The Big Story Assingment: Obama's Proposed Budget 2012

Ok, newsroom! The big scoop is out on Obama’s federal budget for 2012 and while the papers are all in a frenzy nationwide covering this story, we have the advantage of a local angle. We want to talk to our neighbors on the New Hampshire seacoast- talk to teachers, homeowners, politicians, everyone and anyone affected by these budget cuts.

Here are five stories I want covered by our paper!

1. Education and funding is always a hot button issue, and this is no exception. Obama has proposed a budget that would maintain the maximum Pell grant at $5,550 per student, but House Republicans have proposed cutting that number by about 15 percent. We know at UNH that tuition is only increasing, by almost 5 percent per student. Talk to students in the NH Seacoast area who rely on financial aid that would be affected by this; talk to their families. Talk to university professors and high school teachers. Talk to high-schoolers and prospective college enrollees.

2. John M. Broder reports that President Obama’s proposed 2012 budget, seeks to maintain momentum for research on alternative energy but would cut deeply into some environmental protection programs. Obama intends to better refine the oil and gas industry in order to promote cleaner, greener energy sources. According to The New York Times, the Energy Department budget includes more than $8 billion for research and development of alternative energy sources and provides hefty loan guarantees for the construction of nuclear power plants. Explore local ventures into greener practices (i.e. Amtrak, the Seacoast Better Living Expo). Investigate on-campus experiments and research into clean, renewable energy. How would the budget affect these ventures?

3. One side of the budget cuts that’s getting the most news buzz is military spending. House Republicans are pushing for no cutting while if Obama’s proposed budget is passed, the Defense Department will take a $9.4 billion hit, constituting 82 percent of the cuts. Even though military troops are not apt to badmouth the President, head over to UNH’s ROTC in Zais Hall, Pease Air Force Base, or the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard to see their responses to the budget. How will it affect them?

4. Obama announced proposed cuts to low income home energy assistance and community service block grants. This directly affects families already struggling amidst a recovering economy. Talk to them specifically, but also make sure to talk to statewide authorities.

5. Follow the local affects of Obama's Small Business Administration budget for 2012 that limits growth in its most important program, government-guaranteed general business loans. It proposes making cuts, modest and substantial, to other S.B.A. programs as well, and would eliminate two initiatives altogether. Talk to the Seacoast Regional Office and local artisan shops in the area. How would this affect them?

The Big Story Assignment: Groundhog Day

All of us here in the newsroom know the story: Every Feb. 2, the famous Pennsylvanian groundhog known as Punxsutawney Phil emerges from his den at Gobblers Knob to predict either the coming of spring or the continuation of winter. Ok, so Punxsutawney Phil is a big name celebrity, but we don’t take much notice of those men in top hats in the background. They are called the Inner Circle and they’re the local dignitaries that basically keep this tradition up and running. They plan events, feed and care for Phil and reportedly even speak to him in the secret Groundhogese language. So we know what the Inner Circle is and what they do on a basic level, but what I want is a behind-the-scenes look at their vocational tradition. What are they up to and how do they keep Phil preoccupied the 364 days out of the year he's not in use? I want to know who these men are, why and how they became initiated into the Inner Circle, and how long they’ve been doing it for.

So what’s the story here? Who are the members of the Inner Circle that keep this tradition long-lasting?