DHHS Commissioner Jeffrey Meyers announces he's stepping down in December after a four-year term overseeing the state's largest agency. DCYF releases new data highlighting the increasing demands on the agency, with reports of child abuse and neglect reaching a record high during the last fiscal year. And the state Supreme Court considers a case involving a controversial bail-reform statute.
Air date: Friday, Oct. 18, 2019.
GUESTS:
Jason Moon - NHPR's health reporter and host and reporter behind the investigative podcast, Bear Brook.
Matt Sartwell - Managing Editor of the New Hampshire Union Leader.
Dean Spiliotes - Civic scholar in the School of Arts and Sciences at Southern New Hampshire University.
Paul Steinhauser - New Hampshire based political reporter who writes for Fox News, the Concord Monitor and Seacoast Online.
Some of this week's top stories.
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar saysher fundraising is going well and that she plans to stay in the race even if she doesn't qualify for November's debate. Also this week, during a visit toKeene State College, Klobuchar faults U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren on her approach to health care: "She just needs to do the math and explain to us how she's gonig to pay for Medicare for All." Klobuchar favors strengthening the Affordable Care Act.
For the latest on candidate visits to N.H., and other political news, read Paul Steinhauser's "On the Trail" column.
U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan returnsfrom a trip to Afghanistan, Pakistan, and India, cautioning against a hasty withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan in order to avoid wiping out "the gains from the last 18 years for women and religious minorities."
DHHS Commissioner Jeffrey Meyers will step down in December, after a four-year term leading the state's largest agency.
N.H. DCYF receiveda record number of reports of child abuse and neglect during the last fiscal year. And a longstanding problem at the agency continues -- the average caseload for DCYF workers, about 45, remains well above the nationally recommended level of 12.
During a weddingat a Pelham church on Saturday, Oct. 12, the bride and church pastor were shot and the groom injured -- a crime that may have been related to the Oct. 1 murder of one of the church's ministers. The accused shooter had served timein prison for two violent crimes in Massachusetts.
Long-time state representative Mary Stuart Giledied at the age of 83 this week after a battle with cancer. The Concord Democrat was known for her work on education issues and reforms to children and family law, as well as her 20-year efforts pressing for statewide paid family and medical leave.
