WVTK Local & State News October 31, 2013

An electric transmission company wants to build a 150-mile power line from the Canadian border to the southern Vermont town of Ludlow, much of which would be buried beneath the bottom of Lake Champlain.  The New England Clean Power Link project was announced today by the company TDI New England.  The company hopes to complete the project by 2019.  The company has not yet applied for the permits that would be needed to begin construction.  The proposal would run two, six-inch cables down Lake Champlain and east to Ludlow.  A similar project has been proposed that would run under Lake Champlain then to New York City.

The Vermont Department of Corrections is doing a sweep today to check in on high risk offenders.  There are about 500 on parole in Vermont.  Officials from the Vermont Department of Corrections, say they are instructing them not to have their lights on and not to answer the door and hand out candy.  Offenders who don't follow the rules can face punishment including returning to jail.

On November 1, 3SquaresVT will see a reduction in monthly food benefits based on household size. The reduction is due to the expiration of the Recovery Act (ARRA) which began in 2009 to stimulate the economy.  A press release says a single person will see a reduction of $11 and $36 for a family of 4.  3SquaresVT, formerly food stamps known as SNAP, helps more than 100,000 Vermonters put food on the table, decreasing food insecurity and lifting families out of poverty across the state.

Officials at UVM say Associate Director of Residential Life Kathleen Cook died in a fire at her University-owned residence on the Redstone Campus last night.  She was a staff member at the University for the past 16 years.  A press release says state and local fire investigators have determined no foul play or accidental causes are involved.  School officials say there is no ongoing threat to the UVM or Burlington community.  Arrangements in memory of Kathleen Cook will be announced at a later time.

The Obamacare website isn’t the only health insurance exchange site having technical issues.  In Vermont, the biggest glitch will not allow Vermonters to pay for their insurance coverage online, and there are apparently contingency plans if the Health Connect system isn’t ready to go by January 1st.  Governor Peter Shumlin’s administration has set tomorrow as its own deadline for having website problems worked out.