The Exchange

We rebroadcast this earlier conversation today. You may have zoomed right by the broad green signs, but stopping for a moment to read a historical roadside marker gives a sense of the depth and complexity of the state’s past. The markers encompass a broad range of N.H. history: Abenaki Native Americans, poets, painters, contemporary sports figures, meeting houses, stone arch bridges, and long-lost villages, as well as factories, cemeteries, and places where international history was made. Any

With New Hampshire’s state primary a week away, we look at what we might learn from other states that have already been through a state election with NPR's Miles Parks. We look at what health and safety protocols will be in place at the polls. What questions do you have about election procedures for voting safely during a pandemic, or about the option to mail in an absentee ballot? And once the voting’s over, how long it might take to get the results? Airdate: Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2020

Minorities have been hit disproportionately hard by COVID-19, and minority-owned businesses have closed at higher rates. We check in with Granite State minority-owned businesses on how they're doing amidst the pandemic and the resulting economic downturn. Air date: Monday, Aug. 31, 2020.

Ahead of the September 8 primaries, we talk with two candidates. Steve Negron, a Republican from Nashua, hopes to challenge incumbent Democratic Congresswoman Annie Kuster in New Hampshire’s second district. And Republican Matt Mayberry hopes to clinch his party’s nomination for New Hampshire’s first Congressional district. And we hear about how one very average N.H. strip mall is riding out the pandemic and what it tells us about the health of our economy. Air date: Friday, Aug. 28, 2020.

As we head into fall, K-12 and college students and staff prepare for the new school year. Meanwhile, large events, from bike rallies to weddings, across the country and in New England, have been linked to outbreaks, as summer tourism reaches a peak in New Hampshire. We talk with epidemiologists about where we are now, with testing, tracing, and preparedness, and how to stay safe this fall. Air date: Thursday, August 27, 2020.

Is there a way to combat climate change and keep that furnace in your basement? We learn about green hydrogen and examine if we can use it to take advantage of existing natural gas infrastructure as we wean ourselves off fossil fuels. We discuss the promise and pitfalls of green hydrogen and where these fit in the energy future of N.H. and the country. This program is part of NHPR’s By Degrees climate reporting initiative. Airdate: Wednesday, August 26, 2020

In a pandemic summer, New Hampshire's many lakes have been a refuge to many. But climate change, a drought, and busy lake use have negative impacts on the important habitats of N.H. lakes. We look at efforts to keep lakes healthy, and accessible. Air date: Tuesday, August 25, 2020.

Education reporters describe a back-to-school season like no other. As districts around the country wrestle with what education will look like this fall, reporters are digging into reopening plans and talking with teachers, families, and administrators. We check in with journalists covering this topic, both at the state and national level. Air date: Monday, Aug. 24, 2020.

The Meet the Candidates series continues with Lynne Blankenbeker, Republican candidate for the second Congressional District. NHPR’s Casey McDermott takes a look at preparations for the September primary and what the state is anticipating. We also visit with State Representative Denny Ruprecht who was tapped as a rising star to be a part of the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention. And we go to Laconia, to learn about preparations for Laconia Motorcycle Week. Air date: Friday,

In the third of our four-part series, " The Exchange: Live From Home, " we talk with two New Hampshire authors on parenting and education, and an infectious disease specialist, about the triumphs and challenges of back-to-school season as a family. Listen to the audio below, and watch a video of the event. Air date: Thursday, August 20, 2020.