Top stories & shows for July 22 - 29:
1. Gov. Hassan Signs Medical Marijuana Bill Into Law
Governor Hassan signed a bill Tuesday, making New Hampshire the 19th state to legalize the use of medicinal marijuana. She says the law breaks new ground by giving seriously ill patients what they need.
2. Growing Pains: Can Demand For Local Meat Sustain N.H.’s Three New Slaughterhouses
According to the USDA, Americans are producing and eating more locally-raised food every year. But the market for local meat has trailed behind the market for local produce. Until recently, reasoning has been that there’s a shortage of local slaughterhouses. But as three slaughterhouses open their doors in NH this year,industry-wide studies show that more slaughterhouses may not be the answer, after all.
3. When An Emergency Room Closes Its Doors
Folks in the Souhegan Valley aren’t happy that Milford Medical Center, open since 1976, is ending its emergency services. The announcement from St. Joseph Hospital, which operates the facility, comes after months of speculation.
4. Gorham Opens Arms, Streets (Ideally Cash Registers) To ATV Tourists
State officials have given final approval for ATVs to drive on parts of Main Street and Route 2 in Gorham. The idea is to make it easy for ATV riders to enjoy a network of trails in the North Country called “Ride the Wilds” and then easily get into town.
5. Citing Low Participation, PSNH To Phase Out Green Energy Program
Regulators have given Public Service of New Hampshire, the state’s largest electric utility, permission to phase out its EarthSmart Green rate, which allows customers pay more to support renewable energy. PSNH asked for relief from the program because just 148 customers are signed up; that’s about .04 percent percent of their customers.
6. Depression-Era Pool At Center Of UNH, Durham Debate
At the heart of a heated debate between UNH and Durham residents is a swimming pool. During the Great Depression, the pool was built over a popular pond as part of the New Deal. Now, the university is pushing to upgrade its facilities and downsize the pool.
7. A Summer Full Of Little Princes
Though known mostly as a children’s story, The Little Prince was written during the escalation of WWII and contains clever criticism of society, lessons on human nature and whimsical watercolor illustrations. The Little Prince has been adapted for radio, film, ballet, and opera, and stage – including a production at Andy’s Summer Playhousein Wilton, New Hampshire in the late 1990s
8. Getting Serious About Cycling In NH
As more New Hampshire communities adopt bike-friendly policies, more Granite Staters are taking to two wheels instead of four, encouraged by programs such as "Complete Streets" and new rail trails. But along with expansion has come some tension -- with cars and pedestrians -- as well as debates over how scarce resources will be spent.
9. Burning Man Of The Ocean: Seasteading’s Ephemerisle Explored
Every year, a small fleet of house- boats, yachts, and make-shift floating homes anchor together off the California coast for the Ephemerisle festival…it’s billed as a “floating celebration of community, learning, art, and seasteading.”
10. ADHD On The Rise
Almost one-in-ten New Hampshire children is diagnosed with some type of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, putting us around the middle of the pack nationally. But those numbers may rise as New England and New Hampshire show a particular predilection toward labeling our kids with ADHD. These expected increases have once again raised a long, ongoing conversation here about what this disorder is - and what it isn’t.
