Pesticide rules revisited

Good morning, New Hampshire, and welcome to Tuesday. Today Molly Rains reports on proposed rule changes for pesticides and rodenticides, and how the proposals differ from what was presented by lawmakers during the last legislative session. Also, Ethan DeWitt takes a look at a task force’s assessment of the problem presented by student screen use in public schools. And, from Stateline’s Amanda Watford, why Flock surveillance cameras are raising concerns in states and cities throughout the country. Thank you for reading, and for supporting our work. — Dana

By Molly Rains

The New Hampshire Pesticide Control Board on Monday released a proposal to restrict the use of certain chemicals that scientists say may be harming wildlife. The proposed changes to the rule known as Pes 700 would impose new restrictions on a handful of chemicals used to kill rodents and insects. But the limits are less restrictive than what some legislators initially proposed earlier this year, including in two bills currently in interim study in the Senate.

By Ethan DeWitt

Last summer, lawmakers banned cellphone use in schools from the beginning to the end of the class day. This summer, educators are working to study the next frontier of distraction: laptops, tablets, and other screens. The New Hampshire Department of Education has launched a “Screen Time Task Force,” a 32-member panel that will spend the next month exploring technology in education. The goal is to craft recommendations to help schools and teachers better manage laptop and other screen use.

By Amanda Watford

Flock Safety is tightening privacy and oversight controls for its nationwide network of automated license plate readers as more communities pull back from the technology and lawmakers across the political spectrum push for new restrictions.