Vermont Governor Jim Douglas is praising a legislative committee for acting quickly to move a jobs bill to the floor of the state's House of Representatives. Gov. Jim Douglas yesterday urged lawmakers to take up the bill as soon as possible so he can sign the measure into law. The bill sets aside eight-point-67 million in federal stimulus money for economic development initiatives as a way of creating jobs. Douglas says each day that passes without approving the bill is a missed opportunity.
The state Senate has approved a proposal to release 200 nonviolent prison inmates early as a way of saving money. The measure, which still needs House approval, would have prisoners released if they've served their minimum sentences but are being held for lack of housing. If passed, the state would save about $4.6-Million.
Police were called to Peru Central School after a student allegedly brought a BB Gun to school. The 13-year-old boy has been charged with unlawful possession of a weapon. Authorities say the boy never used the gun, never displayed it and never threatened to hurt anyone. Police and school officials are still investigating the incident.
The Vermont Milk Company has been auctioned off. The Vermont Milk Company opened its doors in 2006 after a group of frustrated dairy farmers banded together, left their co-ops, and started their own business. The plant paid farmers a premium price for their milk. In addition to the sale of the plant itself, more than 160 items from inside the plant were also auctioned off.
As state authorities investigate whether Burlington officials misled regulators about the city-owned Burlington Telecom, City Council members have their own questions. Two council members are questioning city administrators about the transfer of $17 million in city money to the telecom operation.
Officials at Small Dog Electronics say their Web site was hacked in February, during a Haiti earthquake donation drive. Twelve hundred people had their credit card information stolen. Small Dog has already contacted all 1,200 people who were compromised. They've also hired two auditing companies and installed a new, more secure server.
The Vermont House has approved legislation calling for mediation between mortgage lenders and homeowners before a foreclosure occurs. Backers of the bill say it's often cheaper for banks to renegotiate a mortgage at a lower monthly payment than foreclosing, taking possession of the property and trying to resell it.
A Vermont teen will be arraigned on a charge of second degree murder today following the death of a one-year-old girl. Police say 19-year-old Alexander Stolte, was babysitting his girlfriend's daughter Kyleigh McDaniel at home in Chelsea Wednesday night when he killed the child. The medical examiner says the baby suffered multiple blunt impacts to the head.
Jurors in the drug trial of a local business man say they can’t get a unanimous verdict. Stephen Giroux, the former owner of Champy’s Car Wash, is on trail for cocaine charges. Yesterday, the 12-member jury said they were unable to reach a unanimous decision. The judge in the case has asked them to work toward a verdict. Jurors return today to continue deliberations.
North Country Community College is adding 4 new degree programs. The school is also asking the state for permission to provide weekend classes for students wishing to become nurses. Students can earn degrees in solar-energy fields, fine arts, paramedics and environmental science.
It’s a big weekend for UVM sports. This afternoon at 5 PM, the University of Vermont Men’s Hockey team will skate against Boston College in the Hockey East Semifinals. Tonight at 9:30, the Men’s Basketball Team will take on the Syracuse in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. And Sunday afternoon, the Women’s Basketball team will play against Wisconsin in the Woman’s NCAA Basketball Tournament.
Just in time for spring and the arrival of warmer weather, the Rutland Ben & Jerry's scoop shop is reopening at a new location, 219 Woodstock Ave. Owner Sarah Decandio was forced to move the scoop shop when her lease expired at the Trolley Square location late last year. Aubuchon Hardware is the new Trolley Square tenant. Now in the Great Outdoors Trading Co. complex on Woodstock Avenue, Ben & Jerry's is set to reopen at 11 a.m. today.
And in more Ice Cream news the owner of a popular ice cream shop in Ticonderoga, N.Y., plans to rebuild. The Wind-Chill Factory on Route 9N burned down last week. Investigators say a heater is to blame for the blaze. The owner is not sure when the ice cream shop will reopen.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
WVTK Local & State News March 18, 2010
The Vermont Legislature is considering a bill that would ban hospital advertising as one way to control health care costs. Middlebury Representative Steve Maier says Vermont hospitals spend an estimated $10 million a year on advertising and marketing. The ban would not prevent hospitals from advertising to fill job openings.
A Rutland man will serve 35 years to life in prison for a stabbing death that was captured on surveillance video. 25-year-old Jonathan Bruno was sentenced yesterday in Vermont District Court in Rutland for the 2007 stabbing death of 24-year-old John Baptie in the parking lot of a Rutland store. The stabbing was supposedly over a $40 drug debt.
A 16 acre piece of property in the town of Ferrisburgh could become the sight of one of the largest solar energy facilities in the state of Vermont and the Northeast. The project would be built on the corner of Route 7 and Monkton road. About 4,000 solar panels would be put in the ground, creating power that Green Mountain Power can distribute to more than 160 homes.
A Vermont National Guard brigade is fully in place in eastern Afghanistan. A Guard spokesman says the final contingent of solders in the 1,500 member deployment arrived in the country Monday. Most members of the 86th Brigade have already begun carrying out their on-the-ground missions.
A Plattsburgh man has filed a $5 million lawsuit against Clinton County, the City of Plattsburgh, local prosecutors and police. 43-year-old Dwane Clay says he was arrested without probable cause following a stabbing outside of nightclub in 2007. He also alleges that authorities threatened him with physical harm and decades of incarceration if he didn’t admit to the crime.
The man who was convicted of murdered a 21-year-old UVM college student in 2006 is hoping to have his life sentence overturned. Lawyers representing Brian Rooney say their client didn’t get a fair trial. They say the state relied heavily on DNA evidence and the labs were sloppy with the small samples. The court could issue a ruling in the case sometime this summer.
There's a new way for Vermonters to access state services. People can now apply online for food, fuel and health insurance help, and also use the computer to track the progress of their benefits. The new website is -- MyBenefits.VT.GOV. While some services are working now, the rest will be up and running this June.
The Vermont Health Department is kicking off a new campaign to deter teen alcohol use. And this time it's taking a different approach; not targeting kids, but their parents. The “Parent Up Campaign” aims to give parents of middle schoolers the tools to start conversations about alcohol use and set policies in their homes.
There’s a new restaurant in the area. Michele's Fine Dining opened last week off of US Avenue in Plattsburgh. The owner, Howard Fleisher, is a certified chef from Canada. He said the menu is completely different from anything in town.
It’s a sign that spring has officially sprung in downtown Burlington … the Beansie Bus has opened for season. Beansie's opened in its familiar spot on the edge of Battery Park, serving up fries, burgers, and more. Bus owner Bill Peters says he thinks this is the earliest he’s ever opened. Peter’s hopes this is not a tease and the good weather is here to stay.
Governor David Paterson's press secretary has become the 4th top person to quit the governor’s administration. Press secretary Marissa Shorenstein said she resigned after two years because she could no longer do her job because of the abuse scandal. Paterson has insisted throughout the resignations and calls for his own that he did nothing wrong.
A Craftsbury student has won Vermont's statewide spelling bee with the correct spelling of ornithoscopy. Mael Le Souezec beat 46 other kids on Wednesday to go on to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington in June. He outlasted Taylor Marquis of Missisquoi Valley Union High School and third place, Abigail Postlewaite of Charlotte Central School. The contest was sponsored by the state Department of Education, Vermont Principals' Association, Vermont Humanities Council and the Burlington Free Press.
A man from Grand Isle says he's found a rock with the image of Michael Jackson on it. Daniel Larrow makes walking sticks in his home and often walks along the nearby shore of Lake Champlain. He says he likes to look for rocks which may have images on them. Larrow says that's what he was doing last June when he found one particular rock with the likeness of the late King of Pop, adding even most of his friends agree with his interpretation. Larrow now plans to put the stone up for sale on eBay.
A Rutland man will serve 35 years to life in prison for a stabbing death that was captured on surveillance video. 25-year-old Jonathan Bruno was sentenced yesterday in Vermont District Court in Rutland for the 2007 stabbing death of 24-year-old John Baptie in the parking lot of a Rutland store. The stabbing was supposedly over a $40 drug debt.
A 16 acre piece of property in the town of Ferrisburgh could become the sight of one of the largest solar energy facilities in the state of Vermont and the Northeast. The project would be built on the corner of Route 7 and Monkton road. About 4,000 solar panels would be put in the ground, creating power that Green Mountain Power can distribute to more than 160 homes.
A Vermont National Guard brigade is fully in place in eastern Afghanistan. A Guard spokesman says the final contingent of solders in the 1,500 member deployment arrived in the country Monday. Most members of the 86th Brigade have already begun carrying out their on-the-ground missions.
A Plattsburgh man has filed a $5 million lawsuit against Clinton County, the City of Plattsburgh, local prosecutors and police. 43-year-old Dwane Clay says he was arrested without probable cause following a stabbing outside of nightclub in 2007. He also alleges that authorities threatened him with physical harm and decades of incarceration if he didn’t admit to the crime.
The man who was convicted of murdered a 21-year-old UVM college student in 2006 is hoping to have his life sentence overturned. Lawyers representing Brian Rooney say their client didn’t get a fair trial. They say the state relied heavily on DNA evidence and the labs were sloppy with the small samples. The court could issue a ruling in the case sometime this summer.
There's a new way for Vermonters to access state services. People can now apply online for food, fuel and health insurance help, and also use the computer to track the progress of their benefits. The new website is -- MyBenefits.VT.GOV. While some services are working now, the rest will be up and running this June.
The Vermont Health Department is kicking off a new campaign to deter teen alcohol use. And this time it's taking a different approach; not targeting kids, but their parents. The “Parent Up Campaign” aims to give parents of middle schoolers the tools to start conversations about alcohol use and set policies in their homes.
There’s a new restaurant in the area. Michele's Fine Dining opened last week off of US Avenue in Plattsburgh. The owner, Howard Fleisher, is a certified chef from Canada. He said the menu is completely different from anything in town.
It’s a sign that spring has officially sprung in downtown Burlington … the Beansie Bus has opened for season. Beansie's opened in its familiar spot on the edge of Battery Park, serving up fries, burgers, and more. Bus owner Bill Peters says he thinks this is the earliest he’s ever opened. Peter’s hopes this is not a tease and the good weather is here to stay.
Governor David Paterson's press secretary has become the 4th top person to quit the governor’s administration. Press secretary Marissa Shorenstein said she resigned after two years because she could no longer do her job because of the abuse scandal. Paterson has insisted throughout the resignations and calls for his own that he did nothing wrong.
A Craftsbury student has won Vermont's statewide spelling bee with the correct spelling of ornithoscopy. Mael Le Souezec beat 46 other kids on Wednesday to go on to the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Washington in June. He outlasted Taylor Marquis of Missisquoi Valley Union High School and third place, Abigail Postlewaite of Charlotte Central School. The contest was sponsored by the state Department of Education, Vermont Principals' Association, Vermont Humanities Council and the Burlington Free Press.
A man from Grand Isle says he's found a rock with the image of Michael Jackson on it. Daniel Larrow makes walking sticks in his home and often walks along the nearby shore of Lake Champlain. He says he likes to look for rocks which may have images on them. Larrow says that's what he was doing last June when he found one particular rock with the likeness of the late King of Pop, adding even most of his friends agree with his interpretation. Larrow now plans to put the stone up for sale on eBay.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
WVTK Local & State News March 17, 2010
The residents of Port Henry have voted to stay Port Henry. Voters went to the polls yesterday answering the question as to whether or no the Village of Port Henry should dissolve. The 186 to 146 vote means the Village of Port Henry will remain as a municipality and the issue of dissolution cannot be brought back for another vote for two years.
The Vermont Department of Education is apologizing for putting two schools in our area on the list of "persistently low achieving schools". The department says a calculation error put both Otter Valley Union High School and Bridport Elementary School on the list. Instead, the list now includes the St. Johnsbury School and Lamoille Union High School.
The Vermont House has passed a bill containing a number of new driving laws. The bill mandates the use of hands-free cell phones while driving, banning texting and putting a curfew on young drivers. The bill also includes a primary seatbelt law. The bill now moves on to the Senate were they have approved a ban on texting while driving but none of the other provisions.
New Yorkers have a new tool for tracking sex offenders in their communities. A state system, set up under a law passed last year, lets residents sign up for alerts by phone, e-mail, text message or fax, when moderate and high-risk sex offenders move into or out of their town. The alerts are carried out by the State Emergency Management Services system.
The Hinesburg Selectboard voted unanimously to dismiss Police Chief Chris Morrell. A lengthy arbitration report concludes the chief refused to accept or put into place a second supervisory position that the Selectboard approved four years ago. The termination ended nearly a year of legal moves, including the chief being suspended from his duties. He was put on paid leave in April last year due to performance and low morale issues. That leave was changed to unpaid last September. Morrell has served as chief of Hinesburg police since 1994. Deputy Chief Fred Silber is currently running the department.
Governor David Paterson has temporarily halted income tax refund checks. The last round of refund checks were sent out last Friday. No more are scheduled to be sent until April 1. Budget officials say approximately $500 million is being delayed in order to get the state through the cash flow crunch.
Milk prices for farmers are falling again and Vermont is joining with other states in the Northeast to ask for help from the federal government. Farmers now get about $15 dollars for pounds of milk. The break-even point is about $18. Last year, 50 farms went out of business in Vermont. The price supports they’re looking for could help stabilize falling milk prices.
Burton snowboards will no longer be made in Vermont. The company says it is closing its manufacturing facility in South Burlington because of the high cost of doing business in the state. 43 jobs are at stake as Burton moves all of its snowboard manufacturing overseas to Austria. The research and development will move to the headquarters in Burlington.
New York State Police say a Saranac High School student has been expelled and put in a local hospital's mental health unit after planning an attack at the school. The student, whose name has not been released, made remarks to a number of other students about the attack. Authorities are still investigating the incident.
The ACLU of Vermont is suing the state after unsuccessfully seeking to find out whether police agencies are using cell phone tracking technology to keep tabs on people's whereabouts. The state Attorney General refused public records requests by the ACLU seeking information about the practice, saying that information is exempt from public records statutes.
In an effort to save taxpayers money and adjust to a declining inmate population, the Department of Corrections will be shutting down 22 housing units located in 17 prisons around the state. Some of the housing units being closed are at prisons in Malone, Altona, and Ray Brook. In the last decade, officials say, the inmate population has dropped almost 20 percent.
Vermont Senate leaders want to crack down on high fees and others costs imposed on small merchants by credit card companies. Senate President Pro Tem Peter Shumlin joined three of his colleagues and merchants in announcing an amendment to a bill on credit card fees. The bill would allow merchants to set a minimum or maximum for credit card purchases and offer discounts for cash payments.
The Vermont Department of Education is apologizing for putting two schools in our area on the list of "persistently low achieving schools". The department says a calculation error put both Otter Valley Union High School and Bridport Elementary School on the list. Instead, the list now includes the St. Johnsbury School and Lamoille Union High School.
The Vermont House has passed a bill containing a number of new driving laws. The bill mandates the use of hands-free cell phones while driving, banning texting and putting a curfew on young drivers. The bill also includes a primary seatbelt law. The bill now moves on to the Senate were they have approved a ban on texting while driving but none of the other provisions.
New Yorkers have a new tool for tracking sex offenders in their communities. A state system, set up under a law passed last year, lets residents sign up for alerts by phone, e-mail, text message or fax, when moderate and high-risk sex offenders move into or out of their town. The alerts are carried out by the State Emergency Management Services system.
The Hinesburg Selectboard voted unanimously to dismiss Police Chief Chris Morrell. A lengthy arbitration report concludes the chief refused to accept or put into place a second supervisory position that the Selectboard approved four years ago. The termination ended nearly a year of legal moves, including the chief being suspended from his duties. He was put on paid leave in April last year due to performance and low morale issues. That leave was changed to unpaid last September. Morrell has served as chief of Hinesburg police since 1994. Deputy Chief Fred Silber is currently running the department.
Governor David Paterson has temporarily halted income tax refund checks. The last round of refund checks were sent out last Friday. No more are scheduled to be sent until April 1. Budget officials say approximately $500 million is being delayed in order to get the state through the cash flow crunch.
Milk prices for farmers are falling again and Vermont is joining with other states in the Northeast to ask for help from the federal government. Farmers now get about $15 dollars for pounds of milk. The break-even point is about $18. Last year, 50 farms went out of business in Vermont. The price supports they’re looking for could help stabilize falling milk prices.
Burton snowboards will no longer be made in Vermont. The company says it is closing its manufacturing facility in South Burlington because of the high cost of doing business in the state. 43 jobs are at stake as Burton moves all of its snowboard manufacturing overseas to Austria. The research and development will move to the headquarters in Burlington.
New York State Police say a Saranac High School student has been expelled and put in a local hospital's mental health unit after planning an attack at the school. The student, whose name has not been released, made remarks to a number of other students about the attack. Authorities are still investigating the incident.
The ACLU of Vermont is suing the state after unsuccessfully seeking to find out whether police agencies are using cell phone tracking technology to keep tabs on people's whereabouts. The state Attorney General refused public records requests by the ACLU seeking information about the practice, saying that information is exempt from public records statutes.
In an effort to save taxpayers money and adjust to a declining inmate population, the Department of Corrections will be shutting down 22 housing units located in 17 prisons around the state. Some of the housing units being closed are at prisons in Malone, Altona, and Ray Brook. In the last decade, officials say, the inmate population has dropped almost 20 percent.
Vermont Senate leaders want to crack down on high fees and others costs imposed on small merchants by credit card companies. Senate President Pro Tem Peter Shumlin joined three of his colleagues and merchants in announcing an amendment to a bill on credit card fees. The bill would allow merchants to set a minimum or maximum for credit card purchases and offer discounts for cash payments.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
WVTK Local & State News March 16, 2010
Workers on the new Crown Point Bridge have re-discovered an army fort from 1731. It is uncertain if the archaeological re-discovery will affect plans for the new bridge. The foundation of a small 1731 French Fort was found near a standing pier of the old bridge on the Vermont shore. An 18th century map shows the fort, which was used from 1731 to 1759, exactly where it was found.
Vermont Emergency Management leaders want to you think about the threat of flooding at this time of year. They've teamed up with the National Weather Service to declare this week "Flood Safety Week". They say 9 of Vermont's 11 federally declared disasters involved flooding. State leaders urge you to have a plan in place if you're caught in a flood.
The Vermont Department of Education says the state has been chosen to be part of a pilot program that will provide supper for some children participating in after school programs. Vermont is one of 13 states and the District of Columbia to participate in the Area Eligible Afterschool Supper Pilot through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Officials at FairPoint Communications announced the company has had a break-thru in broadband service. FairPoint has completed a fiber-based network in Essex Junction and Milton and now offers what it calls super-fast Internet service. The company plans to roll out that service to dozens of other communities soon.
An outbreak of the mumps has hit Plattsburgh State. 3 cases of students with mumps have been confirmed so far, with 3 more pending. As a result, more than 200 students may not be able to return from spring break unless they are fully vaccinated. The Clinton County Health Department is holding a free mumps and MMR vaccination clinic tomorrow.
Real estate sales in Chittenden County are on the increase. Professionals say home prices have dropped 6 percent in the last year; and that drop has helped spur more home sales. Federal tax credits have also helped in getting the real-estate market moving. Home sellers have also been cutting deals to get their homes to sell before the deadlines.
The U.S. Air Force is planning to hold a hearing next month in South Burlington to discuss the possibility of the Vermont Air National Guard getting the new F-35 fighter jet. The F-35 is said to be noisier than the F-16s it is designed to replace. The Vermont Air National Guard base is one of five installations across the country being considered to host the F-35.
The Adirondack Regional Tourism Council has been told it will not receive almost $500,000 in funding that was included in the budget for this year. The money was part of a matching funds program that was in last year’s budget and supposed to be in this year’s too. Officials say the cut represents about half of their budget.
A former teacher has been arrested for the 4th time in a student sex case. John Buttura Jr. of Waterbury is charged with having a relationship with a 16-year-old student. The new charges accuse Buttura of contacted the girl after being ordered not to. The former Twinfield Union School teacher pled not guilty to the new charges yesterday.
Vermont Emergency Management leaders want to you think about the threat of flooding at this time of year. They've teamed up with the National Weather Service to declare this week "Flood Safety Week". They say 9 of Vermont's 11 federally declared disasters involved flooding. State leaders urge you to have a plan in place if you're caught in a flood.
The Vermont Department of Education says the state has been chosen to be part of a pilot program that will provide supper for some children participating in after school programs. Vermont is one of 13 states and the District of Columbia to participate in the Area Eligible Afterschool Supper Pilot through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Officials at FairPoint Communications announced the company has had a break-thru in broadband service. FairPoint has completed a fiber-based network in Essex Junction and Milton and now offers what it calls super-fast Internet service. The company plans to roll out that service to dozens of other communities soon.
An outbreak of the mumps has hit Plattsburgh State. 3 cases of students with mumps have been confirmed so far, with 3 more pending. As a result, more than 200 students may not be able to return from spring break unless they are fully vaccinated. The Clinton County Health Department is holding a free mumps and MMR vaccination clinic tomorrow.
Real estate sales in Chittenden County are on the increase. Professionals say home prices have dropped 6 percent in the last year; and that drop has helped spur more home sales. Federal tax credits have also helped in getting the real-estate market moving. Home sellers have also been cutting deals to get their homes to sell before the deadlines.
The U.S. Air Force is planning to hold a hearing next month in South Burlington to discuss the possibility of the Vermont Air National Guard getting the new F-35 fighter jet. The F-35 is said to be noisier than the F-16s it is designed to replace. The Vermont Air National Guard base is one of five installations across the country being considered to host the F-35.
The Adirondack Regional Tourism Council has been told it will not receive almost $500,000 in funding that was included in the budget for this year. The money was part of a matching funds program that was in last year’s budget and supposed to be in this year’s too. Officials say the cut represents about half of their budget.
A former teacher has been arrested for the 4th time in a student sex case. John Buttura Jr. of Waterbury is charged with having a relationship with a 16-year-old student. The new charges accuse Buttura of contacted the girl after being ordered not to. The former Twinfield Union School teacher pled not guilty to the new charges yesterday.
Monday, March 15, 2010
WVTK Local & State News March 15, 2010
Voters in Port Henry go to the polls and decide whether or not to be Port Henry tomorrow. Residents will be voting on a resolution to dissolve the village of Port Henry. If the resolution passes, its functions and property become the responsibility of the town of Moriah. The polls will be open tomorrow from noon to 9 PM at the Port Henry firehouse.
The Rutland Police Commission has decided that the Chief of Police will keep his job. Chief Tony Bossi has recently been under fire because he didn’t report an investigation into one of his officers that involved pornography. Bossi said that because the state police were conducting the investigation, and because the department was not under investigation, he did not report it.
A Vermont panel investigating ways to cut millions of dollars from education spending will hold the rest of its meetings in public. Members of the Challenges for Change Education Design Team decided last week to open their meetings after the Dover School Board sent a letter to the legislature arguing that a group that could recommend big changes in education should be doing its work in public.
Federal legislation that would consolidate student loans under a government program is causing worries in Vermont. That's because it would take student loans out of the private sector, and the nonprofit Vermont Student Assistance Corporation would lose most of its reason to exist. Advocates are lobbying for a program that would make an exception for nonprofits.
A Vermont House committee this week is set to approve legislation that would designate large-scale hydropower as renewable. Doing so is expected to enable Vermont utilities to import electricity from the provincial utility Hydro-Quebec at a discount. The House Natural Resources and Energy Committee is expected to advance the bill tomorrow.
The North Country is mourning the death of a leader who worked tirelessly to better the community as a legislator, educator and sportsman. Former Clinton County Legislator Melvin R. "Bob" Bruno passed away on Saturday at the age of 78.
Vermont Governor Jim Douglas says he's against a proposal to allow up to 5 dispensaries to be set up around the state for medical marijuana. Douglas, who won't say if he'll veto the legislation if it reaches his desk, says Vermont is already at odds with the federal government in allowing some medical patients to use the drug, he says the state shouldn't push the issue further.
A fatal accident in South Hero Saturday morning took the life of the driver. Police say a man was driving on West Shore Road when he lost control and crashed into a utility pole. The man, whose name has not been released, died from his injuries. A female passenger in the car was sent to the hospital with serious injuries. Alcohol may have been a factor in the crash.
The Vermont Supreme Court will make its annual trip to the Vermont Law School in South Royalton this week. The 5 justices will hear arguments in 7 cases at the law school on Wednesday, including an appeal connected to the murder of Michelle Gardner Quinn, a University of Vermont student who was killed in October 2006.
Maple Sugar makers across the state will be holding open houses later this month. On March 26 and 27, during the 9th Annual Maple Open House Weekend, people will be able to watch sap being boiled down into syrup and sample some fresh syrup and other maple products. Events will be different at each sugarhouse. Some will have special activities for children.
The UVM Catamounts (#16) will play Syracuse (#1) in the first round of the NCAA Men's Tournament on Friday in Buffalo. The winner will go on to face either Florida State or Gonzaga in the second round. The UVM Women's team, which also won a trip to the tournament, will learn their first round challenger Monday tonight.
The Rutland Police Commission has decided that the Chief of Police will keep his job. Chief Tony Bossi has recently been under fire because he didn’t report an investigation into one of his officers that involved pornography. Bossi said that because the state police were conducting the investigation, and because the department was not under investigation, he did not report it.
A Vermont panel investigating ways to cut millions of dollars from education spending will hold the rest of its meetings in public. Members of the Challenges for Change Education Design Team decided last week to open their meetings after the Dover School Board sent a letter to the legislature arguing that a group that could recommend big changes in education should be doing its work in public.
Federal legislation that would consolidate student loans under a government program is causing worries in Vermont. That's because it would take student loans out of the private sector, and the nonprofit Vermont Student Assistance Corporation would lose most of its reason to exist. Advocates are lobbying for a program that would make an exception for nonprofits.
A Vermont House committee this week is set to approve legislation that would designate large-scale hydropower as renewable. Doing so is expected to enable Vermont utilities to import electricity from the provincial utility Hydro-Quebec at a discount. The House Natural Resources and Energy Committee is expected to advance the bill tomorrow.
The North Country is mourning the death of a leader who worked tirelessly to better the community as a legislator, educator and sportsman. Former Clinton County Legislator Melvin R. "Bob" Bruno passed away on Saturday at the age of 78.
Vermont Governor Jim Douglas says he's against a proposal to allow up to 5 dispensaries to be set up around the state for medical marijuana. Douglas, who won't say if he'll veto the legislation if it reaches his desk, says Vermont is already at odds with the federal government in allowing some medical patients to use the drug, he says the state shouldn't push the issue further.
A fatal accident in South Hero Saturday morning took the life of the driver. Police say a man was driving on West Shore Road when he lost control and crashed into a utility pole. The man, whose name has not been released, died from his injuries. A female passenger in the car was sent to the hospital with serious injuries. Alcohol may have been a factor in the crash.
The Vermont Supreme Court will make its annual trip to the Vermont Law School in South Royalton this week. The 5 justices will hear arguments in 7 cases at the law school on Wednesday, including an appeal connected to the murder of Michelle Gardner Quinn, a University of Vermont student who was killed in October 2006.
Maple Sugar makers across the state will be holding open houses later this month. On March 26 and 27, during the 9th Annual Maple Open House Weekend, people will be able to watch sap being boiled down into syrup and sample some fresh syrup and other maple products. Events will be different at each sugarhouse. Some will have special activities for children.
The UVM Catamounts (#16) will play Syracuse (#1) in the first round of the NCAA Men's Tournament on Friday in Buffalo. The winner will go on to face either Florida State or Gonzaga in the second round. The UVM Women's team, which also won a trip to the tournament, will learn their first round challenger Monday tonight.
Friday, March 12, 2010
WVTK Local & State News March 12, 2010
Green Mountain Power and CVPS have signed a 26-year deal with Hydro-Quebec. The contract would take effect in 2012 and runs though 2038. The deal inked yesterday means the Canadian power producer will provide 1/3 of Vermont’s power and Vermont lawmakers will designate Hydro-Quebec's power as "renewable" energy.
Governor Jim Douglas has received Quebec’s Highest Honor. The Nation Order of Quebec is usually reserved for a resident of Quebec; in fact, Governor Douglas is the first American political to receive the honor. The award is presented to someone for outstanding achievement and action that support Quebec.
It's still winter, but the ground is very dry in some areas. And that's prompted a warning from firefighters. The trouble spots are areas without any snow, like spots in Vergennes. Firefighters from Vergennes and Ferrisbugh battled an out-of-control grass fire yesterday afternoon. Fire officials say a simple spark could lead to a major fire under these dry conditions.
Plattsburgh city councilors unanimously approved a tobacco-free policy for the City Beach, parks, and recreational areas. The ban, passed at last night’s meeting, would eliminate smoking in those public areas, which are highly traveled by families with children.
Nova Buss has received an order for 24 busses. The $10-Million order was placed by the city of Honolulu. The busses will be assembled at the Plattsburgh Plant. Delivery is expected by the end of the year. The contract also contains options for additional buses, but the company said the number and value has yet to be determined.
Burlington police are investigating two burglaries that took place yesterday. Police say the first break-in happened at Pure Pop Music, on South Winooski Avenue. The second burglary happened at Mirror Mirror on Main Street. The suspect is described as a white male with a large build. No other details are available at this time.
Vermont regulators told the U.S. EPA that they will not approve the dumping of 33,000 tons of soil from a Massachusetts Superfund site at the Moretown landfill. According to the EPA, the soil is a hazardous “substance” but not a hazardous “waste.” A spokesman for the EPA says the agency is seeking alternative sites to take the waste soil.
The Essex Alliance Church has gotten approval from the town of Williston to build a new church. The church would be built on 54 acres off Route 2A near Taft Corners. The plans call for a 100,000-square-foot building with a cafe and a bookstore. Planners still need state land-use and traffic permits, but hope to break ground in the fall and open in 2012.
The University of Vermont says it's dealing with more drunk students than ever before. UVM Police say they’ve taken more than 130 students into custody this year, which is more than all of last year. UVM police also say they are dealing with more drunk female students. Public drunkenness is a civil offense, not a criminal offense in Vermont.
A court has sided with Vermont authorities -- ruling that tobacco giant R.J. Reynolds' used deceptive and misleading ads to sell its Eclipse "reduced risk" cigarettes. Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell's office claimed the company's claims weren't backed up by scientific evidence.
Bird lovers take note: unless you want to tempt the bears, you might want to remove your feeders. That's the advice from the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. The agency says bears are starting to leave their dens and after a long winter's hibernation, many of them are hungry and looking for food. Fish and Wildlife Colonel David LeCours says his agency is already receiving reports of bears eating from feeders. LeCours recommends that Vermonters take down their feeders until next fall.
Governor Jim Douglas has received Quebec’s Highest Honor. The Nation Order of Quebec is usually reserved for a resident of Quebec; in fact, Governor Douglas is the first American political to receive the honor. The award is presented to someone for outstanding achievement and action that support Quebec.
It's still winter, but the ground is very dry in some areas. And that's prompted a warning from firefighters. The trouble spots are areas without any snow, like spots in Vergennes. Firefighters from Vergennes and Ferrisbugh battled an out-of-control grass fire yesterday afternoon. Fire officials say a simple spark could lead to a major fire under these dry conditions.
Plattsburgh city councilors unanimously approved a tobacco-free policy for the City Beach, parks, and recreational areas. The ban, passed at last night’s meeting, would eliminate smoking in those public areas, which are highly traveled by families with children.
Nova Buss has received an order for 24 busses. The $10-Million order was placed by the city of Honolulu. The busses will be assembled at the Plattsburgh Plant. Delivery is expected by the end of the year. The contract also contains options for additional buses, but the company said the number and value has yet to be determined.
Burlington police are investigating two burglaries that took place yesterday. Police say the first break-in happened at Pure Pop Music, on South Winooski Avenue. The second burglary happened at Mirror Mirror on Main Street. The suspect is described as a white male with a large build. No other details are available at this time.
Vermont regulators told the U.S. EPA that they will not approve the dumping of 33,000 tons of soil from a Massachusetts Superfund site at the Moretown landfill. According to the EPA, the soil is a hazardous “substance” but not a hazardous “waste.” A spokesman for the EPA says the agency is seeking alternative sites to take the waste soil.
The Essex Alliance Church has gotten approval from the town of Williston to build a new church. The church would be built on 54 acres off Route 2A near Taft Corners. The plans call for a 100,000-square-foot building with a cafe and a bookstore. Planners still need state land-use and traffic permits, but hope to break ground in the fall and open in 2012.
The University of Vermont says it's dealing with more drunk students than ever before. UVM Police say they’ve taken more than 130 students into custody this year, which is more than all of last year. UVM police also say they are dealing with more drunk female students. Public drunkenness is a civil offense, not a criminal offense in Vermont.
A court has sided with Vermont authorities -- ruling that tobacco giant R.J. Reynolds' used deceptive and misleading ads to sell its Eclipse "reduced risk" cigarettes. Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell's office claimed the company's claims weren't backed up by scientific evidence.
Bird lovers take note: unless you want to tempt the bears, you might want to remove your feeders. That's the advice from the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. The agency says bears are starting to leave their dens and after a long winter's hibernation, many of them are hungry and looking for food. Fish and Wildlife Colonel David LeCours says his agency is already receiving reports of bears eating from feeders. LeCours recommends that Vermonters take down their feeders until next fall.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
WVTK Local & State News March 11, 2010
The Vermont Department of Education has released its list of "persistently low-achieving schools". The 10 schools on the list failed to make adequate progress on student assessment tests for the past several years. They have 4 options to qualify for improvement grants; close the school, reopen as a charter school, fire the principal and half the teachers, or submit a restructuring plan. The schools on the list are … Bridport Elementary School, Fair Haven High School, Johnson Elementary School, Mount Abraham Union High School, Northfield Elementary School, Otter Valley High School, Rutland High School, Windsor High School, Winooski High School and H.O. Wheeler Elementary.
Service at the Center Rutland Post Office will be suspended by the end of the month. Concerns about the condition of the building were cited as the top reason for closure in a letter customers received Wednesday from Cynthia Thurston, a manager of post office operations at the U.S. Postal Service. While the office is suspended delivery and retail services will be provided by a rural carrier to roadside mailboxes installed by customers effective April 1. Post office boxes will be moved and serviced at the West Rutland Post Office at no cost to customers.
Vermont utility officials say they're hopeful that can get new power purchase deals from Canadian utility Hydro-Quebec. The heads of Green Mountain Power and CVPS are visiting Canada this week as the companies try to wrap up more than a year of talks on new deals to replace contracts expiring over the next few years.
Hundreds of Vermont residents got a change to speak their minds about the possible school district consolidation plans. Their main concern is that it will force children to attend a specific public school and will eliminate the choice to attend independent schools. There are 3 bills now being discussed, 2 of them call for reducing the number of districts to 14 or 15.
A Canadian company hopes to place high-powered electric transmission lines under the entire length of Lake Champlain. Toronto-based T-D-I wants to use the buried line to carry cheaper power from the Canadian Maritimes to New England and New York City. The company says going underwater will have less impact on the environment than building new lines above ground.
Lieutenant Governor Richard Ravitch has proposed a 5-year plan to control state spending. The proposal includes borrowing up to $2 billion a year for the next three years. It also would create an independent financial review board. Ravitch says his proposal would eliminate the state’s projected deficits over the next 5 years, which could total $60 billion without action.
Burlington officials say despite a reduced credit rating the city is not in financial trouble. With Burlington Telecom unable to repay the city the 17-million dollars it borrowed, Moody’s Investor Service raised concerns about the city's fiscal health, and dropped its credit rating two notches. The city's Chief Administrative Officer says the city is having no trouble paying its bills.
Plattsburgh City Councilors voted on a tobacco-free policy last night. The policy means that smoking would not be allowed at the City Beach or any of the city’s public recreation areas. The city would also create designate areas, away from the public portions of the beach and parks, for people to smoke.
Vermont's jobless rate remained unchanged in January at 6.7 percent. State officials say the unemployment rate in the state has been on a slight decline since last May. Around the state, unemployment rates ranged from 5 percent in Hartford to 11 percent in Newport.
Williston Police were lead on a high speed chase early yesterday morning. Police say they tried to stop 54-year-old Susan Benjamin of Wolcott shortly after 1 AM yesterday morning. That's when she reportedly led police through South Burlington, Burlington, Williston, and Essex. Police had to deploy spike strips on Route 117 in order to stop Benjamin. She now faces a number of charges.
The Clinton County Health Department is offering a Rabies Clinic tonight from 6 to 8:30 at the Plattsburgh Public Works Building. The rabies clinic is for dogs, cats and ferrets and is free for Clinton County Residents. All pets must be at least 3 months old and must be on a leash or in a carrier to be admitted to the clinic.
Police have arrested a man for allegedly stealing $400 worth of fish from Noah’s Ark Pet Center in Colchester. The suspect, Robert Hintze, was identified by the store manager on a surveillance video. According to police, Hintze used the stores nets, bagged up the fish, and walked out the door on March 2 without paying. The fish were returned to the store, safe and sound, yesterday.
With St. Patrick's Day just around the corner, police are reminding residents to stay safe on the road after their holiday celebrations. The crackdown started Tuesday and will run through next Thursday, bringing sobriety checkpoints and increased patrols throughout area. Police suggest you plan ahead and arrange for other transportation from any party or holiday event.
The Vermont corrections department is encouraging crime victims to register with its new database. The Vermont Automated Notification Service, or VANS, keeps victims, their relatives, and others up-to-date on offenders. It provides recorded messages with information on when the offenders are due in court or when they've been released from prison. VANS launched last August. Since then, more than 1,700 Vermonters have signed up. For more information on signing up, you can call the VANS toll-free number at 1-866-976-VANS (8267) or visit www.vinelink.com.
Service at the Center Rutland Post Office will be suspended by the end of the month. Concerns about the condition of the building were cited as the top reason for closure in a letter customers received Wednesday from Cynthia Thurston, a manager of post office operations at the U.S. Postal Service. While the office is suspended delivery and retail services will be provided by a rural carrier to roadside mailboxes installed by customers effective April 1. Post office boxes will be moved and serviced at the West Rutland Post Office at no cost to customers.
Vermont utility officials say they're hopeful that can get new power purchase deals from Canadian utility Hydro-Quebec. The heads of Green Mountain Power and CVPS are visiting Canada this week as the companies try to wrap up more than a year of talks on new deals to replace contracts expiring over the next few years.
Hundreds of Vermont residents got a change to speak their minds about the possible school district consolidation plans. Their main concern is that it will force children to attend a specific public school and will eliminate the choice to attend independent schools. There are 3 bills now being discussed, 2 of them call for reducing the number of districts to 14 or 15.
A Canadian company hopes to place high-powered electric transmission lines under the entire length of Lake Champlain. Toronto-based T-D-I wants to use the buried line to carry cheaper power from the Canadian Maritimes to New England and New York City. The company says going underwater will have less impact on the environment than building new lines above ground.
Lieutenant Governor Richard Ravitch has proposed a 5-year plan to control state spending. The proposal includes borrowing up to $2 billion a year for the next three years. It also would create an independent financial review board. Ravitch says his proposal would eliminate the state’s projected deficits over the next 5 years, which could total $60 billion without action.
Burlington officials say despite a reduced credit rating the city is not in financial trouble. With Burlington Telecom unable to repay the city the 17-million dollars it borrowed, Moody’s Investor Service raised concerns about the city's fiscal health, and dropped its credit rating two notches. The city's Chief Administrative Officer says the city is having no trouble paying its bills.
Plattsburgh City Councilors voted on a tobacco-free policy last night. The policy means that smoking would not be allowed at the City Beach or any of the city’s public recreation areas. The city would also create designate areas, away from the public portions of the beach and parks, for people to smoke.
Vermont's jobless rate remained unchanged in January at 6.7 percent. State officials say the unemployment rate in the state has been on a slight decline since last May. Around the state, unemployment rates ranged from 5 percent in Hartford to 11 percent in Newport.
Williston Police were lead on a high speed chase early yesterday morning. Police say they tried to stop 54-year-old Susan Benjamin of Wolcott shortly after 1 AM yesterday morning. That's when she reportedly led police through South Burlington, Burlington, Williston, and Essex. Police had to deploy spike strips on Route 117 in order to stop Benjamin. She now faces a number of charges.
The Clinton County Health Department is offering a Rabies Clinic tonight from 6 to 8:30 at the Plattsburgh Public Works Building. The rabies clinic is for dogs, cats and ferrets and is free for Clinton County Residents. All pets must be at least 3 months old and must be on a leash or in a carrier to be admitted to the clinic.
Police have arrested a man for allegedly stealing $400 worth of fish from Noah’s Ark Pet Center in Colchester. The suspect, Robert Hintze, was identified by the store manager on a surveillance video. According to police, Hintze used the stores nets, bagged up the fish, and walked out the door on March 2 without paying. The fish were returned to the store, safe and sound, yesterday.
With St. Patrick's Day just around the corner, police are reminding residents to stay safe on the road after their holiday celebrations. The crackdown started Tuesday and will run through next Thursday, bringing sobriety checkpoints and increased patrols throughout area. Police suggest you plan ahead and arrange for other transportation from any party or holiday event.
The Vermont corrections department is encouraging crime victims to register with its new database. The Vermont Automated Notification Service, or VANS, keeps victims, their relatives, and others up-to-date on offenders. It provides recorded messages with information on when the offenders are due in court or when they've been released from prison. VANS launched last August. Since then, more than 1,700 Vermonters have signed up. For more information on signing up, you can call the VANS toll-free number at 1-866-976-VANS (8267) or visit www.vinelink.com.
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