As New Hampshire legislators continued to piece together a $13 billion state budget, the divided government in Concord foreshadows a long, long June. Takeaway of the week: Gov. Chris Sununu's veto Thursday of the paid family medical leave bill that Democrats put on his desk.
The two-term Republican boasted of the veto, and shared his red marker used to kill the bill in photos over social media.
Roundup of the top New Hampshire stories this week:
Making The Cut: Entrepreneur Andrew Yang, a Democrat running for President, has met the Democratic National Committee's criteria for qualifying for the first debate June 26-27. NHPR's Peter Biello interviewed Yang on Friday about his main policy goals, including "universal basic income."
Check Your Pockets: In one of the best-read stories on NHPR.org, Sean Hurley tagged along and wrote about the Littleton Coin Company put some of 50,000 collectible coins (some from 100 years ago) back into circulation late last month. It's called the Great American Coin Hunt.
Some Raise Stink Over Proposed Landfill: Vermont-based Casella has a plan for a new landfill in Dalton, N.H., near Forest lake State Park, and some residents are not happy about it. Read more about this proposal.
State of Democracy: There's a fine line between personal and political expenses when it comes to New Hampshire's citizen Legislature. The political influence focus is often on what candidates raise, and not how they spend it. NHPR's Casey McDermott dives into state campaign finances, while lawmakers consider a bill to allow House and Senate members to use some political donations to cover child care costs. What Counts As A Campaign Expense?
Primary Beer Trail: It's a political tradition in New Hampshire: the candidates hitting town halls, coffee shops, and diners. And now, for the 2020 election cycle, craft breweries are a popular stop. NHPR's Annie Ropeik writes, "Who's the candidate voters would want to have a beer with?"
"Period Poverty" Bill Adopted: N.H. lawmakers have adopted legislation to require public middle and high schools to provide menstrual products in female and gender neutral bathrooms, free of charge. The bill was inspired by Caroline Dillon, a student from Rochester High School, who said some classmates were skipping class because they could not afford tampons or pads, NHPR's Sarah Gibson reports.
Donald Hall Memories: Some treasured items owned by the late U.S. Poet Laureate, who died last summer at 89, were auctioned off this past week. Ten paintings, including works by Willem de Kooning, were to be on the auction block at Skinner Auctioneers in Boston on Friday. And on Saturday, May 11, organizers plan an estate sale at Eagle Pond Farm, Donald Hall's beloved homestead in Wilmot.
Red Tide Trouble: New Hampshire DES closed Hampton-Seabrook Harbor and the Atlantic shore in New Hampshire toshellfish harvesting due to a stubborn levels of toxinstested. The areas for clams, oysters, and mussels will be closed through May, as environmental scientists monitor the algae.
2020 Primer: Gov. Chris Sununu was in New York City on Wednesday for, as he put it in a tweet, "a full day of media hits promoting NH!" He had multiple cable and radio show interviews, which had some back in the Granite State wondering if this could be part of a trial balloon for a U.S. Senate run, NHPR's Josh Rogers writes.
