Tuesday, January 21, 2014

WVTK Local & State News January 21, 2014

The Vermont Individual Income Tax Return Booklet for tax year 2013 is now available.  A press release says taxpayers can find the forms on the Vermont Department of Taxes website, email, or by ordering the booklet and forms by contacting the department at (802)-828-2865. All other tax forms will be available starting on January 31.  The booklet will no longer be distributed through town offices, post offices, and libraries.  Taxpayers can also e-file their federal and state income taxes using a vendor of choice beginning on Jan. 31.

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture says free health screenings and vaccinations are going to be available to the state’s 82nd Farm Show.  The free immunizations will take place each day of the show from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Healthy Farmers-Healthy Farms booth.  Free health screenings and information will also be available. They will include blood pressure screening, blood glucose monitoring and DermaScan screening for sun damage.  The farm show this year will be held at the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction.

Vermont State Police are investigating a knifepoint robbery in Wallingford that took place late last night, the sixth knifepoint robbery in the region since the start of the year.  Police said around 9:30 p.m. they were called to the Mobil gas station and convenience store at 172 North Main St. for a reported armed robbery.  Police said an investigation revealed that a man went into the store, brandished a knife to the clerk and demanded money. An undisclosed amount of money was handed over to the robber who then fled the store on foot.  The robbery last night comes on the heels of another knifepoint robbery Sunday evening in Rutland.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo is presenting a budget proposal this afternoon detailing how he will pay for a broad program of tax breaks while maintaining funding for schools, health care and infrastructure.  The budget proposal is expected to top $136 billion.  Cuomo and state lawmakers will try to maintain their three-year streak of reaching a final budget deal by the start of the state fiscal year April 1.  Cuomo says his budget will usher in three years of projected surpluses if lawmakers hold spending growth below 2 percent.

Vermont and New York authorities are searching for a man who went missing after a bar fight over the weekend.  Police say 23-year-old Jonathan Schaff of Fair Haven, was in a fight at a pub in Granville, New York, on Saturday.  A family member says he received a head laceration and his glasses were broken.  He was last seen walking toward the state line on Route 149.  Police do not suspect foul play at this time, stating that they got a ping off his cell phone around the time he disappeared, but there has not been any activity on the device since.  Anyone with information is asked to call Vermont State Police at (802) 773-9101 or the Granville Police at (518) 642-1414.