Housing affordability crunch: A New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute analysis says renters statewide earn an average $4,666 a month—too little to cover rent plus basics—while the average apartment rent is $1,875, leaving few options near $1,200. Local tax policy: House and Senate negotiators reached a deal on a local property tax cap vote for NH cities and towns, with caps tied to school funding growth and a higher filing threshold for a key business tax. Affordable housing development: Manchester is moving ahead with a project to create 126 affordable units for households priced out of the market, with federal lawmakers pointing to efforts to cut red tape. Data centers and regulation: A push to oppose Senate Bill 439—aimed at limiting towns’ ability to regulate data centers—was effectively stopped after the NH House tabled it 304–11. Public safety: Concord police and multiple agencies searched downtown for a missing 44-year-old man, with officials saying there’s no suspicious activity or public danger. Cybersecurity training: Cympire and Cyberspace Knowledge Group delivered live-fire enterprise defense training at Cyber Yankee 2026. Health care spending: New Hampshire’s Medicaid “Procedures / Professional Services” payments in Franklin hit $919,315 in 2024, up sharply from 2023.