Call Center Company in Manchester, NH

By DAMIEN FISHER, InDepthNH

Time is running out for the Sununu Youth Services Center (YDC) survivors of abuse to file claims with the state’s YDC Settlement Fund as the money to pay settlements is running out.

The YDC fund is accepting claims until June 30 and the number of people seeking settlements through the fund process has steadily been increasing, according to John Broderick, the fund administrator and retired Chief Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court.

“The first three months of that first year (2023 Q1) we received just 38 claims. Two years later, 261 claims were filed in a single quarter,” Broderick wrote in his quarterly letter to Gov. Kelly Ayotte and legislative leaders. “I expect another busy quarter before the June 30, 2025, deadline for filing claims arrives.”

Since it became operational, the YDC fund has received 1,135 claims from men and women who were sexually and physically abused by state employees when they were incarcerated as children. Of those claims, 296 have been settled, leaving 808 pending cases. But the money is running out along with the calendar.

Find out what's happening in Manchesterfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

When it was created by the legislature in 2022, the fund received $100 million to pay out to the victims of childhood rapes and beatings. The fund was voted an additional $75 million in 2024 due to the fact it was running out of money well before the 2025 cut-off. But only $60 million of the 2024 appropriation was given to the fund, and it is unclear if the state will make good on the remaining $15 million, or the $25 million owed for 2025.

Without the state making good on the additional funds approved by the legislature, there is a real prospect the money will run out before the June 30 deadline.

“We remain hopeful we will receive it. If not, we will do all we are able, in consultation with the AGO, until appropriated funds are exhausted,” Broderick said.

As it stands as of this week, the fund has paid out $156,343,215 to 296 survivors. By that accounting, there’s a little more than $6.6 million left for the pending 808 claims. However, as the fund is paying some survivors over time, three to 10 years depending on the settlement, the total for the 296 survivors is already more than $160 million.

Attorney General John Formella criticized Broderick for the way he’s paid out settlements. The YDC settlement amounts range from $500,000 to $2.5 million per claimant, depending on the nature of the abuse.

Without the settlement fund, the state faces the prospect of much more costly litigation. The first and only, so far, YDC civil trial resulted in $38 million in damages awarded by the jury for the victim, David Meehan. As the state is contesting that amount, Formella’s office recently settled with survivor Michael Gilpatrick for $10 million. Gilpatrick’s settlement still needs to be approved by the legislature.

If the settlement fund stopped paying out, New Hampshire could be forced to pay out hundreds of victims in civil damages at the same level as Gilpatrick and Meehan in court cases. All of those damages will be paid by taxpayers, ultimately, since New Hampshire does not have an insurance policy to cover the decades of abuse.

This article first appeared on InDepthNH.org and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

MANCHESTER, N.H. —

On Tuesday, the Manchester School District Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Chmiel outlined some of the cuts the district would have to make to stay within the budget put forth by Mayor Jay Ruais.

The recommendations made by Chmiel include cutting 38 teaching and staff positions, halting growth in athletic programs and limiting special education programs.

"I don't think that any of the reductions that are on this list are in the best interest of students or staff," Chmiel said.

>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<

The proposed budget gives schools in the Manchester district just under $236.5 million for next year, which is about $9.5 million short of what the Manchester Board of Education said it needs.

"Our school district is the most diverse district in the state, and has historically been one of the lowest funded on a per-pupil basis," said Julie Turner, a Manchester School Committee member.

One English teacher in the district did the math, comparing the proposed budget to Manchester's neighboring town, Bedford.

"With our tax-cap compliant budget, we're already saying that our students are worth $10 million less than the Bedford students," said Sean Russell, a Manchester teacher.

During the hearing, one alderman asked Mayor Ruais if he has an itemized list of cuts.

"I'm wondering what you envision taking out. I want to know what the mayor wants to take out," said Tony Sapienza, an alderman in Ward 5.

"I had a number in mind that I've talked to a number of Aldermen about that would address some of the cuts that they've discussed," responded Ruais.

Teachers in the district said there is no room for any cuts.

"We are not going back to the days of doing more with less. We are at the time of we do better together," said Sue Hannan, the president of the Manchester Teacher's Union.

Some students at the meeting showed support for the teachers.

"I may be a student, but I'm also a future voter and I'll promise you this: if this budget goes through, we will remember. We will organize. We will speak out and we will show up because education should never be the first thing you cut. It should be the last," said Caleb Joseph, a Manchester student.

There was no vote in Tuesday's hearing. However, Mayor Ruais has said that he will work with the school board to potentially amend the budget proposal.

In September 2024, the Golden Corral in Manchester, New Hampshire, abruptly closed its doors.

Would it ever open again, or would this chain restaurant only exist in New England in one other location: Springfield, Massachusetts?

Fear not, because the endless buffet is back, and the Golden Corral at 655 S Willow Street is open once again.

The first (and so far only) Golden Corral in New Hampshire opened its doors in Manchester back in 2020.

Yup, you read that right. The restaurant opened just as the pandemic was really kicking into overdrive.

According to the New Hampshire Union Leader, when the place first opened, there were multiple serving stations manned by employees wearing masks and gloves who provided the food.

As mentioned earlier, the Golden Corral would surprisingly close in 2024, but now, only about seven months later, it's back.

A Facebook post from the restaurant mentioned that customers could start dining in on April 10.

Hopefully, the place stays open for a long time to come. And who knows? Maybe New England might get its third Golden Corral in the future.

Golden Corral does have an all-you-can-eat buffet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, according to its website.

We're talking mashed potatoes and gravy, pot roast, vegetables, mac and cheese, biscuits, pulled pork and fried chicken, among a variety of other choices.

How many things do you think you can eat?

READ MORE: This Popular New Hampshire Restaurant Chosen ‘Best Of’ in 7 Categories

Whether you're from New Hampshire or want to take a road trip from Maine for the endless buffet, the Golden Corral is back to two places in New England you can check out.

Will you be eating at the Golden Corral now that it's open again? Where's your favorite place to eat in New Hampshire?

Here Are 14 New Hampshire Restaurants That Have Been Featured on Food TV Shows

Gallery Credit: Megan Murphy

15 New England Restaurants That Guy Fieri Should Visit Next

Gallery Credit: Megan

MANCHESTER, N.H. —

After an adult was diagnosed with tuberculosis after visiting two locations in Manchester in January, officials have announced additional testing clinics for anyone who might have been exposed.

The adult had been at the Families in Transition shelter and the 1269 Cafe while infectious in January. Officials said information collected thus far suggests people who visited the FIT shelter or the 1269 Cafe in January might have a greater risk of being infected with the tuberculosis bacteria.

Free testing clinics are being held next week at 1269 Cafe, which is at 456 Union St. in Manchester:

Health officials said more than 100 people sought testing at clinics offered in mid-March, and five were diagnosed with latent tuberculosis infection. Each of those who tested positive was connected with the appropriate treatment, according to officials.

"While latent TB infection does not spread to other people or cause symptoms right away, it can cause illness later in life," officials wrote in a news release. "Testing is the only way to know if people have been exposed to the TB bacteria and need treatment to prevent sickness."

>> Data: Number of tuberculosis cases in New Hampshire over previous five years

Officials said testing at the clinics involves giving a blood sample.

People who think they might have been exposed can also contact their primary health care provider to seek testing, health officials said.

>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play <<

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that mainly affects the lungs. The bacteria that cause TB can spread when a person with the illness coughs, sneezes or sings.

It can spread easily where people gather in crowds or live in crowded conditions.

TB can be treated with antibiotics, though health experts warn that some forms of the bacteria that cause TB are becoming resistant to antibiotics.

Symptoms of tuberculosis include unexplained weight loss, night sweats, fever and a persistent cough that can last for weeks, or longer, officials said. DHHS officials ask that anyone with these symptoms call 603-271-4496.

Health officials said an average of 12 people are diagnosed with TB each year in New Hampshire, and each case is investigated by DHHS. Health officials work to identify anyone who might have been exposed and connect them with appropriate testing and treatment.

Manchester, New Hampshire has the hottest housing market in America, according to Realtor.com’s January 2025 report.

A combination of ongoing high demand and low inventory has kept “market pace snappy,” said Realtor.com senior economic research analyst Hannah Jones, cementing Manchester's status as the metro with the country’s hottest housing market.

New Hampshire's largest city, Manchester beat out another Granite State city as well as top markets in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.

Why is Manchester the No. 1 housing market?

According to Realtor.com, Manchester’s proximity to Boston (55 miles away), good school system, and thriving local economy has long kept the city a buyer favorite. It was also the No. 1 in October in 2024 and Zillow named it the top housing market of 2024.

Buyers also flock to the Granite State for its lack of sales and income taxes.

Houses on the market in Manchester were unsold for an average of 46 days, well under the national median of 73 days. The median list price in Manchester in January was $579,000, an increase of 4% from December.

New England cities dominate the top 10 list

In addition to Manchester, five other cities in New England made the top 10 hottest markets list.

“The Midwest and Northeast have reigned supreme as homes to most of the country’s hottest markets since mid-2022, when mortgage rates picked up steam,” says Jones.

Hartford, Conn. took second place, while Norwich, Conn. and Worcester, Mass. tied for fourth.

Concord, NH was sixth, and Providence, RI was ninth.

Springfield, Mass., which had been the country’s hottest market in November of 2024, was No. 13 in January. Boston, which was not represented on December’s top 20 list, was the No. 15 hottest housing market in January.