News
‘Our lakes are sick’: Upward trend of cyanobacteria blooms troubles residents, experts
This story was updated on Dec. 6, 2021, at 10:28 a.m. to correct the name of the nonprofit NH LAKES. Kirk Meloney first started going to Lake Kanasatka in Moultonborough as a boy. He remembers the crystal-clear water in the small lake – you could see straight to the bottom, even in parts of the […]
Women would sign up for the military draft under defense bill in Congress
WASHINGTON – As the Senate works to finalize a major annual defense measure, there is a bipartisan push to include a requirement that all young Americans – including women – for the first time register for the military draft. The $777.9 billion measure, the National Defense Authorization Act of 2022, also would allocate millions to […]
‘The picture is getting pretty dark’: Hospitals buckle under weight of COVID surge, staff shortages
Catholic Medical Center in Manchester aims to discharge its long-term care patients to a nursing home within five days. Today, it can take more than 14 weeks because an unprecedented surge in COVID-19 patients and too few health care workers have left the state with dangerously few treatment beds. Tying up a single in-patient bed […]
Liberty asks utilities commission to suspend energy efficiency decision
Liberty Utilities has asked the Public Utilities Commission to suspend an energy efficiency decision the company says would cause “irreparable harm” if implemented. The utility filed a motion for a stay of order early Friday morning, the latest response to a contentious decision from the utilities commission to reject a triennial energy efficiency plan and […]
The high cost of a child care crisis: ‘It’s like we are paying our mortgage three times over’
Ruger Firearms in Newport has been fortunate to fill more than 100 jobs in the last year through hiring events and on-the-spot offers. But human resources director Joseph Blair said getting there has been tough because about 40 great candidates have turned down offers after realizing child care would be near impossible to find. Keeping […]
Study: Those eligible for food stamps may not be using program due to lack of state outreach
New Hampshire hasn’t had an outreach plan for its food stamp program in more than four years – and an analysis of recent years shows that people who are eligible may not be using the program, according to the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute. The institute found that outreach could help increase awareness of the […]
Fiscal committee approves funds to address shortage of hospital beds
Health and Human Services Commissioner Lori Shibinette offered a stark visual Thursday when she asked state fiscal officials for more flexibility spending $90 million in federal aid tackling the state’s hospital bed shortage. Moving a single elder who doesn’t need acute hospital care to a nursing home would allow hospitals to treat as many as […]
Biden to unveil plan to blunt potential COVID surge this winter
WASHINGTON – Reimbursements for at-home rapid COVID-19 tests. Tougher testing requirements for international travelers. More emergency response teams to aid states combating infection spikes. And another big push to get Americans vaccinated. Those are the latest steps to fight COVID-19 that President Joe Biden will be announcing Thursday, according to senior administration officials who briefed […]
Squirrels, hares, and bears: As a new session approaches, a look at under-the-radar legislation
While proposed legislation suggests COVID-19, voting rights, and abortion will consume much of the legislative debate once lawmakers reconvene in January, there are at least 800 proposed bills focused on other matters, like snowshoe hares, funeral processions, and utility companies hoping to fell trees on private property. We read through the 874 proposed pieces of […]
U.S. Supreme Court considers new limits on abortions in Mississippi case
WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court is weighing potentially sweeping changes to the right to an abortion, after two hours of arguments Wednesday morning on a Mississippi law that bans most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The court’s conservatives, who hold a 6-3 majority, appeared through their questions to be sympathetic to Mississippi’s arguments that […]
Nashua overlooked in ‘Booster Blitz’ campaign, state lawmakers say
Nashua lawmakers are raising concerns that the state’s “Booster Blitz” overlooked New Hampshire’s second largest and most diverse city, even as the city has one of the highest COVID-19 positivity and community transmission rates in the state. The governor’s office said on Wednesday a nearby location was chosen instead to avoid confusion with a pre-existing […]
Sununu, health officials seek approval of nearly $90 million for COVID efforts
This story was updated December 2, 2021 at noon to include new budget information from the state Department of Health and Human Services. The governor and state health officials will ask the Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee during a special meeting Thursday to expedite approval to spend nearly $90 million on their newest efforts fighting a […]