Opinion: Gov. Ayotte’s budget proposes cuts to childcare. These will cost us in the long run.

By DAVID PAIGE

Rep. David Paige (D-Conway) serves as the NH House of Representatives ranking member on Housing and previously served on the House Special Committee on Childcare.

Opinion: FDA meeting cancelation ignores danger of flu outbreak

By RICH DIPENTIMA

Rich DiPentima of Portsmouth has served as Chief of Communicable Disease Epidemiology and Assistant Director of Public Health for the NH Division of Public Health Services (NHDPHS), Deputy Public Health Director for the Manchester Health Department and is a retired NH Air National Guard public health officer.

Opinion: The world turned upside-down in the Oval Office

By MILLIE LAFONTAINE

Millie LaFontaine lives in Concord.

Opinion: Why Medicaid matters, a personal story

By ÁINE deDANAAN

Áine deDanaan has a Master of Divinity from Pacific School Of Religion. She is a certified InterPlayer and Ensoulment Coach living in Keene.

Opinion: Republicans are raising costs for working families — again

By LAURA TELERSKI

Rep. Laura Telerski is the deputy Democratic leader of the New Hampshire House of Representatives. She represents Nashua Ward 8.

Opinion: ‘Right to Work’ is dead – NH residents want it that way

By JEFF PADELLARO

Jeff Padellaro is secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 633.

Opinion: Rolling back the civil rights movement

By JONATHAN P. BAIRD

Jonathan P. Baird lives in Wilmot.

Opinion: The art of reverie

By JEAN STIMMELL

Jean Stimmell is a retired stone mason and psychotherapist living in Northwood. He blogs at jeanstimmell.blogspot.com and jstim.substack.com.

Opinion: Medical aid in dying: Humane, ethical and needed now

By GARY SOBELSON

Gary Sobelson is a family physician living in Concord.

Opinion: New Hampshire rural communities need trade stability

By JAMESON S. FRENCH, JOE CARRIER and JASEN A. STOCK

Jameson S. French is the president and CEO of Northland Forest Products, Inc., a hardwood distributor with a yard in Kingston. Joe Carrier is the general manager of HHP, Inc., a hardwood sawmill located in Henniker. Jasen A. Stock is the executive director of the New Hampshire Timberland Owners Association.

Opinion: Let’s be men and women of courage

By TERRY DONOVAN ODELL

Rev. Terry Donovan Odell, MA, Ordained Interfaith Minister, lives in Penacook.

Opinion: The special education gimmick in NH school voucher rules

By GERALD M. ZELIN

Gerald M. Zelin, a resident of Portsmouth, N.H., has practiced education law for nearly 50 years. He is a shareholder with the law firm of Drummond Woodsum, which represents many school districts in both New Hampshire and Maine. The opinions expressed in this piece are not necessarily Drummond Woodsum’s.

Opinion: No “leapfrogging” to physician-assisted suicide

By LISA BEAUDOIN

Lisa Beaudoin of Concord, principal of Strategies for Disability Equity, is the former executive director of NH’s leading disability justice organization.

Letter: A new axis of evil?

On Monday, Feb. 24, 63 countries voted ‘yes’ on the United Nations resolution condemning Russian aggression and demanding the immediate withdrawal of Russian forces on the war’s third anniversary. China abstained. Russia, North Korea, Belarus, Hungary, Israel and the United States voted ‘no.’ Is there a new Axis of Evil?

Letter: Mat Stover for NHDP chair

On Nov. 6th, 2024, New Hampshire Democrats found out they had officially lost the House, Senate, Executive Council, the governor’s office and the presidency. This was a sad day for Democrats. We knocked on doors, made calls and reminded our family and friends, but we failed. During this election season, local Democratic organizations were not getting the proper resources and funding to connect with voters, and voters were not getting engaged because they simply did not know how or who to go to.

Letter: Laura A. Gerard announces candidacy for Gilmanton School Board

My name is Laura A. Gerard, and I am running for the Gilmanton School Board because I care deeply about the future of our schools and the success of our students. As a parent of two school-aged children, I understand firsthand the importance of strong, effective educational policies that prepare our children for their futures. Our wonderful school is not only an asset to our community but also the primary reason my family chose to move to Gilmanton.

Letter: Principle over party

How can the only member of the Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs Committee with the knowledge and background to make sound decisions on the bills before it be summarily removed for “not supporting the party?” Is this what we elect representatives to do: support a political party even if it’s deleterious to the public it’s supposed to serve? Speaker Sherman’s action shows a level of ignorance and disregard for the public good that goes beyond rational understanding. Why are Speaker Sherman and members of the Republican delegation blatantly crushing informed, educated and honest discourse on pieces of legislation for partisan ideology to the detriment of the health and well-being of every New Hampshire resident? Every constituent should ask their representative this question.

Letter: Legislature trying to be transphobic again

Some family, friends and neighbors — transgender individuals — face abhorrent vitriol. A core value of the American promise is the protection of everyone’s rights, including the outnumbered, but once again, the legislature seeks to restrict trans rights.

Letter: Gerrymandering undermines democracy

Representatives Vose and Hill provide an eloquent argument to deny our children an adequate education in their Feb. 27 My Turn titled “Legislature has the power to loosen the purse strings.” They argue that the state Supreme Court has overstepped its authority to mandate more state funding for education since the “voter reigns supreme” by “using the ballot box to tell candidates for governor, the executive council and the legislature what they want and don’t want.” I can therefore assume that they will strongly advocate for the abolition of gerrymandering in our state, since that will more accurately reflect the will of the voter.

Letter: Monitor Way housing development

As a Concord business owner who knows the important role housing plays in building and maintaining a strong workforce, I strongly encourage the Concord Zoning Board to reconsider its denial of a necessary variance to build 200 units of housing known as Monitor Way. Concord’s business community is acutely aware of the struggles inflicted upon current and prospective employees by New Hampshire’s ongoing housing crisis. Our workers are struggling to find clean, affordable and attractive housing in the immediate and surrounding areas. The impacts of the housing crisis extend far beyond the businesses already in our community. It discourages large companies from considering Concord for their newest location. The successful development at Merchants Way is proof that the area is ready for growth, but it is only a piece of the Whitney Road/Exit 17 puzzle. Monitor Way proposes 100 affordable housing units to be built and operated by CATCH Neighborhood Housing, which has empowered many of our neighbors and coworkers with the housing they need to thrive. It also offers 94 townhomes for sale, which could help free up existing rentals by offering those who can an opportunity to buy. Monitor Way is right for Concord and good for our economy. Please, do your part to make it happen.