Dean May Attract Youth Vote to Kerry Campaign
According to Middlebury College political science professor Eric Davis, there’s no question that former governor Howard Dean can play an important role for the campaign of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry during the fall election. (VPR)
Interview: Vermont Center for Independent Living
An organization dedicated to helping disabled people live their lives with independence and appropriate support in their own homes celebrates an anniversary today. The Vermont Center for Independent Living has been operating for 25 years. Mitch Wertlieb talks with the center’s executive director Deborah Lisi-Baker. (VPR)
Douglas’ Online Campaign Ad
An advertising war is taking shape in the gubernatorial race. Governor Jim Douglas released an Internet ad on Tuesday that slams his Democratic opponent’s record on taxes. (VPR)
Parke Criticizes Sanders’ Vote on Gay Marriage Bill
Republican congressional candidate Greg Parke says he believes individual states should be allowed to develop their own approaches to the issue of gay marriage. Parke says he would have voted for a bill in the U.S. House last week that would have made it impossible for federal judges to rule on pertinent sections of the Defense of Marriage Act. Congressman Bernie Sanders says the bill is unconstitutional and sets a very dangerous legal precedent for the future. (VPR)
Interview: Vermont Delegates at the Democratic National Convention
All this week, VPR will provide reports from some of the Vermont delegates at the Democratic National Convention in Boston. One of those delegates is George Jaeger of Middlebury. VPR’s Bob Kinzel spoke with him about his concerns over the foreign policy initiatives of the Bush administration. (VPR)
Federal Review of Vermont Yankee Uprate
The Vermont Department of Public Service may ask to intervene as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission reviews the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant’s request to boost its power output. (AP)
Construction Begins on Western Leg of Bypass
Construction of the western leg of the Bennington Bypass highway project began on Monday. A contractor for the Vermont Agency of Transportation began clearing trees that surround what will soon be the ramps for the new highway. (AP)
Study Shows Decrease in Snowfall
If you think it just doesn’t snow in Vermont like it used to, here’s some new evidence to back that claim up. A U.S. Geological Survey study has found that snowfall in New England has decreased in favor of rain during the last half century. (AP)
Clavelle Calls Douglas Ad Misleading
Burlington Mayor Peter Clavelle says Governor Jim Douglas is distorting the facts with a new online political ad. Douglas campaign officials say the 30-second spot that criticizes Clavelle’s record on taxes is the first of its kind in Vermont. (AP)
Mobile Methadone Clinic
Plans to use two mobile methadone clinics to help heroin addicts in the Northeast Kingdom aren’t coming together as quickly as organizers hoped. Barbara Cimaglio of the Vermont Health Department says too much work needs to be done to reach the original October 1 date. (AP)
Prison Health Services
The Vermont Department of Corrections is seeking public comment about the health services that should be offered to the state’s inmates. The hearings are scheduled for Wednesday in South Burlington and Thursday in Springfield. (AP)
Shaw’s Employees Threaten Strike
Employees at Shaw’s Supermarkets are threatening to walk off the job when their contract expires Saturday unless the company backs off plans to cut employee health care benefits. With the deadline for a new contract set for midnight Saturday, approximately 6,400 members of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 791 will walk off the job unless Shaw’s starts to negotiate. (AP)
Job Growth Study
A new economic analysis says Vermont’s economy is growing and producing jobs with higher wages than those paid in jobs that have been lost. The think tank Northern Economic Consulting says the state’s economy created over 2,000 jobs between May 2003 and May 2004. (AP)
Montshire Museum Grant
The Montshire Museum of Science in Norwich is getting a $2.3 million dollar to study how families learn at museums. A focus of the research will be on the kinds of conversations exhibits spark between parents and children. (AP)
Biodiesel School Buses
The Guilford Central School is mulling a switch to a fuel made from recycled plant oil in its fleet of buses. Officials say the school board will vote next month on whether to make the change to so-called “biodiesel.” (AP)