Archives

Most agree that the red hot real estate market is starting to level off, but there?s disagreement over just what that means and how far prices might fall. We?ll look at housing markets across the state, and ask if all the bubble talk is real, or full of hot air. Mike Arnold guest hosts. He is joined by Dennis Delay, Economist and Director of Special Projects with the Workforce Opportunity Council, Russ Thibeault of Applied Economic Research in Laconia, and Chip Maxfield, President of Henry S. Maxfield Real Estate in Wolfeboro and past president of the New Hampshire Realtors Association.

A recent Supreme Court decision enhanced local governments' power to seize private property for economic development. We'll look at these laws in New Hampshire, when they have been used and what effect, if any, the federal decision will have on the Granite State. Jon Greenberg guest hosts. He is joined by Mark Hodgdon, Senior Assistant Attorney General for NH, Bureau Chief of the Transportation Law Bureau and is a member of the Transportation Research Board's Eminent Domain and Land Use Committee, a division of the National Academy of Sciences. Steve Grill, an attorney with Devine Millimet who has represented both companies and individuals land use matters at the local, state and federal levels. John Ratigan, a partner with the law firm of Donahue, Tucker and Ciandella who advises municipal and private clients on several issues, including land use and eminent domain. He is the Berlin City Attorney and serves as legal counsel to the towns of Alexandria, Brentwood, Epping, Peterborough and Plymouth. We'll also hear from Mike Lorrey, Vice-Chair for the 2nd District, representing the Libertarian Party in NH and TBA.

The gasoline additive has contaminated drinking supplies in New Hampshire, and across the country. And there have been over 150 lawsuits filed against MTBE makers. Efforts from Congressmen in Washington to protect MTBE manufacturers from lawsuits have failed, most recently in a major upset this past weekend. Jon Greenberg guest hosts. He's joined by Eric Olson, Senior Attorney at the Natural Resource Defense Council, and Scott Segal, an attorney with the law firm Bracewell and Giuliani. We will also hear from Maureen Smith, New Hampshire's Assistant Attorney General.

Click here to see the percentage of water supplies in NH with detectable amounts of MtBE.

With almost sixty New Hampshire ponds and lakes infected with invasive species like Fanwort, Variable Milfoil and Water Chestnut, many wonder if enough is being done to prevent further spread. We'll look at state, town and neighborhood efforts to battle invasive species in lakes and ponds and ask who should shoulder the responsibility. Laura's guests are Amy Smagula, Biologist and Exotic species coordinator at the Department of Environmental Services. Linda Schier, President of the Great East Lake Improvement Association and Point Person for her lake's Lake Host Program and TBA.

Justice Nadeau that is... Just back from Slovakia, New Hampshire Supreme Court Justice Joseph Nadeau recently advised nineteen Iraqi judges on drafting their constitution and all things that have to do with judging from writing judicial code to evaluation. Today on the Exchange, we?ll talk with him about his trip and ask how he sees democracy shaping up in Iraq.