Five Things You Need to Know Today, Jan. 24

1. Today's weather: The National Weather Service is calling for a mostly sunny day, with a high temperature near 15 degrees and wind chill values as low as -17 degrees. On Thursday night, it will be mostly clear, with a low around 0 and wind chill values as low as -12 degrees.

2. Shaheen to host senior consumer protections forum: U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-NH, is scheduled to host a senior consumer protections forum at the Portsmouth Public Library on Friday from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. She will be joined by Derick Rill of the Federal Trade Commission, James Bofetti of the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office and Mike Gendron of the U.S. Postal Service.

3. Get a flu shot: New Hampshire health officials and Portsmouth Regional Hospital officials are reporting widespread flu cases where 25 people have died statewide from influenza. They are encouraging people to get a flu vaccination shot at area pharmacies or at their health care provider's office, if they have not received a flu shot already.

4. City now accepting EasyPark registrations: City officials are now accepting registrations for the new EasyPark device that allows Portsmouth drivers to pay for whatever time they actually park in a given space downtown. People can register online at www.easyparkusa.com/portsmouth.

5. Planning Board meeting: The Portsmouth Planning Board is scheduled to meet on Thursday at 7 p.m. at City Hall.