August 23, 2002 – News at a glance

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Pollina on large farm review process
Progressive lieutenant governor candidate Anthony Pollina wants the state to provide greater regulatory oversight of proposals to create large farms in Vermont. Pollina says the current system of giving the commissioner of agriculture the sole authority to rule on these projects needs to be changed. (VPR)

Interview: low mortgage rates
Steve Delaney talks with Sara Carpenter about mortgage interest rates. Carpenter is executive director of the Vermont Housing and Finance Agency, which is now offering the lowest mortgage interest rates in its history. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)

Jean Chretian to step down
Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien surprised many Canadians this week by announcing he will step down. The 68-year-old Chretien has been in office longer than any current Western leader. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)

Global warming policy
Vermont state government is taking steps to reduce the greenhouse gases blamed for global warming. On Thursday, Governor Howard Dean signed an executive order that directs state agencies to buy energy efficient vehicles and equipment. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)

Budget cuts
Governor Howard Dean says he is close to a deal with legislative leaders on how to cut the state’s budget. (VPR)

Iraq policy
Vermont Congressman Bernard Sanders says an attack on Iraq would jeopardize the U.S. war on terrorism. (VPR)

Civil union in Indiana
Three couples are suing the state of Indiana in a bid to win recognition there for civil unions they obtained in Vermont. (AP)

Global warming conference
Vermont Governor Howard Dean joins his New England counterparts and leaders from eastern Canadian next week to talk about global warming. The conference will be held Sunday through Tuesday in Quebec City. (AP)

National Guard promotion
A female officer is being promoted to the rank of colonel for the first time in Vermont Army National Guard history. Lieutenant Colonel Deborah Ducharme will be promoted this afternoon at the Green Mountain Armory. She has been a member of the guard for 23 years. (AP)

West Nile virus
State health officials say a horse in northwestern Vermont has contracted the West Nile virus. The case may be the state’s first, but officials say it isn’t unusual. Infected horses have been found in each of the states that border Vermont. (AP)

Women gubernatorial candidates
Voters in the nation have the chance to elect a record number of female governors this year, including one in New Hampshire. The state is losing its first woman governor with Jeanne Shaheen is running for the Senate. But Beverly Hollingworth is seeking to replace her. (AP)

Budget cuts
Vermont lawmakers are expected today to unveil details of a budget-cutting agreement reached with the Dean administration. The administration and the Joint Fiscal Committee have been working on responding to a projected $39 million budget deficit. (AP)

Public safety budget
Vermont Governor Howard Dean says it’s wrong to suggest he’s neglected the state Department of Public Safety. Critics including the state troopers’ union and Republican candidate for governor James Douglas point to roughly 30 trooper vacancies and outdated equipment as evidence. (AP)

Wholesale electricity market
Vermont Governor Howard Dean says he opposes a proposed merger of wholesale electricity markets in New England and New York. Dean says he prefers to promote the formation of a wholesale market among the six New England states and five Canadian provinces. (AP)

Not-so Perfect Pancake
The maker of the Perfect Pancake will be providing refunds to its Vermont customers. Attorney General Bill Sorrell announced yesterday that his office has settled claims that the company ran misleading television commercials. The company denies any wrongdoing. (AP)

Magic Mountain
Vermont’s Magic Mountain ski resort will likely reopen this winter even though a new owner has not been found yet. Auctioneer and real estate agent Eric Nathan says there are three parties interested in the Londonderry resort. (AP)

St. Johnsbury bank robbery
Police in Saint Johnsbury are investigating an armed robbery at a bank branch there yesterday. Two men in ski masks entered the Citizens Bank branch on Portland Street, one of them armed. They took an undisclosed amount of cash and fled. (AP)

Morselli dead at 80
A pioneer for women in science and a gifted University of Vermont teacher and researcher in maple biology has died. Mariafranca Morselli was 80 when she died this week, eight months after being diagnosed with leukemia. (AP)

Students return to UVM
Today the University of Vermont is welcoming its incoming class to campus. University officials say the Class of 2006 has more than 1,8000 members. Classes start at UVM on Monday. (AP)

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