Midday Newscast: December 13, 2007

Officials say there’s a potential breakthrough on FairPoint Communications’ plan to buy Verizon’s land-line telephone system in northern New England; negotiators in Washington have agreed to repeal a law that they say gave too much authority to the president to call up National Guard units;  health officials say there’s no concern in Vermont about doses of two childhood vaccines that have been recalled by their manufacturer; the leaders of the Vermont Legislature say they’re going to concentrate on reforms to the health care system again next year.