WVTK Local & State News March 15, 2010

Voters in Port Henry go to the polls and decide whether or not to be Port Henry tomorrow. Residents will be voting on a resolution to dissolve the village of Port Henry. If the resolution passes, its functions and property become the responsibility of the town of Moriah. The polls will be open tomorrow from noon to 9 PM at the Port Henry firehouse.

The Rutland Police Commission has decided that the Chief of Police will keep his job. Chief Tony Bossi has recently been under fire because he didn’t report an investigation into one of his officers that involved pornography. Bossi said that because the state police were conducting the investigation, and because the department was not under investigation, he did not report it.

A Vermont panel investigating ways to cut millions of dollars from education spending will hold the rest of its meetings in public. Members of the Challenges for Change Education Design Team decided last week to open their meetings after the Dover School Board sent a letter to the legislature arguing that a group that could recommend big changes in education should be doing its work in public.

Federal legislation that would consolidate student loans under a government program is causing worries in Vermont. That's because it would take student loans out of the private sector, and the nonprofit Vermont Student Assistance Corporation would lose most of its reason to exist. Advocates are lobbying for a program that would make an exception for nonprofits.

A Vermont House committee this week is set to approve legislation that would designate large-scale hydropower as renewable. Doing so is expected to enable Vermont utilities to import electricity from the provincial utility Hydro-Quebec at a discount. The House Natural Resources and Energy Committee is expected to advance the bill tomorrow.

The North Country is mourning the death of a leader who worked tirelessly to better the community as a legislator, educator and sportsman. Former Clinton County Legislator Melvin R. "Bob" Bruno passed away on Saturday at the age of 78.

Vermont Governor Jim Douglas says he's against a proposal to allow up to 5 dispensaries to be set up around the state for medical marijuana. Douglas, who won't say if he'll veto the legislation if it reaches his desk, says Vermont is already at odds with the federal government in allowing some medical patients to use the drug, he says the state shouldn't push the issue further.

A fatal accident in South Hero Saturday morning took the life of the driver. Police say a man was driving on West Shore Road when he lost control and crashed into a utility pole. The man, whose name has not been released, died from his injuries. A female passenger in the car was sent to the hospital with serious injuries. Alcohol may have been a factor in the crash.

The Vermont Supreme Court will make its annual trip to the Vermont Law School in South Royalton this week. The 5 justices will hear arguments in 7 cases at the law school on Wednesday, including an appeal connected to the murder of Michelle Gardner Quinn, a University of Vermont student who was killed in October 2006.

Maple Sugar makers across the state will be holding open houses later this month. On March 26 and 27, during the 9th Annual Maple Open House Weekend, people will be able to watch sap being boiled down into syrup and sample some fresh syrup and other maple products. Events will be different at each sugarhouse. Some will have special activities for children.

The UVM Catamounts (#16) will play Syracuse (#1) in the first round of the NCAA Men's Tournament on Friday in Buffalo. The winner will go on to face either Florida State or Gonzaga in the second round. The UVM Women's team, which also won a trip to the tournament, will learn their first round challenger Monday tonight.