Interview: Dean’s campaign manager
Steve Delaney talks with Scott Ridder, chair of Governor Howard Dean’s campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination. (Listen to the interview online.) (VPR)
Wild turkeys
Thirty-five years ago, there were no wild turkeys in Vermont. Today, the big birds are a familiar sight in fields and back yards across the state. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)
Dean to pursue youth vote
Governor Howard Dean says attracting young people to his upcoming presidential campaign is an important strategy in his effort to win the Democratic nomination. (VPR)
Bellows Falls pediatric clinic
A group of parents in Bellows Falls must raise $25,000 to prevent a pediatric health clinic from shutting down. The parents met last week with officials from Brattleboro Memorial Hospital, which operates the heath center. The hospital backed off earlier threats to close the clinic. But now the parents have to come up with half the money to keep it operating. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)
House races recounted
According to the Secretary of State’s office, the official tabulation of five legislative recounts shows no change from the winners on Election Day. Still, there’s a possibility that some of the recounts may be challenged. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)
Toy warnings
With the two biggest shopping days of the holidays coming up this weekend, the Vermont Public Interest Research Group is urging consumers to be careful not to purchase toys that could be hazardous to young children. (VPR)
Dean leaves for Israel
Vermont Governor Howard Dean will be leaving for Jerusalem on Saturday. He’ll spend five days touring the area and meeting with Israeli and Palestinian leaders. (AP)
Bartlett drops out
The senior woman in the Vermont Senate apparently has dropped out of the race to become its leader. (AP)
Verizon eliminates jobs
Vermont’s largest telephone company is shedding jobs. But officials at Verizon Vermont say they hope they won’t need layoffs to eliminate 50 jobs by the end of the year. Verizon Vermont currently employs about 800 people, down from 950 two years ago. (AP)
Airport security
Security has been beefed up at the Rutland State Airport. Six federal security personnel have taken over the job of screening passengers and their baggage. At Burlington International Airport, Vermont’s largest airport, there are almost 100 federal workers screening passengers. (AP)
St. Johnsbury methadone clinic
Some Saint Johnsbury officials don’t like the possibility a methadone clinic could open in their community. So some members of the town select board are trying to generate support for a resolution opposing such a clinic. Some are calling for a mobile clinic. (AP)
Lyndon medical clinic
Directors of a Lyndon health clinic that burned last week say they plan to rebuild their business somewhere in town. Doctor John Elliott, one of the clinic’s founders, says he and others are searching for sites. Dartmouth-Hitchcock has set up temporary space at the Saint Johnsbury hospital so Corner Medical’s patients can be seen there. Elliott says restoring the building that burned would probably cost twice as much as putting up a new building. (AP)
Librarian salary
The Vermont Supreme Court has handed West Hartford Library trustees a victory in a three-year turf war with the town. The trustees wanted the right to set the librarian’s salary. In April, Windsor Superior Court ruled that the town’s Selectboard had the authority to hire employees and set their benefits. But the state’s highest court reversed that ruling last week. (AP)