Lieutenant Governor Phil Scott is now calling for delaying
the full implementation of the federal Affordable Health Care law for a few
months. He’s concerned over the
technical issues with Vermont Health Connect which has state officials
scrambling. Governor Peter Shumlin says
he has, quote, “absolute confidence” the problems will be solved in the next
few weeks. Scott, who is the highest
ranking statewide Republican officeholder in the state, says his approach is different
from the Governor’s but doesn’t want this to turn into a partisan debate.
Ticonderoga has taken a major step
toward meeting a state order that its water system be upgraded. Supervisor Deb Malaney says a substantial
groundwater source has been located at a second test well site on the east side
of Streetroad, Route 9N. The state has
ordered upgrades and/or new water sources be in place by 2016. Ticonderoga currently
obtains its drinking water from Gooseneck Pond and Lake George.
But because the infrastructure for those
sources is no longer in compliance with state and federal requirements, the
state Department of Health is requiring the town to either upgrade these
facilities or look for a new source of water.
There will be major showdown between opponents and
supporters of the F-35 in Burlington
tonight. The Burlington City Council
will hold a public hearing about the jets and debate whether to try and stop
them from coming to Vermont. There are two resolutions about the F-35's up
for consideration. The first resolution
says the city would try to stop the Air Force from basing the jets at Burlington
International Airport. The second measure would simply ask the Air
Force to not select Burlington
during this round of jet basing. The
public hearing tonight is from 6 to 8 at City Hall in Burlington. Then the council will debate the two
resolutions at a special meeting which starts at eight.
Firefighters believe a front deck fire at a home in Charlotte
was intentionally set. The fire was
reported by a passing motorist at about 6:20
Friday Night. No one was at home and
only the deck was damaged. The State
Police Fire Investigation Unit has determined someone intentionally set the
fire and is seeking the public’s help with any information.
Vermont’s
Senator Patrick Leahy is talking about a bill he’s planning on introducing
which would limit just how much electronic spying U-S agencies could do. Leahy says his bill is not only is supported
by Democrats and Republicans but also members of the House and Senate. Over the weekend the heat was turned up on
the Obama Administration over revelations the country has been listening in to
phone calls of nearly 35 top world leaders, even those considered close allies
such as Germany and France.
Vermont's
minimum wage is set to increase to $8.73 per hour on January 1. The current
rate is $8.60 per hour. The Vermont
Labor Department says the minimum wage increases each year at the same rate as
the Consumer Price Index for the previous year, or at 5%, whichever is
less. Service or tipped employees rate
will also increase to $4.23 per hour from $4.17.
Addison County
HOPE in Middlebury is looking for volunteers
for the holiday season. They are looking
for people to help staff the Holiday Shop and put together food baskets. In the HOPE Holiday Shop, volunteers will be assisting
parents in selecting gifts for their children in the HOPE Holiday Shop. They also need people to be Salvation Army
Bell Ringers and people to help pick up and deliver donations.
