State legislators overwhelmingly voted down a bill to repeal New Hampshire’s same-sex marriage law last week. Members of the House of Representatives voted 211-116 to defeat House Bill 437 on March 21.

In a rare instance of bipartisanship, U.S. Reps. Frank Guinta (R-N.H.) and Barney Frank (D-Mass.) have introduced a bill aimed at supporting the long-term future of the region’s fishing industry. Guinta and Frank are cosponsors of H.R. 4208, called “The Fisheries Investment and Regulatory Relief Act.”

Concerned about the economic impact of the Memorial Bridge’s closure on local businesses this summer, the town of Kittery is asking the N.H. Department of Transportation for $175,000 in marketing funds.

Crews from Archer Western have begun removing the Memorial Bridge’s counterweights and towers. A crane shipped up from Boston has been moved into position, and work on the southern tower began on March 23.

A bill to legalize medical marijuana recently cleared a significant hurdle in New Hampshire. The Senate Health and Human Services Committee voted 5-0 to approve Senate Bill 409 on March 22.

Dominating the headlines last week was House Bill 1677, the latest version of the so-called “right-to-work” bill, which would prohibit collective bargaining agreements that require employees to pay union fees. The bill passed the House last week, but not with enough support to override a potential veto from Gov. John Lynch, who successfully blocked a similar bill last year. A number of other bills currently under consideration involve driver’s licenses, and some are more controversial than others.

Have you ever been curious about the inner workings of the Peirce Island Wastewater Treatment Plant in Portsmouth? The public is invited to learn more about the facility during an open house on Saturday, March 31.

Days after announcing his pending resignation from the Rochester Police Department, Chief David Dubois said he plans to run for county sheriff. Meanwhile, the Police Commission has announced current Deputy Chief Mike Allen will be promoted to chief when Dubois leaves his post at the end of May.

A series of undercover operations recently conducted by Portsmouth police have resulted in at least 16 arrests for the sale or possession of prescription drugs, heroin and marijuana, and more arrests could be coming.

The act of lying has become so par-for-the-course of American politics and society in general that most people hardly give it any notice. But Pulitzer Prize-winning author James B. Stewart gives the topic nearly 50 pages of notice in his 2011 book, “Tangled Webs: How False Statements are Undermining America.”

Things are about to get quieter for residents of Portsmouth’s Atlantic Heights neighborhood, as the N.H. Department of Transportation is in the process of constructing a soundwall on the Interstate 95 bridge.

Obama for America, the president’s official reelection campaign, has launched its state-wide N.H. Steering Committee, and many Seacoast residents are on the list.

Ronald Noble, the first American to head the International Criminal Police Organization and its youngest leader ever, will serve as the University of New Hampshire’s 2012 commencement speaker on Saturday, May 19.

A prominent building at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard is about to get a pricy makeover. The U.S. Navy has awarded a $38 million contract to a Massachusetts company to conduct repairs to Building 178 at the shipyard in Kittery.

Rochester Police Chief David Dubois, a member of the force for nearly 30 years, has announced his resignation. Dubois will leave his post at the end of June.

With the filing deadline for some offices approaching, a number of political aspirants in Maine and New Hampshire are launching their campaigns.

The Memorial Bridge replacement transportation system has earned great feedback as well as commuter concerns.

Now that the historic Memorial Bridge is in pieces, commuters have been forced to find new means of transportation between Portsmouth and Kittery. Many have opted to take advantage of a new shuttle service introduced by the N.H. Department of Transportation in January. DOT project manager Keith Cota said the department has been carefully monitoring shuttle usage to determine demand. So far, he said, the service has been adequate, but increased demand due to summer events and warmer weather might lead the DOT to incorporate a second shuttle.

Residents of Dover are invited to gaze into the future and help guide the city’s development over the next 20 years. The “Dover 2023—Building our Tomorrow” project starts with a citywide conversation on Saturday, March 10.

Retiring Portsmouth Police Chief Lou Ferland looks back on a lengthy career marked by significant changes to the community and policing techniques.

A lot can happen to a community over the course of three decades. After 29 years with the Portsmouth Police Department, Chief David “Lou” Ferland knows that better than most. Since being hired in the early 1980s, he has steadily climbed the department’s ranks, watching the city’s character change along the way. Now, after just two and a half years as chief, Ferland has announced he will retire in September. Deputy Chief Steve DuBois will take over the position.

At a time when the White House is more polarized than ever, it came as grim news to many that U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe will not be seeking reelection this year. The Maine Republican is widely considered one of the few members of Congress who has shown a willingness to reach across the aisle.

For one last time, Gov. John Lynch will address members of the Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, March 21, during the 2012 Bank of America Breakfast Forum at the Sheraton Portsmouth Harborside Hotel.

State Rep. Kyle Jones, a Republican of Rochester, became the latest New Hampshire legislator to find himself lampooned on Comedy Central.

A new study conducted by the Carsey Institute at the University of New Hampshire finds that rural areas in the United States grew by just 2.2 million people in the first 10 years of the 21st century—barely half of the rural growth that occurred during the 1990s. The trend is attributed to the poor economy and job market. But diversity in rural areas has been accelerating.

One of Dover’s most widely used gathering places could receive a major makeover next year. Plans are underway to make significant improvements to Henry Law Park, located close to downtown on the banks of the Cochecho River.

Obama for America has appointed U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen as one of the campaign’s national co-chairs. Shaheen, New Hampshire’s senior senator, will join more than 30 ambassadors for the president as he seeks reelection in November. The list of co-chairs includes many other politicians—including Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick—but also features supporters as varied as actress Eva Longoria, author Caroline Kennedy and a number of citizen volunteers.

Voters in Exeter are encouraged to get informed about their local candidates at an upcoming forum. Former Selectman Robert Eastman and Water Street Bookstore owner Dan Chartrand are running for the Board of Selectmen seat recently vacated by Robert Aldrich. Assistant Town Clerk Andrea Kohler and current Selectwoman Julie Gilman are vying to replace retiring Town Clerk Linda Hartson.

Congress is considering a transportation bill that would eliminate federal funds for rail lines around the country, including the Amtrak Downeaster, which runs from Boston to Portland, Maine, with stops along the Seacoast.

Professionals are alarmed about several bills currently before a N.H. House committee that would deregulate barbering and cosmetology.

Under existing law, barbers in New Hampshire must receive a high school education and go through at least 800 hours of instruction or 1,600 hours of apprenticing to earn a license. They also must pass an examination administered by the state Board of Barbering, Cosmetology and Esthetics. According to industry professionals, that’s what it takes to practice the trade safely and responsibly. But some state representatives think those qualifications are excessive. House Bill 1431, which had a committee hearing on Feb. 16, would eliminate most state requirements for obtaining a barbering license.

More than three dozen community members from Portsmouth and Kittery participated in a dialogue on the morning of Feb. 11. They discussed ways to ensure the new Memorial Bridge and the regional transportation system connect the two communities in a way that makes them “the best places to live, work and play for everyone.”

Portsmouth Police Chief David “Lou” Ferland, a 30-year veteran of the force, will retire in September, he announced at a recent Police Commission meeting. Deputy Chief Stephen DuBois will take his place.