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Matthew Spolar

Matthew Spolar's picture

Concord Monitor staff

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Reporter
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Email Matthew Spolar
Biography

Matthew Spolar covers politics for the Monitor. A native of Pittsburgh and a graduate of Penn State University, Spolar began working at the Monitor in December 2009 after leaving an internship at the Philadelphia Inquirer. He will gladly entertain any and all criticism of the six-time Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers. Story ideas are also appreciated.

Most recent content by Matthew Spolar

Lawmakers define voters' residency

The New Hampshire House voted yesterday to change three words in state election law that opponents say could result in voter suppression and "chaos at the polls." The change in House Bill 1354, which was approved by a 248-101 vote, is intended to ensure a person's voting residence is the same as the location they use for other legal matters, such as seeking a driver's… 0

February 9, 2012

Panel puts off casino vote

State House

The House vote to legalize casinos in New Hampshire didn't happen yesterday as legislators consider increasing the number of proposed locations from two to four. A vote on House Bill 593 had been widely anticipated ahead of yesterday's legislative session. "A casino gaming bill has never passed the NH… 0

February 9, 2012

Welfare reform bill held up by sponsor

A bill stopping mothers from receiving additional public money for a child born on welfare was held up yesterday in a House committee. The bill proposed by Rep. Neal Kurk, a Weare Republican, would end the practice of increasing a mother's welfare grant by about $72.50 when she gives birth to a child. Kurk has acknowledged there is no evidence mothers are having additional children… 0

February 8, 2012
Concord

Rally calls for 'true marriage'

Restore marriage rally

Supporters of a bill repealing the state's same-sex marriage law rallied in front of the State House yesterday ahead of a yet-to-be-scheduled vote in the House of Representatives. "Those who would bring their private behavior and choices to the public square and ask us to redefine their activities . . . are… 40

February 8, 2012

Cilley vows no pledges as governor

Democratic former state senator Jackie Cilley announced her run for governor yesterday, promising to champion workers' rights while drawing a bright line between her and her primary opponent. "I won't play pledge politics with the future of our state," Cilley told an energetic crowd inside the YWCA in Manchester, a location chosen because it once housed young women who came to the… 30

February 8, 2012

Cilley announces governor run, rules out tax pledge

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February 7, 2012

Cilley to announce gubernatorial bid

Jackie Cilley is running for governor, ending months of speculation and introducing competition to the race for the Democratic nomination. Cilley, a former state senator from Barrington, hopes to beat out former Senate Majority Leader Maggie Hassan of Exeter, who announced her candidacy in October, in order to replace Gov. John Lynch, the four-term Democrat who has decided not to… 2

February 4, 2012

GOP: Jobs are No. 1 priority

House Republicans want you to make no mistake about it: Jobs are their No. 1 priority. For the second time this year, House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt held a press conference inside the Legislative Office Building to make that point, this time as he officially laid out his caucus's 2012 agenda. Bettencourt said the Republican-controlled House made "tough choices"… 12

February 3, 2012

Committee votes for sobriety

A House committee voted overwhelmingly yesterday to kill a bill eliminating sobriety checkpoints in New Hampshire after members of law enforcement and the House's Republican leadership spoke against the legislation. The 12-1 vote by the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee recommends that the full House reject the bill when it comes up for a vote on the floor. Republican… 0

February 3, 2012

Revised redistricting proposal moves ahead

The Senate passed an amended redistricting plan yesterday after lawmakers heard complaints about splitting Holderness and Plymouth into separate districts. Putting the neighboring Grafton County towns in the same district had a small domino effect on the 10-year plan crafted in recent months by the Republican majority. In order to keep populations about the same for each of the… 2

February 2, 2012
Most recent comments by Matthew Spolar
Hi Common Grind!
By Matthew Spolar - 09/08/2011 - 11:42 am

Just wanted to make sure you saw this: "Despite losing two votes, the Senate still managed to override Lynch's veto on a 17-7 vote, sending it to the House for an override attempt there." Also, check out this legislative scorecard that ran in the paper: http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/278480/legislative-scorecard

No scheduled override in the House yet. Not sure if that's intrepid enough for you. :)
Bests,
Matt
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Sorry guys, it's pasteurized.
By Matthew Spolar - 03/14/2011 - 11:23 pm

Apologies for getting some of you excited about the raw milk possibility. It's my understanding that raw milk isn't allowed to be sold in stores in New Hampshire.

See: http://www.realmilk.com/happening.html#nh
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See above.
By Matthew Spolar - 03/14/2011 - 7:02 pm

n/t
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Attached report
By Matthew Spolar - 03/04/2011 - 2:01 pm

I've attached Clough's report to the bottom of the article if you want to have a look for yourselves. It's pretty exhaustive.

Bests,
Matt
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Access to Mountain Road and
By Matthew Spolar - 01/26/2011 - 4:17 pm

Access to Mountain Road and Shawmut Street has been restored.
Matt
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Per the AP
By Matthew Spolar - 01/16/2011 - 9:14 pm

Most of his family is within two or three hours of a low-security federal prison in Petersburg, Va.
-Matt
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Winter prices and normal hours of operation
By Matthew Spolar - 01/10/2011 - 1:22 pm

Hi there,

The prices were in the print edition but didn't make it onto the web. Here you go:

Cranmore: $9 for one ride or $23 for three rides. Fri. 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Attitash: One ride: $10 with lift ticket, $12 without lift ticket. Three rides: $25 with lift ticket, $30 without lift ticket. Sat.-Sun., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Bests,
Matt
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Hi there, That issue was not
By Matthew Spolar - 10/13/2010 - 11:51 pm

Hi there,

That issue was not a focus of this debate. If you would like to read more about it, you can go here: http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/219217/formal-complaints-filed-aga...
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Donations to help out the
By Matthew Spolar - 08/04/2010 - 10:05 am

Donations to help out the Chaputs can be made to the Chloe Chaput Transplant Fund at any Citizens Bank location.
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Hi there, I wrote the article
By Matthew Spolar - 07/31/2010 - 9:10 pm

Hi there,

I wrote the article and meant no disrespect to you by using those phrases. It actually said "blue blazer" in the paper, so I've made that change to the web version. I'm not sure what is objectionable about the phrase "so-called pin-on ceremonies," but I'm always willing to take suggestions. Feel free to e-mail me at mspolar@cmonitor.com.

Bests,
Matt
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Hi there, From the article:
By Matthew Spolar - 07/27/2010 - 11:46 am

Hi there,

From the article: "Since then, Verville, Martel and the other volunteers on the meetinghouse committee have whipped the building back into shape using private donations and grant money." Outside of recently paying the electric bill, the town has not used money from its operating budget on this project.

Matt
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