Governor’s Race: Impact of presidential election
Passions for and against President Bush are pushing up voter registration in many parts of the country. But will a voter’s opinion of the Bush administration affect their choices in state and local elections? (VPR)
Flu vaccine distribution
Health officials say that because the state is faced with an unprecedented shortfall in flu vaccines this year, they’ll try to narrow the list of people who should receive the vaccine. (VPR)
Interview: National Book Award nominee
Burlington writer Laben Carrick Hill is among five finalists chosen for the prestigious National Book Award. Hill’s book, “Harlem Stomp” is nominated in the category for young peoples’ literature. Mitch Wertlieb talked with Hill about his writing on Harlem Renaissance. (VPR)
Incumbents and debates
The political debate season is in full swing. But challengers in two statewide races charge that the incumbents have avoided a face-to-face discussion of the issues. (VPR)
Security at polling places
Secretary of State Deb Markowitz says the state of Vermont will not employ any special security measures on Election Day to protect polling places from potential terrorist attacks. (VPR)
GMP joins ‘climate exchange’
Vermont’s second-largest electric utility is trying to use market incentives to reduce pollution. GMP has joined a new trading market designed to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, which are blamed for global warming. (AP)
Connecticut River watershed
Programs to improve the Connecticut River from the Canadian border to Long Island Sound are getting a big boost. The Nature Conservancy is beginning a new conservation program, helped by a half million dollar grant from the Northeast Utilities Foundation. (AP)
Governor’s race poll
Governor Jim Douglas maintains a comfortable lead over Democrat Peter Clavelle in a poll conducted for WCAX-TV. The poll of 403 likely voters found Douglas with the support of 51 percent while 37 percent said they would back Clavelle. Eleven percent were undecided. (AP)
Vermont supports Kerry
It looks like Vermont is Kerry country: That new poll by WCAX-TV found 53 percent of those surveyed said they would back Democrat John Kerry for president while 40 percent said they would choose President George W. Bush. Three percent backed independent Ralph Nader and three percent were undecided.
Ready resume blame
A former aid to state Auditor Elizabeth Ready is taking the blame for one of the inaccuracies published about Ready’s educational background. Natalie Balias of Northfield says she is responsible for the error published in State Yellow Book. Ready’s Republican opponent has accused Ready of publishing inaccurate college degrees in multiple state biographies. (AP)
Invasive lake species
A move to keep carp out of the Great Lakes could help efforts to control invasive species in Lake Champlain. Last week Congress appropriated money to build an electric barrier in the Illinois River near Chicago to stop Asian carp from entering Lake Michigan. Now Vermont Senator Jim Jeffords is seeking approval for similar barrier at the southern end of Lake Champlain. (AP)