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A typical New Hampshire child care worker earned roughly $32,500 in 2023 while the federal poverty guideline for a family of four last year was $30,000, according to the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

Burnout, low wages leave NH child care centers short staffed

A persistent child care worker shortage across New Hampshire is leaving families with few options. The state is currently short more than 7,000 …

The starting salary of a new teacher in New Hampshire is $40,478, much less than the $56,727 average annual cost of living in the state, according to a state legislative committee examining teacher recruitment incentives. (Adobe Stock)<br />

NH lawmakers push for uncertified teachers in classrooms

New Hampshire lawmakers are considering legislation to allow part-time, uncertified teachers in the classroom. The bill would eliminate New …

More than 700 New Hampshire childcare providers remained in operation in 2022 with a capacity to serve more than 44,500 children but staffing vacancies are on the rise. (Adobe Stock)

NH 'Kids on Campus' program boosts retention, offers hands-on learning

You might say "every day is 'bring your child to college day'" at New Hampshire's Manchester Community College. On-campus childcare programs are …

Backers of an updated climate-change curriculum in New Hampshire said it should include how the crisis impacts the state today, including shortened winters and ski seasons, water quality, local agriculture and sea level rise. (Adobe Stock). <br /><br /><br />

NH youth spearhead resolution to improve students’ climate change education

New Hampshire lawmakers are requesting state education officials improve students' understanding of the climate crisis and better prepare them for a g…

On average, the lowest-income 20% of taxpayers face a state and local tax rate nearly 60% higher than the top 1% of households, according to Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. (Adobe Stock)<br />

NH tax system requires more from low, middle-income families

New Hampshire has the 18th most regressive state and local tax system in the country, according to a new report. The Institute on Taxation and …

A living wage for a worker in a family with two working adults and one child in New Hampshire is greater than $17 per hour, according to the Economic Policy Institute's Family Budget Calculator. <br />(Adobe Stock)

'Raise the Wage Act' Offers Hope for NH Minimum Wage Earners

New legislation aims to raise the federal minimum wage for the first time since 2008. The "Raise the Wage Act" would gradually increase the minimum …

A new report ranks New Hampshire 4th nationwide in economic well-being but child advocates say the ranking doesn't consider that the state's cost of living is 20% above the national average, putting even more children and families at risk of living in poverty. (Adobe Stock)

Lack of Available Child Care Impacts NH Economy, Families

New Hampshire ranks first in the nation on measures of child well-being, according to a new report. The 2023 Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E…

Oyster reefs provide habitat for hundreds of species, including mussels, barnacles and sea anemones, which settle on reefs and provide food for many other species. Crabs and fish also hide from predators within reef crevices. (Adobe Stock)

Oyster Reef Restoration Benefits Farmers, Coastal Communities

By Lynn Fantom for Civil Eats.Broadcast version by Kathryn Carley for New Hampshire News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Pub…

A new report found the nation's child population count fell from 74.2 million in 2010 to 73.1 million in 2020. During the same time frame, 27 states including New Hampshire saw their total child count fall. (Adobe Stock)

Report: NH Sees Significant Decline Child Population

New Hampshire experienced one of the country's greatest percentage declines in child population over the past decade, according to a new report…

Raising the minimum wage to at least $15 an hour for all workers, including<br />tipped workers, would reduce the poverty level in New Hampshire to 2%, a 75% reduction in the state poverty level, according to One Fair Wage. (Adobe Stock)

NH Minimum Wage Called 'Out of Step' with Rest of New England, U.S.

Despite minimum-wage increases throughout New England in the new year, New Hampshire continues to match the federal rate of $7.25 an hour, forcing …

The expanded Child Tax Credit offered families between $300-$360 per month per child, which helped lift an estimated 3.7 million children out of poverty, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. (Adobe Stock)

A Push to Revive Child Tax Credit for Struggling NH Families

It has been almost a year since New Hampshire families received the last monthly Child Tax Credit payment of a few hundred dollars, and their …

Experts from the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities estimate up to 15 million people could lose Medicaid coverage when states review eligibility once the public health emergency ends. (Adobe Stock)

Report: States Need to Prepare for Medicaid Eligibility Review

A new report urges states to take steps to minimize Medicaid coverage loss when the state of emergency for the pandemic comes to an end. COVID …

Bank of America, Santander and Bangor Savings Bank are among those that have signed on to support the Community Driven Economic Development Initiative in New Hampshire. (wachiwit/Adobe Stock)

Connecting NH Minority-Owned Businesses with Capital, Advice

The goal of a program through the Community Loan Fund is to connect with and support more minority-owned businesses in New Hampshire. The Community-…

Advocates for children and families say the Build Back Better Act would improve Medicaid and CHIP, the federal Children's Health Insurance Program (Evgeniy Kalinovskiy/Adobe Stock)

Report: Build Back Better Would Help NH Children, Families

CONCORD, N.H. -- Health advocates are pressing the U.S. Senate to pass the Build Back Better Act, after it cleared the House last month. It would …

A single person in New Hampshire can make up to $37,696 and still be eligible to receive fuel assistance for home heating. (rh2010/Adobe Stock)

As Winter Moves In, Granite Staters Urged to Apply for Fuel Assistance

CONCORD, N.H. -- As cold weather moves in, Granite Staters are being urged to apply for fuel assistance, if they think they might need some help …

In an AARP poll, 70% of respondents said finding solutions to lower drug prices this year is very important. (Satjawat/Adobe Stock)

Groups Seek Medicare Negotiations, Cap on Out-of-Pocket Drug Costs

CONCORD, N.H. -- Prescription drugs in the U.S. cost more than 2.5 times more than those in other countries, and groups such as AARP are urging …

New Hampshire is the 15th state where people who are unemployed have filed lawsuits urging their state agencies to re-engage with the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program. (Maridav/Adobe Stock)

Groups Urge NH Agency to Pay Out Pandemic Unemployment Assistance

CONCORD, N.H. -- A court hearing this week will determine whether thousands of Granite Staters can access some federal unemployment benefits that Gov…

In a new poll, 64% of New Hampshire voters said they think capital gains should be taxed at the same rate as income from wages; 56% support increasing the corporate tax rate to 28%. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe Stock)

Poll: Granite Staters Support Taxing Wealthy, Corporations

CONCORD, N.H. - New polling finds many New Hampshire voters think it's important that wealthy individuals and corporations pay what's described as …

87% of New Hampshire kids are set to benefit from the expanded Child Tax Credit. (Adobe Stock)

Child Tax Credit Could Bring Thousands of NH Kids Out of Poverty

MANCHESTER, N.H. - Parents are now receiving fully refundable monthly 2021 Advance Child Tax Credit payments, and advocates for children and families …

Most rental assistance in New Hampshire is used for rent and mortgage payments, with some going towards utilities, home heating, Internet and other expenses. (Joe/Adobe Stock)

Legal Aid: Know Your Rights as CDC's Eviction Moratorium Ends

CONCORD, N.H. -- Legal aid groups urged residents to know their rights to a fair court process as tenants, and to apply for rental assistance if …

The state budget to be voted on today includes a 24-week abortion ban that would criminalize providers of abortions past that period with up to seven years of prison time. (Granite State Progress)

Groups Rally Against State Budget, Urge Lawmakers to Put Granite Staters First

CONCORD, N.H. - New Hampshire lawmakers are zeroing in on this year's nearly 175 page state budget, but advocates for working families say policy …

In 2019, 24% of New Hampshire children lived in households with high housing-cost burdens, down from 39% in 2010. (zilvergolf/Adobe Stock)

NH Ranks High in Child Well-Being, But Pandemic May Disrupt Gains

CONCORD, N.H. -- New Hampshire ranks in the top 10 for overall child wellbeing, but advocates for children and families say that doesn't diminish the …

Nationwide, one-third of all Pell Grant recipients attend community colleges. (Wikimedia Commons)

No-Cost Community College Course for NH High School Grads

CONCORD, N.H. - Community colleges have helped drive economic recovery in past times of hardship, and this year's New Hampshire high school graduates …

New Hampshire's teachers, like those around the country, have adapted their methods and taken on more responsibilities to continue teaching during the pandemic. (Halfpoint/Adobe Stock)

This Teacher Appreciation Week, Fewer NH Teachers to Thank

CONCORD, N.H. - It's Teacher Appreciation Week, but educators and teachers unions say New Hampshire is facing a teacher shortage. Fewer people are …

The American Rescue Plan would increase the Child Tax Credit from $2,000 per month to $3,000, with an additional $600 for children younger than age 6. (Ekaterina Pokrovsky/Adobe Stock)

NH Children's Advocates Urge Swift Passage of American Rescue Plan

CONCORD, N.H. -- As New Hampshire families struggle to recover from the pandemic's economic fallout, advocates for children and families say quick …

More than three quarters of college graduates in New Hampshire have student loan debt, nearly 25% more than the national average. (terovesalainen/Adobe Stock)

NH Borrowers Call for Student-Loan Forgiveness

CONCORD, N.H. -- Americans owe more than $1.5 trillion in student-loan debt, and advocates for borrowers are calling on President Joe Biden and …

New Hampshire lawmakers are bringing the first right-to-work bill since the 2017 Supreme Court ruling which banned requiring membership in public-sector unions. (Zack Frank/Adobe Stock)

NH Unions Oppose Renewed Push For 'Right-to-Work' Bill

CONCORD, N.H. -- Union leaders in New Hampshire are opposing some GOP state lawmakers' hopes to pass so-called "right-to-work" legislation for …

Evictions had risen about 21% before the pandemic, but dropped 10% once the moratorium took effect. (Frontier/iStock)

NH Housing Advocates Hopeful about New State, Federal Proposals

CONCORD, N.H. -- New Hampshire housing advocates are applauding President-elect Joe Biden's plan to extend the moratorium on evictions tomorrow…

New Hampshire is one of three states, along with Vermont and Wyoming, that have student-to-counselor ratios as low as 250-to-1 in schools, as recommended by the American School Counselor Association. (Brocreative/Adobe Stock)

Report: More NH Families on Verge of Losing Housing, Food Security

CONCORD, N.H. -- Many New Hampshire kids and their families are struggling with health-care coverage, mental health, housing and hunger due to the …

An estimated 12 million Americans nationwide are set to lose their unemployment benefits the day after Christmas. (Mr Doomits/Adobe Stock)

Thousands in New Hampshire to Lose Jobless Benefits After Christmas

CONCORD, N.H. -- It looks like millions of Americans will enter the new year without jobless benefits they've been receiving during the pandemic…

As many as 75,000 Americans could die because of drug or alcohol misuse and suicide as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new study by Well Being Trust. (tanya nova/Pixabay)

Drug Overdoses Down; Will COVID-19 Trigger a Spike in NH?

MANCHESTER, N.H. - Health policy groups worry that high unemployment rates from the new coronavirus pandemic could increase suicides as well as drug …

Gov. Chris Sununu announced on Apr. 14 that New Hampshire will pay an additional $300 a week to long-term care workers at Medicaid-funded facilities including nursing homes, day programs for people with disabilities, and other home-care services during the COVID-19 crisis. (Gov. Chris Sununu/ Facebook)

NH First State to Offer COVID Stipend to Long-term Care Workers

CONCORD, N.H. - Gov. Chris Sununu is giving Medicaid-funded long-term care workers at nursing homes and in home care a $300 weekly pay boost during …

Advocates fear that people without health insurance will forgo COVID-19 treament for fear of costly medical bills.(Volgariver/Adobestock)

White House Criticized for Refusing to Reopen ACA Enrollment

CONCORD, N.H. -- Groups that advocate for greater access to health care are slamming the White House's decision not to allow people to apply for …

Leisure, hospitality and retail, all hard-hit by COVID-19, make up almost 30% of New Hampshire's private-sector employment. (dhester/Morguefile)

Economists Predict More Job Woes for Most Vulnerable in NH

CONCORD, N.H. -- New Hampshire will lose 11.6% of jobs by this summer, according to a new forecast from a nonpartisan think tank. The Economic …

Americans over age 65 account for 12% of all U.S. bankruptcy filings, with 3% of those filers at least 75 years of age. (blackstarvideo/Pixabay)

Americans Say They Can't Save Enough for Retirement

CONCORD, N.H. -- With the 2020 New Hampshire primary in the history books and the field of Democratic Party presidential contenders narrowing…

Gov. Chris Sununu has four days remaining to sign Senate Bill 10, which calls for the state minimum wage to increase to $10 per hour in 2020 and $12 per hour in 2022. (AlexiusHoratius/Wikipedia)

Activists to Gov. Sununu: Give Granite Staters a Raise and Give Back Yours!

CONCORD, N.H. — Activists from across the political spectrum are calling for Gov. Chris Sununu to give back his raise and give one to Granite …

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is the nation's largest free tax assistance and preparation service. (AARP Foundation Tax-Aide)

Still Need to Do Your Taxes? Free Assistance is Available

CONCORD, N.H. – AARP is offering free tax assistance to low- and moderate-income individuals through April 15th, including in New Hampshire…

Democrats in the New Hampshire House are working to repeal the 100-hour-a-month work requirement for Medicaid beneficiaries before it takes effect. (Rep. Rebecca McWilliams/Facebook)

Hearing for NH Bill to Repeal Medicaid Work Mandate

CONCORD, N.H. - People who receive Medicaid benefits in New Hampshire soon will have to prove they're working or volunteering at least 100 hours a …

Advocates of banning salary-history requests on job applications say it could level the playing field for women and under-represented minorities. (Amtec US/Flickr)

NH Bill to Ban Salary-History Requests Gets Public Hearing

CONCORD, N.H. - The New Hampshire Legislature is considering a bill that would prevent employers from demanding that job applicants share their …

New Hampshire work requirements for Medicaid recipients will affect most age groups, including many parents. (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development/Wikimedia Commons)

New Report Cautions on NH Medicaid Work Requirement Rollout

CONCORD, N.H. – Policy groups are hopeful state lawmakers will learn from Arkansas' mistakes as work requirements for the New Hampshire …

Older workers can bring years of experience to a new job. (stevepb/pixabay)

Matching Experienced Workers with Open Jobs

MANCHESTER, N.H. – Older workers can bring years of experience to a new job, and a job fair this Friday in Manchester can help match them with …

Criminal Records Impact NH Workforce

CONCORD, N.H. — New Hampshire needs more workers, but a new report says criminal records are keeping qualified job seekers out of the workforce…

Gov. Chris Sununu signed the Medicaid expansion bill just last week, and it already faces new hurdles. (Office of Gov. Sununu)

Could Work Requirement in NH Medicaid Expansion Be Illegal?

CONCORD, N.H. — Last week, Gov. Chris Sununu signed a bill to continue New Hampshire's Medicaid program for another five years, but it includes …

Veterans in New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Maine fare better than in many other states because of a good number of veteran-owned small businesses and no taxes on military retiree pensions. (Georgia Tech)

Vets Fare Well in NH, Mass., Maine, Not So Well in Vt.

CONCORD, N.H. – While Memorial Day was a day to honor military veterans, barbecue, shop for sales, or maybe take a motorcycle ride, some vets …

Family medical leave would let workers take up to six weeks at 60 percent pay to care for a new child or sick family member. (Sanjasy/Pixabay)

Family Medical Leave Bill Dies in NH Senate

CONCORD, N.H. – The New Hampshire state Senate voted Thursday to send a family medical leave insurance bill back for further study, effectively …

Workers who depend on tips are twice as likely to live in poverty. (arttabel.Pixabay)

Report: Minimum-Wage Workers Need a Raise

CONCORD, N.H. — A new report calls for raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour to reduce poverty and promote pay equity. The minimum …

Full-time women workers continue to be paid far less than men and, if current trends continue, it will take them decades to catch up. (sigre/Pixabay)

Gender Pay Gap Closing, But Very Slowly

CONCORD, N. H. – Today is Equal Pay Day, marking the 99 extra days women have to work this year to equal the pay men were paid last year…

More than 19,000 people received free tax-filing help from the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide Program in New Hampshire last year. (Chris Potter/Flickr)

Overwhelmed by Tax Filing? Free Help Still Available in NH

CONCORD, N.H. — Granite Staters have just over 40 days before the state and federal tax-filing deadline, and free tax preparation services are …

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NH: Livable Wages/Working Families