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 HelloReturn to index of stories... |
Hello. I'm Beth Carroll. Welcome to this "Week-in-Review" Edition of New Hampshire Outlook. Making News this week: A special session on Medicare, Lawmakers tackle illegal Immigration and the death penalty, and the Governor heads to the North Country to talk jobs. Here to talk about all this and more from the State House in Concord: Tom Fahey from the Union Leader and Kevin Landrigan from the Telegraph, and here with me in Durham, my colleague Richard Ager from NH Outlook. Welcome to all of you. |
| Medicare Money Return to index of stories... |
We begin with Medicare and all the confusion over the new prescription drug program. In a "rare" special session the Legislature passed Emergency Medicare Money for the state's elderly --saying the switch to the new Medicare Prescription Drug Program has been a disaster. Lawmakers approved up to half-a-million dollars to help seniors caught up in the confusion over the new federal Medicare prescription drug program. Governor Lynch signed it immediately. Q RICHARD: There was Overwhelming support for this expenditure. A short-term fix. What exactly will this do? Q KEVIN/TOM: We certainly heard SENIORS complain about the program Was it an issue for Pharmacists too? ** Q KEVIN/TOM: State plans to seek reimbursement later. Is Reimbursement a GIVEN.or not. Surplus money -- may soon be used up? ** A spokeswoman for the regional Medicare office says her office will help state officials seek reimbursement later from the private insurers. Q Do we know if other states have had SIMILIAR problems and how they've responded? |
| Immigration Return to index of stories... |
Emotional debate this week at the capital when it came to Illegal Immigration Bills. In fact, Public interest in these bills was so high -- the hearings were moved from a committee room to Representatives' Hall. Here's a sampling of the debate. Assistant A-G Ann Rice suggested there were some "significant" constitutional issues with some of the Immigration measures. Q KEVIN/TOM: What was the IMPETUS for these bills? . Q RICHARD: What exactly do these bills SEEK TO DO? Q KEVIN/TOM: The issue of RACIAL PROFILING and intimidation.came up. What prompted that concern??? ** No definition of alien? Q RICHARD: Constitutional Issues Raised. Is the state getting into an area they don't belong?? Q KEVIN/TOM: Gov Lynch has indicated he doesn't believe illegal immigration is a big problem in New Hampshire. Other Democrats have suggested the same. Is this a party line issue??? Q Is border security really a concern? Supporters argued that NH should protect its borders because the federal government has failed to. The point is we cannot have open borders and have security, STAY tuned for more on this issue. Won't be going away anytime soon. |
| Death Penalty Return to index of stories... |
Debate over the state's Death Penalty was also highly charged -- always is. This year there are competing bills. One seeks to replace capital punishment with a life-sentence-- while another measure calls for expanding it's use. We hear from 2, who spoke from different perspectives: NH's attorney general - and a man who was freed from death row when DNA evidence proved his innocence. Q RICHARD: State law allows for the DEATH PENALTY only when a law enforcement or corrections official is killed. What does the bill that EXPANDS its use CALL FOR? Q Is this one of those Perennial Issue?? NH"s Death Penalty hasn't been applied since 19-39 Q Didn't Efforts in the past to ABOLISH the death Penalty came close to passage?? Is there a political will for that?? Q Police chiefs also testifying in support of the DEATH PENALTY. . Q Do we know which bill, if any, will be recommended for PASSAGE by the House??? Q Lawmakers are also slated to take up END-OF-LIFE medical Decisions.fueled by the Terri Schiavo case, the brain-damaged Florida woman disconnected from life support. WHEN are we likely to see that DEBATE.and will we likely see the same faces testifying???? |
| Eminent Domain Return to index of stories... |
The House has also begun to look at Eminent Domain -- the government's ability to take private property for an overriding public need. Last year, the U-S Supreme Court ruled that a town could seize homes in the name of economic development. That CT ruling prompted a slew of legislation -- now before lawmakers. Leadership says Eminent Domain is on their Priority List this year. Q TOM/KEVIN: What is NH looking to do with EMINENT DOMAIN, what's the gist of the bills heard. ** High court Ruling LOOSENED Restrictions on the use of Eminent Domain -- NH wants to LIMIT Govt's Power. Q TOM/KEVIN: A Constitutional Amendment also being discussed. What would that do? Q Few things are as emotional as PROPERTY Rights in NH. Is there a Great deal of SUPPORT for tightening state STANDARDS??? Q Any OBJECTIONS? Q Amendments need 2/3rds APPROVAL. Would it get that?? ** Where does Gov STAND? Supports reform bill. We'll be following this issue in the days ahead. |
| Groveton Workers Return to index of stories... |
The Governor traveled to the North Country this week to talk job assistance. He and a team of state officials met with workers who will lose their jobs when the Groveton Paperboard Company in Northumberland officially closes in March. There will be ripple effect. The state is looking to help the 108 employees and their communities when the plant closes. Q RICHARD: You were there. What was One worker said Governor's visit a " good morale booster".shows he cares. The general concensus? Q KEVIN/TOM: Workers said they were all suprised at how FAST state officials responded to this economic hit to the North Country. Similiar to his QUICK response to the ALSTEAD flooding -- which earned him High PRAISE. Q RICHARD: Beyond a show of support --what can the State OFFER these workers? Wassau -- offer any JOBS for these workers??? Q Where will MONEY come from.ARE we still tapping into the Surplus Monies. And how much of that is left?? BETH: NH Outlook will have MORE on the GROVETON PAPER-BOARD MILL Closing and the economic impact on the North Country-- later this month. Stay tuned. |
| Court nominee Hicks Return to index of stories... |
While much of the nation's attention is on the confirmation hearings of U-S Supreme Court nominee Judge Samuel Alitio -- NH has a Supreme Court Nominee of its own being heard from this Friday. Governor Lynch has tapped Superior Court Judge Gary Hicks of Manchester to replace retiring Justice Joseph Nadeau. A public hearing is about to get underway as we tape this program. Q KEVIN/TOM: Can you give us a better sense of who Judge Hicks is. ** Hicks is judge in Hillsborough Superior Court in Nasha Q What's likely to happen at this hearing? What's Next. ** We'll certainly know more next week. |
| Tokens Update Return to index of stories... |
An update now on a story we mentioned last week: Hold on to those highway tokens. The state may just buy them back. A plan presented to the Executive Council this week calls for giving people 4 weeks to turn in their tokens for refunds -- or get an E-Z Pass credit. No decision yet. The Executive Council still mulling it over. Q TOM: No way of knowing how many tokens might get turned in??? ** estimates it could cost state anywhere from 62-thousand to 2-and-a-half million. We'll keep you posted. |
| Patriots Return to index of stories... |
Saturday night, the New England Patriots are facing the Broncos in Denver in the divisional round of the Playoffs. A lot of folks have a date with their t-v sets. Of course, By Sunday -- this will all be history. So -- the question is: Will the Winner of 3 Superbowls INCH closer to the BIG game? Any predictions???? |
| Goodnight Return to index of stories... |
My thanks to Kevin and Tom from the busy State House in Concord, and Richard here with me in Durham. and, Thank you for watching. I'm Beth Carroll. I'll see you next time. |
| bode miller Return to index of stories... |
U.S. ski chief calls Miller's comments 'unacceptable' WENGEN, Switzerland - The head of U-S skiing says Bode Miller's comments about drinking and racing were unacceptable and irresponsible. Bill Marolt, the president of the U-S Ski and Snowboard Association, released a statement yesterday in response to Miller's appearance Sunday on CBS' "60 Minutes." He said Miller, who is from Franconia, sent a dangerously inappropriate message to skiers and snowboarders, especially children. Marolt is making an unscheduled trip to this week's World Cup races in Switzerland to speak to Miller, who has argued the comments were taken out of context. Relaxed and smiling but not talking, Bode Miller finished fifth during World Cup downhill training Wednesday while teammates, sponsors and officials awaited his response to criticism of comments he made about skiing and drinking. Miller finished in 2 minutes, 31.06 seconds in an opening training run won by Olympic champion Fritz Strobl on the classic Lauberhorn course in 2:30.79. He left without speaking to reporters. AP-NY-01-10-06 1055EST |
| Bode Miller??? Return to index of stories... |
Skiing-Drunk not what the U-S Ski team wants to promote -- or Bode Miller for that matter. New Hampshire's champion skier has been in hot water since his "60 Minutes" profile in which he said "it's not easy to ski when you're wasted". This week the Franconia Native apologized -- says he regrets the confusion and pain his comments caused. Miller says.the comments are not what he's about in any aspect of his sporting career. Q Corporate sponsors complaining.team donors complaining. Q A NH Icon.-- Considered the best all-around American ski racer ever and already a mega-celebrity in Europe, Miller, 28, has the chance to win five Olympic skiing medals next month, something never done by an alpine skier in one Olympics. WENGEN, Switzerland - New Hampshire's champion skier Bode Miller has apologized for his comments about skiing and drinking, saying he regrets the confusion and pain he caused. Today's apology came after the World Cup champion spoke to U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association President Bill Marolt. The Association was swamped with complaints from team donors and corporate sponsors after Miller said during a "60 Minutes" profile last week that it's not easy to ski when you're wasted. Speaking this morning in Switzerland, the Franconia native apologized to his friends, family, fans and parents of aspiring athletes. He said the message that came through was not something he would promote or what he's about in any aspect of his sporting career. AP-NY-01-12-06 1044EST. |
| groveton Return to index of stories... |
NORTHUMBERLAND, N.H. - Governor John Lynch led a team of state officials to Northumberland to meet with workers who will lose their jobs when Groveton Paper Board Company closes in March. The officials discussed the state's efforts to help the 108 workers and their communities when the plant closes. Lynch said his goal is to get each a job without having to relocate. Gov. meeting with workers at soon-to-be closed mill dewber CONCORD, N.H. - Governor John Lynch leads a team of state officials to Groveton today to meet with workers who will lose their jobs when the Groveton Paper Board company closes in March. The state officials will discuss the state's efforts to help the 108 workers and their communities when the plant closes on March First. The heads of several state agencies, including Labor, Employment Security, the Division of Economic Development, and the Workforce Opportunity Council, will join the governor. AP-NY-01-12-06 0727EST |
| death penalty Return to index of stories... |
Money to cover Medicare drug snafu OK’d By TOM FAHEY State House Bureau Chief 17 hours, 3 minutes ago Concord — Lawmakers used an emergency session yesterday to approve $500,000 for the costs of 10-day prescriptions for Medicaid patients who are caught in the red tape of a new federal drug program. About 18,000 former Medicaid clients were switched on Jan. 1 to the federal Medicare Part D prescription plan. Problems such as unaffordable co-payments and lack of coverage for some medications prompted Gov. John Lynch and the Legislature to act. “These are our most vulnerable individuals, and it is critical that they get the drugs that they need,” said House Majority Leader Michael O’Neil before the House vote. He estimated that 3,000 of the 18,000 dual-eligible people, who are covered by both Medicaid and Medicare, ran into the most severe problems. They include several cases where individuals left the pharmacy without vital medication, such as insulin. Lynch signed the bill into law two hours after it passed. “Implementation of the program was a nightmare,” he said. His Friday executive order authorizing payment for drugs under the Medicaid plan allowed pharmacists to fill 228 orders that were blocked under the Part D system. “Our seniors should not be hurt because of the incompetence of the federal government,” he said. Medicare set up a system with “a lot of bureaucratic steps, but they left out the most important goal — guaranteeing that people left the pharmacy with their prescription drugs.” The bill sets aside $500,000 to cover the state’s costs for the next 60 days. Health and Human Services Commissioner John Stephen will seek repayment from the Medicare program, private Part D insurers or individuals who were not entitled to the coverage. If the funds run out, Stephen will ask the legislative Fiscal Committee for permission to use money meant for other HHS programs. Stephen said the problems with Part D seem concentrated around the Northeast, but it is spreading to the western United States. Medicare spokesmen have defended the plan, saying millions of people have been getting their prescriptions without a problem. Stephen said the problem is real and lies with insurers and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. “There is a serious system failure and backlog. Some of it is technological and some of it is workforce related,” Stephen said. Lynch said pharmacists tell him their work is going more smoothly now that the state has guaranteed them payment. The bill passed the Senate unanimously and sailed through the House, 332-20. Senate President Ted Gatsas, R-Manchester, said lawmakers expected some problems, but “we never imagined it would reach this far.” Senate Majority Leader Robert Clegg said federal law blocks the state from using Medicaid money federal officials claim the state owes, he said. Sen. David Gottesman, D-Nashua, said pharmacists have been urging him to find a solution. “We did not break this system, but we are the ones who are trying to fix it,” he said. Senate Minority Leader Sylvia Larsen of Concord said passage of the bill, “shows that when New Hampshire works together it works well.” CONCORD, N.H. - The Legislature has competing death penalty bills on its plate this year -- one to expand, the other to replace it with a life sentence. Renny Cushing, a former lawmaker from Hampton, today urged the House Criminal Justice Committee to eliminate the death penalty in favor of life in prison. Cushing, whose father was murdered, said capital punishment would do nothing to help his family's pain Cushing brought a man who'd been on death row in Arizona and was exonerated after ten years by D-N-A evidence and several speakers emphasized the fallibility of the criminal justice system even when people have the best of intentions. But Berlin police Chief Peter Morency said eliminating the death penalty would dishonor police and victims. New Hampshire's death penalty has not been applied since 1939. It can be invoked only where a law enforcement officer, judge or prosecutor is murdered, when kidnapping or rape is involved or in a case of murder for hire and some drug crimes. Another bill would expand the death penalty to all cases where a person is charged with knowingly causing the death of another. AP-NY-01-10-06 1613EST Death penalty to be debated By Shir Haberman shaberman@seacoastonline.com CONCORD - Both sides of the death penalty debate will be represented Tuesday before the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee. One group of legislators will present a bill that repeals the death penalty, while another will ask for expansion of the circumstances under which the penalty can be called for. House Bill 1422, sponsored by Portsmouth Democrat Jim Splaine, changes current law to provide life in prison without the chance of parole as the only penalty for capital murder. Testimony on that bill will be heard by the committee at 10 a.m. Immediately following at 10:30 a.m., members of the committee will take testimony on HB 1292, sponsored by Rep. David Bettencourt, R-Salem. That bill would remove all restrictions in existing capital murder statutes and would permit any person charged with knowingly causing the death of another to be sentenced to death. "This is an issue I’ve been involved with since the 1970s," Splaine said. "I was also primary sponsor of the legislation that passed both the House and Senate in 2000. The bill was vetoed by the governor shortly after passage." Splaine said he believes life in prison is a more severe penalty than death. "Every day when one and every day they go to sleep, they will realize they are behind bars - until they die," the Portsmouth representative said. "They will experience the noises, smells and confinement of prison for the rest of their lives." Bettencourt said he had no feelings about which penalty would exact the higher toll on a convicted murderer. His concern in filing his bill is strictly a matter of equality. "New Hampshire’s current death penalty laws are based entirely on who has been killed," the Salem Republican said. "That strikes me as contrary to the principles on which this nation was founded and creates a second class of citizens." "Everybody’s life is equally precious," he said. Bettencourt admitted, however, that he is not "a big fan" of the death penalty, and feels it should be "used sparingly and only when the murders have been committed in the most heinous ways." He said he would support Splaine’s bill rather than continue the current system of laws that creates distinctions among murder victims. State law allows the death penalty to be considered if the person killed is a law enforcement or corrections official. Splaine pointed out that since New Hampshire has not executed anyone since 1939, removing the death penalty reflects current prosecutorial practices and may even save the state some money. Those savings were confirmed by fiscal notes from the state’s Administrative Office of the Courts and the Judicial Council, which appear as footnotes to Splaine’s bill. "This bill may result in a savings to the judicial branch because there would be no penalty phase trial, which is required in a death penalty case, and because life-in-prison cases are less hard fought than cases in which the death penalty is a possible outcome," the AOC wrote. The council wrote that while the costs involved in bringing capital murder cases forward would remain, "in general terms, these costs do not usually approximate or equal those associated with a complete capital trial and sentencing phase, and all the subsequent appeals that may result from a conviction under the death penalty." Neither group could estimate what the savings would be. The House committee will take testimony on the two bills and decide which, if either, it will recommend for passage by the entire House. If the House accepts the committee’s recommendations, the approved bill will be forwarded to the Senate for another public hearing and committee vote. |
| patriots Return to index of stories... |
Winner of 3 Superbowls and will travel to Denver to face the Broncos in the divisional round of the playoffs. Going into Saturday night's AFC divisional playoff game against the Denver Broncos, those four Patriots playoff teams are a combined 10-0 in the postseason, winner of three Super Bowls and the first, and perhaps last, dynasty of the new millennium. When judged that way, they were all flawless. That being said, which of those teams was the best? Not which was the most lovable, because that title would go in a landslide to the improbable 2001 team that upset the heavily favored St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI. That group also beat the Oakland Raiders in overtime 16-13 and bested the cocksure, favored Pittsburgh Steelers on their home turf to win the AFC title and earn the right to be a 14-point underdog against St. Louis' much-hyped “Greatest Show on Turf.” Not which has overcome the most difficulties just to reach the postseason, either, because that would go to this year's team just for making the playoffs after seeing six of its 10 defensive backs end up on injured reserve, losing both starting inside linebackers from the previous season before training camp opened, losing Richard Seymour for a month to a bad knee, Tedy Bruschi for six games while recovering from a stroke, Corey Dillon for much of the year with age and infirmity problems and Rodney Harrison for nearly all of it with a destroyed knee that might never be the same. And no matter what type of team they take to the Super Bowl, the Patriots are obsessed with winning the game by a field goal , so the question before the house is simply which one of the four playoff teams of the Belichick-Brady Era is the best? |
| tokens Return to index of stories... |
million dollars. toward the new E-ZPass toll collection system. The Executive Council want more info before voting. Councilors said they want more information before voting on the idea. hmrfnfls CONCORD, N.H. - There's no decision yet on whether New Hampshire drivers will be able to cash in their obsolete highway tokens. Transportation officials presented a plan to Executive Councilors today that would give people four weeks to turn in their tokens for refunds or credit toward the new E-ZPass toll collection system. But councilors said they want more information before voting on the idea. Councilor Ruth Griffin of Portsmouth said she opposes the program since drivers had months to use up their tokens. But Councilor Deborah Pignatelli says by selling tokens, the state was entering into a contract with buyers and owes them refunds. There's no way of knowing how many tokens would get turned in. Transportation spokesman Bill Boynton estimates that the redemption program could cost the state anywhere from 62-thousand dollars to two and a half million dollars. AP-NY-01-11-06 1337EST CONCORD, N.H. - There's no decision yet on whether New Hampshire drivers will be able to cash in their obsolete highway tokens. Transportation officials presented a plan to Executive Councilors today that would give people four weeks to turn in their tokens for refunds or credit toward the new E-ZPass toll collection system. But councilors said they want more information before voting on the idea. Councilor Ruth Griffin of Portsmouth said she opposes the program since drivers had months to use up their tokens. But Councilor Deborah Pignatelli says by selling tokens, the state was entering into a contract with buyers and owes them refunds. There's no way of knowing how many tokens would get turned in. Transportation spokesman Bill Boynton estimates that the redemption program could cost the state anywhere from 62-thousand dollars to two and a half million dollars. |
| Key: State Politics / Government Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 1/13/06 HOST: Beth Carroll Length: 26:00 minutes Hello. I'm Beth Carroll. Welcome to this "Week-in-Review" Edition of New Hampshire Outlook. Making News this week: A special session on Medicare, Lawmakers tackle illegal Immigration and the death penalty, and the Governor heads to the North Country to talk jobs. Here to talk about all this and more from the State House in Concord: Tom Fahey from the Union Leader and Kevin Landrigan from the Telegraph, and here with me in Durham, my colleague Richard Ager from NH Outlook. Welcome to all of you. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Richard Ager NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Tom Fahey\Union Leader, Kevin Landrigan\The Telegraph |
| Key: Economy / Business Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 1/13/06 HOST: Beth Carroll Length: 26:00 minutes Hello. I'm Beth Carroll. Welcome to this "Week-in-Review" Edition of New Hampshire Outlook. Making News this week: A special session on Medicare, Lawmakers tackle illegal Immigration and the death penalty, and the Governor heads to the North Country to talk jobs. Here to talk about all this and more from the State House in Concord: Tom Fahey from the Union Leader and Kevin Landrigan from the Telegraph, and here with me in Durham, my colleague Richard Ager from NH Outlook. Welcome to all of you. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Richard Ager NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Tom Fahey\Union Leader, Kevin Landrigan\The Telegraph |
| Key: Crime / Legal Issues / Law Enforcement Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 1/13/06 HOST: Beth Carroll Length: 26:00 minutes Hello. I'm Beth Carroll. Welcome to this "Week-in-Review" Edition of New Hampshire Outlook. Making News this week: A special session on Medicare, Lawmakers tackle illegal Immigration and the death penalty, and the Governor heads to the North Country to talk jobs. Here to talk about all this and more from the State House in Concord: Tom Fahey from the Union Leader and Kevin Landrigan from the Telegraph, and here with me in Durham, my colleague Richard Ager from NH Outlook. Welcome to all of you. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Richard Ager NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Tom Fahey\Union Leader, Kevin Landrigan\The Telegraph |
| Key: Health / Health Care Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 1/13/06 HOST: Beth Carroll Length: 26:00 minutes Hello. I'm Beth Carroll. Welcome to this "Week-in-Review" Edition of New Hampshire Outlook. Making News this week: A special session on Medicare, Lawmakers tackle illegal Immigration and the death penalty, and the Governor heads to the North Country to talk jobs. Here to talk about all this and more from the State House in Concord: Tom Fahey from the Union Leader and Kevin Landrigan from the Telegraph, and here with me in Durham, my colleague Richard Ager from NH Outlook. Welcome to all of you. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Richard Ager NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Tom Fahey\Union Leader, Kevin Landrigan\The Telegraph |
| key: UNH Return to index of stories... |
no UNH stories |
| NH Children Return to index of stories... |
CONCORD, N.H. - A network of child advocates in New Hampshire today unveiled a broad agenda for the new year.Priorities range from providing dental care and school breakfasts to studying consumer protection laws and cracking down on underage drinking. January 9, 2006 CONTACT: Ellen Shemitz, Eshemitz@ChildrenNH.org Tracy Atlas, Tatlas@ChildrenNH.org Phone: 225-2264 NH CHILD ADVOCACY NETWORK PRESS RELEASE Governors John Lynch and Walter Peterson join child advocates in announcing 2006 Priorities for New Hampshire's Children January 9, 2006 Governor John Lynch, Governor Walter Peterson, and Northeast Delta Dental President and CEO Tom Raffio joined child advocates at the Legislative Office Building in Concord this morning for the release of the 2006 Priorities for NH's Children by the New Hampshire Child Advocacy Network. This year's Priorities for New Hampshire's Children is the eighth policy and action plan created by the New Hampshire Child Advocacy Network -- an eight-year-old statewide coalition comprising nearly 200 organizational partners and advisors. "Investing in giving our children the best possible start is one of the most important things we can do for the future of our state," said Governor Lynch. "Over the coming year, I will continue to work with Democrats and Republicans in the legislature to make sure we do the right thing for New Hampshire’s children," Governor Lynch said. "I commend the members of NH-CAN for their commitment to New Hampshire's children." "We are fortunate that NH CAN has done the hard work to identify the top priority investments for children," said Governor Peterson. "We now call on members of the legislature and the public at large to make these investments in our children, our state, and our future,'" said Governor Peterson. NH CAN's top priorities for 2006 include ensuring all students in New Hampshire have access to a quality public education, assuring early intervention services for infants and toddlers with developmental challenges, preserving the "best interests of the child" standard in custody cases, clarifying the role of clergy to report child abuse or neglect, promoting oral health and reducing underage alcohol use. “The 2006 Priorities identify strategic investments we can make today that will benefit all of us tomorrow,” according to Ellen Shemitz, President of the Children’s Alliance of New Hampshire and Chair of the Steering Committee of NH CAN. “Investing in quality education, healthy children, strong families and safe communities is not just the right thing to do- it is the smart thing to do.” Work on the 2006 Priorities begins immediately. For more information on NH CAN and the 2006 Priorities for New Hampshire's Children, visit www.ChildrenNH.org. Contact: Ellen Shemitz, Eshemitz@ChildrenNH.org or Tracy Atlas, Tatlas@ChildrenNH.org Children’s Alliance of NH, 225-2264 - End - _________________________ Children's Alliance of New Hampshire 2 Greenwood Avenue Concord, NH 03301 tatlas@childrennh.org Phone: 603-225-2264 www.childrenNH.org Raising our voices for NH's children |
| Immigration Return to index of stories... |
CONCORD, N.H. - New Hampshire lawmakers are hearing arguments today on plans to fight illegal immigration in New Hampshire. The bills, which cover trespassing, false documents and criminal penalties for trafficking illegal immigrants, were introduced in response to a judge's ruling last year that regulating immigration is a federal -- not state -- responsibility. Lawmakers in Concord have begun hearings today on a packet of bills intended to curb illegal immigration in New Hampshire. Public interest in the bills is so high that the hearings were moved from a committee room to Representatives' Hall in the Statehouse. The bills, which cover criminal trespass, false documents and criminal penalties for trafficking illegal immigrants, were introduced in response to a judge's ruling last year that regulating immigration is a federal -- not state -- responsibility. The ruling came in a case in which police chiefs in Hudson and New Ipswich charged illegal immigrants with trespassing, simply for being in their towns. The bills being discussed today seek to create state laws that would mirror federal immigration laws. They would authorize local police to be trained to regulate illegal immigration. ICY ROADS Freezing rain closes notch, causes crashes dewfn |
| Hicks Return to index of stories... |
ov. John Lynch said Monday he will nominate Superior Court Judge Gary Hicks to replace retiring Supreme Court Justice Joseph Nadeau. Lynch plans to nominate Hicks, 52, of Manchester, a judge in Hillsborough County Superior Court in Nashua, at a meeting of the Executive Council on Wednesday. “As a Superior Court Judge and throughout his career, Gary Hicks has more than proven his qualifications,” Lynch said in a statement announcing the planned nomination. “He has shown an in-depth knowledge of the law and keen intellect, brought a fair and balanced approach and an abiding concern for protecting the rights of New Hampshire citizens to the courtroom, and demonstrated a deep commitment to the people of New Hampshire.” Hicks was among candidates for the post recommended by the governor’s Judicial Selection Commission. a public hearing for Lynch's Supreme Court nominee at, of all times, 2 p.m. |