JUNE 19 - JULY 16, 2020 VOL. 42 • NO. 12 • $1.75
ONLINE @ NHBR.COM
As economy reopens, New Hampshire businesses enter uncharted territory PAGE 10
Midyear
review
FEATURED INTERVIEW
Q&A: Education Commissioner Frank Edelblut PAGE 30
Industry disruption and entrepreneurial PAGE 13 opportunity Maintaining well-being in a drawn-out job PAGE 27 search Policy proposals target police racism, violence NH efforts include oversight, transparency and training BY CITIZENS COUNT
Neither rain, nor sleet… but Covid? U.S. Postal Service once again fights for its survival BY LIISA RAJALA
The coronavirus has battered businesses across the board, and that has had a big effect on the U.S. Postal Service’s already precarious financial situation. Even before the mid-March stay-at-home orders and shutdowns of restaurants, retailers, gyms and other businesses that typically advertise in the mail, USPS reported a net loss of $748 million in the first quarter
of 2020. Now, the Postal Service estimates the Covid-19 pandemic will increase the organization’s net operating loss by more than $22 billion over the next 18 months and by more than $54 billion in the longer term, “threatening our ability to operate,” said Steve Doherty, USPS strategic communications specialist for the Northeast. USPS, PAGE 18
In recent weeks, protestors in New Hampshire and across the nation have united around the rallying cry, “Black Lives Matter.” The statement might be summed up as an objection to violence against people of color, particularly by people in power. The wave of protests was sparked by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis after a police officer knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes and killed him. The entire time, Floyd was handcuffed and lying facedown in the street. There are many different proposals to prevent police violence, combat racism and invest in non-white communities. Here is an overview of policy proposals specific to law enforcement in New Hampshire, with a focus on recent legislation. POLICY PROPOSALS, PAGE 17
