AGP Executive Report

CPR Push: New Hampshire’s Executive Council kicked off a statewide hands-only CPR training drive at Trinity High School in Manchester, aiming to give more residents confidence to act during cardiac emergencies. Housing Wins: After a repeal-focused legislative session, some recent New Hampshire housing supply gains survived—especially changes tied to ADUs, manufactured housing, and converting commercial space to multifamily. Crypto Finance: NH’s bitcoin-backed municipal bond plan is still awaiting approval and has drawn a below-investment-grade Moody’s provisional rating, keeping the proposal in limbo. PFAS Update: The EPA moved to modify “forever chemical” rules, ending limits on four PFAS types while keeping strict limits on PFOA and PFOS and extending compliance timelines for some water systems. Public Safety: A Dover woman accused of wrong-way DUI after crashing into a state trooper appeared in court, with prosecutors arguing she poses safety concerns.

Wrong-Way Crash Court Update: A Dover woman, Cassandra Aldecoa, 21, appeared in court after allegedly driving the wrong way on Route 101 and crashing into a New Hampshire State Police cruiser; troopers say the officer positioned his car to prevent a head-on collision, and Aldecoa now faces DUI and felony reckless conduct with a deadly weapon, with preventive detention ordered. Public Safety Scrutiny: The case lands amid broader questions about how dangerous incidents “slip through the cracks,” including lingering concerns after the Memorial Drive shootings. Justice in the North Country: A jury convicted Lance Goodrich of murder in the 2021 Orford killing of his cousin, Brooke. Community & Local Growth: Operation Delta Dog launched a $50,000 “Unleash the Match” drive to expand its care and boarding center for veterans’ service dogs. Business & Utilities: NextEra and Dominion Energy announced a proposed merger that would create a massive utility, pending federal and state approvals. Weather Watch: Heat and humidity are building, with storm chances Tuesday and Wednesday.

Wrong-Way Crash: A Dover woman, Cassandra Aldecoa, was arrested after allegedly driving the wrong way on Route 101 and crashing into a New Hampshire State Police cruiser; trooper Shane McClure had moved his car into her path to prevent further harm, and both she and her passenger were evaluated with no serious injuries reported. Airport Shakeup: JetBlue is ending all service at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport this summer, with the last flight set for July 8, citing underperforming routes and higher jet-fuel costs; affected passengers will be rebooked or refunded. Seacoast Spotlight: Hampton Beach earned a top ranking from Conde Nast Traveler, while Seacoast “beach pizza” spots like Cristy’s in Hampton and Tripoli in Seabrook say the season is already off to a stronger start. Weather Watch: New Hampshire is heading into a hot, humid stretch with storm chances building midweek. Tech & Politics: South Korea plans new rules for deepfake use in elections, a reminder that election misinformation is getting harder to spot.

Tick Warning: ER visits for tick bites are spiking to their highest levels for this time of year since 2017, with the Northeast hit hardest as warmer weather boosts tick activity and Lyme risk. Aurora Watch: A geomagnetic storm could push the northern lights farther south than usual this weekend, with New Hampshire and Vermont among the places that may see a faint glow. Housing Pressure: A new NAHB analysis finds 83.4% of New Hampshire households are priced out of a new median-priced home—one of the worst affordability gaps in the country. Local Government: A town council dispute over council members contacting the town lawyer on their own is driving new scrutiny of charter and state-law authority. Weather: After a sunny, summerlike Sunday, New Hampshire is set to warm fast, with 90-degree heat possible in the south by Tuesday.

School Safety Tragedy: A 74-year-old Swanzey man, David Peloski, died Friday morning in a head-on crash with a school bus on Route 12 in Marlborough; 13 students from Monadnock Regional Middle High were taken to local hospitals as a precaution. Education Policy: New Hampshire lawmakers are pushing ahead on school choice, while the “campus carry” fight is now headed to House-Senate end-of-year negotiations. Mental Health Coverage: A wraparound mental health insurance bill hit a snag in the House and was sent to interim study, dealing a blow to Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s push. Data Center Backlash: Across the U.S., efforts to slow or ban data centers are surging, and NH’s own attempt to limit local regulation was tabled in the House. Local Spotlight: Winnacunnet baseball coach Aaron Abood earned his 100th career win as the Warriors shut out Salem 7-0.

Medicaid Dollars Rising: Dover Medicaid billed $1.56M for medicine services in 2024, up 20%, while Nashua’s pathology and lab spending climbed 11.1% to $802,802—another reminder that health costs are moving fast at the local level. School Lunch Fight: The NH Senate passed a bill expanding free school meals, with a floor amendment to let families up to 200% of the poverty line qualify for free or reduced-price lunches. PFAS Alarm: A new NH PFAS bill is drawing backlash after a Senate rewrite removed sludge protections, leaving critics worried residents could carry more risk. Public Safety: A Maine paddleboarder missing since May 5 in Graham Lake was found dead by a family member. Community & Culture: Nashua is painting a 70-foot mural on the Water Street bridge honoring French-Canadian heritage, set to be dedicated May 23. Weather Watch: Warmer air is building for the weekend, with fog clearing and highs pushing toward near-summer levels.

Education & Honors: SNHU released its Spring 2026 President’s and Dean’s lists, spotlighting dozens of local students earning top grades. Public Safety: Hillsboro police said their final goodbye to K-9 Gibbs, honoring a dog team member they credit with helping pull a gun away from a suspect in 2023. Flood Recovery Funding: FEMA is sending $1 million to the state DOT for administrative costs tied to the 2018 nor’easter flooding along the Seacoast. Crime & Courts: A gang member from Lynn, Mass. pleaded guilty to racketeering, admitting to murders and attempted murders and linking him to NH and MA convenience-store burglaries and stolen lottery tickets. Legislative Fight: Gov. Kelly Ayotte’s kids’ mental health bill hit a wall in the House, with the Senate moving it onto another measure as lawmakers race toward the end of session. Transportation: JetBlue is ending service at Manchester-Boston Regional Airport this summer. Weather Watch: Forecasters warn it may feel like summer soon, but New Hampshire water is still dangerously cold.

School Safety Tragedy: A pickup driver died in a head-on crash with a school bus on Route 12 in Marlborough; 13 Monadnock Regional Middle-High students were evaluated and none were seriously hurt, as the road was closed while investigators worked. Mental Health Access: Nelson Counseling launched a new website and expanded telehealth options across New Hampshire, aiming to cut through long waits for therapy. Local Growth & Housing: Habitat for Humanity marked another milestone building more housing for veterans, while Dover’s former Liberty Mutual campus is moving into a mixed-use redevelopment with apartments and new commercial space. Politics & Policy: The NH House tabled a bill that would have limited towns’ ability to regulate data centers, and the Senate later saved a mental health funding effort after the House rejected it. Travel & Weather: JetBlue is ending service at Manchester-Boston on July 8, and forecasters are calling for a cool Friday before a warmer Memorial Day weekend.

Campus Carry Standoff: New Hampshire lawmakers kept the campus-gun debate moving—but narrowed it. The Senate passed a revised “campus carry” bill that lets faculty carry firearms and other weapons on public college campuses, while students would still be left out for now, with a study commission tasked to figure out next steps. Income Tax Chaos: In the House, Democrats voted down a constitutional amendment to ban an income tax—then also voted against a future income-tax ban—prompting “Schrödinger’s Tax” jokes and underscoring how divided the party is on the issue. Gun Smuggling Crackdown: Federal authorities charged 13 people tied to an alleged ring that bought guns in New Hampshire and trafficked them into Canada via the Akwesasne reservation. Public Safety: A Londonderry house fire displaced three people; a firefighter was treated for minor injuries. Sports & Culture: The Canadiens took a 3-2 lead over Buffalo in the Stanley Cup playoffs, and local athletes kept stacking milestones, including Lily Cornell’s record-setting softball run.

Public Safety & Health: Manchester installed New Hampshire’s first Safe Haven baby box at the Fire Department—secure, temperature-controlled, and it auto-calls 911 when opened. Local Government: Jay, Maine residents approved the last $16,500 needed to keep trash service moving and set 2026-27 sewer rates, with a big turnout driving the decisions. State Politics: The NH Senate committee move that gutted the Charlie Kirk act and replaced it with a renewal of “divisive concepts” rules keeps the spotlight on education policy battles. Housing & Costs: A new national homeowner survey finds 64% say homeownership is stressful and 74% worry about affording repairs—plumbing and radon top the stress list. Arts & Community: A new kinetic sculpture, “Hurly-Whirly,” is adding color to a Manchester-area median, built through a youth art apprenticeship. Sports & Culture: WWE added a Manchester stop to its summer house-show tour, bringing more big-name wrestling to SNHU Arena.

SNHU Honors: Southern New Hampshire University keeps rolling out Spring 2026 academic lists, with more students named to the Dean’s List and President’s List, including local standouts like Macy Niehaus and Elizabeth Harvey. NASCAR Weekend: Dover Motor Speedway is hosting NASCAR All-Star festivities for the first time, with the full 2026 schedule now set for Friday’s Truck Series action and Saturday’s O’Reilly Auto Parts Series race. Arts & Community: Hancock’s Town Library is hosting “Poetry & Pie” on May 21, featuring local poet Henry Walters and former NH Poet Laureate Alice B. Fogel. UNH Labor Talks: At UNH, the Graduate Employees United group held a “People’s State of the University” event as contract negotiations stretch past 18 months. Weather: Beneficial rain is moving in through Thursday and Friday, with heavier downpours possible, then a drier, warmer weekend.

Interstate Kidnapping Case: Two men charged in a cross-state kidnapping plot—allegedly abducting a woman in Claremont, then holding and torturing her in Springfield, Vermont—face federal prosecution that could bring life in prison; prosecutors say police found drugs, a firearm, and duct tape at the scene. Gift-Card Fraud Probe: Federal filings allege an Amherst-area warehouse helped move tens of millions in Apple devices bought with gift cards, part of a broader crackdown on organized gift-card schemes. Weather Watch: New England heads into a mostly dry Wednesday, then braces for heavier rain Thursday with downpours possible. Public Safety: A separate report highlights growing concern over aggressive driving, with experts warning it’s becoming normalized. Community Notes: Wisconsin is seeking volunteers to monitor the endangered Karner Blue butterfly, while SNHU continues rolling out Spring 2026 Dean’s and President’s List honors.

Housing Crunch: New Hampshire’s market is still “tight, tight” with only about 2,000 homes listed and a median single-family price around $560,000—so even middle-income buyers are stuck, and sellers fear they’d “live in a box” if they move. DEI in the Spotlight: The EEOC has sued Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast over claims that a 2024 employer trip and networking event was offered to women but not men, seeking policy changes and damages. Local Education Boost: Manchester opened a new outdoor classroom and nature trail at McLaughlin Middle School, built with SNHU and city partners after a decade of work. Public Health Watch: Two New Hampshire residents were on a hantavirus-hit cruise ship; officials say there’s no current risk while they coordinate monitoring. Politics & Policy: The NH Senate Judiciary Committee is taking more time on a bill to protect pregnancy resource centers, citing a recent Supreme Court decision. Crime: A Plaistow man was arrested on child sexual abuse image charges after an investigation by the Internet Crimes Against Children task force.

Violence in the Granite State: A Nashua man, Nickolas Hanson, was arrested after admitting he fired at Merrimack River partygoers, adding to a week of alarming gun incidents. Youth detention scrutiny: New Hampshire’s top child welfare official told lawmakers abuse and neglect allegations at the Sununu Youth Services Center are false, while advocates and the child advocate’s office say children are being harmed. Federal research saved: Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest will stay open after pushback tied to U.S. Forest Service restructuring, with USDA leadership confirming no plans affect Hubbard Brook and promising a review of Bartlett. Wildlife management: A prescribed burn begins today at Sandbar Wildlife Management Area to restore rare sandplain habitat. Politics and elections: New Hampshire’s primary date moves to June starting in 2028, and Republicans keep pressing school choice bills. Energy costs fight: Trump says he’ll move to suspend the federal gas tax, but Congress must approve.

Gas Tax Showdown: President Trump says he’ll move to suspend the federal gasoline tax to blunt fuel-price pain tied to the Iran war, but Congress has to approve it—while some GOP leaders are already signaling hesitation over the deficit. Taiwan Tension: Trump also says he’ll raise U.S. arms sales to Taiwan with Xi Jinping, a move Beijing has warned against. Public Health Watch: New Hampshire DHHS confirmed two residents with NH addresses were on the hantavirus-hit MV Hondius and are being monitored after returning to the U.S.; officials say there’s no current risk to Granite State residents. Community & Safety: NH community colleges hit a nursing milestone—347 graduates, the most since 2013. Civil Rights & Hate: ADL reports antisemitic incidents in NH fell about 36% in 2025, but remain elevated since the Oct. 7 surge. Weather: Frost and freeze advisories are back in parts of NH as temperatures dip into the 30s.

Manhunt Update: New Hampshire authorities are searching for “armed and dangerous” Lisa Marie Lundstrom, 47, after she violated probation and absconded from supervision in both NH and Massachusetts. Public Safety: Separately, police are also looking for an inmate who escaped a Manchester transitional housing unit—Shawn Michael Bailey, 39, walked away from Calumet House late Saturday. State Politics: Gov. Kelly Ayotte signed a law moving New Hampshire’s state primary to the second Tuesday in June starting in 2028, ending the September primary. Education Fight: The NH Senate unanimously advanced a bill to end state oversight requirements for homeschoolers, while Ayotte criticized lawmakers for stalling a wraparound mental health insurance bill for children. Health Care: Concord Hospital was reverified as a Level II trauma center, the second-highest designation. Federal Watch: USDA will keep Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest open, while Bartlett’s closure plans are being reexamined.