The Exchange

As a child in Somalia, Abdi Nor Iftin learned English by watching American action-hero films and listening to American pop stars. His love of all things American earned him the nickname Abdi American. But when the radical Islamist group al-Shabaab rose to power in 2006, familiarity with Western culture became something to hide. Abdi began sending secret dispatches to NPR about worsening conditions in Somalia. After a long and arduous journey, Abdi found his way from Mogadishu to Maine, where he

The N.H. Supreme Court decides that the voting bill defining residency/domicile, HB1264, is constitutional. Candidates for New Hampshire's First congressional district hold their first debate, amid new allegations about State Senator Andy Sanborn. State lawmakers return to Concord to figure out how tax-free New Hampshire can fend off an internet sales tax. And Attorney General Jeff Sessions visits N.H. to discuss the opioid crisis.

For the first part of our series, Going Local, we look at the Great North Woods . The very top of our state, with its small towns and expansive outdoor recreation options, is a region driven by local government, where school funding, access to well-paying jobs, and retention of a sustainable workforce are all big issues.

Last week, The Exchange went to the historic Belknap Mill in Laconia to talk to a live audience about what it takes to make New Hampshire's old buildings relevant and useful for today.

We get a New Hampshire take on two national issues. First, your questions on President Trump's Supreme Court nominee Brett M. Kavanaugh. A UNH constitutional law expert explains the process. Then, the ramifications of battles over trade: on New Hampshire manufacturers, consumers, workers, and our economy overall.

The popularity of exotic cat hybrids (part domestic, part wild) raise moral questions about pet keeping. NHPR podcast Outside/In investigated the culture around this practice for a forthcoming episode of the podcast. We give you a preview, and talk about why "ethical" ownership of domestic cats means something different for different people. Check out the forthcoming episode of Outside/In on Thursday, July 19.

The popularity of exotic cat hybrids (part domestic, part wild) raise moral questions about pet keeping. NHPR podcast Outside/In investigated the culture around this practice for a forthcoming episode of the podcast. We give you a preview, and talk about why "ethical" ownership of domestic cats means something different for different people. Check out the forthcoming episode of Outside/In on Thursday, July 19.

On Friday, July 6, we do things a little differently on the Weekly New Hampshire News Roundup . Following the tragedy at the Capital Gazette newspaper in Maryland, we focus on New Hampshire journalists and their experiences in newsrooms around the state: how they do their jobs, what they wish people knew about their profession, and how journalism has changed.

Whether it's for a tablet, phone, or hardback, booklovers are always on the lookout for what to read when life slows down in the summer. We hear what's new in fiction, including a thriller co-written by a best-selling author and a former President. For non-fiction fans, we review new works of History, Humour and Self-Help. And as always, some N.H. authors make the list. Get your pen and paper ready if you are looking for help with ideas for your reading list this summer!

Last week, the city of Dover became the first New Hampshire municipality to raise their smoking age from 18 to 21. The new city ordinance prohibits anyone under 21 from buying, using or possessing tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and vaping devices. We look at what kind of impact this law may have on the Dover community, and the state as a whole, and look at similar legislation in Maine and Massachusetts. Later in the hour, an update on marijuana legalization across New England.