News
As schools prepare to get kids back in classrooms, bus driver shortage looms large
Guy Routhier didn’t start his life with the dream of being a school bus driver. He didn’t end his 40-year career in human resources with that goal either. But retirement didn’t come naturally, and Routhier had a few friends who drove school buses and enjoyed it. So at 71, still restless and intrigued, he jumped […]
Bipartisan group of senators and Biden strike deal on $550B in new infrastructure spending
WASHINGTON – A bipartisan group of U.S. senators say they have worked through the sticking points on a major infrastructure package, paving the way for a vote to begin debate on that proposal as soon as Wednesday evening. That announcement came a week after Republicans blocked a test vote on the deal, with GOP senators […]
Latest UNH poll shows opposition to state’s new abortion ban is growing
Opposition to the state’s new 24-week abortion ban, which mandates ultrasounds and carries criminal penalties for doctors who violate it, grew by 10 percentage points in a month, according to the UNH Survey Center’s most recent Granite State Poll. The ban has gotten significantly more attention in the last four weeks, and new wording in […]
Sununu signs election-related bills into law
Gov. Chris Sununu signed a handful of Republican-sponsored election bills into law late last week. That includes House Bill 77, a measure requiring town and city clerks to provide daily notifications to the Secretary of State’s Office of any filings for elected office. Rep. Ralph Boehm, a Litchfield Republican, was the prime sponsor. House Bill […]
Senators urge bankruptcy court to reject Purdue Pharma plan
Six U.S. senators, including Maggie Hassan, are requesting that the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of the Southern District of New York reject Purdue Pharma’s requests for executive and employee bonuses. Purdue’s requested $34.7 million in employee bonuses, including $5.4 million for its top executives, could amount to more than payouts for victims and families, the senators […]
With inclusivity in mind, efforts are underway to make the great outdoors great for all
In the past year, the conservation movement has been grappling with its racist roots and history. Organizations are trying to acknowledge the ways those roots extend into the present day – and fix it. Last July, the Sierra Club publicly apologized for its “substantial role in perpetuating white supremacy.” Key figures in the conservation movement, […]
CDC says the vaccinated should wear masks indoors in areas with high infection rates
WASHINGTON – Federal health officials on Tuesday urged Americans in areas of the country with the highest surges in COVID-19 infections to once again wear masks when they are in public, indoor settings – even if they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The updated recommendations marked a sharp shift from the agency’s guidance in May […]
New law ‘uncouples’ state’s tipped workers from changes to federal minimum wage
Whether congressional lawmakers ever pass an increase to $7.25 federal minimum wage remains an open question. But if it does happen, New Hampshire tipped employees will not see a proportionate wage hike. A bill signed by Gov. Chris Sununu Friday eliminates a provision pegging the state’s minimum wage for tipped employees to 45 percent of […]
In push for pricing transparency, state’s hospitals stumble
This story was updated June 27, 2021 at 8 a.m. to include a comment from HCA NH, which includes Frisbie Memorial Hospital, Parkland Medical Center, and Portsmouth Regional Hospital. Under a new federal law, hospitals are required to post prices for hundreds of procedures on their websites and make those costs easy for patients to […]
Sununu signs ‘immunization freedom’ bill into law
This story was updated June 26 at 8:30 p.m. to clarify that the state can continue mandating immunizations but has not added the COVID-19 vaccination to its required immunizations. With less than 50 percent of the country fully vaccinated, California and New York City announced Monday that all public workers will be required to get […]
Statute of limitations for PFAS-related harm doubles to six years
A bill was signed into law Friday creating a statute of limitations of six years for damages caused by exposure to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals, also commonly called PFAS. Previously, those impacted by the toxic chemicals had only three years to pursue legal action after they learned of harm from PFAS. The chemicals are known […]
Under new law, displaying a firearm no longer constitutes reckless conduct
This story was updated July 27 at 3:30 p.m. to clarify New Hampshire’s minimum age requirements for the state’s concealed carry law. New Hampshire residents and visitors will no longer face reckless conduct charges for displaying a firearm, after Gov. Chris Sununu signed a bill Friday creating a new exception. House Bill 195 amends the […]