New Hampshire News & Current Events| Public News Service

Portsmouth became New Hampshire's first city to regulate single-use plastics in 2020 after state lawmakers failed to pass legislation aimed at curbing its usage. City properties have eliminated plastic bags and and distribute plastic straws only on request. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

Environmental groups call for vinyl chloride ban

Environmental groups are calling for a ban on vinyl chloride, one of more than 16,000 toxic chemicals used to manufacture plastic. The Environmental …

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported New Hampshire is home to more than 3,000 U.S. Postal Service workers, who earn an average hourly wage of $27.08. (Adobe Stock)

NH rural towns face proposed postal delays in 2025

The Postmaster General has proposed reduced delivery days and other changes starting next year which could particularly affect rural New Hampshire…

New Hampshire's roughly 4,000 farms support more than 20,000 jobs and provide an economic value of $1.2 billion dollars through direct product sales, labor and agritourism, according to the University of New Hampshire. (Adobe Stock)

NH farmers brace for Trump tariffs as farm income declines

New Hampshire's farming community is bracing for potential fallout from President-elect Donald Trump's proposed tariffs. Agricultural goods were a …

The U.S. is home to more than 408,000 undocumented students enrolled in higher education. Less than 1,000 undocumented students graduate from New Hampshire high schools each year, according to the Higher Ed Immigration Portal. (Adobe Stock)

Mass deportations could spur economic losses on par with Great Recession

New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte says she will support President-elect Donald Trump's plan to deport the nation's 11 million undocumented immigrant…

In the 2024 election results, the New Hampshire Senate decreased from 50% to 42% women and the House decreased from 37% to 36% women. (Adobe Stock)

Voters send record number of women to state legislatures nationwide

A record number of women will serve in legislatures nationwide in 2025. More than 2,400 women will hold state legislative offices, representing more …

The internet remains the top destination for holiday shoppers in 2024, with 57% of consumers planning to make their purchases online, according to the National Retail Federation. The American Alliance for Manufacturing encouraged shoppers to buy products with the label,

More NH shoppers seek 'Made in America' holiday gifts

A majority of Americans say they'd like to buy American-made goods but it is not as easy as it sounds. A new poll from the Alliance for American …

Poultry consumption has skyrocketed over the last 60 years. Between 1961 and 2022, the average person went from eating 6.3 pounds of chicken every year to more than 37 pounds, an increase of almost 600%. (Adobe Stock)

Lack of animal welfare laws lead to misery on 'factory farms'

Advocates said a lack of animal welfare laws is leading to pain and suffering on American factory farms. Close to 99% of livestock is now raised in …

On the day after the Nov. 5th election, Planned Parenthood health centers nationwide reported a 1200% increase in scheduled vasectomy appointments and a 350% increase in birth control implant appointments. (Adobe Stock) <br />

New England clinics see post-election spike in contraceptive requests

Health clinics in New England and elsewhere are coping with a sharp uptick in requests for long-acting contraceptives in the wake of the election…

Americans can expect to pay $31.16 for a 15-pound turkey this Thanksgiving - an average of $2.08 per pound, according to Nasdaq. (Brent Hofacker/Adobe Stock)

Turkey prices down as NH Thanksgiving meal prep begins

Many Granite Staters are starting to plan for holiday meals - and when it comes to food prices, the news is mixed. According to consumer experts…

Experts say AI generated videos often go viral. In September, a video linked to online Russian trolls accused Vice President Kamala Harris of being involved in a hit-and-run accident and was viewed on social media millions of times. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Post-election 'deepfakes' continue to spread election disinformation

Experts on artificial intelligence are warning New Hampshire residents to be on the lookout for postelection "deepfakes," purporting to show voting ir…

New Hampshire families whose incomes fall under 350% of the federal poverty level - anything under $109,200 for a family of four - are eligible for the private school voucher program. (Adobe Stock)

Future of public education on the line in NH governor’s race

In the race for New Hampshire governor, the future of public education is on the line. Democrat and former Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig opposes …

High prices and a high turnover rate of child care providers are not only affecting families but the state's economy. Census data show more than 15,000 people are not employed because they're caring for a child at home. (Adobe Stock) <br />

Child care, early education top NH voters' concerns

Advocates for children in New Hampshire said the state needs elected officials who will put kids' futures first. With biennial budget negotiations …

More than 20 standalone Medicare Part D prescription drug plans are available in all New Hampshire counties for the state's more than 300,000 Medicare recipients. (Adobe Stock)

Medicare open enrollment in NH runs through Dec. 7

Medicare open enrollment is underway and New Hampshire seniors are encouraged to weigh the various plans. Advisors said it is important to consider …

Republican lawmakers in New Hampshire regularly introduce legislation to restrict access to abortion services, including previous bills to enact 15-week and 15-day abortion bans. (Adobe Stock) <br />

Reproductive freedom on ballot in NH governor’s race

In the race for New Hampshire governor, the candidates' positions on reproductive rights could be a deciding factor. Pollsters have said it is a …

Eligible voters from both political parties would have difficulty obtaining proof of citizenship, according to a survey by the Brennan Center for Justice. Some 20 million eligible U.S. voters said they cannot quickly access a passport, birth certificate or naturalization papers. (Adobe Stock)

Voting rights groups sue to block NH proof-of-citizenship law

Voting-rights groups in New Hampshire have filed a federal lawsuit challenging the state's new election law, which requires proof of citizenship for …

New Hampshire has the 23rd highest average loan balance among all states and it is $747 lower than the national average of $38,883, according to Experian Data. (Adobe Stock)

NH student loan debt grows along with costs of graduate degree

The cost of a graduate degree in the U.S. tripled between 2000 and 2020, according to a new report. People with master's degrees, law, medical or …

A 2021 Atlantic herring stock assessment estimated the population at 39,000 metric tons, or roughly 20% of its biomass target, compared with the late 1960s, when the stock was estimated at more than one million metric tons, according to the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. (Adobe Stock)

Northeast anglers: Forage-fish depletion is no red herring

Anglers along the Atlantic coast want stricter regulations to help improve stocks of Atlantic herring, a forage fish vital to a healthy ocean …

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)

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 Solutions Journalism …

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 …

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