WVTK Local & State News June 18, 2014

A new law to help in the state's fight against opiate addiction is now on the books. On Tuesday Governor Peter Shumlin put his signature to the "Risk Assessment Law" which essentially gives prosecutors the option to send someone to treatment instead of jail. When someone is arrested on drug charges, a third party screens them to see if they can be potentially rehabilitated. And, if that person successfully completes treatment they'll lose that arrest from their record.

Electric vehicle ownership is up some 260% since last year in Vermont. Now it's more cost effective than ever to make the switch. Drive Electric Vermont is offering a 500-dollar incentive to purchase a totally electric, or plug in hybrid vehicle, this summer. The deal comes as Governor Peter Shumlin works with seven other states to increase the number of electric vehicles on the road. The discount can be applied at one of seven dealerships fanned out across the state anytime between now and August 15.

A tractor trailer accident in Bristol shut down a portion of Route 116 yesterday afternoon. Investigators say the big rig veered across the center land around 2 o’clock near Lords Prayer Rock. The truck crashed through the guardrail and rolled over into a ditch. The driver was not injured in the incident. The road was reduced to one lane for a couple of hours while cres removed the vehicle and cleaned up the scene.

Michael Jacques has been moved to an Arizona prison as he serves a life prison term for the kidnapping, sexual assault and murder of his niece, 12-year-old Brooke Bennett. Jacques' attorney had asked that he not be held at a regular prison out of concern he could be targeted by other inmates. The judge declined to make the recommendation, but Jacques was recently sent to a high-security prison in Tucson. There are about 1,600 inmates and a high percentage of them are sex offenders.

Authorities are warning you to be on the lookout for a new scam. Resident in South Burlington have reported a number of complaints of receiving unsolicited mail indicating the recipient has won money. The documents request that the “winner” call a telephone number and provide personal information which may include Social Security numbers and bank information. Authorities say if you are contacted and asked to pay any amount, for any reason, to claim a prize, you have not heard from a legitimate company.