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State releases ‘divisive concepts’ guidance for educators, public employers
This story was updated July 22, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. with a statement from NEA-NH. Public school educators will not be violating the state’s new “divisive concepts” law if their lessons on slavery, the civil rights movement, and the treatment of marginalized people leave some students feeling “uncomfortable,” according to guidance issued Wednesday evening by […]
American Academy of Pediatrics says even vaccinated students should wear masks
When schools reopen, the American Academy of Pediatrics is recommending everyone over the age of 2 wears a mask, even if they have been vaccinated. So far, state public health officials have not adopted that recommendation and local policies differ among districts. The recommendation from the AAP, issued Monday, differs from the Centers for Disease […]
For many families, monthly child tax credit payments arriving just in time
Single mom Carrie Duran of Wolfeboro was shouldering a lot before the pandemic. She was in school full time, working part time, and caring for her twins and a daughter who has Down syndrome. “It’s been pretty tight. We’ve struggled financially quite a bit,” Duran said. “But with a little luck and a whole lot […]
Liberty Alliance faces backlash over choice of keynote speaker
The New Hampshire Liberty Alliance’s annual dinner Saturday will celebrate legislative victories, award an “activist of the year” – and be keynoted by a New Hampshire businessman who has tweeted racial slurs and that a minor who disagreed on an issue could perform a sexual act on him. That choice has some in the organization […]
Manchester appears alone with a plan for its $43.2 million new federal aid
The five New Hampshire cities awarded nearly $86 million in American Rescue Plan money have until late August to tell the federal government how they’ll use that money. So far, Manchester appears to be the only city with a detailed plan. Officials in Rochester, Nashua, and Portsmouth said they are still developing spending priorities for […]
Amid talk of booster shots, focus remains on getting more people fully vaccinated
As Pfizer and federal agencies argue over the need for a COVID-19 booster shot, an associate professor of medicine at the Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine sees a different priority: getting more people vaccinated now. “I think what we really need to think about is the order in which this is (done),” said Dr. Michael […]
Atkinson firm under investigation over dealings with Russia
An Atkinson company, Intertech Corporation, is being investigated by the FBI and federal prosecutors for allegedly providing lab and scientific equipment to Russia’s weapons of mass destruction program, according to a federal search warrant. The court record also alleges the company tried to sneak around federal exporting regulations after contact from the FBI to avoid […]
State’s workforce shortage shows no signs of abating
This story was updated July 14, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. to include comments from Gov. Chris Sununu’s office. The early end of generous federal unemployment benefits was supposed to mitigate hiring challenges. It hasn’t, or at least not much. “We’re hiring” signs still hang everywhere, nearly a month after Gov. Chris Sununu ended all unemployment […]
State drops 12 spots in latest CNBC ‘Top States for Business’ rankings, landing at 37
Maybe the just-passed business taxes and that big rainy day fund will help – but those new teaching restrictions on “divisive concepts” probably won’t. According to “America’s Top States for Business” rankings released Tuesday by CNBC, New Hampshire cannot compete with much of the country. In its 13th study since 2007, CNBC dropped the Granite […]
State’s Bureau of Film and Digital Media is a budget casualty
New Hampshire’s best known film credits may be “Jumanji” (1995), shot in Keene, and “On Golden Pond” (1981), made on Squam Lake. But there have been many others, albeit with less commercial success. “Love in Kilnerry,“ shot on the Seacoast in 2019, follows panic among small-town locals after they learn a new chemical in their […]
As health care workforce shortage persists, employers boost incentives
It’s a good time to be looking for a job in health care. Catholic Medical Center is offering $10,000 signing bonuses to registered nurses with three years of experience. Rockingham County is offering not only signing bonuses to licensed nursing assistants but also tuition and a paycheck while they get their license. State corrections officials […]
Community mental health centers on the precipice of a ‘transformational’ moment
This story was updated June 30, 2021 to correct the spelling of Brian Collins’s name. The state’s 10 community mental health centers would be able to expand services significantly and offer statewide mobile crisis response under a contract going before the Executive Council Wednesday. “This is really transformational and something I have not experienced in […]