WVTK Local & State News February 26, 2010

As the next storm moves into our region bringing along with it high winds, snow, and rain, officials are warning everyone to expect more power outages. This comes on the heels of a storm early yesterday that knocked out power to tens of thousands of customers. In fact, as of late last night, there were still almost 6,000 customers in Southern Vermont in the dark.

There's a new effort to keep Rutland residents informed about the police department following recent problems. The Rutland Police Commission will hold two public meetings at night a month. That's in addition to morning meetings already held twice a month. The change comes after a recent pornography investigation in the city police department. The commission says it wants to restore public trust in themselves and the police department by improving communication.

The former nanny accused of inappropriately touching a 10-year-old boy in Grand Isle plead not guilty to new charges of child porn and child exploitation. The judge presiding over the trail granted the prosecutions request yesterday for 2 separate trials for 24-year-old Donald Shepherd. The first trial is scheduled to start in April.

Despite pressure from leading New York Democrats, Governor David Paterson says he won't drop his election bid amid a growing scandal involving a key aide. Paterson says he'll talk to fellow Democrats, but for now he's continuing his campaign. The governor has been urged to halt his campaign amid allegations of domestic abuse against a close aide.

Retired Plattsburgh City School teacher Raymond “Foxy” Gagnon is expected to plead guilty today to possessing child pornography on his personal computer. The 61-year-old has been facing federal charges since last June. The change-of-plea hearing is expected to happen in an Albany courtroom this morning. Sentencing will probably take place in late April.

The Vermont House has passed a bill that would make it free for people to recycle their electronic waste. If approved, the bill would set up several drop-off sites in every county where people could drop their old TV's, printers and computers for free. Supporters say the end goal is to keep as many electronics out of the landfills as possible.

Governor Jim Douglas says the debate over Vermont Yankee is far from over. Wednesday, the state Senate voted against allowing Vermont Yankee to operate past 2012. But the governor calls that vote just political theater. The House of Representatives could still write its own nuclear bill. Vermont Yankee official hopes they can convince lawmakers to change their position.

A girls basketball coach in AuSable Forks was sentenced to 6 months on probation for having sex with an underage boy. 36-year-old Joey Strong pleaded guilty to rape. Strong was arrested last year for having sex with a 16-year-old boy at a hotel and providing him with alcohol. She was a veteran coach for Holy Name School when she was arrested.

On Town Meeting Day, voters in Vermont will be asked once again to participate in the Doyle Poll. The list of questions this year includes the re-licensing of Vermont Yankee, whether to ban cell phones and texting while driving, and how do Vermonters feel about their health insurance. The list of non-binding questions is way to gauge how Vermonters feel about a number of issues.

The Vermont lighting company, Hubbardton Forge of Castleton, has laid off 13 workers as it continues to cope with the effects of the weak economy. This week's layoffs are on top of 26 layoffs last year. The company now employs 188 people. The company's president say business has yet to return to normal.

Governor Jim Douglas yesterday signed into law a new program that requires Vermont agencies to try to find ways to cut $38 million of costs from state government. The $38 million targeted in the so-called "Challenges for Change" is roughy a quarter of a Vermont's $150 million budget gap.