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 Preshow Return to index of stories... |
Next on New Hampshire Outlook tonight. Opponents take another shot at abolishing the death penalty in New Hampshire. Last time both the house and senate sent the bill to the governor, she vetoed it. What makes this time different? We'll take you to the public debate. Plus, meet the seacoast man who is plunging into the frigid atlantic waters every single day for a year. He's surfing for a cause. |
| 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. |
| Death Penalty Return to index of stories... |
Death penalty opponents are trying to get New Hampshire lawmakers to wipe capital punishment laws off the books. Last year, both the House and Senate voted to repeal the death penalty law, but Governor Jeanne Shaheen vetoed the bill. Today, lawmakers, civil libertarians and religious leaders renewed their efforts at a public hearing. We'll have a complete report and an in-studio discussion in just a few minutes. |
| Targeted Aid Return to index of stories... |
A group of state House Republicans is backing a separate, targeted school aid program from the state's adequacy aid. The House Republican Alliance says its plan will cost the state an additional six million dollars. Enfield Republican Paul Mirski says it appears litigation will go on indefinitely over how to pay for public schools. In the meantime, he says, some towns are struggling and need extra help. |
| Income Tax Vets Return to index of stories... |
If New Hampshire enacts an income tax, some military veterans in the House want to make sure their retirement pay is exempt. Laconia Republican Ralph Rosen told the House Ways and Means Committee today he has filed a bill addressing the issue. But Douglas Murphy of Manchester said the state shouldn't exempt veterans' retirement unless it exempts all retirement income. |
| Icy Roads Return to index of stories... |
Maybe you did some skating today, not at a rink but in your car. Freezing rain and sleet made the highways and back roads treacherous. State police report numerous accidents including at least two crashes resulting in serious injuries on Interstate 93 in Canterbury and Route 101 in Exeter. |
| Intro Mt. Washington Return to index of stories... |
Some people were caught off guard by the road conditions. A few minutes eralier we checked in with weather observor Brian Post at the Mount Washington Observatory to find out when things will clear up and how the weather is up there. OUT: |
| Intro Death Penalty Return to index of stories... |
Last year, a bill to repeal New Hampshire's death penalty passed both the house and Senate - only to be vetoed by Governor Jeanne Shaheen. Once again, opponents of the death penalty are asking lawmakers to remove capital punishment laws from the books. Richard Ager was in Concord as arguments were heard on both sides of the issue. OUT: |
| DEATH PENALTY Return to index of stories... |
Bite: Tape 1 15:28 What is before you today is a bill that would abolish the death penalty in NH, but it would replace it with life in prison without any chance of parole. And I ask you to really give that some thought. When it comes down to each of ours - what is our concept of justice. Track: Sponsors of House Bill 171 say they're tough on crime - but want desperately to avoid the potential for injustice. To make that point, they brought in Kirk Bloodworth, a Maryland man who spent two years on death row after being wrongly convicted. He was freed by DNA evidence after 9 years in prison. Bite: Tape 2 10:03 My mother, whom I loved very much, died five months before I got out. I did not get to see her - only in handcuffs and shackles - for five minutes. It destroys lives completely when innocent lives are put into jeopardy. When I hear people say the system is fine but we need to speed it up, they're all guilty anyway, we should not be concerned with the technicalities or with the convicted or executed. Or even if that happens, that's the price we pay for democracy. Track: The last execution in NH was more than 60 years ago, and Governor Shaheen's legal adviser says that is proof that the existing law is already reserved for the most extreme cases - such as the north country rampage in 1997 by Carl Drega who murdered two troopers, a judge, and a newspaper editor. Bite: Tape 1 28:09 So what this issue really comes down to is whether one believes that capital punishment can ever be an appropriate penalty. Tape 1 29:03 If Carl Drega had not been killed that day, Gov. Shaheen believes that an indictment for capital murder should have been considered for his cold-blooded brutal murders. So again, Gov. Shaheen opposes this bill as she opposed a similar bill introduced last year. Track: Much of the testimony made the moral argument that the state has no right to take life. Bite: Tape 2 16:34 If anything, the taking of a criminal's life does not restore any kind of balance or justice. It doesn't restore the injustice that was done. If anything, taking of a criminal's life satisfies the vengeance that we feel that he has taken or she has taken someone else's life. But it doesn't restore justice. And I wonder if any person is honored when someone's life is taken in their name. |
| Intro discussion Return to index of stories... |
NH Attorney General Philip McLaughlin testified that the law acts as a deterrent to the most heinous crimes. Committee members expect the bill will be debated by the full house, no matter which way the committee votes. Joining me now to talk about this issue is Represenative Jacqueline Pitts, a co-sponsor of House Bill 171 and Jim Reams, Rockingham County Attorney. |
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Thank you for joining us, Representative Jacqueline Pitts and Rockingham County Attorney Thomas Reid. |
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CG:BUMP\FOR MORE INFORMATION\Webster: New Hamsphire Government Online\www.state.nh.us/\ |
| Intro Confidence Return to index of stories... |
Some more news on the economy tonight. The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index fell in January - to the lowest level since December 1996. The 14-point decline takes the index down to 114-point-four. The business research group says consumers are less confident about the outlook for both the short and long term. Joining me by phone to talk about why consumer confidence has fallen and how that might impact an anticipated cut in interest rates by the Federal Reserve is Dennis Delay, Senior Economist with PSNH. The measure of expectations fell dramatically, while the assessment of the present situation also declined, but not so much. The index will be among a variety of items considered by the Federal Reserve during its two-day policy-setting session, which began today. Analysts expect the central bank will cut interest rates, with an announcement likely tomorrow afternoon. |
| Business Outlook Return to index of stories... |
From consumer confidence. to corporate cuts. Amazon-dot-com says it's eliminating 15 percent of its workforce or 13-hundred jobs. The Internet retailer has continued to lose money, but now says it expects to turn an operating profit in the fourth quarter of this year. And Charles Schwab today announced it's cutting back office hours over the next three Fridays. to save on operating costs. Investors waiting word on interest cuts from the fed bought up blue chip stocks today. The Dow closed up 179 points. The Nasdaq was essentially unchanged. And the S an P index was UP over nine and a half points. |
| STOCKS Return to index of stories... |
Here's a look at some stocks of interest to New Hampshire. GE was up 1. MBNA and Oxford Health were down 1. State Street was up 1. And Timberland was down 1 and a quarter. |
| Hospital Taxes Return to index of stories... |
The Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and city of Lebanon may be close to an agreement over a tax dispute. In 1998 - the city revoked the hospital's tax-exempt status, arguing it didn't contribute enough charitable care. The following year, the hospital stopped paying property taxes forcing the city to slap a lien on the medical center. Now, the hospital is offering the City payments totaling more than 14 million dollars over 20 years. In exchange, the hospital wants to remain tax-exempt. |
| Office Max Closing Return to index of stories... |
One of the four New Hampshire stores of OfficeMax will be closing. The office products retailer announced it's closing 50 of its 975 stores around the country. The Rockingham Mall Office Outlet in Salem is set to shut down within 90 days. |
| Intro Wave Return to index of stories... |
Finally tonight, you're going to meet a man who braved snowstorms, sleet, and freezing temperatures all in the name of love. It was a year long quest that ended today. Ralph Fatello ended his year long vow to ride a wave a day every day for a year to honor the memory of his father, Gus, and to raise awareness for the American Diabetes Association |
| Tag Wave Return to index of stories... |
If you'd like to make a contribution in Memory of Gus Fatello, send it to: "Catch a Wave for Gus" American Diabetes Association 249 Canal Street, Manchester, NH 03101 |
| Tomorrow Return to index of stories... |
Tomorrow on New Hampshire Outlook - New Hampshire ranks somewhere around 50th when it comes to state aid to the University System of New Hampshire. A new bill in this legislative session aims to change that by proving millions of dollars for infrastrucure improvements. We'll show you how the money will be used. And well take a look at Inovation/Imagination: 50 Years of Polaroid Photography. |
| 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 Keeping Up Appearances 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 |
| 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. |
| PROMO Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. New Hampshire ranks around 50th when it comes to state aid to the University System of New Hampshire. We'll talk about the campaign to change that- project "KEEP". Tonight at 7:30 only on New Hampshire Outlook. |