The Exchange

In the midst of a drug crisis, New Hampshire is also dealing with a severe labor shortage. So now, some employers and the state hope to creatively address where the two overlap, promoting so-called "recovery friendly workplaces". We look at the practical, legal, and financial aspects of this.

A New Hampshire woman won $560 million in the Powerball lottery, and now she is fighting in court to stay anonymous. Governor Sununu nominates Robert J. Lynn for Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court. The wife of the state education commissioner urges lawmakers to oppose a bill that would ban gay conversion therapy. F or the first time in nearly a decade, New Hampshire legislators are debating seat belt requirements. And we'll see plenty of Olympic hopefuls from New Hampshire as the Winter

Marsy's Law is a nationwide effort to bolster the rights of crime victims. Now, a New Hampshire bill to put these rights into the state Constitution has bipartisan support and the Governor's endorsement. But there are concerns about possible unintended consequences and some hesitation over constitutional change.

We learn the latest about new Medicaid guidelines released by the Trump Administration, in which states, including New Hampshire, will now be allowed to impose work requirements on some recipients of Medicaid. State lawmakers are currently debating whether to extend the Medicaid expansion program beyond the end of 2018, when it is due to sunset.

New Hampshire's program has been in place for several years now and appears to be gaining acceptance among patients and providers. We find out who's using the system, who's providing the drug, and what questions remain -- including medical concerns, bureaucratic hurdles, and the possibility of federal intervention.

One education bill, HB 1263 , would increase accountability and oversight for home-schooling, an idea debated in other states this year, and sparking huge opposition at a recent hearing in New Hampshire. The other bill, SB 193 , concerns school choice, and whether families can access taxes raised for public education to finance an alternative.

With the Site Evaluation Committee" unanimous vote denying a permit for Eversource's controversial Northern Pass project, we discuss what prompted the decision, the ramifications for Eversource, as well other energy projects, and the historical context of the proposed 192-mile transmission line through the state.

New Hampshire "drug czar" David Mara discusses the state's efforts to address the on-going addiction crisis. Is the Granite state spending enough to prevent and treat addiction? What's the right balance between law enforcement and treatment? And is there adequate oversight of the state's drug treatment infrastructure? We also look at lessons learned from the closure of Serenity Place, Manchester's addiction treatment center associated with the Safe Station program. Also, we hear from NHPR's

We take a look at the speech itself -- the tone and the major topics, such as infrastructure, immigration, and national security.

Governor Sununu called commuter rail a "boondoggle" during his campaign, but is now supporting a $4 million feasibility study of passenger rail . This has heartened supporters, who say it's long past time for more robust service in New Hampshire. But opponents maintain there are still far better and less expensive ways to expand the state's transportation options. We take a fresh look at our longstanding train debate.