This Week in N.H. News: Trump, Johnson Swing Through; Schools Grapple with Guns at the Polls

We hope you're enjoying this last stretch of summer while you can! Here's a rundown of the stories from across the state you might've missed earlier this week. (And don't forget to sign up for our newsletters to get the headlines delivered straight to your inbox!)

Guns, Polls and Schools: Unanswered Questions Leave Local School Boards Scrambling

Schools make up about a third of polling places in New Hampshire — and, usually, they're gun-free zones. 

But there’s not much guidance about how those schools are supposed to deal with people who are otherwise legally allowed to carry guns when they come in to vote on Election Day.

NHPR’s Jason Moon delves into some of the unanswered questions and takes a look at how one school in the Lakes Region is trying to balance voters’ rights with student safety.

Drug Treatment Advocate Wades Into Senate Race Squabbling

  HOPE for New Hampshire Recovery is one of the most prominent voices on the state’s opioid crisis, and generally tries to carve out a nonpartisan reputation.

So when one of its board members showed up in a recent ad attacking Gov. Maggie Hassan’s record on the state’s opioid crisis, it turned a few heads — even among her colleagues in the recovery community.

NHPR’s Brian Wallstin took a closer look at the controversy over the ad and how, exactly, HOPE has fared as a result of policies enacted under Hassan’s watch.

Stalled Progress on Staffing at State Hospital

Credit Paige Sutherland/NHPR

A big contract dealing with the providers at the state’s psychiatric hospital was supposed to be up for a vote this week — but the Executive Council ended up tabling it because of a bunch of concerns around staffing and care, which were heightened following the suicide of a patient who was recently discharged from the hospital.  

The contract was up for a vote in the first place because most of the psychiatrists who were providing care at the hospital left earlier this year, unhappy with the terms of a new contract. NHPR’s Jack Rodolico has more background for you here.

The Union Leader has been closely following the issues around the death of the hospital’s former patient. Their most recent update is here.

Think Your Town Strays From the State When It Comes to Voting? You're Probably Wrong...

For political observers and journalists, there is something appealing about the idea of a bellwether town -- a place whose vote in an election consistently matches up with the statewide totals.

Steve Kozcela has been digging in to NHPR's Election Database, and what he discovered is that New Hampshire's map is covered with bellwether towns both large and small. Read the story here and explore the interactive maps here.

In the White Mountains, which have been around for hundreds of millions of years, six years isn’t much time at all — but six years in those same mountains have felt like a lifetime for NHPR Reporter Sean Hurley.

This week, Sean filed a bittersweet reflection on what it’s been like to watch his son Sam go from a 5-year-old playing make-believe on the trails to an 11-year-old who’s fascinated by other mysteries in the wilderness.

Parents, be warned: You might find yourself getting misty-eyed. Take a listen to the story right here.

Libertarian Candidates Make a Swing Through New Hampshire

Former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson and former Massachusetts governor Bill Weld took customers by surprise when they showed up at The Red Arrow Diner on Thursday afternoon. But at one booth, four friends out to lunch felt like it was their lucky day—they say they’ve all been starting to think Johnson may be their guy this year. NHPR's Natasha Haverty reports on their visit to New Hampshire.

Trump Makes Plea to Blacks and Hispanics at Manchester Rally

Trump won New Hampshire's primary in February by a wide margin...but today, in New Hampshire, Trump is trailing Hillary Clinton in the polls. And Thursday afternoon, Trump directed blow after blow to one person only: his rival, Hillary Clinton. 

But when the crowd chanted “lock her up,” Trump tried something new. “Let’s just WIN on November 8th,” he said. NHPR's Emily Corwin was there, and reports this story.

Another Twist in the St. Paul's Story

Lawyers for a New Hampshire prep school sex assault victim say parents and alumni at St. Paul's School helped raise over $100,000 for her alleged attacker's defense team. Get the story.

Credit Sara Plourde, NHPR

NHPR's Jason Moon has you covered with his dispatches from our Life on the Seacoast series. This week, you can take a listen to the sounds of Wallis Sands State Beach in Rye.

The National Park Service celebrated its 100th birthday on Thursday.  New Hampshire’s only national park is Saint-Gaudens, the home, studio, and gardens of Augustus Saint-Gaudens, located in Cornish. In honor of the anniversary, Saint-Gaudens is offering free admission through Sunday, August 28th.

A celebration of the maker movement is happening in Dover Saturday.

At the Mini Maker Faire, visitors will be able to do everything from build and launch their own rockets to learn how to publish a book. Learn more about the event from NHPR's Morning Edition.

Credit NHSPCA Facebook

• There is never not a good time for a video of baby alpacas —so here’s one, andanother for good measure. While you’re at it, maybe think about what you’d name these newborns (currently living at the NHSPCA in Stratham) if given the chance. The animal shelter is seeking out suggestions. (NHSPCA,Union Leader)

• The Concord Monitor put together an in-depth series profiling several transgender Granite Staters —including a state employee, a salon owner, a high school student and a college athlete — and examining the policies affecting the lives of the state’s transgender community. (Concord Monitor)

• On a related note, Claremont has joined a growing list of New Hampshire schools taking a closer look at how it treats transgender and gender non-conforming students. (Eagle-Times)  

• How can schools build better trust between parents and teachers? One district’s trying to bridge the divide, literally, with a new home visiting program. (Berlin Daily Sun)

• If someone is going to try to “rig” this year’s election, New Hampshire’s votes might end up being a little safer than those elsewhere — at least according to one report. (Forbes)

• More than a century ago, New Hampshire was apparently a major producer of hops. Now, some think the growth of the state’s craft beer industry could spell a revival. (NH Business Review)

• A church sign along Main Street in Keene has a sense of humor. (Keene Sentinel)

• You’re not the only one who’s stressed out these days: The summer’s weird weather is apparently leaving New England’s fish frazzled, too. (AP)

• Meanwhile, that weird weather has also left bears to scramble around for snacks — which has also led to more frequent sightings in neighborhoods across the state. One family in Hanover even caught a few cubs trying out a rope swing in their backyard. (WMUR, Valley News)

• It’s hard to imagine, but the smoke-filled offices you see in the likes of “Mad Men” weren’t fully banned until the 1990s in New Hampshire. We dug up an old interview to find out what it was like to push through the law that cleared things up. (NHPR)

• And finally, your local news headline of the week: “Burger King Manager Accused of Throwing Sauce at Customer” (Conway Daily Sun)

Credit NHPR

New Hampshire Public Radio is excited to partner with The Farmers Dinner to present an evening celebrating great local food and great local radio.

Join hosts Laura Knoy, Virginia Prescott, and Sam Evans-Brown on September 14th at Gould Hill Farm in Contoocook for a delicious farm to table dinner to celebrate NHPR’s 35 years on the air.

Click here for more information and tickets.