Financial strain on doctors
The Vermont Medical Society is warning that cuts in the federal Medicare program could drive doctors out of business. The Society says the federal government plans to reduce payments under the program, despite a recent study that shows that physician’s costs are increasing. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)
Dean public financing
Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean is asking his supporters to decide if he should reject public financing for his campaign. The online poll will take place over the next two days and Dean says he’ll live with whatever decision his backers make. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)
Gay Vermonters lobby Dean
The monthly newspaper “Out in the Mountains” wants Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean to come back to Vermont to meet with gays and lesbians. (VPR)
Kirby residents against wind turbines
A recent survey has found that a majority of property owners in Kirby do not want to see wind turbines in their town. (AP)
Daley pleads innocent
The 23-year-old Lebanon, New Hampshire, man accused of killing a Vermont State Police trooper last June has pleaded innocent to second-degree murder charges. (AP)
Yankee uprate endorsed
The state agency that represents utility consumers has agreed to endorse a proposed boost in the power output of the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant. The Department of Public Service says it obtained several benefits from Entergy Nuclear for Vermonters in exchange for its endorsement of the plan. (AP)
Yankee safety inspection
A nuclear watchdog group is calling on Governor Jim Douglas to order an independent safety assessment at the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant. The New England Coalition says it will present Douglas with petitions on Thursday containing more than 2,700 signatures calling for such a review. (AP)
Dean awaits union endorsement
Democratic presidential hopeful Howard Dean may get a major campaign boost campaign on Thursday from one of the nation’s largest unions. Top officials of the Service Employees International Union say there’ll be an announcement after a board meeting in Washington. (AP)
Merck rebate contract
The state has reached a deal with the national drug company Merck over the payment of $356,000 in rebates for drugs prescribed to Vermonters on Medicaid. Merck has agreed to put the money into an escrow account while it waits for the federal government to approve its contract with Vermont. (AP)
Rutland airport funding
The Rutland State Airport in Clarendon could be among ten small airports to lose commercial service under a bill being considered by the U.S. Senate. The ten would be chosen from a list of 29 rural airports around the country and required to pay some of the costs of commercial air service. (AP)
Police roadblock procedure
Vermont is one of 24 states that have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to allow police to set up roadblocks to collect information in routine criminal investigations. The justices heard arguments yesterday in a case in which a local police force in Illinois set up a roadblock a week after a hit-and-run to ask motorists whether they knew anything about the incident. (AP)
IDX investigation
Federal prosecutors in Seattle are investigating whether South Burlington-based IDX Systems made false statements on an application for a federal grant. The U.S. Attorney’s office in Seattle isn’t commenting. But the company says an employee in Washington state reported the allegations to federal authorities there. (AP)
Steroid possession charges
Three former Norwich University football players have been charged with possession of steroids. Andrew Berry of Berlin has agreed to plead guilty to the misdemeanor charge. Matthew Anderson of Clearwater, Florida, and Carl Schrempf of Hampton Falls, New Hampshire, are also charged. (AP)