Tuesday, January 19, 2010

WVTK Local & State News January 19, 2010

Governor Jim Douglas is expected to call for big spending cuts when he delivers his annual budget address today. Douglas will speak to a joint assembly of the Vermont Legislature this afternoon and will focus his remarks on how to address a state budget shortfall estimated at up to $150 million.

Governor David Paterson is set to announce his proposals for the 2010-2011 state budget during a speech later this morning in Albany. Meanwhile, the legislature, in a special session yesterday, refused to act on a bill Governor Paterson says is needed for the state to have a chance at $700 million in federal school aid.

A new Siena College poll finds that Governor David Paterson is wining back favor among voters. Patterson’s approval has increased 11 points since October. Although Patterson is gaining ground, most voters still prefer Democratic Attorney General Andrew Cuomo in this year's campaign. Patterson approval rating has increased to 38-percent.

Volunteer first responders across Vermont are getting some help finding new members and training those who are already serving. U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders announced a $100,000 grant that will encourage service on volunteer fire departments and other first response organizations through improved outreach to high school students.

The Vermont Police Academy training coordinator who apparently killed himself last week left behind two suicide notes. The notes were addressed to family members. David McMullen’s death came less than two days after investigators seized a home computer looking for evidence of child pornography.

Opening arguments are set for this morning in St. Johnsbury in the second trial of Colchester orthopedic surgeon Joseph Abate on charges he inappropriately touched a young female patient in 2007 during an examination. Abate’s second trial was moved to St. Johnsbury due to concerns of pre-trail bias in Chittenden County. Abate’s first trial ended with a mistrial.

A new exhibit of rarely seen photographs and Polaroid pictures by the late Andy Warhol opens today at the Fleming Museum in Burlington. The exhibit, "Andy Warhol: Fashionistas and Celebrities" runs through April 26.

The Brandeis University law school professor who accused a Supreme Court nominee of sexual harassment says the country still needs to fight inequality and racial disparity to fulfill the dream of the Rev. Martin Luther King. Anita Hill spoke Sunday at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Burlington on Sunday. The Burlington Free Press says that during her talk Hill said the United States needed more female court justices and national leaders.

Springfield police are awaiting the results of an autopsy before releasing the name of a man killed in a fast-moving house fire. The Rutland Herald says the man's body was pulled from the rubble of the house on Sunday.

The Springfield School District is planning to ask voters for permission to get rid of 4 school properties in the town. A nonprofit group is hoping to preserve what is known as the North School, which for decades has been a recreation area for Springfield residents.