Guilford school still closed
Students from the Guilford Central School have been attending classes in some unlikely locations for the past month. Ever since a boiler fire raised concerns about possible carcinogens in the school, they’ve been waiting for someone to say it’s safe to return. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)
Students and veterans
Some Brattleboro students are spending Veterans’ Day honoring veterans from World War II. Mitch Wertlieb talks with social studies teacher Bill Holiday about the project. (Listen to the interview online.) (VPR)
Health care delivery
According to a new report, Vermont’s hospitals and health care related businesses account for 11% of all jobs in the state. Hospital officials warn the stability of the state’s health care delivery system could be undermined by the chronic under-funding of medical services by both the state and federal government. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)
Tobacco advertising pulled
The tobacco industry has agreed to stop advertising in newsmagazines directed at young people, after being contacted by Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell. (VPR)
Sanders criticizes media priorities
Vermont Congressman Bernie Sanders is expressing concern about what he says is the media’s failure to cover certain issues at all. (AP)
Douglas defends community rating plan
Governor Jim Douglas says Senate Democrats know nothing about his health care plan that they are criticizing. Some Senate leaders are urging Douglas not to change the way health insurance companies decide how much to charge their customers. (AP)
Veterans health care
Congressman Bernie Sanders says it’s a day to remember America’s veterans. Sanders says it’s not acceptable that veterans are waiting six months or longer for a medical appointment at a VA hospital or clinic. He says more than 130,000 veterans have lost access to VA health care. Sanders says Americans need to recommit themselves to making certain that they get the benefits they were promised. (AP)
IBM defense contract
Officials at IBM, Vermont’s largest private employer, say a new defense contract gives the plant a secure future. Details of the contract are due to be announced on Tuesday. Plant officials say it will be worth as much as $600 million over the next 10 years. (AP)
Rutland hiring rules
Some police in Rutland want city officials to remove a requirement that they live in the city. The board adopted a rule in 1997 that requires employees of the police, administrative, recreation and public works departments to live within city limits. Police officials say the rule has made it difficult for them to hire new officers. (AP)
TV discrimination suit
The former executive director of Brattleboro Community Television is suing the non-profit station for discrimination. Robin Mide says she was fired because she is a lesbian. Mide left the station in July. According to documents filed in Windham Superior Court, she’s filed five charges against the station. (AP)
Ski season begins
The ski season is under way. The Killington ski area opened on Monday at noon. There are two lifts serving eight trails. It’s not time for beginners, yet, though. Killington says the trails now open are for upper intermediate to advanced skiers. (AP)
Randolph land gifts
Town officials in Randolph have accepted two substantial gifts from residents in the last few weeks. A landowner recently gave the town 38 acres of land. And last week, another resident gave the town $6,000 to buy four acres of riverfront property next to Randolph’s recreation field. (AP)
Dean playing cards
A new fad in playing cards features people in the news, and shop owners say Howard Dean cards are among the most popular. Owners of book stores say they’ve ordered extra sets of the cards because demand for them has been so high. (AP)
Sampson trial
The penalty phase of Gary Sampson’s trial is continuing in a federal courtroom in Boston. He’s the Massachusetts man arrested in Vermont in the summer of 2001 after killing three people in his home state and New Hampshire. Sampson could be sentenced to the federal death penalty. (AP)