MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) – Police are investigating whether three armed robberies in the city were pulled by the same person.

Three convenience stores were hit Thursday and Friday.

Police cited similarities in the robberies in which a man pulled a gun on clerks and got away with cash.

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Speeding Ticket

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CANTERBURY, N.H. (AP) – A Boston driver has been charged with blowing by traffic in New Hampshire at more than 100 miles per hour.

State Police said a trooper clocked George Copello, 24, at 116 mph Saturday evening on Interstate 93. Copello was charged with reckless driving.

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Line crews help at hurricane sites

MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) – Line crews from Public Service Company of New Hampshire headed to Florida to help restore power to nearly 250,000 homes and businesses left in the dark by Hurricane Dennis.

Spokesman Martin Murray said 37 PSNH workers making up 14 crews left Sunday and were expected in Fort Walton Beach on Tuesday.

As of Monday, Gulf Power, the Florida utility, said more than 240,000 customers had no power and more than 500 miles of major transmission lines were damaged.

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UNH Grant

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DURHAM, N.H. (AP) – The University of New Hampshire has won more than $3 million in grants for research on environmental problems including the red tide that has hit the New England coast this summer.

One project is especially timely this summer, as the red tide closed shellfishing operations along the coast. It will examine ways to make testing for the algae blooms quicker and more efficient.

Other projects look to improve stormwater and wastewater management and treating contamination in coastal waters and estuaries.

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Counties-State

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CONCORD, N.H. (AP) – New Hampshire’s counties are suing the state over a complicated cost-sharing and reimbursement system that pays for patients under Medicaid, which covers the health care costs of the poor.

The 10 counties want Merrimack County Superior Court to rule that they have no liability over certain billings made by the state to the counties.

The issues revolve around some costs related to taking care of nursing-home age patients in home and community settings and annual caps on payments for which the counties are liable.

The conflict arises over how the counties and the state interpret the Medicaid law.

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Mediation

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CONCORD, N.H. (AP) – Gov. John Lynch on Monday signed into law a bill that brings mediation to New Hampshire’s district courts in small claims cases.

The new law allows people to have mediators work out disputes involving less than $5,000.

Supporters say mediation is faster and cheaper and will reduce the burden on the courts. If mediation fails, the dispute can move into the court.

AP-ES-07-11-05 1826EDT