OK, “Survivor” fans, did you know we’ve got not one, but two New Hampshire connections this season?

First up: Aubry Bracco. She’s been on the show three times (Seasons 32, 34, and 38), finishing second, fifth, and 15th. Now she’s back for Season 50. Some predictions are giving her an 80% chance of winning.

Bracco, who lives in New Hampshire with her husband and young son, says she’s leaning into her “new mom” status and plans to focus on one-on-one relationships. Her mindset? She has nothing to lose because she already has everything at home.

Also returning: Jenna Lewis-Dougherty, originally from Franklin. She finished eighth in Season 1 and third in Season 8 (All-Stars). This time, she says she’s trying a quieter approach—dialing back what she calls her  “loud and annoying” reputation—while proving she deserves more than a “token Season 1” label.

Season 50 premieres Wednesday, Feb. 25. You can watch it on CBS or stream it on Paramount+.

🪵 Read the full story: ‘Survivor’ Season 50 has some familiar NH faces

Here’s what’s inside today’s newsletter:

📰 What we’re reading, news from around the state

⚾ Meet 7 Seacoast baseball stars  gearing up for spring training 

📢 Question of the week: Should New Hampshire have open school enrollment?

📅 Top events for your calendar

👉 ICE facility in Merrimack called off. WMUR

“After two months of speculation, protests and public debate, the Department of Homeland Security is moving on from plans for an immigrant detention facility in Merrimack.”

👉 ‘Time is going to tell’: Scanlan grilled on new voting law ahead of 2026 elections. New Hampshire Bulletin

“A state law requiring hard proof of citizenship to register to vote for the first time could lead to more voters turned away during the upcoming September and November federal elections, New Hampshire Secretary of State Dave Scanlan testified in court Friday.”

👉 Proposal would loosen rabies vaccine requirements for certain pets — for a fee. New Hampshire Bulletin “

“The New Hampshire House of Representatives is considering a bill that would exempt some pets from booster shots intended to protect against rabies, but state veterinarians said the proposal was not founded on solid data.”

Mike Fransoso, a 2009 graduate of Portsmouth High School, is preparing for his second season as hitting coach for the Somerset Patriots, the Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. (USA Today Network)

By USA Today via Reuters Connect 

Pitchers and catchers are reporting to Major League Baseball spring training in Florida and Arizona, and full-team workouts are underway for the 2026 season. The Seacoast of New Hampshire and southern Maine continues to be well represented in the professional ranks. Here’s a look at seven local players and coaches chasing their big-league dreams:

⚾ Mike Fransoso 
Hitting coach, Somerset Patriots (Double-A, New York Yankees)

A 2009 graduate of Portsmouth High School and former University of Maine standout, Fransoso is entering his second season as hitting coach with the Somerset Patriots. Last season, he helped develop players who advanced to the majors, including Cam Schlittler. Fransoso is currently balancing spring training with family life, expecting his second child this March.

⚾ Mike Montville 
Upper minor league hitting coordinator, Baltimore Orioles

Montville, a 2010 Portsmouth High School alum, moves into a new role overseeing top Orioles prospects across High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A this season. He previously spent three years in the Boston Red Sox system and founded Powerhouse Sports in Seabrook, NH.

⚾ Ben Malgeri 
Outfielder, Erie SeaWolves (Double-A, Detroit Tigers)

An Exeter High School graduate (2018), Malgeri is attending his first big-league spring training with the Tigers. Last season with Erie, he hit .279 with five home runs and 26 RBIs. Malgeri is soaking in the experience of being around stars like Justin Verlander and Javier Baez while aiming to start the season in Triple-A Toledo.

⚾ Cody Morissette 
Infielder, Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp (Triple-A, Miami Marlins)

Morissette, also a 2018 Exeter High School alum, finished last season in Triple-A after time with Double-A Pensacola. He’s focused on improving his batting, driving in runs, and continuing his path toward the big leagues.

⚾ Quinn McDaniel
Infielder, Eugene Emeralds (High-A, San Francisco Giants)

A 2020 Marshwood High School graduate from South Berwick, ME, McDaniel played three years at the University of Maine. Drafted by the Giants in 2023, he enters his third professional season after a solid 2025 with the Emeralds, who won the Northwest League second-half championship.

⚾ Ryan Minckler 
Pitcher, Fredericksburg Nationals (Single-A, Washington Nationals)

Minckler, a 2021 Portsmouth High School graduate, was drafted by the Nationals in 2024. He posted a strong 2025 season with Fredericksburg and is preparing for his second full professional season, adding new pitches to his arsenal and working to refine his command.

⚾ Brennan Oxford 
Pitcher, Minnesota Twins Organization

A 2018 Oyster River High School graduate from Durham, NH, Oxford signed a free-agent contract with the Twins last summer. After pitching in the Atlantic League, Low-A, and High-A, he’s focused on staying healthy and taking each step toward his major-league dream.

Republicans in the House and Senate want to make every school in New Hampshire open enrollment. That means students could attend any public school in the state, and the town where that student lives would foot the bill.

Dig into the bills here: SB 101 and HB 751.

It could cost towns anywhere from $18,000 to $40,000 per student. School districts set their budgets based on how many students they expect to serve and what those students need. School leaders say this proposal would make budgeting that much harder.

Supporters say this gives families more flexibility. Critics worry about inequities, especially for students who don’t have transportation to schools outside their area.

Curious what this could mean for your community? Use Reaching Higher’s calculator to estimate costs.

So this week’s question is…

Should New Hampshire have open school enrollment?

Here’s what you’re saying…

“Absolutely not. I pay enough in property taxes and I feel strongly that tax money should stay local. If a family wants to do something outside their local school district they can. Just not on local property tax money. At the very lease, private schools are definitely not to be funded by tax money.” — Eileen Copeland

“Absolutely not. We have many towns in NH  this year who are drastically under budgetary pressure. They are having to drop programs and increase teacher class loads. I realize that NH’s federal funding has been drastically cut but the towns are already hurting from the cuts in funding and this is definitely not the time for this bill.” — Jackie LeBlanc

🧚 Fairy Forest Candlelight Strolls
Cape Neddick, Maine, Feb. 25, 27, and March 4, 7
Explore the enchanted Fairy Forest at Center for Wildlife by candlelight. Build a fairy house, warm up by the fire and meet live animals. Family-friendly.

🌲 Discovery Walk with a Naturalist
Hebron, Feb. 27 
Guided walk with the Newfound Lake Region Association along the trails of Grey Rocks Conservation Area. Learn about watershed rhythms and seasonal plant and animal behavior. Coffee and conversation follow at the Grey Rocks Conservation Center. Dress for the weather.

 ❄️ Belfast Ice Festival & State Ice Carving Championship
Belfast, Maine, Feb. 27–28 and March  1
Downtown festival featuring ice sculptures, outdoor activities and the Maine State Ice Carving Championship. Includes ice bars and family-friendly events.

🌿 Community Indoor Plant Swap
North Hampton, March 6
Join fellow plant enthusiasts for a free plant swap featuring seedlings, clippings, and more. Drop-off for plants is March 4–5; the swap event is March 6. Only healthy, pest-free plants in pots 8 inches or smaller.

✨ Parade of Lights
Pittsburgh, March 7
Annual Parade of Lights on Back Lake featuring hundreds of snowmobilers decorating sleds with colorful lights. Proceeds support the local fire department.

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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Katy Savage with stories from USA Today Network via Reuters Connect. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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