You are the owner of this article.You have permission to edit this article.CONCORD – A key House committee endorsed the Right-to-Work bill, setting up a final showdown before the full House of Representatives next week over legislation to keep workers in the private sector from having to pay union dues or fees to cover bargaining costs.The 11-9 vote of the House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services along partisan lines Tuesday was expected, given that House Republican leaders have made this issue () a priority for the 2021 session.Committee Chairman Will Infantine, R-Manchester,...…You are the owner of this article.You have permission to edit this article.CONCORD – A key House committee endorsed the Right-to-Work bill, setting up a final showdown before the full House of Representatives next week over legislation to keep workers in the private sector from having to pay union dues or fees to cover bargaining costs.The 11-9 vote of the House Labor, Industrial and Rehabilitative Services along partisan lines Tuesday was expected, given that House Republican leaders have made this issue () a priority for the 2021 session.Committee Chairman Will Infantine, R-Manchester,...WW…

You are the owner of this article.You have permission to edit this article.CONCORD — A leader of a special-interest group exploited a loophole in New Hampshire’s campaign finance law to create 11 political action committees which donated nearly $100,000 to 10 Republican state Senate candidates during the 2020 election.A New Hampshire Union Leader investigation found that a representative of New England Citizens for Right to Work gave similarly themed names to the different PACs, which enabled the group’s supporters to collectively give their preferred candidates at least eight times what a...…You are the owner of this article.You have permission to edit this article.CONCORD — A leader of a special-interest group exploited a loophole in New Hampshire’s campaign finance law to create 11 political action committees which donated nearly $100,000 to 10 Republican state Senate candidates during the 2020 election.A New Hampshire Union Leader investigation found that a representative of New England Citizens for Right to Work gave similarly themed names to the different PACs, which enabled the group’s supporters to collectively give their preferred candidates at least eight times what a...WW…

You are the owner of this article.You have permission to edit this article.CONCORD — The White House victory lap campaign to celebrate the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package comes to New Hampshire on Wednesday when first lady Jill Biden is scheduled to make a taxpayer-paid trip to Concord, according to administration officials.The dates and states the first lady will visit were released Friday with more details to follow, officials said.In the wake of President Joe Biden’s nationwide address last Thursday, the administration is loosening restrictions on domestic travel because of the...…You are the owner of this article.You have permission to edit this article.CONCORD — The White House victory lap campaign to celebrate the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package comes to New Hampshire on Wednesday when first lady Jill Biden is scheduled to make a taxpayer-paid trip to Concord, according to administration officials.The dates and states the first lady will visit were released Friday with more details to follow, officials said.In the wake of President Joe Biden’s nationwide address last Thursday, the administration is loosening restrictions on domestic travel because of the...WW…

You are the owner of this article.You have permission to edit this article.CONCORD — Competitive sports collided with gender identity freedom Tuesday over a bill to ban anyone born male from playing on high school or college sports teams for females.House Education Committee Chairman Rick Ladd, R-Haverhill, said letting transgender girls compete with biological girls violated the spirit of the federal Title IX law that outlaws sex discrimination in sports.“If an athlete’s mere claim that he is male or vice versa suffices, then that means the term sex used in Title IX is rendered useless,”...…You are the owner of this article.You have permission to edit this article.CONCORD — Competitive sports collided with gender identity freedom Tuesday over a bill to ban anyone born male from playing on high school or college sports teams for females.House Education Committee Chairman Rick Ladd, R-Haverhill, said letting transgender girls compete with biological girls violated the spirit of the federal Title IX law that outlaws sex discrimination in sports.“If an athlete’s mere claim that he is male or vice versa suffices, then that means the term sex used in Title IX is rendered useless,”...WW…

You are the owner of this article.You have permission to edit this article.CONCORD — Top state prosecutors and election officials have asked Windham town officials for extensive information in their effort to account for a major discrepancy between ballots optically scanned on Election Day and those in a hand recount.But Assistant Attorney General Nicholas Chong Yen and Assistant Secretary of State Orville “Bud” Fitch said their offices, along with the Ballot Law Commission, have no authority to order an audit or, as town officials have asked for, a “re-canvass” of the ballots.Three weeks...…You are the owner of this article.You have permission to edit this article.CONCORD — Top state prosecutors and election officials have asked Windham town officials for extensive information in their effort to account for a major discrepancy between ballots optically scanned on Election Day and those in a hand recount.But Assistant Attorney General Nicholas Chong Yen and Assistant Secretary of State Orville “Bud” Fitch said their offices, along with the Ballot Law Commission, have no authority to order an audit or, as town officials have asked for, a “re-canvass” of the ballots.Three weeks...WW…

You are the owner of this article.You have permission to edit this article.CONCORD — Parents who send their children to private schools or who teach them at home could receive $4,100 “scholarships” under legislation that took center stage Tuesday in the session’s biggest battle over education reform.The freedom savings account legislation () would be named in honor of the late House Speaker Dick Hinch, R-Merrimack, its original sponsor, who died last December after contracting COVID-19.Such scholarships also would be available to parents who send their children to public schools outside...…You are the owner of this article.You have permission to edit this article.CONCORD — Parents who send their children to private schools or who teach them at home could receive $4,100 “scholarships” under legislation that took center stage Tuesday in the session’s biggest battle over education reform.The freedom savings account legislation () would be named in honor of the late House Speaker Dick Hinch, R-Merrimack, its original sponsor, who died last December after contracting COVID-19.Such scholarships also would be available to parents who send their children to public schools outside...WW…

You are the owner of this article.You have permission to edit this article.Rep. Keith Ammon, R-New Boston, argues with the House sergeant-at-arms about not wearing a mask. Ammon later moved to the section assigned to members without masks.State representatives get sworn in during Organization Day, which was held outside on Memorial Field in Durham on Wednesday.State Rep. Mary Griffin, R-Windham, left, chats with Rep. Phyllis Katsiakores, R-Derry during a chilly Organization Day at UNH in Durham. Griffin swears in to her 13th term in the House and Katsiakores starts her 18th term. Behind the...…You are the owner of this article.You have permission to edit this article.Rep. Keith Ammon, R-New Boston, argues with the House sergeant-at-arms about not wearing a mask. Ammon later moved to the section assigned to members without masks.State representatives get sworn in during Organization Day, which was held outside on Memorial Field in Durham on Wednesday.State Rep. Mary Griffin, R-Windham, left, chats with Rep. Phyllis Katsiakores, R-Derry during a chilly Organization Day at UNH in Durham. Griffin swears in to her 13th term in the House and Katsiakores starts her 18th term. Behind the...WW…

You are the owner of this article.You have permission to edit this article.THERE IS NO evidence of widespread voter fraud in New Hampshire.It is also true that nearly every election recount “finds” votes.Many of these votes surface when both sides agree on the intent of a voter. That means they agree to count the vote of a person who didn’t exactly follow the proper instructions, which kept a machine from counting it.Another common error is data entry, which involves an election worker entering a number on the vote total summary sheet that doesn’t match the number that should have been...…You are the owner of this article.You have permission to edit this article.THERE IS NO evidence of widespread voter fraud in New Hampshire.It is also true that nearly every election recount “finds” votes.Many of these votes surface when both sides agree on the intent of a voter. That means they agree to count the vote of a person who didn’t exactly follow the proper instructions, which kept a machine from counting it.Another common error is data entry, which involves an election worker entering a number on the vote total summary sheet that doesn’t match the number that should have been...WW…

You are the owner of this article.You have permission to edit this article.Republican Gov. Chris Sununu's broad appeal and easy reelection paved the way to Republican majorities in the state House, Senate and Executive Council. Rep. Dick Hinch (R-Merrimack) said the governor's involvement in State House races was crucial to the new Republican majorities."He did a Herculean effort, he made sure he made himself available," Hinch said, attending meet-and-greet events and sign waves across the state to make sure voters knew who he supported.  "His efforts paid off...…You are the owner of this article.You have permission to edit this article.Republican Gov. Chris Sununu's broad appeal and easy reelection paved the way to Republican majorities in the state House, Senate and Executive Council. Rep. Dick Hinch (R-Merrimack) said the governor's involvement in State House races was crucial to the new Republican majorities."He did a Herculean effort, he made sure he made himself available," Hinch said, attending meet-and-greet events and sign waves across the state to make sure voters knew who he supported.  "His efforts paid off...WW…

You are the owner of this article.You have permission to edit this article.Gov. Chris Sununu speaks at a news conference Monday on the lawsuit the state is filing against Massachusetts in the U.S. Supreme Court. Also pictured is Attorney General Gordon MacDonald.Gov. Chris Sununu speaks at a news conference Monday on the lawsuit the state is filing against Massachusetts in the U.S. Supreme Court.Attorney General Gordon MacDonald holds up the complaint his office is filing against Massachusetts in the U.S. Supreme Court. Also pictured is Gov. Chris Sununu.Gov. Chris Sununu speaks at a news...…You are the owner of this article.You have permission to edit this article.Gov. Chris Sununu speaks at a news conference Monday on the lawsuit the state is filing against Massachusetts in the U.S. Supreme Court. Also pictured is Attorney General Gordon MacDonald.Gov. Chris Sununu speaks at a news conference Monday on the lawsuit the state is filing against Massachusetts in the U.S. Supreme Court.Attorney General Gordon MacDonald holds up the complaint his office is filing against Massachusetts in the U.S. Supreme Court. Also pictured is Gov. Chris Sununu.Gov. Chris Sununu speaks at a news...WW…