My colleague Lily Jackson puts together these action guides every week for those of you who want to get out there and make sure your voices get heard.

Here are six ways to get involved this weekend:

💪 Friday, May 15

💪 Saturday, May 16

💪 Sunday, May 17

Have an event to add? Email Lily with details.

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

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

📢 We asked, you answered: How are you coping with soaring fuel costs?

🔍 Question of the week: Is Ayotte doing enough to stand up to Trump?

💦 Your guide to NH water parks

🚔 A Massachusetts man and a Connecticut man are facing possible life sentences after federal prosecutors say they kidnapped and tortured a New Hampshire woman for more than 24 hours …

Authorities allege the woman was abducted in Claremont, taken to a home in Springfield, Vermont, and held for ransom while being beaten, burned, and restrained. Investigators later recovered a handgun, drugs, and alleged torture items from the home. Boston.com

🐶 Meanwhile, animal rescuers in New Hampshire say they’ve encountered one of the worst neglect cases they’ve ever seen …

Three severely matted poodle mixes are recovering with the Animal Rescue League of New Hampshire after being rescued in Bedford. Staff said the dogs required full shaves, dental surgeries, and extensive medical treatment after years of neglect. WMUR

🕵️‍♀️ And across the Connecticut River, police are investigating the suspicious death of a former Vermont lawmaker …

Authorities say Noel Neely, who worked in Hanover, New Hampshire, represented Pomfret in the Vermont Legislature from 1977 to 1982, was found dead at her Norwich home over the weekend. Vermont State Police say there is no known threat to the public as the investigation continues. WMUR

🚗 At the same time, New Hampshire’s battle over vehicle inspections is drawing support from around the country …

Attorneys general from 25 Republican-led states have filed a legal brief backing New Hampshire after the state ended mandatory vehicle inspections in January. A company tied to the inspection program has challenged the move in court, arguing it violates the federal Clean Air Act. WMUR

🐻 And finally, a New Hampshire wildlife encounter is going viral for being both adorable and slightly terrifying …

A local video shows a bear standing just outside a screen door while a house cat calmly watches from inside. The clip prompted the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department to remind residents to remove bird feeders during bear season to avoid close encounters. Watch the video on WMUR

This week, we asked: How are you coping with soaring fuel costs?

Here’s what you had to say…

“1. Buy an EV, or at least a plug-in hybrid. 2. Heat with heat pumps, or at least with wood pellets. 3. Use public transportation.” — Peter Beardsley

“Gas was $4.54 in Gilford on Friday when I filled up, but of course it dropped to $4.42 yesterday. I try to limit my driving to what’s necessary, but I still need to go places for groceries, pharmacy trips, doctor’s appointments, etc. I can’t even drive around to relax and enjoy the scenery like I used to earlier this year. So, thanks to the current administration for starting an illegal, unreasonable war they can’t even explain.” — David Masters 

“Being retired, we don’t have to travel much, but our heating bill has doubled, and so has the grocery bill. So we turn down the heat as much as possible, and shop sales and specials. No expensive meats and goodies. We cook recipes that stretch the ingredients, especially meat. We try to get fruits and vegetables when they are on sale or in season. I’m old enough to remember some of the tricks my mother used during the rationing years of WW II.” — JoAnn Carlson

“Yes, fuel costs are increasing, and it’s tough on everybody. Now would be a good time to examine what actually drives up the cost of each gallon—the product itself, federal taxes, state taxes, and in New Hampshire, the DOT’s annually increasing gas tax. Maybe it’s time to break down the actual costs and share the burden more fairly. Would the bureaucracy ever allow a reduction or elimination of some of these taxes to help taxpayers?” — Joseph Olszowy

“It costs almost double to fill my car now. I seriously consider any and all driving I do, and I try to stay within a 20-mile radius. The Trump regime is so out of touch with reality, they cannot begin to understand the implications thrust upon the average American because of all of the rising costs due to this illegal war.” — Jane Duggan

Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte withdrew her endorsement of President Donald Trump in 2016 before later backing him again in 2024, saying he was the right choice.

Ayotte has since mostly stayed silent when it comes to Trump’s tariffs, rising gas prices, the Iran war, and a number of other issues.

So this week’s question is:

Is Ayotte doing enough to stand up to the Trump administration and advocate for NH?

By Dorothy Scott 

💦 Kahuna Laguna Indoor Water Park 
📍 North Conway
🕒 Monday–Sunday, 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m.
💲 $37

This water park has plenty of swimming space and several huge water slides. Plus, this park offers a few great discounts for entry. Tuesdays are BOGO day, meaning two people can gain entry for the price of one, and staying at some hotels in the area qualifies you for a 20% discount at entry.

💦 Fins Up! Water Park 
📍 Hyannis, Massachusetts
🕒 Monday–Thursday: 3-8 p.m.; Friday-Saturday: 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday: 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
💲 $49

This park has a lazy river, water slides, and ample space to simply swim, giving everyone something to look forward to. If you work up an appetite in the water, you can head to the on-site restaurant LandShark Bar & Grill for a quick break. There, you’ll find steak tacos, burgers, and more. 

💦 Water Country Water Park
📍 Portsmouth
🕒 Monday–Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
💲 $32.99-$59.99

Water Country Water Park has your usual suspects—pools and slides—and so much more. Here, you’ll find innovative and unique attractions like Hyperlight, a tube ride surrounded by galaxy-evoking colors and sounds, and Dragon’s Den, another tube ride that sees you coming face to face with a dragon in its circular lair, sloshing around before being dropped into total darkness.

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Katy Savage with stories from Lily Jackson and Dorothy Scott. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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