Today is World Kindness Day, a reminder that small gestures can have a big impact. Whether it’s holding the door, checking in on a friend, or supporting a local cause, kindness has a way of spreading.

As part of an upcoming special edition, we’re spotlighting volunteers and businesses that give back. Know someone making a difference? Reply to this email and tell us about them!

P.S. I’m partnering up with Andy DeMeo, founder of Granite Goodness and New England Good News, to highlight uplifting stories and progress across the state every Thursday. Read up on DeMeo and scroll below for some Granite Goodness!

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By Katy Savage

Have you heard Market Basket has officially entered the craft beer scene? The grocery chain announced the release of MB Lager, a light lager brewed in collaboration with Zero Gravity Beer in Burlington, Vermont.

Health insurance prices are going up—a lot. 

If you buy coverage through Healthcare.gov here in New Hampshire, premiums are expected to rise about 30% next year.

To make it worse, the enhanced premium tax credits, which help people with incomes below 400% of the federal poverty line, are set to expire at the end of 2025. If Congress doesn’t extend them, some insurance costs could more than double.

So, this week’s question is..

How are health insurance price hikes affecting your budget, coverage, or peace of mind?

Here’s what you’re saying…

“I’m covered by the VA at 100%, so it doesn’t affect me as much as the general public, however, before I got into the system I was also covered by employer benefits. My wife was a different matter as she had a brain aneurysm in 2001 and became uninsurable until Obamacare came onto the scene and allowed her to be insured. That was still expensive but at least she was covered. On a fixed income I don’t see how anyone can afford it today as Medicare doesn’t cover a lot of the costs which are out of control and getting worse! Forget the lower income folks, it seems no one truly cares about them, especially one half of the government! For the people, not so much!” — Mike Blackledge

“Healthcare choices for seniors on regular Medicare sends seniors into bankruptcy. All those years paying into the system and seniors are shut out due to outrageous pricing of plans.” — Kay Campbell

The following briefs are presented in partnership with Granite Goodness. Subscribe today to Granite Goodness.

🌱 UNH Sustainability Institute strengthens municipal resilience network

A $100,000 Barr Foundation grant will expand the New England Municipal Sustainability Network, enabling nearly 40 cities and towns to collaborate on climate, public health and clean‑energy projects while engaging students in applied research. — University of NH Sustainability Institute

🤖 NH Tech Alliance creates AI Task Force

The New Hampshire Tech Alliance launched an AI Task Force on July 14, bringing together government, industry and academic leaders to develop responsible AI policy and promote ethical innovation. Co‑chairs Philip Magnuszewski and Holly Neiweem said the group will host public forums and help the state lead in transparent, inclusive AI practices. — NH Tech Alliance

💡 UNH study links non‑competes to reduced innovation

A study by UNH finance professor Zhaozhao He found that stricter non‑compete agreements lower patent values by over 30 percent and limit workers’ bargaining power and mobility. The research, cited by the Federal Trade Commission in its 2024 rule banning most non‑competes, shows how Granite State scholarship is influencing national innovation policy. — UNH Today

Granite Goodness is going live on Thursday, Nov. 20, at 7:30 p.m. at the Rex Theatre in Manchester with co-host Corinne Benfield from StayWorkPlay NH.

Joining will be Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander, Steve Turner, and Shana Brunye from Bring Back the Trades!

Get tickets here.

In her 2018 book, “Fascism: A Warning,” former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright wrote that people living under authoritarian regimes often don’t realize it until it’s too late. The lesson? It’s worth learning the warning signs before they take hold.

Experts have identified seven basic tactics used by aspiring authoritarians. Experts point to a familiar playbook used by would-be authoritarians. Watch for when a political party or movement starts to:

Politicize independent institutions by placing loyalists in roles meant to be nonpartisan.

✅ Spread disinformation while undermining credible media.

✅ Expand executive power and chip away at checks and balances.

✅ Silence dissent and punish critics.

✅ Target marginalized groups and stoke fear of “outsiders.”

✅ Manipulate elections or question legitimate results.

✅ Excuse or encourage political violence.

These tactics often show up gradually—in the form of division, scapegoating, or rewriting the rules to favor those in power. 

The goal of any authoritarian administration or movement is to make everyday people feel powerless, so they stop believing they can shape what happens next. 

But knowledge is power. Recognizing the signs early is the first step toward protecting democracy—and each other.

What do you think?

💙 If you know of someone who deserves a shoutout for something cool they’re doing, email us at info@granitepostnews.com.

Reach 30,000+ Granite Staters who care about their communities! Sponsor Granite Post’s Dec. 6 Special Edition, “How to Get Involved and Give Back this Holiday Season.” Book by Nov. 21, 2025, and save 20% off your placement.

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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Katy Savage with content from Granite Goodness. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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