WVTK Local & State News November 10, 2010

A distress call came in around 9:45 last night that three people and three dogs were stranded in Lake Champlain after their homemade raft capsized. The two men and woman were in the raft off Thompson's Point. The Coast Guard and search and rescue teams from Charlotte and Vergennes were called in to help in the search. Names of the boaters have not yet been released yet, and authorities don't know why they were out on the cold, rough water.

The results of last week's election for governor and lieutenant governor in Vermont are official. But because no candidate got more than 50% of the vote, both races will be decided by the Legislature. Democrat Peter Shumlin received 49.5% of the vote while Republican Brian Dubie, who conceded defeat, got 47.7%. In the lieutenant governor's race, Republican Phil Scott got 49.4% compared to Democrat Steve Howard who received 42.4%.

Allen Pools & Spas was honored yesterday as the Vermont Retail Association 2010 Retailer of the Year. The award recognized the family-owned business for its longevity and steady growth throughout its 53 years in business. Two other businesses were also honored. The Outdoor Gear Exchange in Burlington was named Greentailer of the Year for environmental excellence, and the Old Brick Store in Charlotte received the Community Gem award, which honors a retailer who makes “unique and valuable contributions” to the community.

Forty-five Green Mountain Boys have spent the past seven months in Saudi Arabia. The airmen are in the 158th Security Forces Squadron and have been conducting routine security operations at a U.S. military base there. The unit is scheduled to arrive home this afternoon.

A record number of students are attending community college in Vermont. Officials at the Community College of Vermont say enrollment is up 4 percent from last year and up 24 percent from just five years ago. The increase mirrors a nationwide trend. CCV officials credit the down economy, arguing community colleges are a less expensive option for students.

Police in Burlington say a grudge over a years-old child custody dispute led to the slaying of a Vermont social worker that was found dead in her home. Forty-5-year-old Jose M. Pazos was charged yesterday with first-degree murder, kidnapping and burglary in the death of 50-year-old Kathleen Smith. He has pleaded not guilty.

Vermont Yankee officials say technicians have repaired a leak of radioactive water that prompted the sudden shutdown of the nuclear power plant Sunday. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has said the leak at the power plant in Vernon posed no danger to the public.

Work has finally being done to bring high-speed rail service to Vermont. It's the beginning of improvements on the Vermonter line. The work costs 70-million dollars, with 50-million coming from stimulus funding, plus a 20-million commitment from New England Central Railroad. Besides making Vermont more accessible to both businesses and travelers, it also means job creation, according to Governor Jim Douglas. The high-speed rail improvements are expected to shave 90 minutes off the trip from St. Albans to New York City.

Two new lawsuits have been filed on behalf of gay and lesbian couples in four states to challenge a 1996 law denying married gay couples federal benefits. The lawsuits were filed yesterday in federal courts in Connecticut and New York. They were filed on behalf of couples in Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire and New York. The filing of multiple lawsuits will likely result in several rulings in different federal court districts. It could increase the likelihood that the Supreme Court will eventually consider the issue.

Governor David Paterson has offered a plan he says can reduce New York's greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050. Paterson - who leaves office at the end of the year - wants to speed the development of 0- and low-carbon sources of power, create incentives for the construction of energy efficient buildings and promote sustainable policies in agriculture and forestry. Paterson says his plan can help build up New York's economy and create tens of thousands of jobs.

New York data show major crimes rising 1% in the first six months of 2010 following almost two decades of decline statewide. In budget testimony Tuesday, Sean Byrne, acting commissioner of the Division of Criminal Justice Services, says it's not clear yet whether that is an anomaly or a trend.

A special ceremony is planned this year for Veterans Day. It's the day the Vermont memorial to the global war on terrorism will be unveiled at the Randolph Veterans Cemetery. Forty names of Vermonters who have died in the war since September 11th, 2001, are etched in the top of the memorial. The unveiling happens tomorrow at 11AM.

The third annual "local food matchmaking" event paired local food sellers with buyers in a speed dating-style event at Shelburne Farms. The event, organized by the Vermont Fresh Network and the Agency of Agriculture, brought 150 food buyers and local food producers together in one place to talk about new partnerships. The event was started to get buyers and sellers into the same room together, making relationships easier and more personable.

A seminar on starting your own small business takes place this morning in Middlebury from 9 – Noon at the Addison County Economic Development Corporation. The Vermont Small Business Development Center is offering a three-hour workshop on how to start your own business and write a business plan. The seminar is designed for individuals who are thinking about going into business but need assistance with the procedures involved and government regulations regarding starting up a business in Vermont.