Briefs
Revised voting rights bill named for John Lewis wins over one GOP senator
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said Tuesday she would join Senate Democrats in backing a compromise voting rights bill, marking the first time this year a Republican has signed on to a measure that likely still lacks enough GOP support to become law. Murkowski, of Alaska, joined Democrats Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Richard J. Durbin of […]
State’s vaccine van: Three months and 1,176 shots
The First Parish Church in Dover has hosted the state’s mobile vaccine van three times and, thanks to a big community advertising campaign, has gotten more people vaccinated than most sites, save for the University of New Hampshire. The count so far is 42 but will no doubt increase with the van’s return on Nov. […]
General Court website gets a much-needed makeover
It just got loads easier to find a bill, contact a lawmaker, and see the week’s legislative calendar. Ditto for finding a lawmaker’s voting record and getting to the House and Senate YouTube channels. The General Court website got quite the makeover this weekend. Lawmakers, lobbyists, and reporters will no doubt appreciate the improvements. But […]
State joins lawsuit over vaccine mandate for federal workers
Attorney General John Formella made it official Friday: New Hampshire has joined nine other states in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate for federal workers and contractors. “The state has made clear that the available COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective and that every eligible person in New Hampshire is […]
Latest version of energy efficiency bill recommended by House committee along party lines
The House Science, Technology, and Energy Committee voted along party lines to recommend advancing a bill that could determine the future of energy efficiency programming in the state. The state’s energy efficiency program has been racked with uncertainty this year, after the Public Utilities Commission failed to approve a three-year energy efficiency plan that was […]
Remaining CARES Act money to go toward long-term care, food pantries, shelters
With a deadline approaching for spending the rest of the CARES Act money, Gov. Chris Sununu announced on Wednesday how the remaining funds will be pushed into programs with the goal of spending that money before the end of the year. $11.5 million will go toward addressing the COVID-19 impact on long-term care. Long-term care […]
1,600 students approved for ‘education freedom accounts’ in first quarter, commissioner says
New Hampshire’s Department of Education has approved around 1,600 students to receive “education freedom accounts” this fall, Commissioner Frank Edelblut said Wednesday, indicating a demand for the voucher-like program that has exceeded initial expectations. In comments to the Executive Council Wednesday, the commissioner said the ballpark figure – which surpassed estimates in the spring of […]
Councilors approve marketing contract for former Lakes Region prison property
The state got the go-ahead Wednesday to start the process of selling the 220-acre former Lakes Region prison property under an unusual arrangement that bypasses typical state review and leaves decisions with the five-member Executive Council. And the two tenants on the site – the state’s backup 911 call center and Lakes Region Mutual Fire […]
$4.7 million for vaccination efforts approved by executive councilors
After rejecting $27 million in federal money for vaccine outreach at their last meeting, Republican executive councilors joined Democratic Councilor Cinde Warmington to approve a much smaller amount of $4.7 million Wednesday to help vaccinate 5- to 11-year-olds, who are expected to be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine as early as next month. That amount […]
Executive Council approves state’s plan to buy Hampstead Hospital with federal money
The Executive Council gave the state Department of Health and Human Services its final approval Wednesday to use $15.1 million in federal money to buy Hampstead Hospital to provide minors inpatient psychiatric care. Health and Human Services Commissioner Lori Shibinette said the purchase, which includes nearly 100 acres, could be complete by the end of […]
FDA panel recommends OK for Pfizer’s vaccine for kids 5 to 11
WASHINGTON – A federal vaccine advisory panel on Tuesday recommended authorizing Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11, a decision that means as soon as next week everyone in the U.S. over age 5 is expected to be eligible for a shot. The vote by the Food & Drug Administration panel, with 17 […]
Charter schools see dip in enrollment
New Hampshire’s charter schools saw a dip in enrollment this year, registering a 6 percent drop created in part by the closure of schools in Manchester and Pembroke. In total, 3,835 students were attending charter schools as of the start of the school year, according to figures presented to the Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee by […]