School Choice
Supporters of school choice in Vermont are hailing a new U.S. Supreme Court decision that upholds the use of vouchers for religious schools in Cleveland. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)
EPA Documents
Vermont Senator James Jeffords has given the Bush administration more time to hand over documents on its plan to ease regulation of coal burning power plants. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)
Mercury Thermometers
The Environment Committee chaired by Vermont Senator James Jeffords has unanimously approved a bill to phase out mercury thermometers. (VPR)
Vermont Amtrak
State transportation officials say Vermont’s two passenger trains will continue to run this summer even though the state and Amtrak have not resolved a number of key financial issues. (VPR)
Filing Deadline Approaches
Partisan control of the Vermont Senate is expected to be a major campaign issue again this year. Republicans and Democrats are working hard to recruit candidates to run for each of the seats. (VPR)
Vermont Yankee
Central Vermont Public Service, the largest shareholder of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant, says it will now accept a condition imposed on the sale of the plant that deals with scrutinizing power rates. CVPS made the statement late yesterday. The buyer, Entergy Nuclear of Mississippi, is asking for reconsideration of another condition imposed by state regulators that would deny Entergy rights to the plant’s decommissioning fund. (AP)
Federal Air Pollution Standards
Senator James Jeffords’ Environment Committee has narrowly approved a bill to tighten air pollution laws. The Bush administration is trying to loosen air pollution constraints on coal-burning power plants. (AP)
Racine Endorsement
The Vermont environmental community has endorsed Douglas Racine’s candidacy for governor, in spite of differences with him over the Circumferential Highway planned for Chittenden County. Other major candidates in the race are Progressive Michael Badamo, Republican Jim Douglas and Independent Con Hogan. (AP)
Springfield Machine Industry
The Vermont Machine Tool Company of Springfield is getting state tax credits for its efforts to retain a part of the old Bryant Grinder staff and assets. (AP)
Congressional Campaign
Prescription drugs are becoming an issue in the Vermont campaign for Congress, with at least one Republican challenger chiding incumbent Bernie Sanders for opposing a Republican bill on the issue. (AP)
Grafton Double Homicide
Police in southern Vermont say they’re looking for two attackers in the double homicide discovered on Tuesday in the woods outside the village of Grafton. (AP)
Phosphorous Reduction Plan
South Burlington has committed itself to a phosphorus reduction program for water entering Lake Champlain. The Conservation Law Foundation is claiming credit for forcing the city into the actions it’s taking. (AP)
Treatment Program Closing
The "Families in Recovery" treatment program for low income mothers with addiction and psychological problems will probably close in September. The program, a subsidiary of Retreat Healthcare, cites lack of funds for the decision. (AP)
Senate Reconvenes for a Day
Vermont state senators are returning to Montpelier Friday for a short session to deal with a veto the governor cast on a junk car disposal bill. It’s expected that the Senate will sustain the veto and revisit the flawed bill in the next legislative session. (AP)
Statehouse Elections
Republicans hope to capture the state senate this year. More Democrats than Republicans are retiring from the Senate. (AP)
Tourism Strong
Reservations at Vermont’s tourist facilities, including state parks, are running ahead of last year, according to state officials. (AP)