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 Pre-ShowReturn to index of stories... |
Journalists from around the state participate in our weekly Roundtable discussion. Join us as we explore the week in review. We'll talk about the emerging financial mess of the port of Portsmouth and the end of the presidential marathon. |
| 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 New Hampshire news. |
| Ann Marie Return to index of stories... |
A former Jackson woman, convicted for the shooting death of her husband has been deported to Canada. Sixty-four-year-old Anne Marie Reynolds, a Canadian citizen, was serving a sentence of at least 18 years in prison. Just last week, she won early release from the parole board. Reynolds told the board that she shot Elvington Scott Reynolds because he had subjected her to years of emotional, physical and sexual abuse. NH Outlook had a chance to speak with Anne Marie - we'll have her interview Tuesday December 19th on Outlook. |
| Rocket Docket Return to index of stories... |
The New Hampshire Supreme Court is using a new approach to ease its backlog of cases. It has borrowed a trial program from Vermont - known as the Rocket Docket. The Rocket Docket is reserved for fairly straightforward cases that dont require significant court interpretation. Each side gets five uninterupted minutes for oral arguments. A rotating panel of three of the five justices sit for the cases, freeing the other two for writing opinions. |
| Seabrook Return to index of stories... |
The Seabrook nuclear plant will remain off-line longer than expected for refueling because of a damaged generator. The plant began refueling October 21st, and was scheduled to return to full power last month. Later. an owner of the plant said service would not be restored until mid-December. Now it says more damage to the generator has occurred and the plant won't be back on-line until the end of January. |
| Oil Supplies Return to index of stories... |
Although the high cost of heating oil is bad news to consumers - the good news is - according to industry sources - supplies are holding better than last winter. There were long waiting lines last year and short supplies forced Sprague Energy and Irving Oil to limit the amount of fuel the trucks could take away. So far this year, supplies have kept up with demand. |
| Election Fallout Return to index of stories... |
New Hampshire's Secretary of state doesn't think the U.S. Supreme Court's recent recount rulings will make things more difficult in local recounts. William Gardner says all challenged ballots are handled in the same way in the Granite State. The ballots are reviewed by his office, then by the state Ballot Law Commission,and then by the state Supreme Court, if needed. |
| Summary Wrap Return to index of stories... |
That's one of the topics on our weekly Roundtable discussion coming up after a look at our weekend weather. |
| Weather Forecast Return to index of stories... |
WEATHER TONIGHT CLOUDY LOW NEAR 20 TOMORROW CHANCE OF SLEET OR RAIN HIGH IN THE MID 30s SUNDAY SHOWERS EARLY THEN PARTIAL CLEARING HIGHS IN THE UPPER 30s |
| Roundtable Return to index of stories... |
Presidential Race The longest Presidential election count in modern history finally came to an end this week. Now what will we talk about? 1: Given the emotions that were aroused during the long court fights, has there been a local hangover effect from the national politics? 2: Justice John Paul Stevens made the most stinging comments - that the decision to prevent further vote counting would erode public faith in the court. Have you heard those sentiments expressed? 3: NH's own Justice David Souter was vocal in the questioning - but criticized the halting of the vote count a week ago. There's a bit of irony here, given that he was nominated to the Supreme court by George Bush sernior. 4: Secretary of State Bill Gardner said this week that the high court decision that gave the presidency to George W. Bush won't have any long term impact on NH. That decision stated that any variation in the method of recounting votes could invalidate the recount, based on the principle of equal protection.. 5: The electoral college is being held next Monday. Our producer, Richard Ager, has interviewed all four electors - and he says all four have pledged to vote for Bush. But there are some who feel that NH needs a law to ensure that electors are faithful to their pledge, particularly in such a close race. 6: Quality of media coverage - not that the Supreme Court helped much to inform the public. Port Authority 1: What a mess -this week Atttorney-General Philip McLaughlin launched a criminal investigation into the practices of the Port Authority in Portsmouth. Lars, you've reported on this - what are the allegations? Tell us about Thomas Orfe. 2: What does the Authority do? 3: Expenditures on personal items, closed meetings, little accountability - how did a state-run authority get so loose? $2.1 million in federal funds was uncollected because the Authority didn't fill out the paperwork. 4: Governor Shaheen has announced she has named Bill Bartlett to the board of the port authority. What kind of difference can he make? Planned Parenthood 1: There is a storm brewing over a proposed Planned Parenthood clinic in downtown Manchester. About 200 protesters disrupted a zoning board meeting discussing the clinic last week - Trish - where do you think this story is headed? 2: Those protesters were not allowed to speak - voted down 3-2 by board. 3: The name Planned Parenthood wasn't on the original planning application - and Bishop McCormick called for opposition. 4: Manchester Mayor Bob Baines wasn't at the meeting - we'll see if he's at the next one which is on Jan. 3rd. He can't win with this, can he? Court committee 1: This week, a Supreme Court committee looked into creating a new rule that would prevent non-lawyers from arguing cases before the Supreme Court unless they got written permission. The stated intent is to prevent persons of questionable character from arguing before the court. What is the point of this rule? 2: Theo Kamasinski, who represented Judith Thayer, former wife of former Supreme Court Justice Stephen Thayer, says this is aimed right at him. Does he have a case? 3: The court says it wants to exclude convicted felons - and any nonlawyer has to file an affidavit listing misdemeanor and felony convictions, violations of court orders, and previous litigation they have participated in on behalf of state residents. I don't think lawyers have to do that. 4: Does this create the impression of stay off our turf - especially given the rough ride the Supreme Court had over the last year? In other words, won't some ask: "don't they have better things to do?" |
| Christmas tree fire Return to index of stories... |
If you have a Christmas tree in your home over the holidays, you may want to look carefully at these pictures of the Manchester fire department today showing what can happen when a tree catches fire. According to the US Fire Administration, the chance of death, injury and loss from fire increases dramatically between December 24th through the 26th. Dried out trees can act as bombs. Officials warn that families should take precautions, check electrical connections, make sure candles are put out and consider using flame retardant on trees. Contact your local fire department for more information. |
| Tease Monday Return to index of stories... |
Monday on NH Outlook. The electoral college votes. George W. Bush will be our President. We'll introduce you to the four people chosen to cast New Hampshire's votes in this historic election. And we take a tour through the State House with some fourth grade school students from the Wheelock School in Keene. |
| Goodnight Return to index of stories... |
That's all for this edition of Outlook tonight. Thanks for joining us. For all of us here at New Hampshire Public Television, I'm Allison McNair. Thanks for joining us. Stay tuned for the McLaughlin Group. We'll be back Monday at 7:30. |
| 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 |
| Affordable Housing Return to index of stories... |
There's help on the way for people looking for affordable housing in New Hampshire. The federal government is sending 243 so called "fair share" vouchers worth one-and-a-half--million dollars next year. The vouchers allow eligible families to spend no more than 30 percent of their monthly income on rent. And they can be used to help buy homes. Also - The New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority is increasing the maximum price limits for single-family homes. The Authority helps buyers who can't qualify for conventional financing. The new limits range from 125-thousand to 158-thousand dollars depending on location. |
| HCA Settlement Return to index of stories... |
A hospital corporation with several New Hampshire operations is involved in the largest health care fraud settlement ever reached by the Justice Department. Under the settlement, H-C-A-The Healthcare Company will pay more than 95 million dollars in fines and penalties to settle criminal charges. This settlement is part of a larger agreement totaling 840 million dollars in criminal fines, civil penalties and damages. H-C-A is accused of defrauding Medicare, the government's insurance program for the aged, and Medicaid, the program for the poor. In New Hampshire, its operations include Portsmouth Regional Hospital and Parkland Medical Center in Derry. |
| Reading Assignment Return to index of stories... |
Conway school board members have been given a homework assignment: read two books that some parents don't want their kids reading in school. Some parents say "My Brother Sam is Dead" and "The Fighting Ground" should be banned because they contain profanity. The books were reviewed by school administrators who decided not to remove them from the school. The board will discuss the books at meetings next month. |
| Intro Roundtable Return to index of stories... |
With me in the studio is Lars Trodson, city editor of the Portsmouth Herald. And joining us from the Statehouse in Concord, we have Trish Anderton from New Hampshire Public Radio,and Kevin Flynn, news director of WZID. Welcome all of you. |
| Tree FIre Return to index of stories... |
If you have a Christmas tree in your home over the holidays, you may want to look carefully at these pictures. The Manchester fire department today showed what can happen when a tree catches fire. Fire officials caution today cautioned people to check all li |