The Jeffords Effect: Patrick Leahy
It’s been a year since Vermont Senator James Jeffords left the Republican Party and the ripple effects continue. One of those most affected by Jeffords’ actions has been Vermont’s other Senator, Patrick Leahy. When control of the Senate switched to the Democrats, Leahy assumed a much more pivotal and controversial role on Capitol Hill. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)
Accused Priests on Leave
The Catholic Diocese of Burlington says six priests under investigation by the Vermont attorney general’s office will be placed on administrative leave beginning this Friday. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)
Act 60 Reform Impasse
House and Senate negotiators working on a compromise plan to change Act 60 hit an impasse on Wednesday afternoon and the issue could be dead for the session. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)
Gubernatorial Debate
The state’s troubled economic climate was the dominant theme as Vermont’s gubernatorial candidates faced off in a debate Wednesday. The candidates agreed that many Vermont businesses are hurting. But they offered different prescriptions for a cure. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)
Dean Presidential Campaign
Vermont Governor Howard Dean said he’s virtually certain to seek the Democratic presidential nomination in the next election cycle. (AP)
Douglas Announces Candidacy
Vermont Treasurer Jim Douglas is officially announcing his candidacy for governor today. Douglas, a Republican, will have several competitors for the office: Democrat Doug Racine, Progressive Michael Badamo and Libertarian Joel Williams. (AP)
Vermont Yankee
The Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant began restarting its reactor yesterday after an unscheduled shutdown to replace leaking fuel rods. State nuclear engineer William Sherman says the problem of leaking fuel rods was worse than anticipated, but the leaks were small enough to fall within federal safety limits. (AP)
Wrestler’s Apology Not Accepted
The Vermont Principal’s Association has rejected an apology from high school wrestler Ronald Wright, or Bennington. Wright was stripped of his state wrestling championship after applying a chokehold that rendered his opponent unconscious. The VPA says Wrights letter was not “sufficiently apologetic.” (AP)
Well-Being of Vermont Kids
A national study ranks Vermont ninth in the well-being of its children. The annual Kids Count report released today says Vermont’s performance has improved in six of the ten categories it evaluated. The report ranked New Hampshire second and Maine twelfth. (AP)
Church Sex Discrimination
A woman who practices law in Vermont has filed suit against the Roman Catholic Church. Susan Rockwell filed the suit yesterday in U.S. district court in New Hampshire. She claims that the church’s refusal to ordain women amounts to sex discrimination. (AP)
Springfield Tool Industry
The assets of the Bryant Grinder and the Fellows Corporation were bought at a bankruptcy auction yesterday by an Illinois company that plans to relocate the equipment. The Illinois company outbid another group that would have kept the equipment in the Springfield plants. (AP)
Fraternity House Fire
About 800 students escaped from a fire at a Dartmouth College fraternity house early today. Officials say that flames broke out in the basement of the Alpha Delta fraternity during a party a little after 12:30 this morning. No one was hurt; the state fire marshal is investigating. (AP)
Ferry Grounding Unsolved
There is still no official word on the cause of the grounding in Lake Champlain last summer of the ferry Adirondack. There were no injuries and no damage when the ferry got stuck three miles from the Burlington dock. (AP)