WVTK Local & State News August 4, 2010

The New York Legislature has finally passed a state budget. Last night, the state Senate approved the remaining portions of the spending plan 125 days late. The measure raises about one-billion dollars in revenue from such items as increasing taxes on clothing and some businesses. The 2010-11 budget totals about $136 billion.

Former Rutland Police Sgt. David Schauwecker is asking the court to dismiss a pair of criminal charges he faces. Schauwecker was fired by the city in April after a six-month state police investigation that ended with misdemeanor charges of neglect of duty by a public officer and providing false information to a law enforcement officer. Those charges arose from allegations that he took evidence seized as part of another officer's child pornography investigation and later lied to state police investigators about his actions. 


After Vermont regulators turned down a reorganization plan for the telecom company, FairPoint Communications may ask a federal bankruptcy court to throw out the state's decision. A FairPoint official says that is 1 of 2 options the company is considering, along with asking Vermont to reconsider. Other states have approved the FairPoint plan.

New statistics show that ridership on the Amtrak Vermonter train that travels between St. Albans, Vt., and Washington was up 29% in June. And Amtrak spokesman Cliff Cole says the Amtrak Ethan Allen Express that runs between Rutland and New York City was up 10.5%. Overall Amtrak's nationwide ridership increased 7.2% over last year.

The Ticonderoga Cartoon Museum is leaving town. The local collection of more than 700 pieces has been donated to the Pittsburgh ToonSeum, a museum dedicated to cartooning. More than 3,000 people have toured the museum in the in the basement of the Ticonderoga Community Building. The Ticonderoga Cartoon Museum is open Friday 1-4 p.m. and by appointment. It will close for good Aug. 31.

A Rutland man is headed to jail for sexually assaulting two young girls. A jury found 53-year-old Gregory Penn guilty on four counts of sexual assault. The girls told the jury they didn't report the incidents at the time because Penn was purchasing drugs from a family member and they feared for their safety. Penn faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.

UVM is close to selling its research cow heard. Back in June, they announced that the heard was on the auction block. UVM scientists now plan to do their research at a variety of partner farms throughout the state. The bidding has now come to an end. Officials would not say if the heard is going to one or more buyers.

A major golf tournament is underway in Killington. It's considered one of the most prestigious junior tournaments to ever be held in the state. Over 100 golfers will take part, several of them nationally known and many others from right here in the Green Mountains. The 54-hole tournament will wrap up tomorrow.

Senator Patrick Leahy is talking up his support for Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan as debate over her confirmation gets under way in the U.S. Senate. Leahy, who's the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, says Kagan is a lawyer of mainstream views who won't let her personal preferences supersede her respect for the rule of law.

A family in Alburgh is alive today, thanks to their dog. Firefighters responded to the call of a trailer fire around 4:40 yesterday morning. They arrived on the scene to find flames shooting out of the roof. The family says their dog alerted them to the danger so they could get out of the building in time. Firefighters believe the electrical fire started in the laundry room.

Hundred of people were on hand yesterday to pay their final respects as a Burlington Firefighter was laid to rest. Steven Costello, or Vinny, as he was known, passed away at the age of 46 after suffering a heart attack while on the job. During the ceremony, Chief Michael O'Neil thanked the Costello family for sharing their husband and dad.

Cell phone service is coming to Cabot. AT&T is installing a new cell phone site on a silo on Bolton Road. Its a project that's been in the works for the past 2 years. Neighbors filed appeals saying the site was too close to their homes. However, those appeals were recently settled in court. AT&T says the site should be up and running this fall.

Starting next Monday, the Northbound On-Ramp to Interstate 89 in Montpelier will be closed. Drivers wanting to go North will have to travel on Route 2 to Middlesex and then get on the Interstate. Road Crews are closing the on-ramp for about a month so they can work on the bridge that immediately follows the on-ramp.

St. Michael's College is getting some national recognition. St. Mike's has made the Princeton Review's list called "The Best 373 Colleges."