Also on today’s menu:
New Hampshire Ranks Third For Jobs
A Must-Read Interview with ‘Bibi’
Alternative View Of Why Bibi Was Called Back
Superintendent-Principal Brian Connelly of the Hill School District met with the Newfound Area School Board to suggest starting a discussion about their future relationship. Hill is approaching the end of a 10-year tuition agreement with Newfound and both sides will need to consider extending that agreement. Connelly said that, going forward, Hill — which has its own school administrative unit — might even want to join another SAU, such as Newfound’s SAU 4.
Connelly said he has been thrilled with the support he has received and how Hill students have been embraced by Newfound, “how they excel, how they grow, they mature, and they’re wonderful young people, young adults, when they graduate.”
The Newfound board agreed that they should start discussing their future relationship and indicated that they would be putting together a Hill tuition committee as soon as the budget season is over.
New Hampshire Ranks Third For Jobs
With the likelihood that the United States is headed for a recession, jobs will become harder to find. With that in mind, WalletHub used 35 metrics (like job opportunities, unemployment rate, and median annual incomes) to determine which states provide the best chance of finding a job. New Hampshire ranked third on the top 10 list.
Washington, with an overall score of 69.65, emerged as the best state for jobs, largely due to its economic environment. Close behind are Vermont, New Hampshire, Colorado, and Minnesota, making up the top five. Vermont and New Hampshire ranked particularly high for their job opportunities and low unemployment rate. Minnesota benefited from having one of the highest median annual incomes.
The top 10 states on the list are: Washington, Vermont, New Hampshire, Colorado, Minnesota, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Virginia, Connecticut, and New Jersey. The bottom 10 are Ohio, Alabama, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Kentucky, and, at the bottom, West Virginia.
A Must-Read Interview with ‘Bibi’
Newly reappointed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin “Bibi” Netanyahu is a polarizing figure. For some, he’s the ultimate defender of the state of Israel, willing to make the choices necessary to safeguard the nation. For others, he symbolizes everything that’s wrong with 21st century Israel: the state’s increasingly rightward turn and its never-ending conflict with the Palestinians. His harsh response to terrorism includes attacks that leave civilians dead; but from his point of view, allowing terrorist cells to exist leaves his country vulnerable.
Bari Weiss, who has a Substack publication, Common Sense, conducted an interview with Netanyahu that offers a compelling portrait of the man and why he makes the choices he does. Even detractors can appreciate where he’s coming from, even if they do not agree with all of his choices.
The interview covers why he has been elected for a third time; how he draws moral lines as a leader; Trump’s dinner with Kanye; the prospect of peace with the Palestinians; the Abraham Accords and whether Saudi Arabia could be next; China; his message to Jews in the West facing antisemitism; and how he plans to uphold Israel’s delicate balance between Judaism and democracy as he steps in to lead his country once more.
Alternative View Of Why Bibi Was Called Back
Netanyahu believes the 18-month alliance that governed Israel since his departure fell apart due to the inclusion of members he claimed were part of the Muslim Brotherhood. The Christian Science Monitor, however argues that the “alliance of sworn political enemies” has managed to show that there is an “alternative to the zero-sum partisan combat increasingly blocking the day-to-day business of government not just in Israel, but in other democracies worldwide, America’s included.”
The coalition is leaving less than halfway into their four-year term “not because they’ve failed to deliver. They made good on their pledge to make democratic government function again, passing the first annual government budget in three years. They increased employment, oversaw one of the world’s most successful pandemic responses, and slashed a widening government deficit.
“They’re on their way out because gladiatorial partisanship struck back, with protests and social media attacks decrying compromise as treachery.”
The coalition’s successes, the article says, involved setting aside hot-button issues on such topics as the future of relations with the Palestinians and the divide between religious and secular Israeli Jews and, instead focusing on the issues on which 70 percent of Israelis agree: transportation and infrastructure, schools, crime, and the cost of living.
Café Chatter
On ‘Controversial Reading’: Every town should have a curriculum committee, with a cross-section of residents.
On ‘County Discount’: It's only what they deserve. Sheesh.
— Kathleen D. Bailey
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