“Tuesdays are becoming a headache for state Republicans across the country as they suffer one stunning defeat after another.” — Heather Williams, president of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee via The Hill, after NH Democrat Bobbi Boudman defeated Republican Dale Fincher in New Hampshire’s Carroll County District 7 on Tuesday.

You may remember seeing Mrnali Dhembla’s bylines here at Granite Post. She was our multimedia reporter for about a year.

What you may not know is that she was diagnosed with Stage 3 rectal cancer last winter at just 26 years old. The cancer had traveled to her spine by the time she was diagnosed.

Four months later, she was cancer-free (and remains so) thanks to a new treatment.

She was one of the first patients to receive a combination of drugs—nivolumab and ipilimumab—approved by the Food and Drug Administration last year for certain advanced cancers.

The combination of drugs boosts the immune system, enabling it to target cancer cells. It meant Mrnali didn’t need chemotherapy, surgery, or other harsh treatment.

Mrnali’s recovery is especially incredible considering colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer-related death among young adults. One in five diagnoses occurs in people under 55, and cases under 50 are rising by nearly 3% a year.

Read Mrnali’s story in The New York Post: I was diagnosed with Stage 3 rectal cancer at 26. A new therapy wiped it out in 4 months.

Early detection matters: symptoms can include persistent constipation, rectal bleeding, or sudden changes in bowel habits. Talking to a doctor early can save lives. Learn more about early detection.

Shoutout to Mrinali every day—especially during Women’s History Month.

Here’s what else we’re covering today:

💍 A New Hampshire connection to Thomas Edison’s one-of-a-kind proposal

📢 Question of the week: What matters more to you, no income tax or lower property taxes?

🌞 The bright side: Your local good news roundup

P.S. Spread knowledge, not clutter. This newsletter is free and easy to share.

Shout out to Pamela Oldham for sharing this adorable pic of her dog with his favorite toy.

Share a pic of your pet, a sunset in your backyard, or other Granite Glimses, and we’ll feature them in this newsletter!

Thomas Edison. (Library of Congress/Unsplash)

Some proposals are unforgettable—and then there’s Thomas Edison’s.

When he asked Mina Miller to marry him in 1886, he didn’t drop to one knee. Instead, he tapped out the question in Morse code on her hand, according to History Facts. She answered in kind.

The two shared a secret language even in company, and their unconventional spark led to a nearly 50-year marriage.

Thomas Edison’s hearing loss is a fascinating—and often surprisingly practical—part of his story. He began losing his hearing around age 12, and by adulthood, he was almost completely deaf in one ear and mostly deaf in the other. 

He didn’t see his deafness as a handicap. In fact, he said it helped him concentrate, allowing him to “close out the world” and focus fully on his experiments. He believed his partial deafness made him more attentive to his work and inventions, which might explain his astonishing productivity.

A group recently proposed a new income tax plan in New Hampshire called the 3-3 Tax Savings Plan. The idea: implement a 3% education income tax alongside a 3% statewide property tax to lower local property taxes.

The reaction? Swift and loud.

Curious how it could affect you? Try this tool to estimate your potential savings.

So this week’s question is…

What matters more to you: no income tax or lower property taxes?

Here’s what you’re saying…

“I found the tax calculator to be inaccurate, therefore I remain distrustful of this plan. Furthermore, my personal situation will be changing within 1-2 years, therefore I would be extremely hesitant to base future tax situation on financial statements from 2 years ago. This seems to benefit families with homes and children. Shouldn’t they be paying for the decision they made on where to live, work and how many children to have? Stop trying to spread your cost basis to your neighbors please. I’ve already educated my family and made my own wise decisions based on my ability to pay. Please do the same for your family.” — Beverly

“Fair and equitable taxes would be great! As a single, childless homeowner approaching 50 years old, with a less than 700 square-foot home, my taxes are two times what my actual mortgage payment is a month.The state needs to do more to cover education costs in the state. I am all for paying A FAIR portion towards education, but the current structuring with town and state funds is completely unfair.” — Meagan

“If I had a personal choice, it would be to keep taxes as they are. I am a renter, and my rent includes the property tax, and with that I have no choice nor say. But when it comes to income tax and taxing goods, I say do not tax them.” — Charles Wetzel

“YES to Andru Volinsky’s tax plan to lower property taxes, fund schools equally, and get the ultra rich to contribute their fair share.” — Karolina

Granite Goodness Live is coming to 3S Artspace in Portsmouth on March 27 for a night celebrating New Hampshire’s growing podcast scene.

Hosted by Andy DeMeo, the event features two live conversations with creators from NH Uncharted, Creative Guts, Seacoast Stories, New Hampshire Has Issues, One Quick Thing, and Telltalks Northeast, plus an opening performance by indie-folk favorite Sneaky Miles.

Buy tickets here.

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

🚧 Maine is spending big: $4.5 billion over three years to upgrade roads, bridges, and transit. That means paving 3,000+ miles of roads, fixing 235 bridges, improving ports and rail, and boosting access to economic hubs statewide. Mainebiz

🏗️ Vermont’s construction scene is booming. From new homes to infrastructure upgrades and major projects statewide, the pipeline of housing, manufacturing, and community investments keeps growing—helping the state’s economy expand for the long term. Vermont Biz

📈 New England is on the move: New Hampshire’s economy jumped 5.5% in Q4 2025, Connecticut’s jumped 5.6% in Q4 2025, and Vermont 5%. Rhode Island, Maine, and Massachusetts also posted solid growth, showing the region is firing on all cylinders. Westfair Online

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Katy Savage with stories from the New York Post, History Facts, and Granite Goodness. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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