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 Preshow Return to index of stories... |
Next on New Hampshire Outlook tonight. For the first time, the New England Economic Project takes its conference out of the Boston area and INTO New Hampshire's North Country. We'll share with you what the economists are saying. And Phil Vaughn takes you to the only full-time school in the world that teaches how Windsor chairs are made. |
| Headlines Return to index of stories... |
Good Evening. I'm Allison McNair. Welcome to New Hampshire Outlook. We begin tonight with a summary of state news. |
| Nursing Home Woes Return to index of stories... |
The New Hampshire Health Care Association says a third of the state's 90 nursing homes are operating under bankruptcy protection. Officials say one of the biggest problems is that nursing homes are paid only 90 cents for every dollar they spend caring for the elderly poor. Adding to their troubles is a labor shortage despite efforts to entice workers with higher wages, scholarships and sign-on bonuses. James Beeler, administrator of Cheshire County's Maplewood Nursing Home, says there's no quick fix. But he says it's long past the time for nursing home officials to sit down with lawmakers to develop a long-term plan for how the state cares for its elderly. |
| Truck Pollution Return to index of stories... |
New Hampshire environmental officials hope cooperating with other states on tough pollution regulations will clean up big diesel truck and bus engines.New Hampshire and 12 other states are ready to require diesel trucks and buses to meet far tougher anti-pollution standards than are imposed by the federal government. The plan would affect vehicles sold after 2004 but those already on the road would not be affected. Bob Scott, New Hampshire's chief air programs manager, says any reduction in emissions are good for the state, for the region and beyond. The government is writing new diesel rules, but they are unlikely to take effect before 2007. |
| Anti-Gay Protest Return to index of stories... |
Police outnumbered anti-gay protesters today in Exeter, as members of a Kansas church denounced Phillips Exeter Academy's decision to allow gay and lesbian faculty and staff to be dorm parents. About a dozen adult followers of the Reverend Fred Phelps, and several children, held signs near the school's common at noon proclaiming that homosexuality is evil. Across the street, roughly a dozen counterprotesters held signs of their own. One said, "Hatred go home." The school ignored the protest. Students decided to hold a diversity celebration in the cafeteria rather than going outside to watch. More than a dozen ministers from various denominations around the Exeter area have issued a statement denouncing the Kansas group's actions. |
| Faulty Furnaces Return to index of stories... |
Residents of Berlin, Hooksett and Concord had close calls during the weekend, thanks to faulty furnaces. In Berlin and in Hooksett, families escaped carbon monoxide poisoning caused by broken furnaces. And in Concord, firefighters put out a smoldering fire in a natural gas heater of a townhouse yesterday morning. The heater had deteriorated from age. As many residents begin firing up their furnaces for the first time in months, fire officials suggest having heating systems and chimneys checked and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors installed. |
| Young Investors Return to index of stories... |
More and more New Hampshire children are hoping to find stocks in their stockings this Christmas.Throughout New Hampshire and the country, an increasing number of children are investing their allowances instead of stashing them away in piggy banks. Next month, the state chapter of the National Association of Investors will present a new seminar on investments for children. The trend is driven by schools that use the stock market to teach children math. More than eight-thousand New Hampshire students invested imaginary money in a stock market competition last year. Teachers and parents say investing can help children develop financial discipline, learn about the economy and gain analytical skills. |
| Summary Wrap Return to index of stories... |
That's the news summary. We'll be back with a look at our economic forecast and more after the weather. |
| Weather Forecast Return to index of stories... |
TONIGHT MOSTLY CLOUDY A CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS LOW IN THE MID 20s TOMORROW MOSTLY CLOUDY HIGH IN THE UPPER 30Ss WEDNESDAY MOSTLY CLOUDY CHANCE OF SNOW FLURRIES HIGH IN THE LOWER 30s |
| Intro NEEP Return to index of stories... |
There's good news and bad news about the New Hampshire economy. The good news is that we are expected to grow faster than any other New England state. The bad news is that we're doing so well, we're going to face some tough choices in the near future. We've been covering these choices in the past few months here on New Hampshire Outlook. Tonight, Producer Richard Ager takes us to last Friday's Northern New England economic summit and has this progress report. |
| NEEP Return to index of stories... |
Script: Soundup: Neep tape 1 01:25:40 "…Mortgage delinquency is down." Track: This summit attracted business leaders, government planners and economists from all three northern New England states. All agreed there is much to be pleased about in the New England economy, with New Hampshire leading the way. Graphic: Over the past five years, New Hampshire has had the fastest growing economy in New England, and that is expected to continue. With an unemployment rate in October of 2.1%, the shortage of high and low skill workers is also expected to continue. And, according to at least one economist, we have the right attitude to attract business. Track: Take, for example, when other New England states like Vermont tried to keep Wal-Mart out. Neep tape 2 01:45:03 In NH, we welcomed the opportunity to get lower-priced retail goods with open arms and as a result, Wal-Mart built a distribution center in the seacoast area of NH which employs several thousand people who are paid good wages. The point of all that is that in other states, economic development hasn't been encouraged as much as it has in NH. Track: And if high-tech is the future, then the future is already here. Graphic: More than ¾ of NH households have at least one computer. Not surprisingly, we now rank second among the 50 states in the percentage of high tech workers. Track: But there is one warning sign. Neep tape 1 27:22 "More than 80% of the heads of household with bachelor or advanced degrees were born outside of the state and most likely earned their degrees outside the state. Yet according to a Status Report on Higher Education, it is expected that the percentage of college graduates in NH will have to double and perhaps triple to meet the need for skilled labor. More than any other state in New England, NH has had to rely on attracting skilled employees educated in other states." Track: And that reliance has had negative consequences for students here. Neep tape 2 01:59:46 Unfortunately, we have been consistently 49th or 50th in our state support of grants to students. Therefore, students have had to rely heavily on loans and educational institutions have had to use much of their own institutional budgets to provide grant support. But again, public and private schools must somehow, in a public policy arena, address that issue. Track: The other major issue facing anyone recruiting workers is: with the affordable housing shortage getting worse, where will future employees live? Neep tape 2 01;54:56 I think it's the #1 issue that is confronting the business community. In fact, we did a survey of our chamber members about a year ago and across the board, affordable housing was the #1 issue they were concerned about for the future. Neep tape 2 02:08:23 As we grow an economy, we can do things to maintain the quality of life, the character of life. So we don't change in ways such as suburbanization, fill-in of environmentally pristine areas that we value strongly. We can achieve together - collectively or individually in the New England states to preserve our unique advantage which is really our quality of life here, our environment, our natural resources, our mountains, our seacoast and our sense of community. So just economic growth is not the objective, but it's the character of that economic growth, and how it influences our futures- not only for our economy but for our families in this area. |
| Intro discussion Return to index of stories... |
With me now in the studio to talk more about the economic forecast is Ross Gittell of UNH's Whittemore School of Business. |
| Thank guests Return to index of stories... |
Thanks to my guest Ross Gittell for being here. |
| Business Outlook Return to index of stories... |
Here's a look at some of the stories making headlines in New Hampshire business. While many New Hampshire residents enjoyed yet another mild fall weekend, others headed to the mountains for an early start to ski season. Waterville Valley opened yesterday for die-hard skiers and about 600 took to the slopes on mostly artificial snow. The state's ski areas are hoping for a better start to the season this year. Last year, it was too warm to make snow through much of November and December. Two New Hampshire communities are getting help from the State to closing their local dumps. Claremont is receiving a low-interest loan of nearly six million dollars and Walpole is getting 242-thousand dollar grant. Both projects are aimed at reducing possible pollution from landfill sites. Have you ever tried to read your doctor's prescription but couldn't? You're not alone. Bad handwriting is blamed for as many as 7,000 deaths nationwide because pharmacists misread prescriptions. Some new Hampshire medical facilities are taking steps to change that. They include printing prescriptions on computer and using ballpoint rather than felt tip pens. |
| Intro Windsor Chair Return to index of stories... |
They're rugged, elegant and are named after the castle where they first sat. The Windsor chair is a furniture icon. Perhaps you recognize the name but can't quite place them. Well, there's a school that's known world wide where you can go and make one. That school, is right here in New Hampshire. |
| Tag Windsor Chair Return to index of stories... |
Sackback style Windsor chairs like the ones the students were working on, sell for $3,000 and up. The fees for the Institute are considerably lower. |
| website Return to index of stories... |
For information on the Windsor Chair making school and other topics covered in tonight's program visit our web site at nhptv.o-r-g. You can give us your feedback, see and hear streaming audio and video of our broadcasts and participate in our daily poll. |
| Tomorrow Return to index of stories... |
Tomorrow on New Hampshire Outlook - It's that time of the year when parents and high school seniors go through the college application process. We'll show you how to navigate these complex waters with new tools and resources to improve your chances of getting into the school of your choice. And we'll meet a young fiddler whose been making music since she learned to talk. |
| Goodnight Return to index of stories... |
That's it for this edition of New Hampshire Outlook. For all of us here at New Hampshire Public Television, thanks for joining us. Stay tuned for Granite State Challenge 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 |
| Doctors Return to index of stories... |
Doctors' Handwriting dewkee Hospitals making changes to make prescriptions readable -- Medical providers in New Hampshire aren't laughing about doctors' sloppy handwriting. They are trying to clean it up. A report from the National Academy of Science last year said more than seven thousand people die each year in the United States because of medication errors, some because of bad handwriting. The Cheshire Medical Center emergency room now prints prescriptions by computer. Other doctors in the region use pre-printed forms for commonly prescribed medicines, and they mark the correct dose. Three months ago, Monadnock Community Hospital in Peterborough amended its medical staff bylaws to say documentation in medical records must be legible. The hospital has identified other ways to improve legibility, such as using a ballpoint pen, instead of a felt tip pen. AP-NY-11-20-00 1312EST |
| Abortion Pill Return to index of stories... |
AP-NH--Abortion Pill-N.H. dewcon Few N.H. docs say they will prescribe abortion pill -- The controversial abortion pill RU-486 is being distributed in the United States today, but New Hampshire women who want to use it may have trouble finding a doctor to prescribe it. Many doctors and clinics say they don't plan to offer it. Lakes Region OB-GYN and Franklin Regional Hospital don't offer surgical abortions, and say they don't plan to offer the pill either. Doctor Wayne Goldner of Manchester Obstetrical Associates is one of the few doctors who perform abortions in the state and he says he's not sure he'll offer the drug. He says it's very expensive and seems to be very restrictive. RU-486 will be offered at the Concord Feminist Health Center. The clinic says a major advantage is that clients who choose the pill don't have to deal with anti-abortion protesters at clinics. |
| PROMO Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. It's college application time. We'll show you how to navigate these complex waters and how to imrpove your child's chances of getting into the school of his or her choice. Join us tonight at 7:30 only on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| Cory Pierson Return to index of stories... |
Five months ago, Cory Pierson was a senior at Bow High School. Today, he's an entrepreneur who teaches senior citizens how to master e-mail and the Internet. Through the company he created -- e-Magazine -- the 19-year-old travels to retirement communities and presents workshops on computer technology. Pierson, who was born with cerebral palsy, has been using a computer since age two, when his father developed software programs to help him communicate. The young entreprenuer is looking for corporate support to keep the workshop fee low and to purchase computers for senior centers so his clients can access e-mail once they have learned the skills. |