WVTK Local & State News March 10, 2014

Winter is not done yet … another snowstorm is on the way. Forecasters say snow will begin mid-morning Wednesday; will be heaviest Wednesday night, then end Thursday morning to midday. Total snow accumulations will add up to six inches or more for many areas. There is a chance cities and towns to get a foot of snow, even the chance for more in the mountains. The worst of the driving and traveling will be Wednesday evening through Thursday morning.

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc. has officially changed its name. Today, the company announced its name changed to Keurig Green Mountain, Inc. The change takes effect immediately. Brian Kelley, Keurig Green Mountain's President and CEO said "The name Keurig Green Mountain brings together our two strongest brands, Keurig and Green Mountain Coffee, into one single and powerful corporate identity." In January, the company announced that it planned to change its name. It was subject to shareholder approval.

CCTA busses are still running today. After 19-hours of negotiations, which stretched from Saturday into early Sunday morning, a new contract proposal was made by the Chittenden County Transportation Authority to the Teamsters union representing bus drivers. The union has agreed to bring that to its members for a vote, and say any labor action will be delayed until the voting is finished. Drivers have been working without a contract for 9 months, and were requesting fair treatment, and better access to breaks.

Firefighters say a long-abandoned Rutland motel has been damaged in a fire. The fire broke out at about 4:30 yesterday afternoon at Flory’s Motel. An hour later, firefighters believed they had contained the blaze to the right-hand side of the building, but the smoke soon spread across the entire structure and flames could be seen through windows. The building is part of a stretch of land on Business Route 4 that was abandoned decades ago. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. No injuries were reported.

Governor Peter Shumlin today called on the legislature to increase the minimum wage. Shumlin today at a press conference, joined by several business owners, called on lawmakers to approve a phased-in increase in Vermont’s minimum wage to $10.10 by 2017. Right now, a full time minimum wage worker earned $18,000 a year. Under the governor’s proposal, that same person would earn $21,100 a year in 2017.