Dean’s public financing dilemma
Howard Dean’s fundraising success presents a tough dilemma for the Democratic presidential candidate. Dean must decide whether his campaign will accept federal matching funds to continue the race next year. If he takes the money, he’ll have to sharply limit spending though next year’s Democratic convention. Dean says he hasn’t yet decided what to do. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)
Brattleboro adopts emissions control plan
The town of Brattleboro has endorsed a plan to significantly reduce emissions of greenhouse gases in town. It’s part of a growing grass roots effort to combat global warming and reduce dependency on foreign oil. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)
Teacher of the year
Vermont’s Teacher of the Year has been named and it’s Michael Dwyer of Otter Valley Union High School in Brandon. Dwyer has been teaching in the state for 20 years. (VPR)
Drug re-importation pilot program
The Douglas administration is asking Congress to use the state of Vermont as a pilot project for the re-importation of prescription drugs from Canada. The proposal will be presented at a special Congressional hearing in Boston Tuesday afternoon. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)
IP seeks cooperation on tire burn
The International Paper Company in Ticonderoga hopes to work with the Douglas administration to resolve air pollution concerns over a plan to burn tire chips at the plant. (VPR)
Lawsuit filed against EPA
Vermont is one of 12 states and several Northeast cities that is suing the Environmental Protection Agency to block changes to the Clean Air Act. (AP)
School assessments to be released next month
Schools that might face corrective action under the federal No Child Left Behind Act will have to wait a few weeks to find out how they fared on recent assessments. (AP)
Williston development dispute
There’s another dispute over development in Williston. Developers who want to build 329 units of housing in Williston are asking the town to change its rules on sewers. The proposed Foxwood Village would use as much as 80,000 gallons of sewer capacity a day. (AP)
Middle school anti-drug program
A Barre middle school program is getting a shot in the arm. One million dollars will go to expand Barre’s CityScape program over the next five years. The program began in 1998 and was the first of its kind in Vermont, and one of the first 100 in the nation. It’s based at the city’s elementary and middle school. (AP)
Teacher behavior
A panel of the Vermont Board of Education is recommending a number of ways to strengthen the state’s ability to discipline unprofessional behavior by teachers. One recommendation is to make it a crime for school officials to have sexual relations with students who are age 16 or older. (AP)
Granite shed fire
The Montpelier fire department is investigating the cause of an early morning fire at a granite shed that was being dismantled. Montpelier officials say there were no injuries in the fire that was reported at 12:49 Tuesday morning. (AP)
Propane explosion investigation
Authorities still are investigating what caused a propane explosion that seriously hurt two Lamoille County men. They are in critical condition at a Boston hospital after being burned in the Morrisville explosion. The Vermont State Police say 50-year-old John Pickett of Morrisville and 34-year-old Barry Owens of Stowe were burned in the explosion at Pickett’s home, which was under construction. (AP)
Animals restricted from Burlington street
There will be no pot bellied pigs, boa constrictors or monkeys on Burlington’s Church Street Marketplace. The city council voted on Monday to prohibit all pets from the Marketplace except dogs, cats and European ferrets. The ordinance carries no penalty. (AP)