Newscast: Thursday, January 17, 2013, 7: 34 a.m.

Senator Patrick Leahy says he’s hopeful that Congress will pass a comprehensive package of gun control restrictions. Leahy says the plan should ban the sale of semi automatic assault weapons, close the gun show loophole for background checks, and limit the capacity of gun magazines. In Bennington, 47 suspected drug dealers  are in police custody after what officials are calling one of the largest arrest sweeps in Vermont history.  A Vermont man convicted twice of murder who then had those convictions reversed has returned to court.