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It?s had a hard time in the Granite state... debates over transponder cost, over tokens and between the governor?s office and legislators has slowed progress and frustrated motorists. We?ll look at the problems and politics of EZ pass here in New Hampshire. Laura's guest is Kevin Landrigan, State House Reporter for the Nashua Telegraph. We'll also hear from Bill Boynton, Public Information Officer for the NH Department of Transportation, Senator Chuck Morse, Chair of the Finance Committee and Vice-Chair of the Transportation and Interstate Cooperation Committee, Executive Councilor Peter Spaulding, and Peter Samuel, Senior Fellow at the Reason Foundation and Publisher and Editor of TollRoadsNews.com.

Thirty six years ago this morning, riots between police and patrons of the New York City gay bar, The Stonewall Inn, sparked what many consider as the birth of the gay rights movement. Yet some are beginning to draw attention to protests that happened four years earlier; when men and women took to the streets of Philadelphia, risking their careers and their privacy by coming out and protesting for equal rights. Since then a lot of progress has been made yet many in the Gay and Lesbian community say that there is still much to do. Today on the Exchange we look at the history of the Gay rights movement from Harry Hay to the Daughters of Bilitis to Civil Unions. Laura's guests are Jonathan Ned Katz, Executive Coordinator of the Larry Kramer Initiative for Lesbian and Gay Studies at Yale University and founder of the first Gay and Lesbian Studies program at the City College of San Francisco. Marla Brettschneider, Professor of Political Science and Women's Studies at the University of New Hampshire and coordinator of UNH's Queer Studies Program and Frank Kameny, Long time gay activist, organizer of some of the first gay demonstrations and protests in 1965 at the White House and at Philadelphia's Independence Hall. He coined the expression "Gay is Good" in 1968.

It’s a lot more than just incense, humming and crossed legs. Many are finding the physical and spiritual physical benefits of Yoga from greater flexibility to mental stability. We’ll explore the ever-growing popularity of Yoga. Laura's guests are Peggy Cappy, a yoga instructor living in Peterborough, NH, creator of the videos "Yoga for the Rest of Us" and "MORE Yoga for the Rest of Us". Jim Readey, Owner and principle instructor of The Yoga Center of Concord, NH.

*This show originally aired on 1/26/05*

Last summer, New Hampshire's first charter school in Franklin opened its doors, now as its first school year ends six charter schools stand. Schools have begun to boast of the success of its students yet the year has not been without its major challenges? difficulties in state aid and negativity by certain school boards have left some of these schools uncertain about their futures. Today on the Exchange we look back at the last year of charter schools in our state and look forward to what their futures might hold. Laura's guests are Amy Quinton, NHPR's Education reporter. Roberta Tenney, Administrator for school standards for the New Hampshire Department of Education who oversees Charter, Choice, Home Schooling and Non-Public Education. Bill Grimm, Chair of the Board of Trustees and Founder of the Franklin Career Academy, the state's first Charter School. Patrice Baker, Chair of the Board of Trustees at the Seacoast Charter School in Exeter. Mark Joyce, Execuitve Director of the New Hampshire School Administrators Association and Lisa Lavoie, Director of the North Country Charter Academy in Littleton and Lancaster.

A new education funding bill has passed the House and Senate and now goes to Governor Lynch. The Senate Plan which in the end won out over the House Plan reduces the statewide property tax, sends more money to needy communities and for the most part, eliminates donor towns. For some it?s a victory, others a disappointment, others a compromise and for a handful of towns, a motive for a lawsuit. We?ll crunch the new numbers and see where we go from here. Laura's guests include Tom Fahey, Statehouse Reporter for the New Hampshire Union Leader, Senator Ted Gatsas, a Manchester Republican who's formula is the backbone of this plan, Representative John Pratt, a Democrat from Walpole, Representative Mark Carter, a Republican from Peterborough, Nate Greenberg, Londonderry School Superintendent and Governor John Lynch.