Latest news with #GlobeNH
Boston Globe
2 days ago
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Caitlin Davis confirmed as top N.H. education official, drawing praise for lacking a ‘political agenda'
While divisive political debate may influence policymaking, Davis said the commissioner's job is to take the education policies that have been adopted and implement them fairly, professionally, and legally — an approach that drew praise from Republican and Democratic state lawmakers who often don't see eye to eye on education-related issues. Advertisement Representative Get N.H. Morning Report A weekday newsletter delivering the N.H. news you need to know right to your inbox. Enter Email Sign Up Representative 'She has no political agenda,' Damon said. 'She simply values providing an adequate education to all New Hampshire students in all settings where they are.' Republican Governor Kelly A. Ayotte, who took office in January, announced in March that she Advertisement Edelblut, a socially conservative businessman and politician, had been first appointed to the post in 2017 by Republican Governor Chris Sununu after narrowly losing to Sununu in the GOP's 2016 gubernatorial primary. Edelblut frequently drew ire from Democrats and teachers unions, as he advocated for the ' When asked on Tuesday what differentiates her from her predecessor, Davis said Edelblut had brought 'an outside perspective' to the job. By contrast, Davis said she has been working inside the department for 15 years, gaining an understanding of the challenges and unique circumstances at play. She has eight years under her belt as the department's director of education analytics and resources. Ayotte said Davis brings preexisting relationships with school leaders and community members, plus a 'collaborative, data-driven approach,' to the job. 'Together, we will make sure our schools continue to innovate, support our fantastic teachers, and strive for the highest standards of academic achievement so every child reaches his or her full potential,' Ayotte said. Davis said public schools are still 'the backbone' of New Hampshire's education system, as she also lauded efforts to provide an array of 'high-quality educational pathways' for students to find an environment conducive to their learning. 'Whether that is a traditional public school, a charter school, a home education program, a career and tech education program, a non-public school, an 'education freedom account,' or a new alternative model yet to be developed, we have a responsibility to ensure every student can access an education that helps them thrive,' she said. Advertisement Amanda Gokee of the Globe staff contributed to this report. A version of this story appeared in Globe NH | Morning Report, a free newsletter focused on New Hampshire, including great coverage from the Boston Globe and links to interesting articles elsewhere. To receive it via email Monday through Friday, . Steven Porter can be reached at
Boston Globe
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Illicit massage businesses still ‘operating in plain sight,' N.H. police and nonprofit leaders say
The Coalition notched a legislative victory on this topic last month, when lawmakers approved Get N.H. Morning Report A weekday newsletter delivering the N.H. news you need to know right to your inbox. Enter Email Sign Up Meg Chant, a Coalition program director, said law enforcement had reported seeing more illicit massage businesses migrate over the state line after Massachusetts imposed stiffer penalties, so the change in New Hampshire aims to mitigate that. Advertisement Looking ahead to the next legislative session, the Coalition will push again to reform licensing laws to improve oversight of massage businesses, an idea that has 'The way that it works right now is that, in New Hampshire, the individual massage therapists are licensed, but the business itself is not,' Chant said, 'so that leaves a gap where ultimately if there are any infractions, it's falling to the individual massage therapists — who, in these cases, are the victims — and it's very difficult for regulators to go in and do routine checks and get into these businesses to see if there are signs that it's not a legitimate business.' Advertisement Chant said people need to recognize that these establishments have been identified in all 10 of New Hampshire's counties, and it's often easy to spot clues that a particular business might not be entirely aboveboard. 'In a lot of cases, it's pretty obvious,' she said. If a massage business has unusual hours, covered windows, and patrons using a discreet entrance, those could be hints that something is amiss, Chant said. 'It's one of those things where often your instincts for just kind of feeling like this isn't quite right are probably spot on as a community member,' she said. Chant said people who are being exploited may seem isolated, fearful, or controlled by someone else. That said, not all of them will immediately identify themselves as trafficking victims, so it's important to remain receptive to listening to and believing them, she added. Landlords and residents who believe an illicit massage business may be operating on their property can contact the New Hampshire Department of Justice Anti-Trafficking Hotline at 603-271-9703. For those seeking confidential help, the Coalition offers a round-the-clock support line for victims and survivors at 866-644-3574. This story first appeared in Globe NH | Morning Report, our free newsletter focused on the news you need to know about New Hampshire, including great coverage from the Boston Globe and links to interesting articles from other places. If you'd like to receive it via e-mail Monday through Friday, Advertisement Steven Porter can be reached at
Boston Globe
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Early prints of the American Declaration of Independence on display temporarily in New Hampshire
Get N.H. Morning Report A weekday newsletter delivering the N.H. news you need to know right to your inbox. Enter Email Sign Up 'These two extraordinary documents … represent both the birth and enduring legacy of American independence,' said State Archivist Ashley Miller. 'One was printed in the urgency of revolution, meant to be read aloud in town squares and passed hand to hand. The other was carefully engraved decades later to preserve the words that created our country.' Advertisement New Hampshire Secretary of State David M. Scanlan said these documents should be seen by the general public in a secure environment. Virginia Drew, director of the State House Visitor Center, said her team is 'thrilled' to facilitate their display. Advertisement To protect the documents, photographing either of them is strictly prohibited. Each is presented in its own sealed, freestanding case, with extra security measures in place (so don't get any ideas, you The 1823 engraving was among several Revolution-era documents that state officials rediscovered in 1978 while cleaning out a vault, according to a spokesperson for the secretary of state's office. William M. Gardner, who served as New Hampshire secretary of state 'This may be the finest copy,' he said at the time. With Independence Day on Friday, July 4, the two copies will be on display side-by-side in the New Hampshire State House Visitor Center until Wednesday, July 9. This story first appeared in Globe NH | Morning Report, our free newsletter focused on the news you need to know about New Hampshire, including great coverage from the Boston Globe and links to interesting articles from other places. If you'd like to receive it via e-mail Monday through Friday, Steven Porter can be reached at
Boston Globe
20-05-2025
- General
- Boston Globe
Forget the snacks and soda, this N.H. school installed a vending machine for books
Students in the elementary school earn gold coins from their teachers for exhibiting good behavior. Each month, the school focuses on a specific behavior that they're trying to promote: like collaboration, self-control, or being a good friend. Once they've won a coin, the students can cash it in at the vending machine for a book of their choice. 'It is wildly popular with students, teachers and parents,' said Thompson. 'It's really kind of created this hype at the elementary school.' Thompson said the school used federal Title IV funds for the initial purchase of the machine and for one refill of books. A Hampstead mothers' club has raised additional money for purchasing more books, and the school has an Amazon wish list where parents can buy books to restock the machine, according to Thompson. Get N.H. Morning Report A weekday newsletter delivering the N.H. news you need to know right to your inbox. Enter Email Sign Up Located by the school's main office, the vending machine for books looks much like the kind that distributes snacks or soda, with over 20 different colorful titles visible from behind a pane of glass. Advertisement Thompson said teachers and students weighed in on the most popular titles to make sure the selection of books is as irresistible as possible. 'It checks two boxes,' he said. 'One is it supports literacy and gets kids Advertisement This story first appeared in Globe NH | Morning Report, our free newsletter focused on the news you need to know about New Hampshire, including great coverage from the Boston Globe and links to interesting articles from other places. If you'd like to receive it via e-mail Monday through Friday, Amanda Gokee can be reached at
Boston Globe
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Bestselling authors implore New Hampshire lawmakers to kill ‘book-banning' bills
Advertisement Picoult, whose acclaimed novel 'Nineteen Minutes' ranks among Get N.H. Morning Report A weekday newsletter delivering the N.H. news you need to know right to your inbox. Enter Email Sign Up Prescott said books are powerful vehicles for storytelling that builds a reader's sense of empathy. 'When you can imagine what life is like for someone completely different than you, you gain understanding and with that a deeper connection to the world,' she said. Prescott said her novel 'The Secrets We Kept' — which discusses Soviet censorship of the novel 'Doctor Zhivago' — was banned in China because it includes a storyline about a romantic relationship between two women. Advertisement 'It's hard to believe we're seeing echoes of that in our own country today,' she added. The legislation defines what is considered 'harmful to minors' based on what adults determine is 'suitable' and age-appropriate, so critics have said the proposal would expose teachers, librarians, and other school officials to civil, professional, and even While higher educational' justifications, essentially depriving K-12 school personnel of an affirmative defense that is presently available to them. 'That one-word change makes it possible to criminally charge a high school teacher for, say, showing a nude in a classical painting during an art history class,' Bowen said. 'That is completely unacceptable to me, and hopefully to you.' Although this proposal is The bill's prime sponsor, Republican Representative Advertisement A topically similar proposal designed to give people a right to challenge the age-appropriateness of school materials, This article first appeared in Globe NH | Morning Report, our free newsletter focused on the news you need to know about New Hampshire, including great coverage from the Boston Globe and links to interesting articles from other places. If you'd like to receive it via e-mail Monday through Friday, Steven Porter can be reached at
