WVTK Local & State News June 2, 2014

A legislative committee is holding public hearings across the state this week dealing with the state's system of child protection. There have been two deaths of children earlier this spring, children who at one point were being safe-guarded by the Department for Children and Families. The first three hearings are Tuesday, with one in the Chester Town Hall at 11 a-m, then one in the Park House in Manchester at 2:30 and the day wraps up with a third at Rutland High School starting at 6 p-m. Three more hearings are on Thursday, and the final three are next week.

Vermont Fish and Wildlife Officials are reminding the public that deer fawns are being born and are asking people to avoid disturbing them or picking them up. According to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department, most deer are born during the first and second weeks of June. Deer Biologist Adam Murkowski encourages people to resist the urge to assist wildlife in ways that may be harmful, and he adds that deer and moose nurse their young at different times during the day, and often leave their young alone for long periods of time. These animals are not lost. Their mother knows where they are and will return.

A New Vermont bus service is coming soon. Starting next Monday, Vermont Translines in conjunction with the Vermont Agency of Transportation are offering two new routes. Once a day, seven days a week, service will be provided from Burlington to Albany, NY, and from Rutland to the White River Junction, West Lebanon area. There will also be stops along the way, and connections to other intercity services to places like New York City, Boston, and Montreal. The new routes are being subsidized by the state with federal money.

Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin has signed the largest transportation bill in state history. Earlier today, Shumlin signed the bill that approves $685.7 million in infrastructure improvements and maintenance. The bill includes $115.7 million for paving, a 7 percent increase that's part of an ongoing plan to improve the condition of the state's highways and $140.3 million for bridges, up 6 percent over last year. The governor's office says Vermont is making progress in catching up with needed maintenance.