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 Preshow Return to index of stories... |
Next on New Hampshire Outlook tonight. The cost of daycare is driving providers out of business. We pay more for people to pick up our garbage than we do for people to care for our children. What can be done to create more affordable and quality care? ***WIPE*** a synopsis of the day's events in the Brock impeachment trial ***WIPE*** and we share the special story of two Northwood women who are are making quilts for abandoned and at-risk babies. |
| Headlines Return to index of stories... |
Good Evening. I'm Allison McNair. Welcome to New Hampshire Outlook. We begin tonight with a summary of today's news. |
| Brock Trial Return to index of stories... |
David Brock's attorneys today asked the state senate to dismiss two of the impeachment charges against the chief justice. The request came after the prosecution rested its case. Senator Beverly Hollingworth denied the defense attorney's request. We'll have much more on the impeachment trial of Chief Justice David Brock in just a few minutes. |
| Fuel Assistance Return to index of stories... |
Three-point-2 million dollars is on the way to help people heat their homes this winter. The federal money will be distributed to various fuel assistance programs throughout New Hampshire. President Clinton authorized the release of 400-million dollars to people all over the country last weekend. Last winter, New Hampshire received more than 17 million dollars in heating aid. |
| Pipeline expansion Return to index of stories... |
Proposed renovations to a natural gas pipeline have some Londenderry residents concerned. The company proposing the replacement and expansion says the newer pipeline has added safety features. Those features weren't available when the current Tennessee gas pipeline project was installed 49 years ago. Some people say they want the new pipeline to be moved away from Londenderry schools. Fire officials told us today they have no safety issues with the pipeline project. |
| School Money Return to index of stories... |
Miscalculations may have led to New Hampshire underestimating the amount of money needed to pay for public schools. The New Hampshire Center for Public Policy Studies discovered the state was nearly six million dollars short in estimating how much is needed next fiscal year. The group's executive director, Doug Hall, says federal subsidies for school meals were subtracted twice and there were other errors in entering some figures into the state's formula. The department of education has re-calculated its formula.The good news - now that the mistakes have been discovered - additional funds will go to schools when estimates are made for the next fiscal year. |
| Teacher Shortage Return to index of stories... |
Over the next ten years, fifty percent of New Hampshire teachers will reach retirement age - and state officials don't want to be caught without someone at the head of the class. Education officials say - like the rest of the country - New Hampshire faces a teacher shortage. To help recruit qualified teachers, a wide-range of solutions is being considered. Those solutions include as more money for new teachers, as well as more mentoring and training programs. The Board of Education will hold a symposium on the matter next month. |
| Summary Wrap Return to index of stories... |
That's the news summary. We'll be back with our focus on Day Care, the impeachment trial and more after the weather. |
| Weather Return to index of stories... |
TONIGHT MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A CHANCE OF A SHOWER NORTH LOWS 35 TO 45. TOMORROW PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY AND MUCH COOLER MOSTLY SUNNY SOUTHWEST HIGHS 45 TO 50 FRIDAY MOSTLY CLOUDY NORTH PARTLY CLOUDY SOUTH. HIGHS 45 TO 55 |
| Intro Impeach Today Return to index of stories... |
The prosecution rested its case today in day 8 of the Senate's impeachment trial of State Supreme Court Chief Justice David Brock. Richard Ager and Tom Rath sum up the case. OUT: |
| Trial Calendar Return to index of stories... |
Tomorrow in Day 9, the defense resumes its case. Deputy Supreme Court Clerk David Peck is listed on the docket as the first witness, but as Tom suggested, we could see Chief Justice David Brock take the stand. You can watch gavel to gavel coverage here on New Hampshire Public Television and listen to it on New Hampshire Public Radio beginning at 9:30am. |
| Into day care Return to index of stories... |
In New Hampshire, there are approximately 1,200 licensed child care providers -- most are close to being fully used. At a time when parents search for available openings, centers are being forced to close -- in part due to lack of funding. Tonight, we'll talk about the value of child-care in our society and what's being done to improve it. |
| DAY CARE Return to index of stories... |
For 12 years, this childcare center in Deerfield, NH was home to 35 area preschoolers. It was owned and operated by Judy Bush and her husband and provided a much needed service to the community. "Through the years, we employed teachers who wanted to work part-time and we played with schedules to meet their needs." But like many centers around the state, Judy's was forced to close -- in part, due to the lack of qualified early childhood educators. "We found it more and more difficult to find qualified teachers. There is a shortage in the public schools and centers can't offer the benefits that schools can." "It's the people who work in child care that subsidize the entire operation with low salaries." Michael Kalinowski is an Associate Professor of Family Studies at the University of New Hampshire. There, students prepare for a career in early childhood education. "There really aren't finacial rewards. There are emotional rewards but on typical surveys, child workers are paid less than the people who haul our garbage." According to the latest report prepared by the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, the average hourly wage for center-based teachers is $8.59. "Most accept it because of their commitment and they don't see a way around it. And, in this country, children have never been seen as the province of the state. In New Hampshire, parents of children requiring child care pay for approximately 90 percent of the costs. The rest is made up of government and community support. "Where in france, where 90% of 3-4 year olds are in care, the government pays some of the costs. It makes it easier for parents to afford care." "I haven't gone up much in price, maybe one dollar over the past 3 years." Connie Ferland is the owner of Little Folks child care center in Somersworth, NH. She's been caring for and educating preschoolers for more than 35 years. Like many others who own child care centers, commitment is often the driving motivation. "Maybe because of the love of doing this work and because I've been in business for so long I really do it for the children and as long as I can maintain the school and pay the staff, I don't mind." "It's not profitable because expences are high and in this country people don't value early childhood education even though it probably sets up positive child development. The most important years are between 1 and 5 in terms of learning and making connections in the brain so they can go on to be good citizens and learners. What a different place this world would be if that happened for all our children." |
| Intro discussion Return to index of stories... |
Joining me now in the studio are Rep. Iris Estabrook of Strafford, a member of the NH Child Day Care Advisory Committee; and Johanna Booth-Miner, the Director of the Live and Learn Day-Care Center in Lee and President of the Alliance for Better Child Care. |
| Discussion thanks Return to index of stories... |
Thanks to my guests: Rep. Iris Estabrook and Johanna Booth-Miner of the Alliance for Better Child Care. |
| Superfund Small Business Return to index of stories... |
Representatives Charlie Bass and John Sununu were on the losing side of a house vote designed to protect small businesses from lawsuits. The two voted to exempt small companies from liability in the clean-up of toxic waste. The plan would have prevented lawsuits if the amount of hazardous materials disposed of was less than 110 gallons or 200 pounds. The Superfund program has been criticized for spawning costly lawsuits that have crippled some smaller companies. |
| Tourism Return to index of stories... |
This is the time of year when New Hampshire businesses prepare for the leaf peeper trade. Tourism is big business in the state. According to the UNH program for forestry and wildlife this year's fall foliage display is expected to be spectacular. Next Wednesday night, we'll focus on Tourism in the State. Is it still one of our biggest money makers? The experts weigh in on the debate. |
| Intro ABC Quilts Return to index of stories... |
Every year in this country, there are hundreds of babies who end up abandoned or at risk. These are infants who have been born infected with HIV or addicted to a substance used by their mothers. In Northwood, NH there are two ladies who founded an organization called ABC Quilts. They wanted to provide comfort to these babies. But they ended up doing much more. This is their story. |
| ABC QUILTS Return to index of stories... |
"We are holding a quilt-a-thon and I've enlisted the help from guilds across the state. Our goal is to make 100 quilts a day." Pam Worthen is the Executive Director of ABC Quilts, a non-profit organization that makes, collects and restores quilts for some very special people. "We set out to make 3,000 quilts for the 3,000 babies who had been abandoned because they had AIDS." ABC Quilts was founded 12 years ago by these two ladies -- Ellen Ahlgren and Ann White of Northwood, NH. Their goal was simple -- to provide at risk babies with the comfort of a quilt. "At first, ABC Quilts meant AIDS Babies Crib Quilts, but then I received calls from hospitals saying we have a problem with your quilts. I said what? and they said we have to give to other children in the same unit -- babies who are drug affected." What started out as a grassroots effort has blossomed in to a world wide organization. "It's hard to imagine that we started out with 3,000 quilts and have now sent out over 400,000." The finished quilts are packed and sent out to locations where there is a need. Volunteers deliver the quilts to hospital staff. "The head nurse at the neo-natal unit will recieve the quilts and will determine which child will get what." "They will put their names on them and they will go to the foster home with them. It's often the only possession the child has." "We've had calls from nurses saying the quilts have helped them help the kids. I think of the kds who are abandoned and go to foster homes and the only thing they have are their quilts. The hardest thing are the babies who die and are buried with their quilts." ABC Quilts now has an in- school element. Students across the country make quilts of their own designs. It's part art and social studies. "It's become an educational program which is great. We can send out quilts but if we can go in to prevention then that's our final goal." "The best thing that could happen is we go out of business. That means there will be no more problems with AIDS or drugs. |
| website Return to index of stories... |
For information on tonight's program, and links to our guests and interviews, visit our web site at nhptv.o-r-g. You can give us your feedback, see and hear the program by streaming video and participate in our daily poll. |
| Tomorrow Return to index of stories... |
On tomorrow's NH Outlook: Help Wanted. There are plenty of jobs out there. Where are the workers? As jobs go begging, what happens to local businesses and customer service? We'll bring you continued coverage and analysis of the Brock trial in Concord. and the sights and sounds of the Deerfield Fair. |
| Goodnight Return to index of stories... |
That's it for this edition of New Hampshire Outlook. For all of us at New Hampshire Public Television, I'm Allison McNair. Thanks for joining us. Nova is next. We'll be back tomorrow at 7:30. Good night. |
| founders Return to index of stories... |
Thanks to our founding sponsors who have provided major funding for the production of New Hampshire Outlook: New Hampshire Charitable Foundadtion Public Service of New Hampshire Alice J. Reen Charitable Trust Putnam Foundation Stratford Foundation |
| PROMO Return to index of stories... |
Hello, I'm Allison McNair. Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. There are plenty of jobs out there. But where are the workers? As companies hunt for employees, what happens to local business, customer service and local sales. Join us tonight at 7:30 for New Hampshire Outlook. |
| dover tree Return to index of stories... |
-- A disputed maple tree in Dover belongs to the elderly woman who wants to save it, not the city, but it still could be cut down to widen a road. Superior Court Judge Tina Nadeau ruled the city can take the 150-year-old silver maple through eminent domain if it pays owner Lili Ellison, or take it without paying if it proves the tree is hazardous. |
| heroin bust Return to index of stories... |
-- A Nashua couple faces a variety of drug charges in a heroin bust. Police say they recovered 40 bags of heroin after arresting 39-year-old Michael Resnick and 22-year-old Danielle Rapson yesterday. |