August 12, 2002 – News at a glance

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Sounds of Vermont: Fair days
Nothing says fair season quite like the Addison County Fair and Field Days. Last week, for the fifty-fourth time, Vermont’s largest agricultural fair had its run with familiar faces and familiar events. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)

National cheese awards
Vermont cheesemakers have earned praise from the American Cheese Society. The annual parade of cheeses was held last week in Washington, D.C. and among the awards in the competition were 13 for Vermont companies. (VPR)

Budget announcement today
The Dean administration is expected to outline today its plans to address a $39 million revenue shortfall in the state budget. The plan could include layoffs of state workers. Officials are expecting about $13 million in spending cuts. (AP)

Police budget
Some Vermont State Police troopers fear budget cuts will hurt public safety. The troopers say that since September 11, they have been shouldering increased responsibilities as well as more criminal cases, including increases in heroin use. (AP)

Hospital accreditation
Two Vermont hospitals have given up their national accreditation. Officials at Copley Hospital in Morrisville and North Country Hospital in Newport say the accreditation process was too inflexible and expensive. The hospitals are still evaluated by Medicare and Medicaid. (AP)

Airline bankruptcy
U.S. Airways officials say flights will continue normally, and they hope the company will emerge from bankruptcy early next year. U.S. Airways, which is the country’s seventh largest airline, operates flights out of the airports in Burlington and Rutland. (AP)

State computer glitch
A computer glitch kept some Vermont communities from receiving money they were due from traffic and other fines. State Auditor Elizabeth Ready says the problems arose when the computer didn’t properly track some fine payments. (AP)

Turtle habitat
Some rare soft-shelled turtles have some new places to sun themselves in Lake Champlain’s Missisquoi Bay. And that clears the way to build a new bridge over the bay. The state has installed two floating platforms in the bay so the threatened reptiles can rest in the sun. (AP)

Bait restictions
The Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife is restricting the kinds of bait that fish anglers can use in the state. The new regulations allow bait dealers to sell 16 species. The new rules are aimed at keeping exotic species out of the state’s waterways. (AP)

WWII burial disputed
The family of a Vermont soldier who died during World War II wants to have his remains returned to the United States. Army Private First Class Alfred Laitres died some 60 years ago and is buried in France. But army officials say his remains will stay there. (AP)

Road closures
Transportation officials are reminding Vermonters that Route 116 south of Bristol will be partially closed starting today. Local traffic will be allowed on Route 116, but all through traffic will be detoured by way of U.S. Route 7 and Route 17. (AP)

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