New Hampshire News & Current Events| Public News Service

A 2022 report from the New Hampshire Alliance for Healthy Aging found that transportation and safe affordable housing have been top concerns for older residents in the state. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

NH Ranks Second in Nation for Senior Healthy Living

New Hampshire ranks second in the nation for healthy senior living, according to a new report. United Healthcare's 2023 Senior Report measures the …

28% of LGBTQ youth say they've experienced homelessness or housing instability at some point in their lives while 14% of LGBTQ youth report being kicked out of their home or abandoned, according to the Trevor Project. (Adobe Stock)

NH House Rejects Controversial 'Parental Bill of Rights'

Advocates for the LGBTQ community are celebrating following New Hampshire's rejection of a so-called "parental bill of rights." Two Republicans cros…

The share of U.S. voters who cast ballots early, by mail or a combination of both in 2022 remained high for a midterm election with nearly a third (31.8%) casting their ballot by mail. That's up 8.6% from 2018 but down 11.2% from 2020.(Adobe Stock)

Voter Registration Rates Highest in 20 Years

Voter registration rates in the U.S. hit a record high in last year's midterm elections, according to the latest census data. Registration rates …

A solar-plus-storage system costs $25,000 to $35,000, depending on the battery size and other factors, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, but just adding a battery to a solar system will cost anywhere from $12,000 to $22,000. (Adobe Stock)

NH Battery-Storage Program Lowers Energy Costs, Emissions

By Sarah Shemkus for Energy News Network.Broadcast version by Kathryn Carley for New Hampshire News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism …

The total number of full-time statehouse reporters in the U.S. has fallen from 904 in 2014 to 850 in 2022, while the number of reporters covering statehouses less than full time has risen from 688 to 911, according to the Pew Research Center. (Adobe Stock)

Student Reporters Fill Gaps When Full-Time Reporters Disappear

Student reporters are stepping up to fill gaps in news coverage as the number of full-time statehouse reporters continues to decline. State …

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…

Advocates for regional food economies say bringing locally produced dairy products to local schools not only improves food security for students, but reduces food waste and contributes to a more sustainable food system for New Hampshire. (Adobe Photo Stock)

Grants Help NH Farmers Keep Dairy Products Local

Dairy farmers and processors in New Hampshire are eligible for grants to help improve their operations, as part of a growing movement to keep locally …

Granite Staters younger than age 40 make up 26% of the state population but only 2% of state legislators, while Granite Staters age 76 and older are 11% of the population but 32% of state legislators, according to 603 Forward. (Adobe Stock)

NH Organization Invests in Young Candidates Seeking Local Elected Offices

Young people interested in running for local office in New Hampshire are learning the ins and outs of organizing a successful campaign with the help o…

Voters in the Governor Wentworth Regional School District recently passed a pro-book warrant resolution, Article 39, which prohibits spending town funds on the banning of books or other content from the Wolfeboro Public Library. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Public Education Backers Celebrate NH Local Election Wins

Public education advocates in New Hampshire say the results of recent school board elections showed families overwhelmingly support their public schoo…

Research shows providing information to consumers about the beneficial impact alternative syrups have in diversifying forests and building climate resiliency motivated consumers to pay as much as a $1.10 more per 12-ounce bottle. (Adobe Stock)

NH Researchers Study Alternative Syrups to Build Forest Climate Resiliency

New England is well known for its maple syrup production but new research shows alternative tree syrups could also benefit both the economy and overal…

Forest fragmentation and the creation of new forest

UNH Researchers Study Impact of Fragmented Forests from Above

Researchers with the University of New Hampshire are taking to the skies to study the state's increasingly fragmented forests. Urban and …

More than one in ten transgender people in the U.S. have been evicted from their homes because of their gender identity contributing to higher rates of food insufficiency among this population. (Adobe Stock)

Study Finds High Food Insufficiency Rates Among LGBTQ+ New Englanders

A new study from the University of New Hampshire found New England's LGBTQ+ residents experience higher rates of food insufficiency, the measure of …

At least 124 bills have been introduced nationwide this year targeting LGBTQ rights in schools and educational settings, freedom of speech and expression, and access to medically necessary health care for transgender people, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. (Adobe Stock)

Educators: NH 'Parental Bill of Rights' Endangers Students, Penalizes Teachers

Educators in New Hampshire say a proposed "parental bill of rights" before lawmakers discriminates against LGBTQ students. The legislation requires …

The average in-state college tuition in New Hampshire was $19,457 for the 2021-2022 academic year. That's $4,327 higher than the U.S. average and ranks New Hampshire as the 9th most expensive state to attend college, according to CollegeCalc. (Adobe Stock)

NH Higher Ed Funding Still Lags Behind Rest of U.S.

Education advocates are applauding Governor Chris Sununu's proposed state budget increase for higher education but funding levels still remain some of…

Members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies rally at the Capitol in Concord in opposition to a slate of anti-LGBTQ+ bills, which they say aim to criminalize members of their community.(603 Equality)

Community Members Rally Against Anti-LGBTQ+ Bills in NH

LGBTQ+ advocates rallied at the New Hampshire Statehouse this week in protest of a slate of bills which they say aim to demonize members of their comm…

More than 230,000 residents of New Hampshire, or roughly one in five adults, are diagnosed with a disability ranging from serious mobility issues to vision impairment. (Adobe Stock)

Disability Community Celebrates Life of Advocate Judy Heumann

The disability community is mourning the loss of one of its greatest advocates. Judy Heumann, often called the "mother of the disability rights …

While New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu has previously questioned the scientific consensus on climate change, he has said a transition to renewable energy is a

NH Climate Activists Applaud 'Community Power' Movement

More Granite Staters are expected to get their electricity from renewable energy sources this spring, as so-called "community power" programs …

The United Nations estimates that close to 6 million people have been internally displaced in Ukraine while nearly 8 million Ukrainian refugees have fled to neighboring countries and across Europe since the war began in February 2022. (Adobe Stock)

Peace Activists Mark One-Year Anniversary of War in Ukraine

As people around the world mark the one-year anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, some peace activists are finding the conflict is not so …

The New Hampshire Peoples' Budget Coalition is calling on lawmakers to fully invest in public education and reverse investments in the state's Education Freedom Accounts, which the coalition says drains much-needed funding from public schools and downshifts costs to property taxpayers. (Adobe Stock)

Broad Coalition Urges NH Lawmakers to 'Show Love' in State Budget

A broad coalition of New Hampshire faith and community leaders is calling on state lawmakers to create a budget which serves the people. The New …

New England is getting hotter faster than the rest of the country, according to the latest data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and it could affect food webs available to the cold water-thriving Arctic char. (Adobe Stock)

UNH Researchers Track Arctic Charr’s Climate-Change Resilience

Researchers are studying the feeding habits of Arctic charr to help predict how various fish populations could adapt to a warming climate. Arctic …

Advocates for gun safety are pressing lawmakers in New Hampshire to follow the lead of other New England states with stricter gun safety laws. In New Hampshire, an average of five children and teens die by guns every year. (Granite State Progress)

NH Advocates Press Lawmakers on Gun Violence-Prevention Bills

Advocates for safe gun laws in the Granite State gave several hours of public testimony Wednesday, regarding a package of firearms-related bills …

At least 36 states have moved to restrict education regarding bias, racism, and the contributions of specific racial or ethnic groups to U.S. history, while 17 states have worked to expand that education. (Adobe Stock)

NH 'Divisive Concepts' Law Stifles Lessons During Black History Month

The state's "divisive concepts" law is preventing educators from holding rational discussions about race relations in America, New Hampshire civil …

Farm Action will lobby lawmakers to ensure the 2023 Farm Bill requires recipients of federal subsidized insurance programs, which largely benefit farms growing corn, soybeans, sugar and wheat, to instead commit to conservation and regenerative land practices. (Adobe Stock)

Farmers Prioritize Food, Not Feed, in 2023 Farm Bill

A large farmer-led coalition is organizing to ensure the 2023 Farm Bill prioritizes the needs of smaller, sustainable farms over large agribusiness …

94% of New Hampshire's more than 1,300 senior farmers do not have a young (under 45) farm operator working with them suggesting an uncertain future of many of these operations, according to American Farmland Trust. (Adobe Photo)

Granite State’s Small Farmers Reap Benefits from USDA Census

New Hampshire's small farmers are encouraged to complete the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture census to ensure they have a voice in federal …

The U.S. District Court of New Hampshire recently ruled in favor of allowing a lawsuit brought by the ACLU of New Hampshire and teachers' unions against the

NH Businesses, Public School Backers: Repeal 'Divisive Concepts' Law

Advocates for public education in New Hampshire are asking state lawmakers to repeal what's known as the "divisive concepts" law, which educators say …

Almost 98 of every 100,000 African Americans have died from COVID-19, a mortality rate one-third higher than for Latinos, and more than double the COVID death rate among whites. (Adobe Stock)

NAACP Workshops Aim to Teach Medical Self-Advocacy

A series of online health workshops from the NAACP of Manchester aims to address health disparities in communities of color, and also help people …

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 …

Medicaid home- and community-based services in New Hampshire were a smaller portion of all Medicaid long-term services and supports expenditures than nationally, totaling 47.2% in 2019, which was also lower than all other New England states. (Adobe Stock)

Creating a System of Healthy Aging in the Granite State

An alliance of health and consumer advocacy groups in the Granite State is working to create a coordinated system of long-term care for healthy aging…

cyberbullying victims said the incidents affected their friendships, while 13% said it affected their physical health. (Adobe Stock)">

UNH Center Works to Prevent Online Violence Against Children

The University of New Hampshire's Crimes Against Children Research Center has teamed up with the World Health Organization to help parents learn the b…

The 2021 New Hampshire Climate Assessment showed since 1901, temperatures statewide have increased by an average of 3 degrees Fahrenheit with fall and winter warming the fastest, leading to a significant decrease in New Hampshire's deep snow coverings. (Adobe Stock)

NH Sierra Club Works to Build “Climate Democracy”

The New Hampshire Sierra Club is working to increase community activism and environmental stewardship through monthly "climate democracy" gatherings…

New Hampshire has the lowest amount of state funding for public higher education, relative to personal income, of any other state. The state government paid an estimated $1.50 for public higher education per every $1,000 in personal income during fiscal year 2022. (Adobe Stock)

Groups Call for Halt to Revisions of NH Public School Standards

Public school advocates in New Hampshire are asking state officials to stop the current revisions being made to public education standards so parents …

Around 21 million American children receive free or reduced-price lunch at school, but only half of them receive free breakfast despite being eligible, according to New Hampshire Hunger Solutions. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates Say Loss of Federal Funds Means NH Kids Go Hungry

Advocates for children say up to 7,000 students in New Hampshire public schools are going hungry following the rejection of a federal program for low-…

In New Hampshire, firearm deaths have climbed by 5.8% from 2015 to 2020, the 47th largest increase among states. According to the CDC, a total of 128 people died from firearm injuries in the state in 2020, up from 121 in 2015. (Adobe Stock)

Anti-LGBTQ+ Activity Surges; NH Groups Blame Political Rhetoric

Human-rights activists in New Hampshire say the growing number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills at the Statehouse is encouraging right-wing extremists to intimida…

New Hampshire Fish and Game officials says wild turkeys travel across four to five square miles during the year, although during the winter and nesting season, they often restrict their movements to within their restored habitats of 100-200 acres. (Adobe Stock)

Once Threatened, Wild Turkeys Now Thrive in New Hampshire

Turkey may be the star of Thanksgiving meals throughout the Granite State, but the wild turkey has become a focal point of new conservation efforts …

If you or a loved one has been targeted by a scam or fraud, help is available via the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360. Help is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time (Adobe Stock)

Lonely NH Elders More Vulnerable to Holiday Scams

Crime experts say the holidays offer scam artists another opportunity to prey upon people's giving nature, especially older adults living alone…

More than three million U.S. middle- and high-school students reported current use of any tobacco product in 2022, representing approximately one in six high-school students and one in 22 middle-school students. (Adobe Photo)

Experts: Teens Want to Talk About Risks of Vaping

Today marks the American Cancer Society's Great American Smokeout, an effort meant to encourage those who smoke or vape to quit, especially younger …

A UNH Granite State Poll found 60% of Republicans support school vouchers, compared with 8% of Democrats and 42% of Independents. Only about 28% of

Election Outcome Could Bring Big Changes to NH Public Schools

Republicans in New Hampshire have already submitted bills to expand the eligibility requirements for the state's Education Freedom Accounts Program…

Surveys show the majority of people booked into New Hampshire county and city jails are unemployed, have little or no income and less than a high school education. But advocates for formerly incarcerated people say increasing civic engagement helps reduce recidivism. (Adobe Stock)

Voting After Incarceration: A Tough Stigma to Overcome

It is estimated more than four million Americans are ineligible to vote in their states due to a felony conviction. In New Hampshire the ban on …

Surveys of blind and low-vision voters following every presidential election since 2008 indicate that as many as one-third of poll workers don't know how to operate their location's accessible ballot-marking devices. (Adobe Photo)

'One4All' Accessible Voting in NH Expected to Grow

All polling places are required to have at least one accessible voting machine for federal elections, but as communities across New Hampshire age…

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 …

In New Hampshire, a college student may vote either in the domicile they held before entering college, or the one they've established while attending college, and can show school electronic records to prove their residency. (Adobe Stock)

More Younger Voters Drawn to Local NH Elections

The midterm election will be the first since New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu signed one of the nation's strictest abortion bans, and voting rights …

According to a new AARP poll, rising electricity and food costs are the two biggest concerns for New Hampshire voters when they think about inflation. (Adobe Stock)

AARP Poll Reveals NH Voter Mindset Ahead of Midterms

With just a couple weeks before the midterm elections, a new study delves into the mindset of Granite State voters. The new polling, for AARP New …

The New Hampshire Insurance Department hosts its annual hearing on health insurance premium rates on Oct. 20, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at UNH Law School in Concord, and online via webinar. (Adobe Photo)

NH Open Enrollment for ACA Insurance Begins Nov. 1

Nearly 77% of New Hampshire residents get their health insurance through an employer. This indicates strong economic conditions in the Granite State…

A new AARP poll shows a majority of women age 50 and older will be voting in the November midterm elections. The most important issues include inflation and rising prices, threats to democracy and voting rights. (Adobe Stock)

NH Election Resources Provide Trove of Information for Voters

With less than a month to go before Election Day, New Hampshire voters have plenty of resources about voting in their state. AARP New Hampshire has …

Before getting a criminal annulment, people can review a checklist provided by the state of New Hampshire to ensure they're eligible. Otherwise, they could be stuck waiting for a few years before being able to apply again. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Adobe Stock)

NH Legal Clinic to Aid in Criminal-Record Annulment

Most criminal offenses can be annulled except for violent crimes and those involving obstruction of government administration. An upcoming legal …

According to the Recovery Ecosystem Index Mapping Tool, a little more than half of drug-related deaths between 2015 and 2019 in New Hampshire were white people with at least a high school education, ages 15-64. (Adobe Stock)

New Tool Maps Substance-Use Recovery Hotspots

A new tool is locating areas in the U.S. in need of robust recovery systems for people dealing with substance abuse. The Recovery Ecosystem Index …

In the U.S., some 67% of firefighters are volunteers, according to the National Volunteer Fire Council. In New Hampshire, the percentage is even higher. (National Volunteer Fire Council)

Shortage of Volunteers Forces NH Fire Depts. to Step Up Recruitment

If you dial 911, it is more than likely a volunteer firefighter will respond to your emergency, but in the Granite State, there are not enough …

This year, more than 70% of attempts to restrict library resources targeted multiple titles. (Adobe Stock)

Banned Books Week Highlighted in NH Libraries

Controversial books are nothing new, but the incidence of book challenges and bans has increased substantially in recent years. This week marks the …

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