# InDepthNH Command Center — Managing Editor Dashboard

**Date:** August 13, 2026  
**For:** Aaron R. Davis, Deputy Managing Editor  
**Hours:** Up to 20 hrs/week + per-story pay  
**Mission:** Turn InDepthNH from a one-person operation into a sustainable statewide watchdog and teaching newsroom.

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## 1. Today / this week

### Active stories
| Story | Status | Owner | Next action | Deadline |
|:------|:-------|:------|:------------|:---------|
| Manchester PFAS / EAB remand | **Filed/published** | Aaron | Monitor EPA/NHDES/Manchester response | Ongoing |
| Karoline Leavitt stepping down | **Published** | Aaron | Clip for portfolio; follow replacement news | Ongoing |
| NH voter registration requirements | **In progress** | Aaron | Call SOS; interview Open Democracy/ACLU-NH; write service brief | Aug. 14–15 |
| Student-ID lawsuit follow-up | **In progress** | Aaron | Confirm docket/court; plaintiff reaction | Aug. 14–15 |
| Trump DOJ election monitors in Manchester/Nashua | **In progress** | Aaron | Email mayors; seek local prep/reaction | Aug. 13–14 |
| Microplastics / eelgrass investigation | **Paused pending sources** | Aaron | Follow up Brown & Moore, PREP; map deployed | Ongoing |

### Immediate operational tasks
- [ ] Send mayor emails (Manchester, Nashua) for DOJ monitors story.
- [ ] Call NH Secretary of State elections division (603-271-3242) for voter-ID story.
- [ ] Verify Open Democracy current website/email.
- [ ] Sign up `aarondavis.indepthnh@proton.me` for NH agency press-release lists (5–7 per day).
- [ ] Check for existing NH reporter contact lists or press associations online. — **Done: no centralized list found; added NH Municipal Association, NH Magazine, NH Bar contacts to source DB.**

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## 2. Workspace map

| Directory | File | Purpose |
|:----------|:-----|:--------|
| `/contacts/` | `election_contacts.md` | Election-related government, advocates, experts, colleges |
| `/editorial/` | `staff_roles_and_coverage.md` | Staff/columnist roster, Nancy workflow, weekly rhythm |
| `/editorial/` | `site_story_analysis.md` | Story mix, press-source suggestions, content gaps |
| `/editorial/` | `competitor_monitoring.md` | Competitor matrix, RSS/newsletters, monitoring strategy |
| `/operations/` | `nh_agency_press_signup_tracker.md` | State/federal press-list signup tracker |
| `/operations/` | `published_stories_aaron_davis.md` | Published byline clip file |
| `/systems/` | `source_database.csv` | Master source list by beat |
| `/systems/` | `foia_tracker.csv` | Public-records requests and responses |
| `/systems/` | `editorial_calendar.csv` | Story assignments and deadlines |
| `/systems/` | `qc_checklist.md` | Pre-publish quality checklist |
| `/stories/` | per-story folders | Story briefs, drafts, outreach, documents |
| `/grants/` | `AJP_LOI_outline.md` | AJP letter of interest outline |

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## 3. Systems to use

### Source database
- **File:** `systems/source_database.csv`
- **Update rule:** Add every new source immediately. Tag by beat.
- **Key fields:** Name, title, organization, beat, phone, email, best way to reach, last contact, notes.

### FOIA / Right-to-Know tracker
- **File:** `systems/foia_tracker.csv`
- **Update rule:** Log every request the day it’s sent.
- **Key fields:** Agency, request date, records sought, deadline, status, response date, notes, assigned reporter.

### Editorial calendar
- **File:** `systems/editorial_calendar.csv`
- **Update rule:** Review every Monday; update statuses daily.
- **Key fields:** Story, beat, owner, status, due date, publish target, notes.

### Quality control checklist
- **File:** `systems/qc_checklist.md`
- **Use:** Run before hitting publish on every original story.

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## 4. Phase 1 story priorities (next 3 months)

Ranked by impact × feasibility for a 20-hour-per-week ME:

| Rank | Story / series | Why now | Owner | First step |
|:----:|:---------------|:--------|:------|:-----------|
| 1 | **Election registration guide + student-ID lawsuit** | Breaking; Sept. 8 primary | Aaron | Finish voter guide; file follow-up on lawsuit |
| 2 | **Jail conditions — Strafford/Hillsborough** | Zero visible coverage; Nancy asked | Aaron | FOIA inspection reports, death/injury logs |
| 3 | **Mental health system capacity (NH Hospital / SPU)** | Institutional accountability gap | Aaron/Nancy | Request DOC/NH DHHS data; interview families |
| 4 | **State procurement / Executive Council contracts** | Undercovered; patronage risk | Aaron | Build tracker of contracts over $10K |
| 5 | **Housing / homelessness data snapshot** | Major NH issue; column-level only | Aaron | Map shelters, eviction filings, zoning changes |

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## 5. PACER / Court Case Tracker

**File:** `systems/pacer_tracker.csv`  
**Use:** Track active federal/state litigation relevant to InDepthNH beats; link to local PDF copies and PACER dockets.

| Case | Court | Docket | Judge | Status | Next deadline |
|:-----|:------|:-------|:------|:-------|:--------------|
| Coalition for Open Democracy v. Scanlan (HB 323 student IDs) | D.N.H. | 1:26-cv-00647-JL-TSM | Hon. Joseph N. Laplante | Active; PI pending | Sept. 8, 2026 primary |
| Coalition for Open Democracy v. Scanlan (HB 1569 proof-of-citizenship) | D.N.H. | 1:24-cv-00291-SE (consolidated) | Hon. Samantha D. Elliott? | State appealing | Nov. 5, 2026 general election |
| City of Manchester v. EPA (PFAS permit remand) | EPA EAB | Unknown | EPA EAB | Remanded Aug. 12, 2026 | ~Nov. 12, 2026 (60-day redo) |
| Strafford/Hillsborough jail conditions | — | TBD | TBD | Not filed | Story research phase |

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## 6. Competitor watch list

Check daily:
1. NHPR RSS — `https://www.nhpr.org/index.rss`
2. Union Leader RSS — `http://www.unionleader.com/search/?f=rss`
3. WMUR home page
4. InDepthNH own analytics

Check weekly:
- NH Bulletin (verify URL)
- Seacoast Online / Foster’s / Portsmouth Herald
- Concord Monitor, Keene Sentinel, Valley News newsletters

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## 7. Open questions / risks

| Question | Why it matters | Who to ask |
|:---------|:-------------|:-----------|
| Is InDepthNH 501(c)(3) status current? | Fundraising/grant eligibility | Nancy / board treasurer |
| Who holds libel/media liability insurance? | Investigative risk | Nancy / Don Burns |
| Budget runway (months of cash)? | Sustainability | Nancy / Gina Gilmore |
| Is NH Bulletin still publishing? | Competitor/partner clarity | Verify URL |
| Has new bylaws-focused board member joined? | Governance | Nancy / board page |

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## 7. HTML dashboard

Open `~/Desktop/INDNH/index.html` in a browser for a screen display of this dashboard with sortable tables and quick links.

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*Last updated: 2026-08-13*