Interview: Entergy reacts to uprate
The Public Service Board has given a conditional okay to a plan by the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Plant to boost its power output. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Rob Williams, a spokesman for the plant’s owners, about the company’s reaction to the ruling. (VPR)
Yankee uprate decision
State utility regulators have approved Vermont Yankee’s request to boost its power output by 20 percent. But they also asked federal authorities to conduct a detailed, independent engineering assessment of the reactor. (VPR)
Reservists return home
More than 80 Army Reservists based in Rutland returned home Monday after 13 months of active duty, including a tour in Kuwait. (VPR)
Senate drug pricing bill
The Vermont Senate is set to debate legislation later this week that would establish price controls for many prescription drugs if costs continue to skyrocket. However the bill is being strongly opposed by the Vermont Pharmacists Association. (VPR)
Radio Free Brattleboro
Brattleboro’s unlicensed community radio station won a reprieve in federal court on Monday. The court denied the Federal Communications Commission’s request to shut down Radio Free Brattleboro immediately. (VPR)
Vermont Guard member dies in Kuwait
A member of the Vermont National Guard from East Barre has died of natural causes in Kuwait. Officials said Sergeant William Normandy died of a heart attack on Sunday while training with his unit. (VPR)
Dean wins one delegate in Kansas
In Kansas over the weekend, Howard Dean won a delegate to the Democratic National Convention. (AP)
Trippi receives award
Howard Dean’s former campaign manager has won an award from Wired magazine. Joe Trippi was given the Rave Award by Wired for his role in leading Dean’s campaign and its presence on the Internet. (AP)
Entergy payments to state
The Vermont Public Service Board says the Douglas administration exaggerated the value of payments to be made to the state by the owners of the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant. The Department of Public Service said in November that it had agreed to support an increase in power output at the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant in exchange for about $20 million in cash and other benefits. In an order approving the power increase yesterday, the board put the value of the package at $7.7 million. (AP)
Retirement board action against drug companies
The Vermont State Teachers’ Retirement Board wants to take on the pharmaceutical industry. State Treasurer Jeb Spaulding says the board has asked him to join with Minnesota’s retirement system and other interested parties in drafting shareholder resolutions on drug pricing to introduce at drug companies’ annual meetings. (AP)
Circ Highway berms proposed
Williston residents living near the planned Circumferential Highway say they want new or expanded berms to dampen noise from the road. And the residents say they want the Vermont Agency of Transportation to pick up the tab for the berms. Some state officials disagree. (AP)
Adelphia cable fees
Vermont lawmakers are speaking out against cable television rate increases. A round of rate increases by Adelphia Communications is expected to take effect next month, and 50 House members have signed onto a resolution opposing it. (AP)
Largest Vermont settlement
A Marshfield woman who lost an arm due to a medical error has won one of the largest legal settlements in Vermont history. Last week a Montpelier jury awarded Diana Winn Levine $7.4 million in a lawsuit against Wyeth Pharmaceuticals. (AP)