The Exchange

About a dozen Syrians were resettled in New Hampshire last year, and more than 7000 refugees from many countries have come here since the 1980s. We look at the resettlement process, the challenges both newcomers and their host communities face, and what changes might be in store under a Trump administration.

This year, Christmas Eve and the start of Hanukkah fall on the same day, a rare aligning of the Gregorian and Lunar calendars. And so, we'll explore the customs and origins of these holidays -- the symbols they share, how they differ, and how much they've borrowed from each other - and from more ancient, Pagan celebrations.

It’s our year-end review of the top 2016 news stories in New Hampshire, from politics to precipitation. It was a year in which PFOA. became a household term in many communities, the First In the Nation presidential primary seemed to last forever, and fentanyl made its mark, causing a steep increase in overdose deaths. We'll also discuss this week's alarming report on the state's child protective services agency.

Here in the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice on Dec. 21 marks the longest night and shortest day of the year. The Sky Guys help us identify what we're seeing in the night sky this month. We remember astronaut and American legend, John Glenn, who died this month at age 95. He became the first American to orbit the Earth in 1962. And we discuss the top space news stories of 2016. GUESTS: Mal Cameron - former astronomy and space educator at the McAuliffe Shepard Discovery Center and

Year-end reports show positive trends: from very low unemployment to the addition of 17,000 jobs in 2016. However, rental prices continue to rise, and while the Granite State has plenty of jobs, it badly needs people to fill them.

Join us for the top Granite State headlines this week, including N.H. political races caught up in revelations about Russian hacking. Another grim record set as drug deaths in the state reach near 400. And the state seeks to have a suit against DCYF dismissed in a child abuse case.

December is the most charitable month of the year, but with more ways to give than ever and an expanding list of causes, how do we decide which organizations to support? With the advent of social media and "robo-giving," a new generation is changing how we approach philanthropy.

It seems more Americans than ever have food allergies these days, especially kids. However, a recent report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine says questions persist about whether food allergies are really on the rise. For example, the report cites a lot of confusion about what's truly a potentially life-threatening "allergy," which is triggered by the immune system, and what might be an intolerance or a sensitivity, triggered by the digestive system, instead.

A new report from the Coastal Risk and Hazards Commission warns the region's cities and towns to prepare for a future with higher sea-levels and heavier rainstorms. It recommends communities start planning now to protect property, infrastructure, and public safety.

In New Hampshire, hairdressers need a license but home builders don't. And some say that's a huge problem, allowing unqualified contractors to get away with shoddy work and consumer scams. But others warn that more regulation wouldn't help, and could raise home prices at a time when the state needs affordable housing.