With the federal budget cuts, being announced for the upcoming years, I believe that many angles and stories can be written in conjunction with these cuts. These cuts will affect a wide variety of communities and and different aspects of society. There are a couple of areas in the cuts that will greatly affect the Seacoast and these articles should focus on these impacts. One of the biggest areas being affected, in a positive way, with this cut is education. There are a couple stories that can be written about this cut.
First, with these cuts, Pell Grants will be able to remain maximum which will benefit college students in the Seacoast area. This story should focus on UNH and the students affected by this and how this is such a vital part of this cut. Numbers are broken down in the NYT article, Obama Budget Raises School Spending and Keeps Pell Grant Maximum (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/15/us/15education.html?_r=1&scp=2&sq=pell%20grants&st=cse) .
A second story that can be written along with the Pell Grant one, is one about how public schools in the Seacoast area, Portsmouth, Dover, Durham will be affected by the raise in school spending. Where will this money be going? Who will benefit?
Another area being affected in this budget cut is foreign aid. This will affect local humanitarian organizations in the Seacoast area. Find a couple of groups in the area. Reactions from the volunteers as they are gettig a 41% cut in funds. What this means for them. Refer to the article, Clinton Says G.O.P. Cuts Would Hurt U.S. Interests (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/15/us/politics/15congress.html?scp=4&sq=clinton&st=cse).
New Hampshire is known for being a very "green" state and another area being affected in this cut is energy. A great deal of environmental protection programs are getting significant cuts. How will Seacoast environmental programs deal with this cut? What this means environmentally for the Seacoast. Who else is being affected?
Finally, one of the biggest areas involved with the cut is health care. What does this mean for Seacoast hospitals? Local pharmacies?
