By Dana Wormald | Editor
Good morning, New Hampshire. As we roll through the middle of October, here’s a look back at the past week of Bulletin coverage and commentary. Thank you for reading, and enjoy the remainder of the weekend. — Dana
On a rainy Tuesday, Oct. 13, Casella-branded trash and recycling bins line Agassiz Street in Bethlehem. Casella Waste Services provides free curbside waste pickup to residents of the town as part of a host-community agreement that will expire in December, when the company’s Bethlehem landfill is slated to close. Transfer Station Committee members said the benefit was not worth the cost of hosting the landfill, and added they were optimistic about the town’s ability to take on trash handling duties in Casella’s wake. (Photo by Molly Rains/New Hampshire Bulletin)
By Molly Rains
With Casella Waste Services’ landfill in Bethlehem slated to close at the end of this year, town officials are preparing for a post-landfill future. But with the closure arriving sooner than anticipated, those preparations have been shaded by persistent trash-related tension. The end of operations at the landfill also marks the end of a settlement agreement between Casella and Bethlehem, under which Casella has provided curbside waste pickup and disposal services to residents. Free service will no longer be available to residents once the landfill closes, a change officials said called for the town to develop alternative, permanent systems for handling waste.
“The department’s advisory makes clear that public school districts must now provide EFA recipients with access to classes and programs, unless it determines they are at capacity." (Photo by Dana Wormald/New Hampshire Bulletin)
By Ethan DeWitt
Beginning this school year, education freedom account recipients will be allowed to take classes, join sports teams, and participate in clubs and extracurriculars at their resident public school district — without paying extra. The change, brought about with the passage of House Bill 1817, was hailed by school choice supporters as a way to empower EFA students and denounced by public school advocates as a mechanism that would force schools to provide services without reimbursement. It is now up to school districts to comply.
By Ethan DeWitt
As New Hampshire public schools face declining enrollment, they are also contending with another long-term concern: recruiting and retaining teachers. And recent state projections suggest the gap is set to persist.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Latest No Kings protest urges Granite Staters to vote | William Skipworth
‘Gus the Bus’ to provide free food at Lamprey Health in Newmarket | William Skipworth
Democrats could flip legislative chambers, break GOP supermajorities, analysis finds | Kevin Hardy, Stateline
Social Security benefits increase will hit 3.6% in 2027 | States Newsroom Staff
Commentary: What one broken New Hampshire bridge tells us about America | Howard Mansfield
Commentary: After the announcement, who owns the promise? | Anthony Veltri
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