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 HelloReturn to index of stories... |
Hello. I'm Beth Carroll. Welcome to this "Year-in-Review" edition of New Hampshire Outlook. We saw Historic Changes at the State House in 2005 with a new Governor sworn in, and a Senate President pushed out. NH's Abortion Law went all the way to the Supreme Court.Massive Flooding hit southern NH, and the Shipyard dodged another Closure bullet. Those are just some of the TOP stories making headlines in 2005. Here to talk about all this and more from Concord: Tom Fahey of the Union Leader and Colin Manning of Foster's Daily Democrat. And, here in Durham James Pindell of Politics NH.com and Edith Tucker from the Coos County Democrat. Welcome. |
| Lynch Takes Office Return to index of stories... |
The year began with a New Governor.as John Lynch took the reigns of state government in January. He's been in office one year. And is Planning on seeking a 2-nd term. Q TOM/COLIN: Overall Impressions on Year-One? Q JAMES: His POLL Numbers have been pretty high. numbers among independent voters are impressive Q EDITH: Lynch did REFORM SB-110, bringing down INSURANCE costs for small businesses. A Campaign Promise DELIVERED? Much welcomed news for NORTH country. Q TOM/COLIN: Education FUNDING: The Governor campaigned on eliminating the state-wide PROPERTY Tax. Didn't happen. An UNFULLFILLED promise -- Doesn't seem to be too much of a NEGATIVE?? Q JAMES: The Election is less than a year away -- and still the state GOP hasn't found someone to go against Lynch? Q What does John Lynch need to do -- between NOW & Then --to keep candidates At bay? Q Is Governor Lynch VULNERABLE ??? ===== Q Gov Lynch even managed to BALANCE the budget Does he WIN POINTS for that? - |
| Sen. Eaton Ousted Return to index of stories... |
That wasn't the only leadership change. In September, Tom Eaton was edged out of his leadership role, and Ted Gatsas became the new Senate President. It was a history making election with a Senate President being replaced mid-term. Q TOM/COLIN: The legislature back in session in January. What can we expect in 2006 under a Gatsas tenure??? Q JAMES: Sounds like Eaton can count on a Democratic opponent in 2006. How badly was he HURT by the issues he had with colleagues and his ouster?? Q TOM: Eaton's management of PAC money has come under FIRE. Could we see an ETHICS complaint? |
| ETHICS: Chandler Return to index of stories... |
Ethics -- A major theme at the State House this year. Former House Speaker Gene Chandler escaped EXPULUSION from the House after admitting he failed to report contributions and put the money to personal use. It was a "close call" for the Bartlett Republican - but, in the end the House opted to REPRIMAND him. Chandler was then given "applause" by colleagues. |
| Burton/Sex Offender Return to index of stories... |
And, Executive Councilor Ray Burton also ran into some ethical whitewater in September -- when it was revealed that his Top Aide was a child sex offender. The Governor & the entire state's Congressional delegation called on him to Resign -- but, the popular politican refused to step down. Q EDITH: Gene Chandler -- 23 Years in the House. RE-Elected despite pending Ethics Charges. And, Ray Burton -- standing firm. North Country Voters a FORGIVING group??? ** DO you see RE-ELECTION an issue for either Chandler or Burton--next time out??? Q JAMES: Will Burton have any problems with voters??? Q TOM/COLIN: The Burton controversy -- which caused such a furor when it first came to light -- seems to have FADED? any REPERCUSSIONS to this story??? Q In December -- James Tobin, a former National Republican Official was found GUILTY in a phone-jamming plot against NH democrats in the 2002 Election. cleared of the more serious charge of conspiring against voters' rights. JAMES: More to COME on this story. Democrats pursuing CIVIL lawsuit? TOM: Any ramifications to the so called "phone-gate prosecutions"? Q Fellow Councilors say the controversy & media coverage NOT affecting Burton's EFFECTIVENESS. =========================== Q An ethics bill -- SPRUNG out of the Chandler affair -- banning cash gifts to lawmakers -- and an ETHICS bill for Executive Branch will go before Lawmakers soon. What does that look like??? controversy died down on that?? |
| Abortion Supreme Ct Return to index of stories... |
The Politics of Abortion took front and center In Late November as NH's parental notification law went before the U-S Supreme Court. The never-enforced law -- calls for girls under 18 to notify a parent before getting an abortion. It permits an exception "only" for life and death considerations. Therein lies the problem -- no health exception. Q TOM/COLIN: You don't have a crystal ball -- but, let's look ahead. If the Court UPHOLDS NH's law -- are there VOTES for a REPEAL? Q Conversly: What happens if the Court rules it UNCONSTITUTIONAL. JAMES/EDITH: GOV against the law. His A-G Kelly Ayotte arguing FOR it. Politically NEITHER of them lose -- on this issue.it would appear? Q TOM: Where does NH Public Opinion stand on this issue?? BETH: It will likely be MONTHS before the Court rules on the NH case. |
| NH Ground Flooding Return to index of stories... |
Relentless Rain wreaked havoc on the state in October. Southern NH seeing the worst flooding in recent memory. 7 lives were lost, homes were washed away, and roads and bridges destroyed over the Columbus day Weekend. A federal disaster declaration finally came -- sending much needed federal money to the AL-stead area for recovery efforts. Q EDITH/ JAMES: Governor Lynch got high marks for his RESPONSE to the flooding -- curtailed a trade mission came right home. Disaster response certainly tests a politicians' leadership skills??? Q TOM/COLIN: Paying for RECOVERY efforts won't be easy. But, the STATE has promised to help? Rainy Day Fund.Surplus dollars dedicated to hard-hit areas. |
| Shipyard Saved Return to index of stories... |
A momentous decision in late August -- with the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard dodging another fatal bullet -- Saving 45 hundred Jobs. It's the 3rd time the yard has been spared from the Pentagon's base Closure List. The vote came after months of intense rallying by workers, community leaders and politicians. Q TOM/COLIN: Clearly the state's FISCAL picture would be DIFFERENT -- had the ruling gone the other way. The yard is an ecnomic base for the state. Q JAMES/EDITH: Certainly good news for Elected Officials who put their POLITICAL WEIGHT behind the Battle. Everyone can claim credit. Certainly the news brings a HAPPY new Year -- for workers at the shipyard. |
| White Mt Forest Return to index of stories... |
After nearly 10 years of work, and dozens of public meetings -- the STATE finally has a new MANAGEMENT Plan for the White Mountain National Forest. It's a big deal. Most of the forest's 7-million visitors a year Won't even know the plan exists --but, the kind of outdoor experience they enjoy -- will depend on it. Q EDITH: In a nutshell what does the Plan do -and NOT do? ** striking a balance among users ** reduces allowable timber cut ** adds one wilderness area ** restricts ATV's BETH: The plan revised every 10 to 15 years.to manage the nearly 8-thousand acres of land. |
| EZ Pass (optional) Return to index of stories... |
This year: a milestone at state toll plazas. Out with tokens and in with E-ZPass. The state began implementing E-ZPass in July -- and all the toll plazas were up and running by mid-August. The electronic toll collecting system didn't come easy -- there was heavy debate over discount fares, eliminating tokens and what to charge for transponders. Q Any more tokens left? Q Easy Acceptance and smooth transition. |
| Goodnight Return to index of stories... |
That concludes this 2005 Year-in-Review. My thanks to Tom Fahey and Colin Manning in Concord, and James Pindell and Edith Tucker here in Durham And, Thank you for watching. I'm Beth Carroll. We'll see you next time. |
| forest Return to index of stories... |
Pressure to use the White Mountain National Forest, which is within a day's drive of more than 70 million people, will continue to grow. Accommodating differing needs and requests to use the forest in nontraditional ways will become more difficult. The forest service should resist that pressure, as it did by keeping in place its ban on all-terrain vehicles. They don't belong there. ATV riders will soon get a 7,000-acre park of their own north of the Notches in Berlin, where they can mix noise and exhaust fumes with their mountain views. The concept of multiple use, even in an area as large as the forest's 800,000 acres, can fall apart if totally incompatible or damaging activities are permitted. The new forest management plan recognizes that and responds fairly to the changing demands on one of the nation's most heavily used forests. ------ End of article Monitor editorial -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Tonight at 7:30 Return to index of stories... |
Monday on New Hampshire Outlook: Join us Monday at 7:30 only on New Hampshire Public Television. =============================== Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook: Join us tonight at 7:30 only on New Hampshire Public Television. |
| Gehring Kids Found Return to index of stories... |
2005 brought an end of a terrible chaper for a New Hampshire mother whose two children had been murdered more than two years ago by her ex-husband. The bodies of Sarah and Philip Gehring were found in early December in Ohio. The children were killed by their father, Manuel Gehring, who gave authorities clues to the gravesite before killing himself in jail. But they were never found. An Ohio woman took it upon herself to search for the bodies after their mother traveled to the Midwest last summer to ask for the public's help. AP-NH--Missing Children FBI honors searcher who found bodies of missing children dewhmrstap CLEVELAND - The Ohio woman who found the bodies of New Hampshire's Gehring children was honored in both states today. F-B-I agents in Cleveland presented a certificate of appreciation to 44-year-old Stephanie Dietrich this morning, and this afternoon, officials in Concord announced that Dietrich also is getting a five-thousand-dollar reward from the Concord Regional Crimeline program. The Akron woman took it upon herself to search for the bodies of Sarah and Philip Gehring after their mother traveled to the Midwest last summer to ask for the public's help. After searching more than 40 times, she and her dog found the bodies on December First. The children were killed in the summer of 2003 by their father, who gave authorities clues to the gravesite before killing himself in jail. Dietrich says she is honored to receive the award. In a statement, she said thanked her friends and family for putting up with her persistence. AP-NY-12-15-05 1401EST A news conference is being held today to announce payment of a five-thousand-dollar reward to an Ohio woman who found the grave of two Concord children killed and buried by their father. The bodies of Sarah and Philip Gehring were found in Ohio by Stephanie Dietrich and her dog. The children were killed by Manuel Gehring two-and-a-half years ago. Gehring killed himself in prison. MISSING CHILDREN News conference scheduled on Gehring children reward avbfls CONCORD, N.H. - Authorities hold a news conference today to announce payment of a five-thousand-dollar reward to an Ohio woman who found the grave of two New Hampshire children buried by their father. The bodies of Sarah and Philip Gehring were found two weeks ago in Ohio by Stephanie Dietrich and her dog. The children were killed by Manuel Gehring two-and-a-half years ago in New Hampshire. Gehring killed himself in prison. Their mother, Teri Knight, brought the children's cremated remains home last week to Hillsboro, where a memorial service was held Sunday. AP-NH--Missing Children News conference scheduled on Gehring children rewardavbho CONCORD, N.H. - authorities hold a news conference Thursday to announce payment of a five-thousand-dollar reward for the discovery of the grave of Sarah and Philip Gehring. The children's bodies were found two weeks ago in Ohio by Stephanie Dietrich of Akron, who had been searching for the graves with her dog. The children were killed by their father, Manuel Gehring, in New Hampshire two-and-a-half years ago. He buried them in Ohio as he fled to California, but told authorities he couldn't remember where. Their mother, Teri Knight, brought the children's cremated remains home last week to Hillsboro, where a memorial service was held Sunday. --- AP-NY-12-13-05 0524EST AP-NH--Missing Children-Mother Gehring children's mom, finder speak on national TV dewtv CONCORD, N.H. - The mother of Sarah and Philip Gehring went on national television this morning with the Ohio woman who found her murdered children's bodies this month. Teri Knight of Hillsboro and Stephanie Dietrich of Akron sat together on ABC's Good Morning America talking about the bizarre circumstances that brought them together. Two and a half years ago, Knight's former husband, Manuel Gehring, killed their children and buried them as he fled to California. He gave some clues before killing himself in jail, but did not pinpoint their burial spot. Last summer, Knight traveled through the Midwest hoping to spark new interest in the case. She said she hoped the trip would prompt people to search. Dietrich said the story moved her to search more than 40 times. She said her dog, Ricco, actually found the burial spot on December First. She said her family and co-workers thought she was crazy, but supported her searching. She said she now plans to search in Ohio for an elderly woman who has been missing for eleven years. Knight said she knew people were searching, but had no idea someone like Dietrich was devoting so much energy to it. AP-NY-12-13-05 0750EST OL 98 July 2003 2:36 vo of Gehring getting off plane when he returned to NH ========================== OL 99 July 29, 2003 still photos of Gehring children |
| key: State Politics / Government Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 12/30/05 HOST: Beth Carroll Length: 26:00 minutes Hello. I'm Beth Carroll. Welcome to this "Year-in-Review" edition of New Hampshire Outlook. We saw Historic Changes at the State House in 2005 with a new Governor sworn in, and a Senate President pushed out. NH's Abortion Law went all the way to the Supreme Court, Massive Flooding hit southern NH, and the Shipyard dodged another Closure bullet. Those are just some of the top stories making headlines in 2005. Here to talk about all this and more from Concord: Tom Fahey of the Union Leader and Colin Manning of Foster's Daily Democrat. And, here in Durham, James Pindell of Politics NH.com and Edith Tucker from the Coos County Democrat. Welcome. PRODUCER/REPORTER: NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Tom Fahey\Union Leader, Colin Manning\Foster's Daily Democrat, Edith Tucker\Coos County Democrat, James Pindell\PoliticsNH.com |
| key: UNH Return to index of stories... |
no UNH stories |