Regional headlines from VPR and other news sources:
Court ruling on state campaign spending limits
A federal appeals court has ruled that it may be constitutional for the state of Vermont to impose spending limits on political campaigns. The court returned the case to Judge William Sessions to decide if an overall limit on spending is the best way to reduce corruption in politics. (VPR)
Conversation with Eleanor Clift
Mitch Wertlieb speaks with Newsweek columnist and contributing editor Eleanor Clift, speaking this weekend in Burlington as part of the lecture series for Vermont Woman newspaper. (VPR)
Vermont labor groups form coalition
A new coalition of Vermont labor groups has formed to work on such issues as wages, employment benefits and health care. Working Vermont will be a coalition of the Association for Retired Americans, the Vermont AFL-CIO, Vermont State Employees Association, United Nurses and Professionals, the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers and the National Education Association. (AP)
Body identified after death at Phish concert
Vermont State police have identified the man who was found dead at the end of this weekend’s Phish festival concerts. State police say a fingerprint comparison confirmed that the man was 25-year-old Ian Niles Gardiner, of Bristol, Connecticut. A friend of Gardiner’s reported him missing early yesterday when he had not returned from the farewell concerts of the band Phish, which concluded early Monday morning. (AP)
St. Johnsbury police investigation concludes
The investigation into the actions of Saint Johnsbury Police Chief Paul Devenger after an accident involving his state police trooper brother is over. Town Manager Mike Welch is planning to schedule a select board meeting to go over the findings of the investigation. Earlier this month the town hired a private investigator to look into Devenger’s actions. (AP)
Giuliani tours Vermont Yankee plant
Emergency planning is the topic in Brattleboro for former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani today. Demonstrators are expected to protest the visit by Giuliani , who has a contract with Entergy Nuclear, the owner of the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant in Vernon. Brattleboro activist Gary Sachs says a rally is planned outside the Quality Inn where Giuliani is to speak. (AP)
Clavelle and Sanders speak out on health care
Peter Clavelle and Bernie Sanders are joining forces to talk about the need for health care reform. They participated in a joint town meeting on health care, an issue central to both of their political campaigns. Clavelle is the Burlington mayor who is running for governor. Sanders is seeking re-election. (AP)
Judge upholds MA law against same-sex marriage
A Superior Court judge declined to halt enforcement of a 1913 law that’s being used to prevent out-of-state gay couples from getting married in Massachusetts. Judge Carol Ball yesterday refused to grant same-sex couples from out of state an injunction blocking the state from enforcing the law. A couple from Vermont was among those who sued. (AP)
Technical school fined
The Burlington Technical School is being fined for safety violations that led to the death of a student in late April. 19-year-old Martin Prince died after being hit by a hangar door at the Burlington International Airport. (AP)
Rules in place for Wilmington cell phone towers
Wilmington officials have laid out the ground rules for any company that wants to set up cell phone towers in the town. A new ordinance says any towers or support structures must blend in to the surrounding environment. (AP)
Brothers plead guilty to crime spree
Two brothers who went on a crime spree in the Deerfield Valley two years ago will spend a few years behind bars. Jon and Joseph Honkala, both of South Royalton, pleaded guilty to dozens of charges this week. (AP)
Possible curfew for Lyndonville teens
Lyndonville Police Chief Jack Harris is looking for public comment on a possible curfew for the town’s teenagers, citing recent vandalism after 10 PM. He says local and state police could supply numbers supporting such a measure. (AP)
Trial date set for Burlington eye doctor
A hearing is scheduled next month for a Burlington eye doctor who faces 136 counts of unprofessional conduct. Lawyers for Doctor David Chase have tried unsuccessfully to have the charges dismissed. (AP)