Early education spending
According to a new report, state spending on early education programs is “woefully inadequate” given the importance of brain development in young children. The head of the Senate Education committee has a bill that addresses these concerns. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)
Teens’ ski trek
All this winter seven teenagers and their teacher have been sleeping under the stars in a canvas tent. By day they’ve been traveling on skis, following the Catamount Trail northward, along Vermont’s rocky backbone. They’re part of a six-month journey sponsored by Kroka Expeditions, a southern Vermont outdoor education organization. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)
Supreme Court nominee Paul Reiber
The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the nomination late last week of Paul Reiber to the Vermont Supreme Court. Reiber’s nomination goes to the full Senate this week. During his testimony to the committee, the former Rutland trial attorney was asked about his thoughts on judicial activism and judicial restraint. Today, in “Word for Word” we bring you an excerpt from that hearing. (Listen to Reiber’s comments online.) (VPR)
Dean to endorse Kerry
Former presidential candidate Howard Dean says he’ll have no trouble endorsing John Kerry, the presumptive Democratic nominee. Dean told the CBS program “Face the Nation” on Sunday that Kerry is stronger on defense than President Bush. (AP)
State budget planning
Members of the Vermont House are starting work on Monday this week, a day early. That’s because lawmakers will begin discussing the state budget for fiscal year 2005, which begins July 1. (AP)
Turnbaugh trial
Jury selection for the trial of a Moretown man accused of killing his co-worker is complete. Twelve jurors and four alternates were chosen for the trial of 20-year-old Isaac Turnbaugh. (AP)
Bennington Rutland Opportunity Council
A Rutland County agency has been denied emergency social service funds. That’s because it was accused of failing to work cooperatively with other human service providers in the area. The Rutland County arm of the Bennington Rutland Opportunity Council was turned down for federal Emergency Food and Shelter Program funds last month. (AP)
Mardi Gras fundraiser
The Women’s Rape Crisis Center in Burlington is getting a financial boost from the city’s annual Mardi Gras parade. Sales from the parade and donations from floats and area businesses raised over 12,000 for the center. (AP)
Fish and Wildlife summer camps
Some Vermont lawmakers are trying to change legislation that increased the price of state Fish and Wildlife Conservation camps. The Legislature earlier this year voted to up the cost of one week at the camps from $100 to $175. (AP)
Fishing Derby
The deadline for signing up for a fishing derby on Lake Champlain is getting closer. The final day for early registration in the annual LCI Father’s Day Fishing Derby is March 31. (AP)
Thinning ice
The ice on Vermont’s lakes is starting to thaw – a telltale sign of spring. But ice conditions change quickly as the weather gets warmer, which can be dangerous. (AP)
Weekend weather
Blame the upslope for blustery, snowy, icy weather on Sunday. Meteorologists say areas of Vermont west of the Green Mountains were hit hardest by the wintry weather that greeted the start of spring. An upslope effect is a localized storm made up of northwest winds ricocheting between the Adirondacks and the Green Mountains. (AP)