BUSINESS REVIEW

NH's Medicaid expansion could face hurdle around work requirements  On Wednesday the House will take up one of this session’s most significant pieces of legislation – whether to continue the state’s Medicaid expansion program another two years. – NH PUBLIC RADIO

Future of Medicaid divides NH business community  The New Hampshire business community is divided over the future of Medicaid in the state, as the House prepares for a key vote this week on the health insurance program for low-income families and individuals. – NH UNION LEADER

Dispute over value of Bow plant opens for trial  A dispute over the value of the Bow power plant came before a judge Monday in Concord, with potentially significant implications for the town’s residential tax bill. – CONCORD MONITOR

NH Electric Cooperative tries some experiments as utilities face an uncertain future  There’s an interesting experiment going on in New Hampshire right now, as we figure out how to shift our electric utilities to some sort of futuristic energy-providing thingamajig that can help us create a world of distributed energy. – CONCORD MONITOR

Ted Herbert store site in Manchester has new owner  The sale of the Bell Building next to City Hall will pave the way to add a restaurant, relocate radio station ESPN New Hampshire and keep a century-owned family jewelry store. – NH UNION LEADER

Dollar Bills building in Derry sold for $1.3 million  The building that housed the Dollar Bills warehouse operation has been sold for $1.3 million to a Rochester, N.Y., based commercial grounds maintenance equipment company, according to town officials. – NH UNION LEADER

Proposal to extend last call hours in Nashua falls short  A proposal to extend last call until 2 a.m. in the Gate City failed to receive enough support from an aldermanic committee on Monday. – NH UNION LEADER

Pavilion gets approval for more camping  The Gilford Planning Board approved a request from The Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion (formerly Meadowbrook) to expand the number of events at which it could offer camping from 12 per year to all shows in a given year. – THE LACONIA DAILY SUN

Q&A with retired radio exec Ray Garon  Ray Garon first walked into radio station WKBR in Manchester over 50 years ago, when he was 10 years old. At 18, he got his first job changing tapes to keep the music playing and updating commercials and weather. – NH BUSINESS REVIEW

Seven NH companies receive job training funds  Matching grants will help 129 workers learn new skills. – NH BUSINESS REVIEW

Tech job market is hot, but older workers struggle  Companies complain about difficulties finding workers, but industry veterans say they are being overlooked. – THE BOSTON GLOBE

Manchester designer wins reality TV title  A Queen City designer has won HGTV’s “Ellen’s Design Challenge,” taking home the grand prize of $100,000 and a spread in a major national design magazine. – NH UNION LEADER

Judge refuses to release NH liberty activist charged in 2014 Bundy Ranch standoff  A Rochester man facing conspiracy charges in connection to his role in a 2014 standoff with federal agents in Nevada remained in custody Monday after a one-hour court hearing over whether he should be released. – NH UNION LEADER

Reports: Rep. Tasker released on bail, will resign Wednesday  A Nottingham state representative facing felony drug and sexual exploitation charges has been released on bail. – NH PUBLIC RADIO

Security details for presidential candidates in NH came at a price  During the nearly nine months candidates campaigned in the Granite State, no major incidents arose. But providing this security came at a price to New Hampshire taxpayers – more than a quarter million dollars, in fact. – NH PUBLIC RADIO

Support builds in Maine for switching back to presidential primaries  A bipartisan group of legislative leaders expressed support Monday for switching back to presidential primary elections in Maine after record voter turnout led to lengthy delays at some caucus locations over the weekend. – PORTLAND PRESS HERALD