Wednesday, December 31, 2014

WVTK Local & State News December 31, 2014

Governor Peter Shumlin has released more details on why he will not move forward on single payer healthcare in Vermont. He says it would have cost $4.3-million in the first year of operation. Shumlin says the government financed healthcare system would have covered more than 500-thousand Vermont residents. It would have covered all state residents except those on Medicaid or military benefits, and those who work in Vermont but live in other states. Shumlin says well over $2-billion in new taxes would have been needed to fund the program.

The Ripton man charged with robbing the Rite-Aid on Court Street in Middlebury on Sunday has plead not guilty. Police say 40-year-old Michael Maheu handed the pharmacy clerk a note demanding narcotics. He then made off with 30 prescription pills. According to reports he turned himself in to police on Monday and pleaded not guilty in Rutland criminal court yesterday. He was held for lack of $5,000 bail. Maheu was ordered to start a drug treatment program within seven days of his release.

Minimum Wage works in both Vermont and New York are getting raises. In the Green Mountain State, the minimum wage will increase to $9.15 an hour starting tomorrow from the current rate of $8.73 an hour. While workers in the Empire State got a raise starting today from $8 to $8.75 a hour. The current federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour.

A fire last night destroyed a house in Brandon. The blaze on Cram Road started at about 8:30 p.m. No injuries were reported. The people that were inside the home at the start of the fire got out in time. Fire crews from Pittsford, Proctor, Salisbury, and Whiting helped knock down the fire. Crews were still at the scene this morning making sure there were no more hot ambers. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.