Energy industry representatives and state officials gathered this week in Portsmouth to begin to shape a plan for more nuclear development in New Hampshire. And Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate met this week for their first debate.

These invasive aquatic plants can threaten native wildlife, harm water quality and make lake recreation difficult. Dozens of lakes across the state are trying to keep the plants at bay.

Education reforms dominated the state Legislature this year. Most efforts failed, though a few bills await action from Gov. Kelly Ayotte. Lawmakers rejected bills mandating new public school courses, open enrollment expansion, and increased oversight of the state’s school voucher program.

The federal courthouse in Concord handles all kinds of cases, but over the past year one particular type of case has shot up: Habeas Corpus petitions by people detained by ICE. Lawyers say filing these petitions is a way for detainees to get due process, but the sheer number is putting a strain on the system.

We discuss these stories and more on this week’s edition of the NH News Recap with NHPR reporters Annmarie Timmins, Lau Guzmán and Imaan Moin.

State lawmakers wrapped up their session in a series of high-stakes votes this week. Some priorities were pushed across the finish line, while others failed to win support in either the New Hampshire Senate or House.

State senators voted to table a Republican-backed bill for open school enrollment, which would let New Hampshire students enroll in any public school in the state. Among other things, the House and Senate agreed to legislation that will require towns and cities to consider capping local property taxes spent on school and district administrative costs.

Meanwhile, 2026 political hopefuls are streaming into the State House, with the state candidate filing period open until June 12.

And a meteor exploded over New England before crashing into Cape Cod Bay. Astronomer John Gianforte puts this space rock into perspective for us.

Lawmakers have released a 12-page report detailing how failures by the state’s top child protection agency contributed to a crisis at the Sununu Youth Services Center in Manchester. Leaders from the Division for Children, Youth and Families are scheduled to tell lawmakers later today how they are responding to the report’s findings.

And a proposal to build a data center in Nottingham has been withdrawn after statewide backlash over the plan. NHPR reporters Annmarie Timmins and Kate Dario discuss these stories and more on this week’s edition of the New Hampshire News Recap.

The director of the New Hampshire Division for Children, Youth and Families is disputing many recent allegations at the state’s youth detention center. Marie Noonan testified before lawmakers this week after concerns of abuse or improper restraint were detailed in reports by the Disability Rights Center and the Office of the Child Advocate.

Noonan sent a letter to the Disability Rights Center late last week arguing that the Center’s investigation and visits to the facility are having a negative impact on the kids and staff there.

And New Hampshire is full of historic homes, barns and churches that are at risk of falling apart. But there’s a shortage of people who know how to repair them. On this week’s edition of the New Hampshire News Recap, we discuss an effort to preserve the state’s landmarks by building up the workforce.

Guests:

• Jeremy Margolis, Concord Monitor
• Jackie Harris, NHPR