Last fall, in Maine and New Hampshire, there were two deadly shootings that left communities shaken. In Lewiston, a gunman killed 18 people and injured 13 others during a rampage. Four weeks later, a man walked into a psychiatric hospital in Concord and opened fire, killing a security guard. A state police officer was on scene and shot the gunman. Lawmakers in both states vowed to respond to both acts of violence, and that work is happening now.

And Town Meeting Day is coming up on Tuesday. It’s that time when voters weigh in on local issues, and Hanover’s Town Manager Alex Torpey has created a new guide for towns and voters to better understand the process in their community.

More on these stories on this edition of the New Hampshire News Recap.

Top stories from this week:

How NH and Maine lawmakers are responding to recent gun violence in their states

New Hampshire Democrats have rolled out a package of gun reform efforts, but nothing backed solely by Democrats has passed yet. However, both parties support funding mental health care in response to the shootings.

Maine Democrats continue rollout of gun safety bills, but some activists want to go further

Maine Democrats are hoping to pass a gun reform package that includes a three-day waiting period for most firearm sales and a ban on bump stocks. Gun safety advocates say the package should include magazine size limits and a ban on assault weapons.

More New Hampshire headlines:

How New Hampshire is weathering a short and sparse ski season

NH lawmakers vote on changes to bail reform, marriage age and other issues

NH Senate advances plan tying Northern Border enforcement to land use law

Dartmouth basketball players reflect on historic union vote

Snowmobile-related deaths continue to rise in NH this winter

The trial began this week for two Dartmouth College students who were arrested on campus last fall during a pro-Palestinian protest. As protests continue on campus, how are students getting involved and how is the college responding?

And climate scientists predict flooding events will become more common in New Hampshire in the future. How will municipalities be able to keep up with increased repair costs?

We talk about these stories and more on this edition of the New Hampshire News Recap.

Guests:

• Olivia Richardson, NHPR
• Mara Hoplamazian, NHPR

Stories from around New Hampshire this week:

Major disaster declaration opens federal assistance to NH communities affected by December flooding

The federal declaration will allow communities to apply for funding to repair infrastructure and mitigate possible future hazards.

Lawyers for YDC victims want sealed search warrant released

Attorneys say the search warrant, filed in 2020, exposes “in great detail” a culture of abuse and corruption by state employees and agencies.

As NH’s childcare worker shortage continues, immigrant women train to become the next providers

An organization says immigrant women could help fill the state’s shortage of childcare providers, but more outreach is needed.

More New Hampshire headlines:

• ‘Help’ signs to aid migrants in distress, already used along Mexican border, are now being installed along northern border
• After he was falsely linked to a racist confrontation on TikTok, a NH doctor is now trying to rebuild his online reputation
• Inside the effort to bring ‘guided play’ to more NH kindergarten classrooms
• Millions of dollars are available to electrify NH homes. Officials want input on how to get the money out the door.

The New Hampshire Department of Justice announced earlier this month that a former prison guard was charged with second degree murder. He is accused of causing the death of a patient at the state prison system’s Secure Psychiatric Unit last year.

And over a thousand people have sued the state, alleging abuse at the state-run Youth Detention Center over decades. The state has set aside money to settle lawsuits with victims, but with caps as to how much a victim can receive. But this week, lawmakers united with victims’ lawyers to back potential changes to the settlement process.

We dive into these stories on this week’s edition of the New Hampshire News Recap.

Guests:

• Annmarie Timmins, New Hampshire Bulletin
• Paul Cuno-Booth, NHPR

Top stories from around New Hampshire this week:

NH Corrections Dept. says it did not complete internal review after death, revising earlier statement

In the two weeks since a former prison guard was charged with second-degree murder, the New Hampshire Department of Corrections has given conflicting statements about its internal review of the incident.

Victims’ attorneys who objected to YDC settlement fund support proposed changes

In a remarkable change, attorneys representing nearly 1,100 clients in lawsuits against the state for abuse while at the Youth Development Center said they will encourage them to pursue a state settlement instead under a bill that would significantly expand who is eligible for compensation.

More New Hampshire headlines:

• After the death of her son, this NH mom wants to restrict her right to buy a gun
• Father of Harmony Montgomery found guilty of murder in 5-year-old's death
• Dartmouth students launch hunger strike 'for Palestine and campus justice'
• Hiker rescued from Mount Washington admits he was 'underprepared' for extreme weather
• NH’s Child Advocate says recent bill is critical in getting more protection for children in residential care

Gov. Chris Sununu gave his final State of the State address this week. State lawmakers consider ways to enforce immigration laws at New Hampshire’s northern border.

And the state Senate voted on three different gun bills on Thursday. All three measures were backed by Democrats, and were voted down by Republicans. Is there any chance for bipartisan gun legislation this session? We talk about these stories and more on this edition of the New Hampshire News Recap.

Guests:

• Todd Bookman, NHPR
• Ethan DeWitt, New Hampshire Bulletin

Top stories from around New Hampshire this week:

In his final State of the State address, Sununu seeks to frame his tenure on his own terms

Sununu described his record as one marked by prosperity and urged lawmakers to stay the course.

Proposed change to land use law could empower immigration enforcement along NH-Canada border

The legislation would allow certain landowners to post "No Trespassing" signs, allowing local police to arrest suspected migrants on state-level criminal charges.

NH Senate Republicans block gun bills, including ‘red flag’ law and waiting period

One measure would have permitted relatives or police to ask a judge to temporarily remove firearms from someone deemed dangerous.

More New Hampshire headlines:

• NH Senate rejects enshrining abortion rights in the state constitution
• Revived bill would give NH Department of Education power to subpoena teachers under investigation
• Proposal could give NH landlords more pathways to eviction after a lease ends
• Transplant advocates raise alarm over proposal to let NH residents sell their own organs

New Hampshire’s attorney general has issued cease and desist orders against two Texas companies. The firms are allegedly connected to robocalls that discouraged Democrats from voting in last month’s presidential primary.

Gov. Chris Sununu and state Republicans have been calling for more patrols along the state's northern border with Canada, but New Hampshire Democrats are divided on the issue.

And lawmakers are considering a bill that would add certain mental health records to gun background checks. This proposal stems in large part from a shooting that took place at New Hampshire Hospital in November.

We talk about these stories and more on this edition of the New Hampshire News Recap.

Guests:

• Annmarie Timmins, New Hampshire Bulletin
• Amanda Gokee, Boston Globe

Top headlines from around New Hampshire this week:

NH attorney general, FCC trace AI robocalls impersonating Biden back to Texas company

Attorney General John Formella says the calls violated voter suppression laws.

A divide among Democrats on New Hampshire’s border

State Democratic lawmakers say the North Country doesn’t need more patrols. But for New Hampshire's congressional delegation in Washington, border security is a major political issue.

‘It was genuinely one of the worst moments of my life.’ Hospital staff recall shooting

In State House testimony, new details emerge of failed alert system after fatal state hospital shooting.

More New Hampshire headlines:

• With a terminal diagnosis, one Durham resident wants the option to pass on her own terms
• Nine months after death at NH prison psych unit, a former guard is charged with murder
• Dad accused of killing 5-year-old daughter says attorneys will acknowledge guilt on 2 lesser charges
• NH Senate votes to move state primary from September to June. The House wants August.

This week New Hampshire lawmakers heard testimony on bills that would bar transgender students from participating on sports teams that align with their gender identity.

Lawmakers also voted this week on bills that would expand the state’s school voucher program. We discuss these stories and more on this edition of the New Hampshire News Recap.

Guests:

• Ethan DeWitt, New Hampshire Bulletin
• Sarah Gibson, NHPR

Top stories from around New Hampshire this week:

• ‘I am female’: Transgender students fight back against sports bill
• House Republicans recommend extending education freedom accounts to all
• Exeter charter school closing amid investigation into alleged fraud and embezzlement

MORE NH HEADLINES

• New numbers detail the number of unlawful crossings at NH’s northern border
• Along the Merrimack River, a No. 1 year... for No. 2
• EV parking, ESG investing and the energy grid: lawmakers look to NH’s energy future with different visions
• NH lawmakers to consider bills expanding, tightening gun laws in wake of hospital shooting
• He isn't a lawyer. But this NH cafe owner just won a case against a social media giant.
• As NH looks to federal money to expand EV charging, losing out on grants is a blow
• How write-in votes broke down in the 2024 NH primary
• Health organizations raise concerns about parental consent bill in NH Senate

Former President Donald Trump and current President Joe Biden were the winners of the New Hampshire Primary this week. We talk about through the results and what's next on this edition of the New Hampshire News Recap.

Guests:

• Anna Brown, Citizens Count
• James Pindell, Boston Globe

New Hampshire Primary News:

In NH, people of all political stripes send a message: ‘Every vote matters’

The significance of the actual votes in this year’s New Hampshire primary remains an open question. But at the polls, voters from all sides reaffirmed their commitment to civic participation.

Trump marches to victory in New Hampshire, solidifying his grip on the Republican base

The former president secured his third consecutive win in the New Hampshire primary, fending off a spirited challenge from Nikki Haley.

Biden wins NH primary through a write-in effort after declining to campaign there

It’s been nearly two years since he set foot in the state and his name was nowhere to be found on the ballot, but President Joe Biden won a rare write-in campaign in New Hampshire’s Democratic presidential primary.

Other headlines from this week:

• Attorney General clears Gilford officers of criminal wrongdoing after killing 17-year-old in psychiatric distress
• Littleton theater company wins award for ‘grace’ amind debate over public art, LGBTQ+ visibility
• New overdose-reversal drug available at NH pharmacies, health officials say
• Campaign seeks to expand solar power in NH’s North Country

Voters across New Hampshire will head to the polls Tuesday to cast their ballots in the state's presidential primary.

In this edition of the New Hampshire News Recap, we hear from Lakes Region voters about their top issues ahead of the election. We also discuss the latest updates from the campaign trail.

Guests:

• Adam Drapcho, Laconia Daily Sun
• Josh Rogers, NHPR
• Anna Brown, Citizen’s Count

Other New Hampshire Primary news:

In NH primary's waning days, voters size up the field. Not everyone likes what they see.

With less than a week until Primary Day, many voters say they're committed to a candidate. Plenty of others, however, say they're feeling more anxiety and apathy than passion.

In NH, the opioid crisis hasn’t faded. But its role in the primary campaign has.

Ahead of the 2016 primary, candidates from both parties made a point of talking about addiction. This year, Republicans are largely tying the issue to China and the southern border.

NH's shifting population could shake up the presidential primary, a new analysis finds

Researchers from the University of New Hampshire say more than 200,000 new voters could be heading to the polls.

Biden supporters want NH Democrats to write-in Biden. How did that go for LBJ?

Biden’s supporters are launching a write-in campaign encouraging Granite Staters to still choose him as their nominee since he won't be on the ballot. In 1968, Democrats also ran a write-in campaign for then-President Lyndon B. Johnson.

A snowstorm swept through New Hampshire last weekend dumping up to 12 inches in some parts of the state, and then heavy rains and wind came through on Tuesday flooding the Seacoast. What was the impact of these storms, and how winters are changing here in the Granite State?

The town manager in Littleton resigned this week. It’s the latest turn in a debate over public art and censorship taking place in the town. And former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie dropped out of the race for the Republican presidential nomination on Wednesday.

We talk about these stories and more on this edition of the New Hampshire News Recap.

Guests:

• Hadley Barndollar, New Hampshire Bulletin
• Amanda Gokee, Boston Globe

Stories from around New Hampshire this week:

How Christie’s sudden departure from the NH primary could sway the GOP campaign

Christie had faced repeated questions about dropping out from voters and from the press. His answer has tended to be, “I'll be staying in this race because no Republican is really running against Donald Trump.”

When El Niño and climate change collide: What it means for a New Hampshire winter

The Granite State may have been pummeled by a snowstorm on Sunday, but the 50-degree temperatures, rain, and flooding emergencies that followed a few days later were quick reminders that winters here are changing.

Littleton town manager resigns over select board's anti-LGBTQ+ comments

At a meeting Monday, some Littleton residents hoped for an apology after months of turmoil over public art projects and the local LGBTQ+ community.

Ignored by Biden, NH Democrats still working to give him a lift on Primary Day

The president's decision to skip the NH Primary has shaped, maybe even warped, the 2024 race here for months, including the launch of a rare write-in campaign.

More New Hampshire headlines:

• As respiratory illnesses spike, NH hospitals warn: 'Hospitals are busy, and beds are full'
• Rep. Laurie Sanborn's future remains unclear as 2024 House session enters second week
• At Dartmouth, U.S. education secretary praises college's approach to free speech
• 2024 NH Primary Guide: Where to vote, how to vote and what to bring to the polls

Lawmakers are back in the State House for the start of the 2024 session. In its first week the House passed a bipartisan bail reform package as well as a bill that prohibits some gender-affirming surgeries for minors.

In this edition of the New Hampshire News Recap, we get into the bills’ details and lawmakers’ strategy for passing elements of a so-called "parental bill of rights."

Guests:

• Paul Cuno-Booth, NHPR
• Amanda Gokee, The Boston Globe

Top stories from around New Hampshire this week:

What to watch as NH lawmakers head back to the State House this week

State lawmakers will kick off their 2024 session this week by polishing off 2023’s leftovers — the more than 300 bills slated for action last year that were retained over the summer.

Effort to ban gender-affirming surgeries for minors moves forward at NH State House

The bill would outlaw gender-affirming genital surgeries before age 18. Medical providers say such surgeries are rarely, if ever, done on minors.

Bipartisan bail reform passes NH House

The new bills would increase training and pay for bail commissioners, provide notice to victims, hire new magistrates, and create a centralized database.

After a parental rights bill was defeated, lawmakers look for a new way to pass the same concepts

Last year, the New Hampshire House rejected a bill that would have required schools to disclose information about a child’s gender identity to their parents upon request. Republican lawmakers are trying a new strategy to pass several key components of last year’s sprawling bill by breaking it into separate proposals.

More New Hampshire headlines:

• In Manchester, a new mayor aims to end over-the-top political rhetoric and celebrate the city’s diversity
• For NH Republican voters seeking alternative to Trump, attention turns to Haley
• Mass. resident dies from Legionnaires’ disease after visiting Mountain View resort