Tracking a dollar in the dairy industry
Dairy farmers have always wondered why milk prices stay high in the supermarket when their own paychecks fall. The Vermont Department of Agriculture is trying to answer the question. Officials are researching where the money goes in the milk industry. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)
Interview: rifle season
Steve Delaney talks with John Buck of the Fish and Wildlife Department on the opening of rifle season Saturday. (Listen to the interview online.) (VPR)
Douglas news conference
Governor-elect Jim Douglas says he’ll urge the Legislature to bring back horse racing in Pownal as a way to stimulate the economy of southwestern Vermont and to bring new revenue to the state. Douglas also wants the General Assembly to support a plan to have Vermont join Powerball. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)
Backstage with ‘The Crucible’
Arthur Miller’s play “The Crucible” is set during the Salem witch trials in 1692. But its politics are rooted firmly in 1950’s America. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)
Springfield prison
Vermont Corrections Commissioner John Gorczyk says the new prison in Springfield should be opened as soon as construction is completed. There have been suggestions the state could save money by delaying the opening. (VPR)
Hinsdales purchase farm
The family that has been proposing a large farm operation in Charlotte has just bought one of the town’s largest farms. The Hinsdale family purchased Nordic Farms, which sits along U.S. Route 7 for $840,000. (VPR)
Sanders supports Pelosi
Congressman Bernie Sanders says he strongly supports the election of California Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi as the new head of the Democrats in the U.S. House. (VPR)
Dean in D.C.
Vermont Governor Howard Dean took a stern message to Washington Thursday night for his fellow Democrats. Dean says the Democrats need to spell out more clearly for the voters the differences between themselves and the Republicans. He was especially critical of congressional Democrats. (AP)
Senate Judiciary Committee
Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy has allowed the Judiciary Committee to recommend two appeals courts judges strongly supported by Republicans and opposed by civil rights groups. Leahy presided over the last hearing of the committee with him as chairman. With the Republicans taking over control, Utah Senator Orrin Hatch will regain the chairmanship. (AP)
Leahy draws criticism
Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy’s criticism of the campaign waged by a Georgia Republican who ousted an incumbent Democrat has drawn a sharp response. Leahy appeared on a call-in show on WVMT earlier this week and described Georgia Congressman Saxby Chambliss as a draft dodger. Chambliss defeated Senator Max Cleland, a triple amputee who’s a Vietnam veteran. (AP)
Townsend police shooting
The two Vermont State Police troopers who shot and wounded a woman during a domestic dispute have been placed on administrative leave. State Police Captain Glenn Cutting says it’s routine to place troopers on leave during such investigations. Troopers Christopher McCrillis and David Bark shot and wounded Kimberly Green on Tuesday. (AP)
Winooski redevelopment
The giant redevelopment project that will change the face of downtown Winooski is being delayed. Now developers say it will be next spring at the earliest before work can begin on the $165 million project. Officials say it’s taking longer than expected to line up the financing. (AP)