Rick Ganley

Three years after introducing open road tolling at the Hampton toll plaza on Interstate 95, the New Hampshire Department of Transportation is nearly done converting the Hooksett plaza on I93. Bill Boynton, spokesperson for the DOT, joined Morning Edition's Rick Ganley to explain the benefits and what drivers can expect.

Hippo Editor Amy Diaz suggests two events for the weekend:

The New Hampshire Renaissance Faire

and

Art Fest at the Currier Museum of Art

Hippo Editor Amy Diaz talks to Morning Edition about two events going on in the Granite State this weekend; Free Comic Book Day and  Opening day at Canterbury Shaker Village- featuring a Heifer Parade.

Links:

Double Midnight Comics in Manchester

Jetpack Comics in Rochester

Jeffrey Rose is New Hampshire's new Commissioner of the Department of Resources and Economic Development. He came to our studios to talk about what's on his to-do list, the experience he brings to the job, what the state gets right- and what could be improved.

Friday marks the one year anniversary of the shooting death of Greenland Police Chief Michael Maloney. He was killed in the line of duty, helping fellow officers who themselves had been shot while attempting to execute a search warrant in a drug case. The Chief was popular and well admired in the small seacoast town, and many in the community are still feeling the loss intensely.  The town’s current Police Chief Tara Laurent talks about how her Department is observing the anniversary.

Hippo Editor Amy Diaz previews the Made in NH Expo and a new exhibit at the Currier Museum of Art- "Crafting Settlement".

Late season snow won't stop the New Hampshire Fisher Cats from 'working on the show'.

It's Maple Weekend in the Granite State.  More than 110 farms and sugar shacks will be open to the public with demonstrations of syrup production, maple products to taste and buy, and hands-on activities. Hippo Editor Amy Diaz has some highlights.

Find a participating sugar shack near you

Want to tap your own? Read up on the basics of D.I.Y. maple tappin'

As producers prepare for Maple Weekend, New Hampshire Maple Producers Association Treasurer Howard Pearl tells us what maple syrup and other products mean to the state economy- and how the sap is flowing this year.

Hippo Editor Amy Diaz joins Morning Edition to talk about three 'battles' in Manchester this weekend.

Battle of the Bands at the Palace Theater

6th Annual CHaD Battle of the Badges All-Star Hockey Championship

Hippo Editor Amy Diaz has declared this Dinosaur Weekend in New Hampshire. She tells us about two museum events to take us back- way back- to the world of the dinos.

Dinosaurs! At the SEE Science Center

(read the Hippo story on this exhibit here)

Dinotopia: The Fantastical Art of James Gurney at New Hampshire Institute of Art

Newly-elected Governor Maggie Hassan has expressed willingness to support medical marijuana, which means this year’s attempt at a bill stands a better chance of becoming law.  To get an idea of how things could play out if that happens, we thought we'd turn to our western neighbor, Vermont, and see how the program is working there.

Shayne Lynn of Burlington recently obtained a license to operate a state-sanctioned dispensary. I began by asking him why he's starting a dispensary.

If the usual just won't do this weekend, here are some events in the area for you and yours that may help Cupid hit the mark.  Maybe you'd like to find love with chocolate among the stacks of books at the Pelham Public Library.    Strap on some snowshoes for a Valentine's Hike at Maple Hill Farm in Hollis, go solo for a Ladies Night with a screening of Clueless, or

In 2011, New Hampshire lawmakers passed the so-called Stand Your Ground Law. The state has seen controversy over the law, with some calling for its repeal. Many states have had similar laws on the books for years now, and we talked with Associate Professor Mark Hoekstra of Texas A&M University about research on trends in those states. I started by asking him what the research specifically looked at.