WVTK Local & State News March 7, 2014

U.S. Marshals and Rutland Police arrested a Bristol fugitive who is accused of stealing a car to flee from police yesterday. A press release says 41-year-old Kevin Williams of Bronx, New York, is accused of stealing a bottle of liquor from Cumberland Farms and then stealing a running, parked car on February 27. The vehicle was recovered 3 days later in a parking lot in Springfield, Vermont. Police say Williams' was located in Rutland, where he lied about his identity when confronted. Williams was lodged at the Marble Valley Regional Correctional Facility.

Homeowners who have received a letter from Vermont Gas about the possible use of eminent domain met with state officials to express their concerns. According to a news release, state Sen. Chris Bray, a Democrat from New Haven, and Public Safety Commissioner Chris Recchia attended last night’s meeting in Monkton. Vermont Gas spokesman Stephen Wark says the letters indicated the possibility of eminent domain, not the start of any formal process. Wark says Vermont Gas is committed to continued discussion with landowners.

Senator Bernie Sanders says he is prepared to run for President of the Unite States. The junior senator told The Nation that he has begun meeting with political strategists, traveling to southern states and entertaining the logistics of a run for president in 2016. Sanders says he has nothing against Hillary Clinton, the presumed Democratic nominee, but he believes she will not adequately address climate change and fight for working Americans. Democrats, in his view, are too beholden to corporations and special interest groups to implement needed political reforms, in his view.

The former Burlington Free Press building was vandalized last night. Police say the fire department discovered a small fire was set in an office on the third floor. The fire was extinguished from the building's sprinkler system. One firefighter sustained minor injuries. No other injuries were reported. Damages are estimated to be in excess of $40,000. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Arson Tip Line at 1-800-32-ARSON.

A fire which badly damaged a town house on the campus of St. Michael’s College is apparently not a case of arson. Fire investigators from the Vermont State Police have been going over the site ever since the fire on February 17th, along with local fire authorities. While the exact cause is not yet determined, they do know it’s not suspicious. No one was injured in the fire, but damages were estimated to be more than a quarter of a million dollars.