Author: Todd Bookman, Jackie Harris, Michelle Liu, Josh Rogers- NH PUBLIC RADIO

GOP-backed Ruais wins Manchester mayoral race

First-time candidate Jay Ruais was the big winner in New Hampshire’s municipal elections Nov. 7, claiming a narrow victory in a closely fought race to become the next mayor of Manchester.

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Close Up Top View Group Of Calculator , Home Model ,yellow Pencil, Banking Account Book And Calendar On White Color Background With Space For Money Management ,home Loan And Personal Financial Concept

Legislative committee signs off on NH housing program repeal

Legislature also wrestles with the Business and Enterprise Tax, which has a direct effect on state revenues, and as it looks at how Meals and Rental Tax revenue is distributed and whether there should be an additional “Pillow Tax” on rentals

Legislative committee votes to repeal NH 'Housing Champions'

A state-run program that encourages communities to add much needed housing in New Hampshire, already defunded in the current budget, is on the precipice of disappearing altogether. The House Committee on Housing voted 10-8 on Jan. 20 to repeal the so-called Housing Champions program administered by the NH Department of Business and Economic Affairs.

Remembering Manchester's Bob Baines

Bob Baines, the former mayor of Manchester, past principal of Manchester High School West and current Manchester School Board member, died in Boston on Jan. 23 due to complications following heart surgery.

Nongfu Spring down to a trickle

It’s been a year since a Chinese water and beverage bottling company purchased commercial property in Nashua. Not much more is known now than it was then about the company’s intentions for the 337,391-square-foot building on 23 acres at 80 Northwest Blvd., purchased Jan. 31, 2025 for $67 million by a subsidiary of Nongfu Spring, a giant Chinese bottled water and beverage company.

Newborn Baby Feet Close Up On Mother's Lap: Black And White Photo Showing First Tender Moments, Soft Texture, Skin Tone, Parenthood, And Love.

Preparing for NH’s parental medical leave law

Now that 2026 is underway, New Hampshire employers should turn their attention to the state’s new Parental Medical Leave law (PML). Effective January 1, 2026, most employers with 20 or more employees are required to provide unpaid leave to allow employees to attend childbirth-related medical appointments, postpartum care and pediatric visits during a child’s first year.

NH rural health care faces challenges despite new grant

The federal government will give with one hand and take with another when it comes to New Hampshire’s rural health care system in 2026.

Amid volatility, local economies can provide a model of stability

As we begin 2026, we face another set of choices about how to forge a future that enables us to navigate the continuing instability and volatility in our civic and economic lives.

Legislative preview: Some housing bills would repeal last year’s advances

During the 2025 legislative session, housing advocates hailed new laws that seek to improve the housing supply in New Hampshire. Included among the legislation was the ability for homeowners to construct detached accessory dwellings units on their property, something local…