Here are the top stories at the noon hour.
The Legislature’s intense exploration of global warming began this morning in the House chamber in Montpelier; a hint that there may be more public policy debate in Vermont this year over health care; the Legislature has received assurances that no matter what plans for a surge in military forces for Iraq that the President may outline tonight, it is unlikely that Vermont National Guard members would be involved; Vermont Congressman Peter Welch has been given a second committee assignment in the U.S. House, and like the first, it’s a high-profile committee.