Mortgage Crisis
Whether we're officially in a recession or not, there are a lot of people hurting from the nation's economic slide. Over the past year in New Hampshire, nearly two thousand people lost their homes to foreclosure. That number is predicted to increase this year.
Last fall, Outlook's Phil Vaughn met a family who was in the process of losing their home. We have an update to their story and some advice from Rebecca Palmer, Director of Education with the Consumer Credit Counseling Service on how to keep your home off the auction block.

There is also a national hotline available to homeowners to help avoid foreclosure.
Beginning Wednesday, March 26, new ads will air on network and cable television stations across the state to let folks know about the HOPE Hotline.
The hotline is a free, confidential counseling service for homeowners, and a place where callers can also find out about other assistance that may be available in New Hampshire.
Hope Hotline
You can reach it by dialing 1-888-995-HOPE (4673).


The Pledge
Voters in nearly 100 towns across New Hampshire cast votes this month on whether to abolish the "Pledge" as part of the state's political dialogue. The article was put forth by the Granite State Fair Tax Coalition. Outlook's Richard Ager has more on the public dialogue over the future of what is known as "the New Hampshire advantage."

MacDowell Colony
After years of legal wrangling the New Hampshire Supreme Court recently declared the MacDowell Colony a charitable institution for the arts. The ruling allows the MacDowell Colony, based in Peterborough, to keep its tax-exempt status.
The decision will save the organization $150,000 a year in taxes and comes as the Colony passes its centennial year.
Over the years the 450 acre artists' retreat has welcomed the likes of composer Aaron Copland and Thorton Wilder. Wilder wrote his Pulitizer Prize-winning novel, "Our Town," while at the Colony. While the case began as an issue of property tax exemption, the lawsuit raised larger questions as to the value such residency programs bring to the community. Resident Director David Macy offered his insights about the MacDowell experience to Outlook host Beth Carroll.