WVTK Local & State News January 6, 2010

The state of Vermont is offering free radon test kits, hoping they'll get people to test their homes for the presence of the colorless, odorless gas, which can cause lung cancer. Dr. Austin Sumner, state epidemiologist for environmental health at the Vermont Department of Health, says exposure to radon is preventable and fixable. State health officials say prolonged exposure to radon is second only to smoking as a lung cancer cause in the United States, killing more than 20,000 people annually. To get 1 of the kits, send an e-mail - using the subject line "radon test kit" - to radon@vdh.state.vt.us. Include your name, telephone number and your mailing and physical address, or call 1-800-439-8550.

Retirees across New York are waiting for their pension checks. The U.S. Postal Service says it lost or misplaced thousands of checks that were supposed to go out at the end of 2009. The exact number of misplaced checks is unknown, but about 60,000 New Yorkers rely on them to survive. Western New York and the Southern Tier are the hardest hit. The State Comptroller's office says it plans to cut new checks for some retirees. Anyone whose check doesn't come in the mail today should call 1-866-805-0990 or 474-7736.

Two new members have been sworn in to the Vermont House, one replacing a representative appointed to the Senate and the other replacing a longtime lawmaker appointed last year to be tax commissioner. Rep. Adam Howard of Cambridge replaces Richard Westman, whom Gov. Jim Douglas appointed last summer to head up the state Department of Taxes. Rep. Charles "Butch" Shaw replaces longtime veteran Rep. Margaret "Peg" Flory of Pittsford. Douglas recently appointed Flory to 1 of 3 Rutland County seats in the state Senate, replacing Hull Maynard, who resigned in November. The oaths were administered Tuesday as lawmakers returned for the second half of their 2009-2010 session.

Some legislative Republicans are upset that a key Vermont Senate committee this year is made up completely of Democrats. The Senate Finance Committee had one Republican, but former Sen. Hull Maynard of Rutland County resigned his legislative seat in November.

A legislative committee has endorsed a consultant's recommendations on how to save $38 million. The Joint Legislative Government Accountability Committee on Tuesday voted to accept the report saying the state needs to focus less on specific services delivered and more on how well those services produce the desired outcomes.

As Vermont National Guard members prepare to deploy to Afghanistan, the Guard's commander says more soldiers will be put into combat roles than was originally envisioned. In a speech to lawmakers, Major General Michael Dubie says the mission has changed from a training and mentoring mission since President Obama announced a surge strategy.

Three Vermont high schools are set to receive heart-rate monitors and supporting technology for their physical-education programs, according to the Vermont Education Department. Leland and Gray Union High School in Townshend, Middlebury Union High School and Rutland Senior High School received grants totaling $26,993 for the heart-rate monitors and software. The department says the monitors help phys-ed programs take a new direction toward individual, lifelong fitness and away from competitive sports. That approach also helps boost academic performance, focus, concentration and impulse control, according to the department.

The Vermont Department of Health is urging all Vermonters older than 6 months to become vaccinated against the H1N1 flu. "Vaccine is now widely available, and there are still months of flu season ahead of us," Health Commissioner Wendy Davis said. The Health Department lifted vaccination restrictions last month. 

The shots and nasal spray vaccine are provided at no charge at clinics statewide. Eight public clinics are scheduled through this week, including one in St. Albans for people 50 and older. They are: today, 9-11 a.m., Pawlet Community Church, and 4-7 p.m., Barre Auditorium; Thursday, 1-3 p.m., Enosburg Ambulance Building, 9 a.m.-noon, Orleans Essex Visiting Nurse Association Office in Newport City and 4-6 p.m., Holiday Inn, Rutland; Friday, 12:30-2:30 p.m., Collins Perley Sports Complex, St. Albans, for people age 50 and older; Saturday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Champlain Valley Union High School, Hinesburg. To locate a vaccination clinic, go to the Health Department's Web site at www.healthvermont.gov, then select "Get Vaccinated" at the top of the home page.

New Hampshire wildlife officials say an electronic beacon helped them quickly pinpoint a Vermont woman who got stuck on Moosilauke Mountain last night. Patricia Dewey of Thetford broke a snowshoe but activated the beacon, which sent searchers her position.

Customers of Vermont's largest electric utility are going to see their bills go up this month. Last week the Vermont Public Service Board approved a 5.58 percent rate increase for customers of the Central Vermont Public Service Corp. The increase takes effect with customers' January bills. The Rutland Herald says that for a customer who uses 500 kilowatts of electricity a month their bill will go up $4.08.