Public Insight Network

The winter storm was a change of pace for just about every part of New Hampshire, with the exception of Mount Washington. The forecasters who work at the Mount Washington Observatory say they’ve been getting snow all week, and at night winds of over 100 miles per hour.

Today, we sit down with New Hampshire’s Education Commissioner Virginia Barry.  We’ll talk with her about recent questions concerning the Federal No Child Left Behind law, and whether New Hampshire should seek a waiver.  Also, we'll examine recent bills in the Legislature aimed at increasing parental control over instruction and a possible education funding amendment.  

Guest

• Virginia Barry - Commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Education

Slam poetry is all about finding a voice – combining the written word with a spoken performance to create new forms.

A group of New Hampshire slam poets have found a voice and a home in Manchester.

NHPR’s Brady Carlson talked with some of the members of Slam Free or Die.

Slam poets say they typically get just three minutes to perform – so they have to make the words count.

(Sam clip)

For Valentine's Day, we listen in on a few love stories from New Hampshire, stories about the many unusual places love can take us.

With Town Meeting Day set for March, February is when towns hold public meetings about the budget items and warrant articles that will go before voters.

Mont Vernon, in southern New Hampshire, is no exception; its public hearing is tonight. And one of the items drawing the most attention is a request to change the name of a small body of water known as Jew Pond.

Without using Wikipedia (now that you’ve made it through the one-day withdrawal) tell me: who was America’s 7th president? Stumped? I’ll give you a hint. He’s on the twenty-dollar bill. Still not sure? Then I’ve got the musical for you. Expressed through the angsty tones of emo and punk-rock, structured like skit comedy, and shorter than the shortest harry potter film – Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson is a lesson in American history built for a post-MTV generation.

NHPR's Brady Carlson is on the air with NPR Political Junkie Ken Rudin, and Dante Scala from the University of New Hampshire. 

Tune in all evening for our broadcast during this New Hampshire Primary. In the studio with Laura Knoy, NPR Political Junkie Ken Rudin, and Dante Scala from the University of New Hampshire's Carsey Institute. 

What did you see and hear when you went to vote in the New Hampshire primary? Share your experiences and observations through NHPR's Public Insight Network and you'll help us cover the events of Primary 2012.

Just click on this link to help out.

Describe the scene at your polling place

As always, your response is confidential.

Thanks for your help!

Half a dozen GOP contenders are taking part in two televised debates this weekend in New Hampshire.

But the field of candidates is quite a bit larger - in fact, there are 30 Republicans and 14 Democrats on the New Hampshire primary ballot this year.

There's been plenty of news in New Hampshire's North Country this year, from the Gorham mill to the Berlin prison, from the towers proposed for Northern Pass to the tragedy of Celina Cass.

NHPR’s Chris Jensen talks with All Things Considered host Brady Carlson about the big North Country stories of 2011.

Comic artist Marek Bennett of Henniker has always had a connection to the country of Slovakia through his ancestry. His great grandmother came to the US from Slovakia a century ago, and he has relatives living there today.

When he traveled to Slovakia last year, he found a different connection to the country: his art.

Writers Russell Banks, Ann Patchett and Jeffrey Eugenides all have new novels out.  Horror writer Stephen King has a new thriller based on the Kennedy assassination, while notables Glenn Beck, Bill O’Reilly and Chris Matthews tell the true story of Presidents Washington, Lincoln and Kennedy. We’ll look at the books that may be under your Christmas tree this holiday season.

Guests