AGP Executive Report

Whitefield Rail Hub Funding: New Hampshire’s Governor and Council approved $1 million for a railway transport hub near the airport in Whitefield, plus $400,000 for a new $20 million Army National Guard field maintenance shop in Littleton. North Country Projects: The same approvals included $500,000 each for AHEAD housing in Lisbon and the Boys & Girls Club in Lisbon, snow-making upgrades at Cannon Mountain, $4.5 million for a dam in Pittsburg, and a $700,000 loan for Bethlehem’s water system. NASCAR Weather Shift: With rain possible, NASCAR moved the Sunday Dollar Tree 301 start at New Hampshire Motor Speedway up one hour to 2 p.m. Food Safety Alert: CDC says alfalfa sprouts tainted with salmonella and E. coli have sickened 55 people across 15 states, including New Hampshire. Aviation Tragedy: A small plane crash off Maine’s coast killed a New Hampshire man, John Hall, while his son survived. Utilities Watch: New Hampshire stayed quiet as neighboring governors warned against a proposed NextEra-Dominion utility merger that would include Seabrook Station.

Hallmark Spotlight: North Conway, N.H. is a finalist in Hallmark’s “Merriest Christmas Town” contest, with voters encouraged to back the White Mountains community’s holiday traditions. Seacoast Culture on Screen: Portsmouth-area filmmakers and Seacoast-born actors are tied to A24’s “Tony,” the Anthony Bourdain biopic opening today. Transportation Safety: An Amtrak train hit and killed a man in Plaistow, N.H.; officials say the train was traveling from Portland to Boston and that passengers and crew were not hurt. School Funding Fight: The NH attorney general is asking the state Supreme Court to overturn key Claremont school-funding rulings, arguing the state’s duty and funding approach were wrongly decided. Health Care Politics (NH-1): In the NH 1st District Democratic primary, Christian Urrutia is pushing Medicare for All and attacking rivals’ health-care plans as voters weigh competing reforms. Housing Permitting Tech: Cities are turning to AI to speed housing approvals by catching incomplete applications earlier, supported by new federal funding. Youth Detention Oversight: Lawmakers and watchdogs continue pressing concerns about conditions at the Sununu Youth Services Center as reforms and a Hampstead relocation are planned.

Congressional Politics: A Saint Anselm poll shows NH-1 Democrats in a statistical dead heat: Maura Sullivan 26% vs. Stefany Shaheen 24%, with Hampton chair Carleigh Beriont jumping to 12% and 27% still undecided. On the GOP side, Trump-endorsed Anthony DiLorenzo leads Hollie Noveletsky 30%–17%. PFAS Cleanup: New Hampshire received nearly $7.3 million from 3M as part of national “forever chemical” settlements, bringing total drinking-water payouts to more than $43 million, with more expected through 2033. State Budget/Fees: The GOP Legislature overrode Gov. Kelly Ayotte to raise tolls and double nonresident state-park fees starting Jan. 1. Energy Costs: U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright visited NH, arguing clean-energy spending is driving up prices, while co-op officials say their solar efforts help moderate bills. Public Health: CDC modeling says COVID infections are growing or likely growing in nearly all states, with NH listed as “likely growing.” Local Safety: Derry police are investigating an assault on a trail at Robert Frost Farm Historic Site.

High School Sports: Football preseason is underway across New Hampshire, with teams like Pinkerton Academy chasing another deep run after last season’s title-game loss. Local Courts & Business: The Common Man Roadside owners are suing the New Hampshire Liquor Commission over its I-95 redevelopment process in Hampton, alleging “irreparable harm” as the state searches for a new lessee. Public Health: Cyclospora cases tied to contaminated lettuce continue to draw lawsuits, including a Pennsylvania woman suing Taco Bell and Taylor Farms after hospitalization. State Politics: The Legislature overrode seven Gov. Kelly Ayotte vetoes in “Veto Day” action, including the 10-year highway plan. Community & Outdoors: Make-A-Wish New Hampshire’s Rafting for Wishes raised about $456,000, and the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire is extending hours for late-summer family visits. Health & Wellness: A new report highlights how high cholesterol can be managed with lifestyle changes alongside medication when needed.

State Politics: New Hampshire lawmakers overrode Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s veto of the 10-year transportation plan, including a controversial toll hike for drivers without E-ZPass transponders, while also upholding her vetoes of a “bathroom” bill and a book-banning proposal. Housing & Transparency: Nashua leaders renewed pressure on Ayotte to disclose whether she still owns Blackstone stock amid the state’s housing crunch, citing her prior board role and millions in holdings. Public Health: NH DHHS says it will stick with the American Academy of Pediatrics’ routine vaccine schedule, including the combined MMR shot, despite a Trump executive order pushing for separate shots. Immigration Enforcement: Rindge signed a new agreement with ICE under the 287(g) program, expanding local officers’ authority for immigration arrests and detainers. Local Communities: Rochester residents packed a council meeting to oppose a zoning ordinance aimed at limiting data centers. UNH & Industry: UNH will partner with the NH Department of Business and Economic Affairs and the NH Aerospace & Defense Consortium to host the NE STTAR Expo in Durham on Oct. 28-29. Arts & Families: A free Kids Music Fest returns to the State House lawn in Concord on Sept. 12.

New Hampshire Politics: The NH Supreme Court is now fully Republican after Gov. Chris Sununu and Kelly Ayotte nominated only GOP justices, ending the prior bipartisan balance as the court faces fresh public scrutiny. Campaign & Elections: A new Democratic primary attack in NH-01 targets Maura Sullivan’s donor ties, with Stefany Shaheen’s first negative TV ad arguing outside money dominates her opponent’s funding. Energy & Power Prices: Massachusetts leaders are urging federal regulators to closely scrutinize a proposed NextEra–Dominion merger, warning it could raise New England electricity costs and concentrate control over key nuclear assets, including Seabrook in NH. Climate Resilience: In Hampton, neighborhood-scale drainage and pump upgrades are cutting flooding by about 75% for residents in low-lying areas. National Legal Watch: Harvard agreed to pay $53 million to settle lawsuits tied to a morgue body-parts scandal involving a former manager accused of stealing and selling donated remains.

Public Health: New Hampshire has confirmed 89 cases of cyclosporiasis, with 41 tied to a recalled Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce exposure and three hospitalizations reported as the national outbreak rate slows. State Politics: NH lawmakers are set to take up a long list of Gov. Kelly Ayotte vetoes, including debate over the state’s 10-year transportation plan. Elections & Voting: A new Carsey School analysis finds 23% of Granite Staters say they’re somewhat or very likely to leave the state in the next five years, a potential pressure point for future voter and workforce planning. Environment & Infrastructure: PFAS contamination has been confirmed at the Lebanon airport, prompting a proposed state-mandated investigation into the full extent and public health risk. Sports & Community: The Dollar Tree 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway is Sunday, Aug. 23, with NASCAR teams and drivers lining up for key Chase momentum. Youth Mental Health: NAMI New Hampshire is expanding youth suicide prevention with a $3.6 million federal grant focused on school supports and transition care.

Education & Tech: New Hampshire’s Department of Education launched a Screen Time Task Force after a cellphone ban in schools, aiming to craft guidance on how laptops and other devices affect student focus and classroom life. Local Schools: Newfound Area School District faces a new state-law hurdle as it moves toward putting the closure and sale of Danbury Elementary before voters. Housing Affordability: A new report says HUD spending hasn’t meaningfully lowered home prices, and that New Hampshire’s affordability gap remains among the worst in the country. Public Safety & Health Services: Meredith is weighing whether to renew its EMS contract with Stewart’s Ambulance, while the Winni River Basin communities back a shift toward a regional wastewater authority. Community & Environment: Squam Lakes Connected Learning’s Earth Camp put NH youth to work on conservation projects, from invasive plant removal to pollinator habitat.

Public Safety & Community: Brentwood officers turned a 911 call at a nursing center into a reunion for a woman with dementia, buying flowers and a card after recognizing her from prior work as a justice of the peace. Law & Justice: A woman in Whitefield, critically injured in a shooting at a trailer park, has died; officials say an autopsy ruled one son’s death a suicide and the mother’s death a homicide, while another son remains in critical condition. State Policy: New Hampshire’s new Child Day Care Creation Tax Credit would let businesses claim a credit for creating or expanding licensed child care slots starting in 2027. Environment & Health: The NH Pesticide Control Board meets Monday to consider restricting neonicotinoids, insecticides linked to pollinator declines. Courts & Education: The state is asking the New Hampshire Supreme Court to overturn long-standing school funding precedents tied to Claremont. Local Planning: Rochester is weighing a zoning change to steer data centers away from most areas, with a public hearing set for Aug. 18.

Democratic Primary Shake-Up: The DNC has kept South Carolina first in the 2028 presidential primary calendar, a move that could reshape who Democrats court and how New Hampshire’s First-in-the-Nation status plays out next year. Voting Access in NH: New Hampshire is among states banning student IDs for in-person voting, joining a broader GOP push that’s already hit Indiana and is headed to Florida. Housing Policy: The new federal 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act is expected to reduce housing red tape and cut costs for manufactured homes—an issue NH advocates say matters as the state’s real estate crunch deepens. Public Integrity Watch: A former NH House speaker’s nonprofit reportedly collected $274,000 in charitable gaming proceeds without clear public activity. Safety & Rescues: Four New Jersey teens were rescued after getting stuck on Mount Lincoln in cold, windy conditions, and a hiker was airlifted from Mount Monadnock after a medical emergency. Gun Litigation: A federal jury in Maine sided with Sig Sauer in a P320 unintended-discharge case involving a New Hampshire-based manufacturer.

Public Safety: Maine State Police arrested a 22-year-old Jaffrey man, Alexandre Forsythe, after 14 911 calls reported erratic, 100+ mph driving on I-295; he faces Criminal OUI and Criminal Speed. Outdoor Safety: N.H. Fish and Game says it will bill four 18-year-old hikers rescued from Franconia Ridge after they lacked lights, water, and proper cold-weather gear. Politics: The DNC approved the 2028 presidential primary calendar, putting South Carolina first and moving New Hampshire to Feb. 8, while Iowa is no longer in the leadoff spot. Local Life: A storybook-themed river walk opened at the Hinsdale Historical Society, with an Over and Under the Pond trail and views along the Connecticut River. Sports (NH): Merrimack’s Mickey Gasper was recalled by the Boston Red Sox. Arts & Community: Peterborough Folk Music is hosting vocal-and-guitar duo The Kennedys on Sept. 5 in Harrisville.

Democratic Primary Shake-Up: The DNC voted to replace Iowa and New Hampshire as leadoff states for the 2028 Democratic presidential primary, putting South Carolina first on Jan. 22 and Nevada next on Feb. 1, with New Hampshire slated for Feb. 8. Federal Immigration Policy: The Trump administration created a “birth tourism” prevention task force aimed at cracking down on visa exploitation, with the State Department saying it will review visa-holder activity worldwide and coordinate with DHS. Public Safety: New Hampshire Fish and Game reported a juvenile thrown from an ATV in Pittsburg and flown to a hospital; investigators say speed may have played a role. Local Crime: A Michigan man is accused of targeting a New Hampshire minor online to obtain child sexual abuse material, facing up to 30 years in prison. NASCAR (NH Next): Joey Logano won the Cook Out 400 at Richmond, surging into the Chase picture; the next Cup race is the Dollar Tree 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway on Aug. 23.

Democratic Presidential Calendar: The DNC has ratified a new 2028 primary schedule that puts South Carolina first (Jan. 22), followed by Nevada (Feb. 1) and then New Hampshire (Feb. 8), with New Mexico, Michigan, and Virginia later in February—pushing Iowa out of the early lineup. Local Politics: New Hampshire Democrats’ chair Ray Buckley called the change “disappointing” but said the state will still hold its first primary under state law. State Watch: NHDP also reiterated that New Hampshire remains a strong “battle-test” state for Democrats. NASCAR (NH interest): In Richmond, 16-year-old Tristan McKee made his NASCAR Truck Series debut after rain delayed the race, finishing eighth, while Kaden Honeycutt won the Truck Series race in the rain-delayed Black’s Tire 250. Energy Prices: GasBuddy reports the lowest premium gas in Rockingham County hit $4.20 for the week ending Aug. 8.

Absentee Voting Rules: New Hampshire towns are now equipped with absentee ballots for the Sept. 8 primary, but new proof-of-identity steps may make requesting them more complicated this year. Housing Market: NH’s housing boom keeps setting records—July’s median single-family price hit $580,000, with fewer homes for sale and more closed sales than a year ago. Public Health: A cyclosporiasis outbreak tied to recalled lettuce continues to spread nationally, and NH residents are being reminded to stay alert as case counts rise. Healthcare Access: A New Hampshire woman says a nationwide blood shortage left her unable to get a transfusion she needed, highlighting strain on hospital supplies. Politics & Campaigns: The DNC is expected to finalize the 2028 presidential primary calendar, with NH among the early states; locally, NH GOP leaders are lining up major fundraisers, including Sen. Rick Scott in Concord. Community & Safety: AmeriHealth held a back-to-school event in Manchester with backpacks, supplies, and haircut vouchers; and Newfound Area teachers say contract uncertainty is still affecting the start of the school year.

Public Health: The FDA and CDC have begun onsite inspections and sampling at Taylor Farms’ Mexican plant tied to the expanding cyclosporiasis outbreak, now linked to recalled iceberg lettuce distributed across 17 states, including New Hampshire, with 13,895 lab-confirmed cases reported nationwide. Education & Youth Safety: New Hampshire’s School Screen Time Task Force is reviewing how digital tech is used in classrooms after the state’s “bell-to-bell” cellphone ban, aiming to shape future guidance while keeping local control. Environment & Accountability: Old Dutch Mustard reached a consent decree to settle Clean Water Act allegations, agreeing to tighter monitoring and corrective steps to prevent acidic pollution into a Souhegan River tributary. State Economy & Cost Pressures: A new WalletHub “Best States to Live” ranking puts Idaho on top, while New Hampshire is highlighted for strong economy performance; separate reporting notes inflation in New England has jumped to 4.3% in the spring quarter. Infrastructure: New Hampshire says statewide high-speed internet access has reached 99%, leaving fewer than 5,000 addresses unserved.

Housing & Development: Newington is weighing Costco’s plan for a Seacoast Landing superstore, with a fuel station, tire center, and 820 parking spots. Local Housing Buildout: In the Seacoast, BOD Holdings and Tidemark celebrated The Overlook, a 135-unit apartment complex in Somersworth, while Rochester broke ground on Waterstone’s $400 million Cedar Landing at the Ridge and Concord welcomed Brady Sullivan’s The Lofts at 93 North. Higher Ed Accountability: NH senators are pushing for a fiscal and performance audit of the University System of New Hampshire, citing transparency and accountability concerns. Courts & Civil Liberties: A federal judge is set to rule on a lawsuit challenging New Hampshire’s anti-loitering/anti-prowling law, brought by the NH ACLU on behalf of an unhoused man detained in Concord. Public Health: The CDC added more Cyclospora cases tied to iceberg lettuce, now including Maine and Massachusetts, with New Hampshire listed among affected states. Business Real Estate: Manchester saw the $3.9 million sale of 470 Pine St., and Nashua’s 4 Bud Way flex industrial property sold for $6.8 million. Sports (NH ties): Bridgewater’s Little League team is one win from the Little League World Series after advancing in the New England regional.