Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: Why Salem lawmakers split over a major school budget cap plan.
Make time for Town Council Meeting on the Salem Patch calendar
Morning Salem! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- Why Salem lawmakers split over a major school budget cap plan.
- How Salem’s senator says the new ‘paint tax’ could hurt locals
- How a Brown shooting suspect ended up dead in Salem storage.
Today's riddle: What did one pirate say to the other? 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in Salemfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Saturday: Rather cloudy, afternoon rain, with a high of 43 and low of 35 degrees.
- Sunday: Rain and drizzle in the a.m., temps: high: 40, low: 24.
- Monday: Mostly sunny and breezy, with a high of 36 and low of 27 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
• NH House kills school district budget cap bill in dramatic reversal (seacoastonline.com) — Salem residents may want to know that a key school budget cap bill at the State House was killed after a dramatic floor fight, despite support from Salem Republican Rep. Joe Sweeney. Another Salem lawmaker, Rep. Lorie Ball, backed a last-minute amendment to cap administrative spending instead, but that change helped sink the entire proposal for this year. 
Find out what's happening in Salemfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
• 'Paint tax' bill heads to Ayotte's desk (unionleader.com) — A new statewide “paint tax” fee on paint and stain purchases is headed to Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s desk, and Salem’s own Sen. Daryl Abbas is among those warning it could hurt small local hardware stores. Supporters say the PaintCare program would shift disposal costs off town budgets and onto paint buyers, potentially saving municipalities thousands on hazardous waste days while expanding recycling options.
• Providence police clocked over half a million in overtime costs after Brown shooting (newsfromthestates.com) — A man suspected in a deadly shooting at Brown University and a related homicide was later found dead in a Salem storage facility, drawing federal investigators into the case. Providence and state police racked up significant overtime costs during the intensive manhunt and campus search before the FBI took over the multistate investigation.
📸 Around Salem
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Salem
- Town Council Meeting
Salem, NH Calendar , 44 Geremonty Drive , Salem
7:00 pm - Town Council Meeting - Cancelled
Salem, NH Calendar , 44 Geremonty Drive , Salem
7:00 pm - Citizen Petition Deadline for 2026 Town Meeting (Need 25 Signatures of Registered Salem Voters)
Salem, NH Calendar Salem, NH 03079 - Town Council Meeting
Salem, NH Calendar , 44 Geremonty Drive , Salem
6:00 pm - Budget Committee Meeting
Salem, NH Calendar , 44 Geremonty Drive , Salem
7:00 pm - Town Manager Open Office Hours on January 15, 2026
Salem, NH Calendar , 33 Geremonty Drive Community Development Conference Room , Salem
3:30 pm - Budget Committee Meeting
Salem, NH Calendar , 33 Geremonty Drive Knightly Meeting Room , Salem
7:00 pm - ERZ Public Information Session / Economic Development Committee Meeting
Salem, NH Calendar , 33 Geremonty Drive Knightly Meeting Room , Salem
5:30 pm
Monday January 12
Tuesday January 13
Wednesday January 14
Thursday January 15
Tuesday January 20
📣 Salem Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- The Build Zone (Ages 5+)
Kimball Library , 5 Academy Ave #5 , Atkinson
10:00 am - Enchanted Academy
Searles Castle , 23 Searles Rd , Windham
1:00 pm - Board of Selectmen Meeting
Atkinson Town Hall , 19 Academy Ave , Atkinson
6:00 pm - Historic District / Heritage Commission
Windham, NH Calendar , 3 North Lowell Rd , Windham
7:00 pm
Saturday January 10
Monday January 12
Thursday January 15
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Salem PatchAM possible:
- Blackdog Design/Build/Remodel — (603) 898-0868
Making Your Dream Home a Reality Since 1989 - Total Basement Finishing, a Blackdog Affiliate — (603) 458-7962
Basement Remodeling Experts in NH, MA and ME - Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible! - Ski Haus | NOTB | Patio Place — (603) 898-1722
Ski & Snowboard Gear + Outdoor Furniture
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- McDonald's posted a job opening for $18.50 Experienced Shift Manager in Salem. Apply here.
- M.C. LLC posted a job opening for Crew Chief - No Experience Required in Salem. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Salem here.
🗞 Nearby News
Windham
- Wanted rape suspect surrenders (vermontdailychronicle.com)
Pelham
- VIDEO: Road rage incident ends in knife attack in Pelham, New Hampshire (nbcboston.com)
Derry
Ok Salem! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I sea you!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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