Next New England

This week on NEXT: why the opioid crisis is hitting Latinos in Massachusetts especially hard. Police are setting up stings to catch bootleggers in New Hampshire. Political news from around New England, including the new ranked-choice voting system in Maine, and a new bill in Connecticut that pledges the state’s electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote. We also hear from a New Hampshire judge about how his son’s mental illness changed his life and visit a Palestinian art museum in Connecticut, which is the only one of its kind in the United States. It’s NEXT. (more…)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on NEXT, we visit a Hartford elementary school that is going to great lengths to make evacuees from Puerto Rico feel welcome. And, a mural in the Durham, New Hampshire post office that led to controversy last year is still causing concern. Plus, have you ever gotten a speeding ticket in Vermont? We dig into the three towns that gave the most tickets in 2017 and learn how their speed limits were set. In Maine, a police officer was shot, setting off a four-day manhunt for the suspect. We hear about the life and legacy of the officer, Somerset County Corporal Eugene Cole. And as the weather is getting warmer, sea turtles are being released back into the wild. We re-visit a group that is working to save them. Finally, an in-depth look at the world of recycling. It’s NEXT. (more…)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The front of the Vermont Statehouse, prior to the Gov. Phil Scott’s gun-reform bill signing Wednesday. The governor made an open invitation on Twitter for people to join him for at the bill signing. Photo by Emily Alfin Johnson for VPR. A Brazilian immigrant who has lived on Martha’s Vineyard for over 15 years is now facing deportation. But it’s not a clear-cut case. WBUR’s Shannon Dooling reports on the story behind the Supreme Court Case, “Pereira v. Sessions.” And, while states across New England are debating gun control regulations, Vermont passed a series of reforms earlier this month. VPR’s John Dillon walks us through what these new laws mean, and how Vermonters are reacting. Are young people leaving Vermont? That’s what VPR’s “Brave Little State” podcast set out to find out. We listen to an excerpt from their investigation and hear from NHPR’s Robert Garrova about the effort a small town in New Hampshire is going through to spark

A woman selling lobster rolls in the Maine building. Two-thirds of live lobsters sold outside the U.S. go to Asia.s. (Credit: Ryan King/WNPR) The next U.S. Census isn’t till 2020. But already, there’s controversy over a plan to ask all U.S. households about their citizenship status. The Mayor of Springfield, Mass. has been trying to shut down a church housing an undocumented woman from Peru. The Trump Administration has imposed tariffs on a number of products coming from abroad, including some 1,300 Chinese goods. China, responded with their own list and tariffs, which could affect two New England markets, craft beer and lobster. And finally, The Handmaid’s Tale is set in a dystopian near-future New England but pulls inspiration from the region’s Puritan past. It’s NEXT. (more…)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Lewiston Blue Devils huddle before a game. (Amy Bass) An unusual asylum case in Massachusetts has a woman suing the federal government. A program in Maine is providing mental health to police. In Vermont, a group of war veterans are helping their colleagues by getting into the whiskey business. Also a new book, One Goal, tells the story of Lewiston, Maine, a divided town with an influx of refugees which finds common ground through soccer. And we’ll reflect on the Boston Marathon bombings, which happened five years ago this week. It’s NEXT. The Future Of Asylum-Seekers In a February 2017 photo, ICE officials arrest a foreign national during a targeted enforcement operation. (Charles Reed/U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement via AP) Recently, a Central American woman applying for Asylum in Boston showed up to an appointment and answered questions for an hour. But the official marked her as absent from the appointment. WBUR’s Shannon Dooling reports on what happened, and what it means f

Architect Duo Dickinson ruminates on one of the staples of New England architecture: the stone wall. Photo by Ryan Caron King for Connecticut Public Radio This week we discuss how David Shulkin’s departure from the White House will affect veteran care in New Hampshire. Miles away but worlds apart: dairy farmers in northern Vermont and southern Canada reflect on how national policies are affecting the future of their industry. Plus, 50 years after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. we discuss his time in New England. Also, we go on a tour of New England’s unique architecture. It’s NEXT. The Future Of The Manchester VA The Manchester VA. Photo by Peter Biello for NHPR We check-in on the Veterans Association in Manchester, New Hampshire, where allegations arose last year of mismanaged care. Then-White House Secretary of Veteran Affairs, David Shulkin, pledged to help. But now Shulkin’s departure from the White House has left many veterans in Manchester wondering about the fut

View of the March for Our Lives rally at the N.H. State House on March 24, 2018. (Sean Hurley/NHPR) This week, we look into what’s next for clean energy in Massachusetts since the rejection of the Northern Pass project. We hear from reporters around the region about a new project that was selected in late March. Students around the country marched for increased gun control measures and we discuss some actions states can take to reduce gun-related deaths. Plus, have you ever heard of the “Northeast Kingdom”? A small section of Vermont has earned the nickname, but how? Finally, we look into how colonial Americans created the system of weights and measurements that define our world today. It’s NEXT. Hydroelectric Power to Massachusetts  Map of the New England Clean Energy Connect line. Massachusetts energy officials have decided on a new project to bring Canadian hydroelectric power to the state. The project is the New England Clean Energy Connect and will run transmission lines through M

President Donald Trump has declared opioid abuse a national health emergency. But that’s not news to the people of New Hampshire where the death rate from addiction is twice the national average. That’s why President Trump chose Manchester, New Hampshire to deliver a speech about the national epidemic this week. We check-in on two groups affected by this crisis, who are often overlooked: the recovery community and first responders, many of whom are suffering from “compassion fatigue.” Plus, six months after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, we re-visit Connecticut’s efforts to help evacuees resettle in the state. President Trump Speaks in New Hampshire Director John Burns of SOS Recovery teaches a training on “compassion fatigue” in Dover.(Paige Sutherland/NHPR) NHPR’s Paige Sutherland reports on how first responders and those working in the recovery field in New Hampshire are dealing with the pressures of responding to drug overdoses in the state. It̵

Students around New England participated in a national school walkout this past Wednesday, calling on Congress to pass stricter gun control laws. We look at efforts to keep students safe, through state models for gun control reforms, and Connecticut’s efforts to increase school security. Plus, we visit New Englanders touched by immigration: one New Hampshire man who is being deported, and a Rhode Island man who is in training to become a Customs and Border Protection officer. Student Safety A month after 17 people were killed in Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Flordia students across the country walked out of classrooms to protest gun laws. While these groups are calling for stricter gun control regulations nationally, some states are taking action into their own hands. WBUR’s Anthony Brooks reports that states should use Connecticut’s gun control success as a model for future reforms. Students in Hartford join the national walkout over gun violence. (Ryan Caron King/Connecticut Publi

New Hampshire is known for its mountain views, but it’s got another less family-friendly attraction- cheap liquor. Out-of-staters have been skirting the legal limits of what you can buy at state-owned liquor stores, but the government is not so keen to investigate. And while we try to stay warm, we hear about a program that helps Connecticut residents keep the drafts out, and visit a company in Maine that builds some of the most efficient homes on the market. Plus, we parse what New England communities ask from their local baseball teams – and what the owners of those teams are asking from taxpayers in two struggling cities. The Hartford Yard Goats play the Trenton Thunder at Dunkin Donuts Park, Hartford, Connecticut, in July 2017. (Jesse Douglas/CC) The Hennessy State A New Hampshire State Liquor outlet near the state border on Interstate 93. (NHPR file photo). In the absence of an income or sales tax, New Hampshire uses the lure of cheap liquor to help balance the books. The state owns and opera

A Guatemalan family living in Massachusetts faces a painful separation. Organic dairy farmers feel the squeeze of low prices and production quotas. And we talk to two communities on opposite sides of the political spectrum who are opting for dialogue over division. Plus, we hear the true story behind the legend of a notorious Rhode Island shipwreck; and learn how artists make a living in New England and beyond. WBUR’s Shannon Dooling fills in for John Dankosky this week. Isidro Macario waits at security as his travel documents are processed by ICE officers before boarding his flight. (Jesse Costa/WBUR) “They’re Taking Them One-By-One” Isidro Macario, right, hugs his younger brother Erwin goodbye before being escorted by ICE officers to the boarding gate at Logan Airport. (Jesse Costa/WBUR) Saying goodbye at Boston’s Logan Airport is a familiar, and painful scene for the four Macario brothers. Two years ago they said goodbye to their father when he was deported back to his native Guatemala after losing an asyl

This week, some favorites from the archive: From north of the border comes a fascinating story of land disputes, French Canadian pride, and massive dams that are set to supply more power to the New England grid. We also tour an old Hartford factory that’s preparing for a new life as a food and jobs hub for a struggling neighborhood. And we get a taste of what’s new about New England food. Hydro-Quebec’s Daniel-Johnson Dam and Manicoucagan Reservoir seen from a helicopter. Photo by Hannah McCarthy for NHPR The Power Up North New England has aggressive goals for renewable energy, but high energy costs here push us towards a balance between the cleanest sources, and the least expensive. Nuclear and natural gas account for the biggest chunk of our energy production currently. As we’ve reported, Massachusetts is reviewing proposals for offshore wind energy projects that could be the first of their size in the country.  But increasingly, policymakers and utilities are looking at our neighbors to the nor

New Bedford, Massachusetts is known for its profitable fishing port. It even draws visitors by celebrating Moby Dick, a novel inspired by whalers there. But facing a crackdown on fishing by regulators, the city is starting to look at another source of revenue – offshore wind. We take a look inside the hidden, often lucrative world of Vermont sheriffs, and mourn (or celebrate??) the end of L.L. Bean’s lifetime return policy. Plus: responding to racism on campus through art, and Palestinian storytellers in Boston. A man looks at a harpoon display at the New Bedford Whaling Museum (John Bender/RIPR) Keeping Tabs on the Sheriff When Attorney General Jeff Sessions at a speech to the National Sheriffs Association said “The office of sheriff is a critical part of the Anglo-American heritage of law enforcement,” he prompted many shocked observers to wonder where that leaves people of color within that heritage. It’s also thrown a pretty harsh spotlight on the job of sheriff. But do you even know who your

For Puerto Rican hurricane evacuees, FEMA housing support runs out on February 14. Though Hartford and Holyoke are hubs for Puerto Ricans, finding housing is a challenge. We hear reports from both cities. And we weigh the costs and benefits of living in that outlier of New England states – New Hampshire. Plus, a musician who takes inspiration from the land itself joins us in the studio. (more…)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The world of renewable energy doesn’t seem like one that would be filled with drama. But that’s just what we had this week, when a New Hampshire governing body decided to deny a permit for a massive transmission project. We talk to our panel of energy reporters about what it will take to get green power to New England. Plus, Maine’s lobster population has been booming, and new research points to some reasons why. And we sit down with the man behind Take Magazine – an ambitious, but ultimately unsustainable magazine that attempted to tell a story about New England’s arts and culture. “Black Madonna.” Public artwork created by Cedric “Vise” Douglas and Julz Roth for the Beyond Walls Mural Festival in Lynn, Mass. Featured in the final issue of Take Magazine. Photo courtesy of Beyond Walls and Christopher Gaines of the Littlest Astronaut Northern Pass Wins in Mass, Loses at Home Massachusetts has been looking to increase the amount of renewable energy it gets to serve its growing po

This week, some interviews and stories from the archive. We look at the data on gun deaths in Vermont, and think through ways to prevent suicides in places where gun ownership is part of life for many. Plus, Orange is the New Black actress Yael Stone reveals the thinking behind her character’s blend of Boston and Brookyln accents, and we talk with a linguist about how the way New Englanders talk is changing. Also, wicked powda, wicked cheap: a visit to a down-home mountain where skiing is affordable for the masses. Can you spot the dialect difference in this bagel shop menu? From the (now closed) Bagel Basement in Hanover, New Hampshire. Courtesy of James Stanford Under the Gun For many people in Vermont, guns are a way of life. Unlike more populous, more urban states in our region, Vermonters own guns at a higher rate, and fiercely protect their gun rights. That means looser gun laws than in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island; but also a higher per capita rate of gun deaths than in those sta

A woman who’s widely referred to as the “original Dreamer” weighs in on the current moment in immigration. A young man shares a tale of rising above poverty, homelessness, and undocumented status. Plus, does Boston deserve its racist reputation, and what’s being done to move beyond it? We discuss takeaways from the Boston Globe’s series on racism with columnist Adrian Walker. We get a critical look at offshore wind from across the pond, and rethink a potato-focused school break. Tereza Lee, center, protests in New York City on Wednesday. Lee – whose parents brought her to the U.S. as a child without documents – reached out to Sen. Richard Durbin about her family’s status as a teenager. Durbin would go on to introduce the DREAM Act in Congress.  (Courtesy Tereza Lee) They Had a Dream This week, the fate of young immigrants across New England has been at the center of a Washington political debate over DACA — or Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. And, they’ve been a chip in a bigge

This was a big week in weed: we catch up on the news around New England, and hear the story of a puzzled cancer patient trying to figure out how to manage the side effects of chemo with cannabis. Also, an investigation into water contamination in Vermont wells near farms reveals a shocking shortage of oversight by the government agency in charge of agricultural pollution. In the wake of a cold snap and flood-inducing “bomb cyclone,” we parse the difference between climate and weather. Plus, we’ll visit a driving school designed for New England winter, and explore the legacy of the first American woman to write a symphony. A Jersey heifer peers through a door used to push manure into a manure pit. (Emily Corwin/VPR) Even the Weather is Political Vermont Governor Phil Scott, a Republican, has said he will sign new marijuana legislation, calling it a “libertarian approach” to legalization. (Angela Evancie/VPR) There was big news this week about marijuana — both here in New England and in Washi

What happens when a company leaves a company town? We talk to an ethnographer who charts the story of a New Hampshire paper mill that closed, leaving hard feelings and few jobs behind. We also track water quality in two New England Bays, and examine the source of some of our water pollution problems — the lightly regulated residential septic system. Finally, we visit a Boston laboratory for creating new beats. Dryers on the Number 3 paper machine at the now-demolished paper mill in Groveton, Nh. From a 1955 Vanity Fair sales catalog. (Courtesy GREAT) State of the Bays Bangs Island Mussels worker Jon Gorman sets juvenile mussells onto rope that will be their home for the next year as they grow to market size. (Fred Bever/ Maine Public) When it comes to water quality, there’s a lot that scientists have to monitor. Pollution, invasive species, and climate change are just a few of their concerns. And these problems are often linked together, so it can be hard to pinpoint the cause of unhealthy waterways. W

What does a state owe to people serving time in prison? And what does it owe those who should never have been locked up in the first place? We speak with a man who went to prison in Massachusetts for 32 years for a crime he didn’t commit. And we travel back over 300 years to a war on New England soil where women leaders played a major role. Plus, elm trees make a comeback, and a New Hampshire bagpipe business bumps up against global trade rules. Released on bail after serving 32 years on a murder charge after doubts about his guilt surfaced, Darrell Jones speaks to the media in front of the Brockton, Mass. Superior Courthouse. Photo by Jesse Costa for WBUR Behind Bars On December 21, Darrell Jones walked out of a courthouse in Brockton, Massachusetts, 32 years after being convicted for a murder he always maintained he didn’t commit. Jones – who is African American – was released based on suspicions that police tampered with video evidence, and allegations of racial bias among jurors. Standing on