NH OUTLOOK, Thursday, 5/3/2001
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script iconIntro SUPCO script iconGoodnight
script iconTax SUPCO Reax script iconfounders
script iconIntro Richard script iconTomorrow
script iconTag House Vote script iconPromo Mon 7:30
script iconIntro MTBE script iconPROMO Mon
script iconIntro Mt. Washington script iconNational Prayer Day
script iconIntro SUPCO script iconWhat's Next
script iconThank guests script iconIntro Calendar
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script iconBusiness Outlook script iconkey: community
script iconWall Street Stocks script iconkey: health
script iconNH Stocks script iconPromo Mon 11:30
script iconPaper Payment script iconTomorrow
script iconSeabrook script iconDisabled Criminals
script iconIntro Heal Thyself script iconElderly Issues
script iconTag script iconAffordable Housing
script iconIntro Auction  


script iconPreshow
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Next on New Hampshire Outlook tonight. The State Supreme Court issues its decision on the constitutionality of the statewide property tax. We'll have a complete report and reaction to today's ruling.
Plus it's down to the wire for the House on the latest education funding plan.
And let the bidding begin. we'll take you behind the scenes of New Hampshire Public Television's annual spring auction.
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Good Evening. I'm Allison McNair. Welcome to New Hampshire Outlook.
script iconIntro SUPCO
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New Hampshire's state wide property tax has been ruled constitutional. That was the decision released this morning from the New Hampshire Supreme Court, which overturned a recent Superior court ruling. The high court also ruled that the millions of dollars - which already have been collected - do not have to be refunded to taxpayers.
The court said "While the evidence showed the State has failed to ensure municipal assessments every five years, it did not show that this failure resulted in disproportionate taxation.We thus reverse the trial court's declaration that the statewide property tax is unconstitutional as applied, and, accordingly, reverse its order requiring the State to return all of the statewide property taxes already collected.
Justices Dalainis, Duggan and Nadeau were the three justices who made up the majority. Chief Justice David Brock and Justice John Broderick cast the two dissenting votes. In a scathing opinion, Brock and Broderick said the other three justices have made it nearly impossible to successfully challenge taxes on constitutional grounds. However, they said they would have let the tax remain in place for two more years to give lawmakers time to fix it.
They also said they would not have ordered the state to repay the money, but would have left it to the trial court to determine if taxpayers received refunds.There was immediate reaction to today's ruling at the statehouse.
script iconTax SUPCO Reax
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We'll have more discussion and reaction to today's Supreme Court Ruling in just a few minutes.
script iconIntro Richard
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The House is still in session at this hour, debating the latest education funding proposal. It's been a long and contentious debate. Producer Richard Ager is in Concord now and joins us live by phone with an update.
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Thank you Richard Ager, on the phone live from Concord.
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House Legislators want the state to be able to make up its own mind when it comes to the gasoline additive M-T-B-E.
M-T-B-E is used to make gas burn cleaner. The long-term effects on people are unknown, but it's been shown to cause cancer in animals. Recent evidence shows some of New Hampshire's public water supplies and private wells contain some level of the chemical. Today, lawmakers passed a bill which directs the state Department of Environmental Services to ask federal regulators for permission to opt out of the requirements no later than 2004.
But that was soon enough for some lawmakers who pushed for an even earlier deadline.

script iconIntro Mt. Washington
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For the second day in a row, temperature records have been broken in New Hampshire.
The mercury hit 91 in Concord just before two this afternoon, overtaking the previous record of 90, set back in 1942. To find out just how warm it got on Mout Washington today and what's in store for us tonight and tomorrow we checked in a few minutes ago with Brian Post at the Mount Washington Obserrvatory.

script iconIntro SUPCO
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As we mentioned earlier, the New Hampshire Supreme Court has declared the statewide property tax constitutional.
Here to talk about the court ruling County Commissioner Leo Lessard and Senator Beverly Hollingworth of Hampton.

script iconThank guests
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Thanks to my guests Senator Bev Holingworth and Leo Lessard.
script iconTomorrow
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Tomorrow, Revenue Commissioner Stanley Arnold meets with a working group and revaluation of New Hampshire
property will be the main topic.
script iconBusiness Outlook
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Stocks fell today as worries about the U.S. economy returned following a big jump in unemployment claims and record job layoffs.
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The Dow dropped about 80 points to close at ten-thousand-796. The New York Stock Exchange fell close to 7 points. The American Stock exchange closed down over almost 11.The Nasdaq was off about 74 points at 21-hundred-46 And the S-and-P 500 posted a nearly 19-point loss, closing at 12-hundred-48.
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Here's a look of stocks of interest to New Hampshire investors. Cabletron closed down one point eight. Fisher Scientific was down 2-point-one- five. Raytheon was down 1-point nine-oh. Teradyne was down 1-point one nine. And Texas Instruments was down almost two dollars.
script iconPaper Payment
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The Pulp and Paper Company of America has agreed to pay the city of Berlin 100-thousand dollars a week for the remainder of the year. The company owes the city approximately one-point-four million for sewer services and city taxes. The paper company is still trying to get a 26 million dollar tax abatement from the city. The city turned the company down last year, and the dispute is headed to court.


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Ratepayers will be happy to hear that the House passed a bill today ensuring they won't get stuck with the cost of decommissioning the Seabrook nuclear plant. The plant which is scheduled to be sold as part of the state's deregulation plan would require buyers to offer proof they can pay to close the plant. In addition, they would be required to pay 50 million dollars up front, as well as monthly payments later. Decommissioning is projected to start in 2026.
script iconIntro Heal Thyself
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This week we continue our coverage of the Dartmouth Community Medical School's program "Heal Thyself". The topic this week: appetite and metabolism.
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The Dartmouth Community Medical School forums continue for the next three weeks. While the forums are sold out, you can see summaries here on NH Outlook, and see and hear the complete presentation on our website at nhptv.org.
script iconIntro Auction
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Starting tomorrow night New Hampshire Outlook will not be seen for a week as we make room for the annual Spring Television auction. It's a huge 9 day long shopping spree for you the viewers and a major fundraiser for New Hampshire Public Television. It's also an opportunity for more than a thousand volunteers to help their public station. Producer Chip Neal takes us behind the scenes as some of our co-workers and volunteers prepare for the biggest event of year.
script iconTag Auction
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The NHPTV Spring Auction starts at 5:30 tomorrow night and goes for 9 nights, so we won't see you again until Monday May 14th. In the meantime be sure to tune in to the auction and bid on your favorite items. You can get more information about the NHPTV Spring Auction, including how to become an express bidder, on our web site www.nhptv.org. And that's where you can get information on tonight's program, links to guests and interviews and take our poll.You can also watch streaming video of our show!
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And, if you have a story idea or comment on our program you can call us at 800-639-2721.
script iconGoodnight
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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 Ocean Wilds.
We'll be back tomorrow at 7:30.
Good night.
script iconfounders
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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
script iconTomorrow
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Monday on New Hampshire Outlook. Girls on the Run. we'll show you the innovative program designed to get young women on the move. Join us Monday only on New Hampshire Outlook.
script iconPromo Mon 7:30
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Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook.
Girls on the Run. we'll show you the innovative program designed to get young women on the move.
Tonight at 7:30 for New Hampshire Outlook.
script iconPROMO Mon
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Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook.
Girls on the Run. we'll show you the innovative program designed to get young women on the move.
Join us tonight at 11:30 only on New Hampshire Outlook.
script iconNational Prayer Day
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Today people around the country marked National Prayer Day. The day was recognized in New Hampshire by a group gathered in front of the statehouse today in Concord.
script iconWhat's Next
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Here's what's next for
Property Tax-Next
jhmjayhofn
Key revaluation questions left unanswered
-- Revenue Commissioner Stanley Arnold meets
tomorrow with a working group and revaluation of New Hampshire
property will be the main topic.
The State Supreme Court today upheld the state property tax but
said the valuation system needs to be fixed.
The state Constitution calls for valuation at least once every
five years. Superior Court Judge Richard Galway and the two
dissenters to yesterday's Supreme Court ruling say that means full
revaluations of all property every five years.
But the high court majority disagreed. It said constitutional
language must be interpreted based on what it meant when it was
written. It said that in 1784 the provision referred to legislators
assigning tax values to various classes of property.
Arnold's department recognizes three ways to update property
values: full revaluation, including outside inspections and
sometimes inside inspections; partial revaluation, which is a full
revaluation of a neighborhood or a class of property; and sales
analysis, which uses numbers from property sales.
Arnold said the court decision probably requires at minimum, one
of those three every five years.
AP-NY-05-03-01 1718EDT
script iconIntro Calendar
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There will be lots of things going on around the state this weekend from art to music to a celebration of the daffodil. Here's a look at some of them.
script iconCalendar
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An original production based on the lives of New England mill workers,
performed at the Pontine Theatre. Performances are Fri. & Sat. 8p.m., Sun.
3p.m. Tickets: $18-$15.
The Flume Gorge Opens
sat may 6
271-3536
Spring Faire 2001 - Bedford
Thu, May 3, 2001 - Sun, May 6, 2001
Phone: 603-472-9788
The Spring Faire Gift & Gourmet Shop will feature 40 artists and craftsmen. Find
anthing from pottery to ever popular chocolates. Free admission. Time:
10am-4pm.
Vanguard Jazz Orchestra - Plymouth
Fri, May 4, 2001
Phone: 603-535-2787
The house band of NYC's famed Village Vanguard performs classic big band
jazz at the Silver Cultural Arts Center, Plymouth State College.
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script iconPromo Mon 11:30
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Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook.
Tonight at 11:30 for New Hampshire Outlook.
script iconTomorrow
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Tomorrow on New Hampshire Outlook -
script iconDisabled Criminals
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AP-NH-XGR--Disabled-Crimes
Senate considers group home plan for developmentally disabled
criminals
-- The police chief in Laconia
wants New Hampshire to build group homes for developmentally
disabled criminals.
A bill making its way through the state Senate calls for
spending about four million dollars over three years to lock up
and treat mentally retarded or brain damaged people who commit
serious crimes.
The money would expand a program that provides six beds at the
prison in Laconia by adding 28 more spots in Concord, Keene and
Manchester.
Laconia Police Chief Bill Baker says his officers see the need
for such facilities nearly every week.
He says one man in his city has been known to commit crimes in
hopes that police will arrest him and give him a warm bed for the
night.
Under current law, mentally retarded people who are physically
or sexually aggressive can not be tried for a crime if they are
found mentally incompetent.
Local mental health agencies are required to oversee them, but
agencies say they don't have the money to do so.




AP-N
script iconElderly Issues
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rman
Study: financial worries top seniors' list
-- Advocates for New Hampshire's senior citizens
say lower prescription drug prices would greatly help ease elderly
residents' most pressing fears.
A recent study by New Hampshire's chapter of the AARP found that
the biggest worry among those over 60 years of age was the fear of
living on a fixed income while inflation erodes their assets.
The study's authors say that while the price of prescription
drugs didn't top the list of worries, the problem should be a top
priority for the state.
At a conference about elderly issues yesterday, officials
discussed ways to pool resources to lower prices for senior
citizens. Governor Jeanne Shaheen told the group she's waiting for
a federal waiver that would let New Hampshire offer discount
prescriptions to seniors who are financially strapped.





script iconAffordable Housing
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The Manchester Neighborhood Housing Services celebrates a milestone today. Renovations to one of the two Elm Street brownstones which will provide affordable housing to low income families is complete. Over the next few weeks and months tenants will move into the 140 - year old building. Half a dozen nonprofit organizations were involved in the project, which is one of the largest of its kind ever undertaken in the state.
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