|
|
|
|
 Preshow Return to index of stories... |
Next on New Hampshire Outlook tonight. A judge declares the state's education property tax unconstitutional and orders the money returned to donor towns. State Supreme Court Justices say the state should pay their legal fees for the impeachment inquiry and trial. We'll talk about that and judicial reform here in New Hampshire. Plus important new guidelines for treatment asthma. which now is on the rise in the state. |
| 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 state news. |
| Education Funding Return to index of stories... |
The statewide school property tax has been declared unconstitutional. Late today, Rockingham County Superior Court Judge Richard Galway ordered the state to return all money collected under the tax, and return it to the donor towns. In his 60-page decision he said that bad data processed in a bad system leads to bad results. The state will appeal. |
| Phoner Return to index of stories... |
Earlier I spoke by phone to Ted Jankowski, Deputy City Manager of the city of Portsmouth, one of the leaders of the donor town coalition. |
| USNH Intiative Return to index of stories... |
Lawmakers, business leaders and educators have joined joined forces in support of a 185 million dollar plan to improve science and engineering buildings on three New Hampshire college campuses. The Knowledge Economy Education Plan, or KEEP, is aimed at renovating or expanding buildings at the University of New Hampshire, Keene State College and Plymouth State College. Today, legislative leaders announced a bill to fund the program through bonds that would be repaid from the state's general revenues. |
| Court Justices Return to index of stories... |
The house judiciary committee is looking at a proposal to add more justices to the state supreme court. Manchester Democrat Raymond Buckley wants to have seven justices on the bench - currently there are five. Buckley sees the additional justices as a way to ease the court's case overload. We spoke to house judiciary committee chairman Henry Mock about that - and judicial reform. We'll hear from him in just a few minutes. |
| Intro Mt. Washington Return to index of stories... |
It actually felt mild in some areas of the state - warm enough to wash the car today. We checked in with weather observer Charlie Lopresti up at the mount washington observatory to see what's in store for us weatherwise and how things are atop the rock pile tonight. |
| Intro Supreme fees Return to index of stories... |
It looks like the true costs of the impeachment of State Supreme Court Chief Justice David Brock are still being added up. An attorney acting on behalf of three of the justices who were investigated during the impeachment last year, has now requested full compensation for their legal costs. Producer Richard Ager has the details. |
| SUPREME FEES Return to index of stories... |
Track: So far, the state legislature has paid out nearly a million dollars in legal and court costs for the impeachment inquiry and trial - most of it to the prosecution team led by Joseph Steinfield. But that figure could triple if the state pays the legal costs of Chief Justice David Brock, Associate Justice John Broderick, and retired Justice Sherman Horton. Their claim is based on state law which protects state employees, including justices… Graphic: "…who are subject to claims and civil actions arising from acts committed within the scope of their official duty"…. Track: In such cases, the attorney general either represents the employee or obtains… Graphic: … outside counsel to represent or defend such person, and the state shall defray all costs of such representation or defense…. Track: During the impeachment inquiry, Broderick and Horton ran up legal bills estimated together at about a half-million dollars. Brock's total is estimated to be as high as 1.5 million. Track: During the impeachment inquiry, Broderick and Horton ran up legal bills estimated together at about a half-million dollars. Brock's total is estimated to be as high as $1.5 million. Attorney-General Philip McLaughlin has refused to comment on the current request. He turned down similar requests from the justices last year, saying at the time that the statute did not apply. Standup: But since then, the House chose not to charge Horton or Broderick and the Senate acquitted Brock on all four impeachment counts, That result could raise new questions of what the state owes employees who are found innocent of any charge in the pursuit of the their official duties. For NH Outlook, I'm Richard Ager. |
| BP Bump Return to index of stories... |
Jucial Conduct Committee Report is available on Webster New Hampshire's State Government Website at: www.state.nh.us/ |
| Business Outlook Return to index of stories... |
Turning now to business. |
| STOCKS Return to index of stories... |
On wall street today, investors are still a bit skiddish amid mixed earnings reports coming out of the big bellweather companies. The Dow industrials average lost 68 points. The Nasdaq composite index closed up 64. Here's a look at some of the stocks of interest in New Hampshire. Autodesk was up 2 and a quarter. Northeast Utilities, parent company of PSNH which yesterday won court approval to move forward with its Electric deregulation plan, was up 3-sixteenths. Oxford Health was down 2 and and a quarter. State Street Corp was down 4. And Teradyne was up just over 1. |
| Port Authority Return to index of stories... |
Portsmouth city officials held a hearing today to discuss control of the land where the port is located. Assistant Mayor Noele Clews said the city wants more say in land use regulations governing the port and better representation on the authority's board. It also wants the state to revisit the 30-thousand dollars it annually pays the city in lieu of property taxes on land that, if commercial, probably would generate seven times as much revenue. |
| Lawyer Bill Return to index of stories... |
Clients may soon be able to sue their lawyers more easily here in New Hampshire. A bill brought to the house today is being called unfair by some, because it removes the legal profession's exemption from the Consumer protection act while allowing consumers to collect three times actual damages plus legal fees in successful malpractice suits. Proponents of the bill say the state Supreme Court's Professional Conduct Committee, which reviews alleged misconduct, is overworked and often unwilling to discipline fellow lawyers. |
| Intro Asthma Return to index of stories... |
The most common cause of hospitalization and emergency room visits for children in New Hampshire is asthma. It currently affects nearly 65,000 people. Recently a consortium of New Hampshire managed care companies called Foundation for Healthy Communities developed a common set of guidelines for the treatment of asthma. Chip Neal explains. |
| tag asthma Return to index of stories... |
`The Foundation for Healthy Communities is distributing a poster with treatment guidelines and and a copy of their video "Take Control of Your Asthma" to doctors and nurse practioners all across the state. The video and a peak flow meter are also available free to asthma sufferers upon request by calling 1-800-LUNG USA. cg: lower third 1-800-LUNG USA |
| 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 see and hear streaming video of our broadcasts and participate in our daily poll. If you've got a story idea or comment on our program you can call us at 800-639-2721. |
| Tomorrow Return to index of stories... |
Tomorrow on New Hampshire Outlook - What's the forecast for New Hampshire's Economy? We'll hear from two of the state's leading economists and business analysts. Plus, Granite State inventor Dean Kamen is the talk of the nation with his new invention. What is IT? We're looking for answers and hope you'll join us. |
| 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 NOVA. 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... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. What's the forecast for New Hampshire's Economy? We'll hear from two of the state's leading economists and business analysts. Plus, inventor Dean Kamen is the talk of the nation with his new invention. What is IT? Join us tonight at 7:30 only on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| Lawyer Bill Return to index of stories... |
AP-NH--Lawyer Bill, 140 smfstavb Bill would let consumers sue lawyers more easily -- A bill that would let consumers sue lawyers more easily is unfair, a state representative who is also a lawyer said today. Windham Representative Anthony DiFruscia said that to be fair, doctors, engineers and others exempt from the Consumer Protection Act should lose their exemption. The bill would remove the legal profession's exemption from the act and allow consumers to collect three times actual damages plus legal fees in successful malpractice suits. The bill's proponents say it's hard to find lawyers willing to sue other lawyers for malpractice. They said the state Supreme Court's Professional Conduct Committee, which reviews alleged lawyer misconduct, is overworked and often unwilling to discipline fellow lawyers. A |
| Washington Locket Return to index of stories... |
One day before the presidential innaugaration- a New Hampshire art collector will sell a locket containing a lock of the first president's hair. Eddy G- Nicholson of Hampton Falls bought the locket in 1989 for 650-thousand dollars. It's a miniature portrait of George Washington and holds about an inch of braided, chestnut-colored hair. A spokesman for Christie's, the New York auction house handling Friday's sale, says Nicholson would like to see the item stay in the United States. The locket is expected to go for between 800-thousand and one-point-two million dollars. |