New Hampshire Daily News – July 26, 2026

Investigation Continues into Fire That Destroyed Floating Restaurant on Lake Winnipesaukee

The New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office confirmed Sunday that an investigation is ongoing into a massive fire that destroyed The Dive, a floating restaurant and bar on Lake Winnipesaukee.

The fire is believed to have started in the kitchen area and is not considered suspicious. Officials say the owner is cooperating with the investigation. The boat is now considered a total loss and has been towed away from the scene.

The blaze erupted just after 4:30 p.m. Saturday in Smalls Cove, sending heavy clouds of smoke across the lake. Several Lakes Region fire departments and the New Hampshire State Police Marine Patrol worked to contain the flames.

“I was just out here walking down on the dock, and I saw some smoke. The back half, I didn’t know it was on fire. I thought it was just them cooking. And all of a sudden, I saw flames shooting out of everything.” — Scott Hansen, witness

Fortunately, no injuries were reported.

Simultaneous Incidents on Lake Sunapee Strain Volunteer Fire Department Resources

Two separate emergencies on Lake Sunapee Saturday stretched the Sunapee Fire Department’s already limited resources to the breaking point, officials reported.

Just after 5 p.m., fire crews responded to a sinking boat near Lake Avenue in Georges Collins. While still managing that incident, the department received a second call about a potential oil spill in Sunapee Harbor. The department was forced to “divide their already limited resources” and call in mutual aid from surrounding communities.

Department officials emphasized that many responding firefighters had been awake throughout the previous night battling a structure fire in Georges Mills.

Hiker Dies After Medical Emergency in Waterville Valley

A 62-year-old hiker died Saturday afternoon after suffering a medical emergency on the Welch and Dickey trail, New Hampshire Fish and Game reported.

Fish and Game said at 12:15 p.m. they were notified that the man was feeling unwell and unable to continue. At approximately 12:55 p.m., a second emergency call reported the hiker had collapsed and was unresponsive.

Passing hikers immediately began CPR and continued life-saving efforts until rescue volunteers arrived. The New Hampshire Army National Guard helicopter was dispatched and hoisted the hiker from the mountain.

Despite all life-saving measures, the hiker did not survive. His name is being withheld pending family notification.

Woman Found Dead After Early-Morning Fire in Farmington

An adult woman was found dead inside a home following an early-morning fire Saturday, officials confirmed. The fire occurred around 11:30 p.m. Saturday on Leary Lane. After firefighters extinguished the blaze, the State Fire Marshal discovered the woman’s body inside the home.

An autopsy is scheduled for Sunday to determine the exact cause of death. Fire crews from seven surrounding communities were called to assist in battling the blaze.

Man Pulled from Piscataquog River in Manchester Dies

A drowning investigation is underway after a 23-year-old Manchester man was recovered from the Piscataquog River on Friday evening. The Manchester Fire Department received a call at 6:50 p.m. reporting someone in the water who had not resurfaced.

According to State Police Marine Patrol, preliminary investigation determined Pacific Sibomana of Manchester was walking along the Piscataquog River Trail with a friend when he entered the river to swim alone. Shortly after, his friend noticed Sibomana struggling and called emergency services.

First responders pulled Sibomana from the water and began lifesaving efforts before transporting him to the hospital. He was pronounced deceased Saturday morning. Investigators do not believe the death is suspicious.

Derry Music Venue Issues Warning About Ticket Scams

Tupelo Music Hall has issued a public warning about third-party websites selling fraudulent or inflated tickets to its concerts. The privately owned venue posted on Facebook Friday that the only valid tickets are those purchased directly through its official website.

Owner Scott Hayward said the venue has watched a rise in concertgoers falling victim to scams since the pandemic. Third-party websites appear selling tickets often at inflated prices, and some list tickets they don’t actually possess.

“There’s a lot of different ticket scams out there, and the only people that ever win are the people scamming the tickets.” — Scott Hayward, Owner

Bar manager Lisa Roach said she fields calls weekly from confused ticket holders with wrong order numbers. “If you’re buying your ticket on a third-party website, you could have come to three shows instead of one.”

NH Teen, Mother Sue Snapchat Parent Company Over Alleged Leak of Private Images

A New Hampshire teenager and her mother are suing Snap Inc., alleging the company prioritized profit over the safety of its young users. “Sophie Doe,” identified only by a pseudonym, was 14 when her Snapchat account was compromised.

Images she had saved in the app’s password-protected “My Eyes Only” feature were allegedly stolen and later appeared on websites that publish and sell child sexual abuse material. The complaint argues the plaintiff was misled into taking and saving explicit pictures because the “My Eyes Only” feature promised security.

“There just aren’t enough warnings or protections against other people, bad actors, predators kind of hacking into these accounts.” — Shan Shan Guo, Attorney

The lawsuit argues Snapchat does not do enough to warn or protect children from exploitation.

Fire Crews Battle Manchester Apartment Fire for Second Night in a Row

Fire crews in Manchester worked to extinguish a fire at an apartment building on Amory Street early Sunday morning—the same building that had caught fire the previous day. The Manchester Fire Department confirmed it was the identical building from Saturday morning’s fire.

Several people were displaced in the first fire, though everyone escaped safely. Officials said crews were put at risk Sunday morning due to the building’s integrity being compromised from the previous night’s fire.

More Than 500 Swimmers Gather for 61st Annual Milford Rotary Invitational Swim Meet

Hundreds of young swimmers from across the Granite State gathered this weekend for the 61st annual Milford Rotary Invitational Swim Meet, featuring 575 swimmers representing 15 teams.

Meet director Jim Rezzarday said the event helps kids stay active during summer and unplug from technology. The meet is run entirely by volunteers and is believed to be the only rotary swim meet remaining in the nation.

Former MLB Players Hold Youth Baseball Clinic in Holderness

Young baseball players had the chance to learn from professionals Saturday when former MLB players held the “Legends for Youth Clinic,” sponsored by Lincoln R

ail Bikes. The event gave kids and teenagers the opportunity to work on fundamentals across seven stations covering throwing, hitting, fielding, catching, and base running.

Clinic instructor Michael Woodard said the series holds dozens of events annually and aims to promote baseball to children worldwide.

Trump Announces 10% and 12.5% Tariffs on 60 US Trade Partners

President Donald Trump has announced new tariffs of 10% and 12.5% on goods from 60 trade partners of the United States, taking effect immediately after the administration’s original reciprocal tariffs expired Friday, July 24.

Unlike the reciprocal tariffs that were struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court, Trump’s new tariffs are based on Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which allows the president to issue tariffs if the U.S. government finds that other countries engaged in unfair trade practices.

The new tariffs apply to some of the country’s largest trading partners, including Canada, Mexico, China, and all countries in the European Union.

Heat Dome Expands Across Central United States, Creating Dangerous Conditions

Dangerously hot weather expanded across much of the central United States this weekend, pushing temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit from Dallas to North Dakota, with roughly 70 million people facing heat advisories.

A heat dome—where atmospheric conditions trap heat—created sustained high temperatures with accumulating discomfort. Overnight low temperatures are not expected to provide much relief.

“It looks like it is going to be pretty much stationary in that position as we go through the week,” said Bob Oravec, meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

The dangerous stretch spans from the desert Southwest to the Gulf Coast, reaching up into the Midwest and Great Plains. Temperatures are expected to be 10 to 15 degrees above normal.

Senate Likely Won’t Pass Budget Reconciliation 3.0 as GOP Divided

With just one week left before August recess, Senate Republicans face pressure to act on a $95 billion budget bill funding key GOP priorities, including defense spending, farm aid, and election-related grants.

However, Republican leaders have signaled they may not take up the budget framework, with Majority Leader John Thune warning he doesn’t have the votes to pass it. The bill has caused division among GOP senators, with some concerned it spends too much, while farm-state lawmakers argue it spends too little.

Trump insists the bill must pass, particularly because it includes parts of his election overhaul bill, the SAVE America Act. He has urged supporters to call Thune directly to pressure him.

Nuclear Regulatory Commission Proposes Eliminating 50-Year-Old Radiation Safety Principle

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) is proposing to eliminate the “as low as reasonably achievable” (ALARA) radiation safety principle, which has been in place for 50 years and requires facilities using radioactive materials to keep radiation exposures minimized.

The NRC plans to replace ALARA with a “graded approach” as President Trump seeks to increase domestic nuclear energy production. Under the proposal, nuclide emissions standards would increase from 10 millirem per year to 25 millirem per year, though the occupational

dose limit for radiation workers would remain at 5 rem per year.

Critics argue the change could compromise safety, while supporters say it will streamline nuclear energy development and reduce regulatory burden.

Pentagon Removes 4 Troops from Iran War Toll, Creates New “Overseas Operations” Category

The four American troops killed during renewed fighting between the U.S. and Iran in recent weeks are no longer listed as part of the Iran war death toll in the Pentagon’s official casualty count but have been placed in a new, separate category.

The move raises questions about properly counting the impact to U.S. service members as the Trump administration has escalated strikes on Iran in a bid to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while providing little indication of how it intends to wind down an unpopular conflict.

The Defense Casualty Analysis System—repeatedly cited by Pentagon officials as the definitive source on deaths and wounded from the conflict—removed the four fallen soldiers and dozens of wounded troops from its Iran war tally last week.

On Sunday, a new category called “Overseas Operations” emerged on the system’s website, listing the four Army deaths by name and 207 wounded. The total reported casualties had been 18 killed and 482 wounded as recently as Tuesday.

Trump Signals More Strikes Against Iran Could Be Looming as Gas Prices Rise

Iran reported no U.S. strikes overnight Friday, marking the first apparent break in fighting in two weeks. However, the war remains far from over, with the U.S. military announcing it fired on another ship trying to breach its blockade of Iranian ports.

President Trump told reporters Friday that options are on the table for addressing the conflict. “They want to be the tough guys, but they do want to make a deal,” Trump said. “There’s two ways. I mean, you can just keep doing exactly what we’re doing and take them apart piece by piece.”

The conflict has significantly impacted gas prices. According to AAA, the average price for a gallon of regular gasoline has risen to $4.11—nearly 38% higher than when the war began almost six months ago.

Suspect in Deadly Berlin Pride Attack Killed by Police

Abdul Ballout, a German citizen with Lebanese roots who drove a van into a crowd during Pride festivities near the Brandenburg Gate, has been killed by police following the attack that killed one person and injured 29 others.

Authorities believe the incident was an Islamic extremist terror attack. Ballout had ties to the “Islamist scene” and a prior suspended sentence on his record. Flowers and signs of support were placed at a memorial site following the tragedy. Officials say security measures for future events may be strengthened.