Speaker of the House
The four Progressive members of the Vermont House say they will vote for Democrat John Tracy to be the next speaker of the House. Both Tracy and Republican Speaker Walter Freed say they have the 76 votes needed to win this election. (VPR)
State refinances
With interest rates now at some of their lowest levels in years, the state of Vermont is doing something that many consumers are thinking about: refinance some larger loans. (VPR)
Newspaper questions stories
This week, the Barre-Montpelier Times Argus fired its managing editor after it could not substantiate a story he wrote about a teenage heroin addict. Now, the paper is questioning other stories the editor wrote. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)
Battenkill prehistoric settlement
A private school in Manchester is going to preserve the site of a prehistoric settlement. Evidence of the settlement has been found on land where the school intends to build. The trustees of the Maple Street School have offered to spend about 165-thousand dollars on preservation as part of its efforts to win a land-use permit for the new school. University of Vermont archeologists recently uncovered evidence of tool making and fire pits in a meadow where Maple Street had hoped to begin construction this fall. State historic preservation officials say the finds on the site are extraordinary. The area long the Battenkill was a major travel corridor for Native Americans before Europeans settled in the area. (AP)
Historical society flood
Priceless historical documents have once again dodged floodwaters in the basement of the Vermont Historical Society in Montpelier. On Wednesday night a rusty pipe in the Pavilion office building the pipes failed and showered the room with hot water. The room used to hold books, papers, equipment, clothing and other historical society items. But those items moved a few months ago to a new headquarters in Barre. (AP)