Forgiveness and Health
Getting over the hurt isn’t easy, but recent studies have shown that people who learn how to forgive say they feel better. A scientist in Burlington hopes to take those findings one-step further, and show that forgiving actually causes a physical response in the body as well. (VPR)
Animal Cruelty Bill
The Senate gave its preliminary approval Wednesday to a bill that would crack down on cruelty to animals. The bill is designed to make it easier for law enforcement officials to take action when a pet is abused. (VPR)
Reapportionment
House and Senate negotiators will agree on a new reapportionment plan for both the House and the Senate on Thursday. While the House map contains some new districts, it’s likely that the Senate proposal will be very similar to the existing boundary lines for Senate districts. (VPR)
Drug Court
The Senate has given its strong preliminary approval to legislation that sponsors hope will lead to the creation of a regional drug court in the state. (VPR)
Parental Notification
The Vermont Senate will not take up a parental notification bill this year, in spite of radio ads pressuring the chairwoman to do so. The ads endorse a bill that would require minors to notify their parents before having an abortion. (AP)
Vermont Salaries
Vermonters’ average pay was the second lowest in New England in 2000. Vermont’s median salary of $29,000 was higher than Maine’s. (AP)
School Ratings
State officials are disputing an expected federal finding that one-third of Vermont’s schools are failing. (AP)
Winooski School Board
It’s still uncertain whether there will be a recount in the Winooski school board election. In a second ballot, the incumbent lost by three votes out of 600 cast. (AP)
Renovations
Burlington’s Old North End residents are getting a federal grant to help clean up the shabby Roosevelt Park, which has not had a facelift in decades. Plans to renovate a library in Wallingford have gotten a big boost with a grant from the Freeman Foundation. (AP)
Gay Camp
Grafton residents are opposing a plan to expand a camp for gay men, because they think it will harm their property values. (AP)
Workplace Discrimination
The Senate committee chaired by Vermont’s Jim Jeffords has cleared a bill to ban workplace discrimination against gays and lesbians. New Hampshire’s Judd Gregg, the ranking Republican on the committee, voted no. (AP)