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In a new book, former House speaker and political legend Marshall Cobleigh tells all... the people, the issues, the debates and sometimes wacky tales that have made the Granite State what it is. From giant liquor stores located along the highway to our beloved first-in-the-nation presidential primary we talk with Marshall Cobleigh about a life in New Hampshire politics. Laura's guest is Former New Hampshire House Speaker Marshall Colbeigh, author of "We Ain't Making Sausage Here! A Political Memoir by House Speaker Marshall Cobleigh"

On Monday, "Writers on a New England Stage" kicked off its series. Writers on a New England Stage is a collaboration with New Hampshire Public Radio, RiverRun Bookstore and the Music Hall in Portsmouth. Alan Alda, author of New Book "Never Have your Dog Stuffed: And Other Things I've Learned" spoke to an audience about his book and then to Laura Knoy about his life and career on television, movies and Broadway. Today we rebroadcast part of that show; you can access the entire program here.

The nineteen fifties brought us the credit card, color television, the Korean War and the first hydrogen bomb. It found a vaccine for polio, reported that cigarettes caused cancer, conquered Mount Everest, swooned for Elvis and launched the McCarthy Communist Witch Hunt. Despite all this change and revolution, the fifties have taken on a nostalgic ideal, viewed as a time of calmness and conformity idolized in television shows like "Leave It To Beaver". We'll take a look at this overlooked and often misunderstood decade and try to separate myth from reality. Laura's guest is Larry Douglas, Independent Scholar and Retired Professor of History at Plymouth State University.

Ten years ago today, a treaty written up in Dayton, Ohio was finalized, putting an end to bloodshed in the former Yugoslavia and a three-year war which displaced thousands to the United States. We’ll sit down with a roundtable of Bosnians and Croats now living in New Hampshire and talk about life at war, peace in Dayton and the work that still needs to be done. Laura's guests are Nermina Zildjo, Former Curator for the National Gallery in Sarajevo. She came to New Hampshire in 1995 and currently works as a Patron Record Specialist at the Dartmouth College's Library. Haris Tuco, Former student and radio announcer from Vitez, Bosnia, Haris fled to New Hampshire in 1997 and currently works as a resettlement director for the International Institute of New Hampshire and Katarina Barklow, originally from Drnis, Croatia, Katarina moved here 30 years ago and has helped newly arrived Bosnian refugees in New Hampshire for the last 12 years. We'll also speak to several Bosnian court officials who visited New Hampshire last week.

Six months ago, when Lyonel Tracy took over the office of Education Commissioner for New Hampshire, he was given three assignments by Governor Lynch- reduce the dropout rate, make the No Child Left Behind law work better in the state, and improve access to school data. We'll see how he's doing so far, talk with him about the big education issues facing the state along with his personal philosophy and hopes that he might bring to the job. Laura's guest is Lyonel Tracy, Education Commissioner for New Hampshire. Prior to this position, he was Superintendent of Schools for Portsmouth and has in the past served as superintendent, principal and teacher in school districts in Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire.