PORTSMOUTH, N.H. (AP) – Police have found a good home for their old equipment – police departments ravaged by Hurricane Katrina.

Capt. David Ferland says the department had been looking to donate the equipment for as long as two years and it had been scheduled for destruction before they got word it was needed after the hurricane.

The department is donating lights for cruisers, latex gloves, alcohol hand-wash, gun leather equipment, handcuffs and lightweight jackets.

Police Goatees

ROCHESTER, N.H. (AP) – The next police officer you encounter in Rochester may be sporting facial hair.

In a 2-1 decision, the city police commission has voted to allow officers to grow goatees and mustaches, so long as they are neatly trimmed. Full beards remain forbidden.

Previously, officers could grow facial hair only as part of fundraising efforts that required them to donate money to charity.

Commissioner Gary Stenhouse opposed the change, saying that while he has nothing against facial hair, he doesn’t think it appropriate on police officers.

Confiscating Dogs

HAMPTON, N.H. (AP) – The town’s dog owners have been warned to register their dogs or face losing them.

Officials first got tough on owners of unregistered dogs in July, when the town began broadcasting the names of the animals’ owners on the local cable channel. At one point the town had 773 unregistered dogs.

But officials say nearly 400 owners still haven’t complied. So now the town is preparing to send out warning letters telling people that if the dogs aren’t registered, they could be confiscated and sent to an animal shelter.

While state law allows towns to take dogs if the fee is not paid, Town Clerk Arleen Andreozzi says she doesn’t believe it will go that far. She said more likely the town would take the owners to court.

El Salvador Visit

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) – Dignitaries from El Salvador arrived in New Hampshire on Monday for a weeklong visit that will include meetings with Gov. John Lynch and a visit to the University of New Hampshire.

The visit is part of the New Hampshire National Guard’s partnership program with El Salvador. The partnership began five years ago as part of a Department of State effort to build ties with other nations.

Salvadoran Minister of Defense and other officials will meet with Lynch on Tuesday. Later in the week they will tour National Guard facilities, UNH and Pease International Tradeport.

Gun Sentence

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) – A South Berwick, Maine, teenager who pleaded guilty to trying to sell stolen guns has been sentenced to 27 months in federal prison.

Prosecutors said Ryan Nimblett, 19, tried to sell the guns, stolen in a Hampton burglary, to an undercover agent last year.

Nimblett will be on three years’ probation after he serves his prison term.

OSHA Fine

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) – The federal government wants to fine a Manchester contractor $28,100 for cave-in protection safety violations.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration says Pichette Brothers Construction Co. violated safety regulations on a sewer installation project in Hooksett by failing to protect workers against collapse of a 13-foot deep ditch.

The company has 15 days to contest the fine.

Senior Grant

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) – The federal government is sending the state $2 million to improve the infrastructure for home- and community-based care for the elderly poor.

The money is from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The grant will be administered by the state Department of Health and Human Services and the University of New Hampshire Institute on Disability.