Explosives will once again be used on the former Crown Point Bridge. Underwater sections of two concrete piers are set to be blown-up today at 2 PM. Transportation officials say that if the piers can't be blown up today, they'll try tomorrow. The ferry service between Crown Point and Chimney Point will be briefly suspended during the explosion.
More layoffs are coming this month at the Pfizer research facility in Chazy. 25 employees were let go on Wednesday; another 16 will be let go on April 23, followed by about 30 more in May. Employees at Chem Development in Rouses Point and at Clinical Packaging in Plattsburgh are expected to remain at work until the fall.
The group that plans to give Pittsford a town green hopes to dispel some misconceptions Saturday. The Pittsford Community Corporation will hold a public forum from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Lothrop School Gym. The organization hopes to turn a 14-acre farm off Route 7 into a town center and has been collecting feedback from the public on the development.
Vermont game wardens say they caught two Addison County men with 14 trophy-sized northern pike that they illegally caught in a tributary of Lake Champlain in Panton. Officials say many fish species travel up river and streams in the spring, and officers have increased patrols around dams and culverts where they are often found in large numbers.
Frustrated with the pace of progress on a jobs bill, Governor Jim Douglas is lashing out at lawmakers. Douglas called on lawmakers to pass the bill back in January. Almost all of the $81.7million dollars is federal money, part of the recovery act. Douglas says it could end up creating hundreds of jobs. The jobs bill is now set to pass next Tuesday.
Senators voted 28-2 Wednesday to hire consultants to design a new health care model for Vermont, one of which would include a single-payer system. Approval of the bill is a victory for Sen. Doug Racine, D-Chittenden, the chairman of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, who made it his goal this year to set Vermont on a path to a new health care system.
A Pennsylvania man is facing a number of charges after leading police on a high-speed chase. The chase was on after police received a report that a stolen vehicle that contained stolen weapons, and a woman who had possibly been kidnapped was in the area. The chase came to an end when 30-year-old Alvin Heller crashed into another car near St. Michael’s College on Route 15 in Colchester. Both drivers were treated for minor injuries. Police later determined the woman was not kidnapped.
The Plattsburgh City School District has approved a budget for next school year. As of now, there are no program cuts, but the board did eliminate funding for the GED course. School board members will have to wait till July to find out how much funding they will receive from the state. That will determine the number of layoffs.
Environmental groups on both sides of the U.S.-Canadian border are teaming up to study the impacts of Hydro-Quebec. They also want to try to determine if importing power from Canada discourages the development of renewable energy in New England and New York.
Four state senators are pushing for the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant to be relicensed by the state. The senators cite a report that says allowing the plant to operate after its license expires in 2012 will be good for jobs and the overall economy.
Voters in Essex Junction have rejected a local option sales tax. The local option would have added an extra 1-percent tax on retail sales as well as rooms, meals, and alcohol. Voters did however approve the municipal budget of just over $3-million.
State Police are warning drivers in the greater Keeseville area to lock their cars. Authorities say several cars in the village and as far away as Port Douglas have been broken into. They advise drivers to lock their cars and not to leave wallets, purses or other valuables in their vehicles.
Four Vermont senators say their colleagues in Montpelier should take into consideration a report that says re-licensing the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant is the smartest course for the state, from an economic standpoint. The report says allowing Vermont Yankee to continue operations and adopting a renewable energy policy will lead to the best result for jobs and the economy.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Thursday, April 8, 2010
WVTK Local & State News April 8, 2010
It's stood for 200 years, but it only took hours to destroy, as the historic Newton Academy building in Shoreham went up in flames. It happened early yesterday morning, when lightning struck at about 12:30. Witnesses say flames leaped 200 feet in the air, and could be seen for miles. Newton Academy, which first opened its doors in 1810, was the second oldest secondary school still standing in Vermont. It started out as a private school, and then went public until it finally closed in 1969. In recent years, it was a preschool and the only medical clinic in the village. Destroyed in the fire were medical records for nearly two-thousand patients. There had been a major push to renovate the building, with the first round of repairs finished, and the next phase set to begin.
A debate is under way in Montpelier over whether Vermont should go along with New York State and negotiate a master labor agreement with unions for the Crown Point Bridge project. Several contractors said that if the states insist on mostly union labor for the job, they'll get fewer bids and less competition will drive up costs. The project goes out for bid next week.
The Rutland Police officer at the center of an investigation in may be out of job. The Rutland Board of Civil Authority met last night to decide whether to fire Sergeant David Schauwecker. The Board made a decision last night but has decided not to release anything till they notify Schauwecker of there decision.
A commercial building went up in flames yesterday morning in Rutland Town. Firefighters were called to Townline Road off Route 4 around 5 a.m. They found the shed behind the Outdoors in Motion shop engulfed in flames. The building was used to store motorcycles, snowmobiles and ATVs. It was also the home of Vermont Vapor, a company that makes electronic cigarettes. State fire investigators were called in to help determine the cause. A hazmat team was called to the site to clean up liquid nicotine.
State officials are warning you to beware of health insurance scams. Since the health care bill passed, there's a lot of confusion as to what exactly it is. Officials say there’s nothing anyone needs to do right now, no one needs to change their coverage. If you suspect fraud or have any questions, you should contact the Vermont's Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities & Health Care Administration or BISHCA. There website is BISHCA.info.
The Vergennes Post Office is offering a special pictorial postmark on April 24 to mark the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. To mark the occasion, Troop 539 is hosting a Centennial Camporee at Button Bay State Park. The 3-day even will take place from Friday April 23 through Sunday, April 25. The Vergennes Post Office will participate on Saturday, April 24 with a temporary postal station which will allow scouts, leaders, and visitors to obtain a unique postmark documenting the occasion.
Vermont's primary election is going to be held on August 24th this year instead of mid-September. Governor Jim Douglas disagrees with the legislation but allowed it to become law without his signature. Douglas says holding the election before Labor Day, will result in a lower voter turnout because of summer vacations.
Central Vermont Public Service has made a listing of the most trustworthy companies in the country. Forbes Magazine compiled the list of companies that have demonstrated integrity and transparency at a time when Americans are increasingly concerned about corporate corruption and greed. Only a handful of companies of any size scored higher than CVPS.
The Plattsburgh City School Board will meet tonight to discuss and adopt next year’s school budget. Board members will be in executive session from 6 to 6:30 before the public session starts. The meeting is being held at the Duken Building and is open to the public.
The Peru Central School District now has a spending plan for next school year. The school is facing a nearly $2 million reduction in state aid. The budget plan does not call for cutting any core programs or extra-curricular activities at the school. But it does trim spending on all programs. Voters next month will vote on the over $42-million budget.
Police are investigating 2 abduction attempts in as many days. Investigators say a 9-year-old girl was approached by a man outside her home in Fairfax Tuesday Night. Last night, a teenage girl in Williston was approached by a man with a similar description. In both cases, the man was asking the girls to help find a missing dog. Police are unsure if the 2 cases are connected.
A large sinkhole on Pine Street in Burlington forced officials to reroute traffic most of the day yesterday. The hole was discovered between Main and King Streets early yesterday morning. Burlington Police closed off the section of road so Public Works could work on the problem. Officials say a leaky sewer pipe washed away the dirt causing the pavement to collapse.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission says it will increase inspections at the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant. Officials are increasing the inspections due to recent radioactive leaks at the plant and misstatements by Vermont Yankee executives to state officials. The agency will bring on extra inspectors to make sure the leaks are stopped and cleaned up.
New charges have been filed against 51-year-old Robert Kolibas. The Williston man now faces 2 charges of possessing child pornography. Kolibas opted not to enter a plea yesterday. Instead, he will be back in court tomorrow to answer to the new charges. The new charges could put Kolibas behind bars for 4 years.
A pair of federal grants will fund several projects at the Plattsburgh International Airport. New York's Congressional Delegation worked to obtain $3.6 million to renovate airport hangars, replace the outdated fire-water supply system and install solar panels to cut heating costs. Airport staff says construction on the new projects will start next month.
A debate is under way in Montpelier over whether Vermont should go along with New York State and negotiate a master labor agreement with unions for the Crown Point Bridge project. Several contractors said that if the states insist on mostly union labor for the job, they'll get fewer bids and less competition will drive up costs. The project goes out for bid next week.
The Rutland Police officer at the center of an investigation in may be out of job. The Rutland Board of Civil Authority met last night to decide whether to fire Sergeant David Schauwecker. The Board made a decision last night but has decided not to release anything till they notify Schauwecker of there decision.
A commercial building went up in flames yesterday morning in Rutland Town. Firefighters were called to Townline Road off Route 4 around 5 a.m. They found the shed behind the Outdoors in Motion shop engulfed in flames. The building was used to store motorcycles, snowmobiles and ATVs. It was also the home of Vermont Vapor, a company that makes electronic cigarettes. State fire investigators were called in to help determine the cause. A hazmat team was called to the site to clean up liquid nicotine.
State officials are warning you to beware of health insurance scams. Since the health care bill passed, there's a lot of confusion as to what exactly it is. Officials say there’s nothing anyone needs to do right now, no one needs to change their coverage. If you suspect fraud or have any questions, you should contact the Vermont's Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities & Health Care Administration or BISHCA. There website is BISHCA.info.
The Vergennes Post Office is offering a special pictorial postmark on April 24 to mark the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America. To mark the occasion, Troop 539 is hosting a Centennial Camporee at Button Bay State Park. The 3-day even will take place from Friday April 23 through Sunday, April 25. The Vergennes Post Office will participate on Saturday, April 24 with a temporary postal station which will allow scouts, leaders, and visitors to obtain a unique postmark documenting the occasion.
Vermont's primary election is going to be held on August 24th this year instead of mid-September. Governor Jim Douglas disagrees with the legislation but allowed it to become law without his signature. Douglas says holding the election before Labor Day, will result in a lower voter turnout because of summer vacations.
Central Vermont Public Service has made a listing of the most trustworthy companies in the country. Forbes Magazine compiled the list of companies that have demonstrated integrity and transparency at a time when Americans are increasingly concerned about corporate corruption and greed. Only a handful of companies of any size scored higher than CVPS.
The Plattsburgh City School Board will meet tonight to discuss and adopt next year’s school budget. Board members will be in executive session from 6 to 6:30 before the public session starts. The meeting is being held at the Duken Building and is open to the public.
The Peru Central School District now has a spending plan for next school year. The school is facing a nearly $2 million reduction in state aid. The budget plan does not call for cutting any core programs or extra-curricular activities at the school. But it does trim spending on all programs. Voters next month will vote on the over $42-million budget.
Police are investigating 2 abduction attempts in as many days. Investigators say a 9-year-old girl was approached by a man outside her home in Fairfax Tuesday Night. Last night, a teenage girl in Williston was approached by a man with a similar description. In both cases, the man was asking the girls to help find a missing dog. Police are unsure if the 2 cases are connected.
A large sinkhole on Pine Street in Burlington forced officials to reroute traffic most of the day yesterday. The hole was discovered between Main and King Streets early yesterday morning. Burlington Police closed off the section of road so Public Works could work on the problem. Officials say a leaky sewer pipe washed away the dirt causing the pavement to collapse.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission says it will increase inspections at the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant. Officials are increasing the inspections due to recent radioactive leaks at the plant and misstatements by Vermont Yankee executives to state officials. The agency will bring on extra inspectors to make sure the leaks are stopped and cleaned up.
New charges have been filed against 51-year-old Robert Kolibas. The Williston man now faces 2 charges of possessing child pornography. Kolibas opted not to enter a plea yesterday. Instead, he will be back in court tomorrow to answer to the new charges. The new charges could put Kolibas behind bars for 4 years.
A pair of federal grants will fund several projects at the Plattsburgh International Airport. New York's Congressional Delegation worked to obtain $3.6 million to renovate airport hangars, replace the outdated fire-water supply system and install solar panels to cut heating costs. Airport staff says construction on the new projects will start next month.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
WVTK Local & State News April 7, 2010
Charlotte voters have again rejected the school budget. The revised budget of over $7-million was $57,000 lower than the spending plan proposed on Town Meeting Day. The school board will have to look for more cuts and present another budget to the voters. Final school budgets must be sent to the Department of Education by June 30.
45 more Vermont guard members are being deployed over-seas. The air guard's 158th Security Forces Squadron is being sent to Saudi Arabia to help guard military locations. The airmen will be honored in a deployment ceremony tomorrow morning. They will spend a couple weeks training at Fort Bliss in Texas before leaving for the Middle East.
Internet speeds are getting faster in Vermont. Comcast announced the new, faster service yesterday. It’s called “wide-band” and it will deliver speeds of up to 50 MegaBytes-Per-Second. That means you could download an HD movie, which is about 6 GigiBytes, in 16 minutes. Right now the service is available in 29 communities around the state.
Despite the urging of some residents, the city will not try to reverse last week's defeat of three voter-approved charter amendments. City Attorney Andrew Costello said he does not think there's anything the city can do to change the State’s mind or take legal action against the State. On Friday, the House Government Operations Committee unanimously voted "no" on charter amendments that called for 10-year term limits on the mayor and aldermen and would have required all municipal and school employees to begin paying 20 percent of their health care premiums.
Rutland, Barre and other Vermont cities and towns are giving a cool reception to a plan to release prison inmates early to save the state money. The state expects about 270 people convicted of nonviolent crimes to be let out under a bill moving through the Legislature.
There's been a recent increase in child abuse in Vermont. Tuesday, Gov. Jim Douglas proclaimed April Prevent Child Abuse month. Last year, about 740 kids were abused and advocates put out pinwheels on the Statehouse lawn to raise awareness about the problem. Experts say Vermont is seeing a spike in infant homicides. Three of the last five murder victims in Vermont have been babies. Officials say prevention is key and also being watchful and reporting if you see any problems. The state has just launched a new website aimed at helping protect children. There is information on prevention and how to notice something may be wrong. You can visit the website at http://dcf.vermont.gov/protectkids
A judge has given a mother 2 to 10 years in prison for failing to protect her daughter from sexual assault. The 34-year-old woman pled guilty to allowing men sexually assault her daughter in her Williston home for several years. She was convicted of being an accessory to a sexual assault. The girl, who is now 14, was in court for today's sentencing.
Governor Jim Douglas has declared April, child abuse prevention month. According to Prevent Child Abuse Vermont, Shaken Baby Syndrome is on the rise in Vermont. A recent study found that for every one known case of shaken baby syndrome, there are about 150 cases that go unreported.
The Canadian Dollar is now at par with the U.S. Dollar. And this is welcome news for businesses across the North Country. The favorable exchange rate coincides with a new marketing campaign set to start this month to promote the Adirondack area. Analysts say Canadians should get used to seeing their currency at these levels for some time.
An Essex Junction woman charged with killing her niece will now face first-degree murder charges. Charges have been upgraded for 30-year-old Latonia Congress. Police say she stabbed her 16-year-old niece last October. If convicted, Congress could face 35 years to life in prison. In January, her lawyers rejected a plea deal, offering 25-years-to-life.
A Plattsburgh woman has been sentenced to two years in jail for abusing her infant son. 21-year-old Naomi Mason pled guilty to endangering the welfare of a child. Investigators say Mason, back in December, grabbed her 7-week-old son's arm so hard that it broke. Doctors also discovered several other injuries. The child is in state custody.
Watching the sky yesterday, you may have noticed some unusual sights -- military aircraft closely pursuing other planes. It was part of a training exercise for fighter plane pilots to practice intercepting civilian aircraft. The exercise is part of Operation Noble Eagle, which began after the 9/11 attacks.
UVM Women's Basketball Coach Sharon Dawley has left the Catamounts. She has accepted the head coaching job at the University of Massachusetts. It took Dawley only 7 seasons at UVM to become the program's all-time leader in wins. She also has coached the team to the NCAA tournament the past 2 years
45 more Vermont guard members are being deployed over-seas. The air guard's 158th Security Forces Squadron is being sent to Saudi Arabia to help guard military locations. The airmen will be honored in a deployment ceremony tomorrow morning. They will spend a couple weeks training at Fort Bliss in Texas before leaving for the Middle East.
Internet speeds are getting faster in Vermont. Comcast announced the new, faster service yesterday. It’s called “wide-band” and it will deliver speeds of up to 50 MegaBytes-Per-Second. That means you could download an HD movie, which is about 6 GigiBytes, in 16 minutes. Right now the service is available in 29 communities around the state.
Despite the urging of some residents, the city will not try to reverse last week's defeat of three voter-approved charter amendments. City Attorney Andrew Costello said he does not think there's anything the city can do to change the State’s mind or take legal action against the State. On Friday, the House Government Operations Committee unanimously voted "no" on charter amendments that called for 10-year term limits on the mayor and aldermen and would have required all municipal and school employees to begin paying 20 percent of their health care premiums.
Rutland, Barre and other Vermont cities and towns are giving a cool reception to a plan to release prison inmates early to save the state money. The state expects about 270 people convicted of nonviolent crimes to be let out under a bill moving through the Legislature.
There's been a recent increase in child abuse in Vermont. Tuesday, Gov. Jim Douglas proclaimed April Prevent Child Abuse month. Last year, about 740 kids were abused and advocates put out pinwheels on the Statehouse lawn to raise awareness about the problem. Experts say Vermont is seeing a spike in infant homicides. Three of the last five murder victims in Vermont have been babies. Officials say prevention is key and also being watchful and reporting if you see any problems. The state has just launched a new website aimed at helping protect children. There is information on prevention and how to notice something may be wrong. You can visit the website at http://dcf.vermont.gov/protectkids
A judge has given a mother 2 to 10 years in prison for failing to protect her daughter from sexual assault. The 34-year-old woman pled guilty to allowing men sexually assault her daughter in her Williston home for several years. She was convicted of being an accessory to a sexual assault. The girl, who is now 14, was in court for today's sentencing.
Governor Jim Douglas has declared April, child abuse prevention month. According to Prevent Child Abuse Vermont, Shaken Baby Syndrome is on the rise in Vermont. A recent study found that for every one known case of shaken baby syndrome, there are about 150 cases that go unreported.
The Canadian Dollar is now at par with the U.S. Dollar. And this is welcome news for businesses across the North Country. The favorable exchange rate coincides with a new marketing campaign set to start this month to promote the Adirondack area. Analysts say Canadians should get used to seeing their currency at these levels for some time.
An Essex Junction woman charged with killing her niece will now face first-degree murder charges. Charges have been upgraded for 30-year-old Latonia Congress. Police say she stabbed her 16-year-old niece last October. If convicted, Congress could face 35 years to life in prison. In January, her lawyers rejected a plea deal, offering 25-years-to-life.
A Plattsburgh woman has been sentenced to two years in jail for abusing her infant son. 21-year-old Naomi Mason pled guilty to endangering the welfare of a child. Investigators say Mason, back in December, grabbed her 7-week-old son's arm so hard that it broke. Doctors also discovered several other injuries. The child is in state custody.
Watching the sky yesterday, you may have noticed some unusual sights -- military aircraft closely pursuing other planes. It was part of a training exercise for fighter plane pilots to practice intercepting civilian aircraft. The exercise is part of Operation Noble Eagle, which began after the 9/11 attacks.
UVM Women's Basketball Coach Sharon Dawley has left the Catamounts. She has accepted the head coaching job at the University of Massachusetts. It took Dawley only 7 seasons at UVM to become the program's all-time leader in wins. She also has coached the team to the NCAA tournament the past 2 years
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
WVTK Local & State News April 6, 2010
Until the end of the school year, traffic pattern changes will be in effect in Middlebury on Court Street, Monroe Street, and Charles Avenue. From approximately 2:45–3:30, on days when Middlebury Union High School is in session, there will be no exit from Monroe Street onto Court Street. Vehicles currently using those streets will be required to find alternate routes.
Police in Rutland are still investigating a hit-and-run from over the weekend. Police said a pedestrian was left lying in the road on North Main Street. According to police, the person had non-life-threatening injuries to the head, face and leg. Anyone with information is asked to call 802-773-1816.
The future of the former Brandon High School is in the Development Review Board's hands. The DRB heard recently from developer Frank Briscoe, who wants a renewal of a permit he was previously issued to convert the building into condominiums. The board has 45 days in which to deliberate and make a decision.
Vermonters will get a chance to speak their minds about some changes to the state budget this week. The Challenges for Change Plan outlines $38-million of potential state savings. The plan comes as lawmakers are trying to close an over $150-million budget gap. The public hearing scheduled for tonight from 5 to 7 at the State House in Montpelier.
A statewide local food summit is planned for Saturday in Rutland. Farmers and food producers will get together with restaurant owners and retailers to talk about ways of getting more local products on Vermonters' plates. Up to 500 people are expected to attend the food summit. It's on Saturday beginning at 9:30 at the Rutland Middle School.
The state says the amount of money drug companies spent on buying gifts for Vermont doctors and hospitals is down. Companies spent nearly $2.6 million on gifts in the year ending last July -- down roughly $400,000 from the year before. The level is expected to drop even more now that a law banning most kinds of gifts has taken effect in the state.
A Vermont man was indicted in a Clinton County Court for allegedly committing a series of burglaries across the North Country early this year. 46-year-old Randy Therrien of Milton pled not guilty to each charge in the 14-count indictment, including 9 felonies. A pretrial conference has been scheduled for May 14.
Burlington's mayor delivered his annual State of the City address. The biggest issue the City Council was waiting for Kiss to bring up last night was Burlington Telecom. Instead the mayor spent the first half of the speech discussing the city's recent accomplishments like how fast the city saw 24 new businesses start in the past year along with 17 more expanding.
After Vermont won federal stimulus money to help create a smart grid system last fall, the Vermont Law School is getting a federal grant to research laying the legal groundwork for updating the power grid. Congressman Peter Welch says the South Royalton School will get $450,000 for the research.
Entergy, the company that owns Vermont Yankee has dropped its plan to spin off the plant in Vernon and a number of other nuclear plants into a separate company. The plan has drawn opposition since it was unveiled nearly two years ago. It comes after New York officials voted to reject the plan late last month.
A 43-year-old Milton woman has been sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison after being convicted of trying to hire a hit man to kill her husband so she could collect on his life insurance policy. Police say Rebecca Wetter and her daughter tried to hire a hit man who turned out to be an undercover police officer.
The Department of Environmental Conservation will soon launch its CleanSweepNY program to help business and farm owners properly dispose of pesticides and other chemicals. Collection events will be held in Clinton and Washington counties in early May. CleanSweepNY is not available to homeowners.
Police in Rutland are still investigating a hit-and-run from over the weekend. Police said a pedestrian was left lying in the road on North Main Street. According to police, the person had non-life-threatening injuries to the head, face and leg. Anyone with information is asked to call 802-773-1816.
The future of the former Brandon High School is in the Development Review Board's hands. The DRB heard recently from developer Frank Briscoe, who wants a renewal of a permit he was previously issued to convert the building into condominiums. The board has 45 days in which to deliberate and make a decision.
Vermonters will get a chance to speak their minds about some changes to the state budget this week. The Challenges for Change Plan outlines $38-million of potential state savings. The plan comes as lawmakers are trying to close an over $150-million budget gap. The public hearing scheduled for tonight from 5 to 7 at the State House in Montpelier.
A statewide local food summit is planned for Saturday in Rutland. Farmers and food producers will get together with restaurant owners and retailers to talk about ways of getting more local products on Vermonters' plates. Up to 500 people are expected to attend the food summit. It's on Saturday beginning at 9:30 at the Rutland Middle School.
The state says the amount of money drug companies spent on buying gifts for Vermont doctors and hospitals is down. Companies spent nearly $2.6 million on gifts in the year ending last July -- down roughly $400,000 from the year before. The level is expected to drop even more now that a law banning most kinds of gifts has taken effect in the state.
A Vermont man was indicted in a Clinton County Court for allegedly committing a series of burglaries across the North Country early this year. 46-year-old Randy Therrien of Milton pled not guilty to each charge in the 14-count indictment, including 9 felonies. A pretrial conference has been scheduled for May 14.
Burlington's mayor delivered his annual State of the City address. The biggest issue the City Council was waiting for Kiss to bring up last night was Burlington Telecom. Instead the mayor spent the first half of the speech discussing the city's recent accomplishments like how fast the city saw 24 new businesses start in the past year along with 17 more expanding.
After Vermont won federal stimulus money to help create a smart grid system last fall, the Vermont Law School is getting a federal grant to research laying the legal groundwork for updating the power grid. Congressman Peter Welch says the South Royalton School will get $450,000 for the research.
Entergy, the company that owns Vermont Yankee has dropped its plan to spin off the plant in Vernon and a number of other nuclear plants into a separate company. The plan has drawn opposition since it was unveiled nearly two years ago. It comes after New York officials voted to reject the plan late last month.
A 43-year-old Milton woman has been sentenced to 10 to 20 years in prison after being convicted of trying to hire a hit man to kill her husband so she could collect on his life insurance policy. Police say Rebecca Wetter and her daughter tried to hire a hit man who turned out to be an undercover police officer.
The Department of Environmental Conservation will soon launch its CleanSweepNY program to help business and farm owners properly dispose of pesticides and other chemicals. Collection events will be held in Clinton and Washington counties in early May. CleanSweepNY is not available to homeowners.
Monday, April 5, 2010
WVTK Local & State News April 5, 2010
As a spring groundbreaking on the Lake Champlain bridge project nears, union officials are urging lawmakers to endorse a controversial labor agreement they say will save taxpayer money and ensure good working conditions for Vermont workers. Union officials on hand Friday disputed state claims that the requirements are bad for Vermont. They said that not only will the PLA save nearly $3 million in total project costs; it would also be a boon Vermont workers. A spokeswoman for the New York Department Of Transportation said that the PLA controversy would not postpone the project schedule.
Rutland police are asking for the public's help in learning more about a pedestrian accident early Sunday morning. That happened on North Main Street, where a person was found by police lying in the northbound lane of traffic with head, face and leg injuries. While the injuries are described as being "non-fatal" they're still serious, and no information about the victim or his condition is being released just yet. Rutland police are hoping someone saw what happened, and will contact them.
A plane in the sky over Middlebury State Airport on Friday afternoon was cause for concern for federal aviation officials charged with preventing air attacks. At about 1:30 p.m. Friday, two F-15 fighters under the control of the North American Aerospace Defense Command were directed from the Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield, Mass., to the sky over Middlebury, according to a news release from NORAD at the Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado. The jets were responding to a "general aviation aircraft that was transmitting a distress transponder code," according to the release. But, according to NORAD, the signal was pressed by mistake and the plane landed at the airport before the jets got there.
The Monkton Conservation Commission has won a $150,000 state grant to install culverts under a stretch of Vergennes Road in Monkton to protect salamanders, reptiles and small mammals crossing between a swampy area and the uplands. The project will be the first wildlife-crossing retrofit of a Vermont highway.
Kids who bully other kids online might be facing some real consequences. School leaders want new laws passed to help them combat cyberbullying. There are 2 bills currently moving through the Vermont Legislature. Rules now only allow schools to act if kids are bullied at school. School officials are hopeful it will pass this session.
License plates in New York are getting a new retro-look. Starting this spring, the state will start issuing the new Empire Gold Plates for vehicles in the state. Officials say they will be distributing the Empire White and Blue Plates till their current stock runs out. Empire Gold plates should be available online, by phone and by mail by the end of May.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is going to study the Burlington school district's farm-to-school program. The program works with more than 20 local farmers to purchase fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy products and bread to create meals at schools to feed student. The USDA Farm to School Team will use Burlington as 1 of 15 examples of how to help connect children to their food.
The man accused of killing two people in Dannemora appeared in court Friday, pleading not guilty to additional murder charges at the hearing. Anthony Pavone is charged with murdering Patricia Howard and Tim Carter and leading police on a 3-state search before being found, held-up in a Binghamton hotel room.
The widow of a prisoner of war received her husband's Purple Heart 50 years after his death. The Clinton County Veteran's Office presented the award to Ethyl Dick at a surprise party in Plattsburgh on Saturday. The local widow says she’d like to see more instances were the Purple Heart is awarded to those who die in POW camps.
The U.S. Border Patrol says it's arrested more than 100 people from Haiti for allegedly illegally entering Vermont from Canada since massive earthquake devastated the Caribbean nation. Lawyers assigned to represent the Haitians say they are coming to the U.S. because they are desperate to be with relatives and loved after losing everything in Haiti.
A Vermont State Trooper is recovering after being knocked down by a man on an all-terrain vehicle. State police say Trooper Paul Feeney was trying to stop Jeffrey Bedell for operating the ATV on a public road in Bethel on Friday. Police say Bedell drove away, knocking Feeney down. Police later caught up with Bedell. He will be arraigned today.
A deal between JetBlue Airways and American Airlines designed to give JetBlue a foothold at Washington’s Ronald Reagan National Airport could have side effects in Vermont. The plan calls for JetBlue to give up 12 roundtrip positions at JFK. JetBlue currently flies 4 flights a day to and from Burlington to JFK. Federal Officials have not yet been approved the deal.
Rutland police are asking for the public's help in learning more about a pedestrian accident early Sunday morning. That happened on North Main Street, where a person was found by police lying in the northbound lane of traffic with head, face and leg injuries. While the injuries are described as being "non-fatal" they're still serious, and no information about the victim or his condition is being released just yet. Rutland police are hoping someone saw what happened, and will contact them.
A plane in the sky over Middlebury State Airport on Friday afternoon was cause for concern for federal aviation officials charged with preventing air attacks. At about 1:30 p.m. Friday, two F-15 fighters under the control of the North American Aerospace Defense Command were directed from the Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield, Mass., to the sky over Middlebury, according to a news release from NORAD at the Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado. The jets were responding to a "general aviation aircraft that was transmitting a distress transponder code," according to the release. But, according to NORAD, the signal was pressed by mistake and the plane landed at the airport before the jets got there.
The Monkton Conservation Commission has won a $150,000 state grant to install culverts under a stretch of Vergennes Road in Monkton to protect salamanders, reptiles and small mammals crossing between a swampy area and the uplands. The project will be the first wildlife-crossing retrofit of a Vermont highway.
Kids who bully other kids online might be facing some real consequences. School leaders want new laws passed to help them combat cyberbullying. There are 2 bills currently moving through the Vermont Legislature. Rules now only allow schools to act if kids are bullied at school. School officials are hopeful it will pass this session.
License plates in New York are getting a new retro-look. Starting this spring, the state will start issuing the new Empire Gold Plates for vehicles in the state. Officials say they will be distributing the Empire White and Blue Plates till their current stock runs out. Empire Gold plates should be available online, by phone and by mail by the end of May.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is going to study the Burlington school district's farm-to-school program. The program works with more than 20 local farmers to purchase fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy products and bread to create meals at schools to feed student. The USDA Farm to School Team will use Burlington as 1 of 15 examples of how to help connect children to their food.
The man accused of killing two people in Dannemora appeared in court Friday, pleading not guilty to additional murder charges at the hearing. Anthony Pavone is charged with murdering Patricia Howard and Tim Carter and leading police on a 3-state search before being found, held-up in a Binghamton hotel room.
The widow of a prisoner of war received her husband's Purple Heart 50 years after his death. The Clinton County Veteran's Office presented the award to Ethyl Dick at a surprise party in Plattsburgh on Saturday. The local widow says she’d like to see more instances were the Purple Heart is awarded to those who die in POW camps.
The U.S. Border Patrol says it's arrested more than 100 people from Haiti for allegedly illegally entering Vermont from Canada since massive earthquake devastated the Caribbean nation. Lawyers assigned to represent the Haitians say they are coming to the U.S. because they are desperate to be with relatives and loved after losing everything in Haiti.
A Vermont State Trooper is recovering after being knocked down by a man on an all-terrain vehicle. State police say Trooper Paul Feeney was trying to stop Jeffrey Bedell for operating the ATV on a public road in Bethel on Friday. Police say Bedell drove away, knocking Feeney down. Police later caught up with Bedell. He will be arraigned today.
A deal between JetBlue Airways and American Airlines designed to give JetBlue a foothold at Washington’s Ronald Reagan National Airport could have side effects in Vermont. The plan calls for JetBlue to give up 12 roundtrip positions at JFK. JetBlue currently flies 4 flights a day to and from Burlington to JFK. Federal Officials have not yet been approved the deal.
Friday, April 2, 2010
WVTK Local & State News April 2, 2010
The Vermont State Police have increased security around Governor Jim Douglas. Douglas says the heightened security was in direct response to a letter received by governors across the country, demanding their resignations. State Police are not releasing any details about what security measures are being taken.
Businesses in Addison County affected by the closing of the Crown Point Bridge are still waiting for help from Montpelier. Lawmakers promised help in the form of grants and loans from federal stimulus funds but they have been unable to come to a consensus on how they would dispense the money. Some business owners say they will have to close soon if they don’t get help.
Bids are now being accepted for construction of a new Champlain Bridge-- even as haggling continues over labor rules for the project. Transportation officials hope to have construction underway on the new bridge design later this spring. But who will build the bridge and under what rules still must be determined. Last week, Vermont rejected a project labor agreement. Transportation officials are concerned that only companies who use union labor would be able to win contracts for the bridge and most Vermont contractors are non-union.
The House Government Operations Committee is expected to weigh in this morning on three Rutland City charter amendments that, while overwhelmingly approved by voters last month, may pose constitutional questions if ratified by the Legislature. On Town Meeting Day, Rutland voters approved 10-year term limits for the aldermen and mayor and higher health insurance premiums for city and school workers.
Goodrich in Vergennes has just won a $13.6-million contract. The aircraft machinery maker will make its helicopter diagnostic system for the U.S. Navy. It gives technicians feedback on structural performance and rotor function and wear, allowing crews to fix the aircraft before a major problem pops up.
New York is once again issuing state income tax refund checks. Governor David Paterson put the payments on hold so the state would have enough cash on hand to meet its financial obligations. Those who filed their tax returns in late February and in early March were affected by the delay. Payments started going out yesterday.
According to the New York State Department of Labor, About 46,000 New York residents will see the end of their unemployment benefits starting Monday. Locally that breaks down to 139 people in Clinton County, 51 in Essex County and 68 in Franklin County. The Senate failed to extend benefits before starting a 2-week recess.
One of North America's oldest historic sites has a new leader. Beth Hill has been appointed executive director of Fort Ticonderoga. She held a similar role in North Carolina for the past six years at Fort Dobbs, a French and Indian War site. One of Hill's first challenges is to explore whether the Mars Education Center can extend its season or possibly remain open year-round. Hill takes over at Fort Ticonderoga on May 1.
A female corrections officer at the Clinton County Jail is facing charges for allegedly having sexual contact with an inmate. Cheri Evans was arrested yesterday. While authorities are still investigating the case, Evans is not permitted on Sheriff’s Department property. Officials are not releasing any other information.
Federal regulators are trying to downplay health fears involving the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant. They told state lawmakers yesterday that none of tritium and other radioactive substances pose a safety or health threat. Officials from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission were in Vermont to update lawmakers in Montpelier on the status of their investigation.
Vermont State Police say the death of a 5-month old baby in Jeffersonville does not appear to be suspicious. Police say there were called to the home on Upper Pleasant Valley Road Wednesday morning for a 5-month-old boy who was found unresponsive by his mother. Authorities are still investigating the cause of death.
New England is tops in the country when it comes to vaccination rates for swine flu. Both Vermont and Maine were toward the top in vaccination rates. Rhode Island had the highest vaccination rate, at about 39 percent -- three times higher than Mississippi, which had the lowest rate.
Broadband access in Vermont continues to grow, but is still far short of the Governor's 100-percent goal. In 2001, only 9-percent of Vermont households had broadband internet service. Now, 80-percent of Vermont households either have the service or have access to it.
Businesses in Addison County affected by the closing of the Crown Point Bridge are still waiting for help from Montpelier. Lawmakers promised help in the form of grants and loans from federal stimulus funds but they have been unable to come to a consensus on how they would dispense the money. Some business owners say they will have to close soon if they don’t get help.
Bids are now being accepted for construction of a new Champlain Bridge-- even as haggling continues over labor rules for the project. Transportation officials hope to have construction underway on the new bridge design later this spring. But who will build the bridge and under what rules still must be determined. Last week, Vermont rejected a project labor agreement. Transportation officials are concerned that only companies who use union labor would be able to win contracts for the bridge and most Vermont contractors are non-union.
The House Government Operations Committee is expected to weigh in this morning on three Rutland City charter amendments that, while overwhelmingly approved by voters last month, may pose constitutional questions if ratified by the Legislature. On Town Meeting Day, Rutland voters approved 10-year term limits for the aldermen and mayor and higher health insurance premiums for city and school workers.
Goodrich in Vergennes has just won a $13.6-million contract. The aircraft machinery maker will make its helicopter diagnostic system for the U.S. Navy. It gives technicians feedback on structural performance and rotor function and wear, allowing crews to fix the aircraft before a major problem pops up.
New York is once again issuing state income tax refund checks. Governor David Paterson put the payments on hold so the state would have enough cash on hand to meet its financial obligations. Those who filed their tax returns in late February and in early March were affected by the delay. Payments started going out yesterday.
According to the New York State Department of Labor, About 46,000 New York residents will see the end of their unemployment benefits starting Monday. Locally that breaks down to 139 people in Clinton County, 51 in Essex County and 68 in Franklin County. The Senate failed to extend benefits before starting a 2-week recess.
One of North America's oldest historic sites has a new leader. Beth Hill has been appointed executive director of Fort Ticonderoga. She held a similar role in North Carolina for the past six years at Fort Dobbs, a French and Indian War site. One of Hill's first challenges is to explore whether the Mars Education Center can extend its season or possibly remain open year-round. Hill takes over at Fort Ticonderoga on May 1.
A female corrections officer at the Clinton County Jail is facing charges for allegedly having sexual contact with an inmate. Cheri Evans was arrested yesterday. While authorities are still investigating the case, Evans is not permitted on Sheriff’s Department property. Officials are not releasing any other information.
Federal regulators are trying to downplay health fears involving the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant. They told state lawmakers yesterday that none of tritium and other radioactive substances pose a safety or health threat. Officials from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission were in Vermont to update lawmakers in Montpelier on the status of their investigation.
Vermont State Police say the death of a 5-month old baby in Jeffersonville does not appear to be suspicious. Police say there were called to the home on Upper Pleasant Valley Road Wednesday morning for a 5-month-old boy who was found unresponsive by his mother. Authorities are still investigating the cause of death.
New England is tops in the country when it comes to vaccination rates for swine flu. Both Vermont and Maine were toward the top in vaccination rates. Rhode Island had the highest vaccination rate, at about 39 percent -- three times higher than Mississippi, which had the lowest rate.
Broadband access in Vermont continues to grow, but is still far short of the Governor's 100-percent goal. In 2001, only 9-percent of Vermont households had broadband internet service. Now, 80-percent of Vermont households either have the service or have access to it.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
WVTK Local & State News April 1, 2010
Union officials in Vermont say the Douglas administration's objections to a proposed labor contract for the Champlain Bridge project are unfounded. Vermont transportation officials last week rejected a so-called Project Labor Agreement that would govern labor practices on the $110 million project. While provisions in the PLA, in some instances, mandate the use of union labor, according to Teamsters representative Dan Brush, that doesn't mean Vermont contractors can't bid on the project. The PLA simply means that nonunion workers would temporarily work in a union framework. The dispute over labor rules will go to the Statehouse later this week when the Senate Committee on Economic Development convenes a hearing on the issue Friday.
A group charged with improving Rutland's quality of life unveiled their list of projects for the summer. The Rutland Creative Economy is a volunteer organization that develops, fundraises, and implements a variety of projects across the city. This summer's top priorities include improving Friday Night Live, adding more art to downtown, expanding the city Farmer's Market, and creating a city bike path.
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders announced energy efficiency and conservation grants totaling $5.8 million for 147 schools, towns, and cities across Vermont. The economic stimulus funds were distributed to the state through a federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants program. The program was created by legislation cosponsored by Sanders. The Vermont Department of Public Service and the state Clean Energy Development Fund reviewed applications and recommended the recipients. In Addison County, the grant winners and the amount of the awards include:
· Bingham Memorial School $50,000
· Bridport Central School $45,675
· Bristol Elem School $50,000
· Leicester Central School $50,000
· Lincoln Elementary School $35,429
· Middlebury Union Middle School $50,000
· Monkton Elementary School $50,000
· Mt Abraham Union High School $50,000
· New Haven (Beeman) Elementary School $46,553
· Shoreham Elementary School $32,175
· Starksboro (Robinson) Elementary School $49,785
· Whiting Village School $17,905
· Town of Granville $48,930
· Town of Lincoln $50,000
· Town of Middlebury $43,380
· Town of Shoreham $50,000
· Town of Starksboro $26,555
A debate is raging over whether to scrap the state's "Seal of Quality". The seal is given to Vermont products so consumers know there are getting genuine Vermont products. State agriculture officials say the seal's lost its meaning but some lawmakers say they're looking for ways to shore up the program.
A new program in Vermont schools will help students learn to safely navigate the web. iKeepSafe is a national program that teaches elementary kids about online safety. Kids are taught how to be careful with their personal information, cyber-bullying, social networking, and how to stay away from Internet strangers. Comcast is paying the cost to bring the program to Vermont.
Police are investing a bomb threat at South Burlington High School that was reported yesterday morning. Police say a note was found just before 9 AM. Students and staff were evacuated and sent to the Frederick Tuttle Middle School. Classes were not canceled. Police say they have collected evidence and are actively involved in a criminal investigation.
Vermonters who lost their homes to foreclosure will get some help thanks to a legal settlement. Countrywide Financial settled a 3-billion dollar lawsuit brought by 43 states. Vermont's share is 100-thousand dollars. The Attorney General's office says half of the money will go to borrowers whose loans were foreclosed upon. The rest will be used in general foreclosure relief efforts.
2 Vermont solders have been wounded in Afghanistan. Major General Michael Dubie offered a progress report yesterday saying 2 soldiers have been wounded by enemy fire in the last week. Both soldiers are expected to make a full recovery. Dubie added that a number of Vermonters have already received combat badges for their performance.
Captain Richard Phillips has written a book about his 5 days last year as a hostage of the Somali Pirates. The Underhill resident was taken hostage after the pirates tried to seize his ship, the Maersk Alabama. The 286-page hardcover, titled "A Captain's Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALS and Dangerous Days at Sea," hits bookstores Tuesday.
A group charged with improving Rutland's quality of life unveiled their list of projects for the summer. The Rutland Creative Economy is a volunteer organization that develops, fundraises, and implements a variety of projects across the city. This summer's top priorities include improving Friday Night Live, adding more art to downtown, expanding the city Farmer's Market, and creating a city bike path.
U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders announced energy efficiency and conservation grants totaling $5.8 million for 147 schools, towns, and cities across Vermont. The economic stimulus funds were distributed to the state through a federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants program. The program was created by legislation cosponsored by Sanders. The Vermont Department of Public Service and the state Clean Energy Development Fund reviewed applications and recommended the recipients. In Addison County, the grant winners and the amount of the awards include:
· Bingham Memorial School $50,000
· Bridport Central School $45,675
· Bristol Elem School $50,000
· Leicester Central School $50,000
· Lincoln Elementary School $35,429
· Middlebury Union Middle School $50,000
· Monkton Elementary School $50,000
· Mt Abraham Union High School $50,000
· New Haven (Beeman) Elementary School $46,553
· Shoreham Elementary School $32,175
· Starksboro (Robinson) Elementary School $49,785
· Whiting Village School $17,905
· Town of Granville $48,930
· Town of Lincoln $50,000
· Town of Middlebury $43,380
· Town of Shoreham $50,000
· Town of Starksboro $26,555
A debate is raging over whether to scrap the state's "Seal of Quality". The seal is given to Vermont products so consumers know there are getting genuine Vermont products. State agriculture officials say the seal's lost its meaning but some lawmakers say they're looking for ways to shore up the program.
A new program in Vermont schools will help students learn to safely navigate the web. iKeepSafe is a national program that teaches elementary kids about online safety. Kids are taught how to be careful with their personal information, cyber-bullying, social networking, and how to stay away from Internet strangers. Comcast is paying the cost to bring the program to Vermont.
Police are investing a bomb threat at South Burlington High School that was reported yesterday morning. Police say a note was found just before 9 AM. Students and staff were evacuated and sent to the Frederick Tuttle Middle School. Classes were not canceled. Police say they have collected evidence and are actively involved in a criminal investigation.
Vermonters who lost their homes to foreclosure will get some help thanks to a legal settlement. Countrywide Financial settled a 3-billion dollar lawsuit brought by 43 states. Vermont's share is 100-thousand dollars. The Attorney General's office says half of the money will go to borrowers whose loans were foreclosed upon. The rest will be used in general foreclosure relief efforts.
2 Vermont solders have been wounded in Afghanistan. Major General Michael Dubie offered a progress report yesterday saying 2 soldiers have been wounded by enemy fire in the last week. Both soldiers are expected to make a full recovery. Dubie added that a number of Vermonters have already received combat badges for their performance.
Captain Richard Phillips has written a book about his 5 days last year as a hostage of the Somali Pirates. The Underhill resident was taken hostage after the pirates tried to seize his ship, the Maersk Alabama. The 286-page hardcover, titled "A Captain's Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALS and Dangerous Days at Sea," hits bookstores Tuesday.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
.jpg){kind=small}