Special NH Gives Newsletter

Dear Community Members,

The Granite State News Collaborative is dedicated to creating a well-informed and empowered New Hampshire. We face a challenging media landscape, and to overcome this, over 20 respected local news, educational, and community organizations have joined forces.

Our mission is to ensure that reliable news reaches every corner of New Hampshire. Through our collaborative approach, we are filling gaps left by shrinking newsrooms, providing comprehensive coverage on critical issues such as local policy, health, education, equity, and climate change.

Your generous support makes this possible. By donating to the Granite State News Collaborative, you help us expand our impact and continue serving our communities with in-depth, reliable news.

Below, you can see what we’ve been able to accomplish this year already because of generous support from community members like you.

Together, we are making a tangible difference. Join us in continuing to ensure that our communities stay informed and empowered. Your contribution matters.

With gratitude,

The Granite State News Collaborative

Donate to NH Gives Today!

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New GSNC Stories

Portrait of a graduate

N.H. schools go beyond academics to prepare students for the future: Earlier this year at Franklin High School, a group of cheerleaders got together to present their physics project using cheerleading and stunting to demonstrate principles of the science. Read the article to learn more about Franklin High School’s adoption of “portrait of a graduate”.

Vocal opponents

Public comments on minimum ed standards revision are overwhelmingly in opposition: The N.H. Department of Education’s proposed update of minimum standards for public education is drawing significant backlash from the public, at least according to the overwhelming response against them contained in over 200 written comments sent to the department. Read the article to learn more about the minimum standards update.

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Environmental Justice Series

A period of transition

Debate over Nashua asphalt plant is a ‘classic case’ of environmental justice: Last June, neighbors in Nashua celebrated an environmental victory: City officials had rejected a proposal to build a hot-mix asphalt plant in the city’s North End, a neighborhood that historically had been a mix of industrial and residential. Read the article to learn how the “transitioning nature of the neighborhood” toward residential was cause for rejection by the Nashua Planning Board.

Healing through housing

Housing is one way to improve health, and life in general: New Hampshire’s housing crisis is about a lot more than having a roof over your head. It also involves economic growth, job creation and tax revenue. And now, a new awareness is developing: the profound impact of housing on well-being and health care. Read the article to learn more about the impact housing can have on a person’s well-being.

Transportation transformation

Breaking barriers: New state plan aims to improve public transit and cut emissions: It’s no secret that rural America is lacking in public transportation systems, which inhibits many people trying to build a successful life. Public transportation can also aid in improving the climate crisis due to emissions. Learn about the N.H. Department of Environmental Services' new Priority Climate Action Plan.

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Partner Podcasts

Banning food waste

From landfills to sustainability: How New Hampshire’s food waste ban can reduce methane: On this episode of “The State We’re In,” Michael McCord, a freelance reporter for Granite State News Collaborative who recently has written about the topic,  Paige Wilson, waste reduction and diversion planner for the N.H. Department of Environmental Services, and Reagan Bissonnette, executive director of Northeast Resource Recovery Association, discuss how New Hampshire own version of a food waste ban will work and how it might benefit the average resident.

Gun-buying privacy?

Should NH ban a credit card category for firearms purchases?: As more of our world moves online, more policy debates center on how businesses collect and use our personal data. The debate over gun laws is no exception. This year the New Hampshire Legislature passed a bill blocking credit card companies from implementing a code for firearms purchases.

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Caitlin Agnew, Assistant Editor

My name is Caitlin Agnew, and as a freelance Assistant Editor at GSNC my mission is clear: to foster enhanced communication between us. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns my email is always open caitlin.agnew@collaborativenh.org

Thank you for being part of the Granite State News Collaborative family.

June '24 Newsletter

Created by Caitlin Agnew.

We hope this newsletter is not just a one-way street - your feedback is invaluable to us. We want to hear your thoughts on our stories and projects as well as other topics that pique your interest.

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Wheels to Work in idle

Wheels to Work program remains in limbo in New Hampshire: Since 2017, initiative that provides used cars to low-income families has failed to win state support for funding: On Feb. 1, early in the 2024 legislative session, the N.H. House of Representatives rejected House Bill 1520 by a slim 193-184 vote. The bill was aimed at reviving the state’s long-dormant Wheels to Work initiative.

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Partner Podcasts

Legislature 2025

Gone but not forgotten: these bills will probably come back in 2025: Summer vacation isn’t just for kids and teachers; the New Hampshire Legislature is also nearing its summer break. Most of the legislative action is over until the fall, when lawmakers will begin proposing a new round of bills. That makes now a good time to look back on some proposals that had a lot of buzz this year but didn’t make it to the finish line (Gov. Sununu’s desk). If the past is any sign of the future, this article won’t just be a retrospective, but a preview of coming attractions.

Juneteenth in N.H.

NH community leaders share perspectives and hopes around Juneteenth: On this episode of “The State We’re In,” Melanie Plenda talks with JerriAnne Boggis, executive director of the , Black Heritage Trail New Hampshire; Dwight Davis, owner of Senior Helpers of Southern NH and past president of Black Heritage Trail NH and a former college and NBA basketball star; and James McKim, NAACP Manchester branch president and managing partner at Organizational Ignition LLC, to learn what Juneteenth, the newly recognized federal holiday and day of observance in New Hampshire, is all about.

Homlessness: a mounting crisis

Addressing the heightened urgency of New Hampshire’s homelessness crisis: The median cost for a two-bedroom apartment in New Hampshire is about $1,584. To afford it, someone would have to earn about $31 an hour. With the minimum wage at  $7.25 an hour, someone working 168 hours a week — every hour of every day — could not afford the rent. To kick off an occasional series on homelessness, Melanie Plenda talks with Jennifer Chisholm, executive director of the New Hampshire Coalition to End Homelessness, about the problems and solutions related to homelessness in New Hampshire.

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Caitlin Agnew, Assistant Editor

My name is Caitlin Agnew, and as a freelance Assistant Editor at GSNC my mission is clear: to foster enhanced communication between us. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns my email is always open caitlin.agnew@collaborativenh.org

Thank you for being part of the Granite State News Collaborative family.

May '24 Newsletter

Graphic by Caitlin Agnew.

We hope this newsletter is not just a one-way street - your feedback is invaluable to us. We want to hear your thoughts on our stories and projects as well as other topics that pique your interest.

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New installments in our competency-based learning series

Minimum standard revisions and the Constitution

Lawyers and lawmakers assert the Department of Education is on the verge of violating the law: New Hampshire’s state funding of public schools is the lowest in the nation, despite the state Constitution requiring the state government to finance an adequate education for every child. Now, the N.H. Department of Education is updating its minimum standards for public schools, a process that occurs once every decade, and lawyers and educators assert that the department’s revised minimum standards will reduce funding even further. The revisions, they say, water down the requirements for an adequate education and shift even more responsibility onto local taxpayers to fund public schools.

Ed commissioner grilled by skeptics

For the first time, education commissioner speaks publicly about minimum standards revision, but he faces skepticism: MANCHESTER—After an hour-long public conversation with the commissioner of the N.H.  Department of Education, school board members in Manchester – the state’s largest school district–  remained frustrated by a lack of clear answers and unconvinced that proposed revisions to the state’s minimum standards for public schools, known as the 306s, will improve education in the Granite state.

Food waste in New Hampshire

The impact: What the science says

A landmark 2023 EPA study laid out over three decades of research about the impact of food waste and its connection to methane emissions. The study is unique in part because, as the EPA acknowledges in its summary, “there is no other peer-reviewed national reference point for the amount of methane emissions attributable to food waste” in American municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills.

Taking on NH’s mounting food waste puzzle

Solving the food waste problem in New Hampshire one step at a time: On Feb. 1, 2025 the first food waste ban that was passed last summer will go into effect in New Hampshire. It is focused on entities that generate as much as one ton of food waste a week. That food waste will be prohibited from being sent to landfills. It’s also a solution that needs a major expansion of infrastructure.

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Partner Podcasts

Strengthening local journalism

How Civic Documenters empower communities and strengthen local news coverage: Justin Silverman of the New England First Amendment Coalition, Melanie Plenda of the Granite State News Collaborative and Laura Simoes of the Nackey S. Loeb School of Communications are partners in the Civic Documenters program, helping train community members to participate in reporting on local government.

China and land ownership in NH

Should NH ban Chinese companies from buying land in the state? Amidst rising concerns over Chinese espionage, American lawmakers are advocating for strict measures, including prohibiting Chinese companies from purchasing land near military installations and critical infrastructure. In New Hampshire, a bill has swiftly passed through Senate but state representatives have concerns.

Seawall Breakdown

Navigating Climate Challenges: State Takes Action to Protect Scenic Route 1A from Flooding: On this episode of The State We’re In, Melanie Plenda discusses Route 1A and the plans to improve the seawalls with Department of Transportation Commissioner Bill Cass, Assistant Director of Development Tobey Reynolds and the agency’s administrator of the Bureau of Environment, Kevin Nyhan.

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Caitlin Agnew, Assistant Editor

My name is Caitlin Agnew, and as a freelance Assistant Editor at GSNC my mission is clear: to foster enhanced communication between us. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns my email is always open caitlin.agnew@collaborativenh.org

Thank you for being part of the Granite State News Collaborative family.

April '24 Newsletter

Photo editing by Caitlin Agnew.

We hope this newsletter is not just a one-way street - your feedback is invaluable to us. We want to hear your thoughts on our stories and projects as well as other topics that pique your interest.

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New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute looks at poverty and food insecurity,  state revenues

State Revenues Slip Behind Expectations in March Ahead of Key April Tax Returns: State revenues collected during March fell short of the amount planned to fund the State Budget, reducing the current revenue surplus in two key funds and making the upcoming April tax returns more critical for understanding the trajectory of State tax collections.

Poverty and food insecurity rebounding after expiration of federal aid: With nearly 100,000 New Hampshire residents living in poverty, or approximately 1 out of every 14 in the state, recent inflation and the end of federal assistance related to the COVID-19 pandemic are impacting the ability of many Granite Staters to afford basic necessities, including food. For individuals and families with very low incomes, poverty and food insecurity are interrelated challenges that threaten long-term well-being, particularly for children.

Poverty and Food Insecurity in New Hampshire During and Following the COVID-19 Crisis: Poverty and food insecurity are interrelated challenges for many individuals and families in New Hampshire. Research suggests a strong relationship between poverty and food insecurity, both of which rose following the Great Recession of 2007-2009 nationally and in New Hampshire. The COVID-19 pandemic also significantly increased the risk that more people would face poverty and food insecurity. However, the federal policy response to the COVID-19 pandemic has reduced poverty and food insecurity, nationwide and in the Granite State. Early data suggests the expiration of key policies in response to the pandemic has led to a rebound in both of these hardships

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New GSNC Stories

Low-emission vehicles in N.H.

New Hampshire lags behind other states in dealing with greenhouse gases from vehicles: Emissions from motor vehicles are the single largest source of greenhouse emissions in New Hampshire, according to the 2024 Priority Climate Action Plan. Learn more about NH’s history with low-emission vehicle standards.

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Skiing in heat

Dartmouth junior shines: Beatrice Burack's skiing series captivates New Hampshire: Beatrice Burack, a junior at Dartmouth College, wrote a five-part series about skiing in New Hampshire, from how it was once the capital of alpine skiing in North America to the present state of skiing in low-snow winters as well as a peek into what the future might bring. Learn more about skiing and climate change

Rights for the accused

Do NH colleges and universities need a due process law?: Many of the debates around campus sexual assault in New Hampshire have focused on protecting victims and punishing perpetrators, but state Rep. Bob Lynn (R-Windham) is concerned about the rights of the accused. Learn more about the New Hampshire House of Representatives debate on a bill that would require detailed due process rights for students, faculty, and student organizations accused of misconduct at public colleges and universities.

Pockets of growth

Success stories emerge as New Hampshire communities innovate housing crisis solutions: Judi Currie discusses New Hampshire's housing landscape with Nick Taylor, executive director of the Workforce Housing Coalition of the Greater Seacoast, Rob Taylor, land use and community development administrator for the town of Enfield, and Donna Benton, director of planning and community development in Dover.

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Caitlin Agnew, Assistant Editor

My name is Caitlin Agnew, and as a freelance Assistant Editor at GSNC my mission is clear: to foster enhanced communication between us. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns my email is always open caitlin.agnew@collaborativenh.org

Thank you for being part of the Granite State News Collaborative family.

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March '24 Newsletter

Graphic created by Caitlin Agnew. Utilization of Adobe Stock.

We hope this newsletter is not just a one-way street - your feedback is invaluable to us. We want to hear your thoughts on our stories and projects as well as other topics that pique your interest.

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Additions to Competency Based Learning Series

'No Grades’ Failure

New Hampshire schools experimented with a radical approach to competency-based education. The failure of the pilot mirrors current concerns over revisions in state minimum standards.: The ‘No Grades No Grades’ pilot ended grade levels and letter grade scores in select schools, but none of the schools have continued that approach due to a lack of leadership, professional development, and funding. 

Mixed-Age Learning Barriers

Mixed-age learning is a tenent of competency-based education: Parent perceptions, hesitant teachers, and scheduling challenges are all barriers to mixed-age learning, according to educators who have tried it. 

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Recent GSNC Stories

NH Alerts Unveiled

State launches NH Alerts, a new, ‘more efficient’ emergency notification system: The state of New Hampshire recently unveiled NH Alerts, a new emergency notification designed to warn people about emergencies — among them, tornadoes, floods, power outages and gas leaks. Learn more about this new service by clicking the button below!

Cultural Barriers and Mental Health

Language barrier, lack of providers limit access to mental health services in the Hispanic community: According to a 2021 report from the Centers for Disease Control, over 40% of Latino adults reported psychological stress, with almost 23% reporting suicidal thoughts. Learn about how language or cultural barriers can amplify everyday stress by clicking the button below.

Asphalt Plant Dispute

Company whose proposed asphalt plant was rejected by Nashua fights on in court: A Nashua company whose proposal to build an asphalt plant in one of the city’s oldest industrial districts was rejected last year by the Planning Board is persisting in its battle in Hillsborough County Superior Court.

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Partner Podcasts

Penalties for Overserving

Should restaurants, bars face stiffer penalties for overserving alcohol?: If a customer drives drunk and hurts someone, the business that served them may face a fine and a suspended alcohol license. To some victim advocates, however, these penalties do not go far enough. This year a New Hampshire family is working with legislators to raise the stakes for bars and restaurants overserving alcohol.

Creating coverage

How Melanie Plenda and Carol Robidoux came together to bring news to Nashua: On this episode of Granite Beat, hosts Julie Hart and Adam Drapcho talk with Melanie Plenda, executive director of the Granite State News Collaborative, and Carol Robidoux, founder and editor of Manchester Ink Link and Nashua Ink Link, New Hampshire's newest outlet, created with the help of the collaborative.

Poverty & Food Insecurity

Empowering the next generation: Inside the journey of New Hampshire's youngest lawmakers: What's it like to be two of the youngest politicians at the State House? Twenty-year-old Democrat Jonah Wheeler of Peterborough and 19-year-old Republican Valerie McDonnell of Salem are the youngest state representatives in the N.H. House. Learn about their journey and experiences by clicking the button below!

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Caitlin Agnew, Assistant Editor

My name is Caitlin Agnew, and as a freelance Assistant Editor at GSNC my mission is clear: to foster enhanced communication between us. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns my email is always open caitlin.agnew@collaborativenh.org

Thank you for being part of the Granite State News Collaborative family.

February ‘24 Newsletter

Credit: Caitlin Agnew

Welcome to Granite State News Collaborative’s February newsletter. Our goal is to highlight current work within the Collaborative and foster communication between us. Below you can find a recent article about the New Hampshire presidential primary, the latest installment in our Competency-Based Learning Series and stories about the Collaborative’s newest collaboration.

We hope this is not just a one-way street - your feedback is invaluable to us. We want to hear your thoughts on our stories and projects as well as other topics that pique your interest.

THE STATE WE’RE IN: CHALLENGES FACED, LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE 2024 NH PRIMARY

The first-in-the-nation New Hampshire presidential primary can always be challenging under normal circumstances. But this year, there were many firsts for election workers during the run-up to voting at the polls. On a recent episode of The State We’re In, New Hampshire Secretary of State David Scanlan discussed what it's like to navigate and overcome challenges as well as what lessons we might have learned from them during this year's primary.

INTRODUCING OUR NEWEST COLLABORATION WITH NASHUA INK LINK

Granite State News Collaborative has a new partnership with Nashua Ink Link. Make sure to check out their website to keep up to date on on Nashua news and get to  know reporter and Rivier University graduate Mya Blanchard.

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COMPETENCY-BASED LEARNING SERIES: EDUCATION DEPARTMENT PRODUCES AN UNEXPECTED DOCUMENT

After spending $75,000 to hire expert consultants to draft a revision to the state’s minimum standards for public schools, the Department of Education decided to move forward with its own set of revisions. That document, introduced during a recent meeting of the State Board of Education, looks unfamiliar to the contractors who have been working for more than three years on updating the state’s standards as well as education advocates who have been following the process closely.

January ‘24 Newsletter

Created by Caitlin Agnew

Welcome to the Granite State News Collaborative’s January newsletter! Our goal is to highlight current work produced by the Collaborative and its partners and foster communication between us. Below you can find new stories in our Competency- Based Learning series, the newest The State We’re In episode, and a three-part series, “Opioids in New Hampshire” by Anthony Payton.

We hope this is not just a one-way street - your feedback is invaluable to us. We want to hear your thoughts on our stories and projects as well as other topics that pique your interest.

EDUCATORS: DISTRUST AND LACK OF TRANSPARENCY CLOUD DISCUSSIONS ABOUT BENEFITS OF COMPETENCY-BASED LEARNING

New Hampshire is nearing the end of a more than three-year effort to revamp the state’s core educational standards. When approved early next year, these new rules will steer the course of public education for at least the next decade. In this continuing series of stories, the Granite State New Collaborative will explore what those changes are, how they came about and what they mean for the future of public education in the Granite State. Also, check out the Granite Beat podcast where Kelly Burch and Philip Kincade talk more about their journey in this series.

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ELECTION INFORMATION!

With the presidential primary over, the Granite State News Collaborative is still working to provide as much information about the election process before the next state primaries and, eventually, the general election in November. In collaboration with New Hampshire Public Radio and New Hampshire Public Broadcasting, the series, What to Expect When You’re Electing, or Ya Es Tiempo, will cover a range of topics, including the electoral timeline, the role of primaries  and the broader electoral framework. The goal is to equip voters with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions and actively participate in the democratic process.

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OPIOIDS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

For the last decade, New Hampshire has found itself in the middle of an opioid crisis, one that can often seem never-ending. While there has been much press coverage, both in the state and nationally, about New Hampshire’s plight, this series aims to look at it differently, from the perspective of individuals most affected by it — users, their families, and frontline healthcare workers, all of whom live the crisis every day.

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Caitlin Agnew, Assistant Editor

My name is Caitlin Agnew, and as a freelance assistant editor at GSNC, my mission is clear: to foster enhanced communication between us. If you have any questions, comments or concerns, my email is always open: caitlin.agnew@collaborativenh.org

Thank you for being part of the Granite State News Collaborative family.

November ‘23 Newsletter

Credit, Caitlin Agnew for Granite State News Collaborative

Before you dive into today’s newsletter, we want to let you know that it’s an exciting time  here at The Granite State News Collaborative! We’re in the midst of our NewsMatch campaign — one of our biggest fundraisers of the year. Our reporters work tirelessly to produce journalism that you can count on, all year long. This is essential work, and it wouldn’t be possible without the support of folks like you. 

Now — through December 31 —NewsMatch will match your new monthly donation 12 times or double your one-time gift, all up to $1,000. 

Stronger and well informed communities begin with you.

 If you believe in the work we’re doing, please give today.

NASHUA MIDDLE SCHOOL PROJECT ‘ON TIME AND UNDER BUDGET’

The $130 million project to remodel two of Nashua’s middle schools and build a new one is nearing completion, learn about each project in Justin Campfield’s article.

NAVIGATING THE GUN CONTROL DEBATE: THE IMPACT OF RECENT MASS SHOOTINGS ON GUN LAWS

Just a few miles from our border in a state very similar to ours, a gunman walked into two businesses and killed 18 people. Learn from Anna Brown, director of research and analysis for Citizens Count, about what happened in Maine and what can be done, if anything, to prevent something similar from happening here.

EMPOWERING SENIORS: CHERYL STEINBERG, DIRECTOR OF THE JUSTICE IN AGING PROJECT, DISCUSSES FREE LEGAL SERVICES  FOR GRANITE STATERS AGE 60+

Shane Cooper talks with Cheryl Steinberg, director of the Justice in Aging Project for New Hampshire Legal Assistance. They discuss the project and the free legal services available to Granite Staters who are 60 years of age or older.

CANDIDATE FORUM

The Granite State News Collaborative partners will hold a series of forums with presidential primary candidates to explore in-depth the issues that impact New Hampshire voters. Each forum will be co-hosted by a rotating pair of journalists from newsrooms across New Hampshire.

Caitlin Agnew, Assistant Editor

My name is Caitlin Agnew, and as a freelance Assistant Editor at GSNC my mission is clear: to foster enhanced communication between us. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns my email is always open caitlin.agnew@collaborativenh.org

Thank you for being part of the Granite State News Collaborative family.

October ‘23 Newsletter

Maddie Geier, Granite State News Collaborative

Caitlin Agnew. Assistant Editor.

I am delighted to welcome you to the Granite State News Collaborative's newsletter. My name is Caitlin Agnew, and as a freelance Assistant Editor at GSNC my mission is clear: to foster enhanced communication between us.

Here, you'll find the latest news about our ongoing activities, stories and projects. But we hope this is not just a one-way street - your feedback is invaluable to us. We want to hear your thoughts on our stories and projects as well as other topics that pique your interest.

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Newly created initiative seeks to confront New Hampshire’s digital divide

Researchers at University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension are developing a five-year plan aimed at closing the state's digital divide by increasing statewide access to internet, digital literacy education, digital devices and training, among other goals.

What’s Behind Competency-Based Learning?

This three-part series looks at the ongoing debate over the benefits of expected changes to state learning standards that will steer the course of public education in New Hampshire for at least the next decade.

The Future of Money: How is Crypto Currency Changing the Economy

On this episode of “Get Tech Smart,” Flo Nicolas talks with Joshua Cyr, Interim Director at the University of New Hampshire’s Peter T. Paul Entrepreneurship Center, about Blockchain technology, cryptocurrency, digital wallets and more.

Granite Justice Podcast: Navigating the Fair Housing Act

Shane Cooper talks with Chris Schott, director of the Fair Housing Project at New Hampshire Legal Assistance, to discuss the Fair Housing Act, what the various categories of discrimination are under the law and how to utilize it.

UNH Speaker Series Digs Deeply Into ‘Difficult’ Topics

University of New Hampshire graduate students Shantel Palacio and Nathan Harris expected that their fellow students would be eager to discuss societal issues impacting education, even those that are controversial or sensitive. But that's not what they encountered.

A Critical Dialogue Series Returns!

The latest installment of “Beyond the Border: A Critical Dialogue Series" is taking place at 6:00 p.m. Monday, October 23 at the University of New Hampshire. The topic, “Dark Matter, Justice Reform and Redemption,” will feature Marlon Peterson, author of “Bird Uncaged: An Abolitionist Freedom Song.”

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Remember, your feedback fuels our commitment to delivering meaningful content that resonates with our incredible community. Feel free to drop us a line at caitlin.agnew@collaborativenh.org - we're all ears!

Thank you for being part of the Granite State News Collaborative family.

September ‘23 Newsletter

Credit, Maddie Geier for Granite State News Collaborative

Caitlin Agnew. Assistant Editor.

I am delighted to welcome you to the Granite State News Collaborative's newsletter. My name is Caitlin Agnew, and as a freelance Assistant Editor at GSNC, my mission is clear: to foster enhanced communication between us.

Here, you'll find an array of insights into our ongoing activities, thought-provoking stories, and exciting projects. But it's not just a one-way street – your feedback is invaluable to us. We want to hear your thoughts on the stories we bring to life, the projects we're diligently working on, and the topics that pique your curiosity.

Throughout this newsletter, you'll discover handy links that lead to deeper dives into our stories and projects. Plus, we've provided spaces for you to voice your ideas and opinions on specific subjects or initiatives we're passionate about.

Your input matters greatly to us, and we encourage you to reach out. Feel free to drop us a line at the email address below – we're all ears! Your feedback fuels our commitment to delivering meaningful content that resonates with our incredible community.

Email us at: caitlin.agnew@collaborativenh.org

Thank you for being part of the Granite State News Collaborative family. Your engagement enriches the conversation, and together, we can build stronger, more connected communities.

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GOT SEAWEED? - Along the shores at Odiorne State Park, sparkling tide pools and gray boulders provide the perfect environment for Gabby Bradt, a marine biologist and fisheries specialist at the New Hampshire Sea Grant, to forage for  yellow-green tendrils of Rockweed, a seaweed also known as Bladderwrack. Bradt is working to expand the public’s understanding of the roles seaweed can play in our lives, as seafood production declines due to climate change.

NEW HAMPSHIRE FOOD BANK FIGHTS NEW OBSTACLES TO FOOD SECURITY - For food insecure state residents, the New Hampshire Food Bank is more than “worth it” — it is a lifeline. But lately, food has not been flowing so freely for this nonprofit organization. A perfect storm of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing war in Ukraine have fueled food price hikes that have impacted the organization. But a still larger threat looms on the horizon for those laboring to bring nutrition to the food insecure: climate change.

The State We’re In - Melanie Plenda talks with University of New Hampshire grad students, Shantel Palacio, and Nathan Harris, founders of Beyond the Border, a critical dialogue series, and James Rinker, Digital Community Engagement Journalist for The Keene Sentinel, and part of the current cohort of the solutions journalism networks Complicating the Narrative Fellowship, to find out what it takes to have a respectful conversation on a sensitive topic without resorting to shouting and personal attacks.

Granite Justice Podcast - Far too often, people don’t know that when they are facing a problem – like a landlord who won’t give back a security deposit, or a denial of a program like food stamps – that they have legal rights, and there are ways to advocate for those rights in the civil legal system. Granite Justice: conversations about the civil legal system with Shane Cooper, an Associate Dean at UNH Franklin Pierce, aims to provide a road map of sorts. By the end of an episode, we hope more people will recognize and understand that if they are facing a civil legal problem, you can ask yourself ”Do I have any rights here?” and “What do I do now?” This podcast will help you navigate some of those questions.

The State We’re In - Even with the advancement of science, space has always been a fascination for many humans and this fall and spring residents of New Hampshire will get an opportunity to experience two solar eclipses. On this episode of The State We’re In, Associate Professors from University of New Hampshire , Amy Keesee and John S. Gianforte, also the director of the UNH Observatory, and Lori Harnois, Director of Division of Travel and Tourism Development discuss two important events coming up: a partial solar eclipse in October and a total solar eclipse in April.