November 5, 2003 – News at a glance

Print More

Caught in the Net: online fundraising changes politics
2004 might be the year that voters use the Internet like never before to help elect a president. Already, Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean has used his Web site to raise millions from small donors. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)

Vermont near national average in home health care
Vermont home health agencies performed near the national average in new figures issued by the federal government. Officials say the statistics indicate the state is doing well for a system that cares for more than its share of acutely ill patients. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)

Commuter rail
Governor Jim Douglas says he wants to explore the possibility of establishing commuter rail service from St. Albans to Essex Junction. (VPR)

School merger
Whitingham and Wilmington have agreed to pool their resources in a new joint high school and middle school. The two towns, seven miles apart, have separate high schools and longstanding sports rivalries. But starting next year students from both towns will be going to school together. (VPR)

Corrections procedures hearing
The Douglas administration will work with key lawmakers on an independent investigation into the unusual number of deaths inside Vermont prisons. The call for an investigation came as a legislative oversight committee heard more allegations about a recent inmate suicide. Witnesses also told the committee that inmates and staff who complain can experience retaliation by corrections officials. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)

Ticonderoga tire burn
Environmental Commissioner Jeff Wennberg says the state needs more time to review a plan by the International Paper Company to burn tires as fuel at its Ticonderoga plant. Wennberg says the delay will also give the state an opportunity to install new air monitoring equipment across the lake from the IPC facility. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)

Stowe electric utility
Town officials in Stowe are looking at a plan to sell the town’s 107-year-old electric department. (AP)

Brattleboro mascot vote
Students are scheduled to vote next month whether Brattleboro Union High School should retain the Colonel as its mascot. (AP)

Guilford air quality tests
Parents and school officials in Guilford are trying to figure out when classes can resume in the town school. (AP)

Batten Kill water quality
The U.S. Senate has approved a bill that includes a $250,000 to help improve water quality and restore the fishery in the Batten Kill in Bennington County. The Batten Kill long has been known as a world-class trout stream, but its fish population has been declining in recent years. (AP)

First responder budget allocation
Vermont U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy is lauding approval of another $19 million for first-responder preparedness in Vermont. Leahy says the money exceeds expectations for Vermont, but not the state’s needs as it trains police, fire and emergency medical personnel to train for possible terrorist attacks. (AP)

GMO fact finding
A group of Vermont lawmakers plan to visit a Monsanto lab in Connecticut that develops genetically modified corn. Lawmakers are considering four bills on genetically engineered seeds ranging from a ban on the sale of the seeds to reporting of seed sales. (AP)

Dean’s Public financing poll
Howard Dean is asking supporters to decide whether he should remain in the country’s public campaign finance system or join President Bush in raising unlimited campaign contributions. The Democratic presidential candidate is asking backers to vote by e-mail, Internet, phone or regular mail this week. (AP)

Cell tower ban
Voters in Arlington have approved a bylaw that bans cell phone towers in the forest and recreation districts. The amendment passed 226 to 109 Tuesday night. Cell phone towers would be allowed in all other zoning districts. (AP)

Vermont Pure distribution company
The bottled water company Vermont Pure has acquired three home and office distributors. The Randolph company says it acquired the assets through its Crystal Rock subsidiary. The companies are: Thames Valley Water Bottling Company of Waterford Connecticut; and the New York companies Aqua Pura Spring Water and Garrison Natural Spring Water. (AP)

Milton layoffs
A furniture maker has closed its distribution center in Milton, putting 22 people out of work. Relax-R Corporation, which manufactures reclining and swivel chairs, plans to consolidate its Milton distribution center in Canada. (AP)

Comments are closed.