AGP Executive Report

Midterms Watch: With just a month left, Democrats are pushing a “blue wave” narrative while Republicans scramble—most notably the Senate Leadership Fund shifting money from North Carolina to Kansas as it worries about GOP Senate nominee Michael Whatley. NH Politics: Pete Buttigieg rallied Democrats in Rochester, urging voters to back Sen. Chris Pappas and reminding Granite Staters the race is competitive. Local Elections: In Senate District 8, Democrat David Trumble faces Republican state Rep. James Creighton, with both candidates pitching affordability and housing. Housing & Poverty: A Pew study finds high housing costs drive poverty in several states, including New Hampshire, where poverty is 16% higher than it would be with average housing costs. Charitable Gaming Oversight: New Hampshire’s charitable gaming system is under renewed scrutiny as watchdogs and lawmakers clash over how much oversight casinos should face when distributing revenue to charities. Public Safety Drill: Moultonborough will hold a mock fire drill Oct. 7 at the transfer station focused on battery fires, with no public alarm needed.

Lakes Region Community Support: A motorcycle crash survivor in Weirs Beach is getting a groundswell of help after four people died Sept. 12; a local bar’s pig roast and raffles were redirected to support the sole survivor’s recovery. Emergency Preparedness: Moultonborough will hold a mock fire drill Oct. 7 at the transfer station, focused on battery-related fires, with multiple agencies coordinating response procedures. Local Events & Tourism: The Sandwich Fair returns for its 135th year Oct. 10-12, adding parking to ease last year’s scramble for visitors. Affordable Housing Oversight: Lawrence’s Affordable Housing Advisory Board will review 12 applications seeking about $3.3 million from the city’s trust fund for the 2027 cycle. Healthcare & Courts: The AHA and NH Hospital Association filed an amicus brief backing Mary Hitchcock in a fight over Eli Lilly’s 340B policy, arguing it could threaten access to discounted care. NH Politics & Legal Challenges: Four NH families sued to block a Trump rule cutting Medicaid/CHIP funding for transition-related care for some low-income transgender youth, effective Oct. 13. Supreme Court Ethics Scrutiny: Executive Councilor Karen Liot Hil pressed AG John Formella over whether the state should argue before a Supreme Court facing ethics questions after Chief Justice Gordon MacDonald’s resignation. Campaign Trail: Pete Buttigieg rallied Democrats in Rochester, urging voters that NH remains a competitive Senate battleground. Wildlife Crime: Three men pleaded guilty in a bobcat poaching scheme involving baiting, illegal killing, and shipping pelts to Canada.

Elections & Voting Rules: DHS says it has no plans to send ICE to polling places, but activists and voting-rights groups are still bracing for intimidation fears as arrests rise. Midterms Watch: Republicans are close to flipping seven Democratic-held Senate and governor seats, with New Hampshire among the key Senate targets as national polling tightens. N.H. Politics: A new push would shift New Hampshire judge appointments from the Executive Council to the Legislature, after documents raised questions about transparency in the state judiciary. Housing & Zoning: Support for changing zoning to build more housing is surging statewide, but residents still resist having it built in their own neighborhoods, according to a Saint Anselm survey. Healthcare & Coverage: Thousands of documented immigrants across New England are set to lose full Medicaid coverage, including thousands in New Hampshire, as federal restrictions roll out. Economy & Cost of Living: Mortgage rates jumped to the highest level in nearly three years, worsening affordability for Granite State homebuyers. Environment & Wildlife: NH Fish and Game reminds hunters that the 7-day fall turkey shotgun season opens Oct. 12.

Housing & Community: Monadnock United Way kicked off its end-of-year campaign, aiming to fund local work including $101,000 for the Monadnock Housing Collaborative as Cheshire County leaders push for more affordable homes. Health Care & Courts: New Hampshire Democrats asked the state Judicial Conduct Committee to disclose any ongoing investigations into sitting Supreme Court justices amid the fallout from the MacDonald ethics scandal. Medicaid: Transgender teens and families urged a federal court to block a Trump plan to cut off Medicaid funding for gender-affirming care for minors. Elections & Messaging: Democrats are challenging the use of $20 million in Homeland Security funds for Trump TV ads, calling them taxpayer-funded campaign propaganda. Energy & Housing Costs: In a “Conversation with the Candidate” taping, U.S. Sen. candidate John Sununu fielded questions on diesel prices and housing costs. ACA Rebates: Qualifying Affordable Care Act enrollees in 30 states, including New Hampshire, may receive $500 rebate checks. PFAS Accountability: NH AG Nick Brown joined a bipartisan lawsuit targeting DuPont/Corteva efforts to shield PFAS liabilities. Data Centers: A Senate bill to protect ratepayers from data-center cost hikes failed in a 57-43 vote, with Hassan among supporters. Local Economy & Tourism: Leaf-peeping season is underway in the White Mountains, boosting bookings and local businesses.

Antitrust & Health Care: Attorney General Tong is seeking court approval for a $400 million settlement with Sandoz over alleged generic-drug price-fixing and reduced competition. Obamacare Refunds: Trump’s administration is mailing $500 “premium” refund checks to nearly 1 million Americans in 30 states, a move strategists say could sway key midterm races. NH Energy & Environment: EPA chief Lee Zeldin says New Hampshire is on track to permanently end vehicle emissions and safety inspections, after the state’s repeal effectively ended enforcement earlier this year. Housing: A new report finds NH’s sluggish housing growth is widening the gap between rents and wages, pushing longer commutes and pricing workers out of cities. Waste & Landfills: The NH Waste Management Council rejected major arguments in Casella’s landfill appeal, keeping the company’s Dalton expansion fight alive. Public Safety & Justice: After an organizational collapse, the Monadnock Center for Violence Prevention is being absorbed into a Claremont group to stabilize governance while preserving local services. Business & Community: BEA forecasts a strong fall tourism season for NH—about 3.9 million visitors and $2 billion in spending. Tech & Politics: The Senate left major issues unresolved before the midterms, including a data-center electricity cost bill that Democrats called “toothless.”

NH Business & Economy: NH Business Review will spotlight 15 Granite State business leaders at its 24th annual Business Excellence Awards Oct. 8 at the Grappone Conference Center in Concord, with Ken and Grace Solinsky named Hall of Fame recipients. Housing & Local Policy: The NH Forum says its housing Civic Assembly produced six recommendations backed by at least 70% of delegates, but lawmakers now face the hard part: turning that shared ground into legislation. State Government & Environment: EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin met with NH lawmakers on ending vehicle emissions testing, as the state seeks changes to federal Clean Air Act requirements and removal from an ozone transport framework. Politics & Power Costs: Senate Democrats blocked a GOP-backed Ratepayer Protection Act aimed at data-center electricity costs, arguing it’s “toothless” because it doesn’t require large users to pay for grid upgrades. Health Care & Federal Checks: Trump’s administration began mailing $500 ACA refund checks to nearly 1 million Americans in 30 states, including NH, tied to alleged federal exchange “user fee” overcharges. Civil Rights & Courts: A federal judge rejected Turbocam’s religious-freedom defenses in a transgender employee sex-discrimination case over health insurance coverage.

Medicaid & GLP-1s: New Hampshire is among states where stricter prior authorization appears to cut diabetes-labeled GLP-1 prescriptions, even as obesity-labeled use holds steady—raising questions about how coverage rules steer patients. Upper Valley surveillance dispute: A crowdsourced map flagged Flock license-plate cameras in Hanover, but town officials say the cameras aren’t there and that the data is wrong. Housing squeeze: A new NH Housing report finds Lebanon needs $47.06 an hour to afford median rent—far above the statewide $25.29—highlighting how high costs push workers out of city centers. Work authorization friction: More NH employers are using E-Verify, but advocates warn the federal database has errors and can chill job applications. Healthcare politics: Nearly 1 million Americans are set to receive $500 ACA refund checks, while lawmakers spar over Trump ads reportedly funded with $20M in Homeland Security money. NH business & growth: Onshore Technologies opened a new Salem manufacturing site; VIVE Collision acquired Above All Collision in Concord. Cybersecurity settlement: Labcorp reached a multistate deal over a 2019 data breach tied to a debt-collector vendor. Gambling bill: New Hampshire’s online casino bill (SB 104) advanced after a narrow Senate vote.

Midterm Politics in NH: Democrats are sounding alarms about New Hampshire as a key swing-state for the Senate map, warning that national optimism could collide with local vulnerabilities in the race involving Rep. Chris Pappas. Campaign Finance & Ethics: In NH-01, Democrats are attacking Republican Anthony DiLorenzo over alleged gaps in his financial disclosures and questions about his wealth and assets. State Policy & Transportation: Ahead of a trip to Manchester, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin says the federal process to end New Hampshire’s vehicle inspection mandate is still on track to wrap up by year’s end. Public Health: The Laconia Public Library is now offering lead detector kits for checkout, helping residents screen for lead in homes. Community Care: Granite VNA has launched the community phase of a $2 million campaign to support Hospice House, aiming to renovate spaces and strengthen long-term endowment funding. Missing Person: Nashua police are asking for help locating missing 19-year-old Alexander Cruz.

AI & Academia: Dartmouth is investigating its provost after a student paper found parts of his writing may have been generated by AI, sparking fresh hypocrisy complaints from students. AI & Governance: A new report finds about half of state CIOs are now involved in the AI data center debate, balancing tech “arms race” needs with local concerns like power and water. NH Tech Policy: New Hampshire’s vehicle inspection fight is back in court, with challengers arguing state emissions modeling overstated pollution impacts. Immigration Courts: Immigrants’ rights groups filed a federal lawsuit to block Trump’s latest birthright citizenship executive order, citing the Constitution and a prior Supreme Court ruling. NH Politics: A Portsmouth lawmaker is resisting calls to resign after a message threatened violence toward the House majority leader. Public Safety Surveillance: In Hanover, residents are disputing whether Flock license-plate cameras are operating downtown, with officials saying the data is wrong. NH Economy & Growth: A new Hampshire-and-Solent combined authority is moving ahead on an economic growth plan, while critics warn higher pay could drain staff from existing councils. Business & Consumer: Attorney General Alan Wilson urges consumers to file claims tied to multistate settlements over inflated generic drug prices.

Energy & Politics: Republicans are leaning on “all of the above” energy and more natural gas pipeline capacity to argue for lower bills and higher turnout, while Democrats tie rising costs to the Trump-era fight abroad. Election 2026: A 2020 WMUR debate clip is being reused in a new Senate attack ad, and national “pink slime” partisan sites are again drawing scrutiny for pushing misleading narratives into midterm races. NH Governance & Trust: After the resignation of NH Supreme Court Chief Justice Gordon MacDonald, lawmakers are calling for more transparency and public oversight in the judiciary. Property Taxes & Schools: A fact check disputes claims that Education Freedom Accounts are driving up property taxes, as candidates and voters keep battling over how NH funds public education. Public Safety: Manchester police say they used dozens of surveillance cameras to track and arrest a suspect in a racist graffiti case. Business & Jobs: WorkReadyNH and Makers Mill are teaming up for tuition-free workforce training in Wolfeboro, and Bank of New Hampshire added Tate Miller to its commercial lending team. Environment & Enforcement: Pike Industries faces a $100K fine for hazardous waste violations, and NH’s Environmentalist Summit highlighted local climate advocacy.

Governor’s Race Tightens: A new UNH Granite State Poll shows Gov. Kelly Ayotte at 47% and Democrat Cinde Warmington at 43%, with 7% undecided, as Warmington closes the gap heading into November. Local Governance: In Londonderry, nearly 20 residents protested the Town Council’s controversial firing of Town Manager Shaun Mulholland, calling for more transparency after a 3-2 vote. Cost of Living: New Hampshire heating oil prices remain high, with the statewide average reported at $5.28 in early September and no clear sign of relief this winter. Public Health Advocacy: ACS CAN held “Lights of Hope” in Merrimack and sent advocates to Washington to push for more cancer research funding and expanded access to clinical trials. Economy & Jobs: Osram Sylvania in Hillsborough marked 125 years of operations and unveiled a new line of high-power off-road LED lights. Tech & Security: A look at cybersecurity hiring in New Hampshire finds demand rising while experienced talent remains scarce, pushing companies to build longer-term pipelines. Weather: A nor’easter that battered the Northeast is weakening, with lingering light rain expected across New England.

Nor’easter Impacts New England: A powerful nor’easter pounded the Northeast for a second day, bringing tidal flooding to coastal spots like Sea Bright, New Jersey, and knocking out power to tens of thousands of homes across the region, with officials warning more flooding could hit at late Monday high tide. NH Politics—Race Talk: A Monday Memo frames New Hampshire as “a race,” pointing to a competitive U.S. Senate contest between Maggie Hassan’s former seat contenders and highlighting how Republicans are trying to turn long-stalled momentum into real electoral fights. PFAS Fight in Concord: U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan reintroduced a bill to strip PFAS “forever chemicals” from New Hampshire food wrappers and packaging, reviving a push that stalled in Congress. Cost-Cutting Energy Policy: New Hampshire legalized plug-in solar, a bill signed earlier this summer that takes effect in January and is pitched as a cheaper way for renters and homeowners to cut electric bills. Medicaid Work Rules—More Proof Required: As federal work requirements begin in January, at least six states including New Hampshire will require medical documentation for certain Medicaid work exemptions instead of allowing self-attestation. Public Records Spotlight: InDepthNH reporter Damien Fisher received a Freedom of Information award for dogged reporting using New Hampshire’s Right to Know law. Local Business & Tourism: A Concord Monitor/NHPR report says Canadian tourism to New Hampshire has recovered only slightly, with some visitors still staying away amid U.S.-Canada political tensions.

Governor race polling: A new University of New Hampshire Survey Center poll shows Republican Mike Minogue at 38% versus Gov. Maura Healey’s 54%, an 8-point gain for Minogue since last month. PFAS fight: U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan reintroduced bipartisan legislation to ban PFAS chemicals from New Hampshire food wrappers and packaging, reviving a push that stalled in 2021. Cost-saving solar: A new New Hampshire law legalizing plug-in solar takes effect in January, aiming to help renters and homeowners cut power bills with small panels that plug into existing outlets. Medicaid work rules: As federal Medicaid work requirements begin in January, at least six states—including New Hampshire—will require medical proof instead of accepting a person’s sworn statement for some work exemptions. Privacy and license plate cameras: A report says New Hampshire’s long-standing limits on automated license plate readers have made the state a model as other states consider restrictions. Politics on the air: WMUR’s “Conversation with the Candidate” returns Sunday with Republican Lily Tang Williams, who’ll take questions on issues including the Iran war and affordability. Storm impacts: A nor’easter has brought flooding and power outages across the Northeast, with travel disruptions and emergency declarations in parts of the region.

Medicaid Work Rules: Starting in January, Medicaid work requirements roll out nationwide, but at least six Republican-led states are demanding medical documentation immediately—raising fears that people who can’t afford doctors will lose coverage; Democrats in 25 states are suing over the stricter-than-federal approach. Senate Map Jitters: Post–Labor Day polling shows Democrats with an 8.6-point generic lead and Trump approval at a record low, while Senate races in places like Georgia, Iowa, Texas, Kansas, and South Carolina are increasingly competitive. NH Privacy Model: As other states move to rein in Flock-style license plate cameras, New Hampshire’s long-standing limits are being cited as a template—though some lawmakers want tighter rules. NH Public Safety: Manchester police arrested a 20-year-old in connection with swastikas and “White Power” graffiti at a downtown coffee shop. Weather Watch: A powerful nor’easter is driving flooding and power outages across the Northeast, with officials urging residents to stay out of inundated areas. Local Economy: Hillsborough’s Sylvania marked 70 years in New Hampshire, highlighting automation plus a “curious” workforce.

NH Politics & Elections: A new UNH poll shows Gov. Maura Healey leading in Massachusetts, while Granite State political coverage keeps spotlighting tight New Hampshire races and the midterm money fight. Local Law Enforcement: Manchester police arrested a 20-year-old man tied to white supremacist graffiti vandalism at The Moka Pot, charging criminal mischief and falsifying evidence. Health & Safety: A doctor’s Q&A links recurring UTIs to kidney stones that can harbor bacteria in biofilms, urging urology follow-up. State Policy Watch: Medicaid work requirements are starting in January, and some Republican-led states are tightening rules beyond federal guidance—sparking lawsuits. Energy & Growth Debate: An opinion piece argues New Hampshire should scrutinize data center proposals because of heavy electricity and water demands and local impacts. Community & Culture: The NH Boat Museum celebrated a Phase II expansion with a ribbon-cutting, adding exhibit, education, and community space. Sports: Seacoast Week 4 high school football featured Winnacunnet beating Exeter and other key results across the region.

Crash & Safety: A man in his 20s died in a single-motorcycle crash Friday night on Lake Shore Road in Gilford after failing to negotiate a curve; police say speed or impairment are possible factors. Nor’easter Watch: Strong winds and heavy rain pushed flooding and rough surf in parts of Atlantic City, with officials warning drivers to avoid floodwater. NH Politics: Chairs of the NH Democratic and Republican parties sparred on WMUR over the midterms and the U.S. Senate race, with both sides claiming confidence. NH Senate Race & Economy: U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas met Lakes Region business owners as they report rising costs and fewer Canadian visitors, including at Hermit Woods Winery. Local Governance: A statewide school tax cap ballot question is drawing pushback from voters who say it removes local control and can’t be undone. Privacy & Tech: New Hampshire is highlighted as a model for limiting license plate reader surveillance as other states move to restrict the cameras. Data & Cybersecurity: A new report warns criminals are buying access to critical infrastructure systems through an expanding underground market, urging water utilities to tighten basics. Community: Meredith is unveiling a new outdoor piano Oct. 2, and the Meredith Historical Society hosts a Marine Patrol history program Oct. 6.