Drug re-importation in governor’s race
The issue of re-importing prescription drugs from Canada is emerging as a key issue in this year’s gubernatorial race. Governor Jim Douglas and his Democratic opponent Peter Clavelle have sharp disagreements over the role that state government should play in making these lower cost drugs available to all Vermonters. (VPR)
Injured soldiers at Walter Reed army hospital
Three members of the Vermont National Guard remain hospitalized as a result of injuries received in fighting in Iraq. Vermont Adjutant General Martha Rainville joined family members who traveled to Washington Thursday to visit two of the injured men. (VPR)
Rutland airport may downgrade status
Newly expanded safety requirements go into effect this week at regional airports across the country. Airport administrators have argued that the high cost of the new requirements may force many of them to cancel passenger service. (VPR)
More soldiers will be deployed on Monday
Another 25 Vermont Army National Guard soldiers are being deployed to Iraq. The Guard will hold a ceremony for the soldiers at the Burlington International Airport Monday morning. (AP)
FDA and drug re-importation
Federal officials say they’re still considering a request by the Douglas administration to allow the state of Vermont to import prescription drugs from Canada. But the Food and Drug Administration recently rejected a request by the state of Illinois to do so. (AP)
Reagan memorial service in Vermont
The Vermont Republican Party is holding a memorial service Friday for former President Ronald Reagan on the Statehouse steps. The service is at 4 pm. The Republican Party says it will be nonpartisan and open to the public. Vermont cast its electoral votes for Reagan in both the 1980 and 1984 presidential elections. (AP)
Reagan on the $10 bill
A group called the Ronald Reagan Legacy Project is calling for the late president’s face to replace that of Hamilton on the ten dollar bill. Historian Willard Sterne Randall says that’s a bad idea. He says Hamilton is a founding father, the first secretary of the treasury and the inventor of the U.S. financial system. Randall says Hamilton deserves to have his face stay on the bill. (AP)
Successful maple season
Vermont’s maple syrup producers say this year’s crop is one of the largest of the past decade. Vermont produced 500,000 gallons of syrup this year – almost 20 percent more than last year. Maple producers say favorable weather, new technology and expanding operations all helped. (AP)
American Skiing Company finances
A strong ski season at its western resorts has improved the financial picture for the company that owns Vermont’s Killington and Mount Snow ski resorts. American Skiing Company has had serious financial problems for several years, but says it ended the most recent quarter with a profit of 24-point-five-million-dollars, or 77 cents per share. (AP)
Granite company settlement
The Rock of Ages granite company in Barre has been ordered to pay one of its former distributors $6.5 million. An international arbitration board ruled against Rock of Ages on a claim filed by Granite Stone Business International. (AP)
Anti-union activity
Police say charges are unlikely in the case of an anti-union employee who sprayed union protesters with a hose last week in Montpelier. Police Chief Douglas Hoyt says the action was illegal, but the chances of prosecution are slim. (AP)
School holiday observances
A committee of parents and teachers in Manchester says schools should be allowed to use holiday decorations, cultural symbols and music. They started discussing the issue after school concerts and holiday parties in December went without Christmas or Hanukkah songs. (AP)
Montshire Museum improvements
The Montshire Museum in Norwich is moving ahead with $1.9 million in improvements. The changes will include a newly paved access road, a bike lane, more parking and better access to the museum building. Museum officials say fundraising for the project is at the $950,000 mark. Construction on the project is to begin in the fall. (AP)
Schreiner arraignment for husband’s murder
Police investigating the murder of a 78-year-old Townshend man whose body was found last week in his driveway have arrested his 71-year-old wife in the killing. Hope Schreiner is to be arraigned Friday afternoon in the death of Robert Schreiner. (AP)