New Hampshire News & Current Events| Public News Service

Environmental advocates say the growth of so-called 'fast fashion' is adding to greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. Buying just one white cotton shirt produces the same amount of emissions as driving 35 miles in a car, according to the climate action group, WRAP. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, September 18, 2024

Serving looks with books: Libraries fight ‘fast fashion’ by lending clothes

By Claire Elise Thompson for Grist.Broadcast version by Kathryn Carley for New Hampshire News Connection reporting for the Grist-Public News Service C…

The median home price in New Hampshire reached $525,000 in 2024, a nearly 13% increase from a year earlier. Rents in the state are up an average 45% since the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

Record high home and rental prices top NH voters concerns

Record-high home prices are a top concern for New Hampshire voters and could impact the outcome of this year's gubernatorial race. All the …

The University of New Hampshire joins 429 higher education institutions that have joined the FirstGen Forward Network, representing 49 states and the District of Columbia. (Adobe Stock)<br />

UNH works to make 'first gen' students feel right at home

First generation students attending the University of New Hampshire benefit from a growing trove of campus resources to ensure their success…

Among U.S. adults surveyed, 20% said they have heard a lot about Project 2025, while 39% have heard a little and 42% have heard nothing at all, according to a recent YouGov poll. (Adobe Stock) <br /><br />

Conservative plan to ‘drill, baby drill’ threatens ocean health

Critics of a conservative plan to expand offshore oil drilling said it endangers coastal communities who rely on a healthy ocean. Project 2025…

Nearly 90% of Democratic and Democratic-leaning registered voters say they're happy that Harris is the Democratic candidate for president, according to a Pew Research Center poll. (Adobe Stock) <br />

NH voters ready for woman president, but stereotypes remain

Vice President Kamala Harris has reignited enthusiasm among voters this election season, but polls show not everyone is ready for a woman president…

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services reported a child care staff vacancy rate of 26% in 2023, forcing some facilities to reduce capacity or close classrooms. (Adobe Stock)

NH voters find common ground on need for affordable child care

A majority of New Hampshire voters want elected officials to do more to fix the growing child care crisis, according to a new survey. More than 80% …

About one in eight voters nationwide said abortion is the most important issue this election year, according to a KFF poll. (Adobe Stock)<br />

NH Dems counter claim abortion ‘no longer a big factor’ in election

Former President Donald Trump claims abortion will be "a very small issue" for voters this November but New Hampshire Democrats disagree. Two years …

Political observers note artificial intelligence can be an inexpensive way to help candidates save time and money on advertising but many down-ballot campaigns lack the expertise to spot AI-generated falsehoods, which could tip races decided by narrow margins. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

Federal lawmakers tackle AI-generated ‘deepfakes’ as election nears

Newly introduced federal legislation aims to protect voters from the growing threat of political ads generated by artificial intelligence. …

When wages are lifted, families benefit, too. Nearly 40% of single parents in New Hampshire earn less than $17 per hour, according to Oxfam America. (Adobe Stock)

NH care workers would benefit from higher federal minimum wage

More than 130,000 New Hampshire workers would benefit from a raise in the federal minimum wage, according to a new report. It includes the more than …

The Heritage Foundation has worked to place former and current employees throughout Congress and the executive branch. More than 70 former and current Heritage employees began working for the Trump administration by 2017. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Project 2025 reveals growing influence of conservative think tanks

More Americans are learning about the conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation this election season, but its influence has been decades in the …

Researchers Anna O'Brien, left, and Ciana Lazu examine a sample of duckweed found at Mill Pond in Durham, New Hampshire. (UNH Marketing)

NH duckweed study aims to counter impacts of manure, farm runoff

University of New Hampshire scientists said a common aquatic plant called duckweed could help filter polluting runoff from dairy farms and so-called m…

Roughly 57% of New Hampshire's population with disabilities has at least some college education, compared with 50% nationally, according to the University of New Hampshire.(Adobe Stock)

NH groups push to end 'special' term for people with disabilities

Disability groups in New Hampshire are calling for an end to the word "special" to describe people with disabilities. They said terms like "special" …

More than 90,000 people in New Hampshire live in a community that does not have enough mental health professionals, according to NAMI New Hampshire. (Adobe Stock)

NH backs 988 mental health hotline with local resources

Two years since activation of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, a new report found New Hampshire could improve resources for the mental health …

In 2015, the Supreme Court extended marriage equality to all 50 states in Obergefell v. Hodges. Almost all same-sex couples surveyed reported the decision affected their lives. More than 60% of couples were married post-Obergefell even though their relationships started before 2015. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

Report: Marriage equality strengthened families but many worry for future

Twenty years after the first state permitted marriage equality, a majority of same-sex married couples said it had a profound positive effect on …

New Hampshire House Republicans have advanced Bill 1569, which would require, for the first time, a birth certificate, passport or other proof of citizenship in order to register to vote in New Hampshire. The bill would also eliminate any exceptions to the state's voter ID law on Election Day. (Adobe Stock)

False claims of noncitizen voters spur federal, NH legislation

House Republicans are backing legislation to require proof of citizenship to register to vote in a federal election. Despite a lack of evidence…

More than 40 U.S. colleges and universities now obtain 100% or more of their electricity from renewable energy sources while at least 76 schools get at least 50% of their energy from renewables, according to the Public Interest Network. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Dartmouth decarbonization plan preps students for climate-related future

Officials at Dartmouth College say a massive campus decarbonization project will serve as a real-world classroom for students interested in sustainabi…

Fewer than 30% of New Hampshire eighth-graders were proficient in math between 2019 and 2022. Studies show the lag will reduce lifetime earnings by 1.6% for 48million pandemic-era students, for a total of $900 billion in lost income. (Adobe Stock)

NH leads in child well-being but chronic absence rates lower test scores

New Hampshire ranks first in the nation for overall child well-being but trauma and pandemic-related learning loss continue to impact students…

The uninsured rate for New Hampshire residents age 65 and older fell 22% - from 6.3% to 4.9% of the population - between 2019 and 2022. But a lack of providers and high-speed internet access has kept many rural seniors from accessing basic care, according to a new report. (Adobe Stock)<br />

NH senior health ranks high, community health workers may improve it

A new report ranked New Hampshire as the fourth-healthiest state in the nation for seniors but a lack of home health workers and high-speed internet a…

In 2023, the number of bills nationwide targeting transgender and non-binary people tripled over the previous year, with more than 500 bills introduced. Nearly 90 of those bills were signed into law, with many targeting transgender youth in sports and schools.(Adobe Stock)

NH parents, educators urge veto of anti-LGBTQ+ bills

The New Hampshire Senate has advanced a series of bills, which opponents say will roll back protections for LGBTQ+ people. The measures ban …

In 1996, Congress passed a law prohibiting noncitizens from voting in federal elections, although some municipalities allow noncitizens to vote in local elections, including school board races. (Adobe Stock) <br />

NH veterans, service members say proposed voter ID law betrays their sacrifice

Veterans and service members in New Hampshire said legislation to create one of the nation's strictest voter ID laws would be a betrayal of their sacr…

New Hampshire lacks many of the fundamental gun safety laws enforced in other New England states, including extreme risk protection orders or requirements for concealed-carry permits or background checks on gun buyers. (Adobe Stock)

After NH Hospital shooting, bipartisan bill aims to prevent repeat tragedy

The New Hampshire Senate will vote this week on a bipartisan gun violence prevention bill prompted by last year's deadly shooting at New Hampshire Hos…

University of New Hampshire scientists are researching how the addition of plant-based essential oils called Agolin in cow feed can improve overall milk quality and production while decreasing a cow's emissions of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. (UNH)

NH scientists: Plant-based oils in cow feed cut climate-altering methane emissions

New research from the University of New Hampshire could help dairy farmers increase profits while reducing their effect on the climate. Scientists …

The New Hampshire Senate has voted to table a bill which would have rolled back some of the protections that outlaw discrimination against transgender people in public spaces but advanced two other bills which advocates say target LGBTQ+ students. (Adobe Stock)

NH businesses, educators: anti-LGBTQ bills hurting kids, economy

Some New Hampshire businesses and educators say legislation targeting LGBTQ+ students is harming both kids and the state's economy as it faces a criti…

A 2022 poll found just 41% of Americans said they feel safe at voting sites, while 23% of Gen Z voters said they are too nervous or afraid to vote. (Adobe Stock) <br /><br />

NH lags behind other states in restricting firearms at polling sites

Concerns about potential voter intimidation have spurred several states to consider banning firearms at polling sites but so far, New Hampshire is …

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 />

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 New Hampshire Space Grant and the University of New Hampshire have distributed 33,000 pairs of eclipse glasses to students, teachers, firefighters and police in anticipation of today's total solar eclipse. (Adobe Stock)

Northern NH offers prime viewing of 'life-changing' total solar eclipse

All of New England will experience some form of today's total solar eclipse but northern New Hampshire will offer prime viewing. The sky will darken …

The 460 megawatt Merrimack Station's particulate matter emissions allegedly exceeded EPA limits by 70% in February 2023. A successful smoke stack retest has not been completed since, according to the New Hampshire Department of Environment Services. (Adobe Stock)<br />

NH groups celebrate planned closure of New England’s last coal plant

Environmental activists in New Hampshire are celebrating the planned closure of New England's last coal-fired power plant. Granite Shore Power said …

As of 2020, roughly 29 million eligible voters did not have a non-expired driver's license and more than 7 million lacked any other form of non-expired, government-issued photo identification, according to the nonpartisan group VoteRiders. (Adobe Stock)

NH House passes strict voter ID bill allowing registration challenges

The New Hampshire House passed a bill to eliminate any exceptions to the state's voter ID law and requires documented proof of citizenship in order to…

An estimated 58,000 family caregivers bear some of the burden of Alzheimer's disease in New Hampshire, providing roughly 84 million hours of unpaid care, according to the Alzheimer's Association of New Hampshire. (Adobe Stock)<br />

NH healthcare worker shortage leaves Alzheimer’s patients few options

A health care workforce shortage in New Hampshire is leaving Alzheimer's patients and their families with few options for treatment. Patients facing …

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 …

The USDA's Agricultural Census helps track New Hampshire's iconic maple and honey farms. An average of 160,000 gallons of maple syrup is produced each year in the Granite State while area beekeepers raise bees for honey and to provide important crop-pollination services for other farmers. (Adobe Stock)

Ag census reveals major boost in New England farm-production value

New agricultural census data show a significant increase in production value for New England farms over the past five years. There are nearly 31,000 …

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…

A University of New Hampshire study showed annual rainfall, which has increased more than eight inches since 1901, is expected to increase another 7% to 9% by the middle of the century. Scientists say most of this increase will arrive in heavy precipitation events, increasing the risk of flooding and significantly affecting agriculture. (Adobe Stock)

Farm relief funds in NH would counter climate change-related crop damage

Two proposed relief funds for New Hampshire farmers aim to recover losses from climate change-related weather events. Years of droughts were …

At least 20 states have approved a version of a complete ban on transgender athletes playing on K-12 and collegiate sports teams. (Adobe Stock)

NH House reaffirms support for transgender 'bathroom bill'

New Hampshire lawmakers have voted to advance a so-called "bathroom bill," which opponents said will allow anti-LGBTQ discrimination. House Bill 396 …

Studies find traditional school voucher programs incentivize private schools to raise tuition, using the new taxpayer dollars as a public subsidy. (Adobe Stock)

Despite lack of data, NH lawmakers push expanded private-school vouchers

New Hampshire's program to subsidize private education with public tax dollars is rapidly expanding, but opponents believe a lack of data on student …

Around 30% of election workers nationwide say they have personally been abused, harassed or threatened because of their job as a local election official, according to a survey from the Brennan Center for Justice. (Adobe Stock)

Ahead of NH primary, bill aims to protect election workers from harassment

Lawmakers in New Hampshire are considering legislation to better protect election workers from harassment and intimidation. The Justice Department …

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 …

Vaccination rates among U.S. kindergartners for routine childhood shots have not returned to pre-pandemic levels with just 93% of students meeting vaccination requirements, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)

Vaccine rates drop as health misinformation spreads via social media

Public health experts say the rapid spread of health misinformation online is contributing to a dangerous decline in vaccination rates. Surveys show …

Secession is not just an idea for the states. Rural counties in blue states, including California, Colorado, Oregon, Washington and Illinois, have taken steps to redraw state lines. (Adobe Stock)

Secession bill returns to NH legislature with focus on national debt

New Hampshire lawmakers will consider a proposal aimed at peacefully breaking away from the United States. A similar measure failed in 2022…

Studies show that structural barriers, such as registration restrictions and limitations to ballot access, keep less healthy people away from the polls. As it becomes more difficult for sick people to vote, the electorate becomes more distorted to favor healthier voters. (Adobe Stock)

NH health care system impacted by barriers to voting

Voting is not only good for democracy - it's also good for your health, according to one of the nation's largest medical associations. The American …

Southern New Hampshire University provided students with emergency grants during the pandemic ranging from $300-$2,000 to cover various basic needs, including health care, mental health services, housing, food and child care. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

Pandemic-era aid helped cover students’ basic needs, kept them enrolled

College students receiving extra aid to help pay for food, housing or transportation are more likely to stay in school, according to new research…

More than 2.5 billion users log into Google Play's online store on Android each month. The company also commands 90% of the search engine market. (Adobe Stock)<br /><br /><br />

States’ attorneys general settle antitrust lawsuit with Google

Android phone users in New Hampshire could receive some of a $700 million antitrust lawsuit settlement with Google. States' attorneys general …

Supporters of New Hampshire's possible enrollment in the Electronic Registration Information Center said it will reduce the workload for poll workers, who already face additional tasks in 2024 due to President Joe Biden's primary ballot write-in campaign. (Adobe Stock)

NH voters support joining national voter-roll maintenance program

A new poll found significant bipartisan support among New Hampshire voters for the state to be part of the national voter roll maintenance program kno…

Since the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel, more than 16,000 Palestinians have been killed, with more than 40% of them children. Nearly 2 million people have been displaced from their homes, according to the American Friends Service Committee. (Adobe Stock)

NH activists pressure congressional delegation on Gaza ceasefire

Community members will hold a silent vigil outside the Dover office of Rep. Chris Pappas, D-N.H., today in recognition of the people killed in the …

Gun safety advocates in New Hampshire are taking unique approaches to reducing the number of guns in their communities, including a Guns to Garden program, which recently accepted more than two dozen unwanted weapons, including an AR-15, and transformed them into tools and jewelry. (Adobe Stock)

NH gun-safety advocates advise services, bipartisan laws after deadly shootings

Gun-safety advocates in New Hampshire are urging Gov. Chris Sununu to back policies proven to reduce gun violence following a series of deadly …

There have been more than 400 overdose deaths each year in New Hampshire for the past eight years, leading many grandparents to take on the role of full-time caregiver to their grandchildren. The majority of the deaths involved fentanyl. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Opioid crisis prompts NH grandparents to 'step up' for their families

As the opioid crisis continues, more New Hampshire grandparents are seeking financial help to raise their grandchildren. Already struggling with the …

Across the 44 states that funded a preschool program in 2021-2022, only 32% of 4-year-olds and 6% of 3-year-olds were enrolled, which is still 8% below a pre-pandemic enrollment high, according to the National Institute for Early Education Research. (Adobe Stock)

Lack of state-funded preschool leaves NH children lagging behind peers

Education experts say children in New Hampshire are at risk of falling behind their peers in other states with well-funded preschool programs…

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