Here are the top stories at 7:30 a.m.:
Experts say Vermont’s economy has so far escaped the turmoil that’s forcing Congress to bail out some of the largest firms on Wall Street. But they acknowledge that the problems in the financial industry could damage the national economy, and that would hurt Vermont; Congressman Peter Welch says it will be difficult for him to support the $700 billion Wall Street bail out package, unless he’s convinced that the proposal protects middle class Vermonters; New federal census data shows that the number of immigrants in Vermont declined from 2006 to 2007.