News – Politics – Opinion – Podcasts
Look at the document “Woodlock – DM’s Partial Victim Impact Statement” that was submitted on the eve of James Woodlock’s sentencing last week by David Vicinanzo and Russ Rilee. It was sent to the media as well. The media link goes into Jane Doe #146’s lawsuit, which states that Woodlock sexually penetrated (raped) Jane Doe … Read more
Let’s first narrow the details of the title question “are your elected officials naughty or nice?” I will narrow the field to members of legislative bodies that are state and local. That would include 400 reps, of which most communities have 3, and 24 senators, of which everyone has just one. If you’re in a … Read more
Remarks delivered at the 12/16/25 meeting of the Wilton-Lyndeborough School Board I’ve attended many school board and budget committee meetings over the past six years in person and online, and I have read all the minutes from both boards since August. I was surprised when an administrator at a recent meeting mentioned some recent standardized … Read more
On Today’s Morning Update, I talked about the failed security footprint at Brown University and gun-free zones. Incompetent or not, the fools dancing around the microphones in the Island of Rhode could have prevented this if someone besides the shooter was armed. It turns out the shooter is alleged to be a former Brown student, … Read more
Just days after a popular Burlington coffee shop announced it would close amid a strike and challenging financial and social conditions in downtown Burlington, a Barre restaurant is sounding the alarm about overtaxation. Barre restaurant owner Diane Duquet Hood says she plans to take her concerns about rising property taxes directly to local lawmakers after … Read more
This week on Right Side Up, after the weekend chaos, the right to keep and bear arms, your natural right to self-defense, is more critical than ever – and gun-free zones are where killers go to find soft targets. Speakers’ opinions are their own and may not represent those of Grok Media, LLC, GraniteGrok.com, its … Read more
New Hampshire’s public schools have problems. No matter how much money we pour into them, the results get worse. Money, therefore, mathematically, economically, academically, and scientifically, is not the answer. Money, practically speaking, leads to worse outcomes. This fact aligns two problems in a common solution. Schools are the reason why property taxes are so … Read more
Yes, I heard the cries of a number of you behind me begging me not to do it. Yes, I saw a goodly number of you stand up to walk out of the room to avoid the vote. I even stood for the request to register the vote via a roll call. It was, in … Read more
In 1968, our state constitution was radically amended. Voters were not fully informed of the consequences of the proposed changes. The voters’ guide said the amendment would “remove obsolete sectarian references.” There were exactly four sectarian terms (evangelical, Deity, protestant, and Christians), yet 140 words were removed from Art. 6 P.1 of the NH Constitution … Read more
Whenever I see legislation sponsored by Rep. Hope Damon, I wonder if she’s trying to be sneaky or if she’s just stupid. For example, not too long ago, Damon was prime sponsor on a bill to require homeschooled students to take standardized tests. The bill was so badly drafted, it provoked 500 independent home education … Read more
There is a particular kind of political jiu-jitsu that shows up every session in Concord: take a word conservatives like, twist it 15 degrees, and use it to do something conservatives should hate. HB1512 is that move. The bill would let a town hold a referendum to decide whether families in that town may access … Read more
In this gift-giving season, you might ask what’s special about New Boston. Pay attention if you or someone you know votes there because their rep (one of them) is Keith Ammon and Denise is their Senator. December 16 is their mutual birthday. What do you give them? Keith Ammon has an excellent record, which includes … Read more
“Now for the rest of the story,” as Paul Harvey used to say. Our tale resumes in the pivotal year of 1967. The Bar Association of the State of New Hampshire (BASNH), a creature born of the Legislature 94 years earlier and still a purely voluntary association, appeared before the General Court with a seemingly … Read more
This week on the NE Take, NH Rep. Paige Beauchemin, RN, PMH-C, is running for Congress against fellow Democrat, Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander. She and A. J. dive into the progressive v. establishment fight in the party and why she is running to unseat Goodlander. Speakers’ opinions are their own and may not represent those of … Read more
A handful of New Hampshire Republicans put on a show this week. The message? Thank you, Governor Healey, for keeping Taxachusetts, taxachusetts. Mass Fiscal and the New Hampshire lawmakers pointed to a list of 15 taxes implemented in Massachusetts, 12 of which New Hampshire does not have. Those include an income tax, a millionaire’s tax, … Read more
It has recently come to the attention of many members of our legislature that a big national war chest has been made available to the enemy camp in Concord. Many members have already taken to social media with requests for donations to (committees to elect) Team Red in both chambers and campaign coffers of their … Read more
Stop Panicking About Your Assessment This week on The Independents, with Caral Gericke, Property taxes in New Hampshire spark more panic than an unexpected October snowstorm—but most of it stems from misunderstanding how assessments actually work. Speakers’ opinions are their own and may not represent those of Grok Media, LLC, GraniteGrok.com, its sponsors, readers, authors, … Read more
Last week, members of the Vermont House and Senate gathered for an all-day, pre-session briefing on the issues they will have to confront when they return for real in January. The agenda included presentations on another looming double-digit property tax increase, our collapsing healthcare system, infrastructure woes, and our generally moribund economy. Serious stuff. But … Read more
This week on Right Side Up, we discuss Act 180 of 2024 and its apparent adverse effects on public safety. And, is your firewood pile safe in Vermont?” Speakers’ opinions are their own and may not represent those of Grok Media, LLC, GraniteGrok.com, its sponsors, readers, authors, or advertisers. Got Something to Say, We Want … Read more
Someone mentioned to me recently that Rep. Hope Damon has introduced a bill to change the way school superintendents are credentialed. It’s classic Damon: Some parts of the bill refer to other sections of the bill that don’t exist. And the bill makes no reference to the Ed Rules that already exist. The bill reads like … Read more