Panel reviews Vermont Yankee uprate proposal
State officials have warned of potential safety problems if Vermont Yankee is allowed to boost its power by 20 percent. The state wants the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission to conduct a detailed review of the proposal. (VPR)
Sanders, Parke debate impact of taxes on business, middle clas
Incumbent independent Congressman Bernie Sanders and his Republican challenger Greg Parke clashed over a number of national and international issues Thursday night in a special debate on Vermont Public Radio. (VPR)
Douglas, Clavelle agree on Red Sox
Although they disagree on many of the key issues facing the state of Vermont, Republican governor Jim Douglas and his Democratic opponent Peter Clavelle do agree on one important point: they’re excited by the historic comeback of the Boston Red Sox in the American League Championship Series over the New York Yankees. (VPR)
UVM president condemns student rioting after Red Sox game
The University of Vermont is reviewing video tapes and assessing property damage after dispersing a student riot early Thursday morning after the Red Sox victory. College President Daniel Fogel says the students will be held accountable for their actions. (VPR)
Laura Bush campaigns in Upper Valley
First Lady Laura Bush campaigned in Lebanon, New Hampshire Thursday. The state is considered up-for-grabs in the upcoming election, and Bush urged supporters to work hard to re-elect the president. (VPR)
Clavelle, Douglas debate importation of flu vaccine from Canada
The shortage of flu vaccine in Vermont is emerging as an issue in this year’s gubernatorial campaign. Democratic candidate Peter Clavelle says Republican governor Jim Douglas should import vaccine from Canada. Douglas says he’s trying, but needs permission from the Bush administration. (VPR)
Dean confident in Kerry
Former Vermont Governor Howard Dean says he’s growing more confident that the Democratic ticket of John Kerry and John Edwards can win the upcoming presidential election. Dean has been campaigning in the Columbus, Ohio, area this week, which he calls ground zero in the waning days of the campaign. On Wednesday he debated former Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole. (AP)
Banner endorses Brock
The Bennington Banner is endorsing Republican Randy Brock to be Vermont’s auditor. The newspaper says incumbent Elizabeth Ready’s years-long mistakes of listing incorrect education degrees is reason enough to turn her out of office. (AP)
VPIRG drug pricing study
A woman without health insurance could pay more than twice as much for birth-control pills as someone eligible for the federal government’s discounted price. And the 62,000 Vermonters who lack health insurance for prescription drugs pay much higher prices for drugs than someone eligible for the discounts the federal government gets. Those are some of the findings of a study released Thursday by the Vermont Public Interest Research Group and other advocates for lower drug prices. (AP)
Unemployment rate
Vermont’s unemployment rate in September was 3.3 percent for the third month in a row, compared with the national rate in September of 5.4 percent. Unemployment rates for Vermont’s 13 labor market areas ranged from 1.6 percent in Hartford to 4.5 percent in Enosburg. (AP)
College centennial
Saint Michael’s College punctuates its yearlong centennial celebration this weekend with a special convocation, an event that already has alumni memories working overtime. Vermont U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy has the bench from the campus snack bar where he sat and talked with his future wife Marcelle in his Middlesex home. It’s not fancy and somewhat uncomfortable, but back then, Leahy says, it was like sitting on a cloud. (AP)
Alligator ruling
An Alburg man has 30 days to get rid of three alligators he moved to Vermont when he relocated to the state six months ago. Mike Priestley says he uses the alligators as educational tools. The largest is about two and a half feet long. (AP)