From crisis to handcuffs: Why are police arresting instead of helping the mentally ill?

Monday, July 14, 2025Monday, July 14, 2025

Mental illness isn’t a crime, but too often, law enforcement treats it like one. I recently watched a body cam video of a woman being arrested – not for committing a violent offense, but because she took her prescribed medication the wrong way. Instead of swallowing it, she snorted it, which led to paranoia and psychotic behavior. As she became increasingly agitated, officers repeatedly questioned her instead of calling for mental health professionals. The longer they delayed, the worse she got, ultimately spitting at them out of distress.

A Week Without a Beer: The Beer Diaries

Tuesday, July 15, 2025Monday, July 14, 2025

I love beer. I love domestic beers and foreign beers and craft beers. I love beer from bottles and beer from cans and beer from taps. I love stouts and lagers and IPA’s and pilsners. I love regular beers and light beers. I love drinking beer and buying beer and thinking about buying and drinking beer. I love a beer in the shower and a beer after work and a beer before bed.

The Soapbox: We can’t afford to let outdated zoning keep controlling NH’s housing future

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

As I prepared to move to Manchester to teach economics at Saint Anselm College, I was unaware of the extent of New Hampshire’s housing shortage. Despite having a job with a solid income, securing an apartment felt like winning a lottery. My husband and I scrambled to put down a deposit on a place within minutes of being notified and still, we lost out. Eventually, we got lucky. But that luck, and the ability to buy a condo later, was a privilege many don’t have.

The Soapbox: ‘HB 10 isn’t the Trojan Horse your editorial makes it out to be’

Wednesday, July 9, 2025

HB 10 isn’t the Trojan Horse the editorial makes it out to be. Rather than a blunt instrument for censorship or a “search for blame,” it’s a practical, transparent framework that codifies what many New Hampshire schools already do.

Searching for ‘Hangover Breakfasts’

Tuesday, July 8, 2025

In the piece, I included an excerpt from my 2012 book, “Hangover Breakfasts.” Afterward, I received a couple of emails from readers telling me that they enjoyed the excerpt and wanted to know where they could find the book.

Here we are, America

Thursday, July 3, 2025Thursday, July 3, 2025

As we approach the Fourth of July this year, which commemorates the signing of the “Declaration of Independence” in 1776, it is hard to miss the irony.

The Soapbox: These 3 issues control NH’s economy

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

When you wonder why your rent is so high, or why your tax bill just keeps growing—remember that both Republicans and Democrats worked together to avoid taxing the wealthy at the same rate that they’re taxing the poor and middle class.

Remembering Alex Kintner – with my daughter

Monday, June 30, 2025

This year, I introduced a new holiday that will now join Emma Nutt Day—the holiday on Sept. 1 that recognizes the first female telephone operator—and Festivus on our calendars.

50 years since ‘Jaws’ cleared the beaches of Amity Island – and the nation

Saturday, June 28, 2025

It’s been 50 years since the movie Jaws cleared the beaches of Amity Island and across the nation. It’s been fifty years since we waited in line for what became the first summer blockbuster ever (running more than $5 million over its $3 million budget to bring in more than $478 million worldwide just that summer or $1.5 billion, adjusted for inflation).

The Soapbox: Elimination of annual vehicle inspections ‘reckless and shortsighted’

Friday, June 27, 2025

NHADA and its over 500 members believe the elimination of annual inspections is both reckless and shortsighted. The vehicle safety inspection program repeal, which eliminates them entirely for cars, trucks, and motorcycles, and weakens the frequency of school bus inspections will result in a measured increase in accidents on New Hampshire roadways.