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Kuster and Burns go toe to toe in 2nd Congressional District debate
Democratic U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster and Republican challenger Robert Burns clashed on issues ranging from abortion and immigration to foreign policy and white supremacy in a charged debate Friday hosted by New Hampshire Public Radio and the Bulletin. Kuster said she’s running to protect freedoms, a reference to abortion rights, and touted her support for […]
State defends its indigent defense, rejects report’s alleged conflicts of interest
The state is falling short of its constitutional duty to ensure all poor defendants unable to hire a lawyer get an effective legal defense, according to an assessment the state Judicial Council requested of its work. Sarah Blodgett, the council’s executive director, has already incorporated one recommendation from the Sixth Amendment Center’s report, released Tuesday. […]
Potential buyer emerges for former Laconia State School property
This story was updated on Oct. 20 at 4:10 p.m. to add a video link of Wednesday’s presentation and on Friday Oct. 21, 2022 with a copy of the plan, the day the state shared it. After years of failed attempts, the state has identified a buyer who wants to develop the 220-acre former Laconia […]
Republican councilors once again hold up funding for after-school sex ed program
For a third time, Republican executive councilors have halted funding for a decade-old sex education program aimed at reducing teen pregnancy in Sullivan County and Manchester, which have the state’s highest teen birth rates. The three councilors who voted to hold off a vote on the $682,000 contract Wednesday, Joe Kenney, David Wheeler, and Ted […]
Citing hiring challenges, Gersh Autism to close school at Crotched Mountain
Gersh Autism told parents Monday it is closing its day and residential school and recreation program at Crotched Mountain on Nov. 18. The news leaves families of children whose disabilities are too complex for public school with limited alternatives. The company, which calls the school Legacy By Gersh, cited reasons similar to those that nearly […]
As state braces for COVID surge, $8.9 million sought for vaccine clinics and other initiatives
New Hampshire public health officials say they see a dangerous combination ahead: a winter rise in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths, and low interest in coronavirus booster shots, especially the new bivalent dose targeted at omicron. Approximately half of Granite Staters eligible for the first booster have gotten one and far fewer, about 35 percent, […]
State agencies strapped by labor shortages eye $18.6 million in tech upgrades as a solution
With more than 200 town and city offices relying on it for a steady supply of license plates and renewal decals, the Department of Safety says it can’t afford staff vacancies. Revenue Administration officials say the same as workers process hundreds of paper tax forms and payments – with an outdated scanner. A number of […]
Bulletin to host series of debates with NHPR, NHPBS
The New Hampshire Bulletin is partnering with New Hampshire Public Radio and New Hampshire PBS on a series of candidate debates that you can attend, listen to live, or watch later via streaming. For each debate, a Bulletin and NHPR reporter will question candidates for an hour. “The participation of candidates in public debates is […]
Pollsters: Over-50 voters will loom large in state’s midterm elections
Party affiliation, education level, and gender will all influence election results next month. A pair of pollsters said Wednesday voter age will too, especially those over 50, whom they predict will represent more than 60 percent of the midterm turnout. “That’s who candidates should be focused on,” said Bob Ward of Fabrizio Ward, a national […]
Request to lawmakers seeks $20 million in federal pandemic aid for state community centers
The many community centers around New Hampshire, from small volunteer operations to those run by cities and towns, could have a chance at up to $1 million for expansion, improvements, and ventilation investments. The Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery is scheduled to ask lawmakers Friday to put $20 million in federal pandemic aid […]
Drug pricing board to face second repeal effort in Legislature
There will be a second attempt during the next legislative session to repeal a state board charged with helping the state reduce prescription drug costs for public employees with state, county, and local health insurance. A similar effort to repeal the Prescription Drug Affordability Board, created in 2020 with the support of Gov. Chris Sununu, […]
GOP executive councilors hold up funding for after-school sex ed they approved in prior years
This story was updated Oct. 6, 2022 at 8:45 a.m. to include a statement from the Bi-State Primary Care Association that was unintentionally omitted. Three Executive Council Republicans have for a second time paused funding for a long-standing after-school sexual health education program for at-risk adolescents in Manchester and Sullivan County, areas with the highest […]