State House
What’s in – and out – of Biden’s $1.75 trillion social spending and climate bill
WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden’s sprawling social spending and climate package has been slimmed down into a still-massive $1.75 trillion plan that he and top congressional Democrats are attempting to wrestle through after months of negotiations. Snipped from that proposal are a number of key priorities for Democrats, including an attempt to create the first […]
The debate on greenhouse gas emissions: Science is clear, but political path forward isn’t
On Tuesday, a group of lawmakers had a heated debate over a bill that would establish goals for the state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create a climate action plan. New Hampshire is the only New England state that hasn’t established a goal for reducing emissions, which is a problem, according to some environmental […]
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 […]
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 […]
Nominee for licensing board did not disclose his 2012 disbarment
This story was updated Oct. 27, 2021 at 2 p.m. following the removal of Timothy O’Meara’s nomination from the Executive Council. A nominee for a board that regulates the licensing of speech pathologists and hearing care providers was disbarred from practicing law in 2012, something he did not disclose in his application to the Office […]
The behind-the-scenes power of the state’s Executive Council is now at center stage
Running for Executive Council comes with two particular challenges: The districts are huge, and it takes a lot of explaining. “I always remember the quote from the Union Leader,” said Councilor Joe Kenney, who is serving his fourth term. “It said, ‘The Executive Council is the most powerful office in Concord that is least known […]
Fiscal committee approves use of $4.7 million in federal funding for vaccination efforts
In a 10-0 vote Friday, the Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee approved a Department of Health and Human Services request to use $4.7 million in alternative federal funding to do some of the vaccine-related work envisioned in the $27 million federal contracts rejected last week by the Executive Council. In arguing for increased vaccine outreach and […]
Sununu, Shibinette seek approval of new spending plan for vaccination program
Gov. Chris Sununu and Health and Human Services Commissioner Lori Shibinette confirmed they have asked the Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee to approve a new spending plan for the state’s vaccination program at its meeting Friday. In a letter Sununu’s office released Thursday afternoon, the two told committee members the Executive Council’s recent rejection of $27 […]
Legislative committee approves use of robotic delivery devices
New Hampshire could be on the path to legalizing and regulating autonomous package carriers, after the House Transportation Committee voted unanimously to recommend a bill to do so. In a 20-0 vote Tuesday, members of the committee recommended a bill that would allow a “personal delivery device” or “mobile carrier” to operate on sidewalks and […]
U.S. Senate Republicans again block debate on voting rights legislation
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Republicans blocked the advance of voting rights legislation Wednesday for the second time this year, thwarting again Democrats’ attempts to pass federal protections for voters amid a slew of new state elections laws. “When we are faced with a coordinated effort across our country to limit the freedom to vote, we […]