The Exchange

New research finds that younger athletes are more susceptible to head injury than once thought, take longer to recover, and are more at risk for suffering second concussions. Now, New Hampshire may join a growing list of states asking coaches and trainers to monitor these injuries more closely.  We talk with experts on head trauma in youth sports. 

Guests:

The city of Franklin wants to bar sex offenders from living near schools, but a judge ruled such restrictions violate equal protection laws. Franklin plans to appeal.  It’s just one example of how difficult this balancing act can be -- protecting the public while observing the rights of offenders. We’ll examine how this debate is unfolding in the Granite State.

Guests:

Tom Reid: Deputy County Attorney for Rockingham County.

Chris Dornin: Founder of Citizens for Criminal Justice Reform.

We'll also hear from...

The International Baccalaureate is hailed as a rigorous school curriculum that can prepare students for a global society. Opponents say it promotes anti-American values in our schools. A statehouse bill intended to put a moratorium on schools adopting this controversial program was defeated in committee recently but goes before the full senate for a vote tomorrow.

Guests:   

Ann Marie Banfield: Education Liaison for Cornerstone Action, a conservative think-tank. She’s a resident of Bedford.  

The long projected shortage of nurses in the state has been temporarily resolved in recent years. Hospitals that used to be beggars have become choosers, by seeking to hire more nurses with bachelor degrees or even master’s degrees. While many in the field are eager to adapt and pursue higher education, others fear academic achievement is being favored over years of experience.  We look at this development and the broad challenges facing the field of nursing.

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We discuss what happens as the medication generation grows up. Journalist and author, Kaitlin Bell Barnett joins us to talk about her new book, Dosed, which describes the experiences of young adults who spent childhood taking psychiatric meds, such as Prozac. Barnett explores the questions many in this generation are now asking: who am i really, after all these years on medication and what might be the long-term effects of these drugs? 

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The controversial mining method known as hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking", has led to a boom in production of cheap natural gas by getting at what was previously inaccessible pockets of gas contained in shale. Energy companies see it as way to reduce America’s dependence on oil and lower our energy bills, but concerns over environmental safety have others saying we need to slow down and study the issue. We cover all sides of fracking and its potential impacts here in New England. 

Guests:

Recently, several communities have voted to ban bottled water in their towns,  citing concerns over plastic waste and environmental impact.  But a backlash is also emerging from those who say singling out water is silly,  given the many other sources of packaging that are just as harmful and that these efforts are “all wet”.

Guests: