Laura Knoy

For centuries, that transition between teen-hood and adulthood has been accompanied with a newfound independence, where young men and women leave the roost, go to college, buy a house and raise a family.  But according to author Katherine Newman, high unemployment rates, the rise of short-term employment, longer life expectancies and the high cost of living have forced many a young adult back home to live with mom and dad.  They are called 'Accordion Families' and depending on the culture, they're met with a variety of acceptance.  Today we look closer into this new phenomenon called Accord

As schools continue to mainstream children with disabilities, students with emotional and behavioral disabilities  may be the toughest to include.  They’re less likely to graduate and more likely to get arrested.  And there are questions about how to approach these kids – whether it’s a matter of more discipline or alternative methods.  We look at this issue and discuss a new documentary that takes a look at the topic through the life of a high school student coping with these disabilities.  

Guests:

The city of Franklin wants to bar sex offenders from living near schools, but a judge ruled such restrictions violate equal protection laws. Franklin plans to appeal.  It’s just one example of how difficult this balancing act can be -- protecting the public while observing the rights of offenders. We’ll examine how this debate is unfolding in the Granite State.

Guests:

Tom Reid: Deputy County Attorney for Rockingham County.

Chris Dornin: Founder of Citizens for Criminal Justice Reform.

We'll also hear from...

New research finds that younger athletes are more susceptible to head injury than once thought, take longer to recover, and are more at risk for suffering second concussions. Now, New Hampshire may join a growing list of states asking coaches and trainers to monitor these injuries more closely.  We talk with experts on head trauma in youth sports. 

Guests:

May 24, 9:00 - 10:00 a.m.   Please join Laura Knoy and guest Max Latona for a special live audience event as a part of the series "NH's Immigration Story".  They will be discussing the next question in the Socrates Exchange series:

Who is American?

The International Baccalaureate is hailed as a rigorous school curriculum that can prepare students for a global society. Opponents say it promotes anti-American values in our schools. A statehouse bill intended to put a moratorium on schools adopting this controversial program was defeated in committee recently but goes before the full senate for a vote tomorrow.

Guests:   

Ann Marie Banfield: Education Liaison for Cornerstone Action, a conservative think-tank. She’s a resident of Bedford.  

The long projected shortage of nurses in the state has been temporarily resolved in recent years. Hospitals that used to be beggars have become choosers, by seeking to hire more nurses with bachelor degrees or even master’s degrees. While many in the field are eager to adapt and pursue higher education, others fear academic achievement is being favored over years of experience.  We look at this development and the broad challenges facing the field of nursing.

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We discuss what happens as the medication generation grows up. Journalist and author, Kaitlin Bell Barnett joins us to talk about her new book, Dosed, which describes the experiences of young adults who spent childhood taking psychiatric meds, such as Prozac. Barnett explores the questions many in this generation are now asking: who am i really, after all these years on medication and what might be the long-term effects of these drugs? 

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The controversial mining method known as hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking", has led to a boom in production of cheap natural gas by getting at what was previously inaccessible pockets of gas contained in shale. Energy companies see it as way to reduce America’s dependence on oil and lower our energy bills, but concerns over environmental safety have others saying we need to slow down and study the issue. We cover all sides of fracking and its potential impacts here in New England. 

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Recently, several communities have voted to ban bottled water in their towns,  citing concerns over plastic waste and environmental impact.  But a backlash is also emerging from those who say singling out water is silly,  given the many other sources of packaging that are just as harmful and that these efforts are “all wet”.

Guests:

Today, we get the latest on what's happening at the Statehouse!  All year, the focus has been on the House, but now it’s the Senate’s turn in the spotlight. Recently its been considering hundreds of bills passed by the House earlier this year, and Senators have cast a skeptical eye on many of them, from proposals to do away with gun permits, to restricting abortion, even bills related to fiscal matters.  We’ll find out what’s changed hands, and how Statehouse politics may affect the elections this fall.  

Guests:

By some estimates, U.S. college debt has hit a staggering one trillion dollars.  And New Hampshire students are first in the nation when it comes to the average debt burden. Some blame colleges and universities for hiking tuition. Others blame states for steep funding cuts.  Meanwhile, many say our entire higher education system needs a serious financial overhaul.

Guests:

As a nation, we’ve yet to resolve how to approach those who are here undocumented; whether to deport them, or give them a path to legalization. These questions have also come up many times recently in the granite state. Today, we look at the role of the "illegal" immigrant in the immigration debate.

Guests:

Andrew Renzullo: Republican Representative from Hillsborough who has taken a strong stance against illegal immigration and endorsed local police involvement in immigration enforcement.

Proposed legislation would create a new verification system in order to avoid fraud. Another bill would reduce the amount of time someone could receive assistance. But advocates for the poor say the State already does a good job of preventing fraud and these proposals would hurt people already in dire need. 

Guests:

Sarah Mattson: Policy Director for New Hampshire Legal Assistance

Education consultant Fred Bramante has long asked the question, ‘What if you could remove time and space pressures from the process of teaching?' It's an idea that has caught on in certain circles and would eliminate the confines of classrooms, school periods and calendar years, replacing them with a personalized competency-based approach. But not everyone is on board. 

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