AGP Executive Report

Silent-film Night in Brattleboro: Epsilon Spires screens “The Thief of Bagdad” Aug. 28 with live organ music from NH’s Jeff Rapsis, bringing a classic 1920s epic back to the big-screen feel. Community Grief & Mental Health: Madbury marks one year since a murder-suicide that killed Ryan Long and two children, with local leaders urging ongoing conversations and support. Public Safety & Youth Sports: Greenville firefighters topped a youth Hurricanes softball charity match 17-12, raising funds for the department and keeping kids’ programs alive. Healthcare & Accountability: Harvard agreed to pay $53 million over mishandling and illegal sale of donated human remains tied to a former morgue manager who operated out of Goffstown. Local Roads: Moultonborough holds an Aug. 25 public meeting on Glidden Road intersection safety improvements. Youth Suicide Prevention: NAMI New Hampshire lands a $3.6 million federal grant to expand school-based training and family supports in high-need areas. Politics & Education Costs: A new report targets NH school voucher expansion, arguing it will cost Granite Staters more than $60 million this year. Culture & Food: Portsmouth’s The Rosa is named a top beloved Italian spot in New Hampshire by a national outlet. Wellness & Coaching: UNH highlights a “begin again” approach to habit-building and stress recovery through wellness coaching.

First-in-the-Nation Fight: Former Sen. John Sununu blasted the DNC for dropping New Hampshire’s early primary status, arguing the state’s engaged voters let lesser-known candidates compete. Immigration & Community Tension: In Keene, residents packed City Hall after recent ICE arrests, pressing officials for clarity while leaders warned federal authority limits what local government can do. Schools & Screen Time: New Hampshire’s Department of Education launched a Screen Time Task Force after a cellphone ban, aiming to shape guidance for laptops and other classroom tech. Vaccines Under Fire: The American Academy of Pediatrics and dozens of health groups condemned a White House executive order that advises reducing and spacing childhood vaccines without evidence. Local Education Funding: The state is asking courts to overturn Claremont school-funding precedents, arguing the current system is unworkable. Childcare Access: Meredith Village Savings Bank backed Kidworks Learning Center with $25,000 in tax credits for safety and ADA upgrades that add childcare spaces. Lifestyle/Local Culture: Portsmouth’s Prescott sisters’ story and the park they named for their father is getting fresh attention, adding texture to Seacoast heritage. Health Costs Snapshot: A WalletHub analysis found New Hampshire spends a relatively low share of income on health insurance, ranking near the bottom nationally.

ICE in Keene: A public meeting in Keene is underway after reports of recent ICE activity, with Mayor Jay Kahn pushing for transparency about what local government can and can’t do. Back-to-school health: Health experts are urging New Hampshire families to confirm kids’ vaccines are up to date as the school year approaches. Child care costs: New Hampshire’s new child day care creation tax credit could help businesses add licensed slots starting in 2027, aiming to expand the child care supply. Election rules and access: A federal judge rejected the Trump administration’s push for Minnesota voter data, a reminder that election-data requests are still being fought in court. School funding fight: The state is asking the New Hampshire Supreme Court to overturn decades-old Claremont school funding precedents. Local business & community: NH 4-H Livestock Auction highlights workforce skills youth build through real-world “business” experience. Tech and everyday life: A Concord water-systems piece focuses on protecting infrastructure from hacks, including the idea of “air gap” safeguards. Outdoors & community events: A Mount Monadnock hiker was airlifted after a medical emergency, and the Perseid meteor shower peaks through Aug. 24. Housing & growth: Rochester is considering zoning limits to steer data centers away from most areas, with a public hearing set for Aug. 18. Sports & culture: Bedford begins the football season as defending champ with a new head coach, and Seacoast fans can vote for preseason boys soccer Player of the Year.

Local Politics & Public Safety: A Portsmouth letter pushes back on a proposed $600,000 fire boat purchase, arguing the city likely doesn’t need one and pointing to Coast Guard capability and past cost concerns. Seacoast Sports (Preseason): Seacoast boys soccer and field hockey preseason Player of the Year voting is open, with nominees listed and ballots closing Aug. 20. Election Rules & Voting Access: New Hampshire joins other states banning student IDs at the polls, raising fresh questions for college voters like Dartmouth students. Education Policy: New Hampshire’s Education Freedom Account program hit its 12,500-student cap, with hundreds already on a wait list. Outdoors & Community: A hiker was airlifted from Mount Monadnock after a medical emergency near the White Dot/White Cross trails. Culture & Debate: A New Mexico law is being challenged for forcing the Babylon Bee to add government-mandated warnings to its political satire. Governance Watch: A Monitor investigation says a former NH House speaker’s nonprofit took $274,000 from casino charitable gaming with little public activity.

Local Outdoors & Community: A new storybook river walk opened at the Hinsdale Historical Society, pairing an easy mile-long stroll with children’s book displays and wildlife spotting along the Connecticut River. School & Youth Life: Volunteers keep an 18-hole disc golf course running near the Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative Middle High School, giving families and students a low-cost way to play outdoors. Education & Costs: A new map of college pricing puts New Hampshire near the top for in-state tuition and fees at public four-year schools, with Vermont and New Hampshire leading the Northeast’s most expensive list. State Politics: Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s veto pen is setting up a busy Veto Day on Aug. 19, with the House and Senate set to take up dozens of bills. Immigration & Civil Rights: In Keene, crowds protested reported ICE activity, while legal groups continue challenging the federal birthright citizenship push. Sports: Joey Logano won at Richmond Raceway, surging toward the NASCAR Chase.

Education Spotlight: Hanover middle school social studies teacher Derek Butler was named New Hampshire history teacher of the year by the Gilder Lehrman Institute, a win that highlights how local classrooms are bringing history and civics to life. School Choice & Hunger: New Hampshire’s Education Freedom Account voucher-like program hit 12,500 enrolled students (with 943 on the waitlist), while a new Feeding America report says child food insecurity in the state rose to 38,430 kids—one in six—pushing the need for more local support. Local Protest & Immigration: Crowds gathered in Keene to protest reported ICE activity, with city and county officials saying they weren’t notified and residents demanding answers. Politics & Community Life: Democrats officially set South Carolina as the first 2028 Democratic presidential primary state, reshuffling New Hampshire’s place in the early calendar. Outdoors & Culture: The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests and UNH Cooperative Extension plan a guided timber harvest tour on Mount Monadnock Aug. 19, and the Meredith Bay Barbershop Harmony Jamboree brings Granite State quartets and choruses to the Lakes Region this weekend.

School Choice & Equity: New Hampshire’s Education Freedom Account voucher-like program is expanding to 12,500 students for the coming school year, with 943 more on a wait list. Child Health & Daily Life: A new map on children’s dental health flags big gaps by state, with New Hampshire among those facing preventable tooth-decay burdens. Food Insecurity: Feeding America reports child food insecurity in New Hampshire rose to 38,430 kids in 2026, up from 36,160 the year before, while overall food insecurity climbed to 11.2% of residents. Politics & Community: Democrats are reshuffling the 2028 presidential primary calendar, putting South Carolina first and keeping New Hampshire in the early mix. Local Culture: Nashua Community Music School’s “Play It Forward” fundraiser rock show heads to Lowell on Sunday, Aug. 16, featuring teen and local bands. Outdoors & Learning: The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests is hosting a guided timber harvest tour on Mount Monadnock Aug. 19, with a hike and a look at sustainable forestry.

Local Education & Accountability: Teachers in Newfound Area School District say their contracts were invalidated after a state review tied to tax-cap approval, leaving job security uncertain as the district scrambles to fix paperwork and process. Youth & Community Safety: A Hinsdale Middle/High School staffer remains employed after a judge issued a protective order tied to a teen stalking allegation, while police say the case isn’t actively being pursued. Family Fun (Boats & Learning): The New Hampshire Boat Museum’s Junior Skippers session lets kids build and race foam boats down a “rain gutter” at its Moultonborough campus. Back-to-School Support: AmeriHealth Caritas New Hampshire is hosting a back-to-school event with backpacks, supplies, and haircut vouchers for kids in need. Arts & Small-Town Culture: “Our Town” opened at Watertown Players Theater, with the classic Grover’s Corners story drawing glowing early reviews. Health & Lifestyle: A $100,008 Powerball ticket sold in Franklin is still unclaimed, with a Sept. 7 deadline. Science & Conservation: Squam Lakes Natural Science Center’s sold-out Nature for Everyone Barn Bash raised $165K+ for its education programs.

Nature & Philanthropy: Squam Lakes Natural Science Center’s sold-out Nature for Everyone Barn Bash in Holderness raised $165,000+ for hands-on outdoor education, with Meredith Village Savings Bank as major sponsor. Local Arts & Community: Keene is set to unveil a new historic marker honoring Dr. Albert C. Johnston and his family’s nationally known story of race and identity tied to Lost Boundaries. Education & Tech: New Hampshire’s School Screen Time Task Force is taking a closer look at classroom technology after the cellphone ban’s early success. School Choice: The Education Freedom Account program hit its cap again for 2026-27, with about 1,000 more students on a wait list as enrollment reaches 12,500. Immigration Enforcement: ICE arrested at least nine people across Vermont in weekend operations, including workplace and commuting arrests that advocates say are unusual. Energy Future: Appledore Island’s green microgrid at Shoals Marine Laboratory is offering a real-world preview of NH’s renewable energy potential. Sports Culture: Tulane’s Mardi Gras-inspired City Edition uniforms sparked huge online buzz and sold out quickly, with proceeds supporting NIL opportunities.

School & Voting Rights: A Concord federal lawsuit challenges New Hampshire’s ban on using student ID cards to get a ballot, arguing it unlawfully burdens the right to vote and targets young voters. Classroom Tech: The state’s new “School Screen Time Task Force” is reviewing how devices are used in schools after the bell-to-bell cellphone ban, with early teacher reports of improved focus. Immigration & Civil Liberties: Legal groups again ask a federal court to block Trump’s renewed birthright citizenship restrictions, keeping New Hampshire at the center of the national fight. Public Safety & Surveillance: In Rhode Island, towns are debating Flock Safety license-plate cameras—an issue that echoes across New England as communities weigh privacy against policing. Community & Youth: Volunteers are delivering thousands of backpacks filled with school supplies to NH students after the Pack a Pack drive. Culture: Old South Concerts brings a Scottish fiddle-and-cello duo to Farmington on Aug. 29. Sports: High school football practice starts today, kicking off the season.

Child Well-Being Watch: New Hampshire topped the latest KIDS COUNT look at child well-being, with the report stressing that where kids are born and live shapes outcomes—and that targeted investments can move the needle. Livability Rankings: WalletHub’s livability study put New Hampshire in the top tier (and highlighted how education, health coverage, and safety can outweigh affordability concerns). Immigration & Community Safety: ACLU-backed groups asked a federal court in New Hampshire to block Trump’s renewed birthright citizenship limits, while local leaders and activists in the Upper Valley and Keene reported ICE activity and pushed back on how much say cities have. Privacy vs. Policing Tech: In Foster, town leaders weighed whether to keep Flock Safety license-plate cameras as Rhode Island towns cancel similar contracts. Health Updates: Public health coverage flagged rising COVID-19 activity and tracked Cyclospora and Salmonella developments. Local Culture & Arts: Homer Council on the Arts honored Dave Webster with a lifetime achievement award. Parenting & School Life: Claremont planning officials moved to align zoning with new state rules for home-based child care centers. Mental Health Tech: Dartmouth researchers are testing AI chatbots as therapy tools.

Top States to Live: WalletHub puts New Hampshire at No. 5 (strong economy, education/health, and safety) and Maine at No. 15, keeping New England in the spotlight. Community & Culture: Londonderry’s 9th Annual Blues Festival returns Aug. 26, with proceeds benefiting Combat Vets Associations. Local Life & Family: A Bedford Academy gets state Senate recognition for its FIRST LEGO League work, highlighting hands-on STEM for younger students. Politics & Rights: Civil rights groups ask a federal court to keep birthright citizenship protections in place as Trump issues new executive orders; separate legal action challenges New Hampshire’s student ID voter law. Health & Tech: A new mobile health unit from North Star Health aims to expand access, while patients remain wary of AI being pushed into healthcare. Lifestyle & Learning: “Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age” sparks a teen-focused documentary discussion in Derry, plus drop-in tech help in Londonderry. Sports & Fun: Motorcycle Week board invites community cards for Laconia Motorcycle Week leader Charlie St. Clair as he recovers.

Immigration & Courts: A federal judge in New Hampshire is being asked to reinstate school-issued IDs for voting after a new law ended their use, with a lawsuit arguing it unfairly targets young voters. Birthright Citizenship Fight: The ACLU and other legal groups keep pushing back in federal court against Trump’s renewed executive orders on birthright citizenship, saying the Supreme Court already settled the issue. Healthcare & Tech: Rural patients and providers are wary of governments and companies promoting AI as a healthcare fix, with concerns about whether it actually improves access and outcomes. Childcare Costs: A New Hampshire summit highlights how childcare shortages and rising costs are driving young residents to leave, even when state scholarship help exists. School Funding & Local Control: Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District warns a new state mandate will force a November vote on a district tax cap, potentially triggering major cuts. Nursing Shortages: Unionized nurses at Concord Hospital’s Laconia and Franklin campuses raise patient-safety concerns tied to staffing and resources. Community & Culture: The Loon Preservation Committee’s summer nature talks continue Aug. 20 in Moultonborough, and Gilford Public Library hosts “Murder and Mayhem: True Crime in New Hampshire 1883-1915” Aug. 20. Sports: Saint Joseph’s College in Maine is launching a women’s varsity flag football team, signaling growing momentum for the sport in the region.

Immigration & Civil Rights: The ACLU and partner groups returned to federal court in New Hampshire, asking a judge to block and clarify Trump’s latest executive orders aimed at narrowing birthright citizenship, arguing they defy the Supreme Court’s June ruling. Local Community Safety: NH activists say ICE activity has spiked in recent days, with reports of detentions and increased presence across the state, prompting calls for community vigilance. Public Health: As measles cases rise nationally, Dartmouth Health pediatricians stress the importance of MMR vaccination and warn that lower vaccine rates can quickly lead to outbreaks. Education & Food Security: Fewer New Hampshire families are expected to qualify for free and reduced school lunches as SNAP changes ripple into classroom eligibility. Civic Life & Voting Access: Opinion pieces spotlight New Hampshire’s low young voter registration and argue current rules make it harder for 18-year-olds to vote. Heritage & Outdoors: Belmont’s Heritage Commission plans an America250 bandstand concert, while The Loon Center hosts free owl talks in Moultonborough. Cybersecurity for Seniors: NH Retirement System launched “Digital Sunscreen,” a summer series with practical scam-spotting and account-protection tips for members and retirees.

Health Care & Community: New Hampshire readers get a local-care win as state regulators approve York Hospital’s plan to join MaineHealth, clearing the path for an Oct. 1 integration aimed at keeping care close to home. Immigration & Public Safety: Activists say ICE activity has spiked in New Hampshire, with reports of detentions and increased federal presence in towns like West Lebanon and Keene. Civil Rights in Court: ACLU and partner legal groups are back in federal court in New Hampshire asking a judge to block Trump’s latest birthright citizenship executive orders, arguing they try to evade the Supreme Court’s June ruling. Food & Schools: Fewer NH families qualify for free and reduced school lunches as SNAP changes ripple into classroom support, while Feeding America reports childhood food insecurity rising for a third straight year. Cyber & Everyday Life: NH Retirement System launches “Digital Sunscreen,” a summer cybersecurity series for members and retirees to spot scams and protect accounts. Flood Preparedness: The Silver Jackets unveil new flood warning signs at Conway’s Davis Park to help visitors recognize flash-flood risk. Local Governance: Keene council discussions continue after reports of ICE activity, with calls for limits and more transparency. Wildlife & Volunteering: Winchester Wildlife Rehab says it handles about 500 animals a year and needs donations and volunteers to meet growing rescue demand. Education Policy: A bipartisan push in Congress targets the hardest part of antibiotic development—funding clinical trials—an issue with major public health stakes.

Immigration & Policing: A Franklin County farmworker deportation traces back to a Chittenden County deputy’s traffic stop call to Border Patrol, raising questions about Vermont’s Fair and Impartial Policing Policy and local-federal cooperation. Local Community Response: In Londonderry, neighbors gathered after ICE arrests of immigrant workers, sharing ways to monitor federal actions while staying safe. Politics & Culture: NH Democrat Matthew Emerson leans on his lived experience and Appalachian Trail story in his run for Congress. Education & Access: UNH is rolling out 3-year applied bachelor’s options via new online programs, aiming to cut time and tuition costs. Lifestyle & Family Fun: Hampton Beach Children’s Festival returns Aug. 17–21 with free daily activities, including STEM, puppets, face painting, and magicians. Business & Growth: Bangor Savings Bank named Yolanda “Lannie” Moffatt as its next president and CEO. Sports: Penn’s new coach Rick Santos previewed early changes and confirmed the starting QB for the upcoming season.