We conclude our series on New Hampshire’s Immigration Story.  Over the past year, we’ve examined our immigrant past -- from that first encounter between Native Americans and Europeans to how newcomers shape our communities today… their contributions, their struggles, and the conflicts that come up.  We’ll look at what we’ve learned…and how our immigration story is still being written.

Guests:

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Our series on New Hampshire’s Immigration Story continues with a special Socrates Exchange, examining the question: Who is American?  Is it simply a matter of birthright, and legal status?  Or is it a state of mind, a certain spirit or attitude?  And is being American defined by the way I view myself or how others look at me?  

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Every group that has arrived here has experienced some conflict – whether between newcomers and long-time residents…or, within new immigrant groups themselves.  As part of our series on New Hampshire’s Immigration Story, we’ll look at what difficulties tend to come up, again and again – also, how different people draw the lines between assimilation and maintaining their culture. 

Guests: 

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For centuries, that transition between teen-hood and adulthood has been accompanied with a newfound independence, where young men and women leave the roost, go to college, buy a house and raise a family.  But according to author Katherine Newman, high unemployment rates, the rise of short-term employment, longer life expectancies and the high cost of living have forced many a young adult back home to live with mom and dad.  They are called 'Accordion Families' and depending on th

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We talk with Pulitzer Prize winning author Edward Humes about his new book, Garbology: Our Dirty Love Affair with Trash. Americans are at the top of the heap for producing waste: over 100 tons per person in a lifetime.

Humes explores why we make so much garbage,  the environmental and economic impact of trash…and why he believes this is a problem ordinary people can fix.

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As schools continue to mainstream children with disabilities, students with emotional and behavioral disabilities  may be the toughest to include.  They’re less likely to graduate and more likely to get arrested.  And there are questions about how to approach these kids – whether it’s a matter of more discipline or alternative methods.  We look at this issue and discuss a new documentary that takes a look at the topic through the life of a high school student coping with these disabilities. &nb

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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.

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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:

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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.  

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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.

Guests:

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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? 

Guest:

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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:

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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:

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Today, we get the latest on what's happening at the Statehouse!  All year, the focus has been on the House, but now it’s the Senate’s turn in the spotlight.

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As a nation, we’ve yet to resolve how to approach those who are here undocumented; whether to deport them, or give them a path to legalization. These questions have also come up many times recently in the granite state. Today, we look at the role of the "illegal" immigrant in the immigration debate.

Guests:

Andrew Renzullo: Republican Representative from Hillsborough who has taken a strong stance against illegal immigration and endorsed local police involvement in immigration enforcement.

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