November 10, 2003 – News at a glance

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Dean rejects public campaign financing
Presidential candidate Howard Dean says he will reject public financing – and the federal spending limits that go with it. Dean says his supporters overwhelming urged him to abandon the public financing program. His opponents say he’s just trying to outspend them in the hard-fought primary campaign. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)

Some restrictions may be lifted on methadone clinics
The state may consider doing away with a key restriction in the law that regulates methadone clinics in Vermont. The change could make it easier to open a second facility to treat people for opiate addiction. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)

Hinsdale reelected Farm Bureau president
The annual meeting of the Vermont Farm Bureau wrapped up on Saturday night. Clarke Hinsdale was re-elected to another term as president of the Bureau. (VPR)

Kerry hires new manager
Massachusetts Senator John Kerry is shaking up the campaign by firing campaign manager Jim Jordan. Kerry announced this morning that he has decided to replace Jordan with long-time Democratic operative Mary Beth Cahill. Cahill has worked for Emily’s List, a group that lobbies for women’s political issues. She is currently chief of staff for Senator Edward Kennedy. Kerry says he is offering Jordan another position with the campaign, but it’s not clear whether Jordan will stay on. (AP)

Progressive-Democratic politics
Burlington Mayor Peter Clavelle says he’s told Progressive Anthony Pollina he shouldn’t run for lieutenant governor. Clavelle says he believes if Pollina were to get into the race again, he would split the vote with the Democratic nominee. Pollina says he doesn’t share Clavelle’s opinion that his candidacy could end up benefiting Dubie. (AP)

Canadian prescriptions
A South Burlington company that helps Vermonters buy lower-priced Canadian prescription drugs has withstood a challenge from the Vermont Board of Pharmacy. The board said Discount Prescription Services should be shut down because it was not a licensed pharmacy. That complaint has been dismissed. (AP)

Deer season
The biologist in charge of the Vermont deer herd says the forecast for this year’s buck season is less than great. John Buck is the deer project leader for the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department. He says a scarcity of natural fall food and the severe weather conditions of last winter will probably diminish this year’s buck season. (AP)

National Grange meeting
An estimated 2,000 members of the National Grange will be gathering in Vermont this week for an annual convention. One of the major topics of discussion likely is to be how to reinvigorate the Grange. It has lost thousands of members and many local chapters around the country have folded. (AP)

Bennington tourism
Tourism industry leaders say they need to make Bennington a better destination for travelers. Some say Bennington needs to market itself differently to tour groups. That might help to get travelers to stop and stay awhile. (AP)

Bennington monument lighted
The Bennington Battle Monument will be lit up on Tuesday for the first time ever. Local officials in Bennington approved a plan earlier this year to install lights on the Revolutionary War monument. In May, the Legislature awarded the project $40,000 in state money to pay for the lights. (AP)

Garvey memorial service
A Proctor High School graduate who was killed in Iraq is being honored this week in the state of his birth. Twenty-three-year-old Justin Garvey was killed July 20 when his vehicle was ambushed in Iraq. On Tuesday, a bridge in Lewis, New York, will be dedicated to Garvey as part of Veterans Day ceremonies. (AP)

Burlington anti-crime group
A new citizens’ group in Burlington says it will monitor the police department’s response to crime. The group TONE is based in the city’s Old North End neighborhood. It says it will collect residents’ observations of drug activity, speeding and other crimes. (AP)

VTC student discipline
The parents of a freshman at Vermont Technical College say they’re outraged their son was kicked out of his dorm for two weeks because of comments he made in a note. Eighteen-year-old Rob Provost was expelled from his dorm after he wrote comments that were determined to be anti-gay. College officials gave him a list of hotels in the area and two days’ notice to get out of the dorm. (AP)

Students plead guilty
Four Manchester teenagers have received probation for scratching a swastika and an insult on a family’s car last summer. The four boys are students at Burr and Burton Academy. All four pleaded guilty last week to charges of unlawful misconduct. (AP)

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