How State Governments Impact Quality of Life

News Archive

• What Chairman Nutter Knew, And When He Knew It

  October 7, 2018

• Ethics Complaint Filed with State Against Pepperell BOS Chair Nutter

  October 6, 2018

• Large Crowd Expected at Special Town Meeting to Oppose Gravel Pit Proposal

  September 30, 2018

• Nutter Apparently Blind to Ethics Rules on Self Dealing: “Our job is just to sign them. That’s all our job is.”

  September 24, 2018

• Dynamic Process, or Some Slick Moves Among Cronies? Town Meeting Gets Robbed of Vote.

  September 23, 2018

• “What are they trying to hide at Town Hall?”

  September 21, 2018

• Pepperell Vision Quest – Imagining a Town’s Future. Public Invited to Thursday Night Meeting.

  September 12, 2018

• Pepperell “Visioning Session” Thursday Evening – Public Invited.

  September 10, 2018

• NRWA Has “Grave Concerns” With Pepperell Gravel Pit Proposal Next to River and Water Supplies

  August 19, 2018

• Residents Rally For Gravel Pit Meeting Monday

  August 16, 2018

• Massachusetts Ballot Questions – Transgender Access Rights and Safe Nurse-to-Patient Staffing Ratios

  August 13, 2018

• Maine – For Legislature, Dealing with Governor is Like Playing Whack-A-Mole. Special Report from The Candle Begins August 20th.

  August 13, 2018

• BOH to Hold Special Workshop Meeting Thursday Afternoon For Gravel Pit Fill Regulations.

  August 1, 2018

• Pepperell: Not Your ‘Founding Fathers’ Board of Health – Losing Credibility with Residents.

  July 30, 2018

• Pepperell Board of Health Has Gravel Pit On the Agenda Tonight … Will They Finally Act?

  July 24, 2018

• New Town Administrator Gets High Marks – BOS To Meet Weekly On Gravel Pit Reclamation Project, and More.

  July 23, 2018

• Pepperell Receives $222,000 in Green Communities Grant.

  July 23, 2018

• Missing Records? Disputed Accounts of Meetings? The Devil’s in the Details.

  July 16, 2018

• State Orders Pepperell Town Clerk to Hand Over All Records About Gravel Pit Proposal

  July 15, 2018

• Pepperell Pit Owners Willing to Pay, But Town Must Play – $1 Million Offered for Speedy Support.

  July 8, 2018

• BREAKING NEWS: The Candle Makes Major Gravel Pit Fill Project Document Available to Public.

  July 7, 2018

• Gravel Pit Plan Lands at Town Hall – Again.

  July 3, 2018

• SCOTUS: States Like NM May Collect On Internet Sales … But Benefit May Be Short-lived.

  June 22, 2018

• Pepperell Community Arts Presents “Into The Woods,” Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

  June 19, 2018

• Restoring Democratic Principles: Our Common Responsibility. Guest OpEd/Announcement.

  June 19, 2018

• Pepperell BOS Welcomes Former Town Administrator Back – With Sigh of Relief

  June 19, 2018

• Town Planner – A No Show at Most Selectmen Meetings for more Than a Year.

  June 18, 2018

• Speaker and Senate President: Maine Legislators Called Back to Work.

  June 18, 2018

• Pepperell Town Planner Resigns.

  June 5, 2018

• Stormwater: Out-of-sight, Out-of-mind?

  May 29, 2018

• Pepperell BOS Schedule Meeting to Discuss Town Adminstrator Vacancy.

  May 28, 2018

• Breaking News: Town Administrator bids Pepperell ‘Adieu’ – uses accumulated vacation.

  May 25, 2018

• State has not seen gravel pit plan. Town officials failed to notify Selectmen of meetings on project.

  May 23, 2018

• Part 2 – Behind the Eight Ball? Transparency Concerns About Pit Reclamation Project.

  May 20, 2018

• Proposal would truck in 4 million yards of fill from New England construction projects.

  May 19, 2018

• MPC Recommends More Women Appointees.

  May 12, 2018

• Pepperell Community Arts Children’s Theater Presents “The Princess King.”

  May 10, 2018

• Pepperell Master Plan Committee Meeting Tonight – Make-up of committee will be questioned.

  May 10, 2018

• Pepperell Town Meeting approves $26.9 million budget, purchase of a ladder truck, and more …

  May 8, 2018

• What’s good for the goose … is just that, good for only the goose.

  May 6, 2018

• Pepperell Town Administrator Submits Retirement Papers. Sale of Peter Fitz School Sidelined.

  May 1, 2018

• “As I told you before … we don’t do any quota system.” – Pepperell Selectman’s response to lack of diversity on planning committee.

  April 30, 2018

• Pepperell BOS Provides Skimpy ‘Study’ for Peter Fitzpatrick School.

  April 29, 2018

• Greathead wins seat on Pepperell Board of Selectmen.

  April 23, 2018

• Pepperell – Whoever wins BOS race will have impact on fate of Peter Fitzpatrick School.

  April 23, 2018

• Nurses in Massachusetts are worried for their patients.

  April 20, 2018

• Recreational Marijauna: Lawmakers and Governors of Massachusetts and Maine are bogeying voters’ high.

  April 20, 2018

• Preview: Did Maine House Republicans ‘just say no’ to opioid adiction treatment funding?

  April 20, 2018

• Where have we been?

  April 19, 2018

• NM Voices for Children: Kids Need State Leaders To Act

  January 16, 2018

• Maine: House Committee Considers Meals on Wheels.

  January 11, 2018

• New Mexico Legislators Propose PNM Bailout – at Consumers’ Expense.

  January 9, 2018

• OSA Poised to do Deep Dive in Audit of PED Contract Scheme.

  November 27, 2017

• State and Locals Spend More Than $2 billion With Out-of-State Companies in FY’s 15 and 16.

  August 24, 2017

• PED’s Golden Parachute. Skandera Reform, In the Court of Public Opinion. Part 3.

  August 23, 2017

• Skandera Reform, In the Court of Public Opinion. Part One.

  August 18, 2017

• BREAKING NEWS: State Auditor to look at possible procurement and conflict of interest issues at PED and REC 9.

  August 11, 2017

• Skandera Reform Spending – “F” for Frivolous.

  August 9, 2017

• “We know that standardized tests exacerbate opportunity gaps.”  

  August 1, 2017

• Hanna has left the building … Leaving Behind Six Years of Costly Placebos.

  July 16, 2017

• Senator Tom Udall Issues Strong Statement Opposing Trump’s ‘Unprecedented’ Cuts to Rural Programs.

  June 3, 2017

• Health Security Act Strategy Meeting in Albuquerque on Saturday.

  June 2, 2017

• Senator Martin Heinrich issues strong statement endorsing rural economic development funds.

  June 1, 2017

• Albuquerque USDA Rural Development office annouces help for New Mexico’s economic development.

  June 1, 2017

• 29 DEM Senators upset with President Trump’s proposed rural development cuts.

  June 1, 2017

• Another ominous assessment: NM – 3rd highest violent crime rate in nation.

  May 30, 2017

• Policy makers procrastinate with old treatments, as NM’s woes worsen.

  May 30, 2017

• Where’s the beef? Have Dems abandoned progressive agenda?

  May 24, 2017

• Flip Flopping House Dems were for HB 412 revenue reform bill … before they were against it.

  May 23, 2017

• UPDATE: To The Candle story about claims of misuse of federal funds and intimidation of parents by Region 9 Executive Director.

  May 23, 2017

• Did Region 9 Ed Coop abuse funds, personnel, and parent council at Ruidoso area Head Start?

  May 20, 2017

• Rick Miera is back. Will enter race for Lt. Governor.

  May 9, 2017

• Roundhouse Melodrama: It’s about the Political Class, Not the People.

  April 25, 2017

• PEW Charitable Trusts: NM has highest percentage of 25- to 54-year-olds without jobs.

  April 20, 2017

• NM to receive $4M federal grant to combat opioid crisis. Will that be enough?

  April 20, 2017

• Beware of Red Herrings …Higher Minimum Wage Not Cause of Slow Job Growth in New Mexico.

  April 19, 2017

• Same ole, same ole … State Budgets Ignore Health and Education Job Growth.

  April 17, 2017

• NCF of Laguna – 1st Native American org in nation certified to package USDA home loans.

  April 14, 2017

• Battle of the Branches … Legislature Versus Governor Before State Supreme Court.

  April 14, 2017

• New Mexico: From #2 to #4, Nationally in Pedestrian Fatalities.

  April 13, 2017

• Dems Can Help NM Schools if They Stop Protecting Big Tobacco and Alcohol in Special Session.

  April 13, 2017

• “Gawwwleeeee. Surprise, surprise, surprise!” … Governor axes taxes.

  April 8, 2017

• Rural health care. A big (underfunded) problem in New Mexico.

  April 6, 2017

• Governor firm on taxes, Special Session. The Candle Awaits House/Senate Leaders’ Response.

  April 5, 2017

• Dem Chair Swore to Court: Budget Strain could “…require extreme measures… including a shutdown of essential services.”

  April 5, 2017

• Rest in Peace, Martin … January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968.

  April 4, 2017

• Shell Game? Despite Dems claims otherwise, Public School Spending was cut.

  April 3, 2017

• To every thing there is a season … and now is the time to govern.

  March 29, 2017

• Coming in April: new series on economic growth. “Little Ag should get more cred, damn it!”

  March 27, 2017

• Farmington: High Desert Country City … Now Nation’s highest deserted city?

  March 24, 2017

• Shoe shines, a bag of chips … and $150,000 worth of influence from Big Tobacco.

  March 23, 2017

• Potential “hot checks,” according to State Auditor. Governor points to Legislature.

  March 20, 2017

• A shoeshine, and a bag of chips …

  March 20, 2017

• Showdown over Government shutdown?

  March 18, 2017

• Friday, March 17, 2017 – Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!

  March 17, 2017

• Dem Chairs join Republicans to kill Cigarette Tax Increase measure that would give $89 million to Schools.

  March 17, 2017

• The Six Million Dollar Sham …No heavy lifting by NM House Dems.

  March 16, 2017

• Thursday, March 16, 2017. Interesting tobacco tax bill in committee this morning.

  March 15, 2017

• Tuesday, March 14, 2017. More “Dummy Bills” as the end of the legislative session nears.

  March 14, 2017

• Five days left. C’mon Legislators: “Show us how big your brave is!”

  March 13, 2017

• NM House Democrats’ new wardrobe.

  March 11, 2017

• Republican Leader: Teachers Do Not Have Students’ Interests at Heart. AFT President Fires Back.

  March 10, 2017

• A hero to New Mexico’s kids – Representative Jim Trujillo – You can’t keep a good man down.

  March 9, 2017

• Tuesday, March 7, 2017 – Dummy Bills are making an appearance at the Roundhouse.

  March 7, 2017

• Bill attempts to limit TIDD use, to prevent Santolina-like sprawl.

  March 6, 2017

• Kids to get short shrift again?

  March 6, 2017

• UPDATED: So, who could be against a bill entitled the Patient Safe Staffing Act? House Republicans.

  March 4, 2017

• The Time To Pass Early Childhood Education is NOW.

  March 3, 2017

• Representative Debbie Rodella – Queen of denial.

  March 3, 2017

• Unemployment: New Mexico just became worst in USA at keeping people employed.

  March 1, 2017

• New Mexico – Some good FRAC-ing news: More Kids getting fed school breakfasts.

  February 28, 2017

• McCamley holds Dems together in House Labor Committee.

  February 28, 2017

• Democratic Leadership lacking focus.

  February 28, 2017

• Another inglorious recognition … New Mexico places 46th in U.S. News and World Report ranking of states.

  February 28, 2017

• NM House gets Happy Meals … but it’s rations for working folks.

  February 23, 2017

• Hey Kid, you wait behind the Oil guys.

  February 22, 2017

• Dems’ Flat Budget a failure. Balancing a budget is not enough.

  February 21, 2017

• NM finally tops a nationwide list! Oops, not so fast.

  February 18, 2017

• Update on ‘better budget’ proposal …

  February 17, 2017

• House Dems come with an initial revenue plan …

  February 17, 2017

• A budget proposal from the people …

  February 16, 2017

• New Mexico Still One of Worst States for Business …

  February 15, 2017

• Empty promises? So far, no evidence to the contrary.

  February 14, 2017

• Advocates wonder: Is this their (Grand)Father’s Democratic Party? – Dems to cut foodstamps.

  February 13, 2017

• For progressives, the problem ain’t the Republicans, or Governor Martinez … it’s the Democrats.

  February 11, 2017

• Is Right to Work rearing it’s ugly head in a proposal for revenue increases?

  February 10, 2017

• Keller asks: Where is NM’s $63 million Special Ed deal with US Ed agency?

  February 9, 2017

• Will GOP White House braggadocio drive a stake through NM’s trade success with Mexico?

  February 8, 2017

• Senator Udall warns of ACA change as State Legislators grapple with budget.

  February 6, 2017

• Democrats, YOU Won … So WTF?

  February 6, 2017

• Why We Started Grow New Mexico – Guest OpEd

  February 5, 2017

• Recreational Pot survives first ‘hit’ …

  February 4, 2017

• Nothing FOG-gy about stand of new Director of Foundation For Open Government.

  February 3, 2017

• Here we go again … New Mexico job growth 3rd worst in Nation.

  January 31, 2017

• House Republicans piddling around while New Mexico slides deeper into the abyss.

  January 29, 2017

• Not ready for prime time Democratic jobs and economic plan?

  January 27, 2017

• Trump Administration to prime the Augustin Plains Ranch pump?

  January 25, 2017

• Hemp. What is it good for? Absolutely Everything! (Well, almost.)

  January 24, 2017

• Have Democrats boxed themselves into advancing Governor’s agenda – cuts, sweeps, and more cuts?

  January 23, 2017

• Will Republicans take new House leaders to the woodshed?

  January 21, 2017

• Smoke and Mirrors?

  January 20, 2017

• The clock is ticking away on sound job development.

  January 18, 2017

• Older New Mexicans: Too many living in poverty and in fear of crime.

  January 17, 2017

• How Long Can Voluteer Fire Departments Survive? Inquiring Canines (among others) want to know.

  January 14, 2017

• Shaken Baby Syndrome is a tragic but very preventable medical condition.

  January 10, 2017

• NM State Engineer: “You know, do we need to be looking at something like a severance tax on that water?”

  January 9, 2017

• Besides Mold, what else lurks in the New Mexico Public Education Basement ?

  January 7, 2017

• Stateline: Massachusetts Senate President Sets Bold Agenda

  January 6, 2017

• Tycoons get the cake, while New Mexico’s kids can’t even find the crumbs.

  January 5, 2017

• To jump start its economy, New Mexico cannot continue snubbing federal assistance

  December 29, 2016

• Almost $1 Million Awarded in Conference Contracts to Hotels and Casino Resort on behalf of NM PED’s programs

  December 28, 2016

• UPDATED: NM PED spends millions on sole source contracts to out of state companies

  December 23, 2016

• Which was first, the legislator or the lobbyist? In one instance, apparently both.

  December 20, 2016

• The pathway to a BETTER BUDGET …

  December 20, 2016

• Taos Hospital Study Committee – Putting the ‘Community’ back into Community Hospital

  December 20, 2016

• Is the Sun Quietly Setting on Oil & Gas? – Part one – 21st Century Solutions for NM.

  December 19, 2016

• Augustin Plains Ranch: New Mexico’s Sequel to China Town?

  January 7, 2016

• The Candle – Renews Coverage December 23, 2016!

  December 19, 2015