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Portsmouth Activists Plan Accessible Black ...

A Black Lives Matter protest more accessible to those in the disabled community is being organized for next Friday in Portsmouth.

Portsmouth Activists Plan Accessible Black Lives Matter Protest
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How High School Students Can Jumpstart STEM Career

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How High School Students Can Jumpstart STEM Career

For this episode of Get Tech Smart, we’ll meet Laurel Skiff of BAE Systems, a defense contractor that is one of the top 10 largest companies and employers in New Hampshire. Laurel Skiff, the company’s community, pre- and early-career outreach program lead, will walk us through the four STEM programs BAE offers to high school students. These programs provide incredible and valuable hands-on opportunities in STEM through BAE’s intensive programs and internships, including:

  • STEM Talks Virtual Program

  • Engineering Career Day

  • Women In Technology

  • Focus

For Asylum Seekers, N.H. Host Homes Offer Shelter, Path to Independence, Chance to 'Breathe In Peace'

For Asylum Seekers, N.H. Host Homes Offer Shelter, Path to Independence, Chance to 'Breathe In Peace'

For those seeking asylum in the United States, the process can be long and fraught, involving multiple government agencies and, sometimes, detention while they await decisions on their applications. That does not sit well with Judith Reed, co-founder of Project Home. “Our conviction is that it isn't necessary or even right for people to be in detention when they're just asking for asylum. That doesn't make sense to us. So we thought, if they're not going to be in detention, then where will they be? Well, they'd be in our communities.”With this in mind, Reed and a group of like-minded residents in the Keene and Peterborough area set out to establish host homes for asylum seekers. They are currently involved in cases involving asylum seekers from Rwanda, Mexico, Honduras, and El Salvador. Project Home is part of the N.H. Host Home Network, a statewide network of volunteers who offer shelter and support, providing an alternative to detention

Guns and Suicide: Finding Common Ground

Guns and Suicide: Finding Common Ground

Bob “Buddy” Hackett, owner of Renaissance Firearms in Barrington, grew up hunting and fishing. He shot pistols and rifles competitively around the world. He served in the Marine Corps for a decade. Guns were always part of his life. Now in his mid-50s, Hackett holds a master’s degree in social work and counsels veterans struggling with suicidal thoughts. His two worlds – that of a mental health and a gun rights advocate – may seem incongruous. However, gun shops can play a pivotal role in suicide prevention, says Elaine Frank of the New Hampshire Firearm Safety Coalition (NHFSC) and former program director of the Injury Prevention Center at Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth.


The State We’re In - Milford School Board Weighs Bathroom Procedure and Trans Rights

The State We’re In - Milford School Board Weighs Bathroom Procedure and Trans Rights

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.

Looking Toward A Future of Electric Vehicles, New Hampshire Expands Changing Stations

Looking Toward A Future of Electric Vehicles, New Hampshire Expands Changing Stations

When Andrew Mumford, of Springfield, was shopping for a new vehicle in 2017 he wanted something that was environmentally friendly. He was interested in an electric vehicle, but he wasn’t confident that he would always have access to a charger, especially on longer trips around the region.

“I don’t remember, at the time, feeling confident in a vehicle that was fully electric,” Mumford said.

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Election Connection: Q&A w. Anna Brown, Steven Porter , Andrew Sylvia, Daniela Allee, and Rick Green

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Election Connection: Q&A w. Anna Brown, Steven Porter , Andrew Sylvia, Daniela Allee, and Rick Green

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.

Pappas vs. Leavitt race in NH for US House looks close. What could make the difference?

Pappas vs. Leavitt race in NH for US House looks close. What could make the difference?

Analysts don’t agree on what’s likely to happen when voters in New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District decide Nov. 8 who will represent them for the next two years.

Some say the latest polls show Democratic incumbent Rep. Chris Pappas still appears to have a slight edge over Republican challenger Karoline Leavitt. Others say he’s lost that edge and this race is a toss-up or even leaning in Leavitt’s favor.

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Midterm Voter Guide: Q&A with David Scanlan and Eva Castillo

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Midterm Voter Guide: Q&A with David Scanlan and Eva Castillo

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.

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Volunteer-powered NH elections buoyed by national campaign

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Volunteer-powered NH elections buoyed by national campaign

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.

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N.H. immigrants and refugees help To bolster N.H. workforce

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N.H. immigrants and refugees help To bolster N.H. workforce

In a tight labor market, employers have been proposing some novel ways to fill positions. According to Andrew Cullen, career service manager at the International Institute of New England, Manchester, one manufacturing company is considering providing a van on a temporary basis for a group of potential employees that need transportation in order to work.

The State We're In: Helping Children - Q&A w. Marty Sink and Heather Hall

The State We're In: Helping Children - Q&A w. Marty Sink and Heather Hall

Joining The State We’re In host Melanie Plenda is Marty Sink, President and CEO of CASA NH, and Heather Hall, Foster Care Recruitment and Retention Program Specialist with the Division for Children, Youth and Families, part of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Sununu vs. Sherman for NH governor: These 3 major policy differences could guide your vote

Sununu vs. Sherman for NH governor: These 3 major policy differences could guide your vote

Immediately after nominees were chosen in last month’s Republican and Democratic primaries, New Hampshire voters overwhelmingly said they had already decided which candidate they plan to pick in the general election for governor.

Republican incumbent Gov. Chris Sununu had backing from 55% of likely voters, putting him well ahead of his Democratic challenger, Dr. Tom Sherman, a state senator from Rye, who trailed with 37%, according to a UNH Survey Center poll conducted in the days after the Sept. 13 primary election.

Declines in Food Insecurity Among Granite Staters Aided by Federal Pandemic Assistance Programs

Declines in Food Insecurity Among Granite Staters Aided by Federal Pandemic Assistance Programs

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) surveys households each year to understand the prevalence of food insecurity across the nation. The USDA defines food insecurity as when households are, at least at some times in a year, unable to acquire adequate food for one or more adults or children in a household because of insufficient money or other resources. At the state level, these USDA data are aggregated into three-year periods to have sufficient data for more reliable estimates. The newest data, covering the years 2019-2021, were released in September 2022.

The Granite State's Growing Tech Industry: Q&A w Flo Nicolas, host of Get Tech Smart

The Granite State's Growing Tech Industry: Q&A w Flo Nicolas, host of Get Tech Smart

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."

State Works to Bolster Support for Kinship Caregivers, While Recognizing There’s More to Be Done

State Works to Bolster Support for Kinship Caregivers, While Recognizing There’s More to Be Done

Tawna Fisher, of Unity, never imagined that she’d have a four-year-old son when she was 54.

Her own biological children are well into their 30s and have their own kids. But when her niece got pregnant, Fisher knew she would struggle to take care of a child. When the baby was just three weeks old, his pediatrician called the Division for Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), concerned that the baby’s biological mother was not feeding him.

Divide Between Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment: ‘How Do We Come Together?’

Divide Between Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment: ‘How Do We Come Together?’

About half of those who experience a substance use disorder during their lives will also experience a mental health disorder, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. And studies show the reverse is also true: About half of those with mental illness will also experience substance use disorder. Some experts put that number even higher.

Yet despite that close relationship, the two conditions are too often treated separately, according to experts in both fields.

Getting on-site clinician for Manchester Doorway a priority

Getting on-site clinician for Manchester Doorway a priority

In 2020, Catholic Medical Center took over the Manchester Doorway from Granite Pathways, which had overseen both the Manchester and Nashua Doorways. In Nashua, Southern New Hampshire Health stepped in.

Established in 2019, the Doorway program includes nine Doorway sites around the state that serve as entry points for people to access a range of addiction services. The federally funded statewide initiative was established to address the opioid addiction crisis

At New Hampshire’s Doorways, Addiction Treatment Windows Can Close Quickly

At New Hampshire’s Doorways, Addiction Treatment Windows Can Close Quickly

By the time Nicholas Bickford sought help for addiction in Manchester two years ago, he said he had suffered about 12 overdoses over decades of addiction. He had been through several rehab programs and in and out of probation and parole.

“I finally had had enough,” he said. “I took every suggestion. And it just started clicking,” he said. Like so many, his addiction began with painkillers and led to illicit drugs, including heroin.

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For Prospective U.S. Immigrants: The Stars Have to Align Perfectly

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For Prospective U.S. Immigrants: The Stars Have to Align Perfectly

Bruno D'Britto left his home in Rio de Janeiro as a teenager, arriving in Nashua to join his father, who had left Brazil for the United States years earlier after his parents divorced. Coming to the U.S. was a chance to seek better opportunities, he said, and to leave a neighborhood beset by violence.

“I saw many people being shot. Like a month before I came (to the United States), this kid got shot, killed pretty much in front of my school as we were leaving. When you are living with that, you kind of become numb to it,” he said. “It actually took me a couple of years after I came to realize that wasn't the norm.”

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The State We're In - End of Session and a Milestone

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The State We're In - End of Session and a Milestone

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.