New Hampshire

Letter: HB 679 will harm the health of NH children

Published

9 months ago

April 21, 2025

Letter: HB 679 will harm the health of NH children

HB 679 will harm the health of Granite State childrenTo the Editor: As a professional epidemiologist with a Masters in Public Health, board president of an early childhood education center in the Upper Valley, and most importantly, mother to a 3-year-old little girl, I am deeply concerned about New Hampshire legislation that would amend childhood immunization requirements.House Bill 679 would prevent the state from including any vaccine not “shown in clinical trials to prevent transmission” of disease. It would roll back all current vaccine requirements, as none of those required have been shown to prevent transmission completely. However, all have been shown in clinical trials to be highly effective at reducing the severity of symptoms and preventing death.Viruses and bacteria are ever changing, making it incredibly difficult to correctly identify and kill them. Therefore, we use vaccines to teach our own bodies how to fight disease agents. Young kids get sick often, and although we can’t always stop illnesses from spreading, vaccines help keep them from experiencing severe illness. I want my child and her friends to be safe at school as they play and learn. I also want school staff, who provide an incredible public service, to be protected.The lack of vaccination requirements will also make my daughter’s school, along with numerous others across the state, no longer eligible for federal funding. Already on a tight budget, we need all the financial help we can get to keep operating. To protect our children, their education, and our communities, I urge legislators and Governor Kelly Ayotte to oppose HB 679.MAGGIE GRAULWest Lebanon

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New Hampshire

Civics 101: What’s happening with Venezuela?

Published

10 hours ago

January 7, 2026

Press Room

Civics 101: What’s happening with Venezuela?

On January 3, the United States military carried out what the administration called a “large-scale strike” in Caracas, Venezuela’s capital, amid several reported explosions and aerial bombardment.

Tune in to Civics 101 during Here & Now on Thursday, January 8 for a special edition breaking down one of the most unprecedented events in recent international affairs. This segment begins at 1:40 p.m. EST.

Listen to NHPR on your radio, stream us online, or just ask your smart speaker to “play NHPR.” You can also listen to this special episode of Civics 101 on demand.

In this episode, hosts Hannah McCarthy and Nick Capodice break down the history, context, and legality of what’s unfolding now — and what it could mean for Venezuela, the United States, and international law.

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New Hampshire

Letters: Democratic gaslighting won’t save NH advantage

Published

22 hours ago

January 7, 2026

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New Hampshire

Federal child care funding is being frozen across the country. New Hampshire is at risk.

Published

1 day ago

January 6, 2026

Press Room

Federal child care funding is being frozen across the country. New Hampshire is at risk.

Uncertainty surrounds federal child care subsidies for New Hampshire following a Trump administration announcement that has frozen funding nationwide. On Dec. 30, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services Jim O’Neill announced on X that the Administration of Children and Families will now “require a justification and a receipt or photo evidence” before it […]

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