Editor’s note: During the course of a week, issues are covered that might not lend themselves to full editorial comment, but they are worthy of The Sunday Telegraph weighing in – thumbs up, thumbs down or neutral.

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Thumbs Up – To public health officials, who are monitoring an uptick in coronavirus cases among children and young adults. From June 8 to July 8, the number of positive tests among people under age 30 increased 22% from 1,030 to 1,255, compared to a 16% increase among older residents, according to daily data posted on the Department of Health and Human Services’ COVID-19 dashboard. This situation must be surveilled closely as another stay-at-home order would be devastating.

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Thumbs DOWN – To some public officials in New Hampshire, whose families have reaped the benefits of the Treasury Department’s Paycheck Protection Program. Companies connected to U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s family received just under $3 million through the government’s small business lending program, which was aimed at saving jobs during the coronavirus pandemic, according to the senator’s campaign. The Colorado law firm owned by Corky Messner, one of the Republicans competing to challenge Shaheen in November, received between $2 million and $5 million, according to the Treasury Department. Messner’s campaign said he was aware of the decision to apply for the loan though he is not involved in the firm’s day-to-day operations. In addition, the family of Gov. Sununu received funds. While we do not begrudge any business in need of these monies, we do hope preferential treatment was not a factor. The truth is, there are many small businesses who still are fighting to stay afloat. Let’s make sure they receive at least some money to help keep them going. Shelling our millions should not have been the norm. Money should have been spread more evenly.

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THUMBS DOWN – To locals who took the Fourth of July a bit too far. Many in Greater Nashua set the streets and sky ablaze with fireworks, well into the wee hours of the morning of July 5. While we wouldn’t expect police to arrest residents, we would expect more than just a, “move it out of the street.”

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