Also on today’s menu:
NHPR Survives Defamation Lawsuit — For Now
‘Insane’ Spending Proposal In Franklin
Both Sides Testify On Parental Rights Bill
Fox News and its parent company, Fox Corporation, averted a six-week trial in Delaware Superior Court by agreeing to a $787.5 million defamation settlement with Dominion Voting Systems — half of the $1.6 billion that Dominion had sought. The network still faces a $2.7 billion lawsuit from Smartmatic, another voting technology company, over Fox’s promotion of election-rigging claims.
Fox issued a statement saying that the judge found “certain claims about Dominion to be false” and that it hopes the settlement helps the country “move forward with these issues.”
Smartmatic, in its lawsuit in New York County Supreme Court, alleges that the defendants at Fox News knowingly spread false claims that its software was used to flip votes. Former president Donald Trump and his supporters also had claimed that Smartmatic owned Dominion.
NHPR Survives Defamation Lawsuit — For Now
Rockingham County Superior Court Judge Daniel I. St. Hilaire granted New Hampshire Public Radio’s motion to dismiss a defamation lawsuit by Eric Spofford, who claimed witnesses quoted in the radio network’s report were unreliable. St. Hilaire said Spofford must prove actual malice in airing a story accusing him of sexual misconduct. The judge gave Spofford 30 days to amend his complaint in order to proceed with the defamation complaint.
The lawsuit that Spofford filed named NHPR senior reporters Lauren Chooljian and Jason Moon and editor Dan Barrick, along with three named sources in the March 22, 2022, report, which said Spofford had sexually harassed a former Granite Recovery Center client and sexually assaulted two former Granite Recovery Center employees.
“Spofford is free to amend his complaint to remedy the deficiencies identified above and supplement his allegations with facts indicative of actual malice,” St. Hilaire wrote, saying the amendment must be filed within 30 days or the dismissal is final.
‘Insane’ Spending Proposal In Franklin
In emails and public comment, residents are questioning Franklin’s plan to borrow $20 million for renovations to the Franklin Opera House, and work on roads, Trestle Bridge and Mill City Park. Although Mill City Park is popular and has helped to drive investment in the Three Rivers City, residents point out that city officials had said the park would be built at no expense to the city, and call it a “bait and switch” to now consider putting $2.5 million in taxpayer money into the project.
Leanne Fifield said the Mill City Park promise needs to be upheld; she is “all for fixing up the Opera House/City Hall,” but wants more detail on what really needs to be done; and said she opposes funding the roads until she knows which roads would be fixed. “You need to be careful how much to ask for taxpayers and businesses at one time,” she said.
Kathy Rago said, “My concern is you guys are expecting the private taxpayers, which you know consists of a ton of seniors and a ton of low-income housing, to basically agree to borrow $20 million for all these various projects. I think it’s insane, personally.”
Both Sides Testify On Parental Rights Bill
Senator Sharon Carson (R-Londonderry), sponsor of Senate Bill 272, known as the Parental Bill of Rights in Education, testified in Representatives Hall that there is a need for parents to be informed of what is happening in the schools. “Parents love their children. They care about their children and they want to do best for their children. Schools can’t do that,” Carson said. “They only have them a few hours of the day.” She continued, “Why is it okay for a school to lie to parents? What kind of a lesson is that?”
While the bill makes a common-sense declaration that “no institution may withhold information about a child, the child’s health, the child’s school environment, or the child’s in-school behavior from the child’s parents or parents absent a compelling government interest,” opponents say it is part of a national effort by conservatives to suppress the rights of individuals. Paula Hurley of Concord, a 30-year judicial employee, said most parents are caring, gentle, and kind with children who feel comfortable, but “I am here to remind you that there are a lot of homes … that are abusive.” She said those children are scared and depend on outsiders for their safety.
“Please consider them,” said in urging the legislature to reject the bill.
Many of those opposed to the bill saw it as a measure aimed at harassing transgender children, but Juliet DiPietro of Manchester, a nurse, supported it, saying a parent is suing her school system over their right to know. She said that, in the medical field, parental involvement is critically important when a child is experiencing gender dysphoria.
The bill has passed the Senate, 14-10, and the House plans to vote on the bill on Tuesday, April 25, at 10:30 a.m.
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