WVTK Local & State News January 21, 2010

Work continues on ramps for a planned ferry service near the former Lake Champlain Bridge, but a firm opening date for the ferry remains uncertain. Vermont Transportation Agency spokesman John Zicconi said an opening date has not been set, but the construction is on pace to allow the ferry to start operating sometime near the end of the month, as originally planned.

Vermont state officials say more radioactive tritium has been found at the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant -- at much higher levels than were found in a test well nearly two weeks ago. The state's radiological health chief says the higher readings of the isotope were found in a concrete trench several hundred feet from the test well where tritium was reported two weeks ago.

Aiming to cut air pollution, a panel of Vermont lawmakers is considering a bill that would crack down on idling by trucks. The House Natural Resources and Energy Committee this week is taking testimony on the bill, which would require that trucks weighing more than 10,000 pounds not idle for more than 5 minutes.

Anti-smoking groups are trying to defend their programs' budget, but Douglas administration officials say those programs aren't being targeted for significant cuts. The groups say the $4.8 million a year Vermont spends to get people to quit smoking or not to start saves the state much more money in the long run.

A new survey finds a growing number of small and medium-sized businesses in New England plan to hire new workers and offer pay raises this year. The survey released Wednesday found that 42 percent of companies with 50 or fewer employees and annual revenues of $20 million or less planned new hires in 2010, compared with only 29 percent last year.

A Rutland man faces as much as 14 years in prison after pleading guilty in the death of his infant son in 2007. The Rutland Herald reports Salvatore MacEwan struck a plea deal yesterday, a day before jury selection was to begin for his murder trial. He had told police he shook the boy because he wasn't breathing.

A dozen public clinics are being held across Vermont this week for residents to get swine flu vaccinations. State health chief Wendy Davis says Vermont now has plentiful supplies of vaccine. Burlington City Hall will be the site of 1 walk-in clinic, set for Friday afternoon.

A Champlain man has reached a plea deal that put him behind bars for up to 10 years for beating his infant son. 25-year-old Shaun Foster pled guilty to breaking and dislocating his 1-year-old son's arm. The deal calls for Foster to spend 8 to 10 years in prison. The boy has recovered physically and is in state custody in Vermont.

A Rutland man faces as much as 14 years in prison after pleading guilty in the death of his infant son in 2007. Salvatore MacEwan struck a plea deal Tuesday, a day before jury selection was to begin for his murder trial. He had told police he shook the boy because he wasn't breathing.

A mistrial was declared in a drug case against a Plattsburgh businessman. 52-year-old Stephen Giroux, the owner of Champy's Car Wash, faces felony drug charges for allegedly selling cocaine in the Plattsburgh area back last winter. A new trial is set to start in March. If convicted, Giroux could face up to 9 years in prison. He is already serving time for jumping bail.

Governor David Paterson is asking the federal government for more home heating assistance money. Paterson says families need help to get through the winter. State officials say demand is up by 15 percent in the first two months of the Home Energy Assistance Program. Home heating oil prices across New York up by more than 13 percent compared to this time last year.

Students at Champlain College, Saint Michael's College and Burlington College now have more class options. The three schools recently signed agreements allowing students at one campus to take classes at any of the other two at no extra charge. The new class options are available to students starting next school year.