Vermont Pork Barreling
Vermont is among the top ten recipients of congressional pork barrel money according to a new report by a Washington-based group. Citizens Against Government Waste says the state ranks ninth in per capita federal spending on overly expensive or unnecessary projects. (VPR)
No-Photo Licenses
The Legislature is unlikely to pass legislation mandating that all drivers in the state have their photograph on their license. Motor Vehicles Commissioner Bonnie Rutledge says she’s disappointed by the lack of action. (VPR)
Nuclear Safety Panel
Vermont’s auditor says the state should convene an emergency meeting of the panel that oversees the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant. But another official who regulates utilities says there isn’t an emergency that would justify such a meeting. (VPR)
Welfare Reform Proposal
Governor Howard Dean says he strongly opposes a plan by the Bush administration to make significant changes to the current welfare reform law. (VPR)
Act 60 Reform
Governor Howard Dean says he supports parts of the GOP proposal to change the Act 60 school funding law. Dean says he has trouble with the funding mechanism and the numerical assumptions used. (AP)
Tax Refund System
The Vermont Tax Department reports that this year its refund system is working much better and faster than last year. (AP)
Church Abuse Cases
The Vermont attorney general’s office is to learn more today about the level of child sexual abuse charged to priests in Vermont. (AP)
Lowe’s Act 250 Permit
Developers for Lowe’s home store in South Burlington have received an Act 250 permit for their new store, on the condition that they make provisions for noise abatement. (AP)
Illuzzi’s Home Energy Plan
State Senator Vincent Illuzzi’s neighbors are complaining about his plan to install a windmill to make his home in Derby energy self-sufficient. Neighbors say the windmill will draw lightning and make too much noise. (AP)
NH Governor State Building
In New Hampshire, a plan to name a state office building after the late Governor Meldrim Thomson is being opposed by a legislator who thinks Thomson didn’t always abide by the Constitution in his gubernatorial decisions. (AP)
Burlington Garage Fraud
The former head of Burlington’s parking garage system avoided jail in a sentencing arrangement. He will $65,000 after pleading guilty to stealing from the parking receipts. (AP)
Burton Layoffs
Forty-five Burton Snowboard employees in Vermont are losing their jobs due to flat sales projections. The slow sales are blamed on a poor winter for snow. The cuts will be at the Burlington headquarters and at a snowboard factory in South Burlington. (AP)