Interview: an Iowan’s impression of Dean
Delaney talks with Ellen Gaffney, a Democratic Party offical from Buchanan County, Iowa. Gaffney gives her impression of how Iowa voters are receiving Dean’s campaign message. (Listen to the interview online or read the transcript.) (VPR)
Dean’s presidential campaign
Governor Howard Dean’s presidential campaign enters a new stage this week. Dean is opening an office in Burlington, hiring several staff people, and launching a national web site for his campaign. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)
GOP congressional race
Republican U.S. House candidate Bill Meub says it’s critical for the party’s congressional nominee to appeal to moderate voters if the GOP hopes to defeat Independent Congressman Bernie Sanders in the fall election. (VPR)
Flanagan defends campaign spending
One of the Democratic candidates for state treasurer says the news media isn’t covering the important issues in his campaign. Candidate Ed Flanagan complained Thursday that too much attention is being paid to how much money he’s spent, rather than on how he would run the office. (VPR)
Judicial appointee rejected
The Senate Judiciary Committee has voted to reject one of President Bush’s appointees to the federal appeals court. Senator Patrick Leahy, who chairs the panel, says the controversial judge was an ideological activist who was unqualified for the position. (VPR)
Adirondack fire
All trails and roads leading to Sleeping Beauty Mountain just east of Lake George, New York, were closed today as firefighters battled a five-acre fire on the mountain. (AP)
Elks Club discrimination case
Four women who were denied membership to the Elks Lodge in Hartford six years ago have taken their case to the state’s highest court. The Vermont Supreme Court heard arguments in the case today. (AP)
National Guard deployment
More members of the Vermont National Guard are headed overseas to help fight the war on terrorism. Thirteen members of the Guard’s 158th Security Forces Squadron will leave Monday for a 90-day stint in Southwest Asia. The exact location is a secret. (AP)
Spaulding endorsements
Three top Democrats are expected to announce their support today for former State Senator Jeb Spaulding in the primary race for state treasurer. Secretary of State Deborah Markowitz, Attorney General William Sorrell and Auditor of Accounts Elizabeth Ready are planning a news conference. (AP)
UVM’s ranking rises
The University of Vermont jumped 31 places in two years in the college rankings done by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine. In this year’s rankings, UVM is 64th, up from 95th in the 2000 rankings. (AP)
Board finds Baska guilty
A state board that regulates doctors ruled yesterday that a Copley Hospital surgeon failed repeatedly to meet professional standards of care. Doctor Robert Baska’s license to practice medicine has been suspended since August 2001. Yesterday, the Medical Practice Board found Baska guilty of 20 counts of unprofessional conduct. (AP)
Police officers in schools
Five Vermont police officers are being sent back to school this fall. A federal grant of more than $600,000 is paying to put the officers in schools in Barre, Bennington, Rutland, Springfield and Fair Haven. (AP)
US Gen taxes
It’s up to the Vermont Supreme Court to decide if the owner of a hydroelectric dam on the Connecticut River had its property assessment unfairly frozen. The issue is significant for U.S. Gen New England because it affects how much property tax it paid to the town of Rockingham. (AP)
Grand list appeals
Expect a lot of Vermont towns to appeal the value of the taxable property in their communities. A Rutland Superior Court decision found the state system used as part of the Act 60 education funding law is unfair. Towns are being asked to question the state. (AP)
Ludlow Act 60 dispute
Vermont’s education commissioner says the town of Ludlow can’t dodge the Act 60 sharing pool through a plan for busing students on town vehicles. Ludlow is a sending town under the state’s education funding law, Act 60. (AP)
Hang gliding death
A fire lieutenant from Berlin, New Hampshire has died from injuries he suffered in a hang gliding accident in Vermont last week. Carl Morin was injured at Burke Mountain in northern Vermont. He was a member of the U.S. Hang Gliders Association, and hang gliding clubs in Vermont and Maine. (AP)