{"id":26221,"date":"2026-05-16T06:00:37","date_gmt":"2026-05-16T10:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nhtalkradio.com\/?p=26221"},"modified":"2026-05-14T17:25:53","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T21:25:53","slug":"may-16-2026-new-england-news-roundup","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nhtalkradio.com\/?p=26221","title":{"rendered":"May 16, 2026 New England News Roundup"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>NEW HAMPSHIRE<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>NH House Stalls Wraparound Mental Health Coverage Bill: Governor Kelly Ayotte has been a vocal champion of Senate Bill 498, which would require insurers to cover a state-run wraparound mental health program called FAST Forward \u2014 connecting mental health, child protective services, and special education for children in crisis. The House voted to send the bill to interim study, a blow to the Governor, who blasted insurance companies for their opposition. Source: New Hampshire Bulletin* | https:\/\/newhampshirebulletin.com\/2026\/05\/14\/new-hampshire-house-again-puts-off-wraparound-mental-health-bill\/<\/li>\n<li>AG Investigates Vail Resorts Over \u201cBlended Sales Tax\u201d on Epic Ski Pass: Governor Ayotte directed the Attorney General to investigate Vail Resorts after the Colorado ski company began charging a 3.2% \u201cblended\u201d sales tax on its Epic Pass \u2014 including passes bought and used entirely in New Hampshire, which has no sales tax. Vail has since offered tax-free pass options limited to its four Granite State resorts: Attitash, Crotched Mountain, Mount Sunapee, and Wildcat. The state\u2019s investigation continues. Source: NHPR* | https:\/\/www.nhpr.org\/nh-news\/2026-04-28\/nh-investigation-into-vail-resorts-epic-ski-pass-blended-sales-tax<\/li>\n<li>Bill to Double Turnpike Tolls for Out-of-State Drivers Advances: A bill that would double NH turnpike tolls for non-residents \u2014 from $1 to $2 at Bedford and Hooksett, and $2 to $4 at Hampton \u2014 continues to advance through the Legislature despite Governor Ayotte\u2019s opposition. Both chambers passed it on voice votes. Supporters say the state has the lowest toll rates in the nation and the measure would generate an estimated $50 million annually for highway improvements. NH E-ZPass holders would see no increase. Source: NHPR* | https:\/\/www.nhpr.org\/nh-news\/2026-04-27\/toll-increase-bill-non-residents-nh-turnpikes<\/li>\n<li>Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest Spared from Federal Closure: Staff at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in the White Mountains breathed a sigh of relief after the U.S. Forest Service announced the research station would not close as part of broader agency restructuring. The forest has been a cornerstone of long-term ecological research for decades, studying water quality, acid rain, and forest health. Source: New Hampshire Bulletin* | https:\/\/newhampshirebulletin.com\/2026\/05\/12\/hubbard-brook-executive-director-says-forest-team-is-celebrating-victory\/<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>MAINE<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Maine Game Warden Joshua Tibbetts Killed in Plane Crash: An 18-year veteran of the Maine Warden Service, Joshua Tibbetts, 50, was killed Tuesday when his Cessna 185 Skywagon went down in the remote woods of Avon in Franklin County. Tibbetts was on a routine fish-stocking mission over western Maine lakes and ponds when the plane crashed near Schoolhouse Pond around 11 a.m. He is the 16th game warden to die in the line of duty in the agency\u2019s 146-year history. The NTSB and FAA are investigating. Source: Bangor Daily News* | https:\/\/www.bangordailynews.com\/2026\/05\/12\/central-maine\/central-maine-police-courts\/game-warden-crashed-plane-while-helping-stock-fish-in-western-maine\/<\/li>\n<li>Lewiston Voters Reject $130 Million School Budget: Lewiston residents voted down the city\u2019s proposed $129.7 million school budget on Tuesday, sending it back to the school board. The budget was a 10% increase over last year, driven by rising special education and health insurance costs \u2014 and it already included the elimination of 26 positions. The vote was 1,463 against and 1,092 in favor. School officials must now go back to the drawing board before another referendum. Source: The Maine Wire* | https:\/\/www.themainewire.com\/2026\/05\/lewiston-voters-reject-130-million-school-budget-amid-tax-concerns-and-citywide-frustration\/<\/li>\n<li>Portland Eyes Metered Parking on Sundays and Extended Weekday Hours: Portland\u2019s city manager has proposed extending metered parking hours by one hour \u2014 to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday \u2014 and introducing Sunday enforcement from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the first time. The change would generate an estimated $700,000 in net new revenue for the city. Business groups have raised concerns about making downtown less accessible to customers and employees. Source: Portland Press Herald* | https:\/\/www.pressherald.com\/2026\/05\/11\/portland-plans-to-expand-metered-parking-add-sundays\/<\/li>\n<li>Maine\u2019s First Safe Haven Baby Box Opens at Rumford Fire Department: Maine\u2019s first Safe Haven Baby Box is now operational at the Rumford Fire Department, offering a temperature-controlled, anonymous drop location where parents in crisis can safely surrender a newborn under 31 days old. The moment a baby is placed inside, an alarm alerts firefighters. Maine joins dozens of other states that have enacted Safe Haven laws and installed such boxes. Source: The Maine Wire* | https:\/\/www.themainewire.com\/2026\/05\/lewiston-voters-reject-130-million-school-budget-amid-tax-concerns-and-citywide-frustration\/<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>VERMONT<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Perrigo Infant Formula Plant Closure Accelerates, 162 Workers Laid Off: The Perrigo infant formula plant in Georgia, Vermont \u2014 one of the state\u2019s larger manufacturing employers \u2014 has begun its first major round of layoffs, notifying the state of 162 job cuts. The facility is on track to end production by June 30, with all 420 positions eventually eliminated. The company cited the plant\u2019s age and shifting federal regulations for the decision. Vermont Public and local officials are examining the economic ripple effects on Franklin County. Source: Vermont Public* | https:\/\/www.vermontpublic.org\/local-news\/2026-05-06\/perrigo-lays-off-162-in-vermont-as-infant-formula-plant-shutdown-nears<\/li>\n<li>Grand Isle County Prosecutor Pleads Not Guilty to DUI: Grand Isle County State\u2019s Attorney Douglas DiSabito, the county\u2019s top prosecutor, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a DUI charge in Vermont Superior Court. DiSabito, 57, was arrested in mid-April after court employees noticed signs of impairment when he arrived at the Franklin County Superior Court in St. Albans. He appeared remotely at Tuesday\u2019s arraignment and did not speak. He remains in office. His next court date is July 15. Source: VTDigger* | https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/2026\/05\/12\/grand-isle-prosecutor-pleads-not-guilty-to-dui-charge\/<\/li>\n<li>Vermont House Partially Repeals Act 181 After Rural Landowner Backlash: The Vermont House voted to roll back key provisions of Act 181, the sweeping 2024 land-use law that modernized Act 250. The partial repeal eliminates the controversial \u201croad rule\u201d and conservation-focused \u201cTier 3\u201d provisions, which had drawn fierce opposition from rural landowners concerned about property rights and local control. The reversal was a dramatic about-face for many of the law\u2019s original architects. Source: VTDigger \/ Vermont Public* | https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/2026\/05\/07\/vermont-house-votes-to-partially-repeal-act-181\/<\/li>\n<li>University of Vermont Faces $12 Million Budget Deficit as Enrollment Drops: The University of Vermont is confronting a $12 million structural budget deficit for next fiscal year, driven by a projected 15% decline in incoming freshman enrollment and a 7% drop in overall undergraduate numbers. Tuition makes up two-thirds of UVM\u2019s general fund. University officials are cutting expenses across departments by 3.25% and have attributed part of the enrollment shortfall to federal policies affecting international students. Source: VTDigger* | https:\/\/vtdigger.org\/2026\/05\/13\/declining-enrollment-is-driving-a-12-million-budget-deficit-at-the-university-of-vermont\/<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NEW HAMPSHIRE NH House Stalls Wraparound Mental Health Coverage Bill: Governor Kelly Ayotte has been a vocal champion of Senate Bill 498, which would require insurers to cover a state-run wraparound mental health program called FAST Forward \u2014 connecting mental health, child protective services, and special education for children in crisis. The House voted to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":26222,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[214],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-26221","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-new-england-news"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nhtalkradio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/New-England-News-1.jpeg?fit=1280%2C720&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nhtalkradio.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26221","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nhtalkradio.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nhtalkradio.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nhtalkradio.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nhtalkradio.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=26221"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.nhtalkradio.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26221\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":26223,"href":"https:\/\/www.nhtalkradio.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26221\/revisions\/26223"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nhtalkradio.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/26222"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nhtalkradio.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=26221"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nhtalkradio.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=26221"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nhtalkradio.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=26221"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}