After a five-day manhunt, the man accused of killing two people and injuring nine at Brown University on Saturday—then fatally shooting a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor at the professor’s home on Monday—was found dead Thursday night at a storage facility in Salem, New Hampshire.

Police said Claudio Neves Valente, 48, a former Brown PhD student, killed himself on Thursday. He was found with a satchel and two firearms near his body.

Police said they tracked Valente, whose last known address was in Miami, through a vehicle he rented in Boston.

Valente enrolled in Brown’s graduate school to study physics in September 2000, took a leave of absence in April 2001, and formally withdrew in 2003.

Police were unsure of his motive. Read the latest updates here.

Here’s what else is in today’s newsletter:

🗣️ Readers sound off on their legislative wishes for the new year

✨ Salem’s Tuscan Village has all you need for last-minute holiday fun

Free to read. Fun to share. Local to the core. Subscribe today.

This week, we asked readers: What should New Hampshire legislators focus on in 2026? Here’s what you had to say…

“NH legislators should focus on 1) increasing the minimum wage 2) addressing the housing crisis 3) getting rid of education freedom accounts 4) universal healthcare.” — Meg Trainor

“Help stabilize property taxes by doing more at the state level. Cancel the school voucher giveaway and raise the business profits tax and interest and dividends tax rates, which were lowered over the last two years.” — Jeffrey Grip

“I still believe it’s time to initiate a modest sales tax which will capture money from out-of-staters and not ding in-staters too much. New Hampshire will still draw people as it has no income tax, just like Florida. Say 2- 3%, but they can do the numbers to see what makes sense. NH is starting to sink economically according to what I read on your posts. It’s too precious to let that happen.” — Ruth Carr

“Force the Legislature to follow the law in the rulings by the NH Supreme Court in the Claremont cases and pay the required student education funds. The lawlessness climate in the USA ranging from POTUS, SCOTUS, congressional members, secretary of defense, and state legislators is appalling.” — Kay Campbell

“Climate change.” — Patricia Shearin 

Read all the responses.

More to say? Reply to this email and let me know!

As you read in yesterday’s newsletter, “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” is New Hampshire’s favorite movie, according to PixlParade.

My personal favorite? “Home Alone.” It’s cozy, chaotic, funny, and heartfelt all at once.

So, this week’s question (and our last one this year!) is…

What’s your all-time favorite Christmas movie—and why does it earn the top spot for you?

The 55-foot Christmas tree at the Tuscan Village overlooks the Holiday Shoppes open market. (Tuscan Village)

By Stacy Milbouer

Have you ever dreamt of spending the holidays in a charming European village? You could stroll through quaint markets featuring locally crafted gifts, artisanal treats, and the sounds and scents of the season in the fresh air.

It turns out you don’t need to go to Europe; you can experience all that in New Hampshire.

Here are some top events at the Tuscan Village in Salem:

Holiday Shoppes ✨
Where: 9 Via Toscana, Salem
When: Through Dec. 24; Friday 4–8 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.–8 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
Browse 50+ vendors selling crafts, art, toys, home decor, and specialty foods, plus fire pits, heated tents, seasonal cocktails, playgrounds, games, a Santa Corner, dog-friendly areas, and photo ops with a 55-foot Christmas tree.

Santa Visits ✨

When: Saturday, Dec. 20, 2–6 p.m.
Get a free photo with Santa and share your holiday wishes.

New Year’s Eve Celebration ✨
Where: The Artisan at Tuscan Village
When: Dec. 31, 8–11:45 p.m.
Celebrate with music, dancing, a chef-curated buffet, and prime views of the Village’s midnight fireworks.

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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Katy Savage with reporting by Stacy Milbouer. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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