AGP Executive Report

Critical Minerals & Defense Supply Chain: AP reports Phoenix Tailings’ Exeter, N.H. refinery could help the U.S. process “mines-to-magnets” critical minerals away from China, with a Pentagon-backed $500 million expansion still months away. Energy & Affordability Politics: Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s landfill-siting push is now law via a new evaluation committee, while Democratic challenger Cinde Warmington doubles down on opposing “all-of-the-above” natural gas plans despite affordability pressure. Housing Policy: New Hampshire’s new no-fault eviction law is now in effect, raising alarms for renters as assessments roll out and tax bills loom. Education & Community Input: NH is seeking parents and community leaders for a statewide English learner advisory committee, with an application deadline of Sept. 1. Local Business & Jobs: BAE Systems’ Nashua engineering hub earned a top Northeast ranking, and a Manchester-area medical cannabis milestone marks 10 years of the state program. Tech & Elections: A national debate over deepfakes and election misinformation continues, with New Hampshire’s past robocall incident still shaping the conversation. Weather Watch: NOAA’s “super El Niño” outlook flags New Hampshire for a snowier winter.

Local Culture & Economy: New Hampshire moviegoers are getting a real summer boost as local theaters ride a record-breaking national box office, with major releases like “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” driving big ticket sales and helping theaters rebound from the pandemic slump. Housing & Taxes (Concord): New Concord home assessments are sparking sticker shock, with residents seeing major value jumps and questions about what that means for upcoming property tax bills—answers are still weeks away. Public Safety & Privacy: A Rhode Island report highlights how license plate readers are expanding faster than state rules, raising concerns about data retention and who can search it. Medical Cannabis: New Hampshire marked 10 years of its medical marijuana program, with dispensary leaders saying the program is serving about 18,000 patients and continues to grow. Agriculture & Climate Resilience: New Hampshire conservation districts announced nearly $397,000 in 2026 Climate Resilience Grant awards to 49 farms statewide, targeting drought-proofing, soil health, and energy improvements. Politics (Presidential Primary): Democrats moved to reshape the 2028 primary calendar, with New Hampshire expected to remain an early state after South Carolina leads off.

Housing Policy: Massachusetts is advancing a plan that would let duplexes be built by-right across most residential zones, a move housing advocates say could unlock “thousands” of new homes and ease pressure felt on places like Cape Cod. Public Safety & Privacy: Rhode Island is adding 39 automatic license plate readers under a federal grant, joining a fast-growing camera network with little state law guidance on retention and searches. Election Rules: A federal judge rejected the U.S. Justice Department’s push to force Illinois to hand over voter-roll data, saying the federal government lacks authority to demand it. NH Agriculture & Resilience: New Hampshire conservation districts announced 2026 Climate Resilience Grant awards totaling more than $396,773 for 49 farms statewide, including projects aimed at drought-proof irrigation and soil-health improvements. Community & Culture: Orford, N.H., is looking back on a decades-old community celebration tied to a record-setting dairy cow, Maxima, and the local pride it sparked. Local Life: A Concord summer basketball league story highlights efforts to rebuild momentum for city teams as they chase progress toward winter NHIAA competition.

Election Law: A federal judge in Illinois dismissed DOJ’s bid to force the state to hand over sensitive voter-roll data, saying the federal government lacks authority to compel the release. 2028 Primary Calendar: The DNC chose South Carolina to lead the 2028 presidential nominating schedule, with Nevada next and New Hampshire among the early states—reshaping how much influence Granite State voters will have before Super Tuesday. Energy & EVs: Massachusetts is looking to expand its EV “virtual power plant” program so more drivers could participate in sending power from home EV batteries back to the grid, with New Hampshire included in the ConnectedSolutions effort. Local Agriculture: New Hampshire conservation districts announced 2026 Climate Resilience Grant awards totaling about $396,773 for 49 farms statewide, targeting drought-proof irrigation, soil health, and energy improvements. Public Safety & Fraud: Concord police highlighted rising skimmer and scam activity after a case involving cloned debit cards found in a Hannaford parking lot. Business/Rankings: U.S. News ranked New Hampshire No. 6 overall for 2026, topping the state list for crime and corrections and scoring well on natural environment and opportunity.

Best States Buzz: U.S. News ranked New Hampshire No. 6 overall in its 2026 “Best States” report, with standout scores for crime and corrections (No. 1) and natural environment (No. 3), while lagging on economy (No. 32) and fiscal stability (No. 36). Fraud Watch: Concord police described a skimming scheme involving cloned debit cards and cash withdrawals, part of a broader statewide rise in scams and fraud. AI Roots in NH: A Dartmouth series looks back at early “AI before AI,” including how a Rockefeller Foundation workshop request was rejected in 1955—an early chapter in the field’s growth. Governor Politics: Democrat Cinde Warmington says Gov. Kelly Ayotte is “vulnerable” and argues she can win this fall, pointing to low approval numbers and pushing back on past work tied to opioid litigation. Community & Culture: Nashua’s Saint Philip Greek Orthodox Church plans a Rise Against Hunger meal-pack event in October, and Kevin Nealon headlines local comedy stops including Portsmouth.

Landfill Fight in the North Country: Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed HB 707, tightening New Hampshire’s landfill-siting rules by creating a seven-member solid waste evaluation committee and putting a moratorium on expanding landfill capacity until at least July 1, 2027. Gubernatorial Politics: Democrat Cinde Warmington ramped up her case that she can beat Gov. Kelly Ayotte, pointing to low approval numbers and attacking Ayotte’s criticism over Warmington’s past legal work tied to opioid manufacturers. Energy & Industry: Eversource took another major financial hit tied to offshore wind delays, citing Trump-era stop-work orders affecting the Revolution Wind project. Defense & Local Business: A Manchester tech firm, Vibrac Precision Test Systems, says Patriot missile demand could drive more than $100 million in orders over four years, with Sen. Jeanne Shaheen at a Farnborough roundtable. Public Health: CDC data show babesiosis cases rising to 3,586 in 2023, with New Hampshire listed among the affected states as tick season peaks. Community & Culture: Portsmouth’s “Honor Summit” plans Mount Washington LED light beams to commemorate 9/11 and honor veterans, firefighters, and first responders.

Landfill Fight in Dalton: Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed a new landfill siting law creating a Solid Waste Site Evaluation Committee and expanding what the state must weigh beyond traditional environmental review, after a judge rejected Casella Waste Systems’ challenge over a proposed landfill near Forest Lake State Park. Election Rules Clash: The DNC voted to move the 2028 first Democratic presidential primary to South Carolina, putting it at odds with New Hampshire’s “first-in-the-nation” state law and raising fresh legal and political pressure on the secretary of state. Healthcare Access & AI Skepticism: A national report highlights rural patients’ wariness of AI “solutions” for care access, while New Hampshire’s own mental-health coverage points to structured options like partial hospitalization programs. Housing Reality Check: LendingTree analysis finds New Hampshire has a high home vacancy rate driven largely by seasonal properties, leaving fewer year-round options. Local Government: Wilton swore in John Frechette as police chief and discussed a federal grant for a mobile integrated health program. Business & Community: A new Great Greek Mediterranean Grill opened in Epping; Aldi is exploring additional New Hampshire store sites. Courts: Rochester’s new circuit courthouse is nearing completion with an expected fall 2026 opening. Energy Politics: A political attack alleges the Trump administration canceled NH clean-energy grant funding tied to voting.

Landfill Fight in the North Country: Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed a new law creating a Solid Waste Site Evaluation Committee, giving local communities more say and requiring broader factors like truck traffic, business impacts, and property values as New Hampshire moves to rewrite how major landfill sites get approved. Maternal Care & Formula Oversight: U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas pushed “Baby Brent’s Bill” to force tougher FTC action on how preterm infant formula is marketed, citing links to necrotizing enterocolitis risk for premature babies. Medicaid Home Nursing Restored: New Hampshire’s Medicaid Managed Care Organizations backed away from cuts to medically complex children’s home nursing hours after parent pressure, with DHHS reviewing 13 cases. Healthcare Spotlight: New Hampshire again topped WalletHub’s 2026 “Best & Worst States for Healthcare,” citing low premiums and low uninsured rates. Public Safety & Opportunity: A new U.S. News “Best States” ranking put New Hampshire sixth overall, with top marks for public safety and economic opportunity. Child Advocate Report Delayed: The state’s child advocate’s final report on alleged abuse at the Sununu Youth Services Center could take weeks or months to release. Cybersecurity: CareCloud began notifying hundreds of thousands after hackers stole medical records, with the breach tied to access of an electronic health record data store in March. Business & Growth: Cedar Landing at the Ridge, a $400 million mixed-use project in Rochester, unveiled its name and plans for housing, retail, entertainment, and healthcare.

Sununu Center Oversight: New Hampshire’s child advocate says the final report on potential abuse and neglect at the Sununu Youth Services Center could take weeks—or months—to land, as leadership transitions raise questions about how fast findings will be released. Public Safety & Community: Francestown residents toured the rebuilding of the historic Levi Woodbury estate after a January fire, with neighbors getting a close look at progress and timelines. Federal Health Fight: Dr. Anthony Fauci again invoked the Fifth Amendment in a contentious Senate COVID hearing, refusing to answer dozens of questions as Republicans push for contempt. State Policy Watch: New Hampshire’s mixed-use housing law faces its first real test, with municipalities and housing advocates grappling over how to make it work on the ground. Local Business & Jobs: NHTrust hired Christina Bradbury as senior vice president and senior wealth advisor in Concord. Arts Spotlight: Homer’s top artists were honored at the Homer Council on the Arts awards, including a lifetime achievement recognition for Dave Webster. Tech & Rules: Attorneys general urged the FCC to strengthen “Know Your Customer” rules to curb illegal robocalls.

COVID Fallout in Washington: Dr. Anthony Fauci repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment and refused to answer dozens of questions in a Republican-led Senate hearing, with Democrats calling it an entrapment attempt and Republicans pushing for a contempt vote. NH Politics & Health: Sen. Maggie Hassan defended Fauci, arguing the hearing targets him unfairly and noting Trump-era health grant cuts hit New Hampshire. Housing Test for NH Law: Kingston and other towns are grappling with the state’s mixed-use/multi-family rules after a late change made housing in commercial zones “by right,” stripping away many local limits. Manufactured Housing Scrutiny: Sen. Hassan pressed Sado Capital for details after residents in Hopkinton reported steep rent hikes and falling home values under new ownership. Local Arts & Culture: Squam Lake’s “Cruise with a Naturalist” returns, and Plymouth’s Flying Monkey screens Buster Keaton’s “Steamboat Bill Jr.” with live music. Community History: Pease Public Library and Franklin Historical Society host programs tied to John Stark and the American Revolution.

Immigration Enforcement: A new report says New Hampshire’s Troy police—one of the few departments with an ICE 287(g) deal—accounted for a big share of the state’s immigration arrests under those agreements from 2025 through March 10. School & Youth: New Hampshire teachers gave the state’s “bell-to-bell” cellphone ban high marks, saying it’s cutting distractions and not derailing learning. Climate & Farms: The state’s conservation districts awarded $396,000 to 49 local farms for drought resilience, soil health, and energy improvements. Workforce & Child Care: A new push highlights how child care shortages are leaving classrooms empty and limiting parents’ ability to work. Tech & Policy: Some NH lawmakers are pointing to new “Blockchain Basic Laws” as a sign the state is open for crypto business, while others warn scams and energy use remain barriers. Community & Outdoors: The Forest Society opened registration for its 2026 Five Hikes Challenge, running Aug. 15 through Oct. 31.

Robocall crackdown: New Hampshire’s AG Dan Rayfield joined a coalition of 49 states urging the FCC to tighten “Know Your Customer” rules to stop illegal robocalls and the scams they fuel. Severe weather: A severe thunderstorm warning hit southern New Hampshire, with gusts up to 60 mph possible and damage to roofs, siding, and trees. Energy grid upgrade: ISO-New England is backing a $2.2 billion Central Maine Power transmission project to improve regional power flows, including lines from southern New Hampshire to Pittsfield, Maine. Healthcare at home: A Belmont family says Medicaid cuts to nursing hours under the Katie Beckett program jeopardize care for medically complex children. Local history: Franklin’s city council voted 7-1 to rehabilitate the historic Trestle Bridge, setting up a roughly $1 million preservation effort. Housing crunch signals: LendingTree reports New Hampshire’s high home vacancy rate is driven largely by seasonal properties, leaving fewer year-round options for residents. State spotlight: U.S. News ranked New Hampshire among the top states overall, including strong marks for safety and economic opportunity.

Housing & Zoning: Kingston’s “mixed-use” housing rules just got flipped again: after a July 1 start date, Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed HB 1588 to let multi-family housing in commercial zones be approved “by right,” stripping away many density limits, landscape buffers, and conditional-use hurdles that towns had added. State Politics: New Hampshire’s Senate race remains a national watch item as Democrats and Republicans sharpen their contrast, including fresh scrutiny around the Sununu family’s business ties. Elections & Tech: Election officials are debating whether voters should use AI chatbots for voting questions, with warnings that answers can be outdated or wrong even as some see a role for AI in helping election workers. Public Health: A denaturalization case has been filed in New Hampshire against a mother, part of a broader Trump-era crackdown on foreign-born citizens accused of fraud. Community & Culture: Plymouth held a synchronized, worldwide reading of the Declaration of Independence as part of “America 250,” with New Hampshire Humanities support. Local Business/Media: The Monadnock Ledger-Transcript joined a journalism funding program aimed at building sustainable local newsroom fundraising.

DNC Fight Over FITN: Former Rep. Frank Guinta says New Hampshire’s all-Democratic delegation “should have done far more” to protect the First-in-the-Nation primary after the DNC voted to put South Carolina first for 2028. State Energy Costs: A new report warns New Hampshire ratepayers would pay about $148 million more (roughly 14%) if the state left the regional grid, arguing reforms inside the system are the cheaper path. Public Safety & Health: Vermont begins an Aug. 1 rabies vaccine bait drop that will also cover parts of New Hampshire; meanwhile, the CDC says cyclosporiasis cases keep climbing, with Georgia now reporting fewer than 80 confirmed cases. Local Life: Weirs Community Park Association kicks off an interactive Children’s Story Book Walk Sunday at the Weirs, turning a local lake-themed book into an outdoor trail. Business & Fraud: A New Hampshire GOP figure, Jay Lucas, pleaded guilty in a $50M health-and-wellness investment fraud scheme. Ports Oversight: An outside review cleared New Hampshire’s ports director of harassment claims but recommends more leadership training and added HR presence.

Democratic primary fight: The DNC’s Rules panel is set to keep South Carolina first in the 2028 presidential primary calendar, sidelining New Hampshire again and triggering pushback from Granite State Democrats and local leaders who say the move could drain attention and campaign money from the state. Food assistance pressure: New Hampshire SNAP enrollment fell about 3% from June 2025 to June 2026, and providers say demand is rising as families feel the effects of recent federal restrictions. Vehicle inspection lawsuit: A Wilton woman is suing New Hampshire in federal court to reinstate ended annual vehicle safety and emissions inspections, arguing air quality has worsened since the program stopped. Surveillance debate: Communities are wrestling with Flock Safety’s license plate reader cameras, with residents and civil liberties advocates warning the data collection could enable mass surveillance. Housing data dispute (Maine): Maine’s Greenville approved 89 housing units in state data, but the town says the real number is far lower—highlighting concerns about the accuracy of housing tracking systems. Local business & community: A burrito chain is coming to Hudson, and Comfort Keepers marked a “Day of Joy” event in New London.

Democratic presidential calendar shake-up: The DNC picked South Carolina to lead off the 2028 nominating schedule, leaving Iowa out and sidelining New Hampshire from the early lineup, with Nevada expected next and New Hampshire among the states rounding out the early group. NH legal fight over education funding: A new report revisits how New Hampshire’s education spending changed after the Great Recession and flags risks tied to the state’s Education Freedom Account expansion. NH school risk pools: A year after SchoolCare and other pooled-risk problems hit districts with surprise assessments, some towns have stabilized while legal fights and assessments still linger. NH Snapchat lawsuit: A New Hampshire teen and her mother sued Snap Inc. over alleged leaks of private images from the “My Eyes Only” feature. Food safety in NH: Health officials confirmed cyclosporiasis cases linked to recalled Taylor Farms lettuce served at Cheshire Medical Center, as the multistate outbreak widens. Maine politics with ripple effects: Maine Democrats quickly nominated Troy Jackson for Susan Collins’ Senate seat after Graham Platner withdrew amid allegations.