A Black Lives Matter protest more accessible to those in the disabled community is being organized for next Friday in Portsmouth.
The evening of March 6th was a full house at the UNH Franklin Pierce School of Law’s Warren B. Rudman Center for Justice, Leadership & Public Service in Concord, NH, where more than 50 people gathered for a Community Conversation on the Culture of Policing, and 36 others joined online. After a moment of reconnecting and conversations in the lobby, the enthusiastic crowd settled into the auditorium.
Bank problems have dominated newscasts in recent weeks. Headlines about banks being closed, bailouts, and stock price swings can create a lot of anxiety for the average person. Should we be concerned?
On this week’s episode of The State We’re In, host Melanie Plenda talks to Tom Sedoric, Executive Managing Director of the Sedoric Group, and journalist Michael Kitch, a regular New Hampshire Business Review contributor, about the what's really going on in the banking industry and whether or not we should be worried.
It’s no secret that New Hampshire is in a mental health crisis. The National Alliance of Mental Illness in New Hampshire (NAMI) reported that 221,000 adults in New Hampshire have a mental health condition. That’s more than five times the population of Concord. But there aren’t enough providers to address those conditions, or beds available for those experiencing a crisis.
In this week’s episode of The State We’re In we discuss the current mental health crisis facing New Hampshire, why these issues are so important to New Hampshire residents, and what solutions and resources are available for Granite Staters. We also look at a year-long mental health awareness series done in partnership with the Seacoast Media Group and The Union Leader. Joining us is Seacoast Executive Editor Howard Altschiller, Union Leader President Brendan McQuaid, NAMI New Hampshire Executive Director Susan Stearns, and the “guiding spirit” of the series, Senior Director of External Affairs Dartmouth-Hitchcock Health and former Chief Justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court John Broderick.
Lawmakers are considering a bill, HB 514, which would remove exemptions to state obscenity laws from K-12 staff and teachers – a move that would potentially lead school officials to remove books proactively or face misdemeanor charges. Advocates say this puts more educational power in parents' hands, while opponents contend this amounts to a book ban that will silence minority perspectives.
In this episode of The State We’re In, we dig into the history, impact, and ramifications of a bill that would require each local school board to develop policy for responding to parental complaints of obscene material and remove some protections for K-12 school officials in state laws against obscenity. Joining us is bill sponsor, State Rep. Glen Cordelli from Carroll County District 7, and New Hampshire Bulletin Reporter Ethan DeWitt, who has been following the topic closely.
Town Meeting is a quintessentially New England form of government tracing back to colonial times. Residents would gather together to discuss, debate, and vote on the biggest issues in town — especially how to spend money. While Town Meeting has evolved with the times, it still functions in much the same way as it did in the colonial era.
On this week’s episode of The State We’re In we discuss the ins and outs of Town Meeting with Jack Rooney, the Managing Editor for Audience Development at The Keene Sentinel, and Margaret Byrnes, Executive Director of the New Hampshire Municipal Association.
Whether or not to renew recent efforts to expand Medicaid insurance coverage for Granite Staters is back before the state legislature. At one point this was a tough sell in the legislature. Fiscal conservatives were concerned it would create increased dependence on the government, while advocates said it improves insurance coverage, health outcomes, and saves lives. Lawmakers have voted twice to continue the program which was vital during the pandemic, and must decide whether to do so again this year. If they don't, benefits are set to end for tens of thousands of people according to officials.
On this week’s episode of The State We’re In, Paul Cuno-Booth, who covers Health for New Hampshire Public Radio, insurance expert and president of Market Health Connect Keith Ballingall, and Amber Macquarie, one of the thousands of Granite Staters affected by the expansion will discuss what Granite Staters can expect.
COVID-19, itself, was bad enough. But this season we’re also dealing with a tough flu variant and RSV. What should you know? And what can you do to keep yourself and your family safe? Host Melanie Plenda speaks with Dr. Aalok Khole, an infectious disease specialist at Cheshire Medical Center in Keene.
Milford citizens recently discussed a topic that has come up in several communities across New Hampshire and the country. It concerns policies for transgender students using school facilities like bathrooms and locker rooms. Host Melanie Plenda speaks with 603 Equality activist Linds Jakows and chair of the Milford school board member Judi Zaino about a recent Milford School Board meeting that turned into a rally in support of transgender students and a discussion of the district's policies concerning those students.
What are the differences between the candidates for governor or US Senator? Where do candidates stand on the issues that matter to you? The midterm election is next week, and there's a lot of information to sift through. The State We’re In host Melanie Plenda and a panel of journalists and state political experts talk about some of the major candidates and races on the ballot.
The stakes are high in this year's midterm election, taking place November 8th. It will determine who represents New Hampshire in a variety of offices, from Congress to the State House. What should residents know about voting in the upcoming election? Melanie Plenda, host of NH PBS’s The State We’re In, speaks with New Hampshire Secretary of State David Scanlan and Director of the N.H. Alliance for Immigrants and Refugees and voting advocate Eva Castillo about voting in the midterm election.
Keene resident Steven Geller was just looking for an interesting way to connect with people in his community.
The 75-year-old retiree said he has made a habit in recent years of signing up for one-time gigs that are likely to put him in new situations with a variety of people. He’s volunteered, for instance, to deliver Valentine’s Day flowers and Christmas poinsettias. And now, for the first time, he’s signed up to help run a city election.
New Hampshire has a growing tech industry, but it tends to fly a little under the radar.
It provides jobs, tax revenue, and a host of other benefits. But what does it mean for the state? And how can you be a part of it?
The State We’re in host, Melanie Plenda speaks with Flo Nicolas, the founder and CEO of CheapCheep and the host of the local TV show "Get Tech Smart."
Welcome to our 100th episode! The State We’re In host Melanie Plenda is joined by Anna Brown, the director of Research and Analysis for Citizens Count and host of the podcast "$100 Plus Mileage," and Rick Green, statehouse reporter for the Keene Sentinel, to talk about the end of the legislative session.
The State We’re In host Melanie Plenda is joined by Gina Bowker, program coordinator at the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire; Najee Brown, a producer, director, and playwright, as well as founder and artistic director of Theater for the People; and artist, storyteller and culture keeper Richard Haynes, to discuss Juneteenth and celebrations across the state.
The State We’re In host Melanie Plenda, director of Research and Analysis for Citizens Count and host of the podcast "$100 Plus Mileage” Anna Brown, Assistant Professor at Plymouth State University Dr. John Lappie, Republican state Rep. Ross Berry representing south Manchester and Litchfield, and Democrat state Rep. Marjorie Smith representing Durham, discuss Congressional redistricting, what the competing proposals are and what it means for New Hampshire.
