KEENE, N.H. (MyKeeneNow) The year’s biggest local headlines took center stage during the Jan. 3, 2026, episode of My Keene Now & Next on WKBK Radio, as hosts Abbie Trombly and Nicole Colson looked back at a wide range of stories that dominated conversations across the Monadnock Region during the second half of the year.

A major statewide change opened the discussion, with the hosts reflecting on New Hampshire’s decision to end annual vehicle inspections beginning Jan. 31, 2026. While some welcomed the move as consistent with the state’s “Live Free or Die” ethos, others questioned what the change could mean for road safety.

Infrastructure issues were another recurring theme in 2025. Trombly and Colson revisited a significant water main break on Water Street in Keene that led to a citywide boil water notice, disrupted businesses, and renewed concerns about aging underground systems. The hosts noted it was not an isolated incident, recalling a similar break earlier in the year on Court Street.

Public safety stories also weighed heavily on the year’s news cycle. The show revisited the disappearance of 78-year-old Robert Clay of Chesterfield, who went missing in June. Despite extensive searches, few leads have emerged, and the hosts again urged the public to contact police with any information, noting Clay’s dementia made the case especially challenging.

One of the most debated development stories of the year was the Keene Planning Board’s approval of a long-term gravel pit expansion on a 325-acre property spanning Keene and Sullivan. The proposal drew strong public opposition over concerns about noise, water quality, and wildlife impacts. While the application was withdrawn in Sullivan, it moved forward in Keene under strict conditions and remains tied up in ongoing legal challenges.

The fate of a small but symbolically important piece of land at 100 Church Street also sparked months of debate. Initially slated for sale, the property drew pushback from residents who wanted it preserved as public space. After prolonged discussion and community input, the Keene City Council ultimately voted not to sell the land, and city staff are now working with neighbors on future public uses.

The hosts also reflected on a fatal standoff in Keene last summer that ended with an adult male being shot and killed following hours of negotiations. Trombly discussed the difficulties journalists faced in obtaining timely information as large areas were shut down and residents gathered nearby.

Business news rounded out much of the conversation. Several well-known establishments closed their doors in 2025, including Modest Man Brewing and the Smoking Trout Restaurant. At the same time, new ventures emerged, such as Black Cloud Brewing, which is opening in Modest Man’s former space. The year also marked the closing of Toy City and the Keene International Market, with longtime Toy City owner Steve Levy retiring.

Other notable stories included the adoption of a revised ordinance governing the muzzling of dangerous dogs, a fireworks ban imposed during a severe late-summer drought, and the New Hampshire DMV’s shift to a required appointment system for most services.

The year ended with several dramatic incidents, including a November fire on Elliot Street that displaced residents, forced school evacuations, and required mutual aid from multiple departments. The hosts also revisited a shooting at a Jiffy Mart in Walpole, where a road rage incident escalated and left one person hospitalized and recovering.

Listen to the show here: