This fall has felt much warmer than usual, and it’s much warmer than Octobers past. Stacker dug into data from the National Centers for Environmental Information to find the coldest Octobers in New Hampshire since 1895—and some of these temps will make you grateful for fleece-lined everything.

Here are the five coldest Octobers on record:

🥶 October 1925 — The coldest of them all, with an average temperature of just 38.1°F. Highs barely cracked 47.6°F, and lows dipped to 28.6°F. Total precipitation: 4.79″.

🥶 October 1974 — Not far behind, averaging 40.2°F across the state. Highs hit 52.2°F, lows dropped to 28.3°F, and rainfall totaled 1.82″.

🥶 October 1895 — Back in the 19th century, Granite Staters shivered through an average of 40.3°F, with lows near 28.9°F.

🥶 October 1907 — Average temperature: 40.7°F, with lows at 29.4°F and nearly 5 inches of rain soaking the state.

🥶 October 1972 — Wrapping up the list with an average of 41.8°F, this one felt mild by comparison—though lows still hovered right around 31°F.

Here’s what else we’re covering today:

❓ I’m worried my son’s best friend will be impacted by family separation. How do I talk to my son about what is happening to immigrant families? Grace tackles the question.

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A poll that went out across New Hampshire ahead of John E. Sununu’s Senate campaign announcement this week indicated possible new messaging around the candidate’s positions that run contrary to his legislative record, framing Sununu as someone who believes in women’s health and opposes a national abortion ban.

The poll also said Sununu is someone who “believes abortion access should be left up to the states and will oppose efforts to undermine New Hampshire’s law that protects access to abortion,” and “when national Republicans tried to outlaw gay marriage, John Sununu voted against them.”

But contemporaneous reporting and congressional records show Sununu repeatedly opposed abortion rights, worked to limit access to contraception and abortion services, and voted against expanding federal hate-crime protections and adoption rights for LGBTQ+ couples.

🗣️ Emails show state employee reached out to China’s richest man to discuss water supply purchase 

“A state employee directly reached out to China’s wealthiest man to gauge his interest in bringing his massive water bottling company to New Hampshire, new documents obtained by News 9 reveal. In August, a News 9 investigation revealed that the property, an empty warehouse at 80 Northwest Boulevard in Nashua, was purchased earlier this year for $67 million, more than four times its assessed value of $15 million last year, by Nongfu Spring, China’s biggest packaged water supplier.” (WMUR)

💧 New Hampshire announces plan to fund SNAP benefits during government shutdown

“The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services announced a contingency plan Thursday that would partner the state with the New Hampshire Food Bank’s mobile food pantry program to help in-need families should the government shutdown prevent those families from receiving food assistance benefits.” (NH Bulletin)

💰 New Hampshire Republicans focus on tax cuts for corporations instead of funding education, amid revenue shortfall

“New Hampshire has a host of economic issues that the state’s government could address, but instead Republican politicians are talking about cutting taxes even more for big business. House Bill 155 would bring forth another tax cut for businesses—one that would benefit larger and more profitable companies and corporations, with small businesses seeing minimal impact. Gov. Kelly Ayotte, a Republican, said in January that she wasn’t looking to lower taxes for businesses, yet state leaders in her party passed the bill in the Ways and Means Committee in early October, with all Republicans voting in favor and all Democrats opposed.” (Granite Post)

Politics in Washington can feel far away, but the impacts hit home here in New Hampshire—on jobs, health care, schools, and everyday costs. Decisions made in DC ripple through our local communities and shape how people here feel about the country’s direction.

So this week’s question is…

Has your outlook on the future changed—for better or worse—since President Donald Trump returned to the White House?

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Welcome to our weekly advice column, courtesy of Grace: She’s the big sister who shares her own mistakes so you can avoid making them, the coworker who builds you up to ask for the raise you deserve, and the friend who is always happy to listen.

We all need someone like Grace in our corner. Submit your own questions here.

Dear Grace,

I am someone who always looks out for the people around me…my family, my neighbors. My son is my whole world, and he and his best friend, Hector, are inseparable. Hector’s parents immigrated here a few years ago, and we’ve gotten to know each other since the boys became so close. Making friends as a mom can be hard, but Hector’s family has always been so welcoming…and they know their way around a barbecue! 

I have no idea what their immigration status is, and it feels rude to ask, but I’m just worried that something could happen and Hector could be impacted. They shouldn’t be targeted. He is such a sweet kid. It’s not fair that they have to live in fear. I care about the whole family, and the idea of my son losing his best friend just breaks my heart.

My son and Hector are in sixth grade. How should I talk to my son about this?

— Trying to be a good Mama in Texas

Dear Trying,

You’re not just trying—you are a good mom. I can hear how much you care about your son, about Hector, and about doing the right thing. Talking to your son about immigration, especially when it affects someone he loves, is a powerful parenting moment. You don’t need all the answers. You just need to be honest, compassionate, and willing to listen.

You are not alone in worrying about Hector’s family. Millions of people across the country are watching the news and thinking: “Could that happen in my community? Could my neighbor or loved one be next?” It’s hard to keep up with what is happening or where your neighbors or loved ones have gone, which is scary for anyone, especially for a child. You don’t have to know Hector’s family’s immigration status to know that they—and many others in our neighborhoods—are living in fear of their lives being turned upside down. And your son is growing up alongside all of this. It makes sense that you’d want to protect him, prepare him, and help him make sense of the world around him. Here is my advice, one mom to another…

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Katy Savage with stories from Colin Booth, Robert Gundran and Galvanize Together. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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