Federal employees in Vermont
who are furloughed during the current government shutdown may be eligible for
help from the state. The Department of
Labor is ready to help those who may be eligible for unemployment benefits as a
result of the furlough. Although the
state labor department is about 80-percent federally funded, its unemployment
insurance program will continue without interruption, according to the state’s
Labor Commissioner.
A federal court jury has now done what a state jury did:
convicted a man of murder. Frank
Caraballo has been found guilty of murder in the killing of Melissa Barratt in
Dummerston two years ago, but he was found not guilty of firing the gun that
killed her. Prosecutors say Caraballo
was operating a drug network in Brattleboro ,
and believed the woman stole 10-thousand dollars’ worth of drugs from him. His defense lawyers say there’s no proof
their client was at the scene, and it’s just as likely his partner killed the
woman.
Home care workers in Vermont
have overwhelmingly voted to unionize. 1,412
workers voted to organize while 566 were opposed. The 71 percent in favor easily surpassed the
simple majority needed. There were 23
voided ballots. The workers will
organize under the umbrella of the American Federation of State, County and
Municipal Employees. Legislation passed
this year allowed independent home care workers to unionize for purposes of
negotiating with the state.
Rutland Police have arrested the 46-year-old man wanted in
the beating of a 14-year-old boy last month.
Jean Gaboriau was taken into custody Wednesday night after police said
they recieved a tip from someone. Gaboriau
is charged with simple assault and interference with emergency services,
according to police. Police say the incident
took place on September 11 when four teenagers on the playground at Rutland
Intermediate School
