CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Most of the Republican candidates hoping to challenge the Democratic incumbent in New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District say they would rise above partisan bickering if they make it to Washington, but one says arguing is part of the job.

“It’s an adversarial process, just like in court,” attorney and Manchester Alderman Joseph Kelly Levasseur said Thursday. “There’d be a lot less fighting if the Democrats just listened to our common sense and did what the Republicans asked.”

Levasseur and four others competing in Tuesday’s GOP primary faced each other in a debate at New England College, where a panelist cited a poll in which nearly 90% of Americans said they believe Republicans and Democrats are more interested in fighting each other than solving problems. Aside from Levasseur, they said they would work to regain voters’ trust by staying positive and cooperating with colleagues.

Common understanding comes through trust and open communication, said Hollie Noveletsky, a business owner, nurse and former U.S. Army reservist.

“It’s also important to find like-minded people in Congress, not the ones that are standing in front of the camera asking for five minutes of fame, but the ones who are rolling up their sleeves every day and doing the hard work,” she said.

Business executive and Army veteran Chris Bright agreed, saying uniting the country is a top priority. Career politicians have eroded the public’s trust, he said.

“I was taught at West Point that you wear your rank not for personal gain but to advance mission of people,” he said. “So it’s about putting the needs of the country first. In the Arrmy, we call that selfless service.”

Congress gets nothing done because it’s full of extremists, said businessman Walter McFarlane.

“We need some moderates to help bridge the aisle,” he said. “It doesn’t mean we abandon the ideals we hold dear, but it does mean that we reach across the aisle.”

Former executive councilor and state Sen. Russell Prescott said he has attracted broad support, including from independent voters and Libertarians, in part due to his positive attitude.

“Two years ago in a debate, I said, ‘If we could just along, we could accomplish a lot,’” he said, decrying the negative infighting he recalled from his campaign for the same seat two years ago.

Prescott was one of 10 candidates who sought the GOP nomination in 2002. The winner was Karoline Leavitt, who lost to Democrat Chris Pappas, who has held the seat since 2018 and faces no significant challenge in his upcoming primary.

Max Abramson and Andy Martin also will be on the Republican ballot.

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NEW JERSEY — We know that New Jersey pizza is hard to beat, though another Northeastern state seems to think otherwise — and that heated up social media conversation between state leaders.

On Wednesday, Connecticut Gov. Ned LaMont shared photos of new road signs along several highways, including one declaring the Constitution State to be “the pizza capital of the United States.”

That particular claim to fame, which now greets travelers on I-95 and I-84 headed out of New York, didn’t sit well with Garden State Gov. Phil Murphy.

“These updated signs reflect our state pride, showcasing some of the best of what we do in Connecticut,” LaMont said in a post on X.com. “They’re a fun way to greet visitors entering our state.”

And while some studies say Connecticut has the most pizza stores per capita — and though it’s home to the world-famous Mystic Pizza — Murphy was not impressed.

His response? “You’re not even the pizza capital of the tri-state area.”

New Jersey’s governor doubled down with a video message on Thursday — which was National Cheese Pizza Day — holding a piece of cheese pizza on a plate, and even poking fun at how some Connecticut residents eat their pizza pies with a knife and fork.

“These guys in Connecticut claim something which is…I don’t get at all,” he said. “We all know it’s in Jersey.”

And before taking a big bite to prove his point, Murphy paraphrased his now-viral moment from the Democratic National Convention. “We’re from Jersey, baby.” he said. “And they’re not.”

We’re from the pizza capital of the world, and you’re not.

Especially you, Connecticut.

Happy National Cheese Pizza Day, New Jersey! pic.twitter.com/kLj4YL8Hle
— Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) September 5, 2024

A Pittsburgh radiologist has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of possessing and attempting to transport child pornography. 

The U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Pennsylvania, announced the two-count indictment on Sept. 4, with 53-year-old Ashok Panigraphy, MD, the sole defendant. In November 2022, the physician allegedly attempted to transport materials depicting the sexual exploitation of a minor in interstate commerce, according to the indictment. 

Panigraphy had worked as a professor and radiologist-in-chief at UPMC Children’s Hospital but was terminated in November after law enforcement shared word of the investigation, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He received his MD from Boston University and completed his residency and post-doctoral work in pediatric radiology at the University of California, Los Angeles. 

Panigraphy entered a not-guilty plea on Sept. 3 and was released for home detention on a $50,000 bond. A judge ordered the physician to remain within the Northern District of Illinois, western Pennsylvania for court appearances, and eastern PA for attorney meetings only, the Daily Voice reported. He’s also permitted to seek psychological treatment and use his personal computer, with restrictions. 

The law provides for a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 or both. The final sentence imposed will be based on the seriousness of the offense and past criminal history, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Homeland Security conducted the investigation in Pittsburgh and Chicago leading up to the indictment. Panigraphy’s case was brought by authorities as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in 2006 to combat the “growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse.” 

An indictment only represents an accusation, with the radiologist presumed innocent until proven guilty, authorities noted.