Lawmakers say Douglas should rescind order on Windsor County marijuana cases

(Host) A group of state legislators says the governor has overstepped his authority. They say he should not have ordered state police to take significant marijuana cases in Windsor County to the attorney general for prosecution. VPR’s Ross Sneyd has more: (Sneyd) Thirteen lawmakers wrote to Governor Jim Douglas, criticizing him for stepping into a controversy involving Windsor County State’s Attorney Robert Sand. They want Douglas to rescind the order. They also want Attorney General Bill Sorrell to refuse to take the cases.

Legal experts question Windsor marijuana case

Some legal experts are questioning Governor Jim Douglas’ reaction to a marijuana possession case in Windsor County. Douglas has ordered state police to bypass the Windsor state’s attorney and refer marijuana cases to the attorney general’s office for prosecution. VPR’s Ross Sneyd has the story.

Leahy will vote ‘no’ on Mukasey nomination

Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy announced today that he’ll oppose the nomination of Michael Mukasey to be the next Attorney General. Leahy says Mukasey’s refusal to condemn as “illegal” the interrogation practice known as waterboarding is at the heart of his decision.

Evening Newscast: September 17, 2007

Senator Patrick Leahy is ready to expedite Attorney General confirmation process; Ruling upholding auto emission standards could have implications for other states; Senator Bernie Sanders says Congress is about to pass legislation that could provide a record level of funding for veterans; Suburban sprawl group changes their name; Filmmaker returns lake artifacts to museum. Commentator Henry Homeyer on preparing plants for winter.

Midday Newscast: September 17, 2007

Senator Patrick Leahy is greeting the appointment of a new attorney general with some advice to the White House; President Bush announced today he’s appointing retired federal judge Michael Mukasey as attorney general; Transportation officials say a key bridge over southern Lake Champlain is aging and may need to be replaced in the next few years; a group that has raised awareness about suburban sprawl in Vermont is changing its name to reflect its changing mission.

Midday Newscast: September 4, 2007

August is typically one of the rainiest months in Vermont. But not this year; the chairman of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee says he doesn’t plan any confirmation hearings on a new attorney general until he gets more answers from the Bush administration; a Middlebury College biology professor says three years of research have concluded the best way to control an invasive plant in Vermont ponds and lakes is an insect.

Midday Report – August 20, 2007

General Dynamics in Burlington receives an Army contract extension worth $107 million; Governor Jim Douglas opposes FairPoint Communications’ plan to buy Verizon’s telephone lines; union workers at Vermont Yankee mull over a contract settlement; the Health Department provides new doses of potassium iodide to people who live in the fallout zone near Vermont Yankee.