Here are the top stories at the noon hour:
A prominent Vermont educator speaks out against Federal implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act; this weekend is supposed to be the best in years for fall foliage in Vermont; Columbus Day is no longer celebrated on the 12th of October, but on the nearest convenient weekend; on the campaign trail, Independent Senatorial candidate Bernie Sanders has no events scheduled for today, while Republican rival Rich Tarrant is dining out; Governor Jim Douglas and his Democratic challenger Scudder Parker have just had a debate on property taxes and other municipal issues at a forum sponsored by the Vermont League of Cities and towns; Democratic Congressional candidate Peter Welch is at the Nordic Farm in Charlotte at this hour, and is in a global warming forum late this afternoon at Middlebury College; Martha Rainville is campaigning today in northern Vermont’s Orleans County.