Weekly N.H. News Roundup

Earlier this month, the mayors of the state’s thirteen cities appealed to the governor for help addressing homelessness. We speak with Mayor Joyce Craig of Manchester about what’s needed. Coos County is now seeing the highest rate of community transmission of COVID-19 in the state, with over 400 new cases per 100,000 residents. We hear from Berlin Mayor Paul Grenier. Plus, who is supposed to pay for PFAS cleanup costs around the former Pease Air Force Base? And we remember the Mount Washington Observatory’s famous cat, Marty.  

As positive COVID cases are on the rise in New Hampshire, we discuss why that is and how to protect ourselves as we head into the colder winter months. Also, NHPR's reporters will update us on local voting issues and our recent live debates. We also chat about how COVID will impact Halloween festivities this year. Plus, our latest installment in our series Down Ballot. 

Air date: Friday, Oct. 16, 2020. 

Senator Maggie Hassan joins us to discuss voting issues and the upcoming committee hearings on the Supreme Court nominee, as the coronavirus spreads through the White House and reaches several Republican senators. The president calls for supporters to "watch the polls" so we find out what is allowed at N.H. voting places, and field your questions about mail-in voting. N.H. schools transition to hybrid models, but there’s some pushback from parents. And what’s going on with races for county sheriff in N.H.?

Air date: Friday, Oct. 9, 2020.

With a month to go before Election Day, we check in on the dos and don'ts of absentee ballot voting. We’ll also hear about the state of the race for Governor and US Senate in New Hampshire, plus a look at what’s happening in Maine politics. And we begin a series on down-ballot races, exploring what role county attorneys play in New Hampshire.

Air date: Friday, Oct. 2, 2020

Smoke from West Coast wildfires has dimmed our sunshine - could we see extensive fire damage here, and what’s the link to climate change? The New Hampshire Supreme Court heard oral arguments this week in a case that will decide if a list containing the names of more than 250 law enforcement officers with credibility issues should be disclosed to the public. We also find out about inconsistencies in psychological evaluations used in the hiring process at N.H. police departments. We find out about a demonstration at Cathedral Ledge in the Mt. Washington valley. And what will leaf-peeping be like this this fall?

Air date: Friday, Sept. 18, 2020. 

Just days before the September 8 primary, we take a look at themes and issues playing out among campaigns, including for Governor, U.S. Congress, Districts 1 and 2, and U.S. Senate.  We also explore aspects of the final report of the Commission on Law Enforcement Accountability, Community, and Transparency, a group formed by Governor Sununu in the aftermath of George Floyd's killing to examine issues of police training, racial bias, and commmunity relations. And we talk with the editor of The New Hampshire, the student newspaper of UNH, about a recent spike in coronavirus cases on campus and an increase in the number of students quarantined.  

Ahead of the September 8 primaries, we talk with two candidates. Steve Negron, a Republican from Nashua, hopes to challenge incumbent Democratic Congresswoman Annie Kuster in New Hampshire’s second district. And Republican Matt Mayberry hopes to clinch his party’s nomination for New Hampshire’s first Congressional district. And we hear about how one very average N.H. strip mall is riding out the pandemic and what it tells us about the health of our economy.

Air date: Friday, Aug. 28, 2020. 

The Meet the Candidates series continues with Lynne Blankenbeker, Republican candidate for the second Congressional District.  NHPR’s Casey McDermott takes a look at preparations for the September primary and what the state is anticipating. We also visit with State Representative Denny Ruprecht who was tapped as a rising star to be a part of  the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention. And we go to Laconia, to learn about preparations for Laconia Motorcycle Week.

Air date: Friday, Aug. 21, 2020. 

We continue our series of conversations with candidates running in contested primaries with Republican Matt Mowers. He's seeking his party's nomination in New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District. We'll also check in on the news of the week, including Governor Sununu implementing a mask requirement for large gathers, and New Hampshire reaction to Joe Biden's selection of Kamala Harris as his running mate.

Air date: Friday, Aug. 14, 2020.

The Exchange continues its summer series of primary candidate interviews with Republican Matt Mowers. He's running in New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District. Mowers, who lives in Bedford, is a former executive director for the New Hampshire Republican Party. He worked as a state department official in the Trump administration. As always, we welcome your questions - send them before the show to exchange@nhpr.org.

Air date: Friday, Aug. 14, 9-9:20 am

On the Weekly N.H. News Roundup, we'll speak with Executive Councilor and Democratic candidate for governor Andru Volinsky. We'll get his take on racial justice, handling the pandemic, and re-opening schools. Also, as the primary and general elections approach, are local polling places prepared to keep voters and poll workers safe? 

Air date: Friday, Aug 7, 2020

Sen. Maggie Hassan joins us for the first part of the Weekly N.H. News Roundup for an update on the debate over a new coronavirus relief package in the Senate. Later in the hour, NHPR reporter Annie Ropeik and Concord Monitor reporter Ethan DeWitt join us, to talk about the week's news, including Gov. Chris Sununu lifting the state's ban on reusable bags, but continuing to refuse calls for a statewide mask requirement.

Air date: Friday, July 31, 2020

We continue our summer primary candidate series with Senator Dan Feltes. The Democrat from Concord is hoping to win his party's primary in September and challenge incumbent Governor Chris Sununu in November. We also discuss how COVID disproportionally affects communities of color and talk about NHPR's recent police coverage. In addition, we examine UNH's recent controversial consent agreement. 

Air date: Friday, July 24, 2020. 

We continue or summer primary candidate series with Retired U.S. Army Brigadier General Donald Bolduc. The Republican from Stratham is hoping to win his party’s primary in September and challenge Democrat U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen in the general election this fall.  Bolduc joins us for the first segment. Then, at 9.20 a.m., we turn to the news of the week, with a look at Governor Sununu's plan for reopening schools in the fall and an update on the Commission on Law Enforcement Accountability, Transparency, and Community.

Air date: Friday, July 17, 2020

Portsmouth prepares for a presidential visit amid concerns over the coronavirus and large gatherings. The legislature sends some bills to Governor Chris Sununu's desk,  including one that would assist renters and homeowners and another that overhauls the sate's election process in response to the pandemic. And the COVID-19 Equity Response Team, a group formed by Governor Sununu to address the disproportionate impact of the pandemic,  finalizes its set of recommendations. 

Republican Bryant "Corky" Messner of Wolfeboro, a military veteran and attorney,  has pitched himself as a political outsider. Messner, who has been endorsed by President Trump, is seeking to become the GOP nominee for the U.S. Senate.  Messner joined us for the first in our summer series of primary candidate interviews.  For more on this series, see below. 

Air date: July 10, 2020. 

Juneteenth celebrations, to commemorate the end of slavery in the U.S., are happening around New Hampshire and online this Friday, and protests against police brutality have led to increased scrutiny of law enforcement practices in the Granite State. And at the end of the first week of reopening since the COVID-19 pandemic reached the state, we check in on the latest health updates. 

Air date: Friday, June 19, 2020.

We look at how protests of racial injustice and debates over transparency on police procedures are playing out in New Hampshire. For the second time in history, the New Hampshire House meets somewhere other than the State House. The Executive Council nixes Governor Sununu's nomination for the state Board of Education. And the Secretary of State's Select Committee on 2020 Emergency Election Support outlines recommendations for voting this year.