Student loan consolidation
Millions of people have taken advantage of today’s low interest rates by refinancing their mortgages. But many borrowers struggling to pay off large student loans are locked into high interest rates that they can’t refinance. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)
DET staff cuts
The Douglas administration has agreed to postpone until next month a decision to lay off 30 workers at the State Department of Employment and Training. A number of Democratic senators on the Joint Fiscal Committee were critical of the administration’s original decision to make the cuts. (Listen to the story online or read the transcript.) (VPR)
Iraq spending plan
Both of Vermont’s U.S. senators want President Bush to provide details on the Administration’s plan to spend more than $87 billion in Iraq. The president says he’ll ask Congress to support the spending plan in the next few weeks. (VPR)
Nuclear waste disposal
Vermont is expected to pay Texas $12.5 million next month, for taking in the state’s low-level radioactive waste. That payment is planned despite the fact that Texas has failed to win approval for a disposal site. (AP)
Democrats’ chance against Bush
A poll of likely voters in New Hampshire’s Democratic primary gives mixed results for former Vermont Governor Howard Dean. (AP)
State police vacancies
The Vermont State Police in Middlebury will lose two of their troopers when the Vermont National Guard deploys troops later this month. (AP)