Briefs
Representative moves to repeal state’s ‘divisive concepts’ law
The Legislature will again be taking up the debate about critical race theory and discrimination in the upcoming session, after a proposal was filed this week to remove a contentious law regulating how racism is discussed in public classrooms and workplaces. Rep. Manny Espitia, a Nashua Democrat, filed a request for legislation this week to […]
Formella, other Republican AGs urge Biden administration to give up on vaccine requirements
WASHINGTON – More than 20 Republican state attorneys general, including New Hampshire’s John Formella, are threatening to sue the Biden administration over its mandate that large employers require their employees to either be vaccinated against the coronavirus or undergo weekly testing. In a Thursday letter, the 24 AGs pushed the administration to remove the requirement […]
Between 100 and 200 Afghan refugees to arrive in state following screening process
New Hampshire is poised to receive between 100 and 200 Afghan refugees in the coming weeks, Gov. Chris Sununu announced during a press conference on Wednesday. “We imagine the next few weeks potentially that we’ll be seeing some of the initial Afghan refugees arrive here in New Hampshire after what is clearly a pretty thorough […]
State plans to ramp up outreach efforts in communities with low vaccination rates
With COVID-19 cases surging and vaccinations lagging in New Hampshire, the state is focusing its outreach in towns with vaccination rates lower than 50 percent. Meanwhile, case counts and a federal vaccine mandate are prompting proposed legislation from lawmakers. State epidemiologist Dr. Ben Chan said Wednesday the state is averaging 400 new cases a day […]
Council approves federal aid to address homelessness among students
New Hampshire students who experienced homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic could soon benefit from wraparound services in their schools, after the New Hampshire Executive Council approved federal aid money Wednesday. As part of the Elementary and Secondary Schools Emergency Relief program’s Homeless Children and Youth Fund – a piece of the American Rescue Plan passed […]
Chicoine to stay on as interim head of the Department of Energy through October
Without a nomination for a commissioner during Wednesday’s Executive Council meeting, the newly formed Department of Energy is still lacking permanent leadership. Instead, Gov. Chris Sununu nominated Interim Commissioner Jared Chicoine, previously director of the Office of Strategic Initiatives, for a second term that will last through the end of October. The five-member Executive Council […]
Arizona attorney general first to sue over Biden vaccine mandate on private businesses
WASHINGTON – Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich on Tuesday filed the first lawsuit against the Biden administration’s upcoming COVID-19 vaccine mandate for private companies with at least 100 employees, arguing that the federal requirement violates the U.S. Constitution. In the legal complaint, Brnovich argues that the vaccine mandate President Joe Biden announced last week violates […]
19 reports of misconduct logged in new reporting system at St. Paul’s School
Students and staff at St. Paul’s School have made 19 reports of sexual assault and other misconduct since January 2021, according to a report released by the school’s independent compliance overseer last week, with nine reports listed as “active.” In his latest semi-annual report, the overseer, Donald E. Sullivan, noted that the Concord private school […]
Crowd turns against Republican lawmakers during rally opposing vaccine mandates
This story was updated September 14, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. to the correct the spelling of Terese Grinnell’s name. Republican House members and a large crowd outside the State House Tuesday agreed in their opposition to the Biden administration’s new vaccine mandates. But the crowd made clear they think lawmakers and Gov. Chris Sununu are […]
Health and Human Services seeks $27 million for 13 new positions dedicated to vaccination effort
The state Department of Health and Human Services wants to use $27 million in federal pandemic aid to create 13 new positions aimed at increasing the state’s vaccination rate, which has been lagging at about 54 percent since at least July. The request, which goes before the Executive Council Wednesday and must clear the Joint […]
Agriculture section of reconciliation bill centers on fighting climate change, enhancing research
WASHINGTON – The U.S. House Agriculture Committee on Monday finished marking up its section of the $3.5 trillion reconciliation package. The agriculture portion would provide funding for historically Black land grant colleges and investments in urban agriculture, along with boosting U.S. Department of Agriculture programs to address climate change threats in farming. The $66 billion […]
Environmental group criticizes state decision to consider only first phase of proposed landfill
The Conservation Law Foundation is challenging the state’s decision to change course on the wetlands permitting process for a proposed landfill in Dalton. While the Department of Environmental Services was originally reviewing the wetlands impact for all three phases of the proposed project, the department requested an amendment in August to consider only the impacts […]