LOVE THY NEIGHBOR
LA Times Crossword
July 6, 2017
Pawel Fludzinski

Two states in the Great Plains, two in the southwest, and two in the northeast share a border and also share two letters in their names. That is, the last two letters of the name of the first state are the first two letters of the name of the second state. For example, if Connecticut and Utah were neighboring states - which they are not - they could be written CONNECTICUTAH - sharing the letters UT. Can you determine the three pairs of states?

Answers:

Great Plains: NEBRASKANSAS
Southwest:     NEW MEXICOLORADO 
Northeast:     MAINEWHAMPSHIRE