WVTK Local & State News November 8, 2010

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory through Noon Today. The Weather Channel says we’ll see some Rain, Sleet, Snow and Wind today with a High in the 30’s.

The next public meeting regarding the possible consolidation of schools in the Addison Northwest Supervisory Union will be held tomorrow from 6:30 – 8:00 PM at the Vergennes Union Elementary School. The union is exploring a possible unification vote on Town Meeting Day 2011.

Gov. James Douglas began his political career shortly after graduating from Middlebury College in 1972 and as his administration ends in January, Douglas will return to his alma mater as a teacher. The college announced Friday that Douglas would serve as “executive in residence,” mentoring students and teaching a course titled “Vermont Government and Politics” during the school’s winter term.

Vermont towns are preparing for what will likely be a very tough budget season. Adding to the pressure will be double-digit increases many face in their insurance rates. The Vermont League of Cities and Towns has told municipalities that are enrolled in the organization's group health plan that rates will go up by 17.5% next year.

A leak from a system pipe shut down the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant Sunday night. Plant officials say the leak was releasing about 60 drops per minute from a pipe in the feed water system, and operations had to be shut down in order to fix it. At the time, the plant was already operating at reduced power for a scheduled rod pattern adjustment, as well as supporting line work by Public Service of New Hampshire.

Volunteers worked hard yesterday to keep some very unwelcome visitors out of the Charlotte Park and Wildlife Refuge. People in the community joined University of Vermont students to pull out invasive species of plants. The Japanese common honeysuckle, buckthorn and glossy buckthorn were pulled out so some of the native seedlings can survive. The park and refuge covers 290 acres.

The Vermont Railway Company will pay 120-thousand in fines over allegations that it mismanaged hazardous waste at its Burlington and Rutland rail yards. The company settled its case with The Attorney General's office last week, which includes 50-thousand dollars to pay for firefighting and spill response equipment for four fire departments near busy rail lines. Some of the money will also go to training exercises involving the release of hazardous materials from a rail car.

A new report commissioned by the administration of Gov. Jim Douglas has reignited a debate over the efficiency and effectiveness of Vermont's affordable housing programs. Vermont must create 1,000 new units of subsidized housing every year to keep pace with the needs of the state's 41,000 low-income renter households. Critics of the report include housing advocates, leaders of housing agencies and the governor-elect, Peter Shumlin.

Police are looking for suspects in the robbery and stabbing of a man on a street in Burlington. The assault took place early Sunday. Police say the victim, a young male whose name was not released, had been struck on the head, knocked to the ground and robbed. While on the ground the victim was stabbed. The victim was taken to a local hospital. Police say there were two attackers. Anyone with information is asked to call police.

The New York State Liquor Authority has said it wants to pull alcoholic energy drinks off shelves because they are believed to be too dangerous. A spokesman for the group told the Daily News that, in some cases, the drinks contain four times the alcohol content than beer. The State Authority wants to ask lawmakers if the drinks can be banned.

Vermont Air National Guard pilots will fly F-16 fighter planes at night this week for training. The Guard says planes will take off from the Burlington International Airport in the early evening and return by 9 PM. The trainings are planned for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night. The Guard says more night trainings will take place starting Nov. 16.

Vermont's falling unemployment rate means the state will also see a drop in federal emergency assistance. The average jobless rate for the last three months in Vermont is under six percent -- the cut off for what are known as Tier 3 extended benefits. About a thousand Vermonters are now receiving those benefits, but after next week, no additional unemployed people will be eligible for the extended funding. This only affects the long-term unemployed. People who have just lost their jobs are still eligible for the regular 26-weeks of unemployment benefits.

The Vermont Fish and Wildlife board is planning to hold hearings this winter to discuss proposed changes to deer and moose hunting regulations. The board has scheduled three hearings in early January to get public input on the proposals. The hearings are set for Jan. 3 at the Kehoe Conservation Camp Education Center in Castleton; Jan. 4 at the Pavilion Auditorium in Montpelier and Jan. 5 at Johnson State College's Dibden Auditorium. All three are at 6:30 PM.

The Paramount Theatre is known for attracting some very talented acts, and Saturday's performance was no exception. The Really Big show is an annual amateur talent show that highlights home grown local talent, while raising money for local families. The funds raised Saturday night will help support 34 non profit health and human services agencies in Rutland County to help people in need in the community. The fundraiser brings in about 8-thousand dollars.