Hassan co-sponsors child exploitation bill

CONCORD (AP) – A New Hampshire senator is co-sponsoring a bill that aims to give law enforcement agencies additional tools to go after online child exploitation.

Sen. Maggie Hassan, a Democrat, says the bill would require technology companies like Facebook and Google to preserve evidence for reports of online child exploitation for 180 days — twice the current period of 90 days. This would give agencies more time to pursue crimes, she said.

“The startling rise in online child sexual abuse imagery requires significant action from law enforcement and public officials, which is why I am cosponsoring bipartisan legislation to enhance the ability of law enforcement at all levels to investigate these heinous crimes,” Hassan said in a statement. “I will continue working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to protect our children from harm and ensure that law enforcement has the support and resources that they need to bring perpetrators to justice.”

The bipartisan legislation was introduced by Sens. Marsha Blackburn, a Republican from Tennessee, and Catherine Cortez Masto, a Democrat from Nevada.

Last year, President Donald Trump signed into law bipartisan legislation cosponsored by Hassan to fund Children’s Advocacy Centers, which support victims of child abuse and assists law enforcement agencies.

Bill protecting veteran-owned businesses passes

CONCORD (AP) – A bill introduced by a New Hampshire congresswoman that aims to address abuses in federal programs catering to veteran-owned business has passed the House.

Democratic Rep. Annie Kuster last year introduced the Protecting Business Opportunities for Veterans Act of 2019, which requires businesses participating in the Vets First Program to verify they are doing the required percentage of work. It also directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to refer suspected violators to the Office of the Inspector General for investigation. Kuster says there is a persistent problem of unfair and wrongful “pass-throughs” in the Vets First Program, where businesses do little or no work, or pass the work onto a third party.

This bill, she said, gives the VA the tools it needs to detect these improper “pass-throughs” and enforce existing penalties.

“When a business has the privilege of being awarded a contract through the Vets First Program, they must keep their end of the bargain and perform the work that is required of them,” Kuster said in a statement.

Man charged with stabbing mother sent for evaluation

AMESBURY, Mass. (AP) – A Massachusetts man charged with fatally stabbing his mother and injuring his stepfather was sent to a mental health facility for an evaluation at his arraignment Monday after a court clinician told the judge he is unable to understand the charges against him.

John Brittan, 27, was held without bail on murder and other charges in connection with the stabbings Saturday afternoon in Amesbury, according to the office of Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett.

Barbara Diehl-Peirce, 65, was flown to a Boston hospital where she died of her injuries, Blodgett spokeswoman Carrie Kimball said in a statement.

Her husband, Edmund Peirce, 65, was taken to a New Hampshire hospital where he is recovering, she said.

In addition to murder, Brittan is charged with assault and battery on a person over 60 and assault with intent to murder. Authorities did not disclose the motive for the stabbings.

Brittan’s father told WBTS-TV his son has schizophrenia and doesn’t use medications.

Snowboarder killed after falling, striking tree

LINCOLN (AP) – A snowboarder was killed after falling near the edge of a trail and striking a tree at Loon Mountain, police said.

Lincoln police said Brent Narkawicz, 55, of Coventry, Rhode Island, was snowboarding with a friend at the time when the accident happened Sunday.

Police said lifesaving medical services were attempted, but Narkawicz, who was wearing a helmet at the time, did not survive. The trail was rated as “more difficult.”

“As a community, we’re here to help his family and friends in whatever manner we can,” Jay Scambio, president and general manager of Loon Mountain Resort, said.

Some aid used to fight coronavirus

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) – The Trump administration has released virtually all the remaining heating assistance funds for this winter – except for the $37 million it intends to divert to fight the coronavirus, officials said.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the second release of funds totaling $381 million on Friday, bringing welcome news to northern-tier states. That lifts the annual distribution of funding from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program to $3.74 billion.

The $37 million that remains on hold accounts for about 1% of the energy program’s budget, said Mark Wolfe, of the National Energy Assistance Directors’ Association in Washington. While the figure may seem small, the proposed transfer of funds would result in the elimination of assistance for about 75,000 low-income families this year, he said.

“The funds are urgently needed to help families pay remaining home heating bills as well as cooling bills this summer. There must be a better way to pay for programs to address the coronavirus than taking resources away from some of the nation’s poorest families,” Wolfe said.

In Maine, independent Sen. Angus King called the administration plan to divert energy program funding “unconscionable” and Republican Sen. Susan Collins tweeted that it was the „wrong approach.”

“I think it’s unconscionable to be taking money out of people’s pockets that they need to protect themselves in the middle of a Maine winter,” King told The Associated Press in a statement.

Members of Congress have been briefed on the energy program funding that would be part of Republican President Donald Trump’s proposal for an additional $2.5 billion to defend against the virus. Democratic and Republican lawmakers have said that the overall funding request is inadequate. They have signaled they will provide substantially more funding.

“My concern is that the administration is in a little bit in disarray, and they’re playing catch-up and dipping into sorely needed funds we already designated to identified needs to compensate for this. I think the next step is for Congress to try to get some data on exactly what is needed, where it’s needed, and then figure out where it’s going to come from,” King said.

Members of Congress have been protective of the energy assistance program, rejecting the Trump administration’s efforts to eliminate it. The program is especially important in the Northeast, where states are more reliant on oil to heat homes. The program also helps warm-weather states keep people cool in the summer.

The Trump administration has contended the program is unnecessary and rife with fraud, but program supporters say he’s wrong. They say it’s a lifeline for the elderly, disabled and others on fixed incomes. An energy program official in Washington didn’t return an email seeking comment.

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