U.S. Rep. Peter Welch says he plans to make a decision soon on whether he will give up his seat in Congress to run for governor. Welch, now in his fifth term as Vermont’s sole congressman, emerged as a potential candidate following Gov. Peter Shumlin’s surprise announcement Monday that he will not seek a fourth term in 2016. Welch this morning said he continues to enjoy serving in Congress. Despite the Democrats’ minority status, Welch said he has recently managed to push legislation into law, including energy efficiency requirements and funding for the National Institute of Health.
Governor Peter Shumlin has confirmed that homicide suspect Jason Kendall is dead. Authorities say they received a call from the Kansas Highway Patrol that police attempted to pull over a silver Honda Accord with stolen Massachusetts license plates. Police say a high-speed chase ensued, and the car eventually crashed. After the crash, the man was found dead in the car, apparently of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Investigators say Kendall shot and killed his ex-girlfriend and mother of his child Molly Helland in Windsor on Monday. Shumlin said Kendall was an opiate user, and called this case a drug-related tragedy.
The New York State Senate passed a bill to create a terrorist registry. A press release says the bill would do the following: create a registry, based on the state's highly successful Sex Offender Registration Act and require individuals convicted of terrorism to be added to the registry. This bill is currently in the Senate and Assembly, where it is hoped that immediate action will be taken to approve this legislation before the end of session.
Governor Peter Shumlin says they are working tirelessly to get escaped inmates 34-year-old David Sweat and 48-year-old Richard Matt back behind bars. Shumlin is urging Vermonters not to panic, but use common sense and stay vigilant. At a press conference this morning, Gov. Shumlin says Vermonters can expect to see more law enforcement, especially along Lake Champlain and remote areas where there are hunting camps. Shumlin says they have no new information regarding the escaped inmates plans to head to Vermont. Officials in Vermont are working closely with police and officials in New York to locate the escaped inmates.
