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 Preshow Return to index of stories... |
Next on New Hampshire Outlook controversy at a state conference on disability We'll bring you the latest on new attempts to revitalize the North Country economy. and. we'll clear the air on how the state is spending tobacco settlement money. Just where is it going? |
| Headlines Return to index of stories... |
I'm Allison McNair. Welcome to New Hampshire Outlook. |
| Intro Disabilities Return to index of stories... |
Should severely disabled newborns be allow to die? Should employers be allowed to administer genetic tests to job applicants? Those were just some of the controversial issues debated at a conference on genetics and bioethics held by the Governor's Commission on Disability. As producer Richard Ager tells us, much of the controversy centered around the presence of one man. |
| Disabilities Conf. Return to index of stories... |
Bite: Tape 1 09;08:52 Inclusion instead of segregation is at long last the way our society has begun to show we value the lives of persons with disabilities. Track: The conference opened with an affirmation that rights for the disabled have come a long way - but still have a long way to go. Bite: Tape 1 09:50 Who knows, one of these days we may find ourselves not mentioning disability at all. And just refer to someone as Jack the plumber or Nancy the attorney… Track: But how we get to that future - and which philosophy will shape it - are questions that are unresolved - and hotly debated. Bite: 09;35:30 So is it true then that prenatal diagnosis sends a powerful message that we seek to eliminate future persons with disabilities? Well, in sense, I guess that is true. People using prenatal diagnosis are preferring to have children without disabilities. It says nothing about their attitude toward people with existing disabilities. Track: The decision to invite philosopher and bioethicist Peter Singer angered many disabled rights advocates. Standup: Tape 4 12:28:42 Peter Singer has long attracted attention for his controversial views. In 1990, his book "Animal Liberation" helped launch the modern animal rights movement. More recently, his writings on bioethics have drawn fire, in particular, his contention that sometimes is is appropriate to kill an infant. Track: Singer emphasizes that such cases involve severely disabled babies. Bite: 11:43:25 If you decide that it's better that an infant not survive, you ought to be able to make sure that infant dies quickly and humanely. And to be totally blunt about it, that means killing the infant. That means giving it an overdose of morphine or something like that. Soundup: Tape 2 10;11:07 "Show your other side - I love life too. " "I love life too." Track: The fact that Singer expressed his views at a conference for the disabled led to protests. Bite: Tape 2 10:15:22 I believe that my child, who has Down syndrome, is a valuable contribution to society. He is to our family. He's helped us to grow immensely with - just valuing life. Bite; Tape 2 10;19:46 This is rather like having - say in 1938, you had a forum on the future of the Jewish community in Europe, and you invited Hermann Goebells to speak about the impact of German oven technology on the future of European Jews. It's totally incongruous. Track: A few protested by turning their backs to Singer - but most were deeply engaged in the debate. Some even agreed with Singer that some lives are not worth living. Bite: Tape 3 11;37:35 If we have the power, and you can check - test your genes to see if you have it - why would you put a child through such suffering when you can adopt someone who's being left in a dumpster by a teenager? Bite: Tape 4 11:52:11 I'd like to point out that when a person without a disability talks about wanting to die, feeling that their life is not worth living, hating themselves, we call it depression. And it's treatable. Bite: Tape 3 11:33:20 Lots of people have lives they consider terrible. Either because they have spina bifida, or all kinds of other reasons. The task is to make it possible for people to have the best lives they can by ending discrimination, by ending stigma, by ending the contempt we feel. Bite: Tape 4 12:17:46 Our society is in a state of flux about human life and when it is to be protected. I think the Supreme Court decision on abortion threw open a whole lot of issues. Now we have questions about embryos and stem cells. We also have questions about the other end of life - about physician assisted suicide. Essdentially, we're in a period of change - where we're going from a more conservative - perhaps distinctively Christian ethic about the sanctity of all life - to a different ethic where we're being a little more flexible. We're making decisions at both ends of life - and we're asking ourselves how can we reconcile on the one hand what we think you ought to do in these cases, and on the other hand this traditional ethic to which we've paid lip service for so long. Track: Despite the controversy, conference organizers say the debate was open and vigorous - the kind of exercise that is essential for any society to make a conscious decision about its future. For NH Outlook, I'm Richard Ager. |
| Manchester Airport Return to index of stories... |
New security plans are in place at airports around the country. And that's true for three airports in New Hampshire. 1:16-1:20 |
| Navy - personnel Return to index of stories... |
The U S Navy is bringing in extra personnel and boats to guard the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The Coast Guard has been patrolling at the shipyard around the clock since the September 11th terrorist attacks. With the Navy's added assistance, Coast Guard Crews will be able to keep up intensified patrols in Maine and New Hampshire. The Coast Guard is also escorting tanker ships upriver. And it has been boarding ships from foreign ports to ensure their crew lists match those on board. |
| Portland Connection Return to index of stories... |
The F-B-I is asking for help in getting more information about two of the terrorists - Mohamed Atta and Abdul Aziz Al-Omari. A timeline of the men's activities in Portland Maine has been established by the bureau. The two were at the Comfort Inn, went to Pizza Hut, got cash from two ATM machines,and drove a 2001 Blue Nissan Altima rental car with Mass plates. The FBI has posted images taken from security cameras and a distinctive shirt similiar to one worn by one of the hijackers. Anyone who can provide additional information should contact the Boston FBI office. The photographs can be viewed at www -dot-fbi-dot gov. |
| Friday in terrorism Return to index of stories... |
The White House Friday issued a fresh warning that Americans remain under threat of terrorist attack. Intelligence officials believe Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida terrorist group will attempt a second attack on the U.S. According to a White House spokesman, the President says the American people have to prepare for casualties in this war. Meanwhile the U-S continues to build its anti-terrorist coaltion. It has the support of Eastern European and Baltic countries. But opposition to a military strike against Afghanistan is growing. Malaysia's foreign minister says the country will lobby the 56 other members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference to oppose the expected US-led strikes. And a Florida man has died after inhaling a deadly form of the disease anthrax. He is the first person in a quarter-century to contract the bacteria. Officials Friday said there's no evidence of terrorism and that this appears to be an isolated case. |
| Nashua smoking Return to index of stories... |
SS:OTS/smoking All this week we've focused on tobacco issues in the state. The legislature is considering a statewide ban in dining establishments. The city of Keene is the only municipality with an ordinance against smoking in restaurants. Now, the city of Nashua is one step closer to being smoke free too. Thursday night The Personal / Administrative Affairs Committee of the Nashua Board of Aldermen voted in favor of a smoking ban in all city restaurants. The vote came after several hours of public testimony from doctors, smoke free organizations and restaurant owners. For those in favor of the ordinance, smoking is an issue of public health. For those opposed, it's an issue of civil rights. |
| Nashua tag Return to index of stories... |
The issue passed in committee and now goes on to the full board of aldermen for consideration on October 23rd. Nashua currently has 66 restaurants that have implemented their own smoke free policy. |
| Intro Smoking5 Return to index of stories... |
In 1998, the federal government settled what would be the largest lawsuit in U.S. history. It cost the major tobacco companies $246 billion dollars. In exchange, all 50 states agreed to drop or waive claims against them. Every state would receive a portion of the settlement money with no strings attached. However, the intention of those who fought for it was that a portion would be used for prevention and cessation programs, as well as the costs associated with smoking related illnesses. Tonight, in our final Clearing the Air segment, we take a look at where the tobacco settlement money is going in New Hampshire. |
| Smoking5 Return to index of stories... |
Tobacco Show #5 SCRIPT Katie #1 clip "I would like to have done what some courageous states did and put all of the tobacco settlement money into health care." Narration: Katie Wheeler is a state senator from Durham. She's concerned with what's been happening to NH's portion of the 1998 tobacco settlement money - 79 million dollars since 1999. Katie #2 "In NH, we put almost all in the general fund. We barely saved $3 million." Narration: At the time of the settlement, the Centers for Disease Control recommended that the state put a minimum of $11 million dollars towards a comprehensive tobacco prevention program. The legislature allocated only three million. Fran #3 "Where did the rest go ? The rest of the money was used for education funding." Narration: The $3 million dollars that was allocated, was placed in the Tobacco Use Prevention Fund, managed by the Department of Health and Human Services. It's an annual non-lapsing fund, which means that money can be carried over from one fiscal year to the next. Or at least that's the way the legislation was written. Carluccio: #4 "Less than 6 months into the first year's allocation, the legislators chose to cut 50 percent or $1.5 million from the tobacco prevention fund and they did that, not in a very direct and honest way, but through a footnote in the budget." Narration: Debbie Carluccio says the footnote indicated that half of the $3 million dollars was being taken back. The reason? Lawmakers felt the money was sitting idle. Fran #5 "The problem was that evidently they have all kinds of rule-making processes that they had to go through, decision-making. And they just didn't get around to spending it." Debbie #6 "The reality was here, those funds had been available in the Tobacco Prevention Fund for less than 6 months and were in the process of being allocated at that time. The legislature simply saw that fund as an easy target." Brook #7 "We certainly had planned to put that money in the hands of communities and people who had prepared applications. It was a shock that it wouldn't be occurring." Fran #8 "You put legislation in that actually changes prior legislation. So it wasn't illegally done. It was an actual piece of law that was circumvented and deleted that responsibility for that particular period of time for that amount of money. But then it says it goes back to $3 million, effective July 1st." Katie #9 "It wasn't a violation of the language but it was a violation of the spirit. Certainly we were allowed to do it. We could pass the budget anyway we want to and it hadn't been expended so it could be interpreted to say 'well, if it hadn't been expended then you didn't need it.' I felt it was totally inappropriate." Narration: The settlement is scheduled to provide New Hampshire with approximately 40 million dollars annually, in perpetuity. That's providing the tobacco companies continue making large profits. Barry 1 -13:40-14:01 "It's built into the legislation that if the revenue to the tobacco industry goes down, payments to the states go down. So, we've created a situation where many of these states are relying on this, it's embedded in their operating budget and they really have no impetus to reduce the sale of tobacco in their states." Brook #10 "It's our number one public health priority." Narration: Brook Dupee is an assistant director at the Department of Health and Human Services. He believes that spending more of the settlement money on a comprehensive tobacco prevention program will save taxpayers money in the long-run. Brook #11 "95 million dollars of the state's Medicaid costs on an annual basis is directly attributable to smoking. So for lung cancer, for heart disease, or other diseases, that's a rather a large sum of money out of our Medicaid budget." Fran #12 "How much of a priority is this ? Some people look at the tobacco money and say 'well that should be used for prevention,' others look at it and say 'we've been carrying the state budget, carrying the burden of that $90 million because it's not all federal Medicaid dollars,' the state pays a portion of that. And many people just felt we were finally being reimbursed for an expense that we had been paying as taxpayers for some time." Katie #13 "It was not supposed to be retroactive because that doesn't do any good at all. What you need to do is invest for the future, to stop the long-term care costs in the future. We can't help what happened in the past but we should try to prevent it from happening in the future and we know we can. But it takes the will, the political will to do it, it takes education and it takes money." Narration: And states that spend the most money have seen the best results. States like Florida, Oregon and Massachusetts. Brook #14 "But the granddaddy of them all is California, they've been active since 1989. They're seeing not just a reduction in the use of tobacco but they're seeing the holy grail - an actual reduction in heart disease and cancer. So the evidence as you start stacking state after state is becoming very clear, very compelling." Narration: For some NH legislators, that evidence is what they'll need to see if funding is to be increased. Fran - 15:34ish-15:45ish "This legislature committed 3 million and we did fund it for the next two years. Now, if they come in with great results and say 'You know we project we could do a lot better if we had $4 million or $6 million,' a future legislature could do that." Doug #15 "I would hope that in 2-3 years, we'll see a change and we'll be able to prove to them that we can be effective. And I think more and more organizations are coming on board and realizing that if we prevent tobacco use or get people who are currently smoking to quit, you will see a major change in the costs in NH and also a much healthier population." |
| NOVA tease Return to index of stories... |
This week we've taken a close look at tobacco issues in the state. Next week here on New Hampshire Public Television, NOVA looks at whether modern science and technology are capable of creating a safe cigarette. That's October 8 at 8pm here on New Hampshire Public Television. |
| Business Outlook Return to index of stories... |
President Bush Friday encouraged Congress to pass an economic stimulus package. That helped boost blue chip stocks before the day's end. |
| Wall Street Stocks Return to index of stories... |
Tech stocks also rose, despite earnings warnings from Sun Microsystems, Advanced Micro Devices and Gateway. The Dow closed up close to 59 points from yesterday, and was up 272 points for the week. The New York Stock Exchange was down a fraction of a point. The American Stock Exchange finished the day up over four and a hlaf points- the Nasdaq Cmposite was up close to 8 points and S and P 500 was up 1point 75. |
| NH Stocks Return to index of stories... |
Here's a look at stocks of interest to New Hampshire investors. Enterasys was up 89 cents. Fleet Boston Financial was off a dollar 42 cents a share. Granite State Bankshares slipped 95 cents. Shares of Lockheed ended the day up 2 dollars and 13 cents. State Street Corporation was down a dollar 30. |
| Toss Theresa Return to index of stories... |
A big day for the economy in the North Country. Several important announcements were made. Outlook Correpondent Theresa Kennett joined us earlier by videophone to tell us about today's meetings. |
| Intro Mt. Washington Return to index of stories... |
It sure felt like summer around the state on Friday. Will the good weather hold for the weekend? We checked in with Katie Koster at the Mt. Washington Observatory to find out. |
| mt washington Return to index of stories... |
Mt. Washington Observatory\Friday on the Summit\Mostly cloudy \High: 50 degrees\Peak Wind: W 55 mph\\Visibility: 15 miles Overnight\North\Increasing clouds\Chance of showers after midnight\Lows: mid 50s\Winds: S 5 - 10 mph Overnight\South\Increasing cloudiness\Chance of showers late \Lows: 55 - 60\Winds: S 5 - 10 mph Saturday\Statewide\Mostly cloudy\Morning showers\Highs: 55 - 65\Winds: S 15 - 25 mph Sunday\North\Mostly cloudy\Highs: Upper 40s\ Sunday\South\Partly sunny\Windy\Highs:50 - 55\ |
| Goodnight Return to index of stories... |
That's it for this edition of our program. For all of us here at New Hampshire Public Television, I'm Ally McNair. Thanks for joining us. We'll see you next time on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| 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 |
| key: health Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time:10/05/01 /2200 HOST: Allison McNair Length: 4:31 minutes In addition to a summary of the day's top New Hampshire stories, this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, included a report on a conference held by the Governor's commission regarding genetics and bioethics. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Richard Ager NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Michael Jenkins\Governor's Commission on Disability Prof. Peter Singer\Bioethicist - Princeton University Brenda Franzen\Mother of disabled child Daniel Itse\Father of disabled child Susan St. Cyr\Suffers from Dystonia 2:36 - 2:44 Rachel Tanenhaus\Conference participant Prof. Adrienne Asch\Biology & Ethics - Wellesley College NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time:10/05/01 /2200 HOST: Allison McNair Length: 6:12 minutes In addition to a summary of the day's top New Hampshire stories, this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, included a segment, fifth in a five part series, about smoking in New Hampshire. The segment takes an in-depth look at tobacco lawsuit money and its usage. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Susan Hajdu NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Rep. Fran Wendleboe\R-Belknap Debbie Carluccio\Alliance For Smoke Free NH Brook Dupee\Health and Human Services Senator Katie Wheeler\D-Durham Doug Berry\American Lung Association |
| key: transportation Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time:10/05/01 /2200 HOST: Allison McNair Length: 1:57 minutes In addition to a summary of the day's top New Hampshire stories, this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, included a report on the heightened security in New Hampshire's airports since the attacks on September 11. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Allison McNair NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Capt. Jonathan Slater\Army National Guard Kevin Dillon\Manchester Airport Director Gwen Fozard\Air Traveler |
| key: politics: local Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time:10/05/01 /2200 HOST: Allison McNair Length: 1:59 minutes In addition to a summary of the day's top New Hampshire stories, this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, included a report on the controversy surrounding a vote in favor of a smoking ban. The Personal/Administrative Affairs Committee of the Nashua Board of Aldermen approved a ban on smoking in all restaurants in Nashua, N.H. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Allison McNair NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: David Quinn\Nashua Restaurant Owner Heather Mckillop\Student, Nashua High School Heather McKillop\"Students Working Against Tobacco" Kevin Keefe\Nashua Dick Anthony\Hollis, Cancer Survivor Brian McCarthy \Alderman, Ward |
| key:economy Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time:10/05/01 /2200 HOST: Allison McNair Length: 4:14 minutes In addition to a summary of the day's top New Hampshire stories, this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, included a segment covering a important economic meetings taking place in the North Country. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Theresa Kennett NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: |
| website Return to index of stories... |
For information on our program, and links to our guests and interviews, visit our web site at nhptv.org. 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. |
| Monday Return to index of stories... |
On the next edition of New Hampshire Outlook - Layoffs are leaving many people out of work and unprepared to handle their debt. Get a financial fitness update. Monday at 10 only on NH Outlook. |
| Tonight 10 Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. Is the state spending tobacco settlement money on prevention ? We'll clear the air. tonight at 10 only on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| Monday 10 Return to index of stories... |
Monday on New Hampshire Outlook. Layoffs are leaving many people out of work and unprepared to handle their debt. Get a financial fitness update. Monday at 10. only on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| Offering Respite Return to index of stories... |
The Lakes Region is offering "rest and relaxation" for the emergency first reponders who were on the scene of last month's attacks at the World Trade Center. Spearheaded by the Lakes Region General Hospital - civic, religious, and business leaders, along with state and local officials, have formed the Lakes Region Respite project. For now, the group is concentrating on inviting families of the first responders who went into the buildings, and the families of those responders who were killed in building collapses to come to the Lakes Region. The group is offering a chance for those people to "decompress" for three days. |
| Pease Jobs Return to index of stories... |
The former Pease Air Force base tops a list of 71 closed military bases in job creation according to a Department of Defense study. Since the base closed in 1991, development has created more than 45-hundred new civilian jobs. A Pease official says when current construction is completed, there will be 87-hundred civilian employees at the Pease International Tradeport. |
| Littleton Hitchener Return to index of stories... |
News that eight percent of their workforce is about to be laid off may have caught Littleton officials by surprise, but they were not unprepared. Hitchiner Manufacturing announced last week it will close its Littleton plant next year. Officials moved quickly after the announcement. Within hours they had notified a task force that they had a "blueprint" ready to help workers deal with the shutdown. Officials say the town has dealt with major economic changes twice before, and they are confident they can handle this situation, too. |