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Proposal would provide protections to sex workers reporting sexual assault
This story was updated on April 21 at 5:12 p.m. to correct the spelling of Pamela Keilig’s name. A proposal before the Senate Judiciary Committee aims to provide protections to sex workers who report a sexual assault. Opponents of the measure said it would grant sex workers immunity from all crimes, a claim the bill’s […]
With dog theft on the rise, lawmakers look to crack down
There’s a dark side to the increase in demand for pets during the pandemic: when those procuring the animals do so illegally. Dog theft has been on the rise nationally during the pandemic, with thieves snatching dogs from their yards and even from houses. Now state lawmakers are considering a proposal to increase the penalty […]
Vaccination of minority populations continues to lag
When Clifton West learned that there was a surplus of vaccines in Strafford County, he promptly went into fire-drill mode. He made calls, sent text messages, composed emails – any method he could think of to get the word out. “It was like, oh my God, okay, we have to get people there,” he said. […]
What would a new Department of Energy mean for New Hampshire?
A proposal to create a new Department of Energy would be a major overhaul of how energy policy is made and regulated in New Hampshire. Clean-energy advocates are eager for change. With energy policy and regulation spread between various state agencies, some key decisions and the allocation of funding have been delayed for years, leaving […]
Efforts waylaid to make Indigenous People’s Day an official state holiday
When a proposal about Indigenous People’s Day in New Hampshire came out of a House committee, Paul Pouliot of Alton was surprised by what he saw – and not in a good way. It had changed so much that Pouliot was glad when the proposal was ultimately tabled. Pouliot is the council chief and speaker […]
Bill moves state primary from September to June
New Hampshire’s state primary is currently one of the latest in the country. It is one of only four states that hold primaries after August. Last week, the House passed House Bill 98, which would move the primary up from the second Tuesday in September to the fourth Tuesday in June. Some political analysts say […]
Bill seeks to address shortage of meat-processing facilities
The New Hampshire Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources unanimously passed a bill that would create a study on the shortage of animal slaughter and meat-processing facilities in the state. The study would also look at implementing a meat-inspection program. There are only four USDA facilities in New Hampshire, and no poultry facilities, according […]
Future of state’s energy efficiency efforts in jeopardy
Last year, the state’s utilities reached a rare – and unanimous – agreement with clean energy, environmental, and consumer advocates on the future of the state’s energy efficiency plan. The plan laid out goals to reduce electricity usage by 4.5% and natural gas by 2.8% by 2023. Consumer savings from efficiency improvements, such as new […]