Commentary
How can Congress regulate AI? Erect guardrails, ensure accountability, address monopolistic power
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman urged lawmakers to consider regulating AI during his Senate testimony on May 16, 2023. That recommendation raises the question of what comes next for Congress. The solutions Altman proposed – creating an AI regulatory agency and requiring licensing for companies – are interesting. But what the other experts on the same […]
A jarring repeal effort and how it might affect utility ratepayers
When I first heard of the proposed repeal of the law that requires utilities to integrate their resource planning to protect consumers from unnecessary risks and costs of infrastructure projects, it struck me as an odd, alarming antic. It’s House Bill 281. What’s alarming about the repeal is that we will lose the upfront planning […]
Supreme Court just shriveled federal protection for wetlands, putting valuable ecosystems at risk
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled in Sackett v. EPA that federal protection of wetlands encompasses only those wetlands that directly adjoin rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water. This is an extremely narrow interpretation of the Clean Water Act that could expose many wetlands across the U.S. to filling and development. Under this keystone […]
Editor’s Notebook: The second arrow
As the world gains distance from the most difficult moments of the pandemic, one video snippet keeps playing in my mind. The footage isn’t of eerily empty city streets, piled-up body bags, crates of “personal protective equipment,” or overflowing hospitals. On a loop, I see three women in a grocery store fighting over a package […]
Community gardens are good for more than fresh food
In recent years, community gardens have gained popularity as alternatives to address the growing crisis of food deserts, particularly in central cities. But community gardens offer opportunities for much more. The personal, communal, and environmental benefits are many. In addition to being a fresh and healthy food source, a community garden can also help close […]
AI is changing how Americans find jobs, get promoted and succeed at work
Whether we realize it or not, advancements in artificial intelligence are increasingly influencing the paths of our careers. Advancements in human capital management systems, more strategic and data-driven human resource and talent management practices, and increased attention to bias are all factors that are changing how people are hired, developed, promoted, and fired. I teach […]
Nurturing diversity in NH is good for kids, schools, and the state
“I’ve heard the word ‘diversity’ quite a few times,” began United States Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, “and I don’t have a clue what it means. It seems to mean everything for everyone.” That is how the justice responded to an opening statement made last fall by legal counsel defending affirmative action in college and […]
NH Fish and Game Department has learned little about the value of furbearing predators
Furbearing predators are probably the most important wild animals in New Hampshire. They play a crucial role and are an integral part in the dynamic balance and functioning of our natural ecosystems. Among the many benefits predators provide New Hampshire are slowing or reducing over-browsing of plant communities by preying on herbivores like white-tailed deer. […]
Medicaid expansion has provided health care coverage to NH workers, supported the economy
Medicaid expansion has improved access to health care for New Hampshire’s workers and residents with low incomes while supporting the overall economy, based on NHFPI research published earlier this year. Over 219,000 Granite Staters have received health coverage through Medicaid expansion at some point. In Medicaid expansion’s first five years in New Hampshire, the uninsured […]
Biden’s strategy for cutting carbon emissions could extend the lives of fossil fuel power plants
On May 11, 2023, the Biden administration proposed new regulations to curb carbon pollution from existing power plants. The new rules replace the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan, which was proposed in 2015 but ran into multiple legal challenges and never took effect. Nonetheless, in a high-profile 2022 ruling, West Virginia v. EPA, the U.S. […]
Data, data everywhere, not a civic habit to be developed
Data. A word synonymous with informed and sound decision-making. Seemingly every reputable organization leans on carefully curated datasets to inform their minor and major decisions. Whether it is a venture capitalist assessing market risks, a tech company launching a new app, or a marketing firm identifying a target demographic, data is the new modality by […]
Editor’s Notebook: A choice of fictions
One of the presidential candidates was on a stage just down the road in Manchester on Wednesday night. He was there for a televised “town hall” style meeting, although it didn’t look like any town hall I’ve ever visited nor did it sound like any town meeting I’ve attended. I doubt there were even fundraiser […]