WVTK Local & State News March 31, 2014

State Police are advising that flooding has forced the closure of the following roads in Brandon: Long Swamp Road is closed from the intersection with Short Swamp Road to the Sudbury town line; and Short Swamp Road is closed from the intersection with Long Swamp Road to the Hack Saw Mill.

Vermont State Police are investigating a suspicious incident that occurred early yesterday morning. Reports are that a tractor trailer driver was traveling north on Vermont Route 22A in Bridport, when a truck pulled up on the side of the tractor trailer. Suddenly the driver side window of the tractor trailer truck was blown in. The driver believes it was shot by someone in that truck as it passed by. If you have information regarding this incident please contact State Police at 802-388-4919. Information can also be submitted online at www.vtips.info.

The Vermont Attorney General's office has settled a consumer protection claim against Irving Energy for $425,000. A press release says the Attorney General found Irving delayed removing propane storage tanks and issuing refund checks after consumers terminated their service. Under the settlement, Irving Energy has agreed to pay $165,938 to Vermont consumers, $160,000 the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and $100,000 in civil penalties. Current Vermont law requires companies to remove propane tanks within 20 days of a customer's request to terminate service.

The strike of bus drivers for the Chittenden County Transit Authority is now entering its third week. Things were looking up Friday, but then a 17-hour meeting ended with no resolution. While CCTA management says it presented the union with a compromise proposal, the union says the company’s position on split shifts and safety remains unacceptable. On Saturday, hundreds of people marched up and down Burlington’s Church Street in support of the drivers.

Today is the deadline for Vermonters to sign up for health insurance through Vermont Health Connect. The Department of Vermont Health Access says open enrollment is the time when Vermont Health Connect accepts applications from Vermonters looking for new health coverage, including individuals who are currently covered by Catamount and VHAP. The call center will be open Monday until 8 o’clock tonight. More than 55,000 Vermonters have picked a health plan through Vermont Health Connect since open enrollment began in October and over 43,000 are fully enrolled in new coverage.