A KEENE SENTINEL/SOLUTIONS JOURNALISM NETWORK/ NEW HAMPSHIRE NEWS CONNECTION COLLABORATION - Fine particle pollution has been a persistent public health issue in the town of Keene, New Hampshire, due to local topography and the number of households using wood burning stoves. A community air monitoring project is helping to track that air pollution while engaging local residents who may be at risk. Comments from Nora Traviss, professor emeritus of environmental science, Keene State College; and Michele Chalice, East Keene resident.

As the nation prepares for the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, a new poll reveals Vice President Kamala Harris’ support for Israel cost her a significant number of votes, including those of New Hampshire college students, in the 2024 election. Nearly 30% of voters who backed President Joe Biden in 2020 but did not vote in 2024 say Gaza was the reason they stayed home. Comments from University of New Hampshire students Stephanie Black and Sebastian Rowan.

A 2023 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio had scientists predicting clouds of hazardous vinyl chloride would reach New England. The wind eventually took them elsewhere but environmentalists say the incident was a warning that the chemical, linked to various cancers and found in numerous household items, should be banned. Comments from Judith Inck (ink), president, Beyond Plastics.

New Hampshire residents could see an increase in the cost of 'Forever' stamps and other postal supplies if a proposed plan by the nation's postmaster general is approved. Critics say rural residents could also experience at least a one-day delivery delay depending on how far they live from a processing center. Comments from Annie Norman, campaign manager, Save the Post Office Coalition.

Rural voters helped return President-elect Donald Trump to the White House with strong support for his economic policies. But as farm income continues to decline, analysts worry the new administration is less likely to offer emergency aid for farmers should proposed tariffs hurt their bottom line. Comments from Ben Palen (PAY-lynn), director, Ag Management Partners.

New Hampshire Governor-elect Kelly Ayotte says she supports President-elect Donald Trump's plan to carry out mass deportations of undocumented immigrants. Recent data projects the move would reduce U.S. Gross Domestic Product by nearly 7%, on par with losses during the Great Recession. Comments from Jeremy Robbins, executive director, American Immigration Council; Elizabeth Taufa (TAU-fah), policy attorney, Immigrant Legal Resource Center.

Following the 2024 election, a new record number of women will serve in state legislatures nationwide. In New Hampshire, women's representation decreased in both the House and Senate despite an increase in the number of Republican women legislators. Comments from Jean Sinzdak (SINZ-dack), associate director, Center for American Women and Politics, Rutgers University.

A majority of Americans say they prefer to buy gifts made in the United States, according to a new poll. The Alliance for American Manufacturing’s 2024 Holiday Gift Guide spotlights more than 100 companies that manufacture goods stateside, including in New Hampshire. Comments from Scott Paul, president, Alliance for American Manufacturing.

Animal welfare advocates say animals raised on factory farms suffer unimaginable cruelty, yet few federal or state laws protect them from abuse. With an estimated 23-billion animals confined to industrial spaces at any given time, they say the level of animal suffering is hard to comprehend. Comments Delcianna (del-SEE-ANN-nah) Winders, associate professor of law, Vermont Law and Graduate School.

Health centers across New England have experienced a dramatic spike in requests for long-acting contraceptives since the election. Health care providers say the increase mirrors what they observed after President-elect Donald Trump’s 2016 victory and the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in 2022 to revoke federal protections for abortion. Comments from Nicole Clegg, CEO, Planned Parenthood of Northern New England.

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and there's mixed news on food prices. While grocery costs have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels, economists say other market shifts and budget-friendly store promotions could help New Hampshire families plan for holiday meals. Comments from David Ortega, food economist and professor, Michigan State University.

Election disinformation increased online during the 2024 presidential race. Experts on artificial intelligence are warning Granite Staters to be cautious of so-called “deep fake” videos designed to sow mistrust in the election outcome. Comments from Chris McIsaac, a governance fellow at the right-leaning think tank R Street.

The future of public education remains a top-of-mind concern for voters in New Hampshire. The two gubernatorial candidates have opposing views about expanding the state’s private school voucher program, which public school educators say aims to dismantle public education and diminish the teaching profession. Comments from Megan Tuttle, president, National Education Association, New Hampshire.

Surveys show the lack of affordable child-care remains a top-of-mind issue for New Hampshire voters this election season. With negotiations on the next biennial budget set to begin next year, advocates for children say they’re supporting candidates who will put kids’ futures first. Comments from Megan Brabec (Bray-beck), New Hampshire state manager, Save the Children Action Network; and Ella Bender, University of New Hampshire student and child advocate.

Medicare open enrollment is underway and runs through Dec. 7. New Hampshire residents age 65 and older are encouraged to evaluate their health-plan options and take advantage of new savings on prescription drugs. Comments from Dr. Rhonda Randall, chief medical officer, UnitedHealthcare Employer and Individual.

New Hampshire remains the only New England state that has not codified the right to an abortion into state law or its constitution. Supporters of reproductive rights say access to reproductive healthcare is on the line in the November election, and the candidates for governor couldn’t be further apart. Comments from Kayla Montgomery, vice president of public affairs, Planned Parenthood New Hampshire Action Fund; and state Sen. Debra Altschiller, D-Stratham.

Voting-rights organizations in New Hampshire are suing to block a new law requiring proof of citizenship for all first-time voters. State Republicans say the law is needed to prevent voter fraud but critics say it could lead to voter disenfranchisement. Comments from Henry Klementowicz, (Clemon-TOW-itch), deputy legal director, ACLU of New Hampshire.

New Hampshire has some of the highest rates of student loan debt in the nation. As graduate degree costs soar, a new report calls for greater transparency regarding the associated financial risks. Comments from Catherine Morris, senior writer and editor, Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce.

Decades of overfishing have depleted the Atlantic herring population, a forage fish vital to both the food chain and coastal economies. Recent assessments show that despite increased management, the herring stock is not recovering as federal regulators had hoped. Comments from Rich Hittinger (HITTIN-jer), first vice president, Rhode Island Saltwater Anglers Association; and Jaclyn Higgins, forage fish program manager, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.

GRIST/SOLUTIONS JOURNALISM NETWORK/NEW HAMPSHIRE NEWS CONNECTION COLLABORATION: Public libraries are increasingly lending more than just books to help change consumer habits. A temporary ‘clothing library’ in Dover, New Hampshire was a huge success and helped educate borrowers on the growing problem of ‘fast fashion’ and textile waste. Comments from Stella Martinez McShera, creator, Dover ‘clothing library’ ; and Denise LaFrance, director, Dover Public Library.