The Warner resident, standing in front of the New Hampshire State House, was “way past the point” of worrying only about the Trump administration’s impact on the issues that are most important to her: education and reproductive rights.
“It’s everything,” McNeil said. “It’s the environment … He’s going after the food pantries, USAID, things that are just humanity.”
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McNeil joined a sea of protesters that covered the State House lawn and spilled out onto Main Street in Concord on Saturday as hundreds of people from across the state rallied against President Donald Trump, Elon Musk and cuts to federal spending, programs and jobs.
This was at least the sixth protest in Concord since Trump took office less than three months ago and was the largest by far, with organizers estimating that more than 2,000 people attended. Saturday’s was one of many demonstrations to take place across New Hampshire and the country, set up by an organization called 50501 – 50 Protests, 50 States, 1 Movement.
Kathy Grondine, a Litchfield resident, said she came to the capital city to protest because of Trump’s cuts to things like medical research and children’s services.
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“The whole country is just making me very sad right now,” Grondine said, “and so I wanted to speak up around how I feel the Constitution is not being followed right now, and nobody’s stepping up.”
Grondine, an administrator for the state’s Division for Children, Youth and Families who protested in her personal capacity. She’s concerned about Medicare and Medicaid – especially for her sister, who has cancer.
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“I worry about people who need it for treatment,” Grondine said. “I have a number of people in my life who have cancer, and that really bothers me.”
Several people also said they’re upset about the tariffs recently placed on dozens of countries, which led to a steep drop in the stock market in the days prior to the protest.
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“It’s affecting everybody, I know. because I hang out with people who are the same age, who are retirement age,” said Chris Halvorson, a Peterborough resident. “We’re living off essentially what is the stock market.”
Halvorson said she chose not to look at the numbers in her retirement account yet because “I didn’t want to be depressed.”
Rally-goers also called on their members of Congress to take action. Andrew Peyton, a 22-year-old from Manchester, stood near Main Street, holding up a sign that encouraged New Hampshire’s senators and representatives to “fight back.” He said he doesn’t like that U.S. senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan have voted to confirm Trump’s cabinet members, whom he views as “unqualified” to lead the country. Both Shaheen and Hassan voted in favor of 10 Trump nominees and against 12.
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“I think that voting for those and kind of supporting anything in the administration is a dereliction of duty,” Peyton said. “I want to see just more activism, more obstruction … I would like to see a lot more from them in terms of obstructing the current agenda, as well as just coming up with solutions to the problems that they’re currently facing.”
Charlotte Matherly is the statehouse reporter for the Concord Monitor and Monadnock Ledger-Transcript in partnership with Report for America. Follow her on X at @charmatherly, subscribe to her Capital Beat newsletter and send her an email at cmatherly@cmonitor.com.
CONCORD – While Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte has said she opposes increasing highway toll rates across the state, the Senate voted Thursday to increase rates for out-of-state license plate holders.
It now goes to the House for consideration.
This would be a $1 increase for those who have out of state plates going through the tolls at Hooksett, Hampton and Bedford for out-of-state plates, a 75 cent hike for those taking Hampton’s Exit 2 and on the Spaulding turnpike at Rochester, and a 50 cent hike for those taking the exit off I-93 to Hooksett.
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An analysis in the bill shows that this would increase toll revenue by $53.3 million in fiscal year 2027 and go up each year to generate $81.4 million a year in 2036.
Senate Bill 627 passed on a voice vote with two Republicans, Senators Regina Birdsell of Hampstead and William Gannon of Sandown opposing.
Senator Mark E. McConkey, R-Freedom, moved to take the bill off the table and offered an amendment. He said the last time there was a systemwide increase to the turnpike toll was 19 years ago.
“I am sure we could all agree the cost of operations…has continued to escalate when revenue is not rising with it,” and he noted that with an enterprise fund, the state can only spend what it takes in.
The state has just completed a 10-year highway plan and there was a $400 million shortfall in projects that could not be paid for under the current income.
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McConkey said the measure would not increase tolls for New Hampshire drivers with a state license plate.
“Why don’t we ask our neighbors,” to pay a toll increase. “We are getting the best of all worlds,” by passing the bill, he said, including “protecting our residents” and having resources for improvements to the turnpike system.
Sen. Gannon, R-Sandown, asked McConkey if there are any studies on impacts near the border on businesses.
If implemented, McConkey said the state will be the 27th lowest in per mile cost still. McConkey said the bill would also increase from seven to 14 days the amount of time for those with NH license plates to pay for a toll adding there are other states that also have different rates for out-of-state users.
The Hampton toll cost would go from $2 to $3, while Hooksett and Bedford would rise from $1 to $2 for out-of-state plates.
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New Hampshire currently has the lowest rate per mile among states with tolls roads. The governor said she does not support a toll increase.
“We are not going to put a burden on drivers for a toll increase,” Ayotte said. “Families are struggling.”
WILTON, N.H. (WHDH) – A woman died in a Wilton, New Hampshire, house fire Wednesday morning, according to the New Hampshire State Fire Marshal’s Office.
At 9:08 a.m., Wilton firefighters responded to Burns Hill Road after a caller said their home was filling up with smoke. When they arrived, a single-family home was on fire and they found out two people were still inside on the second floor.
A man and a woman were both taken out of the house by firefighters and taken to Elliott Hospital. The woman was pronounced dead and the man is in serious condition.
Officials have not released the name of the victim at this time.
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At this time, investigators are looking into the cause of the fire and are trying to determine if a power outage in the area played a factor. The fire is not currently considered suspicious.
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