WVTK Local & State News April 18, 2014

Lake Champlain is above flood stage, and forecasted to keep rising over the next several days. It's not as high as it was back in 2011 when the lake caused historic flooding in Vermont, but it definitely has a few people a bit anxious. Some homes in South Hero already have flood waters in their backyards, and along the King Street Dock in Burlington, water is overflowing onto the bike path and into parking lots.

The Leicester man accused of shooting his neighbor and two state troopers was in Addison County Superior Court yesterday. The public defender representing Timothy Foley entered a not guilty plea on Foley’s behalf two counts of attempted murder and two counts of aggravated attempted murder. Foley was initially scheduled to be arraigned April 7 in Rutland County Superior Court, but he refused to appear. Doctors are currently trying to determine whether Foley is mentally fit to stand trial. Foley’s attorney says Foley has a “significant mental health history.” He is due back in court June 23.

A small plane crashed on I-89 near exit 21 early this afternoon. The crash happened near the Swanton exit on the interstate. Police says a single passenger plane, fully engulfed in flames crashed onto the interstate. Someone was able to parachute out prior to crashing. Officials are still investigating.

Once again, raw sewage has ended up in the Winooski River. An employee at the wastewater treatment facility in Essex says one of the pumps shut down. That's caused more than a million gallons of untreated water to flow into the Winooski. A similar incident involving a mechanical failure happened there last year.

Vermont's unemployment rate has dropped again for the sixth straight month. The Vermont Department of Labor reports the seasonally-adjusted statewide unemployment rate for March was 3.4 percent. That's three-tenths lower than February. The national unemployment rate remained unchanged for March at 6.7 percent.