News
Sununu, councilors accused of abandoning ‘bipartisan history’ of protecting reproductive care
This story was updated on Sept. 20 at 5:30 p.m. to clarify that the delegation’s comments were made on Monday, Sept. 20. Members of the federal delegation called on Gov. Chris Sununu and the state’s leading Republicans Monday to step up efforts to protect state and federal funding for the family planning centers that provide […]
ACLU criticizes New Hampshire AG for signing letter threatening legal action over voting act
New Hampshire is one of 23 states, each with a Republican attorney general, that signed on to a letter threatening legal action if the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act becomes law. Devon Chaffee, executive director of the ACLU of New Hampshire, called the threat “unconscionable.” “Attorney General [John] Formella’s opposition to this critical legislation […]
There’s a shortage of educators in New Hampshire – and COVID is only part of the reason
There was a time when an opening for an English teacher at Madison Elementary School would draw 30 to 40 applicants. These days, Michael Whaland said, the school is lucky to get six. Whaland, the superintendent of SAU 13, which includes Freedom, Madison, and Tamworth, knows the numbers well. Two weeks after classes began, his […]
FDA panel backs COVID-19 booster shots only for elderly and high-risk Americans
WASHINGTON – A federal health advisory panel wrestled Friday with whether to widely authorize a booster dose of Pfizer’s two-shot COVID-19 vaccine for most Americans, ultimately recommending that a third dose be offered only to older or higher-risk individuals. The Biden administration had hoped that states could begin rolling out a wide national booster shot […]
Fiscal Committee tables request for $27 million in federal money to boost vaccination efforts
This story was updated Sept. 17, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. with a statement from the governor. Republican lawmakers’ anger over the Biden administration’s new vaccine mandate has put in jeopardy $27 million in federal pandemic relief to boost the state’s vaccination efforts. As the Executive Council did Wednesday, the Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee on Friday […]
Sununu: Vaccine freedom law does not prohibit vaccination mandates for public employees
A “medical freedom law” passed into law this summer does not prevent vaccine requirements for public employees, Gov. Chris Sununu said at a press conference this week. Asked Wednesday about the new law, which states that “every person has the natural, essential, and inherent right to bodily integrity, free from any threat or compulsion by […]
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 […]
Times are tough for farmers, and a new initiative puts the focus on their mental health
Jamie Robertson has already seen the demise of one family farm. His parents’ poultry farm in Gilford used to deliver eggs all over central New Hampshire, but when the market turned in the 1980s they were ultimately forced to sell. That wasn’t the end of farming for Robertson, who is now a fourth-generation farmer at […]
How House Democrats would expand Medicare and Medicaid, and lower prescription drug costs
WASHINGTON – New Medicare benefits for older Americans, like dental care. An expansion of eligibility for Medicaid for low-income people in Republican-controlled states that have declined to take that step. And potentially an historic effort to rein in prescription drug prices – if congressional Democrats can work through objections from moderates in their party. The […]
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 […]