VPR News

‘Moonlight in Vermont’ rings in New Year

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It’s likely that somewhere on New Year’s Eve, as the lights dim on the dance floor, a Vermont musical icon will be playing. In 1944, a new popular song gave the world an image of Vermont that included falling leaves, ski trails and the evening summer breeze. The 13-line song became a standard that is still sung today.
VPR News

Year in Review, Part 5: Energy issues

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Energy was a big issue in 2004. Most of the energy matters that Vermont dealt with in the last year cropped up early and stayed in play for months. Today as we continue our weeklong “Year in Review,” VPR’s Steve Delaney looks at nuclear power, hydro-electric dams, wind power and transmission lines.
VPR News

Study focuses on health of Vermont’s wildlife

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The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is involved in a nationwide effort to take stock of country’s wildlife. Officials say when the work is completed it will be the first time that all of the state’s animals, plants and insects have been surveyed.
Commentary Series

Democracy in the Middle East

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Commentator Barrie Dunsmore believes that the fabled warning, “Be careful what you wish for” – could well apply to the Bush Administration’s desire to democratize the Middle East.
VPR News

Year in Review, Part 4: Politics

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There was other political news in Vermont this year besides Howard Dean’s presidential campaign. There are some familiar faces back in statewide offices, and others who are leaving their elected positions. Today as we continue this week’s series on “2004, the year in review,” VPR’s Steve Delaney takes us through the politics of the last 12 months.
Commentary Series

Hiram Powers’ Lamp

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Commentator Anne Galloway thinks that one of the most unexpected news stories of 2004 involved the legacy of Woodstock native Hiram Powers, the most renowned neoclassical sculptor in America.
VPR News

Newspaper at odds with police over threatening letter

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A local newspaper is in a dispute with police over a threatening letter it received as part of an anthrax hoax. The Times Argus newspaper in Barre was shutdown for several hours on Monday after an editor opened the letter and white powder spilled out. The powder was later determined to be a sodium substance. Police kept the letter as evidence. But now the paper is taking legal action to learn its contents.
VPR News

Leahy calls for increased aid to south Asia

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Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy is calling on the Bush administration to dramatically increase disaster relief to south Asia. Leahy says he’s concerned that the administration will dip into important foreign aid programs to fund the relief — or fail to provide enough money to stricken countries.
VPR News

Year in Review, Part 3: Red Sox, Flu, Phish and more

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In almost every year there are events that don’t fit into any one category. They’re unique; so different that if a year had fingerprints they’d be part of the identifying pattern.As we continue our series on “2004,” VPR’s Steve Delaney takes a look into that mixed bag.
VPR News

Interview: New policy for asylum seekers takes effect

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Refugee shelters on both sides of the U.S.-Canadian border are teeming with refugees trying to beat a deadline that goes into effect on Wednesday. The Safe Third Country Agreement between the U.S. and Canada mandates that refugees seeking asylum do so in whichever country they reach first. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Patrick Giantonio, executive director of Vermont Refugee Assistance, about the implications of the policy.
VPR News

Groundwater mapping project behind schedule

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Two-thirds of Vermont’s population gets its drinking water from underground sources. Yet a program to map groundwater areas is under-funded and behind schedule. Environmentalists plan to make groundwater protection a top priority for the upcoming Legislature.
VPR News

Student music composition explores issues of prejudice

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The issue of prejudice has been on the minds of students at Winooski High School. All this fall, they studied the book “Witness,” by Karen Hesse, which explores racism in Vermont in the early 1900s. Their study culminated this month with some special music, composed by the students, based on some themes in the book.
Commentary Series

Two Americas

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The idea of “Two Americas” usually refers to an economic division, but recently, commentator Bill Seamans has been contemplating a very different meaning.
Commentary Series

News

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2004 was a challenging year for the news media, but commentator David Moats thinks that it will continue to play an important role in the democratic process in the year ahead – and beyond.
VPR News

Local Red Cross chapter accepts donations for Asia relief

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The Northern Vermont Chapter of the American Red Cross says it’s received many calls from people who want to contribute to the disaster relief effort in Asia. The death toll from flooding caused by an underwater earthquake had climbed to more than 52,000 by Tuesday evening.
VPR News

Year in Review, Part 2: Howard Dean

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All this week, VPR marks the transition between the years. We look back at the events that shaped our state in the past 12 months. The most compelling political news was the remarkable story of Howard Dean and a presidential campaign that wasn’t to be. Today, in our series on “2004, the Year in Review,” VPR’s Steve Delaney examines the mark Dean has made on American politics.
Commentary Series

Vermont Game Birds

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Continuing this week, VPR commentators are serving up some “Very Vermont Food.” Today, commentator Elizabeth Ferry considers a locally grown alternative to traditional turkey and chicken.
VPR News

Vermont Guard trains for brigade combat teams

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The 130 members of the Vermont National Guard called up earlier this month and another 400 headed out next month are training to be part of a relatively new military concept called ‘brigade combat’ teams
VPR News

Year in Review, Part 1: War

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For the entire year, Vermont, like the rest of the nation, has been touched by war. The war dominated the news and had a significant effect on Vermont, and it’s the subject that opens our weeklong year in review.
VPR News

Good news for Southern Vermont dairy farm

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Last June, VPR reported on a Vermont farm near the Massachusetts border that wanted to sell organic milk. The problem was that the farmers couldn’t find an organic milk hauler willing to travel far into southern Vermont to collect the milk. But things have taken a turn for the family and their dairy herd.
Commentary Series

Saint Lucy’s Day

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This week, VPR commentators continue to serve up some “Very Vermont Food”. Today commentator Rosemary Fifield describes a holiday tradition that will be familiar to many in Vermont’s Italian communities.
Commentary Series

New Legislature

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As a graduate student intern at the Snelling Center for Government, commentator Helen Labun Jordan is looking forward to observing the new session of the Vermont state legislature.
VPR News

‘Polar Express’ piques imaginations

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The children’s book “The Polar Express” is widely read this time of year. The Christmas story about a boy who takes a train ride to the North Pole is also told in a new Hollywood movie this season. In Burlington, “The Polar Express” has become the center of an annual event that brings the story to life for children.
Commentary Series

Oyster Stew

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This week VPR commentators are serving up some “Very Vermont Food”. Today, commentator Tom Slayton reflects on an old Vermont tradition: Oyster Stew.
Commentary Series

Julekake

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This week VPR commentators are serving up some “Very Vermont Food”. Commentator Nils Daulaire still bakes Norwegian Christmas cake every Christmas morning.
VPR News

Jeffords hopes moderates will defeat ANWAR drilling plan

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Senator Jim Jeffords says a plan to open up the Arctic Wilderness for oil and gas drilling is likely to emerge as one of the top environmental issues in the next session of Congress. Despite big Republican gains in the Senate, Jeffords is optimistic that the proposal will be defeated
VPR News

Vermont soldiers in Mississippi to be fully armored

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The Vermonters headed to Iraq as part of a Mississippi National Guard combat team will be equipped with fully armored vehicles. Mississippi Adjutant General Harold Cross says the members of the 155th Brigade Combat team will also have the best training available.
VPR News

December 22, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Lu Ann Dillon is the new deputy secretary of the Agency of Commerce and Community Development; Congressman Bernie Sanders secures funding for Meals on Wheels and Governor Jim Douglas packages food at the Vermont FoodBank; River Steward David Deen looks after the tributaries of the Connecticut River; a citizens’ group wants two water towers in the Adirondacks demolished; schools reopen in Vergennes after an unexpected closure yesterday.
VPR News

Interview: Hockey season on ice

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The National Hockey League and its owners are locked in a bitter labor dispute with the players’ association. If the two sides can’t find common ground within the next month or so, it appears the NHL will become the first North American sports league to cancel a full season because of a labor dispute. And while that news may be met with a collective shrug among some sports fans, in Montreal the prospect of a year without pro hockey is far more troublesome.
Commentary Series

Holiday Treats

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This week, VPR commentators are serving up some Very Vermont Food. Today, with commentator Ruth Page, it’s Vermont turkey, complete with home grown vegetables, cornbread dressing and other family favorites.
Commentary Series

Piroghies

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This week, VPR commentators are serving up some “Very Vermont Food.” On Christmas Eve commentator Rachel Johnson prepares homemade piroghi – or Polish potato dumplings – for her family.
VPR News

Military families voice anti-war sentiments

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The Iraq war weighs heavily on those with family serving in the military. But families who have taken a public stance against the war face a different kind of burden. They want to make their voices heard, but at the same time they need to make it clear that they support their troops.
VPR News

Vermont holds off on online lottery

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The Vermont Lottery has no plans at this time to expand their services to include online gaming. But the proposal could emerge in the future if neighboring states decide to offer the new type of lottery.
VPR News

Publisher Peter Jennison dies

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Author and publisher Peter Jennison died on Monday. Jennison was a fifth generation Vermonter who never tired of exploring the state. As an owner of the Countryman Press, Jennison helped promote the work of many Vermont writers.
VPR News

Review scheduled for failed evacuation drill

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There will be a meeting in Brattleboro on Wednesday to try to figure out what went wrong with a mock emergency evacuation last week. Some of the buses that were supposed to report to area schools to carry schoolchildren out of the mock evacuation zone never arrived.
VPR News

Land conversation for rock climbers

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There soon will be more places to rock climb in Vermont. The Climbing Resource Access Group of Vermont has purchased a parcel of land known as the Bolton Quarry.
VPR News

December 21, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Vermont’s Catholic churches face consolidation due; a U.S. Marine is charged with assaulting his parents in Colchester; Amtrak says its budget is considerably less than the amount it needs to operate; four Pennsylvania men spend a subzero night and day in the woods after getting lost outside the boundaries at Killington Resort; Barre School language teacher Karen Heath is named Vermont’s teacher of the year.
VPR News

Amtrak shortfall may impact Vermont rail service

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Congress has approved a budget for Amtrak next year that is considerably less than the amount the rail corporation says it needs to operate. Amtrak says it’s losing more than $630 million annually. State officials say it’s too early to tell what affect the shortfall will have on service to Vermont. And they say Amtrak’s claim that ridership on train service to Vermont is down is misleading.
Commentary Series

Gingerbread Houses

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This week VPR commentators are serving up some “Very Vermont Food”. Today commentator Marialisa Calta builds a Gingerbread House.
VPR News

Judges reject request for formal hearings on Vermont Yankee

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A panel of judges for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has rejected the state’s request to hold formal hearings on Vermont Yankee’s plans to increase power. But a lawyer for the state says the ruling will still allow the state to examine safety questions posed by the power increase.
VPR News

New Legislature has more diversity

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Vermont’s Legislature will look a little more like the population it represents when it convenes next month. The House and Senate still will be dominated by white men. But the new class of lawmakers elected last month is more diverse than the one that’s departing.
VPR News

Housing unaffordable for low-income earners, report says

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Rent for a typical one- or two-bedroom apartment is unaffordable for low wage-earners in Vermont, according to a national housing study. National Low Income Housing Coalition says a minimum hourly wage of $13.42 is needed in Vermont to afford the average rent.
VPR News

Franklin County towns compare police services

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Residents of three Franklin County towns are being wooed both by state police and the sheriff’s department as they decide what kind of police protection they want. There have been discussions among Enosburg, Richford and Montgomery about hiring the county sheriff’s office to provide 24-hour coverage.
VPR News

December 20, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: the Peace and Justice Center is concerned their Town Meeting Day resolution on National Guard deployments is being interpreted as a “bring the troops home” campaign; homeless shelters expect to be near capacity over the holiday season; the Burlington City Council votes tonight on whether to allow the YMCA to take over the old Moran electric plant on the waterfront.
Commentary Series

Latke Fest

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This week VPR commentators are serving up some “Very Vermont Food”. Today commentator Melissa Pasanen tells how potato pancakes have become the main attraction at her Green Mountain Chanukah Fest.
Commentary Series

Exiting Iraq

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Commentator Allen Gilbert looks back on remarks that key administration officials made about Iraq nearly two years ago. The candor of their observatons now appears chilling.
VPR News

Administration prepares to reduce prison overcrowding

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The Douglas administration is getting ready to release a comprehensive plan to reduce overcrowding in the state’s correctional system. The proposal will recommend the construction of another work camp and the use of sophisticated technology to monitor inmates outside of the traditional prison setting.
VPR News

New chief justice sworn in

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Vermont’s newest chief justice took the oath of office on Friday and promised to work free from politics or ideology. Chief Justice Paul Reiber said the courts have a solemn duty to be independent and to administer justice without favor or personal bias.
VPR News

330 Guard members receive deployment orders

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Final orders have come in for 330 Vermont Army National Guard members to be deployed to the Middle East. The members from battalions in St. Albans, Morrisville and Jericho will leave the state January 19.
VPR News

Champlain College announces new president

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Champlain College in Burlington has a new president. Champlain officials announced on Friday that Dr. David Finney would replace President Roger Perry, who is retiring.
VPR News

December 17, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Associate Justice Paul Reiber is sworn in at 3 p.m.; about 500 people gathered in Brattleboro Thursday night for a meeting with the NRC; the Catamount Elementary School in Bennington is making progress toward getting off a list of underperforming schools; Vermont’s congressional delegation works on immigration reform; anti-football statements by a Dartmouth College’s dean threaten to undercut the school’s fundraising campaign.
VPR News

NRC presents inspection reports on Vermont Yankee

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About 500 people gathered in Brattleboro Thursday night for a meeting with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The agency agreed to report to the public on its recent inspection of the Entergy Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant.
VPR News

Interview: St. Albans discusses Wal-Mart proposal

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Hundreds of people crowded into the St. Albans Town Educational Center Thursday night to have their say before the development review board about a proposed Wal-Mart store for St. Albans. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Lee Kahrs, a reporter with the St. Albans Messenger, about the results of the meeting.
Commentary Series

Violent Video Games

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Every year we hear about dangerous toys and games, and commentator Mark Redmond has a warning about one kind of game in particular.
Commentary Series

Cheap Art

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December is the best time of year to buy art in Vermont – whether you’re playing secret Santa or indulging your own passion for painting, photography, lithography or sculpture. Commentator Anne Galloway explains why.
Commentary Series

Dylan Moments

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The legendary and often cryptic Bob Dylan has been in the news quite a bit lately, prompting commentator Caleb Daniloff to recall his own Dylan “moments.”
Commentary Series

Cheap Art

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December is the best time of year to buy art in Vermont – whether you’re playing secret Santa or indulging your own passion for painting, photography, lithography or sculpture. Commentator Anne Galloway explains why.
VPR News

Leahy shows support for United Nations leader

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Senator Patrick Leahy is lending his support to the secretary general of the United Nations. Leahy is one of the U.S. delegates to the U.N.’s new session. Secretary General Kofi Annan is facing allegations of mismanagement of the Oil for Food program in Iraq. Leahy says the calls for Annan’s removal from office are premature.
VPR News

New policy released for wind projects on state lands

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Vermont environmental officials say state lands should be off-limits to large-scale wind farms. The state Agency of Natural Resources wants to encourage smaller projects where appropriate. But a new policy that was released on Thursday bans commercial wind turbines on state-owned ridgelines.
VPR News

NRC to discuss Vermont Yankee findings Thursday evening

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A long-awaited public meeting about the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant gets underway Thursday evening in Brattleboro. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will present its recent engineering inspection, as well as its investigation into missing fuel rods at the Vernon reactor.
VPR News

St. Albans holds hearing on proposed Wal-Mart store

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A proposed Wal-Mart store in St. Albans town will be the subject of another hearing Thursday night before the local development review board. The retail giant wants to build the store just off Exit 20 of Interstate 89, north of downtown St. Albans.
VPR News

Backstage: The Gift of the Magi

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A newly formed theater company in Barre brings a classic O. Henry short story to the stage this weekend. VPR’s Neal Charnoff went “Backstage” with the Picket Fence Theater Company’s production of “The Gift of the Magi.”
VPR News

December 16, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: four men from New York and a Massachusetts teenager are jailed in Rutland on multiple counts of kidnapping; state officials expect a large crowd at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission meeting on Vermont Yankee; Senator Patrick Leahy spends a second day at the United Nations in New York; Stephen Benard is sworn in as Rutland County sheriff.
VPR News

The Home Front, Part 4:
Deployments impact police ranks

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The war in Iraq is taking an especially heavy toll on police agencies around the state. That’s because many police officers also pursue part-time military careers. Today in our series on “The Home Front,” VPR’s John Dillon reports that the call-ups have also taken a personal toll on police families.
VPR News

Flu vaccine available for wider distribution

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This fall, a nationwide shortage of vaccine prompted the Vermont Health Department to strictly regulate who could receive flu shots. Now the department says it’s relaxing those restrictions and making the shots available to more people.
Switchboard

Battle of the Bulge

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Steve Zind talks with two Vermonters taken prisoner during the Second World War in the historic Battle of the Bulge. Sixty years after the event, they’re finally telling their stories.
Commentary Series

Feared Church Ads

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The decision by CBS and NBC to refuse to run television commercials produced by the United Church of Christ proclaiming its openness to all people, including gays, reminds commentator Barrie Dunsmore of another time when fear ruled the airwaves.
VPR News

Governor promises budget increase for lake cleanup

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Governor Jim Douglas says providing more money for efforts to help clean up Lake Champlain will be a top budget priority for the new fiscal year. Douglas says this program will be one of the few areas in the state budget where he will recommend an increase in spending.
VPR News

Police break up protest at U-32 high school

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Police were called to the U-32 High School in East Montpelier on Wednesday during a protest at the school. The assistant principal says several students were protesting the school’s discipline policies and refused to go to class.
VPR News

December 15, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee warns of a very tough budget year; Governor Jim Douglas launches a new Web site for his initiative to cleanup waterways; an anti-nuclear group laments limits on public participation in NRC proceedings; the Attorney General’s office warns consumers about Internet credit card fraud; more….
VPR News

Interview: Consumer fraud online

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With the holiday season in full swing, shoppers are being warned about credit card scams, especially those appearing online. Laura Dolbos is a coordinator with the Vermont Attorney General Office’s Consumer Assistance Program. She says there has been a recent increase in credit card fraud on the Internet.
VPR News

Appropriations bill earmarks funds for train center

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In the rush to finish up the 108th Congress, lawmakers passed an enormous domestic spending bill. Deep inside the bill was $1.9 million for a train transportation center in Bellows Falls. But the bill also contained a disappointment for Amtrak.
Switchboard

What are you listening to?

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Bob Kinzel and Steve Zind co-host a discussion about how we discover, purchase and listen to music. Most of us have come a long way from turntables and long playing vinyl. They’ll talk with a few notable Vermonters their favorite music picks and welcome your comments the singers and musicians that have you listening.
Commentary Series

Season for Compassion

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Commentator Nils Daulaire says that in our race to contain AIDS, the disease got a historic head start, and our compassion is still running a distant second.
VPR News

Supreme Court hears arguments on stormwater permit

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The Vermont Supreme Court heard arguments on Tuesday in a case that pits environmentalists against a big box development in Chittenden County. At issue is how much stormwater pollution Lowe’s Home Center can discharge into a stream that’s already polluted.
VPR News

Board rejects quarry proposal

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The Development Review Board in Moretown has rejected a proposal for a quarry off Vermont Route 100-B. The board’s 16-page decision cited concerns that the project would increase heavy truck traffic, be too noisy and possibly contaminate groundwater.
VPR News

Lilac blooms indicate earlier spring

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A program involving University of Vermont scientists in the 1960s and 1970s now is showing that spring is arriving earlier in the Northeast than it used to.
VPR News

December 14, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: the Vermont Supreme Court hears oral arguments about a storm-water permit issued to Lowe’s for a store in South Burlington; a state committee recommends cuts in all transportation spending except for roads and bridges; a Vermont arm of the U.S. Civil Rights Commission asks Vermont schools to stop using Indian symbols and nicknames in their athletic programs; environmental groups call for a ban on toys containing mercury batteries.
VPR News

The Home Front, Part 2:
Wounded soldier begins recovery

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For the first time in a long time, death or injury in combat is a very real prospect for members of the Vermont National Guard. For the families of these guard members the war has become a very personal matter. VPR’s Steve Zind has one story of a soldier’s effort to recover from his wounds and the effect on his family.
Commentary Series

Hillbilly Armor

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Last week Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld addressed a crowd of soldiers at a military base in Kuwait and he fielded some very tough questions about armor, and the lack of it, in Iraq. Commentator Philip Baruth was fascinated by what Rumsfeld said in response – and what he didn’t say.
Commentary Series

Runoff Voting

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Commentator Bill McKibben is hopeful that the new Vermont legislature will be willing to take another look at election reform – and at one change in particular.
VPR News

Vermont’s electoral votes officially cast for Kerry

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Vermont’s three members of the Electoral College cast their votes for Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry at a special Statehouse ceremony on Monday. After formally recording their votes, the group called for the abolition of the Electoral College.
VPR News

Federal grant encourages employee-owned businesses

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Representatives of worker-owned businesses lined up with Congressman Bernie Sanders on Monday to promote employee ownership. Sanders’ office recently secured a $97,000 grant to help workers buy their companies through cooperatives or employee stock ownership plans.
VPR News

Lamp to remain on display, out of governor’s office

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A lamp that’s a statue of a slave will stay on public display in the Vermont Statehouse, but not on the Statehouse office desk of Governor Jim Douglas. The lamp is a replica of a nineteenth century sculpture of a nude woman about to be sold into slavery. It was a symbol of American abolitionists before the Civil War.
VPR News

December 13, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Congressman Bernie Sanders promotes employee-owned business; the state’s three electoral college votes are cast for Democratic Senator John Kerry; the Champlain Valley Union High School mascot comes under criticism; Adjutant General Martha Rainville will seek another term as commander of Vermont National Guard.
VPR News

VELCO line faces opposition from Stowe residents

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Electricity customers in northern Vermont were told this week that the cost of a new power line to serve the Stowe area has jumped by about 50 percent. The Vermont Electric Power Company says the cost increase is due to design changes and the company’s plan to use outside contractors. The power line also faces opposition from Stowe residents who are concerned about its impact on aesthetics and property values.
VPR News

UVM faculty prepare for contract renegotiation

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Among the big concerns the University of Vermont faculty union will raise in contract talks next week is class size. Speaking on Friday in a campus press conference, the union for full-time faculty explained their priorities.
VPR News

Judge allows hearing on WCAX riot tapes

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A Vermont District Court judge says prosecutors haven’t proven they need unedited videotape from WCAX TV. But Judge Linda Levitt is giving University of Vermont police a chance at a December 20 hearing to make a case that the television video is the only way they can determine who caused property damage at an October riot.
VPR News

Proposal would prohibit American Indian mascots

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A civil rights panel is planning to propose a law that would prohibit Vermont public schools from using nicknames or mascots derived from American Indians. The state Human Rights Commission and Vermont’s advisory committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights plans to announce that proposal next week.
VPR News

December 10, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: only one bidder has offered to buy the hydroelectric dams on the Connecticut and Deerfield rivers; a look back at an intelligence reform bill amendment spearheaded by Senator Jeffords; holiday advice for helping people who’ve lost a loved one; the Vermont Veterans Home deals with an outbreak of a highly contagious stomach virus.
Commentary Series

Thinking First

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Commentator Peter Gilbert is glad that Congress is once again considering how best to respond to the recommendations of the September Eleventh Commission.
VPR News

Interview: Vermonter’s view on Ukrainian political crisis

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One Vermonter has had a close-up view of Ukraine’s recent electoral crisis. Leslie McCuaig of Charlotte works for the Institute for Sustainable Communities, and she’s the office director in Kiev. ISC is a Vermont organization that helps communities in existing and emerging democracies solve problems and plan for the future. Over the last few years, McCuaig has worked to increase citizen participation in public life in Ukraine under a U.S. government grant.
VPR News

National Guard deployments diminish police ranks

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The Vermont State Police and other public safety agencies are feeling the effects of the war in Iraq. Public Safety Commissioner Kerry Sleeper says eight out of the state’s 300 troopers were recently called up for service in the Middle East. Sleeper says the deployments cause some strain for his agency, but will not compromise public safety.
VPR News

Chinese officials learn Vermont models for energy efficiency

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A delegation from China is visiting Vermont this week to learn about new ways to conserve energy. The three-member delegation from Jiangsu Province has been studying ways to meet their region’s expanding energy needs while minimizing the impact on the environment.
VPR News

Vermont soldier recovering Walter Reed

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A St. Johnsbury man wounded in Iraq is recovering in Washington, D.C. Twenty-three-year-old Sergeant Jeremy Bradley is at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
VPR News

Fire destroys North Clarendon home

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Fire officials are trying to determine the cause of a fire in North Clarendon that left a family homeless. The fire started shortly before 5 p.m. on Wednesday at a home on Walker Mountain Road. No one was hurt in the blaze.
VPR News

December 9, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Governor Jim Douglas has welcomed Kentucky into a multi-state prescription drug buying pool; 250 Christmas trees are donated to military families; the president of the Vermont State Fair has been replaced; a former Charlotte resident is getting a first-hand look at history being made in Ukraine; a 60-year-old accountant from Montreal is going to prison for trying to smuggle $640,000 across the border into Vermont; more….
Switchboard

Writings of George Aiken

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Steve Zind talks with Sam Hand and Stephen Terry, authors of "The Essential Aiken." The book is the first ever compilation of the legendary Vermont senator’s writings and speeches. They discuss Aiken’s career and take your calls.
VPR News

St. Johnsbury gets fit for the holidays

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A St. Johnsbury group is urging area residents to get a head start on their New Year’s resolutions. The Fit and Healthy Coalition of St. Johnsbury is walking the walk to get residents moving with the goal of reducing obesity in the Northeast Kingdom next year.
VPR News

Vermont museum helps explore Hudson River shipwrecks

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Scuba divers from Vermont’s Lake Champlain Maritime Museum are helping to explore underwater shipwrecks in New York’s Hudson River. Museum Executive Director Art Cohn says the shipwrecks are historically significant and in relatively good shape.
VPR News

December 8, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Howard Dean is speaking in Washington at this hour on the future of the Democratic Party; a downtown retail landmark closes shop in Rutland; probable Speaker of the House Gaye Symington discusses health care reform; two Vermonters are honored with Tree Steward awards; the New Hampshire Legislature considers bills to add Killington, Vermont, and Kittery, Maine, to the state; Brattleboro may be getting a new YMCA.
VPR News

Bennington deals with whooping cough outbreak

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An outbreak of whooping cough, or pertussis, is moving through the Bennington region. The Vermont Department of Health says as many as 80 known and suspected cases of the disease are being treated.
Commentary Series

Price of Power

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The small town of Rockingham has answered one of those Questions of the Ages. No, it’s not, What is the meaning of life? Commentator Timothy McQuiston says they’ve answered the one that goes: What is the price of power?
Commentary Series

Healthy Ideas

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Ruth Page reports three ideas that might help us improve our health – but be sure to ask your doctor before changing treatments.
VPR News

First flu cases reported in Vermont

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Vermont’s flu season is officially under way. The Vermont Health Department announced on Tuesday that the state’s first cases of influenza have been reported. And the department says the state’s supply of flu vaccine is lasting longer than originally anticipated.
VPR News

Rockingham closes deal for power dam

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The town of Rockingham closed a deal on Tuesday to buy a major hydroelectric dam in Bellows Falls on the Connecticut River. Under the agreement, two Canadian companies will lease the dam and pay the town $3 million a year to use the 49-megawatt facility.
VPR News

Entergy won’t challenge $85,000 fine

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Entergy Nuclear says it won’t contest an $85,000 fine a Public Service Board hearing officer has recommended for the company. The owner of the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant faces the fine for starting construction on a large building near the Vernon plant last year without the needed state permits.
VPR News

Football player pleads innocent to airport assault

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A wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins has pleaded innocent to charges of assaulting a ticket agent at the Burlington International Airport in October. Twenty-six-year-old David Boston is accused of striking a US Air customer service agent in the face.
VPR News

December 7, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Howard Dean gives a speech tomorrow in Washington in which he’ll outline his vision for how the Democrats could rebound from their presidential defeat; the first cases of flu are reported in Vermont; executives at the Vermont State Fair in Rutland are feuding in public over who’s to control the annual event; Bennington schools deal with corrective action for low test scores; Green Mountain Gringo Salsa moves to North Carolina; more….
VPR News

School says flawed system led to insufficient assessment results

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Bennington’s high school and middle school got some unwanted publicity recently. They became the first schools in the state to be placed in ‘corrective action’ under the No Child Left Behind Act. But Bennington’s Mount Anthony Union High School principal says the schools were unfairly targeted by a flawed federal system.
VPR News

Interview: Remembering children’s illustrator Trina Schart Hyman

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The accomplished children’s book illustrator Trina Schart Hyman passed away last month following a struggle with recurring cancer. She was 65 years old. Trina Schart Hyman was prolific throughout her career, illustrating more than 150 books, and won the genres highest honor the Caldecott Medal for Illustrating– three times. Among her best known works were Saint George and the Dragon and a 1984 re-telling of the fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood. Hyman lived in Lyme, New Hampshire since 1966.
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Vermont History Quiz

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Host Bob Kinzel talks with state archivist Gregory Sanford about how technological changes are transforming the office and raising ethical questions about the public’s access to documents. Sanford also challenges listeners’ knowledge of Vermont history with intriguing questions about the state.
Commentary Series

Saving Seeds

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Now that the harvest is over and the garden has been put to bed for the winter, commentator Ron Krupp is once again thinking about seeds.
VPR News

Leahy, Sanders support intelligence bill

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Senator Patrick Leahy says he’s optimistic that Congress will pass legislation this week that restructures the country’s intelligence agencies. Leahy says it appears that a new compromise plan will break the stalemate.
VPR News

Town meeting resolution focuses on National Guard

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Vermonters opposed to the war in Iraq want to take their case to Town Meeting. They hope to get a resolution on the ballot that calls for a special commission to look into the use of the National Guard. That commission would examine whether deployments have hurt the Guard’s ability to respond to emergencies at home.
VPR News

Democratic leaders differ on approach to health care

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The two most powerful Democrats in the Vermont Legislature have different approaches to health care reform. Incoming House Speaker Gaye Symington She says her ultimate goal is making sure all Vermonters have access to health care. Senate President Pro Tempore Peter Welch says he shares that goal but he worries about promising too much.
VPR News

December 6, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: the Douglas administration is crafting a plan to deal with Vermont’s growing Medicaid deficit; the techniques of community fund-raising for the arts are changing dramatically across Vermont; border patrol agents apprehend a man concealing $10,000 worth of marijuana in his car.
Commentary Series

A case of wine

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Next week, the United States Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case that could change the way at least one industry in Vermont does business. Commentator Cheryl Hanna gives us a taste of what’s to come.
VPR News

Lance Corporal Holmes honored and laid to rest

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Services were held on Friday for 20-year-old Lance Corporal Jeffery Holmes of Hartford. Holmes died last week in the war in Iraq. Nine-hundred people filled the Greater Hartford United Church of Christ to honor the fallen Marine.
VPR News

Supporters want new Legislature to pass assisted suicide law

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A group advocating for a so-called death with dignity law is welcoming a report to the Vermont Legislature. The Vermont Legislative Council’s report is based on the experience of Oregon and the Netherlands, which have differing laws that allow versions of assisted suicide or euthanasia.
VPR News

Springfield police agree to new contract

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The Springfield Police Department has a new three-year contract. The contract increases pay by three to five percent for many of the officers and gives an annual cost of living increase of 2.5 percent for each of the three years.
VPR News

Towns receive historic preservation money

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The town of Rockingham will get a $100,000 federal boost to help renovate its town hall. The 1920s-era building houses the town’s municipal offices, a movie theater and two retail stores.
VPR News

‘A Passion for Opera’: Interview with Peter Fox Smith

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Peter Fox Smith grew up surrounded by music and musicians. He spent many years sharing his knowledge with his students at Dartmouth College. And he is familiar to VPR listeners as the longtime voice of “Saturday Afternoon at the Opera.” Smith’s new book, “A Passion for Opera,” was originally intended for newcomers curious about the art form. But the book also includes enough history and opinion to please the opera aficionado. Neal Charnoff talks with Smith about his book.
VPR News

December 3, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: a 20-year-old U.S. Marine from Hartford is being remembered today; federal authorities have arrested a Rutland man after police found dynamite in an apartment; the members of Vermont’s Congressional delegation have all moved up a notch or two on the House or Senate seniority lists; the season’s first real snowfall has produced slippery conditions on highways; the Red Sox World Series trophy tour will make stops in Vermont tomorrow.
VPR News

Interview: Vermont Bar Association information series

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The Vermont Bar Association has launched an original information series called, “The Law and You.” It’s designed to help Vermonters understand the legal world by presenting basic information about it. The weekly series began airing exclusively on the Adelphia cable channel this month. Mitch Wertlieb talks with VBA Executive Director Bob Paolini about the series.
VPR News

Small businesses rely on holiday retail season

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Holiday shopping surveys often focus on how the big-box retail giants are doing. But what of the thousands of small business that depend on Christmas? VPR’s Nina Keck visited two holiday related business owners in the Rutland area to find out what kind of season they’re having.
VPR News

Vermont Air Guard to help train Air Force pilots, technicians

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The Vermont Air National Guard will be the first unit in the country to help train regular active duty air force personnel. Officials formally announced on Thursday the program that will have up to 200 Air Force personnel working and flying out of the base at the Burlington International Airport.
VPR News

State shuts down Londonderry pharmacy

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The state has shut down a Londonderry pharmacy for operating without a new manager. At an emergency hearing on Wednesday, the state Board of Pharmacy suspended the license of Derry Pharmacy.
VPR News

December 2, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: 130 Vermont National Guard soldiers are deployed to the Middle East; the state’s largest business group wants health care reform to be a top priority in the upcoming Legislature; two small retailers in the Rutland area to report how the holiday retail season.
VPR News

New regulations approved for deer hunting

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The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Board has voted to approve several proposed changes to deer hunting regulations. The decision comes in the wake of hunter complaints that the recent deer season was one of the worst ever.
VPR News

Interview: Experience-based tourism

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Tourism is serious business in Vermont, and new strategies to bring more visitors to the state will be discussed today at the 22nd annual Vermont Travel Industry Conference in Burlington. The theme of the conference this year is “Vermont: It’s about the Experience.” Mitch Wertlieb talks with keynote speaker Ted Lee Eubanks, Jr., president of a Texas-based firm that specializes in “experience-based” tourism.
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Understanding the cosmos

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Host Steve Zind talks with scientist Marcelo Gleiser about astronomy, the cosmos and exploring outer space. They discuss the theories that help us understand the universe and take your calls.
Commentary Series

Rather and Brokaw

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With two of the three network anchormen stepping down, commentator Barrie Dunsmore has some thoughts on the role network television news has played in shaping our society.
VPR News

Education surplus prompts proposed property tax cut

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Governor Jim Douglas says a surplus in the state’s Education Fund will allow lawmakers to reduce the statewide property tax rate for education by eight cents. Douglas says the surplus is the result of escalating property values in many parts of the state.
VPR News

Former governor reflects on past Guard deployment

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With more than a thousand Vermont soldiers activated to serve in the Middle East, peace groups want Governor Douglas to bring the troops home. The governor says those soldiers are now under the command of the Pentagon, and he doesn’t have the power to recall them. It’s a lesson that a previous Vermont governor learned during an earlier, military mission overseas.
VPR News

NRC reschedules presentation of Vermont Yankee review

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The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will hold a meeting December 16h to discuss plans to increase power at the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant. The meeting at Brattleboro High School will be in place of a session that was canceled because the meeting place couldn’t accommodate the expected crowd.
VPR News

December 1, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Governor Jim Douglas holds his weekly news conference in Montpelier; some opponents of a plan to merge the Village and Town of Waterbury petition for a revote; Congressman Bernie Sanders says it’s possible that President Bush may try to bring back a military draft; the public gets a chance later this month to hear the results of an engineering assessment of the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant; more….
VPR News

Interview: World AIDS Day

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The UN estimates there are 39 million adults people living with HIV and during the past year 4.9 million more people became infected with the virus. And there are still many disagreements about how to provide care for people living with the disease. Here in Vermont, the state’s largest AIDS service organization, Vermont CARES, has rejected nearly $100,000 in federal funding because the organization says new directives tied to that money would compromise the privacy of people seeking help.
VPR News

Markowitz says campaign finance loopholes should be closed

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Secretary of State Deb Markowitz says she’ll ask the Legislature to close some loopholes in Vermont’s campaign finance reform law. Markowitz wants to be certain that larger political organizations are required to disclose how much money they’re spending to influence elections in the state.
VPR News

Sanders warns draft may be reinstated

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Congressman Bernie Sanders says he believes that it’s possible that President Bush may try to bring back a military draft in order to beef up U.S. forces in Iraq.
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Congressman Bernie Sanders

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Bob Kinzel’s guest is Vermont’s independent congressman, Bernie Sanders. They discuss the make-up of the new U.S. Congress and the legislative priorities that will top the agenda in the House of Representatives.
VPR News

Vermont State Guard expands its ranks

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As Vermont’s National Guard troops continue to deploy overseas, a lesser known branch of the state’s military has been beefing up its ranks. Just over three years ago, the Vermont State Guard had 35 members. Today it has 500 volunteers.
VPR News

Legislature prepares to deal with Medicaid shortfall

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A growing deficit in the state’s Medicaid program means the Legislature won’t have any new money to expand health coverage for the uninsured. That’s the warning from Senate President Pro Tempore Peter Welch. Welch says he wants lawmakers to focus on cutting costs in the health care system.
VPR News

November 30, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: two members of the Vermont House vie for leadership of the GOP caucus; an independent review concludes that Vermont’s community mental health system is one of the best in the country; Winooski officials ask for street name suggestions; the Grafton County, NH, attorney’s office reviews a possible hazing incident at Dartmouth College; Jeffery Holmes is memorialized at Hartford High School – he was killed in Iraq on Thanksgiving.
VPR News

Mental health funding likely to increase

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An independent review has concluded that Vermont’s community mental health system is one of the best in the country. The study was requested by the state earlier this year in the midst of a debate over the mental health system’s budget. State officials and mental health providers say they’ll use the report’s conclusions to find a way to fund the system at a more predictable and sustainable level.
Commentary Series

More Great Thoughts: Housing and conservation

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The tension between development and preservation is not a new one. Almost twenty years ago Vermonters had an idea about smart growth that has been both effective and widely copied. Commentator Bill Shutkin has the story as VPR continues to explore Great Thoughts of Vermont.
Commentary Series

Freezerburn in Burlington

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The Burlington City Council is currently considering a plan to turn the decrepit Moran Plant on the city’s waterfront into a new home for the YMCA. Commentator Philip Baruth is all in favor – but he’ll miss the old Moran Plant anyway.
VPR News

State may assist Rockingham in hydro-dam purchase

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A state panel investigating whether to buy a series of hydro dams on the Connecticut River has delayed its decision on the project for another week. It’s possible that the state may try to help the town of Rockingham in its effort to purchase a dam in Bellows Falls.
VPR News

Guard families call for soldiers’ return

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Several families of soldiers in the Vermont National Guard want Governor Jim Douglas to speak out against the war in Iraq. The family members held a news conference on Monday and called on the governor to do what he can to end the deployment of Vermont soldiers to the Middle East.
VPR News

Vermont soldier injured in Iraq

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An Army combat engineer from Saint Johnsbury has been injured in Iraq. Twenty-three year old Jeremy Bradley was injured on Friday while on patrol in Iraq.
VPR News

Vermont unemployment rate lowest in country

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State officials say Vermont’s unemployment rate is now the lowest in the country. The Douglas administration says the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics puts seasonally adjusted unemployment in Vermont at 3.1 percent.
VPR News

‘One Matchless Time’: interview with Jay Parini

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Between 1928 and 1942, William Faulkner wrote over a half-dozen of his greatest novels, including The Sound and the Fury, As I Lay Dying and Light in August. Faulkner referred to this period as “one matchless time.” “One Matchless Time” is also the title of a new Faulkner biography, written by Vermont author Jay Parini. Neal Charnoff talks with Parini about his new book.
VPR News

November 29, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: some military families ask the governor to halt further deployments; flu season arrives, in New Hampshire, but not in Vermont; the holiday shopping season opened with “Black Friday” on the morning after Thanksgiving; Sugarbush Resort has a new set of plans for a redevelopment at the base of Lincoln Peak; new rules for licensing lawyers could promote competition among law firms in northern New England; more…
VPR News

Interview: Flaws in the U.S. presidential election

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“November 2, 2004: The most dishonest election.” That’s the provocative title of a discussion to be led by Adam Clymer at the University of Vermont this evening. Clymer spent 26 years working as a journalist for the New York Times and is currently the Washington director of the Annenberg Center for Public Policy at the University of Pennsylvania. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Clymer about his talk on the U.S. presidential election.
VPR News

State unlikely to bid on hydro dams

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It’s unlikely that the state of Vermont will submit a formal bid next month to purchase a series of dams along the Connecticut River. The value of the project has increased dramatically in the past few months.
Commentary Series

Happy Thanksgiving

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As families and friends across the region gather to share good food and count blessings, commentator Olin Robison reflects on what it really means to be grateful.
VPR News

Wounded soldier reflects on service and sacrifice

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As Vermont and the nation celebrate Thanksgiving, there’s one group of people who are especially grateful for home, health and family. Veterans who have returned from war say they see life with a different, more appreciative, perspective. Last spring, Sergeant Matthew Bedia was wounded in a mortar attack in Iraq. Bedia is back in Vermont now. But he says he won’t rest easy until his comrades are safely home as well.
Commentary Series

Studying evolution

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The scientific theory of Evolution has been accepted as fact for more than a century. Commentator Ruth Page believes it’s a sheer waste of time to be forced to defend it against those who want schools to question such solid science.
VPR News

Congressional delegation split on omnibus spending bill

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It’s unusual for Vermont’s congressional delegation to disagree on major budget bills in Washington but that’s exactly what happened on the recent omnibus appropriations act. Senators Pat Leahy and Jim Jeffords strongly criticized the bill while Congressman Bernie Sanders voted for it.
VPR News

Ski resorts hope for cold weather

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Thanksgiving ushers in another ski season. But analysts in Vermont’s ski industry admit that the lack of natural snow will hurt turnout this weekend. Ski areas are hoping that better snowmaking and other improvements will help compensate for the slow start.
VPR News

Windsor gets $2.5 million in development grants

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Redevelopment efforts in Windsor are due to get a $2.5 million boost from the federal government. Town officials say they’ve received word from the office of Vermont U.S. Senator Jim Jeffords that their “Rails to the River” effort will get $1.5 million of that money.
VPR News

Rules change for seniors’ transportation program

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A change in state policy could make it harder for senior citizens in the Rutland area to use a transportation program to visit museums. State officials say trips by the group “Elders on the Go” can continue only if they include essential services such as grocery shopping or visits to a senior meal site.
VPR News

November 24, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Vermont receives more than $11 million in federal funding to help low income families heat their homes; the state’s ski resort areas hope for a cold winter, not a mild one; Rockingham votes in favor of purchasing of a hydro-electric dam in Bellows Falls; seven illegal immigrants in Brattleboro face deportation.
VPR News

Rockingham votes to buy hydro dam

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The town of Rockingham voted Tuesday to buy the Bellows Falls Hydroelectric plant for $72 million dollars. By just over the needed 60 percent margin, voters said ‘yes’ to a partnership with two Canadian Energy companies.
VPR News

Interview: Philanthropists of the Year Award

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A Burlington couple is sharing the award for Philanthropist of the Year in Vermont. Dr. Arnold and Virginia Golodetz received the award and were also among four people singled out for their lifelong commitment to giving. Mitch Wertlieb talks with the Golodetzes about their support for children’s programs, commitment to health care issues, medical ethics and funding for the arts.
VPR News

Leahy sponsors moratorium on Internet taxes

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Congress has given its approval to legislation that prohibits a tax on Internet services for another three years. Senator Patrick Leahy, who’s a key sponsor of the proposal, says the plan could lead to the creation of hundreds of new jobs in the state.
VPR News

Interview: Fogel explains UVM expansion plans

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The University of Vermont is undergoing its largest expansion since the 1970’s. An overall $475 million capital plan includes new dorms and the renovation of others, a new student center, parking complex at the Gutterson Field House Sports Arena and a new plant sciences building. Much of the building is just getting started and will be completed over a ten-year span. Mitch Wertlieb talks with UVM President Daniel Fogel about the expansion plans.
VPR News

Power line opponents ask for delay

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Opponents of the power line proposed for western Vermont want state regulators to delay their decision on the project so that it can be studied further. But so far, the Public Service Board has refused. The board wants to stick to its schedule, clearing the way for a decision in mid-January.
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Battle of Yorktown

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Steve Zind talks with Vermont author and historian Richard Ketchum about his new book, "Victory at Yorktown." They talk about the decisive final battles of the Revolutionary War and the key figures who fought in them.
VPR News

Firewood prices on the rise

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With the price of heating oil up fifty-three percent from last year, many people are opting to heat their homes with wood this winter. But the cost of dry firewood has also gone up this year and in a lot of places it’s hard to find.
VPR News

More flu clinics announced

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People who are at high risk of medical problems have another chance to get a flu shot. Three flu clinics will be held in the Upper Valley next week for people who are elderly or have chronic medical conditions, and for pregnant women.
VPR News

Barre works to correct accounting errors

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The city of Barre is trying to unravel a year’s worth problems with its books. A city accountant resigned abruptly this summer, and an outside accounting firm has found that there were so many errors in the books that entries in them needed to be reposted for the whole year.
VPR News

Norwich drill team headed to national championships

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The Norwich University Drill Team is known for its excellence in national competition. And this year’s squad is upholding that tradition. In February, the Norwich “Shock Platoon” is heading to the National Championships at Tulane University.
VPR News

November 23, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: more details emerge about a Kentucky prison riot that involved several Vermont inmates; the Vermont Coalition of Clinics for the Uninsured will receive $100,000 from a legal settlement; dry firewood is more costly this year and sometimes hard to find; Rockingham votes on a a deal for a hydro-electric dam; a consumer group releases a report on hazardous toys; New Hampshire celebrates Franklin Pierce’s 200th birthday.
VPR News

Rockingham votes on hydro-dam purchase

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On Monday, voters in Rockingham face a once-in-a-lifetime decision. They’ll vote on whether the town should enter a long-term deal to ultimately own the Bellows Falls hydroelectric plant on the Connecticut River. The decision is complicated by competing interests from two Canadian energy giants, both of whom want to run the dams.
VPR News

Writer Noel Perrin dies at 77

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Essayist and teacher Noel Perrin died over the weekend. For 30 years, Perrin wrote essays that crystallized the experience of living in a changing Vermont. His books captured an unsentimental and sometimes self-deprecating view of rural life.
VPR News

Robison retires from Salzburg Seminar

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Olin Robison, the president of the Salzburg Seminar, will retire next year. Robison has served as president since 1991 and has expanded programs and raised the organization’s endowment from $1.4 million to $19 million during his tenure.
VPR News

Claremont, NH, legislators leave office

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Two state representatives from Claremont, New Hampshire, are both leaving that state’s Legislature. When Representative Sandra Harris lost re-election in a recount, her husband decided to give up his own seat in the New Hampshire Legislature.
VPR News

November 22, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: State Treasurer Jeb Spaulding pressures drug companies for prescription re-importation; the Vermont Supreme Court is asked to rule in a dispute about the location of the Pittsford post office; a new effort tries to eradicate the open burning of trash; Green Mountain College in Poultney offers new “Make A Difference” scholarships; Vermont State Police are expected to report on a dispute between neighbors in Vernon that left one man dead.
VPR News

Dairy price program set to expire

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A key milk price support program expires next year and Vermont’s congressional delegation is struggling to renew it. But last week, Congress refused to include the measure in a major spending bill. That leaves the issue for the next Congress. And Vermont Agriculture Secretary Steve Kerr says the national budget deficit will make it hard to find the votes.
VPR News

Vermont Guard deploys 600 soldiers to Middle East

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It was an emotional farewell on Friday for 600 Vermont soldiers who are on their way to the Middle East. The call-up for the Vermont National Guard is the largest since World War II. At the send-off ceremony, state officials honored the soldiers and their families for their service.
VPR News

Douglas administration urges 7% cut in property tax

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The state’s Education Fund is enjoying a healthy surplus and it’s likely that Governor Jim Douglas will urge lawmakers to reduce Vermont’s statewide property tax rate by at least seven percent. The administration also wants to make certain that the Legislature doesn’t try to use some of these surplus funds for other state programs.
VPR News

‘Becoming a Goddess of Inner Poise’: interview with Donna Freitas

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What does contemporary culture have to offer today’s young women? Vermont author Donna Freitas examines this question in her new book, “Becoming a Goddess of Inner Poise: Spirituality for the Bridget Jones in All of Us.” Freitas examines the world of Bridget Jones, Carrie Bradshaw and the new genre known as Chick Lit, and filters her observations through the compass of spirituality. With the book, Freitas hopes to give women a new perspective on their spiritual journeys.
VPR News

November 19, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: 600 members of the Vermont National Guard leave for the Middle East in a deployment that will last at least a year; Congressman Bernie Sanders continues his push for legalizing the re-importation of prescription drugs from Canada; the LIHEAP bill appears not to be a top priority for the Senate or House leadership; four students at Mount Anthony Union High School in Bennington have been diagnosed with whooping cough.
VPR News

Rutland bids good-bye to deployed soldiers

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Six-hundred soldiers from the Vermont Army National Guard depart on Friday for training in Mississippi. It’s the largest deployment of Vermont National Guard members since World War II. A formal send off will be held Friday morning for the entire 172nd Armor Battalion in Northfield. But members of the battalion who are based in Rutland were honored at a separate ceremony Thursday night.
VPR News

Jeffords plans another run for U.S. Senate

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Independent U.S. Senator Jim Jeffords says there’s no doubt in his mind that he’ll seek re-election in 2006. Jeffords has been actively fundraising because he’s convinced that Republicans are going to wage an active campaign to defeat him.
VPR News

Thousands get flu shots at one-day clinics

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About 8,000 Vermonters got flu shots today at one-day clinics across the state. Because of the shortage of vaccine, state health officials asked that only those at high risk for the flu attend Thursday’s clinics.
VPR News

Neighbors urged to send off deploying soldiers

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A Bennington woman is urging her neighbors to get up before dawn on Friday to help send off about 25 Vermont National Guard members to the Middle East. The soldiers are due to board a bus at 5:00 a.m. for a ride to Northfield. Later in the day, they will be flown to Mississippi for training before being sent overseas.
VPR News

November 18, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: lu clinics are being held around the state today in an effort to get a limited supply of flu vaccines to high risk adults; the Central Vermont Medical Center in Berlin has state permission for an $18.5 million expansion; tomorrow in Northfield, 600 Vermont Army National Guard members will muster for a year-long deployment to the Middle East; Governor Jim Douglas leaves the Republican Governors’ Association’s meeting in New Orleans.
VPR News

Agreement reached on Coventry landfill expansion

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A plan to expand Vermont’s largest landfill has won state Act 250 approval. A Canadian group concerned about the expansion says it’s happy with the outcome. The approval also paves the way for construction of a facility to generate electricity from gases produced by the landfill.
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American electorate

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Steve Zind talks with Dean Spiliotis of Saint Anselm’s College about the national election results. They’ll discuss how the American electorate is changing and why – and take your calls.
VPR News

November 17, 2004 – Midday Report

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Attorney general nominee Alberto Gonzales meets with senators on Capitol Hill; Vermont’s chief executives expect sales to rise in the next six months; the Douglas administration is defending the state’s new stormwater permit law before the Vermont Supreme Court; Vermont Fish and Wildlife revenues are declining; Trout Unlimited says the survival of the brook trout in New England is in serious danger; more…
VPR News

Sanders calls on FDA to speed flu vaccine imports

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Congressman Bernie Sanders is calling on the Bush administration to immediately take steps to import millions of doses of flu vaccine from Canada and Europe. The federal Food and Drug Administration has indicated that it may take several months to bring some of the vaccine into the United States.
VPR News

Health Department runs flu clinics on Thursday

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Twelve-thousand people at highest risk for the flu will be able to receive a flu shot on Thursday. The Visiting Nurses Association and Vermont’s Health Department will be operating one-day clinics at 17 locations across the state.
VPR News

Douglas to appoint Public Service Board chair

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Governor Jim Douglas will get a chance this winter to appoint a new chairman of the Public Service Board, the state panel that regulates utilities. The six-year term of current chairman Michael Dworkin expires in February. Douglas says he wants to examine the field of applicants and find the best-qualified person for the job.
VPR News

Leahy meets with attorney general nominee Gonzales

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Vermont’s Democratic senator met with President Bush’s nominee for attorney general on Wednesday. Senator Patrick Leahy and Alberto Gonzales discussed the upcoming confirmation hearings. Jill Morrison reports from our Capitol Hill Bureau in Washington.
VPR News

Three Vermont border crossings to be expanded

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U.S. border crossings in three Vermont towns are slated to be expanded under a funding bill that has won preliminary approval. Senator Jim Jeffords says money was included in an appropriations bill that passed the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
VPR News

Tax refunds go unclaimed

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Hundreds of Vermonters have not yet claimed their income tax refunds from last year. The state and federal tax services are looking for more than 100 taxpayers who have a combined total of $54,000 coming to them.
VPR News

Several schools fail No Child Left Behind standards

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Education Commissioner Richard Cate says that he’s not overly concerned that 39 schools in the state have failed to meet standards established by the No Child Left Behind education law. That represents roughly 13 percent of all schools in the state.
VPR News

November 16, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: the largest Vermont Army National Guard deployment in history is formally under way; Senator Jim Jeffords wants to extend heating assistance to low-income families; a public hearing convenes on a draft proposal for wind power generating sites in the state; more…
VPR News

Interview: Affordable housing in limited supply

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Affordable housing, or the lack of it, has become a nation-wide problem and Vermonters are no exception in feeling the pinch. Only six percent of the new homes sold in Vermont last year were affordable for a family living on the state’s median income. And there are tough signs in the rental market as well, where available vacancy rates are under four percent – the second lowest rate in the country.
Commentary Series

Definitions of ‘local’

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Last year the Center for Rural Studies at the University of Vermont found that 95 percent of Vermonters purchase local foods and many customers considered a local label as important as price in deciding what to buy. With many farmer’s markets open for Thanksgiving business, commentator Helen Labun Jordan is thinking about how we define “local.”
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Fish and Wildlife

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Steve Zind talks with Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Wayne Laroche. They’ll discuss the always controversial topic of state’s deer herd and other affecting hunters and anglers.
VPR News

GOP Caucus reviews Specter for Judiciary Committee chair

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Vermont U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy says this could be an important week for the future direction of the United States Supreme Court. The Senate Republican caucus is expected to decide if Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter will become the new chairman of the Senate Judiciary committee.
VPR News

Rutland begins review of rail yard plans

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For years the City of Rutland has had plans to move its busy rail yard out of the downtown area. Now, those hundred million dollar plans are firm enough to place before the political decision-makers beginning Monday night, as VPR’s Nina Keck reports.
Commentary Series

Twilight zoning

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This morning commentator Philip Baruth has some fun with the idea of Blue States and Red States, and an entirely fictional vision of White House payback.
VPR News

Wind energy commission releases draft recommendations

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The state can use existing utility law and doesn’t need Act 250 to review wind power projects, but the review process should allow more public participation. Those are the key recommendations in a draft report of the Commission on Wind Energy Regulatory Policy.
VPR News

Helicopters patrol Vermont-Canadian border

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Residents along Vermont’s border with Canada may notice helicopters flying at night as part of a new U.S. Border Patrol operation. Operation Winter Freeze is designed to catch anyone or anything crossing the border that does not properly check in at a reporting station.
VPR News

Bus service may expand to Springfield

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Bus service soon may become available to the general public in the Springfield region. Connecticut River Transit has been tapped by the state to expand service in Windham and southern Windsor counties.
VPR News

‘Gasp’: interview with Joe Sherman

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How often do we think about the air that we breathe? Until now, oxygen has been a muse mainly for scientists and environmentalists. Vermont author Joe Sherman brings air into the mainstream consciousness in his new book, “Gasp! The Swift and Terrible the Beauty of Air.”
VPR News

November 15, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Congressman Bernie Sanders says he wants to work with the Douglas administration on importing prescription drugs from Canada; a plan to relocate Rutland’s rail yard out of downtown will be presented tonight; the governor’s commission on wind energy policy holds a public hearing in Montpelier on its draft policy; in New York, Senator Charles Schumer has decided not to run for governor in 2006.
VPR News

Vermont Yankee lays ground for dry cask storage

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Vermont Yankee wants to move some of its highly radioactive waste into storage bunkers near the Vernon reactor. “Dry cask storage” has been discussed as an option for nuclear power plant waste for many years. Now the Yankee plant in Vernon is preparing its request for the Legislature.
VPR News

Republicans begin organizing Stateheouse leadership

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There could be some major changes in Republican leadership at the Statehouse this winter. Both House Speaker Walter Freed and Senate minority leader John Bloomer have retired and a number of GOP lawmakers are indicating an interest to replace them.
VPR News

‘Help’: interview with Gerret Keizer

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The word “help” means many things to many people. Help is the first word in a want ad, it’s a promise made by John Kerry, it’s the name of a Beatle’s song. Why people help each other? That question is addressed by Vermont author Garret Keizer in a new book called “Help: The Original Human Dilemma.” The book offers a cultural and philosophical history of the subject.
VPR News

Poet Billy Collins reads at Saint Michael’s College

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Former U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins is described as writing about ordinary things in a way that gives humor and surprise to the reader. Friday afternoon at Saint Michael’s College, Collins said he would like his writing to help readers think differently about poetry
VPR News

November 12, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Rep. John Tracy will be the Democrats’ point man on health care the next Legislature; former Governor Phil Hoff’s friends and admirers celebrate his 80th birthday; the first big partisan clash in the new Congress may occur in the Senate Judiciary Committee when it takes up the nomination of the new U.S. attorney general; former New Hampshire Governor Jean Shaheen may run for the chair of the national Democratic Party.
VPR News

Former governor Hoff celebrates 80th birthday

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Friends and supporters of will gather in Burlington Friday night for a testimonial dinner in celebration of former Vermont governor Phil Hoff on his eightieth birthday. Hoff’s three terms during the 1960s mark a pivotal time in Vermont history when an energetic young governor set the state on a new course.
Commentary Series

Phone home

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Recently commentator W.D. Wetherell has been thinking about how our lives change and one of the little things we usually take for granted.
VPR News

November 11, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: State Representative Gaye Symington runs for speaker of the House; a long-time aide to Howard Dean addresses allegations that she was to blame for the Dean campaign’s collapse; votes will be recounted in the legislative contest between Readsboro Democrat Betty Bolognani and incumbent Representative Philip Bartlett; a bridge in Brattleboro has been dedicated in honor of private first class Kyle Gilbert, who was killed in Iraq last year.
Switchboard

Families of September 11

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Steve Zind talks with Donald Goodrich of Bennington, who chairs the board of "Families of September 11." The group pushed for the creation of the 9/11 Commission and advocates for implementation of the commission’s recommendations.
Commentary Series

Spanish lottery

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After receiving a letter informing her that she had won the lottery – in Spain – commentator Cheryl Hanna did a little investigating and here’s what she found out.
Commentary Series

Neighbors

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Listening to all the post-election speculation about the polarization of America, commentator Henry Homeyer decided to find a way to span the divide, one neighbor at a time.
VPR News

Douglas appoints Reiber as Supreme Court chief justice

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Governor Jim Douglas has named Paul Reiber as the new chief justice of the Vermont Supreme Court. Reiber, who currently serves as an associate justice on the Court, says providing the state’s court system with sufficient resources will be one of his biggest challenges.
VPR News

Business groups ask for stay in Water Board ruling

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Last month, Vermont’s Water Resources Board sent a shockwave through the business community. The board ruled that federal, rather than state permits are required to control stormwater near streams that already fail water quality standards. Now a business coalition is fighting that action.
VPR News

More staff changes announced by Douglas administration

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With just a week since the election, there are more changes in the Douglas administration. The governor announced on Wednesday that Agency of Transportation Secretary Patricia McDonald will leave her post and take up a new position in the Department of Labor.
VPR News

November 10, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: it’s likely Paul Reiber will be appointed chief justice of the Vermont Supreme Court; Governor Jim Douglas announces that Agency of Transportation Secretary Patricia McDonald will leave her post and take up a new position in the Department of Labor; Jon Borowicz, the founder of the Vermont Philharmonic Orchestra, has died in Sarasota, Florida.
VPR News

Douglas to name new chief justice on Wednesday

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Governor Jim Douglas will announce this afternoon his candidate to be chief justice of the Vermont Supreme Court. Douglas will be filling the vacancy that occurred when former Chief Justice Jeffery Amestoy stepped down from the court earlier this year.
VPR News

Interview: Bennington Museum

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The Bennington Museum traces its roots as a historical society back to 1875. The museum is situated near a burial ground that contains the gravesite of poet Robert Frost and the museum boasts the largest public collection of Grandma Moses paintings and memorabilia. Now for the first time, a public forum is being held to discuss how the museum’s future will unfold. Mitch Wertlieb talks with the executive director of the museum, Richard Borges.
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Governor Jim Douglas

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Bob Kinzel’s guest is the newly re-elected governor of Vermont, Jim Douglas. They discuss Douglas’ agenda for his second term and what it will take to work with a Democratic House and Senate.
VPR News

Shelburne advocates for underground transmission lines

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Shelburne residents are criticizing the Douglas administration for backing an above-ground, high voltage power line in western Vermont. Shelburne wants the line placed underground for safety and aesthetic reasons. On Tuesday, local lawmakers said the administration has failed to represent the public’s interest in the case.
VPR News

Vermont voter turnout among highest in country

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According to the official election results released by the Secretary of State’s office, Vermont had one of the highest voter turnout rates in the country for last Tuesday’s election. More than 70 percent of the state’s registered voters cast their ballots in the presidential race.
VPR News

Health Department plans flu clinics

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The Vermont Health Department is planning flu vaccination clinics next week for people at highest risk from the flu. The Health Department is working with the state’s home health agencies to offer the clinics on Thursday, November 18.
VPR News

ANR secretary steps down

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Natural Resources Secretary Elizabeth McLain says she’s retiring to spend more time with her family, especially eight grandchildren.
VPR News

November 9, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: the ANR secretary plans to leave Douglas administration; the chair of the Senate Finance committee comments on a proposal to help low-income Vermonters pay their electric bills; Chittenden County senators call on VELCO to bury a proposed high-voltage power line in Shelburne; Vermont’s agriculture secretary returns from a successful trade mission to Cuba; Killington is again the first ski resort in the east to open for the season.
VPR News

Interview: Plattsburgh Mayor Dan Stewart

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In Plattsburgh, New York, Dan Stewart swept to victory in last week’s elections, earning a third term as the city’s mayor. Stewart is a Republican who also ran on the Independent line and gained nearly 74 percent of the vote. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Stewart about his re-election.
VPR News

VELCO says underground transmission lines too expensive

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The towns of Charlotte and Shelburne want sections of a proposed high voltage power line placed underground. Town residents say the lines may pose a danger to the public and would ruin the scenic beauty of some areas. But the Vermont Electric Power Company says it’s too expensive to bury the lines.
VPR News

Dean considering run for Democratic Committee chair

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Former Governor Howard Dean is considering a bid to become chairman of the Democratic Party. Steve Grossman, himself a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, says Dean told him he was considering the run. Dean is traveling today and unavailable for comment.
VPR News

Decision on Sunapee expansion delayed till January

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A decision on the Mount Sunapee ski resort’s expansion probably will not happen until John Lynch formally takes over as New Hampshire’s new governor. That delays the decision until at least January.
VPR News

Priest to be deployed with Vermont Guard troops

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A Milton priest is heading overseas with 600 Vermont army National Guard soldiers. The Reverend John Feltz will be leaving his congregation to provide soldiers with spiritual and emotional support during a deployment that could last a year and a half.
VPR News

November 8, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: advocates for the elderly and the poor suggest a plan to help poor Vermonters pay their electric bills; the attorney general of Rhode Island says a plan to pay for New England power grid upgrades is too costly for rate payers; Howard Dean’s daughter and four other young women were sent to the hospital last night after a car accident in Connecticut; Governor Jim Douglas attends the dedication of a community center in Barre; more…
VPR News

Progressives get support from rural voters

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Vermont’s Progressive Party was born in Burlington, but now it has more members elected to the Legislature from rural areas around the state. Progressives won six seats in the Statehouse in last Tuesday’s election. The newly elected representatives say they won because they worked on issues that affect working men and women in Vermont.
Commentary Series

A nation divided

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The election this week tells us we’re a divided nation, but in what ways are we divided and what can we do about it? Commentator David Moats has some thoughts.
Commentary Series

John’s moral values

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If it is true that President Bush was re-elected on the strength of moral values – what does that say about the moral values of the 48 percent of the people who voted for John Kerry. Commentator Barrie Dunsmore discussed this question with an old friend.
VPR News

NRC says Vermont Yankee can support 20 percent uprate

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The Nuclear Regulatory Commission said on Friday that the design of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant can safely support a 20 percent increase in power. The power increase had been requested by the plant’s owners.
VPR News

Rise in home heating oil prices

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Home heating oil prices are reaching record high levels across northern New England. In Vermont, the average price is $2.01a gallon.
VPR News

Students evaluate farm operations in Dairy Challenge

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Friday morning 116 students from 13 colleges across the East visited dairy farms in Richmond and Jericho. They’re competing in the Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge hosted by the University of Vermont this weekend.
VPR News

November 5, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Nuclear Regulatory Commission meetings about missing fuel at the Vermont Yankee plant and an engineering inspection will be closed to the public; a report on how Vermont’s congressional delegation is doing in Washington; conversations with two Vermonters who reported on Yasser Arafat and the Arab-Israel conflict for years.
VPR News

Returning Guard members face PTSD

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As hundreds of members of the Vermont National Guard get ready for deployment overseas, Guard officials are preparing to help them when they return. It’s likely some Guard members will have a difficult time readjusting.
VPR News

Interview: 1970s – golden age of movies

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The late film critic Pauline Kael once labeled the 1970’s as “Hollywood’s single authentic golden age.” The decade gave birth to many classic films that were based on books, including The Godfather, Apocalypse Now and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. The era will get its due this weekend as part of a conference sponsored by the Vermont Humanities Council called “Movies, Books and the 70’s: Hollywood’s Golden Age.”
Commentary Series

Pigmania

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Some of Vermont’s legendary monsters, like Champ, are quite well known. There are some however that are not quite as famous or cute. Commentator Joe Citro introduces us to a new creature.
Switchboard

Reporters’ Roundtable

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Bob Kinzel guests look at Vermont’s election results and what they mean for the upcoming Legislative session. The panel include Ross Sneyd of the Associated Press, Candy Page of the Burlington Free Press and VPR’s John Dillon.
VPR News

Leahy plans active role on Judiciary Committee

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Senator Patrick Leahy says he plans to play an active role when President Bush has an opportunity to fill a vacancy on the United States Supreme Court. Leahy says it’s critical that the president not appoint a conservative partisan to the court.
VPR News

Douglas says he’ll work with Democrats on health care

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Governor Jim Douglas says one of his top legislative priorities is to make health care more accessible and more affordable in Vermont. The governor says he’ll reach out to the new Democratic majority in the Vermont House to tackle this issue and others that face the next Legislature.
VPR News

Brennan retires from UVM basketball

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The long-time coach of the University of Vermont men’s basketball team is retiring. Coach Tom Brennan and UVM officials announced on Thursday that he would retire at the end of this season.
VPR News

November 4, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Governor Jim Douglas holds his first post-election news conference; defeated state Representative Nancy Sheltra is considering asking for a recount; in New Hampshire, John Lynch’s win in the governor’s race is considered an upset; faculty members, students and construction workers at UVM plan a demonstration at this hour, calling on the university to pay “real living wages” as the school starts construction on an expansion program.
VPR News

Interview: Vermont and the national election

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If you’re one of the many Vermonters who voted for Senator John Kerry in Tuesday’s election, you may be feeling a bit out of step with the rest of the country today. While the 2000 election was so close it was ultimately decided by the U.S. Supreme Court, President George W. Bush won both the electoral and popular vote this time around, leaving many Vermonters clearly opposed to the president wondering what to make of those numbers.
Commentary Series

Family democracy

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When their children were young, commentator Nardi Reeder Campion and her husband Tom undertook a domestic experiment in democractic principals that had unexpected results.
VPR News

Democrats begin organizing House and Senate leadership

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Democrats are back in power in the Statehouse, with a large majority in the Senate and enough votes in the House to elect a speaker for the first time in four years. Democratic leaders pledged on Wednesday to work with Republican Governor Jim Douglas but they said their party clearly is in a position to control the legislative agenda next year.
VPR News

Regional technical academy proposal rejected

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Planners of a new technical academy proposed for Northwestern Vermont say they’ll decide next week whether to come up with a different plan or call it quits. Their proposal was defeated by voters in about two dozen communities Tuesday.
VPR News

Record numbers of Vermonters go to the polls

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It looks like a record number of Vermonters cast ballots in Tuesday’s election. Unofficial estimates by The Associated Press put turnout at slightly more than 310,000 voters. That would top the previous record of 297,000 set four years ago.
VPR News

November 3, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Pownal voters approve a U.S. Forest Service plan to buy 3,700 acres of land in town; a plan to establish a new Regional Technical Academy is rejected by voters in 23 towns; in New Hampshire, Democratic challenger John Lynch unseated Republican Governor Craig Benson; VPR’s Bob Kinzel assesses Vermont election results; the FDA has postponed its response to Vermont’s lawsuit over the re-importation of prescription drugs.
VPR News

Leahy re-elected to U.S. Senate

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Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy cruised to an easy win over his Republican challenger Jack McMullen. Unofficial returns showed that the five-term incumbent had about 70 percent of the vote.
VPR News

Voters’ sentiments on presidential race

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It stands to reason that in any presidential year, the race for the nation’s top office is a major factor in voter turnout. This year many Vermont voters said it was the overriding factor. Earlier today, VPR’s Steve Zind sampled voter sentiment in Bethel, Williamstown and Waterbury.
VPR News

November 2, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: in less than seven hours the polls will close all across Vermont and election officials will begin counting votes; voters in Menden discuss what’s bringing out voters in Rutland County; two New Hampshire towns continue their tradition of being the first in the country to vote; candidates are still campaigning for last minute votes.
Commentary Series

Fight Club

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Today, commentator Philip Baruth talks about the bitter split in American political culture, and a crackpot theory he has involving Chuck Palahniuk’s disturbing novel “Fight Club.”
Switchboard

Election Night

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Join VPR’s Steve Delaney and political analyst Hamilton Davis for a look at state and national races, with reports from precincts around Vermont as the polls close.
Commentary Series

What’s at stake?

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As Americans are about to choose the next President of the United States, commentator Barrie Dunsmore wonders if the system in place for making that choice is up to the task.
VPR News

More Vermonters heading to Iraq

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The Guard announced today that about 130 soldiers from two companies of the first battalion of the 172 armor regiment are being mobilized in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
VPR News

Rutland’s Halloween Parade

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Rutland is about to celebrate the 45th anniversary of its Halloween Parade that draws thousands of costumed spectators downtown. This year the parade steps off at 6:30 on Sunday night, and VPR’s Nina Keck says it will be the biggest ever.
VPR News

Technical Center

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On Tuesday, voters in 25 communities in Chittenden, Franklin and Grand Isle counties will decide whether to build a new 44 million dollar technical academy for high school students. In recent months, the proposal has been the source of heated debate over the future of the region’s technical education.
VPR News

Group ordered to stop political TV ads

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The Republican Governors’ Association must stop airing new ads that support Governor Jim Douglas. A superior court judge issued that ruling on Thursday after receiving a motion from Attorney General William Sorrell. The attorney general said the ads violate Vermont’s campaign finance law.
VPR News

Inmates testify to pre-riot conditions

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Vermont inmates being held at a Kentucky prison where a riot occurred last month have told a legislative panel they were subjected to difficult living conditions.
VPR News

Vermont soldiers to receive purple hearts

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Three Vermont Army National Guard soldiers who were injured in Iraq will be awarded purple hearts on Friday. Specialist Ross Holsopple of Winooski, Sergeant Michael Dube of Eden Mills and Sergeant Matthew Bedia of Washington will be honored at a ceremony at Camp Johnson in Colchester.
VPR News

Interview: Red Sox win!

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Mitch Wertlieb talks with sportscaster Jack Healey about the Red Sox World Series victory that caps off an improbable post-season for the Boston baseball team.
Switchboard

U.S. Senate debate

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Incumbent Democratic senator Patrick Leahy will meet Republican challenger Jack McMullen in one of their very few statewide debates. They’ll discuss a number of key national and international issues, question each other directly and take your calls.
Commentary Series

What’s funny?

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As director of the comedy series, “Windy Acres,” which premieres Wednesday at 9 on Vermont Public Television, commentator Jay Craven has thought a lot lately about what’s funny.
VPR News

Court rules on attorney general’s role in political ad case

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On Wednesday, a superior judge ordered the Vermont attorney general to get involved in a legal dispute over Republican political ads. The attorney general says he’ll decide soon whether to take enforcement action against the Republican Governors’ Association for alleged violations of state campaign finance law.
VPR News

Health commissioner optimistic about Canadian flu vaccine

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Health Commissioner Doctor Paul Jarris says he’s optimistic that the federal government will allow the state of Vermont to import flu vaccine from Canada. If Vermont’s application is rejected, Jarris says the state may try to organize bus trips to Canada for individuals who want to get a flu shot.
Commentary Series

Letting go of good things

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With summer and most of autumn now behind us and one half or the other of the electorate about to be disappointed by the presidential election’s results, poet Robert Frost and commentator Peter Gilbert consider how to deal with loss.
Commentary Series

Disappointed

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Commentator Dick Mallary is disappointed with the content of the political discourse he has heard so far in the current presidential campaign.
VPR News

RGA continues political ads despite lawsuit

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A Republican group has defied the state attorney general and launched a new advertising on Thursday in support of Governor Jim Douglas. The Republican Governors’ Association also says it will not register as a political action committee under Vermont law.
VPR News

UVM students cited on riot-related charges

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The University of Vermont is pressing charges against students involved in last week’s Red Sox riot. UVM spokesman Enrique Corredera says five people have been cited to appear in court next week on charges ranging from aggravated assault to arson.
VPR News

October 26, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: officials from Vermont and Canada are performing a drill on how to deal with weapons of mass destruction; State Auditor Elizabeth Ready is accusing her Republican challenger of trying to buy the election; the political campaigns at the top of the ticket are competitive in New Hampshire; a Vermont TV station is resisting efforts by prosecutors to get un-aired videotape of last week’s baseball riot at UVM; more….
VPR News

Getting in the wood

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The sound of chainsaws in the woods, the smell of wood smoke in the morning – Vermonters are getting in the wood. In one woodlot a few seasons ago, VPR’s Steve Zind found a place where the old ways are treasured.
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Gubernatorial debate

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Host Bob Kinzel moderates a debate between the leading candidates for governor: incumbent Replican Jim Douglas and Democratic challenger Peter Clavelle. Hear the candidates debate the issues and join the conversation with your questions.
Commentary Series

Health care

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Health care issues seem an unmovable morass to commentator Allen Gilbert. And now there’s a plan to implant radio chips under our skin to try to help out.
Commentary Series

Armadillos

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There’s a creature that can walk underground, walk on water, and evade enemies without any defense but a flexible shell. Commentator Ruth Page introduces us to the armadillo.
VPR News

Democrats file suit against RGA political ads

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The Attorney General’s office says recent television ads in support of Governor Jim Douglas appear to violate Vermont’s campaign reform law. But the office says it won’t stop the ads from being aired, so the state Democratic Party has gone to court to block them.
VPR News

NASCAR plane crash has Vermont connection

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One of the pilots of a plane that crashed on Sunday en route to a NASCAR event was the brother of Vermont state Representative John Tracy. Richard Tracy was killed near Martinsville, Virginia, along with nine others when their plane crashed in heavy fog.
VPR News

Caledonian Record names new editor

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The Caledonian Record newspaper of Saint Johnsbury has a new editor. Lyn Bixby of Danville has been named executive editor of the newspaper.
VPR News

October 25, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: voter Registration across Vermont are now closed; lawyers for the Vermont Democratic Party go to court to stop ads supporting Republican Governor Jim Douglas; first responders endorse Brian Dubie for lieutenant governor; newspapers endorse candidates for state offices; Peter Hall is sworn in as a judge on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals; candidates are on the campaign trail.
VPR News

Impact of students voting in election

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College students are registering to vote in exceptionally high numbers this year. Because students rarely get polled, the impact of their vote is a big unknown in the 2004 election. How will they affect the outcome on November second?
VPR News

Interview: Gubernatorial race favors GOP

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Vermont’s race for governor this year is one of 11 gubernatorial elections across the country. An analyst for the Cook Report says the Vermont race is shifting from the category of “leaning Republican” to “likely Republican.”
VPR News

Hingtgen announces opposition to Chittenden County technical academy

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The progressive candidate for lieutenant governor says he opposes a planned regional technical academy in Chittenden County. Steve Hingtgen says he’s a strong supporter of technical education, but he has concerns about the plan to merge existing technical programs in Burlington and Essex into one school in Essex.
Commentary Series

Kent’s Corner

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Some places in Vermont seem truly untouched by time — at least by the last hundred years or so. Commentator Tom Slayton says that one of them is enjoying some fresh — and protective — attention.
VPR News

Vermont Democrats ask court to block GOP ad campaign

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The Vermont Democratic Party has gone to court to block an ad campaign that supports Governor Jim Douglas. The Democrats say the Republican Governors’ Association has violated Vermont’s campaign finance law by accepting contributions above the state’s $2,000 limit.
VPR News

Brochu found guilty in murder of Tara Stratton

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A jury has found a Randolph man guilty of murdering a Barre teenager nearly two years ago. On Friday a jury convicted 52-year-old Alfred Brochu on charges of aggravated murder in the death of 18-year-old Tara Stratton in her Barre apartment.
VPR News

October 22, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Project Vote-Smart releases results for its national political awareness test; Howard Dean defends someone who has not always been his favorite person – State Auditor Elizabeth Ready; Capitol Hill update on Senator Jim Jeffords; all the candidates for top office in Vermont are on the move today.
VPR News

Douglas, Clavelle agree on Red Sox

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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.
Switchboard

U.S. House debate

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Bob Kinzel hosts a debate among the candidates for U.S. House of Representatives. Democrat Larry Drown, Republican Greg Parke and incumbent Independent Bernie Sanders discuss the issues of their race and take your questions.
VPR News

Laura Bush campaigns in Upper Valley

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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 News

Power companies to provide broadband service

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Several Vermont power companies say they’re looking at the possibility of offering broadband Internet service to their customers. The Federal Communications Commission recently adopted rules clearing the way for utilities to expand their operations in this way.
VPR News

Vermont Sox fans celebrate historic Game 7

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Vermont Red Sox fans joined others around the region Thursday evening to celebrate the team’s historic victory over New York in the American League Championship Series. Last night, as the innings ticked by, VPR’s Steve Zind toured one little corner of the Red Sox Nation and visited with loyal fans.
VPR News

Prison inmate attempts suicide

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An inmate at the Chittenden Correctional Facility in South Burlington is hospitalized following what officials are describing as a “very serious suicide attempt.”
VPR News

Financing questioned in political ad campaign

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Outside groups have entered Vermont’s political campaigns with a barrage of a TV and radio ads. The attorney general and the Secretary of State’s office want to know if all of these groups have followed Vermont campaign finance laws.
VPR News

October 20, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Election Day is 13 days away and there appear to be front-runners in the top tier races; the three contenders for lieutenant governor faced off last night on VPR’s Switchboard program; candidates for governor, U.S. Senate and U.S. House are on the campaign trail.
VPR News

Non-resident voting status called into question

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A group of non-resident property owners wants its members to become more active in local election decisions, in part, to help reduce property tax burdens. But the Vermont Tax Department says the group may be distributing inaccurate information about voting and taxpayer liability.
VPR News

Lt. governor candidates agree on Legislature’s role in their race

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All three major party candidates for lieutenant governor are refusing to take a pledge to urge the Legislature to vote for the candidate who receives the most votes, in the event that the race is thrown to the General Assembly. That would happen if no candidate receives 50 percent of the vote on November 2.
Switchboard

Lt. Governor’s debate

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Bob Kinzel hosts a debate between the candidates for lieutenent governor. Republican incumbent Brian Dubie, Progressive Steve Hingtgen and Democrat Cheryl Rivers discuss the issues of their race and answer your questions.
VPR News

State environmental officials struggle with Water Board ruling

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Vermont environmental officials are scrambling to deal with a Water Resources Board ruling that imposed new stormwater permit requirements on developers. The Douglas administration says the ruling could unravel years of work to clean up damaged streams. But the environmental group that led the litigation says the decision should hold the state and developers accountable for water pollution.
VPR News

Vermont cattle test negative for BSE

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Since the beginning of this year, hundreds of cattle in Vermont have been tested for Mad Cow Disease. Bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE is a degenerative neurological disease that has never been found in Vermont.
VPR News

‘Before You Know Kindness:’ Interview with Chris Bohjalian

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A new novel by Vermont author Chris Bohjalian explores how three generations of one family struggle to come to terms with tragedy. “Before You Know Kindness” opens with a jammed hunting rifle falling into the wrong hands at the wrong time. Bohjalian takes us behind the scenes to unveil how each family member deals with the accident, and how our ideals can conflict with matters of the heart.
VPR News

Saint Albans immigration office changes procedures

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The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Saint Albans is changing the way it meets with people. Starting November 1, people will be required to have an appointment before they arrive. And the only way to make an appointment will be through an Internet-based system called InfoPass.
VPR News

Karen Heath named teacher of the year

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An elementary and middle school language arts teacher from Barre is Vermont’s 2005 teacher of the year. Karen Heath has been a teacher for 20 years, 16 of them in Vermont. She has worked with students of all ages, from preschoolers to adults.
VPR News

October 19, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: the EPA and state officials say Superfund site in Pownal is cleaned up; the state will apply lampricide to parts of Lake Champlain this week; Congressman Bernie Sanders is seeking a $10 million federal appropriation to help buy a series of hydroelectric dams; Vermont cattle test negative for BSE; two debates for statewide offices will be held tonight.
VPR News

Governor’s Race: Health insurance plans

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In the Vermont gubernatorial race, Democrat Peter Clavelle criticizes what he says is Governor Douglas’s failure to offer real reform. Douglas responds that Clavelle’s plan to provide coverage for all is unrealistic and contains a hidden tax. In the last of our series on issues in the governor’s race, VPR’s John Dillon has this report.
Commentary Series

Doing my job

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Commentator Philip Baruth isn’t usually superstitious, but on election night 2000, for several really good reasons, he was distracted briefly – a circumstance he will never, ever allow to happen again.
VPR News

Dean campaigns for Clavelle in Burlington

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Howard Dean was in Burlington on Monday to support Mayor Peter Clavelle’s Democratic campaign for governor. Dean says he agrees with Clavelle’s contention that the Iraq war is affecting the lives of Vermonters.
VPR News

Flu vaccine distribution begins on Wednesday

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The Vermont Health Department will begin distributing influenza vaccine on Wednesday for children and nursing home residents, those who are most at risk of flu complications. The limited amount of vaccine will be administered according to state guidelines.
VPR News

Human Services Agency fills new field director positions

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The Vermont Agency of Human Services has five new field directors who’ll serve as links between the office of the secretary and district offices across the state. So far eight of the 12 field director positions have been filled.
VPR News

Long serving UVM dean retires

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The University of Vermont’s longest serving dean is retiring. Jill Mattuck Tarule became dean in UVM’s College of Education and Social Services in 1992.
VPR News

October 18, 1004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: student assessment results are released; 15 Vermont State Police officers are now trained to carry Taser stun guns; the Cathedral Church of Saint Paul expects to remain open to gays despite a report from leaders of the worldwide Anglican Communion; a Vermont foundation heads an effort to restore the American Chestnut tree; UVM scientists say that trees need calcium to stay healthy; candidates for governor are on the campaign trail.
VPR News

Governor’s Race: Approaches to education policy

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Two years after the No Child Left Behind law went into effect it is still hotly debated. How does this play out in this year’s gubernatorial election? As part of our series on the governor’s race, VPR’s Nina Keck spoke with the two leading candidates as well as teachers and principals to find out.
VPR News

NRC voices concern about Vermont Yankee steam dryer

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Federal regulators want more information on Vermont Yankee’s plan to boost its power output by 20 percent. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission said on Friday that it’s concerned about how the power increase would affect a key component of the plant called a steam dryer.
VPR News

State sets priorities for limited flu vaccine

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The state has a plan to get the limited supply of flu vaccines to Vermonters most in need. Physicians will vaccinate the highest-risk children first. The Health Department also is working out a way to get the shot to all nursing home residents.
VPR News

October 15, 1004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: there are some troubling findings from researchers at the University of Vermont concerning the health of red spruce trees in the state; a Washington, D.C.-based Tax Foundation ranks Vermont 45th in the country on its business climate; Washington correspondent Chad Pergram says there are some issues that have the attention of New England lawmakers, even though right now things are pretty quiet on the Hill.
VPR News

Governor’s Race: Re-importation of prescription drugs

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This week, VPR has been looking at the top issues in the gubernatorial election. One of those is the “re-importation” of drugs from Canada. The Democratic and Republican candidates both have different approaches and both candidates say their positions reflect their leadership style.
Switchboard

Minor Party Candidates

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Bob Kinzel hosts a 90-minute discussion with representatives from the Green Party, the Libertarian Party and the Liberty Union Party. They’ll discuss their platforms and take your calls.
VPR News

Vermont Transit’s anniversary marks history of transportation

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Seventy-five years ago a Burlington car dealer named Bill Appleyard decided to use a bus he couldn’t sell to start his own transit company. Roughly 300 million miles and 45 million passengers later, Appleyard’s bus company is still in business. But much has changed since that first Vermont Transit bus traveled the state’s highways.
VPR News

‘Burning at the Grassroots:’ Interview with Dana Dannon

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A new book analyzes the first political phenomenon of the Internet age. Author Dana Dunnon worked in the Portsmouth, New Hampshire, office of Howard Dean’s presidential campaign and followed the campaign through the 2004 primaries. His book, “Burning at the Grassroots: Inside the Dean Machine,” Dunnon profiles Dean, his campaign staff and the other major players in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.
VPR News

October 14, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: a poll by WCAX-TV shows a 14-point spread in the governor’s race; Senator Patrick Leahy and Congressman Bernie Sanders hold comfortable leads over their challengers; a Londonderry pharmacist has pleaded guilty to possessing drugs without a prescription; VELCO’s incoming leader discusses a transmission line proposal for western Vermont; investigators say a fire that destroyed the vacant Hartford Diner a week ago was arson.
Commentary Series

Apple cider

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In Vermont apples are as much a part of autumn as foliage and commentator Will Curtis invites us to toast the season with a glass of fresh cider.
VPR News

October 13, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: in three weeks, Vermonters will cast ballots for president, governor, senator, congressman and 180 legislators; Elizabeth Edwards stops in Vermont; former governor Phil Hoff campaigns with Peter Clavelle; Jim Douglas criticizes Clavelle’s tax record; Attorney General William Sorrell is challenged in debate by two opponents; a small step forward for a proposed wind farm in Londonderry; a senior chemistry researcher sues Dartmouth College.
VPR News

Governor’s Race: Candidates’ approach to taxes

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One of the key issues in this year’s race for governor is the debate over tax policies. In the first part of a series looking at issues in the gubernatorial contest, VPR’s Bob Kinzel looks at how the candidates are trying to frame the issue of taxes in the eyes of Vermont voters.
VPR News

Candidates for attorney general debate on Switchboard

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Incumbent Democratic Attorney General Bill Sorrell defended his record in office during a debate Tuesday night on Vermont Public Radio. His Republican challenger Dennis Carver charged that Sorrell has been wasting valuable resources and energy by filing a series of lawsuits over a variety of federal issues.
VPR News

Interview: Childhood hunger program wins national recognition

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A Vermont organization that fights childhood hunger is receiving a national award for its efforts. “The Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger” is based in Burlington and was chosen from a national field of 1,000 nominees for the Ford Foundation’s “Leadership For A Changing World” award. A $115,000 prize will go towards furthering the campaign’s work. Mitch Wertlieb talks with the program’s director, Robert Dostis.
Commentary Series

Terror nuisance

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Commentator Barrie Dunsmore notes that while tonight’s presidential debate was supposed to be about domestic issues, it’s likely the candidates will want to discuss what Senator Kerry meant when he supposedly called terrorism a nuisance.
Commentary Series

Searching for Robert Frost in England

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A report issued recently by the Vermont Council on Culture and Innovation makes the connection between historic preservation and a community’s economic life. Commentator Peter Gilbert has been thinking about how hard – but how important – it is to preserve what’s special about rural village life.
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Attorney General Debate

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Bob Kinzel hosts a debate between the candidates for attorney general. Republican Dennis Carver, Progressive Susan Davis and incumbent Democrat William Sorrell answer each other’s questions and take listener calls.
VPR News

Neighbors rally to help farmer control runoff

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When a dairy farmer in Worcester tried to find a way to stop the manure from flowing into the Winooski River, he found it would be an expensive proposition. Enter some friends and neighbors who are raising money to help him build a manure pit.
VPR News

Clavelle ties Iraq war to domestic policy questions

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Gubernatorial candidate Peter Clavelle says the war in Iraq is draining much needed resources from Vermont’s domestic programs. In campaign stops at two southern Vermont colleges, Clavelle criticized Governor Jim Douglas for his support of the president’s foreign policy.
VPR News

Advocacy group lauds Machia’s tax policy

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A national tax reform group says 20 candidates for statewide and legislative offices in Vermont have signed a pledge not to support any tax increases in the coming two years. Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Hardy Machia emerged as the only candidate in the governor’s race to embrace the pledge.
VPR News

Crime rate drops over last year

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Crime is continuing to decline in Vermont. The number of crimes reported last year dropped by 5.4 percent last year over 2002.
VPR News

October 12, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Elizabeth Edwards holds campaign events tonight in Burlington; the western segment of the long-planned Bennington Bypass opens today; the Health Department circulates a set of guidelines for who should get flu vaccine; Vermont expects to send its first shipment of dairy cows to Cuba early next year as part of a trade agreement made in September.
VPR News

Hoff joins Clavelle on campaign trail

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Democratic gubernatorial candidate Peter Clavelle is launching a new phase of his campaign today with an effort to tie Republican Governor Jim Douglas to the war in Iraq. In a speech prepared for delivery Tuesday afternoon, Clavelle says Douglas has failed to show leadership by supporting the president’s policies in Iraq. Appearing with Clavelle Tuesday is Democratic former Governor Phil Hoff.
VPR News

Hawk watchers congregate on Putney Mountain

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The Connecticut River Valley is a major migration corridor for hawks and other birds of prey. During the migrating season, which is happening now, a ridge between the Connecticut and West River Valleys is a magnet for hawk watchers.
Commentary Series

Voting in November

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Will the coming election results reliably reflect the votes of millions of Americans using a mix of voting systems? Commentator Ruth Page is hopeful but somewhat doubtful.
Commentary Series

How will it all come out?

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During politically turbulent times, commentator Edith Hunter finds it helpful to remember that sometimes it’s the uncertainties in life – political and otherwise – that keep you going.
VPR News

Sanders opposes corporate tax bill

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Congressional Bernie Sanders says he opposes a new corporate tax cut bill because it will increase the size of the federal deficit, and because it encourages businesses to outsource their jobs to foreign countries. Sanders’ Republican opponent, Greg Parke, says he supports the measure because he feels it will help stimulate economic activity.
VPR News

Bennington Bypass opens after 30 years of planning

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More than four decades after it was conceived, the first leg of the Bennington Bypass will open to traffic on Tuesday morning at 10 o’clock. Local residents are waiting with anticipation – and a little bit of concern – to see the effect the new highway will have on downtown Bennington.
VPR News

Enosburg Falls native killed near Tikrit

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A North Carolina man who was a graduate of Enosburg Falls High School has been killed in Iraq. U.S. Army National Guard Staff Sergeant Michael Voss was serving with the First Battalion, 120th Infantry Regiment out of Wilmington, North Carolina.
VPR News

Homeland security jobs won’t be privatized

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Congress has approved a proposal that would prohibit the Department of Homeland Security from privatizing certain jobs. Senator Patrick Leahy says that would help to protect 100 jobs in St. Albans.
VPR News

October 11, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Senator Patrick Leahy is back in Vermont to take up his re-election campaign; Elizabeth Edwards, wife of the Democratic vice presidential candidate John Edwards, will make a campaign stop in Vermont tomorrow; innkeepers and restaurant owners say it’s been a good foliage season; memorial services will be held tomorrow in Burlington for long-time Vermont publisher Proctor Page Junior; gubernatorial candidates are on the campaign trail.
Commentary Series

Pension problems

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Commentator Allen Gilbert remembers the savings and loan scandal of the 1980s and fears that we might be headed for a similar debacle involving another federal government agency.
VPR News

The Fall Forest: splitting wood

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Today the Fall Forest series ends back where it began, with a visit to the home of Hub Vogelmann, professor emeritus of botany at the University of Vermont. Professor Vogelmann spoke at the beginning of our series about his pioneering research and new data regarding the effect of acid rain on Vermont forests. But after our initial walk through the woods near his home in Jericho, he also took some time to roll up his sleeves and give Mitch Wertlieb a tutorial in the fine art of wood splitting.
VPR News

Brock pulls inflammatory TV ad about Ready

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The Republican candidate for state auditor has pulled a TV ad that accused his opponent of misleading the public about her academic record. Challenger Randy Brock said the ad was aired by mistake this week. He’s replaced it with a second ad that he says is less inflammatory.
VPR News

Leahy urges Senate to take up DNA testing bill

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Senator Patrick Leahy is urging members of the Senate to take up his DNA legislation before the clock runs out on this session of Congress. Leahy says the bill has broad support in both the U.S. House and Senate, but a group of Republican senators is blocking final action on the proposal.
VPR News

Democrats plan campaign bus tour of Franklin County

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Vermont Democrats are taking to the road in Franklin County next week. Gubernatorial candidate Peter Clavelle says he’ll be leading Monday’s bus tour through local farms, a community center and other locations.
VPR News

October 8, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: A South Burlington woman is suing the maker of the drug Vioxx, which was taken off the market this week due to safety concerns; Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy vented some frustration in Washington this week over a DNA testing bill that is stalled in Congress; on Sunday, Ronald Liebowitz will be inaugurated as the new president of Middlebury College; candidates for governor are on the campaign trail.
VPR News

Interview: Vermont documentary on Peace Prize winner Matai

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The woman who won this year’s Nobel Peace Prize has a Vermont connection. Wangari Matai is a member of the Board of World Learning in Brattleboro and she’s also the subject of a documentary currently being made by a Marlboro couple. Lisa Merton talks about the film “Roots of Change: The Green Belt Movement,” that she’s making with her husband Alan Dater.
VPR News

Housing pressure in Dorset and Manchester

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A state grant of $525,000 is expected to help build a 24-unit affordable housing project in East Dorset. The Community Development Block Grant is one part of a public financing package for the $4.2 million project.
Switchboard

Under-40 news habits

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Steve Zind talks with David Mindich, chair of the Journalism Department at Saint Michaels College. Mindich’s latest book is "Tuned Out – Why Americans Under 40 don’t Follow the News."
VPR News

October 7, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: The Department of Forest, Parks and Recreation is asking Vermonters to look for insect damage to their trees; a Clarendon group receives a grant for investigating cancer clusters; the three candidates for lieutenant governor debated this morning; the Lund Family Center receives a grant for pregnant women with substance abuse problems; a vacant building in Randolph may be bought; candidates for governor debate tonight.
VPR News

The Fall Forest: Artist Peter Huntoon

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As fall foliage reaches its peak in Vermont, leaf peepers will be scouring the state, many with cameras in hand to record the stunning colors. Today we take a look at how a watercolor artist captures the season’s offerings, from brush to canvas. Rutland native Peter Huntoon met with Mitch Wertlieb at the Indian Brook reservoir in Essex. He dipped a pail into the lake for his watercolor base, and a different kind of picture emerged before our eyes.
VPR News

Former Fletcher Allen executive pleads guilty

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A former top official at Fletcher Allen Health Care has pleaded guilty to misleading state regulators over the true cost of a huge hospital expansion project. Attorney General William Sorrell says the guilty plea will help prosecutors in their continuing criminal investigation.
VPR News

Cheesemaking resumes at Coolidge homestead

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When the late John Coolidge stopped producing cheese at his family’s homestead in Plymouth six years ago, a tradition that stretched back more than a century came to an end. But soon the cheese making room at the Coolidge estate will be back in business.
VPR News

Taxes and fees ahead of projection

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The state government’s collection of taxes and fees are more than four percent ahead of where officials expected them to be. Administration Secretary Michael Smith says the state collected $96 million last month.
VPR News

Flu clinics cancelled for state employees

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A shortage of flu vaccines has prompted the state of Vermont to cancel its flu clinics for state employees. Health Commissioner Doctor Paul Jarris is asking healthy Vermonters to forego getting a flu vaccine this year
VPR News

Cabot pleads innocent to animal cruelty charges

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Washington County prosecutors plan to seek jail time for a Cabot farmer charged with starving his cows to death. Forty-seven-year-old Christian DeNeergaard pleaded innocent in May to five misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty. He faces up to five years in prison.
VPR News

October 6, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: a former top official at Fletcher Allen Health Care has pleaded guilty to misleading state regulators; candidates for auditor debate impartiality; the Marlboro school board modifies its stance on No Child Left Behind; the Sugarbush Chamber of Commerce says Mad River Valley is at peak foliage; the leading gubernatorial candidates debated this morning in Randolph and meet again tonight in South Burlington.
VPR News

Ralph Nader makes campaign stop at UVM

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Independent presidential candidate Ralph Nader says he’s the only real anti-war candidate in this year’s race. Appearing at the University of Vermont last night, Nader said both President Bush and Democratic candidate John Kerry support continued U.S. involvement in Iraq. Nader, who is on the ballot in Vermont, also strongly rejected the argument that he could be a spoiler in the election.
VPR News

Marlboro school board to comply with test requirements

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The Marlboro school board says it wants to “keep the conversation going” with the state on the No Child Left Behind Act. The board voted last year not to comply with yearly tests mandated by the new federal school assessment law.
Switchboard

Auditor’s Debate

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Bob Kinzel hosts a debate between the candidates for state auditor of accounts. Listen to incumbent Democrat Elizabeth Ready and Republican challenger Randy Brock question each other and answer your calls.
VPR News

Human Services Agency says Medicare law will impact state budget

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The state Agency of Human Services warns that the new federal Medicare drug law could have an enormous impact on the state budget. Democrats are using the state’s comments to criticize the Douglas administration’s support for the law. But administration officials say that they will protect Vermont seniors from any cuts in benefits.
VPR News

Clavelle makes Iraq an issue in governor’s race

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Democratic gubernatorial candidate Peter Clavelle says he plans to highlight Governor Jim Douglas’s support for the war in Iraq in the final weeks of their campaign. Douglas says this strategy shows that Clavelle’s campaign is running out of real issues.
VPR News

Healthy people asked not to get flu vaccine

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Health Commissioner Dr. Paul Jarris is asking healthy Vermonters to forego getting a flu vaccine this year. The call comes after a British vaccine supplier announced that it wouldn’t ship any doses of flu vaccine to the United States this year.
VPR News

October 5, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: residents in northwestern Vermont will vote on a $44 million regional technical academy; Vermont’s largest health insurance company opposes a Republican health insurance plan; an escaped Vermont inmate has been recaptured; in New Hampshire, the president has a slight lead over Democratic challenger John Kerry; Governor Jim Douglas has hired his seven campaign staff workers, converting them from independent contractors; more…
VPR News

The Fall Forest: Vermont Tree Society

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Trees can stand out for many reasons: for their beauty or their size or even for their history. Today in our Fall Forest series Loona Brogan, president and founder of the Vermont Tree Society, talks with VPR’s Mitch Wertlieb under one of Vermont’s largest trees.
VPR News

Word for word: Eric Schlosser

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Writer Eric Schlosser gained national prominence with his bestselling book, “Fast Food Nation.” In it, he describes how the fast food industry has affected consumers, workers and food production. Recently, Eric Schlosser spoke at Champlain College in Burlington as part of the school’s Community Book Program. In his remarks, Schlosser argued that the growth of the fast food industry has led to a dangerous consolidation of the meat industry.
Commentary Series

Witness tree

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Trees were important poetic subjects for Vermont’s best-known poet, Robert Frost. Here’s commentator Tom Slayton with some information about a particular tree that Frost immortalized.
VPR News

Vermont ACLU sues over random searches on ferryboats

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The Vermont Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit against the federal government to stop random searches of passengers on Lake Champlain ferryboats. The lawsuit alleges that the periodic searches violate the rights of individuals.
VPR News

October 4, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Vermont business and cultural leaders gather at the Statehouse to endorse a new economic development strategy called “the creative economy”; the Vermont ACLU has filed a lawsuit over random searches on Lake Champlain ferries; gubernatorial candidates debate health care issues in Rutland; campaigning for public office goes on at all levels across the state.
VPR News

The Fall Forest: connection with the trees

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Putnam Blodgett often reflects on the history and the health of the Vermont forest. He grew up on a dairy farm in Bradford, and has had a lifelong connection with the trees. The 73-year-old president of the Vermont Woodlands Association spoke about that connection with VPR’s Mitch Wertlieb for our series on the Fall Forest.
VPR News

Thousands of bats protected during hibernation

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Bats have long been popular objects in horror and Halloween tales. But their frightening image belies a graceful creature that plays an important role in our ecosystem. Scientists have long puzzled over the why there’s been a steady decline in the number of bats. Now, work being done to study and preserve an important bat habitat in Vermont may ultimately provide answers.
VPR News

Omya drops Danby quarry plan

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One of Vermont’s most hard-fought environmental battles is over. The Omya Corporation has decided to abandon a controversial plan to develop a large quarry in Danby. The company says it will expand in other states instead.
VPR News

Vermont to choose transportation priorities

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Transportation Secretary Pat McDonald says some new state highway projects may have to be delayed because Congress has failed to pass a multi-year transportation bill. McDonald says the Douglas administration and the Legislature may face some tough decisions about future highway spending in Vermont.
VPR News

Leahy bill would increase intelligence translation capacity

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Democratic Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy worries the government isn’t translating intelligence intercepts quickly enough. He fears the U.S. could have information that a terrorist attack is imminent, but not translate it until it’s too late.
VPR News

Clavelle’s campaign auction suspended

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An unusual online auction to help Democratic gubernatorial candidate Peter Clavelle raise money has been suspended. That’s while the Burlington mayor’s campaign determines whether the online auction is legal.
VPR News

Dubie targeted for missing health care forum

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Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie wasn’t at Thursday’s health care forum in Brattleboro but he was the target, nonetheless. Democrat Cheryl Rivers and Progressive Steve Hingtgen criticized the incumbent Republican for not attending.
VPR News

‘Last Chance to Eat’ interview with Gina Mallet

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Where has all the good food gone? That’s the question posed in the new book, “Last Chance to Eat: The Fate of Taste in a Fast Food World.” The book is written by Toronto-based cultural critic Gina Mallet. Mallet is not the first writer to protest the industrialization of the food industry. But she also contends that mythical food scares and misguided environmentalism have contributed to the loss of taste in contemporary cuisine.
VPR News

October 1, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: the Omya Corporation abandons a controversial plan to develop a quarry in Danby; Senator Patrick Leahy expresses fears that there aren’t enough qualified translators to decipher intercepted messages that could prevent a terrorist attack; Vermont Law School inaugurates its new president, Geoffrey Shields; Eric Schlosser, the author of “Fast Food Nation,” speaks at Champlain College; Carol Moseley Braun speaks at Dartmouth College.
VPR News

The Fall Forest: autumn songs

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Today in our Fall Forest series, we turn to music and to local singer and songwriter Alan Greenleaf of Peacham, who’s also a farmer and sugarmaker. Greenleaf is known for his recordings about country life and recently has been singing at local farmers markets. He came with guitar in hand to our VPR studios to talk about the inspirations from the forest that influence his music, including the maple tree.
VPR News

Brattleboro hosts third annual literary festival

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Here’s a quiz: What do these authors have in common: Russell Banks, James Tate, Stuart O’Nan, Julia Alavarez, Andre Dubus III? The answer is, they’ll all be in Brattleboro this weekend for the third annual Brattleboro Literary Festival. The three-day literary extravaganza is a celebration of good writing and good reading.
Commentary Series

Chicken pie suppas

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When commentator Joe Deffner moved recently, he found himself feeling nostalgic, not just about his old house, but about a couple of buildings just across the street from it.
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Early childhood education

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A growing body research indicates early childhood education plays a critical role in a child’s development. Steve Zind talks with James Morse, commissioner of the Department of Children and Families, and Deputy Commissioner Kimberly Keiser about the importance of early childhood education and what can be done to improve it in Vermont.
VPR News

Group raises questions about security at Vermont Yankee

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Nuclear watchdog groups continue to raise questions about potential security problems at Vermont Yankee and other nuclear plants. They say older reactors like Yankee are especially vulnerable to terrorist attacks. A Yankee spokesman defended the plant’s security procedures.
VPR News

Corrections Department considers options for inmates’ mental health care

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Vermont Corrections Commissioner Steve Gold says his department is making progress in reorganizing the way mental health services are provided to inmates. The options include providing mental health services through the corrections or health departments, or to contract out the services to a private company or community mental health center.
VPR News

Commuter bus offers free rides to Dartmouth

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Vermonters who work at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center and Dartmouth College in New Hampshire will soon have the option of a free ride to work. A new commuter bus service will run from Randolph, Bethel and Royalton to Lebanon, New Hampshire.
VPR News

September 30, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Governor Jim Douglas and his Democratic challenger Peter Clavelle clashed over ways to help reduce local property tax burdens at a debate this morning sponsored by the Vermont League of Cities and Towns; IBM is settling part of a class action lawsuit over changes to its pension retirement benefits; Andrew Sullivan will talk about the 2004 election tonight at Dartmouth College; more….
VPR News

The Fall Forest: balancing interests in the woods

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This week and next during Morning Edition, VPR goes into the woods to take a close look at the fall forest. Today we visit Chelsea for a conversation with Virginia Barlow, a forester since 1990 who strives to achieve a delicate balance among varied interests, including loggers, environmental officials, and land developers. Mitch Wertlieb spoke with Virginia Barlow at a logging site, where she began by describing the condition of the forest during this current autumn season.
VPR News

Youth interest in election on the rise

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Secretary of State Deb Markowitz says she believes a higher number of young people will turn out to vote on Election Day. Traditionally, about 25 percent of all voters in the 18 to 25 age group go to polls. But Markowitz says there are signs that this trend is about to change.
VPR News

Petition asks for halt to Barre public safety building

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Critics of a new public safety building under constructing in Barre say they’ve collected 400 signatures on a petition calling for a halt to construction. The petition was delivered to the City Council on Tuesday by Tom Lauzon, a candidate for the council.
VPR News

September 29, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: officials say the Kentucky should have assigned a full-time prison inspector to the Lee Adjustment Center in July; the presidential candidates are still vying for votes in the battleground state of New Hampshire; at least 20 new jobs will be created when Black River Produce expands next year; Vermont Business Roundtable’s annual three-day meeting begins today in Essex; gubernatorial candidates are on the campaign trail.
VPR News

The Fall Forest: effects of acid rain

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Over the next ten days during Morning Edition, VPR goes into the woods to take a close look at the fall forest. Today, we travel to Jericho, for a conversation with Dr. Hubert Vogelmann, known to many as “Hub.” Dr. Vogelmann is a professor emeritus of botany at UVM, regarded as a pioneer in the study of acid rain. Mitch Wertlieb joined Hub Vogelmann on his daily walk through the woods to talk about his research on Camel’s Hump and the health of the forest.
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Major Political Parties

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Bob Kinzel hosts an election forum with the chairs of Vermont’s three major political parties. Martha Abbott of the Progressive Party, Jim Barnet of the Republican Party and Scudder Parker of the Democratic Party discuss the election season.
VPR News

Federal transportation bill may force Vermont construction priorities

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Governor Jim Douglas says the state will have to scale back some of its transportation projects in the coming year if Congress doesn’t support increased spending in a national transportation bill. The Bush administration is taking a hard line with Congress over the issue and the president has threatened to veto the legislation that Douglas wants to see enacted.
VPR News

Dean campaigns for Rutland Democrats

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Rutland County hasn’t had a Democratic senator since 1992. In his first official Vermont campaign appearance of the election season, former Vermont Governor Howard Dean stopped in Rutland on Tuesday to endorse the three Democrats running for state Senate.
VPR News

Supreme Court justice may be appointed after election

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Governor Jim Douglas says he doesn’t know whether he’ll appoint a new member and a chief justice to the Vermont Supreme Court before the November election. Douglas calls the selection of a chief justice the most important decision a governor makes and says he wants to take the necessary time to consider it.
VPR News

Judge rules in civil union custody dispute

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A Virginia judge has awarded full custody of a two-year-old girl to her mother after the break-up of the mother’s Vermont civil union. The decision by Frederick County Circuit Judge John Prosser is the latest twist in a case that has resulted in conflicting decisions by courts in Vermont and Virginia.
VPR News

Man completes swim of Lake Champlain

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A Colchester man met his goal of swimming the length of Lake Champlain on Tuesday. Thirty-six-year-old Christopher Swain arrived in Quebec shortly before 2 o’clock this afternoon.
VPR News

September 28, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Vermont will have six presidential candidates on the November ballot; Howard Dean promotes his new book and campaigns in Rutland for Democratic legislative candidates; Attorney General Bill Sorrell presides over a National Youth Smoking Conference; gubernatorial candidate Peter Clavelle has $44,000 on hand going into the final month of the campaign; Republican incumbent Jim Douglas has more than $200,000 still on hand for his campaign.
VPR News

Gubernatorial candidates debate environmental issues

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Vermont’s environment was the topic Monday night during a gubernatorial debate in Montpelier. Governor Jim Douglas said his administration has boosted spending to clean up Lake Champlain and will take legal action against polluters.
Commentary Series

Media and debates

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Commentator Barrie Dunsmore takes a look at the upcoming Presidential debates and notes that media reviews of these encounters can often be more important than the debates themselves.
VPR News

Errors in Ready’s biography draw fire from Brock

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Randy Brock, the Republican candidate for Auditor says incumbent Elizabeth Ready has misrepresented her academic credentials. Brock wants Ready to stop conducting state audits until she can explain how the inaccuracies occurred. Ready says she takes responsibility for the errors, but that she didn’t intentionally try to deceive the public.
VPR News

State employees would receive extended pay, benefits while on active duty

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The state of Vermont is planning to extend the pay and benefits for state employees who have been called to active duty in the National Guard or military reserve. Under the plan being implemented by Governor Jim Douglas, the state will make up the difference between a state employee’s pay and their military salaries for up to a year on active duty.
VPR News

Vermont students improve scores on SAT

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The College Board, which administers the SAT and other student assessments, has issued a report saying that Vermont students are doing pretty well on those tests.
VPR News

September 27, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Republican Governor Jim Douglas and Democratic challenger Peter Clavelle debate this evening; Republican candidate for auditor Randy Brock comments on questions about Democratic incumbent Elizabeth Ready’s resume; Rockingham faces a financing deadline for the purchase of a hydro-electric dam; the tourism industry hopes the fall foliage season will off-set a weak summer; more….
VPR News

Interview: Connecticut River cleanup

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The call is going out to anyone willing to get a little dirty in the name of cleanliness. The Connecticut River Watershed Council is recruiting volunteers for its eighth annual “Source to the Sea Clean-up” on October 2, an effort to clean away trash from the Connecticut River all the way from the Connecticut Lakes to Long Island Sound.
VPR News

Rockingham faces deadline for hydro-dam purchase

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Time is running out for the town of Rockingham to put together financing to buy the Bellows Falls hydroelectric dam. Under an agreement with the dam’s owners, U.S. Gen New England, Rockingham has until December 1 to buy the generating facility.
Commentary Series

Garter snakes

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Commentator Ted Levin’s reptilian neighbors are soaking up all the sun they can these days, before curling up to sleep underground through the long winter.
Commentary Series

Walking in Bugbee Bog

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One recent sunny day found commentator Alan Boye walking into one of Vermont’s darkest bogs. What he found there was the story of an unusual Vermont environmentalist.
VPR News

Abenaki not included in new American Indian museum

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Visitors to the National Museum of the American Indian, which opened this week in Washington, D.C., will find information about Indian tribes from South America to Canada. But there’s nothing in the museum about the Abenaki Indians. A representative of Vermont’s Abenakis says the tribe doesn’t feel slighted by the omission.
VPR News

Book interview: ‘The Artful Eater’

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In 1992, author Edward Behr published “The Artful Eater,” in which he wrote about the best foods for gourmet cooking: what they are, how they’re produced and where to find them. The book was above all an appreciation of individual ingredients and offered a good deal of practical information. Behr has recently published a revised second edition of “The Artful Eater,” which updates his observations. Neal Charnoff talks with the Peacham writer about his book.
VPR News

State ranks high in quality of public education

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Vermont ranks in the top ten states in the country for academic quality and spending on public schools, according to a report released this week. The American Legislative Exchange Council’s annual report ranked Vermont seventh in the nation in overall academic achievement and seventh in the amount it spends per student.
VPR News

Petition examines more cell towers in Pownal

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An effort is under way to place a referendum on the November ballot to see if Pownal residents want additional cell phone towers. Suzanne Caraman says people have been voicing a need for cell phone towers to improve service for some time. She says an interruption in telephone service last month sparked the petition.
VPR News

September 24, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: the secretary of state launches a kids’ civics program; Governor Jim Douglas says renewable energy should be aided by incentives, rather than mandates; Peter Clavelle gubernatorial campaign gets a boost from the Vermont Construction and Building Trades Council; Chad Pergram reports from Capitol Hill on Vermont’s Congressional delegation; the Vermont National Guard recruiting office in Brattleboro is closing due to a lack of business.
VPR News

Corrections commissioner recommended Kentucky warden’s removal

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Vermont Corrections Commissioner Steve Gold says he recommended the removal of the warden at a Kentucky prison operated by the Corrections Corporation of America. The state has contracted with CCA to house more than 400 Vermont inmates at the prison, which was the site of a serious uprising last week.
VPR News

Interview: ‘One Day at Fenway’

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Fans of the Red Sox and the Yankees know very well what stirs their contentious history, but self-described outsiders like sportswriter Steve Kettmann look for ways to explore the rivalry. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Kettmann about his new book "One Day at Fenway," which explores the storied baseball rivalry.
Switchboard

Corrections and prison policies

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Steve Zind’s guest is Vermont Corrections Commissioner Steve Gold. The state’s prison system as been the subject of a great deal of attention recently as officials try to solve problems of overcrowding, prisoner treatment and staffing.
VPR News

Emergency rules allow online sex offender registry to proceed

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The Legislature’s Administrative Rules Committee has given its approval to emergency rules to allow the state to launch an Internet sex offenders registry on October 1. However the committee expressed disappointment that the Public Safety Department didn’t work on the project over the summer.
VPR News

Clavelle comments on housing policy

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Peter Clavelle says more needs to be done to ensure adequate housing for Vermonters. Speaking at a news conference Thursday, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate said he would put more money into the state’s Housing and Conservation Trust Fund and increase the state’s investment in homeless prevention programs.
VPR News

Verizon request to waive rebates denied

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Vermont regulators have rejected the Verizon phone company’s request to waive most of the $8 million in rebates to customers the company was ordered to make in May. Verizon had asked the Public Service Board for reconsideration of its order, saying it failed to meet repair targets last year due to unforseen factors.
VPR News

Jeffords receives stitches after fall

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Vermont’s junior U.S. Senator fell outside his Washington office Wednesday and suffered a cut over his left eye that required stitches. A spokesman for Senator Jim Jeffords says the senator was on his way to a luncheon when he fell in a construction area outside the Senate office.
VPR News

September 23, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: a report is released on health and social service needs in Chittenden County; SUV registrations in Vermont have increased by 74 per cent in the past five years; Public Safety officials will meet with towns in the Vermont Yankee emergency evacuation zone; neither Vermont senator voted for the confirmation of Porter Goss to be the new head of the CIA; Senator Jim Jeffords received three stitches after he tripped and fell; more….
VPR News

Gubernatorial candidates debate in Barre

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Governor Jim Douglas and his Democratic challenger Peter Clavelle met in a spirited debate at Barre’s Old Labor Hall last night. Several hundred people attended the debate which was sponsored by the Peace and Justice Center.
VPR News

Mobile methadone may expand to more Kingdom towns

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The Vermont Department of Heath is reaching out to Northeast Kingdom communities in an effort to bring a mobile methadone clinic to more locations. The effort comes after officials in Newport and St. Johnsbury told the department they don’t want to be the only communities to host the clinic.
VPR News

Middlebury carillon rings for High Holy Days

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This Friday in Middlebury, the college carillon will ring out across the village to mark the beginning of the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur. VPR’s Steve Zind visited with the man who coaxes music from 11 tons of bells.
Commentary Series

Visitors

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Our annual crush of fall tourists has begun, and commentator Tom Slayton notes that it is a phenomenon with deeper roots than you might at first think.
VPR News

Bill would expand DNA testing in criminal cases

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A key U.S. Senate committee has given its approval to legislation sponsored by Senator Patrick Leahy that expands the use of DNA testing in rape and death penalty cases. Leahy says the bill is needed to protect individuals who are wrongly accused of these crimes and to help convict people who are guilty of committing them.
VPR News

Dorset agrees to Forest Service land sale

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The town of Dorset is backing a plan by the U.S. Forest Service to buy 52 acres of undeveloped land in the community. The Dorset Select Board unanimously supported the plan by the Forest Service to buy the land now owned by the Thornton Family Trust.
VPR News

September 22, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: this evening the second gubernatorial debate of the election season will concentrate on wages and jobs; a school district that covers much of southwestern Vermont is clamping down on student use of cell phones and pagers; the electric utility that runs Vermont’s only commercial wind energy project says changes to wind energy rules could doom a big expansion; a day-long conference at the statehouse looks at biodiesel energy.
Commentary Series

Health insurance costs

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Vermont’s health care insurance system is the BIG issue in this year’s gubernatorial contest. Commentator Tim McQuiston says it’s ideal for political debate because it affects everyone – individuals and businesses alike.
Switchboard

Reporters’ Roundtable

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The primaries are over and the debate season has begun. Bob Kinzel hosts a conversation among Vermont reporters on the issues and candidates in statewide races.
VPR News

McMullen questions Leahy’s support for war on terror

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Republican U.S. Senate candidate Jack McMullen says incumbent Democratic senator Patrick Leahy isn’t fighting the war on terrorism aggressively. McMullen said on Tuesday that Leahy’s votes against funding for the war in Iraq display a lack of enthusiasm to fight terrorists. Leahy’s campaign says the charges are outrageous.
VPR News

Labor unions criticize Douglas’ jobs record

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A coalition of labor organizations says that Vermont is losing high-paying jobs and replacing them with lower wage positions. The coalition is making its political point in an election year, by attacking Governor Jim Douglas’ record on job growth.
VPR News

UVM to begin releasing tickets for Celtics exhibition match

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Top supporters of the University of Vermont are going to get the first crack at tickets to a Boston Celtics exhibition game next month. Members of the UVM Victory Club will get the first chance to claim tickets to the October 9 exhibition match. They can get free their tickets at Patrick Gym on Thursday.
VPR News

September 21, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: the Vermont Labor Coalition accuses the Douglas administration of an anemic record on job creation; GOP Senate candidate Jack McMullen discusses foreign policy and the war on terrorism; the superintendent of a prison where Vermonters rioted last week is replaced; Barre City councilors consider charter changes for tax collection; the Rutland State Airport plans a new marketing campaign thanks to $250,000 in federal and private funding.
VPR News

Financial education: teaching kids to invest

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When it comes to handling money, Americans aren’t doing so well. Credit card debt is soaring, savings accounts are shrinking and bankruptcies are at near record levels. And we’re passing these poor spending habits on to our children. As a result, the responsibility for providing financial education is falling to teachers.
VPR News

Interview: League discusses meaning of voting

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The League of Women Voters of central Vermont is posing the question, “Do our Votes Really Count?” The League is presenting a panel discussion Tuesday in Montpelier. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Paul Gillies, former deputy secretary of state and a specialist in Vermont municipal issues, who is one of the event’s panelists.
VPR News

Sanders opposes cuts to housing assistance program

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Congressman Bernie Sanders says he plans to strongly oppose a Bush administration plan to reduce funding for a low-income housing assistance program. The president’s budget proposal for the new fiscal year calls for a cut of $4.3 million in federal housing subsidies in Vermont.
VPR News

Federal water cleanup funds may be cut

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Environmental groups and public water quality managers are warning about funding cuts proposed by the Bush administration. They say the state of Vermont could be out $2.4 million in funding for efforts to clean the state’s lakes and rivers.
VPR News

September 20, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: both of Vermont’s U.S. senators, the state’s only congressman, the candidates for governor and the candidates for lt. governor all make public appearances today as momentum builds up in the 2004 general election; federal prosecutors don’t want the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the appeal of a man accused of killing a North Clarendon woman; Burlington considers a charter change for school construction projects; more….
VPR News

Financial education: teaching kids to manage credit

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A rising number of college students are struggling to pay off credit card debt. Financial experts say this is partly due to a lack of education about money management early in life – both at home and at school. Today, in the first of two parts, VPR’s Nina Keck examines the young person’s financial education.
VPR News

Interview: Dewey Award for education and democracy

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The John Dewey Award recognizes outstanding contributions to the education of young people in America and this year for the first time, the award was presented at John Dewey’s alma mater – the University of Vermont. The award’s recipient this year was Carl Glickman, president of the Institute for Schools, Education and Democracy in Athens, Georgia. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Glickman from his part-time residence in St. Albans.
Commentary Series

A dumb idea

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Of all the things to worry about in the upcoming election season, commentator Philip Baruth finds himself most worried about the growing role of computers in the democratic process.
Commentary Series

Judicial retention

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Commentator John McClaughry is looking forward to the coming legislative session, and what he expects will be a lively discussion on the State Supreme Court and the Vermont constitution.
VPR News

Campaigns use Web advertising to push issues

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Vermont’s gubernatorial candidates are using a new form of advertising in this year’s campaign: they’re producing ads for the Internet. This form of advertising allows the campaigns to reach out to voters in a very timely manner.
VPR News

Working group divided by ATV use on public lands

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A proposal to allow all terrain vehicles on some public lands has divided a group that’s studying the idea. While some in the collaborative believe it would be beneficial to allow ATV users to cross public lands to get to private riding areas, others are skeptical.
VPR News

Supreme Court rules for Rockingham in U.S. Gen case

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The Vermont Supreme Court has handed the town of Rockingham another victory in the long-running legal battle over the value of the Bellows Falls dam. U.S. Gen New England, which owns the hydro-electric station, has repeatedly challenged the town’s tax appraisal that the dam is worth about $90 million.
VPR News

Groundwater near dry cleaning plant may be undrinkable

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The state of Vermont is moving to declare groundwater in the area around a Williamstown dry-cleaning plant undrinkable. The move comes 21 years after Vermont Health Department tests first found pollution around the dry-cleaning plant.
VPR News

September 17, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: the Vermont Supreme Court has upheld a ruling on the assessment value U.S.-Gen’s property in Bellows Falls; Green Mountain Power prepares for its community energy fair; Rutland chooses artwork to decorate its new courthouse; report on the Vermont congressional delegation from Capitol Hill; UVM holds a memorial service for the late Joan Smith, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
VPR News

Interview: Physician-activist Charlie Clements to speak in Burlington

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Dr. Charlie Clements is well-known in the peace activist community. A former president of Physicians for Social Responsibility, he’s led congressional fact-finding missions to Central America and is the recipient of several human rights awards. But Dr. Clements was also a combat pilot in Vietnam and what he saw there led him to write the book, “Witness to War.” Mitch Wertlieb talks with Clements about the speech he’ll be giving at the Unitarian-Universalist Society in Burlington this Sunday.
Commentary Series

Dying in Darfur

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Commentator Willem Lange has been struck recently by the difference between the Olympic games and the genocide occurring only 1,600 miles south of Athens.
Switchboard

History of third parties

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Steve Zind’s guest is historian and author Willard Randall. They talk about the history of third party movements and why none have emerged to seriously challenge the two major parties.
VPR News

Burlington eye doctor indicted on medical fraud

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A federal grand jury has indicted a Burlington eye surgeon on 80 counts of federal health care fraud. Dr. David Chase is accused of recommending and performing unnecessary cataract surgeries.
VPR News

September 16, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: the debate season begins today in the race for governor; IBM and Kodak announce a new agreement involving production lines at IBM in Vermont; Congressman Bernie Sanders renews his call for action on prescription drug re-importation; community organizations across Vermont see a big jump in requests for food assistance; work is underway at a landfill in Lyndon where officials are trying to contain underground contaminants.
VPR News

Loons may be removed from Vermont endangered species list

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For years Vermonters have listened for the haunting call of the loon on the state’s lakes and ponds. Because of its small numbers, the bird has come to symbolize the fragile relationship between human activity and the natural world. But state wildlife biologists say the number of loons in Vermont has increased in recent years and they’re recommending the bird be taken off the state’s list of endangered species.
Commentary Series

Where are the monarchs?

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Monarch butterfly watchers are discovering few monarchs this year. To find out why, commentator Edith Hunter consulted her naturalist daughter, Elizabeth, who lives in North Carolina and raises monarchs. She too has found fewer than usual.
Commentary Series

Eisenhower and Reagan

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Long before Ronald Reagan called for the dismantling of the Berlin Wall, President Eisenhower predicted the demise of the Soviet Union. Commentator Peter Gilbert says he even got the timing about right.
VPR News

Clavelle says health care plan would end cost shift

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Democratic gubernatorial candidate Peter Clavelle wants to require all Vermonters to have health insurance. But he says the state will help pay for coverage for those who can’t afford it by capturing the money that’s now spent on health care for the uninsured.
VPR News

Small state rules remain for homeland security funds

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The state of Vermont has won an important victory over future funding for homeland security programs. The U.S. Senate has rejected an effort to deny small states like Vermont a minimum share of the Agency’s allocations. The decision means that Vermont will receive an additional $10 million in the new fiscal year for local emergency response efforts.
VPR News

Vermont inmates implicated in Kentucky prison uprising

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A team of officials from the Vermont Department of Corrections is heading to Kentucky in the wake of a prison uprising at a privately operated correctional facility in Kentucky. The Lee Adjustment Center houses 418 Vermont inmates.
VPR News

Hospital budgets approved, some requests reduced

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Vermont’s health care regulators have made slight reductions to the rate increases sought by some of the state’s hospitals. The Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration is responsible for setting annual hospital budgets.
VPR News

VSAC rate of loan default lowest nationwide

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The Vermont Student Assistance Corporation has the lowest default rate for education loans in the country, according to figures released by the U.S. Department of Education. Vermont’s one percent default rate compares to a national rate of five-point-two percent, which is also an all-time low.
VPR News

Vermont Expos sign two-year contract for minor league team

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The Vermont Expos minor-league baseball team has signed a new two-year deal to remain affiliated with the Montreal Expos major league franchise. The Vermont Expos deal with the major league club is good for two years, guaranteeing a minor league team in Vermont’s largest city through 2006.
VPR News

September 15, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Vermont corrections officials go to Kentucky to assess a prison disturbance involving Vermont inmates; on the morning after the primaries, the leaders of Vermont’s Republican and Democratic parties discuss the General Election campaign; Democratic gubernatorial candidate Peter Clavelle releases his health care; Republican John Hall of Orleans County, and Democrat Wayne Kenyon of Addison have lost their House seats in contested primaries.
VPR News

Interview: Conference for women on money management

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With a focus on money management, retirement planning and investment strategies, the Vermont Women and Money Conference takes place this Friday in Burlington. The event is co-sponsored by the State Treasury Department and the Vermont Commission on Women. Befitting a conference on how to be smart with money, the day-long event is free.
VPR News

Commissioner says state should seek long-term power from Hydro-Quebec

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Public Service Department Commissioner David O’Brien says the state should strongly consider renegotiating its power contract with Hydro-Quebec as part of Vermont’s large range energy plan. The Hydro-Quebec contract currently accounts for about 28 percent of the state’s energy mix and it’s scheduled to expire in 2016.
Commentary Series

Moving on

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Commentator David Moats has been contemplating an age-old question: what do you take and what do you leave behind when you move?
Switchboard

Long-term energy planning

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Bob Kinzel hosts a discussion on the long-term planning for the state’s energy needs. Joinings the conversation are guests David O’Brien of the Public Service Department and Paul Burns of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group.
VPR News

Douglas unveils health care plan

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Governor Jim Douglas unveiled a health care reform plan on Tuesday that aims to reduce the number of uninsured people in Vermont by 20 percent. Douglas says the proposal will also help reduce premium rates for many Vermonters who currently have health care policies. But Douglas’ challenger in the gubernatorial campaign says the plan is a rehash of old ideas that don’t work.
VPR News

Burlington Diocese to fight new abuse lawsuits

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The Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington is facing at least three more lawsuits alleging sexual abuse by Vermont priests. But William O’Brien, a lawyer for the diocese, says the church will argue that the suits have no merit because the allegations date back to the 1970s.
VPR News

September 14, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: voters in today’s Primary Election select candidates for the general election in November; Governor Jim Douglas outlines his ideas for health care; Killington officials say there will not be another vote on whether to secede from Vermont and join New Hampshire; a Charlotte farm seeks a six-month delay in it’s expansion permit process; the Lebanon Airport has a new manager; the Vermont Youth Orchestra performs at Carnegie Hall tonight.
VPR News

Vermont Youth Orchestra plays Carnegie Hall

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Carnegie Hall is about as good as it gets. Generations of performers — from Tchaikovsky to the Beatles — have played there. Tuesday night, members of the Vermont Youth Orchestra will be added to that historic list of Carnegie Alumni. They’ll perform a unique program of new works written entirely by Vermont composers – including Trey Anastasio of the rock group Phish.
Commentary Series

Hummingbirds

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Do you think of hummingbirds as fragile, delicate creatures? Well, they are, but as commentator Ruth Page points out, they’re pretty good warriors, too.
VPR News

Backus and Rivers plan strategies for November election

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The two Democratic candidates for lieutenant governor – Jan Backus and Cheryl Rivers – have different strategies for a fall general election campaign. Each candidate is trying to convince voters in Mondays’ primary election that they have the best chance to unseat incumbent Republican Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie.
VPR News

Cate asks Marlboro to comply with No Child Left Behind

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Vermont’s commissioner of education went to Marlboro Monday and asked the school board to comply with federal No Child Left Behind act. Marlboro is the only district in the state that has refused to comply with the law, saying the assessment tests lead to a one-size fits all curriculum.
VPR News

September 13, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: tomorrow is Primary Election Day and while the turnout is expected to be light the procedure is a bit more complex than usual; local troop support committees are active on behalf of military families; the Chamber of Commerce in Mad River Valley says the peak of foliage season will be on October 5, at 8:37 a.m.; Democratic gubernatorial candidate Peter Clavelle campaigns in Windham County, Governor Jim Douglas has no appearances today.
VPR News

Military families seek support in each other

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The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are a constant, often very lonely, reality for those with loved ones in the military. All over Vermont, local troop support committees are working to assure that those whose lives have been disrupted most are not forgotten.
Commentary Series

Who’s the polluter?

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The poet Robert Burns once asked, “Oh, would some Power the gift give us, to see ourselves as others see us.” Commentator Allen Gilbert applies the sentiment to an environmental issue.
VPR News

Rainy fall could lead to heavy spring floods

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The latest rains in Vermont have fallen on ground that’s already saturated, especially in the Champlain Valley. UVM civil engineering and hydrology professor Cully Hessian says a wet autumn followed by a significant winter snow pack could produce serious flooding in the spring.
VPR News

Vermonters search for their inner Bob Dylan

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A Montpelier record store is looking for people who can growl, yowl, grumble and mumble. On Saturday, a group of contestants will get into the right clothes and then step up to the microphone to create their own Bob Dylan impersonation.
VPR News

Court rules on voter registration case

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The Vermont Supreme Court has ruled that an 82-year-old woman who has been living in Pennsylvania while caring for an ailing relative should be able to vote in Vermont. The decision overrules a lower court that found that Deborah Albrecht was no longer living in Manchester and therefore should be removed from the voter checklist.
VPR News

Burlington dedicates expanded pedestrian street

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The city of Burlington is celebrating a new extension to its downtown pedestrian street. The city will dedicate the newest addition to the Church Street Marketplace – the City Hall Block – on Friday evening.
VPR News

Vermont Air Guard pilots returns from Iraq

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More Vermont National Guard members have returned from the war in Iraq. Eight pilots in the Vermont Air National Guard returned to the state today with their F-16 fighter planes. The pilots and support personnel spent three months in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
VPR News

Hardwick expresses interest in mobile methadone

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Town officials in Hardwick and local residents say they will welcome a mobile methadone clinic to help treat heroin addicts. Town Police Chief James Dziobek estimates there are about a dozen people in and around Hardwick who need methadone treatment.
VPR News

September 10, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: one lane of Route 22A is now open after Thursday’s oil tanker spill; Agriculture Secretary Steve Kerr brings home $7 million in contracts from Cuba; scientists measure the effect of the rainfall on land that’s already saturated; Governor Jim Douglas endorses congressional candidate Greg Parke; Howard Dean renews a blunt diagnosis of what ails the Democratic Party; Congress is back in session after a six-weeks break; more….
VPR News

Warhol exhibit excites Brattleboro

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Artist Andy Warhol once said that, “In the future, everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes.” The town of Brattleboro is hoping for a little bit of that fame this weekend when it celebrates a new exhibit of the artist’s work.
VPR News

Interview: Burlington’s South End Art Hop

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A two-day event this weekend in Burlington will feature the work of artists from the area and beyond. It’s the twelfth annual South End Art Hop.’ This combination open house and block party has been getting bigger every year, with close to 450 artists involved and 110 locations where visitors can check out a variety of artwork. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Bruce Seifer of Burlington’s Economic Development Office about the event.
Commentary Series

Lessons of Beslan

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The recent terrorist attacks in Russia found commentator Caleb Daniloff looking closer to home, and reflecting on the perspective of Ilias Akhmadov, Chechnya’s exiled foreign minister now living in southern Vermont.
Switchboard

Republican Senate Candidates

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Bob Kinzel hosts a forum for the three candidates vying for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate. Listen to the conversation with candidates Jack McMullen, Ben Mitchell and Peter Moss.
VPR News

Seniors’ health care takes center stage of gubernatorial campaign

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Health care – and who would do more to protect the state’s seniors – has emerged as a dominant issue in the Vermont governor’s race. Democratic candidate Peter Clavelle says that Governor Jim Douglas’ support of a new federal Medicare reform law threatens prescription drug benefits for thousands of Vermonters. Douglas says he’ll make sure that Vermont seniors keep their benefits.
VPR News

Backstage with ‘Of Mice and Men’

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The credo of Burlington’s On The Verge Theater Company is “bringing theater to students, and literature to life.” The company hopes to inspire high school students by presenting plays to area schools. VPR’s Neal Charnoff went Backstage with On The Verge’s first production, “Of Mice and Men.”
VPR News

State leaders request federal assistance for flood damage

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Vermont’s congressional delegation is calling on President Bush to speed up a disaster declaration for seven counties in the state. Senators Jim Jeffords and Patrick Leahy and Congressman Bernie Sanders sent a letter to the president Thursday.
VPR News

Truck accident spills oil, closes Route 22A

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Vermont Route 22A is still closed to traffic this afternoon following an accident that dumped 65,000 gallons of motor oil onto the ground. The Addison County Sheriff’s Department says the road could be reopened sometime Thursday night, depending on how the cleanup goes.
VPR News

September 9, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: part of Route 22-A in Addison County is closed until further notice due to a tanker truck accident; Governor Jim Douglas seeks federal disaster relief for areas impacted by recent flooding; a Fair Haven slate company receives state approval to build a new 14,000-square foot mill; people plan to mark the third anniversary of the September 11 attacks; Pownal considers a U.S. Forest Service proposal to buy 4,200 acres in town; more….
VPR News

McMullen criticizes Leahy’s jobs record

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Republican U.S. Senate candidate Jack McMullen says incumbent Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy has not paid enough attention to creating new jobs across the state. Speaking at a press conference in the Statehouse, McMullen said Wednesday he was much better qualified to bring new, good paying jobs to Vermont because of his more than 20 years of experience in private business.
VPR News

September 8, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Burlington Mayor Peter Clavelle opens the post-Labor Day phase of his gubernatorial campaign with an aggressive attack on incumbent Jim Douglas; Republican senatorial candidate Jack McMullen lashes out at incumbent Democrat Patrick Leahy over jobs issues; a swimmer is now past the halfway mark in his south-to-north swim of Lake Champlain; the Tubbs snowshoes manufacturing operation in Stowe will move to China next year; more….
Commentary Series

Targets of terrorism

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For commentator Bill Seamans, the recent hostage situation in Russia brought back memories of a similar event he witnessed in Israel – and served as a reminder that it could happen here.
Commentary Series

College football

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As the college football season begins, commentator Brian Porto reminds us of the high price that some colleges pay for their successful sports programs.
VPR News

Dem candidates for Lt. Governor discuss health care

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The two Democrats seeking the party’s nomination for Lt. Governor say they both support the implementation of a single payer health care system in the state of Vermont but they disagree on how quickly this system should be put into place.
VPR News

Interview: Saxtons River decides against municipal merger

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Within the town of Rockingham, the tiny village of Saxtons River population about 500 will celebrate its 100th anniversary next year. And it looks like residents will be doing so as an incorporated village not as part of a proposed unified town that would be created by a merger with Rockingham and the village of Bellows Falls.
VPR News

Interview: Green Mountain Audobon Center turns 40

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The Audubon Society of Vermont was established in 1901, and its success has given flight to nature centers throughout the state that help connect people with their natural surroundings and better understand Vermont’s diverse wildlife population. The Green Mountain Audubon Nature Center in Huntington does just that, and this Saturday will mark its 40th anniversary with a celebration featuring live bird demonstrations, nature walks, special prize giveaways and more.
VPR News

September 7, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: the St. Johnsbury Select Board schedules a hearing on charges against Police Chief Paul Devenger; a disabled man is rescued after falling into Huntington Gorge; the Vermont League of Cities and Towns releases notices to candidates for public office this year, about its position on state issues; Entergy Nuclear files its application with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to boost power by 20 percent at Vermont Yankee; more….
VPR News

Fletcher Allen cuts management jobs

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The state’s largest hospital is cutting 30 management jobs as part of a sweeping reorganization plan. The shake-up requires current employees to reapply for jobs as some positions have been changed or eliminated.
VPR News

Douglas wants to study NH drug reimportation plan

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Governor Jim Douglas wants to send a group of state officials to New Hampshire to study their new prescription drug reimportation plan. But it’s unlikely that the plan will be duplicated in Vermont because the federal Food and Drug Administration says the New Hampshire initiative is illegal, and Governor Douglas has said he will not break the law.
VPR News

State Parties Consider Drafting Requirements for Candidates

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The leadership of Vermont’s Progressive Party says it hopes to work with Republican officials this winter to implement some controls on who can run in a party’s primary election. The Progressives also have a short-term solution to the deal with a primary issue they face this year.
Commentary Series

Play Like a Girl

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With the Summer Olympics now having come to a close, commentator Cheryl Hanna reflects on the meaning of this year’s games and some gold medal victories.
Commentary Series

A Different Labor Day

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While family values were being hailed at the Republican National Convention this week, commentator Nils Daulaire attended a very different kind of gathering in London that puts Labor Day in a different light.
VPR News

Vermont National Guard Soldiers Return from Afghanistan

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Hundreds of family members and friends gathered Friday in South Burlington for the return of 50 Vermont National Guard soldiers. The unit was away from home for a year, and served much of that time in Afghanistan, where they helped train the Afghan National Army.
VPR News

Questions Continue in Case of Jailed Defense Attorney

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Vermont’s chief defense lawyer says a judge was wrong to jail an attorney this week for contempt of court. But Defender General Matthew Valerio says he has assigned new counsel in the case because he believes the defendant would not get a fair hearing if the court controversy continued.
VPR News

Towns, State Strapped for Road Repair Money

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Towns around Vermont this summer have had to make emergency road repairs after damage caused by heavy rains. And a state fund that usually helps pay for that was already smaller than usual when the fiscal year began July 1.
VPR News

September 3, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: 50 Vermont Army National Guard soldiers return from Afghanistan today; James Haslam, director of the Vermont Workers’ Center in Montpelier, discusses new employment figures; recap of the Republican National Convention; a published report says that retiring state Senator John Bloomer has applied for the vacancy on the Vermont Supreme Court; a Corinth man who was jailed because of repeated problems with his marauding goats has been freed.
VPR News

Interview: Republican Convention Wraps Up in New York

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President Bush has spoken, the GOP faithful have reveled in the rally cry of “Four More Years,” and the city that never sleeps is looking forward to perhaps at least a short nap to recover from the hectic pace of life since the Republican National Convention came to town. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Skip Valley, the Vermont Republican Party’s National Committeman.
VPR News

Leahy Opponent Pushes 9/11 Conspiracy Theory

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There’s a little known contest in the race for U.S. Senate. Craig Hill from Montpelier is challenging Senator Patrick Leahy for the Democratic nomination. Hill says he’s running to publicize a widely discredited conspiracy theory about the September 11 terrorist attacks.
Switchboard

Workers’ Issues

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Steve Zind hosts a coversation on the political and economic issues that most concern Vermont workers. Join the conversation with economist Art Woolf and James Haslam of the Vermont Workers’ Center.
Commentary Series

Facts and Myth

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Dragnet’s Sergeant Friday used to want “Just the facts, Ma’am.” But a visit to a lighthouse in Maine reminded commentator Peter Gilbert of the importance of understanding not only facts, but stories and cultural myths as well.
VPR News

Interview: RNC Delegate Kate Purcell

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All this week VPR has provided reports from some of the Vermont delegates at the Republican National Convention in New York City. One of those delegates is Kate Purcell of South Burlington. VPR’s Bob Kinzel spoke with her about some of the key events of this convention week.
VPR News

Backstage with ‘Book Group’

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Thetford Vermont may seem a long way from Broadway, but for many years it’s been at the center of a vibrant regional theater community. The Eclipse Grange on Thetford Hill is home to the Parish Players and hosts a variety of independent productions. Currently the original comedy, “Book Group,” is making its debut there.
VPR News

September 2, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: a Vermont Army National Guard soldier wounded in Iraq this May has returned home; fifty other Vermont National Guardsmen return home tomorrow after serving a year in Afghanistan; candidates in statewide races are on the campaign trail today; federal funding for the Vermont State Hospital could be restored by the end of November; work crews in Coventry are still cleaning up after the Phish concert held there last month.
VPR News

Community Group Works for Suicide Awareness in Deerfield Valley

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Governor Jim Douglas has named September as Suicide Awareness and Prevention Month. Teenagers are especially at risk for suicide. It’s also a leading cause of death for teens and for young adults aged 24 to 35. A group in southern Vermont is working on the issue. Members say Vermont needs a statewide suicide prevention and education plan.
VPR News

‘Wreckage Begins with W’ – Interview with Jeff Danziger

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Political cartoonist Jeff Danziger has released a new book of cartoons called “Wreckage Begins With ‘W.'” Danziger was twice a Pulitzer finalist who got his start at the Times Argus and these days contributes a weekly cartoon to the Rutland Herald. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Danziger about the news book of cartoons.
Commentary Series

Swim Team

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Commentator Mary Barrosse Schwartz has been researching the effects of positive peer influences on middle aged people. Most of what she has found though, documents the effects of peer influence during the teen years – and most of that is negative.
VPR News

Jeffords, Leahy, Sanders Say Bush Concealing Radical Agenda

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As Republicans meet in New York for their national convention, Vermont’s congressional delegation is turning the spotlight on Bush administration policies that they say have harmed the state. The three-person delegation said Wednesday that President Bush has used moderate campaign rhetoric to conceal a radical conservative agenda.
VPR News

Dubie Supports Strategy, Platform of Republican Convention

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Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie is defending a decision to highlight the terrorist attacks of September 11 during the Republican National Convention. Dubie also says he generally supports a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage that’s included the Party’s platform.
VPR News

Interview: RNC Delegate Suzanne Butterfield

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All this week VPR is providing reports from some of the Vermont delegates at the Republican National Convention in New York City. One of those delegates is Suzanne Butterfield of Gaysville. Butterfield is an Environmental Commissioner in Windsor County and serves as the Secretary for the state Republican Party. VPR’s Bob Kinzel spoke with her about how her experience at the convention will affect her work for the Party in Vermont.
VPR News

‘Cruisers’ – Book Interview with Craig Nova

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The new novel “Cruisers,” by Putney author Craig Nova examines the hidden line between good and evil. The book tells two stories: one of a Vermont State Trooper whose gentle nature is at odds with the potential violence inherent in his daily life; the other story arc follows a lonely, dangerous drifter haunted by the murder of his mother. Neal Charnoff talks with the author about his book.
VPR News

September 1, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Vermont’s congressioanl delegation denounces Bush administration policies that they say are bad for the state; Democratic lieutenant gubernatorial candidates Cheryl Rivers and Jan Backus draw contrasts between their records; Vermont’s hospitals join a program to improve the quality of health care; regulators ask consumers to lookout for health insurance scams; authorities seize 150 pounds of marijuana in White River Junction; more….
VPR News

Interview: Medical Workers and Stolen Narcotics

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Law enforcement officials in Vermont say they’re dealing with a disturbing increase in drug-related crimes: health care workers stealing pain medications from their patients. Assistant Attorney General Linda Purdy heads the Medicaid fraud unit investigating these cases and she talks with Mitch Wertlieb about the problem.
Switchboard

Republican National Convention

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Host Bob Kinzel is joined by Jim Barnett, chair of the Vermont Republican Party, and Eric Davis, a political science professor at Middlebury College. They discuss the Republican National Convention in New York City, and take your calls.
VPR News

Online Sex Offender Registry Delayed

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It appears very likely that the start-up date for Vermont’s Internet sex offenders registry will be delayed for several months. A special legislative committee says more time is needed to write the rules and regulations for the registry.
VPR News

Interview: RNC Delegate Paul Carroccio

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All this week VPR is providing reports from some of the Vermont delegates at the Republican National Convention in New York City. One of those delegates is Paul Carroccio of Bondville. Carroccio is a member of Governor Jim Douglas’ council of economic advisors and he’s attending his first national convention. VPR’s Bob Kinzel spoke with Carroccio about some of the key economic issues in this year’s presidential race.
VPR News

Emergency Teams Assess Flood Damage Across State

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Federal Emergency Management teams are totaling up the damage across Vermont caused by flooding over the last few days. The teams started work in Bristol and New Haven, two areas hard hit by flooding from heavy downpours over the weekend.
VPR News

Parke Blames Sanders for 9/11 Attacks

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Republican congressional candidate Greg Parke says Congressman Bernie Sanders is partially to blame for the terrorist attacks of September 11. The Sanders camp is dismissing the claim, which a spokesman says is evidence of Parke’s political extremism.
VPR News

Judge Jails Disruptive Public Defender

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A public defender was jailed after causing a disruption in Vermont District Court in Middlebury on Monday. Lorin Duckman was held in contempt of court by Judge Helen Toor after he would not stop interrupting her during a sentencing hearing.
VPR News

August 31, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Republican congressional candidate Greg Parke blames the 9/11 terrorist attacks on Congressman Bernie Sanders and others who voted to cut the intelligence budget; the state halts construction of a Lowe’s Home Improvement Center in South Burlington; the yield on the grass crops this summer is expected to make up for the corn crop shortfall caused by rain; the state works on a deal to export agricultural products to Cuba; more….
VPR News

Advocates Say Mental Health Care System Still Faces Crisis

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Last winter, Vermont community mental health providers warned of disastrous cuts in services without a five percent increase in pay for mental health workers. The state budget passed by the legislature included an increase of under three percent. Mental health advocates say that will only buy time to delay an impending crisis in the state’s community mental health care system.
VPR News

VPIRG Issues Own Proposal for State Energy Plan

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The Vermont Public Research Interest Group is releasing a 20 year state energy plan on Monday that calls for a much greater emphasis on conservation programs and renewable energy sources. Public Service Department Commissioner David O’Brien dismissed the proposal as a political document that contains misleading information.
VPR News

Interview: Women’s Writing Program

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A unique kind of writing center opens its doors today in Williston: a weekly class for women that supports an environment for sustaining the practice of writing and encouraging each individual’s own growth of the craft. Poet Sarah Bartlett of Jericho is facilitating the class, which is based on an established program in Cincinnati called “Women Writing for a Change.” Mitch Wertlieb talks with Bartlett about the program.
VPR News

One Pie’s Journey to the Fair

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It’s fair season in Vermont – both the Caledonia County Fair and the Champlain Valley Exposition are underway this weekend, and the Vermont State Fair begins next week. And for as long as there have been fairs, there have been blue ribbons for the best pies.
VPR News

Interview: Vermont RNC Delegate Jack Lindley

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All this week, VPR will provide reports from some of the Vermont delegates at the Republican National Convention in New York City. One of those delegates is Jack Lindley of Montpelier. This year marks the fifth time that he’s been a delegate to the GOP National Convention. VPR’s Bob Kinzel spoke with Lindley about some of the key issues facing the Republicans this fall.
VPR News

Flooding Damages Homes in Addison County

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State highway crews say that Routes 116 and 17 are open in Bristol. The roads were closed Saturday night due to flooding in Bristol and New Haven. State emergency officials say as many as 85 homes have reported damage from the flooding.
VPR News

Moose Befriends Horse in Groton

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A yearling female moose and a 20-year-old horse have become pals at a farm just outside Groton village. The two docile animals have apparently bonded, much to the delight of scads of tourists who come by to observe or yell, clap, honk horns and sing.
VPR News

August 30, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: 18 Vermonters are at the Republican National Convention; Governor Jim Douglas signs an executive order creating an entity that manages child care and early education; Burlington Mayor Peter Clavelle campaigns Rutland; Vermont’s tourism seem to be holding steady, despite a rainy summer; a Brattleboro a committee begins a study of whether to create a civilian police review board; Senator Patrick Leahy tours flood damage in Addison County.
VPR News

Charter One Banks to be Renamed Citizens Bank

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Citizens Bank plans to rename the 27 Charter One Bank branches it’s buying in Vermont. The Rhode Island company also announced it’s appointing an executive to head operations in Vermont.
VPR News

August 27, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: a Water Resources Board ruling finds the construction of a Lowe’s Home Center in violation of the Federal Clean Water Act; two nuclear industry critics argue there’s no proof the Vermont Yankee plant was in compliance with general design requirements set in 1967; Chad Pergram reports on an effort in the Senate to mandate stronger enforcement of mercury pollution standards; more…
VPR News

Interview: Vermont’s History in Postcards

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An exhibit on display this summer explores Vermont’s beauty and cultural history through postcards. “Whish You Were Here: Vermont Postcards” is on view through September 19 at UVM’s Fleming Museum in Burlington. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Alan Davis, whose book on the Vermont Postcards helped shape the exhibit.
Commentary Series

Gold Fever

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Commentator Willem Lange has occasionally felt the urge that motivated the gold stampede of 1898. But then he remembers that the real gold is right in the hills of home.
VPR News

Commission Recommends Releasing Hundreds of Inmates

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A special commission on prison overcrowding is recommending that several hundred non-violent inmates be released from jail and placed under the control of a community-based corrections program. The report concludes that the state will have to build another major correctional facility if this and other steps are not adopted soon.
VPR News

Median Income Increases Slightly

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Vermont’s median household income is inching up and closing the gap slightly with the national average. That’s according to newly released data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
VPR News

Sale of Facilities Marks of End of Apple Co-op

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A group of investors has bought the warehouse and processing building that once housed the Shoreham Cooperative Apple Producers Association. The sale marks the end of the long history of the cooperative, whose membership has declined along with the orchard industry in the Champlain Valley.
VPR News

Bank Robbery Suspect Caught

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Police have caught up with a New Hampshire robbery suspect who led officers on a three-hour chase in Vermont and escaped while being treated at a hospital.
VPR News

August 26, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Canada’s TD Bank Financial Group is taking a controlling stake in Banknorth; one of two Democratic candidates for lieutenant governor is endorsed by an abortion rights organization; Governor Jim Douglas visits the offices of the Vermont Student Assistance Corporation; former Dartmouth College President David McLaughlin has died at 72; this afternoon the state will release a study of over-crowding in the Vermont prison system; more….
Switchboard

Modern Iran

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VPR airs "Iran Journal" – Steve Zind’s story about his recent trip to Iran. Steve also talks with journalist Afshin Molavi, author of "Persian Pilgrimages." Learn more about Iran Journal and see Steve Zind’s pictures.
Commentary Series

Richmond’s Monitor Barn

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Vermont’s past and its present have been deeply influenced by our farming heritage. Commentator Tom Slayton has some thoughts on a particular barn that is very much a part of that heritage.
Commentary Series

Summer Camp Memories

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It’s nearly summer’s end and tired campers are packing up their gear and heading for home – taking lots of memories with them – like those of commentator Ted Levin.
VPR News

August 25, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Burlington Mayor Peter Clavelle delivers what his gubernatorial campaign staff calls a major economic policy speech; this morning Governor Jim Douglas called on the Legislature to create another step in the process of releasing convicted sex offenders from prison; a Brattleboro committee formed to study a police review commission is being criticized; Vermont Senators Jim Jeffords and Patrick Leahy propose a mercury pollution program.
VPR News

VPIRG Downgrades State’s Rating on Mercury Policy

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A Vermont consumer advocacy group says the state is slipping in efforts to cut down on mercury contamination. In its annual report card, the Vermont Public Interest Research Group called on the state to adopt a comprehensive program to prevent mercury contamination.
VPR News

Leahy, Jeffords Concerned about Mercury Pollution

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Vermont Senators Patrick Leahy and Jim Jeffords are concerned about federal standards to regulate mercury pollution. The senators looked at the issue as part of a symposium sponsored by the Senate Democratic Policy Committee in Washington.
VPR News

Interview: Psychologists Track Trends in Civil Unions

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Three years ago, when civil unions first became legal in Vermont, two University of Vermont psychologists conducted a demographic study of gay and lesbian couples joined by the ceremonies. More than 300 same-sex couples shared their views on monogamy, religion, childrearing and other topics, and now a follow-up study is being conducted to find out what’s changed since the couples exchanged vows. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Esther Rothblum, one of the psychologists conducting the studies.
VPR News

Advocate Says Youth Sports Coaches Should be Certified

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Community youth sports organizations should require all of their coaches to take certification courses before allowing these individuals to participate in any local programs. That’s the opinion of Fred Engh who’s the founder of the National Alliance for Youth Sports.
VPR News

Douglas Won’t Attend Entire GOP Convention

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Governor Jim Douglas says he’s not expecting to spend a lot of time at next week’s Republican National Convention in New York City. Democrats say that’s because Douglas doesn’t want to be associated with President Bush, but Douglas says it’s because he has more important things to do in Vermont.
VPR News

Amber Alert Network Expands to Lottery Terminals

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State officials have a new weapon in their battle to apprehend individuals who are suspected of abducting young children. Beginning this week, hundreds of Vermont lottery terminals will be added to the state’s Amber Alert notification system.
VPR News

Rockingham Near Agreement on Electricity Distribution

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The town of Rockingham and Green Mountain Power are close to an agreement on use of the community’s electric distribution system. The deal would enable Rockingham to transmit power from the Bellows Falls hydroelectric dam if it’s sold.
VPR News

August 24, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: a third Republican announces candidacy for Attorney General; lottery sales outlet will participate in the Amber Alert program; Ralph Nader is likely to qualify for the Vermont ballot; West Rutland’s water system will be upgraded, thanks to a federal grant.
VPR News

Interview: Vermont Greens Break with Party to Support Nader

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Earlier this summer, the National Green Party endorsed David Cobb as its presidential candidate, a move that apparently isn’t sitting well with the Vermont Green Party’s steering committee. A majority of that committee voted earlier this month to break with the national party and endorse a resolution to nominate Ralph Nader as the Vermont Green Party’s candidate instead of Cobb. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Craig Chevrier about the state party’s decision.
VPR News

Apple Crop May Thrive After Wet Summer

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This summer’s wet, cool weather has made for a difficult growing season for some Vermont crops. But the state’s apple growers aren’t complaining. They’re hoping for some sunshine in the next few weeks to put the finishing touches on a good crop of Vermont apples.
VPR News

Housing Crunch Keeps Some Inmates in Prison Longer

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Tight housing and job markets are making it difficult for some inmates at Vermont’s prisons to go free. Corrections Commissioner Steve Gold says 132 prisoners across the state would be released if they could locate housing.
VPR News

August 23, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the state at the noon hour: the state Transportation Agency says it’s sending a $35,000 clean-up bill to promoters of the Phish concert; at this hour, Senator Jim Jeffords is a guest at the Burnham Library Bookmobile; UVM’s Proctor Maple Research Center is going to recommend that sugarmakers increase production by fertilizing maple trees with calcium or other minerals; a footwear factory in Claremont, New Hampshire, will be closing September 22.
VPR News

Impact of Early Voting Option on Elections

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The voting process for Vermont’s September primary election is now officially under way. Individuals may use the early ballot system to cast their vote anytime in the next three weeks and it’s expected that at least 20 percent of all voters will use this process for the November General Election.
VPR News

Interview: Underground Railroad and the Rokeby Museum

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Recent discoveries of documents and historic sites have generated a wealth of new information about the history of the nation’s Underground Railroad – a network of anti-slavery advocates who provided refuge for African-Americans who had escaped captivity in pre-civil war America. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Jane Williamson, director of the Rokeby Museum in Ferrisburgh, about Vermont’s role in helping slaves to freedom.
Commentary Series

Genius of James Boswell

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Summer is drawing rapidly to a close, taking with it the time for summer reading. Commentator Philip Baruth has a last-ditch recommendation – a book written almost 250 years ago, by a 22-year-old Scotsman named James Boswell.
VPR News

New Hampshire gives positive report on Canadian mail order drug company

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Safety is one of the key issues in Vermont’s legal challenge to a federal ban on Canadian drug imports. The government and the pharmaceutical lobby say there’s a serious risk to the public. But New Hampshire studied one Canadian pharmacy and found that it met high standards of safety and quality. Now, the Douglas administration wants to learn more about New Hampshire’s experience.
VPR News

Drop in visits to state parks creates budget pressure

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Visits to the state parks in Vermont are down by as much as 25 percent this year, a drop that the parks department blames on the cool, wet weather that has dominated the summer. State Park budgets are derived from user fees, and there’s been talk about raising those fees to make up the shortfall.
VPR News

Cancer center approved for St. Johnsbury

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Planners in St. Johnsbury have given their approval for a proposed $8 million cancer center to be located in the former Ames department store building. The North Country Oncology Center is a joint venture between Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital and Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.
VPR News

New generation of Von Trapp singers release album

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A new generation of Von Trapps is carrying on an old family tradition. Four siblings of the singing famil, which settled in Vermont after they escaped the Nazis and performed across the U.S., have a new album.
VPR News

August 20, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: concerns are raised over drinking water from areas of Lake Champlain affected by blue-green algae; a union contract was ratified last night by workers at the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant; the state has formally filed a lawsuit over re-importing prescription drugs from Canada; visits to the state parks in Vermont are down by as much as 25 percent this year; more….
VPR News

Former New York Mayor Addresses Vermont Emergency Responders

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As workers at Vermont Yankee voted to approve their new contract Thursday, the plant’s owner, Entergy, was hosting a dinner in Brattleboro for emergency responders. The main speaker was Rudolf Giuliani. The former New York Mayor is using the lessons of 9/11 to reinforce the importance of anticipating the unexpected.
VPR News

Interview: Julia Child’s Culinary Legacy

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One week ago today one of the world’s best-known culinary personalities died, just a few days shy of her 92nd birthday. Julia Child was admired by and influenced generations of chefs, including Michel LeBorgne, who was a friend of Child’s. Michel LeBorgne is the founding chef instructor at the New England Culinary Institute, and he talks with Mitch Wertlieb about Child.
Commentary Series

Too Many Frogs

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Commentator Willem Lange and his wife recently had the children and grandchildren at home for a few days, and discovered that, like old rubber bands, they’ve lost their snap.
Switchboard

Box Store Debate

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Steve Zind guests are developer Jeff Davis and Steve Holmes of the Vermont Natural Resources Council. They’ll discuss the impact big box stores have on downtown businesses, the state’s landscape and the economy.
VPR News

Interview: Court Rules on State’s Campaign Finance Law

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The Second Circuit Court of Appeals handed down an important decision this week that essentially upholds a key provision of Vermont’s campaign finance reform law that limits spending in political campaigns. One person who’s been examining the impact of this ruling is Montpelier attorney Paul Gillies, who served as deputy secretary of state from 1981 to 1992. Bob Kinzel talks with Gillies about the court’s decision.
VPR News

Vermont Unemployment Rate Holds Steady at 3.4 Percent

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Vermont’s unemployment rate is holding steady. The percentage of Vermont’s work force that was unemployed last month was 3.4 percent, the same rate as June. The Department of Employment and Training says the Vermont rate compares with a national rate of 4.6 percent.
VPR News

Gay Couples Will Appeal MA Court Decision

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Out-of-state gay couples will appeal a Massachusetts court decision that upholds a 1913 law being used to block their marriages. The couples wanted the court to put an immediate halt to enforcement of the law.
VPR News

Deceased Man Found at Phish Concert Identified

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Vermont State police have identified the man who was found dead in a tent at the end of last weekend’s Phish festival concerts. State police say a fingerprint comparison confirmed that the man was 25-year-old Ian Niles Gardiner, of Bristol, Connecticut.
Commentary Series

Going Home Again

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Commentator Caleb Daniloff recently combined those two summer staples – the trip and the reunion – with results that managed to be both predictable and surprising at the same time.
VPR News

Court ruling on state campaign spending limits

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A federal appeals court has ruled that it may be constitutional for the state of Vermont to impose spending limits on political campaigns. The court returned the case to Judge William Sessions to decide if an overall limit on spending is the best way to reduce corruption in politics.
VPR News

August 18, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Railroad right-of-way issues are blamed for scuttling a deal to turn the old Pownal race track into a mix of commercial residential and recreational spaces; blue-green algae in Lake Champlain; Phish fans turned away can get refunds; Lebanon NH businesses protest methadone clinic; Bernie Sanders talks with Vermont Yankee union workers facing tomorrow’s strike deadline; gubernatorial campaigning.
VPR News

VT Youth Conservation Corps restores historic barn

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The reconstruction of a 100-year old barn in Richmond moves one step closer to completion tomorrow. The historic West Monitor barn – slated to be the new home for the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps by the spring of next year – will be adorned with a cupola atop the uppermost roof as part of an afternoon ceremony.
VPR News

Sanders speaks on possible VT Yankee strike

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Congressman Bernie Sanders is speaking out on the looming strike at Vermont Yankee. Last night in Putney, more than a dozen unionized Vermont Yankee workers turned out for a Sanders campaign event.
Commentary Series

Personal Trainer

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Whether it’s at the Olympics or the local gym, atheletes benefit from motivational support. Commentator Mary Barrosse Schwartz thinks that having a personal coach might be helpful in other aspects of life as well.
Switchboard

Lake Champlain

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Art Cohn of the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum joins Steve Zind Tuesday on Switchboard. They’ll talk about the lake’s history and the efforts underway to preserve it. Join them with your calls, Tuesday evening at 7 on Switchboard here on Vermont Public Radio.
VPR News

Fatal crash after Phish concert

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One man died and four others were injured in a traffic crash in Maine involving someone returning from the Phish concert in Vermont.
VPR News

Phish trash left behind after concert

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The tens of thousands of fans who descended on Coventry last week left garbage along roads leading to the concert, including the two major routes to the show, Interstate 91 and US Route 5.
VPR News

Douglas and Clavelle on the campaign trail

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Both Governor Jim Douglas and his Democratic challenger Peter Clavelle are often on the road these days talking one-on-one with voters. Their styles are different, but the fundamental approach is the same. By meeting with small groups, the candidates hear what’s on people’s minds, and they offer their own prescription for change.
VPR News

Elder care mediation video

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Decisions about how best to care for an aging relative are some of the most difficult any family member will ever make. The discussions between family members involved can often break down into conflict and emotional outbursts that eventually end up in court. Hoping to avoid that scenario, the Vermont Department of Aging and Independent Living and Woodbury College have produced an educational video on Elder Care Mediation.
Commentary Series

August in Vermont

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Today Ruth Page takes us for an August walk along a quiet road in Shelburne, to enjoy clouds and flowers, and summer’s full artist’s palette against a quiet gray background.
VPR News

Vermont Yankee faces a possible strike this week

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The union that represents 140 Vermont Yankee workers says the two sides are far apart as a strike deadline looms later this week. A union official says that Entergy-Vermont Yankee cannot run the plant safely if the workers walk off their jobs. But the company says that experienced management personnel are ready to step in if a strike is called.
VPR News

Phish wraps up its last ever concert in Coventry

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After enduring massive traffic jams, torrential rain and mud that led organizers to turn ticket holders away, an estimated 65,000 fans of the Vermont band Phish enjoyed good weather for the band’s final concerts. VPR’s Steve Zind reports from Coventry.
VPR News

Section 8 cuts may increase homelessness

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This spring, the Bush administration announced cuts to a federal housing voucher program known as Section 8 that helps families and individuals on low incomes pay their rent each month. Today, the Directors of Homelessness task forces in Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire are sending a letter to Federal Housing officials warning that the Section 8 cuts will lead directly to an increase in homelessness.
VPR News

Nonmotorized lawnmowers making a comeback

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Mowing the lawn is one summer chore that never seems to go away. Modern technology has made the job easier but not necessarily more pleasant, which is why, in some quarters, the old fashioned push mower is making a comeback.
Commentary Series

American Dialects

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Munch a hoagie by the bubbler? American English retains a surprising diversity, despite the influence of the mass media. Commentator Allen Gilbert reports on the findings of a Harvard linguist.
VPR News

Update on the scene at the Phish concert grounds

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Today is the day for music at the Phish concert in Coventry, but due to the weather, organizers have closed the gates to the events and are turning back remaining ticket holders. VPR’s Steve Zind joins us from the scene for an update…
VPR News

August 13, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Rain is slowing but not depressing an expected crowd of 70,000, now arriving at the Coventry site of this weekend’s Phish concert; the remnants of two tropical storms are expected this weekend; Middlebury College’s commencement speaker for its summer language program is Edward Djerejian, a veteran diplomat fluent in five languages; two suspended VT prison superintendents have been offered state jobs in other agencies.
VPR News

Bennington Battle Day

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Bennington Battle Day is Monday. The anniversary of the Revolutionary War battle is a state holiday in Vermont, but it’s observed primarily in Bennington, where Battle Day is a bigger holiday than the Fourth of July. The town has dozens of events planned, and a new exhibit at the Bennington museum should illuminate the source of the celebration.
Commentary Series

Megaboomers

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As thousands of the young at heart flock to Vermont for the Phish farewell concert, commentator Nils Daulaire reflects on youth in today’s world.
VPR News

Backstage: ‘A Moon for the Misbegotten’

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Eugene O’Neill’s final play is being produced at the Adamant Music School. “A Moon for The Misbegotten” is considered by many to be a sequel to O’Neill’s highly autobiographical “Long Day’s Journey Into Night”. VPR’s Neal Charnoff goes Backstage at Quarryworks.
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Legacy of Phish

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Neal Charnoff’s guest is Barry Smolin, a musician and longtime host of the jamband show "The Music Never Stops" in Los Angeles. They discuss what has attracted Phish’s dedicated following and why their music has endured. Hear live reports from the concert grounds and comments from listeners.
VPR News

Swanton meat packing plant closes

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The meat packing plant in Swanton is closed again. Green Mountain Packing, which was formerly known as Swanton Packing, was the only slaughterhouse in Franklin County.
VPR News

Vermont plans to challenge FDA ban on drug imports

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The Food and Drug Administration says it rejected Vermont’s plan to import drugs from Canada in order to protect public health and safety. Vermont plans to go to court to overturn the FDA ban on drug imports, but a top FDA official says the federal government will defend the agency’s decision.
VPR News

Stellafane Annual Telescope Convention

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Some of the most astute and passionate star-gazers in the country will gather tomorrow for the 69th annual Convention of Amateur Telescope Makers at Breezy Hill in Springfield, Vermont. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Brad Vietje, the President of Springfield Telescope Makers, which is sponsoring the convention.
VPR News

August 12, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: By the weekend tiny Coventry will be Vermont’s biggest town; health commissioner says a recent federal inspection of the state hospital produced an “almost perfect” score; health department launches a campaign to create a smoke-free zone around all Vermont children; VT Atty Gen William Sorrell says drug company will pay the state hundreds of thousands of dollars in penalties for misrepresenting the cost of its allergy drug Claritin.
VPR News

Grant awarded to build rural fiber optic network

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Northern Enterprises of St. Albans and Vermont Electric Cooperative of Johnson will receive a $2 million grant to help build a fiber optic broadband telecommunications network in rural Northern Vermont.
VPR News

Blue Cross and Blue Shield Rate Increase

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Although hospital budgets are on the rise again, the state’s major health insurance company says it won’t have to raise rates as much as it has in recent years. Blue Cross and Blue Shield says hospital costs are a major factor in setting health insurance premiums. But the company says it’s managed to control cost pressures in other areas.
Switchboard

Middle East Politics

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Steve Zind is joined by UVM professor Gregory Gause. They discuss the impact the Iraq war has had on neighboring Middle East states and take your calls.
VPR News

State to Sue Over Federal Ban on Drug Re-importation

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The state of Vermont will go to court to challenge a federal ban on drug imports from Canada. Vermont had sought a waiver from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to allow a pilot re-importation plan. But the FDA rejected the proposal.
VPR News

Douglas Launches Radio Ads for Gubernatorial Campaign

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A series of radio ads touting Governor Jim Douglas’ record are beginning to air around the state. Douglas’ campaign is timing the commercials to coincide with a statewide political tour the governor started Monday.
VPR News

New Doctors’ Offices Open at Dartmouth-Hitchcock

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Patients at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center are in Lebanon, New Hampshire are visiting doctors in a brand-new building Tuesday. The center’s new Doctors’ Office Building has 17 clinics and opened Monday. Doctors have twice the space they did before with this new building.
VPR News

Some Northeast Kingdom Businesses Close for Phish

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Several Northeast Kingdom businesses are heeding the warning about traffic from this weekend’s Phish concert. The Ethan Allen furniture plant in Orleans and the Columbia Forest Products plant will be closed on Friday.
VPR News

August 10, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: 200 members of the Vermont Air Guard return home; Fletcher Allen Health Care now has state approval to build a 28-bed psychiatric facility; property tax bills reflect new changes in the education funding law; the Vermont Pure bottled water company has purchased two distributors; gubernatorial candidates are on the campaign trail; the legislative oversight committee on prisons spent the morning at the new Springfield prison.
VPR News

Whiffle Ball at Little Fenway

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Fenway Park holds a special place in the heart of a Red Sox fan. So much so, that one fan built a painstakingly detailed replica in his back yard. Last season, Pat O’Connor invited Mitch Wertlieb on a tour of this Essex whiffle ball landmark.
VPR News

Services for General Cram to be Held Tuesday

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The funeral service for Major General Reginald Cram – the leader of the Vermont National Guard from 1967 until 1981 – will be held Tuesday in Burlington. General Cram died on Friday.
VPR News

August 9, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: UVM and the Vermont Captive Insurance Association announce the launch of a training program for industry employees; Burlington residents might vote on a one-cent tax for a land conservation fund; a documentary about the Fox News Network will be screened tonight in Brattleboro; a funeral service for former Vermont Adjutant General Reginald Cram will be held Tuesday in Burlington; more….
VPR News

State Releases New Draft of Energy Plan

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The draft of a new state energy plan says Vermont needs to reduce consumption and find new power supplies in the years ahead. The plan places a greater emphasis on conservation and renewable energy than an earlier version. But environmentalists say it still doesn’t go far enough.
VPR News

August 6, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: the Vermont NEA announces the candidates it’s supporting in the November election; in Washington, the formula for distributing homeland security money is under scrutiny and may affect Vermont’s allocation of funds; a new report says Vermont has one of the highest rates of illegal drug use in the country; Fish and Wildlife officials say the eagle chicks released at Dead Creek are now independent.
VPR News

Vermont Diocese Prepares for Bishop’s Retirement

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Vermont Bishop Kenneth Angell may be entering his last year as head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington. A year from now, he will be required to tender his resignation. Vermont Catholics may learn who their next bishop is even before Angell steps down.
VPR News

Interview: Changes in Forest Management Policy

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Just before he left office, President Clinton signed a law that put some 60 million acres of forest in the United States under federal control and off-limits to logging. Now President Bush is proposing to change those rules and give local control of those areas to the states where they’re located. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Dr. James Harding of Green Mountain College about the proposed changes.
Commentary Series

Watergate Aniversary

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Thirty years ago August 9th, President Richard Nixon resigned. It was an unprecedented event in American history, and the culmination of an event-filled summer. Commentator Peter Gilbert remembers.
Commentary Series

New Ideas

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New ways of thinking about old problems are being explored in some surprising places, and commentator Nick Boke suggests that we may have some catching up to do.
Switchboard

Vermont Geology

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Steve Zind and his guests talk about the rocks, minerals and mountains that shape Vermont. State Geologist Larry Becker and Gregory Walsh of the U.S. Geological Surveyand take your calls Thursday evening on Switchboard.
VPR News

Douglas Tones Down Rhetoric Against Clavelle

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Republican Governor Jim Douglas has backed away from attacks his party made against Democratic gubernatorial candidate Peter Clavelle. Republican Party officials had charged that Clavelle’s support for the Nicaraguan Sandinistas 15 years ago was evidence that the Democrat is extremist.
VPR News

Dubie Cancels Campaign Event at Military Benefit Concert

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Republican Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie is canceling plans for a fundraiser that was to precede a benefit concert for the families of Vermont service members. Dubie says he wants the attention at the August 14 event to stay focused on the families.
VPR News

Group Advocates Against Judicial Retention

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A group has formed to lobby against the reappointment of Vermont Supreme Court Justices. Citizens Alliance for Judicial Accountability says it wants legislative candidates to discuss whether they think justices should be retained.
VPR News

August 5, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: an organization is launched that seeks to remove Supreme Court Justices who passed the Baker decision that led to the Vermont Civil Unions law; update and analysis of the gubernatorial race; Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie has cancelled plans for a fundraiser before a benefit concert for the families of Vermont service members.
VPR News

Interview: State Emergency Response Drill

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How would Vermont deal with the sudden outbreak of a deadly infectious disease, a severe natural disaster, or even an act of nuclear terrorism? Public health officials hope they have a better idea of how to handle such crises following the conclusion Wednesday of “Operation Red Clover,” a three-day drill designed to test the state’s emergency response capabilities. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Health Commissioner Dr. Paul Jarris about the results of the drill.
VPR News

Demand for Arabic Studies Increases at Middlebury Language School

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For nearly 90 years, Middlebury College has offered summer language courses. Over the years, the offerings have been driven by economic and political concerns. When the Cold War was at its peak, many people came to learn Russian. When the economy of the Far East was booming, Japanese was popular. Lately, there’s been a dramatic increase in the number of people who want to learn Arabic.
Commentary Series

Curious Footprints

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Commentator Joe Citro says that if you want a really good legend, take a scenic spot in Vermont, throw in a mystery plus a love story for good measure and stir.
VPR News

McMullen Campaign Ads Accuse Leahy of Incivility

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Republican Senate candidate Jack McMullen blames incumbent Senator Patrick Leahy for costing Vermont jobs and for adding to the atmosphere of incivility in Washington. McMullen makes the charges in a series of radio ads that were launched this week.
VPR News

August 4, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Republican Senate candidate Jack McMullen launches a pair of campaign ads aimed at incumbent Patrick Leahy; this weekend in Vermont is a sales tax holiday for computer sales; promoters of next week’s Phish concert are renting out a local radio station to provide updates on traffic and to broadcast the concert; a Whitingham man has been ordered to repay Medicaid money he stole from a nonprofit organization he once directed.
VPR News

Vermont Marine Prepares for Return to Iraq

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Among the first troops to enter Iraq when the war began sixteen months ago was a young Vermont Marine named Asa Keefe. Keefe spent seven months in Iraq, now he’s about to go back. Recently he reflected on his war experience and the prospect of returning to Iraq later this month.
VPR News

CVPS Offers ‘Cow Power’ Renewable Energy

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Vermont’s largest power company has won approval to have dairy farmers generate energy from cow manure and sell it back to the power grid. Central Vermont Public Service hopes to sign up farmers to build generators on their property and go into the power business on a small scale.
Commentary Series

Women’s Wrestling at the Olympics

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Commentator Helen Labun is looking forward to the summer Olympics. She has a special interest in the American wrestler Patricia Miranda, who hopes to bring home a gold medal this year as women compete for the first time in the wrestling events.
Switchboard

Journalist Tom Wicker

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Steve Zind is joined by veteran New York Times reporter Tom Wicker. Wicker has covered American politics and the press from the assination of President Kennedy to his recent book on George Herbert Walker Bush.
VPR News

Governor Douglas, Premier Charest Discuss Lake Champlain Cleanup

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Leaders from Quebec and Vermont say they’re working closely together on cross-border issues. Governor Jim Douglas and Quebec Premier Jean Charest met on Tuesday in Burlington. The officials said they’re committed to accelerating the clean-up of Lake Champlain, and to building greater economic ties between the two regions.
Commentary Series

Farewell to the Kingdom

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Commentator Jules Older has packed his bags; now he’s waving from the window and shouting a final farewell as the car pulls out of the drive.
VPR News

Democrats Criticize Dubie Campaign Fundraiser

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Vermont Democrats are upset that Republican Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie is linking a campaign fund raiser to a benefit for the families of Vermont military personnel. The Democrats say the August 14 concert at Saint Michael’s College on behalf of the Vermont Military Family Assistance Fund should be free of politics.
Commentary Series

Assault on Nature

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Commentator Ruth Page speaks up for protection of the West’s Rocky Mountain Front. That and the Arctic Wildlife Refuge are the only two fully pristine areas left in the United States, and she dreads oil drilling in either one.
VPR News

Dean to Guest-Host Cable Talk Show

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Howard Dean has agreed to take over the hosting duties for a television talk show this weekend. Dean is scheduled to host “Topic A With Tina Brown” Sunday on the CNBC cable network.
VPR News

August 3, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Quebec Premier Jean Charest and Governor Jim Douglas meet on the Burlington waterfront to discuss lake management; the state tries to control the cormorant population on Lake Champlain; a Maryland family claims to have spotted the legendary Lake Champlain monster; seven manufacturing and tourism-related businesses around Vermont are getting some help from the state’s economic development lending agency.
VPR News

State Attempts to Control Cormorant Population on Lake Champlain

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On Lake Champlain, one bird species is multiplying almost out of control. The double-crested cormorant was a rare visitor to the big lake just two decades ago. Now, almost 20,000 of the fish-eating birds are overrunning several islands and are pushing aside other bird species. The state began shooting cormorants this summer. But a leading biologist is concerned that this attempt at bird control could backfire.
VPR News

Police, Phish Management Meet with Coventry Residents

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In just over one week, 70,000 people will descend on the Northeast Kingdom community of Coventry for the final show by the Vermont band Phish. The band has announced it’s breaking up after the two-day concert August 14-15. Monday night a standing room only crowd turned out in Coventry to hear how organizers plan to deal with the traffic and crowds the concert will draw.
VPR News

Interview: Impact of Dog River Chlorine Spill

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It may be some time before environmental officials can assess the total damage done to fish populations along a stretch of the Dog River, following a chlorine spill last week. The chemicals leaked into the river from the Northfield Sewage plant and an investigation into the cause is ongoing. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Patrick Berry, policy director of the Vermont Natural Resources Council about the incident.
Commentary Series

International AIDS Conference

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Last week, as all eyes were on Boston and the Democratic National Convention, commentator Nils Dauliare was in Bangkok for a very different kind of meeting.
VPR News

Gilman Paper Mill Re-opens

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For more than a century, the paper mill in the Northeast Kingdom town of Gilman has provided steady work for people on both sides of the Connecticut River. When the mill down shut after its owners declared bankruptcy, some feared it was closing for good. On Monday after a long wait, the plant reopened and 71 newly employed millworkers gathered to celebrate.
VPR News

VPIRG Advocates for Wind Projects on State Land

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An environmental group wants the Douglas administration to change its mind and allow large-scale wind turbines on state land. The Vermont Public Interest Research Group says 3,500 Vermonters have signed a petition that calls on the Agency of Natural Resources to support wind energy development.
VPR News

Military Thanks Employers of Active-Duty Soldiers

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Vermont National Guard officials took time today to thank the employers of citizen-soldiers who are serving on active duty. Under federal law, employers are required to give workers their jobs back when they return from duty.
VPR News

Dean Questions Timing of Terrorism Alert

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Former presidential candidate Howard Dean says he wonders about the timing of the latest terror alert. Dean says he’s concerned that every time something happens that’s not good for President Bush, he plays what Dean calls “this trump card” of terrorism.
VPR News

August 2, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Senator Patrick Leahy speaks to employers whose workers are on active duty with Vermont National Guard; Howard Dean questions the timing of the recent terrorism alert; VPIRG advocates for wind power projects on state land; Congressman Bernie Sanders testifies in London on Gulf War Syndrome; top Vermont officials tour the Mississquoi Bay Bridge construction.
VPR News

Clavelle Campaign Ties Douglas to Bush

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Democratic gubernatorial candidate Peter Clavelle hopes to link incumbent Republican Governor Jim Douglas to the Bush administration. Clavelle says the administration’s policies have been a disaster for Vermont. Douglas says it appears that Clavelle doesn’t have any substantial issues to raise in the campaign.
Commentary Series

Calvin Coolidge’s Oath

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As the celebration of the homestead inaugural of Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States, is once again held in Plymouth Notch this weekend, commentator Cyndy Bittinger reflects on the only woman to witness this important transfer of power
VPR News

Shelburne Marine Reservist Dies in Iraq

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A marine reservist who died in Iraq this week is being remembered as a quiet man who felt called to serve his country. Thirty-nine year old Lieutenant Colonel David Greene lived with his family in Shelburne.
VPR News

Evening Child Care Center Opens in Brattleboro

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Brattleboro Area Community Action has won funding to open Vermont’s first official evening child care center. Organizers expect the new center will help some people return to work or enter the workforce for the first time.
VPR News

July 30, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Fletcher Allen Health Care is launching a new initiative to recruit new nurses to the Burlington hospital; housing starts are strong in Vermont so far this year, and there’s been an improvement in job creation; a Stowe man is starting a national campaign called “Snowboarders for Kerry”; Vermont delegation at the Democratic National Convention; Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie shaves his head to support cancer patients.
VPR News

Interview: Vermont Delegation’s Impressions of DNC

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John Kerry has spoken, the colored balloons have dropped from the FleetCenter ceiling and Bostonians can now look forward to the return of city traffic that’s merely frustrating rather than nightmarish. The Democratic National Convention 2004 is now, as they say, history and one Vermonter who witnessed that history was Scudder Parker, chairman of the Democratic Party in Vermont and head of the Vermont delegation that spent the past week at the event.
VPR News

Douglas to Release Revised Energy Plan

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Governor Jim Douglas predicts the public will soon get to review Vermont’s draft energy plan. The 20-year energy plan will reflect the Douglas administration’s policy on issues such as energy conservation and future power supplies.
VPR News

Rental Cars and RVs Scarce in Lead Up to Phish Concert

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For Vermont businesses not in the immediate vicinity of Coventry, the impact of 70,000 people arriving for Phish’s farewell concert on August 14-15 may not have a dramatic affect. But car and RV rental companies are doing a booming business thanks to Phish fans from afar.
Switchboard

History of Political Conventions

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Steve Zind and his guests talk about how conventions have changed over the years and why. Join University of Vermont political science professors Garrison Nelson and Anthony Gierzynski with your calls.
VPR News

Interview: Youth Delegates at the Democratic Convention

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All this week, VPR has provided reports from some of the Vermont delegates at the Democratic National Convention in Boston. The youngest delegate is Jacob Crumbine, a Dartmouth College student from Norwich. VPR’s John Dillon spoke with him about his experience as a delegate and about how the Democrats plan to reach out to younger voters.
VPR News

Health Department Issues Warning on Blue-Green Algae

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The Vermont Department of Health has issued an alert for blue green algae in Lake Champlain’s Mississquoi Bay. Officials are warning people not to swim in areas where the algae is visible on the surface of the water, and to avoid drinking or showering with water from areas of the bay where the algae is present.
VPR News

Judge Approves Barre Public Safety Building

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Construction of a new public safety building in Barre has been given the go-ahead. Environmental Court Judge Meredith Wright attached some conditions to the project, particularly about parking.
VPR News

July 29, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: The Fish and Wildlife Department will issue stiffer penalties this fall for hunters who shoot deer from the road or from a vehicle; this afternoon in Springfield the Vermont Corrections Department holds its second public hearing on health care for prison inmates; a Bennington man with MS is finishing a cross-country bicycle trip; prison inmates grow organic produce for schools in the Windsor area.
VPR News

Interview: Deal Protects 88 Acres in Charlotte from Development

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A prominent stretch of land along Route 7 in Charlotte is now off limits to development projects following a joint effort by a group of Charlotte residents and local conservation groups. The deal protects 88 acres of land and has been dubbed the South Charlotte Greenbelt Project. Mitch Wertlieb talks with the executive director of one of the groups involved in the project, Kate Lampton of the Champlain Valley Greenbelt Alliance.
Commentary Series

Skier Visits

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A few years ago, while passing through the Atlanta airport, commentator Tim McQuiston noticed signs advertising several direct flights to Aspen Colorado – where apparently lots of Southern Belles were hitting the slopes.
VPR News

State Launches New Collaborative for International Trade

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The state announced a new program today for Vermont businesses seeking international markets for their products. Commerce Secretary Kevin Dorn says the new Vermont World Trade Office will replace the Vermont Global Trade Partnership, whose federal funding is coming to an end.
VPR News

More Police Monitor Construction Zone Traffic

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Drivers can expect to see more police at construction zones on Vermont’s highways and byways. The program coincides with public service announcements on television and radio aimed at increasing public awareness of work zone safety.
VPR News

Canal Schooner to Cross Lake for New York Visit

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A Vermont-built replica of a nineteenth century sailing ship will visit the New York side of Lake Champlain in late summer. The 80-foot “Lois McClure” was and is designed after mid-1800s canal schooners that sailed on Lake Champlain en route to and from the Hudson River.
VPR News

July 28, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Commerce Secretary Kevin Dorn announces a new program for Vermont businesses seeking international markets; drivers can expect to see more police at highway construction zones; Senator Patrick Leahy speaks this afternoon at the Democratic National Convention in Boston; Howard Dean spoke last night at the convention; the Department of Corrections is holding two public forums this week to discuss health care for Vermont inmates; more…
VPR News

Dean May Attract Youth Vote to Kerry Campaign

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According to Middlebury College political science professor Eric Davis, there’s no question that former governor Howard Dean can play an important role for the campaign of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry during the fall election.
VPR News

Interview: Vermont Center for Independent Living

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An organization dedicated to helping disabled people live their lives with independence and appropriate support in their own homes celebrates an anniversary today. The Vermont Center for Independent Living has been operating for 25 years. Mitch Wertlieb talks with the center’s executive director Deborah Lisi-Baker.
Switchboard

Democratic National Convention

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Host Bob Kinzel is joined by two Vermont delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Boston. They’ll discuss delegates’ responsibilities and Howard Dean’s role as a speaker at the convention, and take your calls.
Commentary Series

Paging Dick Cheney

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Recently Pat Leahy was on the receiving end of some unprintable comments from Vice President Dick Cheney. Today commentator Philip Baruth imagines that the vice president receives his come-uppance from the only woman in the world tougher than Cheney himself.
VPR News

Parke Criticizes Sanders’ Vote on Gay Marriage Bill

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Republican congressional candidate Greg Parke says he believes individual states should be allowed to develop their own approaches to the issue of gay marriage. Parke says he would have voted for a bill in the U.S. House last week that would have made it impossible for federal judges to rule on pertinent sections of the Defense of Marriage Act. Congressman Bernie Sanders says the bill is unconstitutional and sets a very dangerous legal precedent for the future.
VPR News

Construction Begins on Western Leg of Bypass

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Construction of the western leg of the Bennington Bypass highway project began on Monday. A contractor for the Vermont Agency of Transportation began clearing trees that surround what will soon be the ramps for the new highway.
VPR News

USGA Study Shows Decrease in Snowfall

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If you think it just doesn’t snow in Vermont like it used to, here’s some new evidence to back that claim up. A U.S. Geological Survey study has found that snowfall in New England has decreased in favor of rain during the last half century.
VPR News

July 27, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Howard Dean speaks to the Democratic National Convention tonight at 9 o’clock; the two leading gubernatorial candidates agree on a schedule of at least a half-dozen debates; the Manchester, New Hampshire airport is one of eight across the country that’s testing a new system for baggage screening; efforts to mediate a lawsuit by two member communities of the Mount Anthony Union school district seem to have broken down.
VPR News

Leahy Welcomes 9/11 Commission Recommendations

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Vermont Senator Patrick is among New England Democrats welcoming the bipartisan 9/11 Commission’s recommendations. But the question of whether safety is improving depends on what side of the political divide you’re on.
VPR News

Interview: Dean Urges His Delegates to Support Kerry

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All this week, VPR will provide reports from the Vermont delegates at the Democratic National Convention in Boston. One of those delegates is former Senate President Peter Shumlin of Putney. VPR’s Bob Kinzel spoke with him about a key decision that delegates who are pledged to former governor Howard Dean must make in the next few days.
Commentary Series

Invasive Plants

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Everyone loves the different wildlflowers that are blooming along roadsides this time of year, but commentary Charlie Nardozzi says that not all of them are harmless natives.
VPR News

July 26, 2004 – Midday Report

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Dartmouth Political Scientist Linda Fowler says New Hampshire is in play as a Presidential battleground state; Howard Dean’s Democracy for America is being asked for financial help by twelve Kentucky office-seekers; Dean and Senator Patrick Leahy will both address the Democratic National Convention; attendance down at Vermont state parks and campgrounds; Manchester’s Race for the Cure sets attendance records.
VPR News

Rain brings mosquitoes

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State officials say this year’s wet weather has resulted in a bumper crop of mosquitoes. But nothing compares to the infestation that occurred in several Vermont towns in July of 1989.
VPR News

Plattsburgh okays lakeside hotel

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Plattsburgh’s attempt to reshape its underused Lake Champlain waterfront took a step forward when the city council approved plans for an $11 million lakeside hotel.
VPR News

Montpelier I-89 exits closed

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Drivers to Montpelier are being advised that interstate exits will be closed temporarily this weekend for reconstruction work.
VPR News

Iran Journal, Part 5: Keeper of the Flame

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VPR’s Steve Zind went to Iran this spring in search of his family’s history. The journey took him to cities, villages, bazaars and mosques. The Iranians he met welcomed him warmly, talked with pride about their culture and spoke candidly about their dislike of their government. Today, the trail concludes in the city of Shiraz. It’s home to a 95-year-old family patriarch and a place to reflect on the country Steve Zind got to know while keeping this "Iran Journal."
VPR News

Interview: Regatta for Lake Champlain

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A benefit boat race to improve the quality of Lake Champlain gets underway Saturday morning at the Burlington waterfront. It’s a debut effort called the Regatta For Lake Champlain. VPR’s Mitch Wertlieb talks with the event’s organizer, Jamie Leopold.
Switchboard

Reading Habits and Trends

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Steve Zind and his guests talk about what Vermonters are reading and how tastes in books have changed. We’ll find out why non-fiction is so hot and the why so-called "chick-lit" is so popular. Steve’s guests are Bob Gray of the Northshire Bookstore in Manchester and Lynn Reed of Misty Valley Books in Chester.
Commentary Series

Believing in Lance

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For years, the Tour de France has been plagued by rumors about the widespread use of performance enhancing drugs, and as Lance Armstrong aims for an unprecedented sixth consecutive victory this weekend, commentator John Morton reflects on the latest charges.
VPR News

Release Date Unknown for Revised State Energy Plan

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The state is revising its 20 year energy plan but the document may not be released before Election Day. A top state official said earlier this month that the plan was being reviewed by the governor’s office and would be released soon. But now Public Service Commissioner David O’Brien says he can’t predict when the plan will be finished.
VPR News

Dean to Address Democratic National Convention Tuesday Evening

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Former Governor Howard Dean says he’ll use his speech at the Democratic National Convention next week to encourage the progressive base of the party to enthusiastically support John Kerry’s bid to become president. Dean also expects delegates pledged to him will unanimously support Kerry on the first round of voting at the Convention.
VPR News

Boston Convention May Boost Vermont Tourism

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Vermont tourism officials are hoping a “low-key” approach will lure harried Bostonians away from the city during the Democratic Convention. Vermont Tourism Commissioner Bruce Hyde says Vermont is relying on its strong brand recognition as a beautiful place to visit.
VPR News

Enrollment Up in Meals Program

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Enrollment has swelled in summer meal programs around Vermont. The Vermont Campaign to End Childhood Hunger says that a dozen years ago, only about 800 children took part in summer meal programs. By the end of last year, that number had risen to more than 5,000.
VPR News

Corinth Copper Mine Given Superfund Status

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A former copper mine in Corinth has been added to the federal priority list known as the Superfund list. The 216-acre site was home to Pike Hill Copper Mine. More than $9 million pounds of copper was mined there from 1847 until 1919.
VPR News

Iran Journal, Part 4: Making Friends

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Kings and shahs have tried to make Iran more worldly and western. Clerics have tried to make it more religious and isolated. Recently VPR’s Steve Zind traveled to Iran in search of family history. In Part Four of “Iran Journal,” he discovers that neither the approach of the shahs or the mullahs seems a perfect fit for the Iranian people.
Commentary Series

Birding Hot Spots

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Commentator Ted Levin says that late summer and fall is a great time to visit some of North America’s birding hot spots, as much for spectacular scenery as for birds.
VPR News

Vermont Joins Lawsuit Over Carbon Dioxide Emissions

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The state of Vermont has joined with seven other states in a lawsuit against five major power companies that emit large amounts of carbon dioxide. The lawsuit charges that the emissions are a significant contributor to global warming and that the emissions are affecting the health of citizens and the economies in the individual states.
VPR News

Clavelle Criticizes Douglas’ Health Care Policy

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Democratic gubernatorial candidate Peter Clavelle accused Republican Governor Jim Douglas on Wednesday of failing to show leadership on health care issues. But the Burlington mayor says he’ll wait until later in the campaign to offer details of his own health care plan.
VPR News

Dean Supporters Move Festival to Pittsfield, MA

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Supporters of Howard Dean’s presidential bid will gather this weekend in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Organizers moved the location of the two-day DemocracyFest to the Crown Plaza Hotel in downtown Pittsfield, instead of holding it at a ski area in nearby Great Barrington.
VPR News

St. Albans Caps Retail Construction at 50,000

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Town officials in St. Albans have passed an interim zoning bylaw that puts a cap of 50,000-square feet on new retail construction. An interim bylaw is good for two years and can only be extended for one additional year.
VPR News

Battery-Powered Toy in Cereal Boxes Worries VPIRG

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The Vermont Public Interest Research Group is taking on Spider Man. The non-profit group is trying to get the Kellogg’s cereal company to withdraw boxes of cereal containing a Spider-Man toy that has a mercury battery.
VPR News

July 21, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: gubernatorial challenger Peter Clavelle says incumbent Jim Douglas hasn’t acted to improve Vermont health care system; the VPIRG wants the Kellogg’s cereal company to withdraw boxes of cereal containing a Spider-Man toy that has a mercury battery;, a spat between the Dorset Select Board and the town’s clerk has spilled out into public view; Vermont National Guard updates the number of soldiers currently deployed.
VPR News

Iran Journal, Part 3: To Pari

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In the last generation there’s been a massive migration of people to Iran’s cities. Population loss, highways and electricity have changed some aspects of rural life in Iran, but many traditions continue. In Part Three of his “Iran Journal,” VPR’s Steve Zind travels into the countryside to see what remains of the village where his ancestors lived 300 years ago.
VPR News

Jeffords to Campaign for Democrats

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Senator Jim Jeffords says he believes the Democrats have a good opportunity to take back control of the U.S. Senate this fall. And Jeffords says he’ll actively campaign and raise money to help the Democrats achieve this goal.
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Senator Jim Jeffords

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Bob Kinzel hosts a conversation with Vermont Independent Senator Jim Jeffords. Jeffords has been vocal in his support for Democratic candidates and in his criticism of the Buash administration. They discuss the election season and take your calls.
Commentary Series

Sequoias

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America’s gigantic west coast sequoia trees survive in just four percent of their historic range. Commentator Ruth Page describes some of the wonders of their long lives.
VPR News

Historical Folk Songs Brought Back to Life

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In 1930, Springfield, Vermont’s Helen Hartness Flanders began a year-long project that stretched into a life’s work: collecting thousand of traditional songs from across Vermont and New England. Flanders, who died in 1972, hoped the songs she archived would continue to be heard. Now one of her descendants is honoring that wish.
VPR News

Winooski Ban Smoking in Bars

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Starting next month there will be no smoking in Winooski’s bars. The city council voted Monday night to ban smoking in those establishments.
VPR News

July 20, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Vermont is not following the national decline in housing starts; the town of Rockingham appears to be moving closer to a $72 purchase of the Bellows Falls hydroelectric station; Governor Jim Douglas is returning from the National Governors’ Conference in Seattle and heading to Portland, Maine, for vacation; the frequent and heavy July rainfall has put a damper on the state’s summer tourism season; more…
VPR News

Iran Journal, Part 2: Tehran

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City life in Iran is a pastiche of old traditions and youthful energy, tranquility and pandemonium. With a population of 12 million, Tehran is an assault on the senses, from the quiet, leafy parks to the raucous chaos of the streets, to the bazaars with their pungent herbs and colorful carpets. The imprint of Iran’s Islamic government is everywhere, but underneath lies a much older culture. VPR’s Steve Zind continues his search for his Iranian roots in Iran’s capital.
VPR News

Interview: VPR Launches New Classical Music Station

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Vermont Public Radio is in the unusual position of reporting on itself today as VPR introduces a new station. WNCH, 88.1 FM goes on the air full time for the first time Tuesday morning. Mitch Wertlieb talks with VPR President and General Manager Mark Vogelzang about the new station.
Commentary Series

Theme Gardens

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Visiting a public garden is a popular summertime activity and commentator Ron Krupp says that there are some unusual ones in our region.
VPR News

NRC Rules on Safety System at Vermont Yankee

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Federal nuclear regulators have assured the state that a key safety system at the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant will not be weakened if it produces more power. The state had raised questions last year about the pumps needed to cool the reactor in an emergency.
VPR News

Vermont Guard Deploys 10 Soldiers to Iraq

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Ten more Vermont National Guard soldiers are headed to Iraq. National Guard spokeswoman Veronica Saffo says the soldiers are replacements for casualties the Vermont Guard has suffered in Iraq.
VPR News

Missing Springfield Man Found Near Camp

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A Springfield man who had been lost in the woods around East Wallingford for two nights has been found. Vermont State Police say they searched through the night for 74-year-old Richard Wilson.
VPR News

July 19, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: today is the filing deadline for major party candidates to get their names on the ballot for the September primary; some Vermont communities are worried about landowners who have failed to file homestead declaration forms; a Londonderry woman has been ordered to resume paying restitution in a fraud case; the Vermont Alliance of Independent Country Stores is trying to protect the future of the traditional country store.
VPR News

Iran Journal, Part 1: Arrival

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For many Americans, the Islamic Republic of Iran conjures images of a hard-line theocracy at bitter odds with our own government. VPR’s Steve Zind is descended from an eighteenth century dynasty that ruled Iran, so he went in search of his family history. In the process he discovered another side of Iran.
Commentary Series

Crossing New England

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Commentator Willem Lange hasn’t lived in New England all his life — yet. He thinks of it as the center of the civilized world, and doesn’t know where it’s likely to go better.
VPR News

Online Offender Registry Rules Being Drafted

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A request for proposals to work on Vermont’s first online sex offender registry has yielded no interested bidders. That means attorneys for the Department of Public Safety are drafting the administrative rules for the registry instead.
VPR News

Salt Pork and Apple Pie: Interview with Ethan Hubbard

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In 1964, writer Ethan Hubbard began interviewing and photographing rural Vermonters. His aim was to document a way of life some felt was vanishing from the landscape: loggers, farmers, dyed-in-the-wool natives with bloodlines going back over 200 years. Hubbard has put together a collection of photographs and essays about old-time Vermonters called “Salt Pork and Apple Pie.”
VPR News

July 16, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: a 30 percent increase in lottery ticket sales is also may also be driving an increase in cigarette sales; Capitol Hill reporter Melinda Wittstock recaps with week in Washington; the Water Resources Board will consider a request to designate approximately 60 waterways in the Green Mountain National Forest as “outstanding resource waters”; the town of Hyde Park has been awarded $126,000 in federal funds to buy a new fire truck.
VPR News

CVPS Files for 5% Rate Increase

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Vermont’s largest electric utility says it will need to raise rates starting next April. On Thursday, Central Vermont Public Service Corporation filed for permission to raise rates by five percent.
VPR News

Soldiers Prepare for Possible Mobilization

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More than 1,300 soldiers from Vermont National Guard units are getting ready for what is expected to be the largest call up of the Vermont National Guard since World War II. About 60 of those soldiers were at Camp Johnson in Colchester today as part of that process.
VPR News

July 15, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: more than 1,300 Vermont National Guard soldiers are getting ready for mobilization; a former captain in the Israeli Air Force reserves is in Vermont to speak about his refusal to participate in Israeli military actions in Palestinian civilian population centers; the Sustainable Communities Conference 2004 is underway in Burlington; an editor of the Rutland Herald has been named Sunday editor at a newspaper in North Andover, MA.
VPR News

Sanders Testifies in Senate on Drug Re-importation

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Congressman Bernie Sanders told members of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday that there’s no doubt in his mind prescription drugs can be re-imported from Canada without any major safety concerns.
VPR News

Fuel Rod Pieces Found, Concerns Continue

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The Douglas administration is pleased that Vermont Yankee has found fuel rod pieces that were missing for three months. But officials remain concerned about poor record-keeping at the plant.
Switchboard

Homesteading

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Host Steve Zind is joined by Middlebury College professor Rebecca Gould and homesteader Greg Joly. They’ve studied and lived the life of modern homesteaders in the tradition of Helen and Scott Nearing. They discuss the Nearings’ history in Vermont and the motivations and tribulations of modern homesteaders.
VPR News

Leahy Says Pentagon Should Release All Guantanamo Interrogation Tapes

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Senator Patrick Leahy is calling for a full investigation of prisoner abuse in Iraq and at the detainee center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Leahy says a review of a limited number of videotapes from Guantanamo Bay doesn’t appear to show the kind of abuse that took place at the Abu Graib prison in Iraq. Still, Leahy wants all the videos from the detainee center to be released.
VPR News

Republicans, Democrats Defend Actions on Health Care Costs

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Governor Jim Douglas will be in Seattle this weekend to work on health care issues at a meeting of the National Governors’ Association. Health care in Vermont has emerged as a central issue this political season, with Republican and Democratic leaders blaming each other for the Legislature’s failure to enact comprehensive reform.
VPR News

State Faces Large Health Care Deficits

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Members of a legislative oversight committee got some grim news on Wednesday about a growing shortfall in state health care funds. Lawmakers are working with the Douglas administration to find a way to solve the budget problems.
VPR News

Parke Criticizes Sanders’ Stance on Patriot Act

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Republican U.S. House candidate Greg Parke is sharply criticizing Congressman Bernie Sanders’ effort to make changes to the Patriot Act. Parke says Sanders is “grandstanding” on this issue and that his amendment would provide a safe haven for terrorists. Sanders counters that Parke doesn’t understand what this issue is all about.
VPR News

Vermont Senators Vote Against Marriage Amendment

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Both of Vermont’s U.S. senators have voted against a measure banning gay marriage as an amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The vote was 50-to-48, ten short of the 60 needed to keep the measure alive.
VPR News

July 14, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: members of a legislative oversight committee got some grim news this morning about a growing shortfall in state health care funds; a top Homeland Security official says tighter election season security should not mean more delays on the U.S.-Canadian border; researcher and activist Patricia Siplon of Saint Michael’s College discuss the World AIDS Conference in Thailand.
Commentary Series

Love and Life

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There is a factor in healthy aging that is important, but seldom discussed. Commentator Mary Barrosse Schwartz says that it can significantly increase the risk of heart disease, cancer and stroke.
VPR News

More Abuse Allegations Surface from Vermont Prisoner

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A Vermont prison inmate who is serving time out-of-state wants to be sent back to Vermont because he says he was sexually assaulted in a Kentucky jail. The inmate says he needs to be transferred for his own safety. He says prison authorities in Kentucky have threatened him for speaking out about the abuse. But Vermont corrections officials don’t believe his charges, and say the inmate doesn’t need to be moved.
VPR News

Leahy, Jeffords to Vote Against Constitutional Ban on Gay Marriage

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Both of Vermont’s U.S. senators say they’ll vote against a proposed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage when the measure comes to the Senate floor for a vote this week. Senators Patrick Leahy and Jim Jeffords say the amendment is little more than a political ploy by Republican lawmakers to win support from their conservative backers.
VPR News

Group Ends Bid to Nominate Dean for Vice President

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A group of political activists has given up its bid to draft former presidential candidate Howard Dean as the Democrats’ vice presidential candidate. A committee of Dean’s backers had vowed to mount a floor fight at the Democratic National Convention in Boston to draft Dean.
VPR News

Killington Officials Discuss Secession with NH Governor

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Town officials from Killington were given a warm welcome and a state flag by New Hampshire Governor Craig Benson on Tuesday. They were in Concord, New Hampshire to talk with Benson about the town’s desire to secede from Vermont and join New Hampshire.
VPR News

July 13, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: a Vermont couple is among those pushing for changes to gay marriage in a Massachusetts court today; an event in St. Albans tonight focuses on the potential impact a proposed Wal-Mart superstore would have on Franklin County; Vermont ski resorts see growth potential in summer recreation; the completion of Route 9 Searsburg-Wilmington Project in is being celebrated in Wilmington Village.
VPR News

New Logging Rules May Impact Green Mountain National Forest

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The Vermont chapter of the Sierra Club is strongly criticizing a new plan proposed by the Bush administration to open up more national forest land to logging operations. The group says new proposal could affect 121,000 acres of the Green Mountain National Forest. But state officials say the impact will be far less.
Commentary Series

Preempt or Prevent

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Exactly fifty years ago, at the height of the Cold War, the United States was considering not only preemptive war against the Soviet Union, but even more forward-leaning preventive war. Commentator Peter Gilbert explains.
VPR News

Laurance Rockefeller’s Legacy Remembered in Vermont

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When Laurence Rockefeller died last weekend at the age of 94, he was remembered as a philanthropist who used his influence and fortune to help establish and expand national parks from the Virgin Islands to Hawaii. But Vermonters don’t have to look far to see Rockefeller’s influence.
VPR News

Sanders Will Continue Effort to Amend Patriot Act

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Congressman Bernie Sanders says the fight to roll back portions of the USA Patriot Act will continue, despite the defeat last week of legislation to limit the government’s ability to obtain information from libraries and booksellers.
VPR News

‘Hackie: Cab Driving and Life’ Interview with Jernigan Pontiac

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Jernigan Pontiac has been a cab driver in Burlington for over 20 years. From the front seat of his cab, Pontiac has seen it all, from college student brawls to surprising acts of kindness. Pontiac has been documenting his observations since 1997 in a column called “Hackie.” A collection of these columns has just been published in the book, “Hackie: Cab Driving and Life.”
VPR News

July 12, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Congressman Bernie Sanders says the fight to roll back portions of the Patriot Act will continue; Vice President Cheney’s wife says his obscene comments to a Vermont senator were out of character; Vermonters are remembering Laurance Rockefeller, whose conservation efforts created the state’s first national park; the Secretary of State’s office has published an etiquette brochure for interacting with people with disabilities.
VPR News

Interview: Laurance Rockefeller Dies at 94

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Billionaire Laurance Rockefeller, who invested some of his wealth in Woodstock, has died at the age of 94. Rockefeller was known as a conservationist, philanthropist and a leading figure in the field of venture capital. Mitch Wertlieb talks with historian Howard Coffin about Rockefeller legacy in Vermont.
Commentary Series

Vermont’s Secret Police

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Several times in recent months Commentator Philip Baruth has had to pass through the traffic checkpoint on Route 91 South to Chester. And each time it’s given him a genuine, first-class case of the creeps.
VPR News

Missing Fuel Rod Pieces May Be in Fuel Pool

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The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is investigating whether Entergy has complied with regulations and kept good records on radioactive fuel at the Vermont Yankee Plant in Vernon. In April, two pieces of highly radioactive fuel were reported missing. Vermont Yankee now says it’s possible that the pieces have been inside the plant’s spent fuel pool all along.
VPR News

Family Business Celebrates 50 Years Despite Tough Beginning

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The town of Putney’s longest-running crafts-operation is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary this weekend. It’s an unobtrusive but successful home-based industry specializing in handmade wood products. It’s survival is a testament to a local family’s ingenuity and industry in the face of hardship.
VPR News

Health Department Warns of Smoked Mussels Recall

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The Vermont Health Department is warning consumers not to eat a certain brand of smoked mussels. A voluntary recall has been issued for the product, “Chef Noel’s New England Seafood: Applewood Smoked Mussels – Vermont Made.” The Health Department says the food may be contaminated with Listeria.
VPR News

Killington Moves Forward with Secession Plan

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The town of Killington is pressing forward with plans to leave Vermont and join New Hampshire. Killington officials plan to present draft legislation to New Hampshire Governor Craig Benson next week.
VPR News

July 9, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: the Nuclear Regulatory Commission investigates Vermont Yankee’s record keeping of radioactive fuel; a look back at the week in Washington, including Sanders’ outrage over a defeated Patriot Act amendment; a higher than average number of Vermont Guard members chose to retire this spring because of uncertainty about future deployments; an annual parade in Burlington this weekend celebrates the gay and lesbian community.
VPR News

Sanders Reacts to GOP Effort to Defeat Amendment

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Congressman Bernie Sanders was at the lead of an unsuccessful effort to roll back part of the USA Patriot Act. The Republican-led House bowed to a White House veto threat and defeated Sanders’ effort to remove the part of the anti-terrorism law that helps the government investigate people’s reading habits. As Chad Pergram of the Capitol Hill Bureau reports, supporters of the amendment reacted strongly to tactics used in the voting process.
Commentary Series

Coming Out

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With Gay Pride events scheduled for this weekend in Vermont, commentator Amber Leventry reflects on how some things have changed – and some haven’t.
VPR News

House Defeats Sanders’ Patriot Act Amendment

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In a highly contentious and partisan debate Thursday afternoon, the U.S. House defeated an effort by Congressman Bernie Sanders to make changes to the USA Patriot Act. Sanders wanted to remove a provision of the law that allows the federal government to seek information from libraries and book stores about an individual’s reading habits.
VPR News

Coalition Attempts to Solve Problem of Health Care Costs

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A new coalition has formed in Vermont to tackle an old problem. A diverse group of business people, non-profit organizations and others are working together to find ways to reform the state’s health care system. Coalition members say that health care costs are rising out of control and that more and more people are unable to afford health insurance.
VPR News

Brock Announces Candidacy for Auditor

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Retired business executive Randy Brock launched his campaign for the Republican nomination for state auditor on Thursday. In his announcement, Brock promised to provide an independent and non-partisan approach to the office, something he says incumbent Democrat Elizabeth Ready has failed to do in her two terms as auditor.
VPR News

Backstage with ‘The Gondoliere’

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One of the last great works of Gilbert and Sullivan is being performed in the woods of East Calais. VPR’s Neal Charnoff went “Backstage” with “The Gondoliers,” being produced by the Unadilla Theater Company.
VPR News

July 8, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Congressman Bernie Sanders proposes an amendment to the Patriot Act; emergency officials say an excess of oil caused black smoke to blow from a furnace at Vermont Yankee this morning; Peter Clavelle holds meetings on health care; a West Fairlee church gets a new a steeple.
VPR News

Clavelle Holds Town Meetings on Health Care Costs

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Burlington Mayor Peter Clavelle was in Bennington County talking about health care Wednesday. At an open meeting in Arlington he said Vermont should lead the nation in providing affordable health care for all its citizens.
VPR News

TV Comedy Highlights Vermont Farm Life

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A Vermont film crew has been spending the summer on the farm – hoping to raise some laughs. They’re working on a new situation comedy that’s an attempt to take a fresh approach on a familiar theme.
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Vermont National Guard

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For the first time in years, Vermont’s part-time soldiers are at the front lines of a war. Adjutant General Martha Rainville joins host Steve Zind to talk about what that means for the Vermont Guard now and in the future.
VPR News

Coolidge’s Depression

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Commentator Nils Daulaire says that eighty years ago this month, a game of lawn tennis changed the course of a presidency.
VPR News

State Ends Fiscal Year with $27 Million Surplus

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According to a new report, the state of Vermont will end the 2004 fiscal year with a $27 million surplus. Administration Secretary Michael Smith says there are definite signs that the Vermont economy is rebounding. But Democratic gubernatorial candidate Peter Clavelle says the new revenue report doesn’t tell the whole story about the state’s finances.
VPR News

Vermont Yankee Back Online 19 days After Fire

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The state’s only nuclear power plant is back on line after a fire last month forced a 19-day shutdown. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has been investigating the cause of the blaze, which started near a large transformer.
VPR News

Dean Campaign Manager Named Harvard Fellow

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Howard Dean’s former campaign manager is among the fellows named to Harvard University’s Institute of Politics. Joe Trippi, who led Dean’s once-promising presidential bid, will be a resident fellow this fall.
VPR News

July 7, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: the state’s only nuclear power plant is back on line after a fire last month forced a 19-day shutdown; meanwhile, concerned residents who live near the plant met with the Brattleboro Select Board last night to air concerns over the town’s evacuation plan; New York State Police are investigating whether there’s a connection between a May fire in the northern part of the state and last month’s double fatal arson in Isle La Motte; more…
Switchboard

Young Voters

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Young voters have a consistently low turnout on election day and Switchboard takes a look at the trends of young voters and the efforts this year to increase turnout. Secretary of State Deb Markowitz and youth voting activits Dan Cohn and Laura Megiven join Bob Kinzel to discuss the issue.
VPR News

Top State Energy Official Steps Down

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A key state official responsible for mapping out Vermont’s energy future is leaving his post after just a year on the job. The appointment of Jonathan Lesser had drawn criticism from some advocates, because he had worked as a consultant for the utilities that the state regulates.
VPR News

New Law May Reduce Human Encounters with Bears

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State officials and nature lovers alike are hoping a new law will help to reduce encounters between humans and bears. The law allows a game warden to order a property owner to remove outside food sources that attract bears.
VPR News

July 6, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Democratic leaders around the country are reacting to the choice of John Edwards as running mate for Massachusetts Senator John Kerry; Vermont Senator Jim Jeffords, former candidate Wesley Clark and the chair of the Vermont Democratic Party all voice their enthusiasm for the choice; Fresh Air Fund children are being hosted in Vermont; the Vermont Secretary of State’s office has published a disability etiquette brochure….
VPR News

Prison Medical Care Comes Under Scrutiny

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The state is reviewing its multi-million dollar contract with a company that provides health care to Vermont prison inmates. The company, Correctional Medical Services of St. Louis, is the focus of several Vermont lawsuits that allege poor care. State regulators have also filed a number of disciplinary charges against nurses who have worked for the company.
VPR News

Interview: Rutland County Women’s Network

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Over the years, the Rutland County Women’s Network has helped hundreds of women escape abusive relationships and begin new lives. And the Netork’s director is turning over a new leaf as well: Bobbie Gainer is retiring this week and she talks with Mitch Wertlieb about her 15 years of service in the organization.
VPR News

Leahy Backs Edwards as Kerry’s Potential Running Mate

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Senator Patrick Leahy says he believes that North Carolina Senator John Edwards would make the strongest vice presidential candidate for the Democratic ticket this fall. Leahy says Edwards has the best potential to help Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry in a number of key battleground states.
VPR News

Rehearsing with Gods: Interview with Marc Estrin

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For almost 40 years, the Bread and Puppet Theater has engaged audiences with its unique blend of political satire and surreal imagery. A new book called “Rehearsing with Gods” traces the history and philosophy of Bread and Puppet. Neal Charnoff talks with author Marc Estrin about the book and the theater group.
VPR News

Judge Dismisses Civil Suit in Brattleboro Police Shooting

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A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit against the town of Brattleboro and the two police officers who shot Robert Woodward in a West Brattleboro church in 2001. A lawyer representing Woodward’s family says the family would appeal the ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Garvan Murtha.
VPR News

UVM Announces $2.3 Million Gift

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A University of Vermont graduate was so impressed by a new business course his son took last year that he has given UVM $2.3 million dollars. The gift was from James Keller, Sr. and his wife, Judith, of Gig Harbor, Washington.
VPR News

Ruling Delays Wind Energy Project

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A recent Public Service Board ruling is expected to delay the East Haven Windfarm by about a year. The board has set a schedule that includes time for studies this fall on migratory birds and bats and what impact the wind towers might have on them.
VPR News

July 2, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: counseling services are being offered to residents of crime-stunned Isle La Motte; Vermont State Police say they’ve recovered a knife that may have been used in the Isle La Motte murders; the training of a new class of corrections officers reflects changes in the troubled Corrections Department; a group of Vermont Air National Guard members is being deployed today for duty in the Middle East; congressional update from Capitol Hill.
VPR News

Interview: Replica Canal Schooner Ready to Set Sail

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More than 125 years have passed since a canal schooner was launched anywhere in the U.S., but that’s going to change Saturday when the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum sets sail with the replica schooner “Lois McClure.” Mitch Wertlieb talked with Art Cohn, Executive Director of the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum, as the Lois McClure was going through its final stages of construction.
Commentary Series

Saving the Coolidge Homstead

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Every year, one of Vermont’s best preserved historic places hosts a popular Fourth of July celebration. Commentator Cyndy Bittinger says that the site is surprisingly intact thanks in large part to the joint efforts of two women.
Switchboard

Episcopal Bishop Thomas Ely

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Vermont Episcopal Bishop Thomas Ely joins Steve Zind Thursday on Switchboard. The Vermont church recently became one of the first to formalize ceremonies for same sex couples. They talk about the strains on the church caused by it’s policies toward gay unions and they discuss Bishop Ely’s recent trip to the Middle East.
VPR News

Douglas Offers State Help to Isle La Motte

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Governor Jim Douglas says the recent double-murder in Isle La Motte shows that Vermont is not immune from irrational violence. The governor has asked state officials to offer assistance to the small community as it copes with the tragedy.
VPR News

Leahy Announces Candidacy for Re-election

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Senator Patrick Leahy formally announced his candidacy for a sixth term in the U.S. Senate on Thursday. Leahy is asking voters to send him back to Washington so that “Vermont values” are well represented in Congress.
VPR News

Thunderstorm Drops Rain and Hail

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A severe thunderstorm watch was posted from Fair Haven to Canaan Thursday afternoon and, sure enough thunder, lightning, and hail up to an inch and a quarter in diameter jarred some residents of Clinton County, New York and northwestern Vermont.
VPR News

Monarch Butterflies Arrive in Mexico from Vermont

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Three monarch butterflies affixed with tiny tags last summer in Vermont have turned up 2,400 miles away in Mexico. The Vermont Institute of Natural Science has confirmed that one butterfly tagged in Plainfield and two tagged at the VINS Nature Center in Quechee turned up this winter in El Rosario, Mexico.
VPR News

July 1, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Senator Patrick Leahy formally kicks off his re-election campaign; the motive is still undisclosed in the arson-murder case against two teenagers in Isle La Motte; Governor Jim Douglas holds his weekly news conference; the reorganization of the Agency of Human Services goes into effect today.
VPR News

Treatment Program Offers Take-Home Methadone Option

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For the first time, people who are receiving treatment for heroin addiction in Vermont will be allowed to take home a drug widely used to treat their addiction. A Burlington treatment center says beginning Friday it will expand its program to include take-home methadone.
VPR News

Interview: UVM Cheese Institute

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Growing consumer demand for artisan or specialty cheeses has an increasing number of Vermont’s small-scale and family farmers taking up the craft. The economic potential of specialty cheese-making prompted the University of Vermont to introduce the nation’s first Institute for Artisan Cheese. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Cathy Donnelly about the institute.
VPR Series and Specials

Iran Journal

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Karim Khan Zand ruled Persia in the mid-1700s. VPR Reporter Steve Zind, a descendant of the ruler, takes us on a remarkable journey through the villages and cities of Iran in search of his family history. Along the way we experience the people, the beauty, and at times the danger of Iran.
VPR News

Two Teenagers Charged with Arson, Murder

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Two teenagers have been arraigned in connection with an alleged arson fire that killed an Isle La Motte couple on Sunday. The two teenagers, 19-year-old Heath Lockerby and 17-year-old Quinton Teeple, were charged Wednesday with arson, burglary and two counts of first degree murder.
VPR News

McMullen Challenges Leahy to Campaign Spending Limit

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Republican U.S. Senate candidate Jack McMullen is calling on Democratic incumbent senator Patrick Leahy to agree on a one million dollar spending cap in their race. The Leahy campaign says they’ll talk with McMullen about campaign-related issues once he wins the Republican primary in September.
VPR News

Dean to Debate Nader

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Ralph Nader’s presidential bid will be the topic of a debate between Nader and Howard Dean. National Public Radio’s weekly program “Justice Talking” is sponsoring the 90-minute debate next Friday.
VPR News

Partial Power Outage in Montpelier

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Parts of Montpelier and Berlin experienced a power outage Wednesday morning. Green Mountain Power spokeswoman Dorothy Schnure says the outage was caused by problems with a transformer near the National Life building in the southwest part of the city.
VPR News

June 30, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Investigators have arrested two suspects in an arson that killed two people in Isle La Motte; Retired state police arson specialist describes how arson investigations are conducted; Republican Senate candidate Jack McMullen is challenging his rival Patrick Leahy to a one million dollar cap on campaign spending; police in New England and New York are coordinating an effort to keep road fatalities down over the July 4 weekend; more…
Commentary Series

Nuclear Brazil

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While the world’s attention has been on Iraq and North Korea’s nuclear program, commentator Bill Seamans says that similar problems have been brewing much closer to home.
VPR News

Wind Projects May Become Subject to Act 250 Review

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Governor Jim Douglas says he wants to explore the idea of requiring an Act 250 review for future large scale commercial wind projects in Vermont. Currently these projects are reviewed by the Vermont Public Service Board in a process known as a Section 248 review.
Commentary Series

Celebrating a Marriage

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Commentator Helen Labun is getting married this summer, and she has been thinking a lot lately about the ceremony and what it means today.
VPR News

Interview: Canadian Election Results

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Canadians are taking stock of the shift in their government following one of the most contentious national elections in recent history. While the incumbent Liberal Party remains in the majority, it can no longer govern without help from other parties in the Parliament. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Jeff Ayres, a professor of political science who specializes in Canadian Politics at Saint Michael’s College, about Tuesday’s election results.
Switchboard

Governor Jim Douglas

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Governor Douglas officially announced his candidacy for re-election Tuesday, and he’s Bob Kinzel’s guest on Switchboard. Douglas answers questions on health care costs and state energy policy and he takes your calls.
VPR News

Douglas Announces Candidacy for Re-election

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Governor Jim Douglas officially announced plans to seek a second term in office Tuesday afternoon. Douglas says economic development issues and reform of the state’s health care system are top priorities for the next two years.
VPR News

Attorney General Holds Meetings on End of Life Care

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Attorney General Bill Sorrell wants to prompt an extended conversation about the medical care Vermonters receive at the end of their lives. This week, Sorrell launches a series of public hearings on the issue. He says the goal is to help lawmakers draft legislation next year.
VPR News

Federal Building Evacuated in Burlington

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A six-story federal office building in Burlington has been evacuated after a suspicious package was found. The evacuation order came Tuesday morning shortly after the discovery of the package.
VPR News

Black River Produce to Buy Idenot Plant

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Black River Produce in Proctorsville has won state backing to buy the former Idlenot dairy plant in Springfield. The Vermont Economic Development Authority has given a $648,000 loan to the project – about 40 percent of the total project cost.
VPR News

Second Man Arrested in Museum Vandalism

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The second man accused of vandalizing a display at the Fairbanks Museum in St. Johnsbury almost four years ago has been arrested in Ohio. Thirty-six-year-old Roger Kinney of Dayton, Ohio, was picked up last Friday on a $100,000 arrest warrant.
VPR News

June 29, 2004 – Midday Report

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Governor Jim Douglas formally announces his candidacy for re-election; the Vermont Economic Development Authority will give Black River Produce almost $650,000 to help the company purchase the former Idlenot milk processing facility in Springfield; Miller Building Systems has announced it will close its Bennington facility at the end of July, leaving 35 people without jobs; the discount airline Independence Air begins service from the Burlington airport; more….
Commentary Series

My Life, My Book

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Commentator Philip Baruth recently began reading the autobiography of Bill Clinton, not entirely by his own choice. The book simply appeared in his life, and now it doesn’t seem inclined in the least to leave.
VPR News

Regulators Say Entergy Has Work to Do Before Uprate Approved

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Federal regulators said on Monday that they won’t approve Vermont Yankee’s proposal to boost its power output unless they’re assured that the plan is safe. Officials from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission told the state Public Service Board that they’ll use new inspection procedures to examine the 32-year-old reactor.
VPR News

Vermont Opposes Mercury Emissions Rules

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Vermont is one of 11 states opposing a federal proposal that would give coal-fired power plants flexibility in cutting mercury emissions. The group claims the rules being considered by the Environmental Protection Agency would weaken pollution standards.
VPR News

Lawyers Answer Survey on Judges

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The Vermont Bar Association is surveying its members about the people who rule over them. The bar association recently sent out its first Vermont Trial Judge Feedback Survey to about 1,700 of its 2,100 members.
VPR News

VINS Director Steps Down

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The director of the Vermont Institute of Natural Sciences is resigning. Sherman Kent led VINS for four-and-a-half years as the organization planned its new Nature Center in Quechee. He says now that the center has opened, it’s a good time for him to retire.
VPR News

June 28, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: officials from the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission are taking questions about the independent review planned at the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant; Burlington Mayor Peter Clavelle encourages other mayors to follow Burlington’s example of drug re-importation; water quality specialists are mounting an aggressive attack on Eurasian milfoil; an Oregon man has set a new speed hiking record for Vermont’s Long Trail; more….
VPR News

Interview: Re-enactors Gather at Fort Ticonderoga

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Starting Saturday, more than a thousand re-enactors will gather at Fort Ticonderoga in New York to commemorate the Grand Encampment of the French and Indian War, which started 250 years ago. The battle at Ticonderoga ended with an unlikely victory for the French, who were vastly outnumbered at the time by British forces. VPR’s Mitch Wertlieb recently spoke with Lisa Simpson Lutts, of the Fort Ticonderoga Historical Site.
VPR News

Supreme Court Vacancy May Be Filled in October

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The head of the state’s Judicial Nominating Board says she hopes to send a list of Supreme Court candidates to Governor Jim Douglas by the middle of September. This means Douglas could fill the vacancy on the court early in autumn.
VPR News

Danville Man Pleads Guilty to Fish and Wildlife Violations

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A Danville man will serve 21 days in jail for 16 Fish and Wildlife violations that were documented on videotape. Thirty-four-year-old Carl Sanborn has pleaded guilty to charges that he took a bear in a closed season, shot from a car, violated youth hunting day and kept a live deer in an empty swimming pool.
VPR News

Rutland Attorney Reprimanded

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A Rutland attorney contracted by the state to handle lawsuits involving prisoners’ rights has been publicly reprimanded for not contacting inmates he was assigned to represent.
VPR News

June 25, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Governor Jim Douglas is pledging to make health care a central policy objective; Seldon Industries will build a new production line in Windsor in the fall; Central Vermont Substance Abuse Services opened today in Berlin; this weekend the Tunbridge Fairgrounds will host the fifth annual Vermont history Expo; in Quechee, scientists will converge on the Vermont Institute of Natural Science for what they call a “Bio-blitz.”
VPR News

Sanders Applauds Court Decision on New FCC Rules

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Congressman Bernie Sanders says a new federal court decision that overturns an effort by the Federal Communications Commission to further deregulate the media is an important step to keep large corporations from controlling news outlets across the country.
VPR News

VPR Documentary Wins National Award

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Vermont Public Radio has received the national Edward R. Murrow award for its documentary on the record of former presidential candidate Howard Dean. The one-hour documentary, Howard Dean: The Vermont Years was produced by VPR last December at the zenith of the candidate’s popularity and momentum.
VPR News

Democrats Criticize Governor’s PSA on Prescription Drugs

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Governor Jim Douglas is taking to the airwaves in a campaign to help Vermonters spend less on prescription drugs. But Democrats suspect there’s politics at work. They point out that Peter Clavelle, the governor’s Democratic challenger, has made prescription drugs a major issue in his campaign.
VPR News

Clavelle to Address U.S. Mayors’ Conference in Boston

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Burlington Mayor Peter Clavelle says he’ll be encouraging mayors from around the country to take an active role in making prescription drugs from Canada available in their communities. Clavelle plans to raise the topic at this weekend’s U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting in Boston.
VPR News

Douglas Attends Governor’s Day in Brattleboro

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Governor Jim Douglas was in Brattleboro Thursday for the city’s annual “Governor’s Day.” Among other things, Douglas was asked about recent problems at the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant, the most recent being a fire in a transformer outside the plant.
VPR News

June 24, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Republican senatorial candidate Jack McMullen is in the market for a new campaign manager; updated census figures for Vermont indicate that central cities like Burlington and Montpelier have had slight population drops in recent years, while there’s been strong growth in many outlying areas; more…
VPR News

Dairy Farmers Await Organic Milk Hauling Service in Southern Vermont

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For some Vermont dairy farmers, “going organic” is a way to earn a better premium on a smaller amount of milk. Consumers seem increasingly willing to pay for organic dairy products. Organic milk haulers are making pickups at nearly 80 certified organic farms north of White River Junction. But in southern Vermont, farmers are still waiting.
VPR News

Lack of Interpreters Hampers Equal Justice, Court Report Says

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A special committee of the Vermont Supreme Court says a growing number of Vermonters are being denied equal access to justice in the state’s civil and family court system. The committee issued a report today saying that the courts don’t have a process in place to provide defendants who don’t understand English with foreign language interpreters.
VPR News

Preparations Underway for Phish Concert

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Vermont state officials are gearing up for a two-day concert festival featuring the band Phish. The concert is set for August 14-15 at the Newport State Airport in Coventry.
VPR News

June 23, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Governor Jim Douglas and challenger Peter Clavelle have hired campaign staff for the Novemebr election; a developer continues his effort to construct a cell tower in Moretown; the Vermont Supreme Court says a number of Vermonters are denied equal access to justice because the individuals don’t understand English; Vermont is seeing growth in housing construction; New Hampshire Attorney General Peter Heed’s resignation is official.
VPR News

Other States May Follow Vermont’s Lead in Banning Touch-Screen Voting

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A decision by a number of states to use computerized voting systems for this year’s presidential election has become controversial because of the lack of security in the machines. Vermont lawmakers banned the use of these systems during the recent Legislature, and it’s possible that some smaller states may follow Vermont’s lead.
Commentary Series

Preview: Funny Vermont Stories

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Vermonters appreciate a funny story, and awhile back, VPR invited listeners to tell us their funny stories about life in Vermont. Tuesday at 7 pm, we’ll hear a selection of Funny Vermont Stories, as recorded before an audience in our Colchester studios. And to get your funny bone limbered up, here is Jim Howland of Hartland, someone who has been telling funny stories to the Windsor Rotary for years.
Commentary Series

Yellowstone Wolves

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Commentator Ruth Page has an example of why many people believe that re-introduction of wolves into their historic habitats in this country may help entire ecosystems recover their lost diversity.
VPR News

Leahy Questions Need for Senate Vote on Gay Marriage

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In Washington, the Senate Republican leadership is planning a mid-July vote on a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy, a Democrat, wants to know what the rush is. The Judiciary Committee held its final hearing on Tuesday before the issue goes before the full Senate.
VPR News

Sorrell to Focus on Prescription Drug Costs

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Vermont Attorney General Bill Sorrell says he wants to focus on the growing cost of prescription drugs during his tenure as president of the National Association of Attorneys General. Sorrell was named as the head of the organization last week at the association’s annual meeting.
VPR News

Re-enactors Gather at Fort Ticonderoga

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This weekend, hundreds of war re-enactors will gather in Fort Ticonderoga, New York, for the annual grand encampment and battle re-enactment. It’s the first of several major gatherings this summer that will highlight the 250th anniversary of the French and Indian War.
VPR News

June 22, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Vermont State police are reporting a shooting incident in the Bethel area; state regulators and Vermont Yankee have produced more information on last Friday’s fire; Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell has been named president of the National Association of Attorneys General; the oldest of the young eagles being raised in Vermont have flown the coop; the Boys’ State and Girls’ State leadership conventions are underway.
Commentary Series

Tribute to Bill Pinney

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Today Vermonters place a high value on historic preservation, but it wasn’t always so. Commentator Chester Liebs remembers one man who influenced how we think about our built environment.
VPR News

Leahy Request for Guantanamo Video Tapes Goes Unanswered

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Senator Patrick Leahy says he believes the Bush administration is stonewalling his effort to find out if cases of prisoner abuse have occurred at the U.S. detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. For over a month the administration has ignored Leahy’s request to see videos of prison interrogations that were conducted at the detention center.
VPR News

Vermont Joins with Other States for School Testing

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The state of Vermont has announced plans to team up with New Hampshire and Rhode Island on a school testing initiative that will affect most younger students in the three states. It’s believed that the regional collaboration is the first of its kind in the country.
VPR News

June 21, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: two Vermont Army National Guardsmen are being treated for injuries they suffered in Iraq; state transportation officials say repaving of Interstate 89 will begin in earnest next week; Vermont lawmakers are asking the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to conduct a special inspection into a fire at the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power plant; the annual International Fishing Derby is underway on Lake Champlain.
Commentary Series

Pollyanna

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Recently commentator Edith Hunter heard someone apologize for sounding like “a Pollyanna” and she decided to pin down the derivation of the epithet. Her search took her to the book of the same name – a popular juvenile title of three generations ago.
VPR News

NRC asked to investigate Vermont Yankee fire

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Vermont’s congressional delegation has asked the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for an investigation into Friday morning’s transformer fire at the Vermont Yankee Plant in Vernon.
VPR News

MontpelierNet offers wireless high-speed access to the capital city

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A public-private partnership was launched in Montpelier Friday that makes the city one of the first state capitals in the country to develop a wireless high-speed Internet system. It will be available to both businesses and residents in the city. Backers of the project say it could serve as a model for the rest of the country.
VPR News

Suit challenges limitations of same-sex marriage law

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The legal battle over same-sex marriages is back in the courtroom. Eight couples, including one from Vermont, and more than a dozen municipal clerks filed lawsuits Friday challenging a 1913 law used to block out-of-state gay couples from marrying in Massachusetts.
VPR News

New York commemorates Juneteenth holiday

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In New York Friday, legislation commemorating the end of slavery in the United States was signed into law. June 19 will now be known as “Juneteenth Freedom Day” in New York state under the law signed by Governor George Pataki.
VPR News

Interview: Vermont Yankee transformer fire

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The Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant went offline at 7:00 a.m. Friday morning due to a fire in a transformer on the non-nuclear side of the plant. Officials say there was no release of radiation in the incident and no injuries. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Vermont Yankee spokesman Rob Williams about the incident.
VPR News

Vermont Episcopal Diocese formalizes same-sex ceremonies

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The Episcopal Church in Vermont will formally embrace gay and lesbian unions with a standardized ceremony. The church says it will establish a policy on blessing same-sex unions in the same way there is a diocese-wide policy for marriage. It’s only the second Episcopal diocese in the country to formally embrace gay and lesbian unions.
Switchboard

Multiple Sclerosis

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While the cause of MS remains unknown, doctors do have a better understanding of the disease – and some of the leading research is being done right here in Vermont. Steve Zind hosts a conversation on managing Multiple Sclerosis, with Dr. Hillel Panitch of Fletcher Allen and Kim Patnaude of the Vermont Division of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
VPR News

Transcriptionists begin training for Fletcher Allen jobs

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The state’s largest hospital will hire Vermonters to process medical transcriptions instead of sending the jobs overseas. Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington plans to employ the new workers after they undergo an intensive eight-month education program. Twenty trainees began their studies this week.
VPR News

Vermont Guard brigade put on alert for deployment

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Fifteen-hundred members of the Vermont Army National Guard have been put on alert that they may be mobilized for active duty. The alert means that the soldiers of the “86th Brigade” will prepare for the possibility of deployment.
VPR News

June 17, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: a Vermont Army National Guard combat brigade made up of more than 1,200 soldiers might be called to active duty; for the second time in Governor Jim Douglas’s term, there’s a vacancy on the Vermont Supreme Court; Vermont’s congressional delegation is backing new legislation that would help protect dairy farmers from low prices.
VPR News

Vermont Chief Justice Jeffrey Amestoy steps down

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In a surprise development, the Chief Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court, Jeffery Amestoy, announced on Wednesday that he’s resigning his post in August. Amestoy, who has served in state government for 30 years, says it’s time to move on to other challenges in his life.
VPR News

‘Hiding in Plain Sight:’ interview with Betty Lauer

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In 1938, Betty Lauer was 12 years old, living with her mother and sister in Hindenburg, Germany. When the Nazis rounded up the city’s Jewish population, Lauer and her family were expelled to Poland. For the next seven years, Lauer lived in the open, but had to hide her true identity as she moved from town to town in the Nazi-occupied country. Lauer has recounted those years in a new book entitled “Hiding in Plain Sight.”
VPR News

House meets for veto session

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The Vermont House has voted not to override Governor Jim Douglas’ veto of a bill relating to car insurance. The entire proceeding today took about a half hour, and ended with the House voting 121 to five against overriding the veto.
VPR News

June 16, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: members of the Legislature return to Montpelier to deal with a veto by Governor Jim Douglas; Vermont will move forward with a program to kill lamprey in Lake Champlain Howard Dean calls the national media a failing institution; a coalition of environmental groups says Vermont needs to do more to reduce air pollution that contributes to climate change; a Rutland man faces felony assault charges for an incident at a war protest; more….
VPR News

Dean says Democrats’ chances rest with party loyalists

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Former Governor Howard Dean says the key to the Democrats winning the White House in November is for presidential candidate John Kerry to energize the base constituency of the Party, and not to concentrate on the so-called swing voters.
VPR News

Interview: Ski resorts review the season and plan for next year

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You wouldn’t know it from the weather outside, but it’s time to talk skiing. At least that’s what the members of the Ski Areas Association are set to do Thursday, as they gather for their annual conference. The Association is taking stock of the winter that just passed and will talk about what needs to be done to improve things next season. Mitch Wertlieb talks with David Dillon, president of the Ski Areas Association.
Switchboard

Howard Dean

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Host Bob Kinzel is joined by former governor and former Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean. They discuss the role Dean played in the Democratic primary, and the influence he hopes his new political organization will have in the November election.
Commentary Series

Graduation heals all wounds

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Last weekend commentator Philip Baruth delivered the commencement address at Colchester High School. It was the first time he’d been back to high school for a long time, and at least time around, it was exactly what he needed.
VPR News

McMullen announces candidacy for U.S. Senate

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Burlington businessman Jack McMullen formally launched his campaign to win the Republican U.S. Senate nomination Tuesday afternoon. McMullen says incumbent five-term Democrat Patrick Leahy has been in the Senate for too long and has become part of the partisan gridlock in Congress.
VPR News

Vermont man helps Afghanistan in small ways

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For the past two years a Vermont man has been traveling to Afghanistan to help in efforts to rebuild the country. Jonathan Hoffman is a kind of one-man relief organization operating in a world of large international aid groups.
VPR News

National Guard leaders see changes ahead

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A top National Guard official who is in Vermont this week for a meeting with adjutants general from around the country says the role of the Guard will continue to change.
VPR News

Sugarbush resort cancels plans for hotel

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The Sugarbush ski resort in Warren is canceling plans to build a 280,000 square foot hotel. Officials say they couldn’t secure enough financing to pay for the construction of the Lodge at Lincoln Peak.
VPR News

June 15, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: the chief of the National Guard Bureau says there are changes ahead for the Guard; Vermont businesses attend a National Guard conference in South Burlington to learn about defense contracts; Jack McMullen makes his official campaign announcement for the U.S. Senate; a Ludlow resident and the state will have a land dispute settled by the Supreme Court; more…
Commentary Series

Gardening with children

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Commentator Henry Homeyer became a grandfather last fall. He hopes to get his grandson involved in gardening when he gets older. Here are some of his ideas about how to help his grandson learn to love the garden.
VPR News

Vermont Guard deploys another detachment to Iraq

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Two dozen Vermont National Guard soldiers were deployed on Monday for eventual service in Iraq. The deployment was held at a special ceremony at the Burlington International Airport. The group will receive additional training in Mississippi before accepting their assignment to serve as military police in Iraq.
VPR News

Clarendon to begin air tests near schools this week

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Clarendon FIRST plans to begin air testing at the town’s elementary and high schools in the next few days. Clarendon FIRST, which stands for Families Interested in Researching Sickness Together, was formed last year to raise concerns about the high rate of cancer in the town.
VPR News

Vermont teachers meet federal education standards

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Vermont teachers are getting good marks under a national education law. Almost all of Vermont’s licensed teachers have met a federal education standard that requires them to demonstrate sufficient knowledge in the subjects they teach.
VPR News

June 14, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: the state holds Flag Day ceremonies for Vermont veterans; twnety-four more Vermont Army National Guardsmen are deployed in Burlington; funeral services are held in Calais for Vermont Army National Guard Sergeant Jamie Gray; the chlorine leak that forced the village of Putney to be evacuated on April 30 is ruled the fault of a delivery truck driver; a Clarendon group will begin air testing at the town’s elementary and high schools.
VPR News

Douglas plans to attend funerals of all Vermont soldiers killed in action

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As the casualties from the war in Iraq mount, governors around the country are taking different approaches concerning their presence at funerals of soldiers who have been killed in the conflict. Governor Jim Douglas has attended all of the funerals of Vermont soldiers killed in Iraq. Douglas says he feels it’s very important for families who have lost a loved one in the war to understand how much the state of Vermont appreciates their service to the country.
VPR News

Interview: Partners in Adventure summer camp

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School’s out and summer camp season is here. In Chittenden County, the counselors and other staff at “Partners in Adventure” are gearing up for their fifth season, which begins later this month. Partners in Adventure offers camp programs for young people with or without disabilities who take part in the activities together. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Deborah Lamden about the program.
VPR News

The Old Iron Road: Interview with David Haward Bain

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In the summer of 2000, Middlebury author David Haward Bain took his family on an eight-week, 7,000 mile road trip across the United States. The trip is recounted in Bain’s newest book, “The Old Iron Road: An Epic of Rails, Roads and the Urge to Go West.” In the book, Bain takes the reader through the ghost towns, battlegrounds, museums, and train yards that tell the story of 19th century America.
VPR News

Douglas to sign brownfields liability bill on Saturday

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Governor Jim Douglas will be in Springfield Saturday to sign a bill that could help towns get developers interested in old industrial properties. The bill limits liability for developers who are interested in putting new business at unused industrial sites.
VPR News

Man files suit over Kentucky prison assault

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One of two inmates who accused a prison guard of sexually assaulting him in a Kentucky prison is suing the nation’s largest private prison corporation. Attorney Thomas Costello filed suit Thursday on behalf of the 19-year-old Brattleboro-area man.
VPR News

State parks open for free all weekend

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The state is opening its parks, fishing holes and historic sites this weekend in an annual attempt to show more Vermonters the attractions available close by. Saturday is Free Fishing Day for residents and non-residents alike.
VPR News

Drug re-importation a key issue in governor’s race

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The issue of re-importing prescription drugs from Canada is emerging as a key issue in this year’s gubernatorial race. Governor Jim Douglas and his Democratic opponent Peter Clavelle have sharp disagreements over the role that state government should play in making these lower cost drugs available to all Vermonters.
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Curious New England

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Steve Zind’s guests are Joe Citro and Diane Foulds, the authors of "Curious New England: The Unconventional Traveler’s Guide to Eccentric Destinations." They share stories of their favorite haunts and take your calls.
VPR News

More soldiers will be deployed on Monday

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Another 25 Vermont Army National Guard soldiers are being deployed to Iraq. The Guard will hold a ceremony for the soldiers at the Burlington International Airport Monday morning.
VPR News

June 10, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: the Vermont National Guard will deploy another group of Vermonters to Iraq on Monday; Chittenden County Senator Janet Munt is retiring this weekend at the age of 81; a crowded field of candidates vies for Chittenden County’s six Senate seats; small airport administrators may reach agreement with the FAA on new security requirements; a public memorial service will be held Friday at 4 pm in Montpelier for President Ronald Reagan; more…
VPR News

Vermont to take active role in test of IPC tire burn

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Governor Jim Douglas says he needs to be convinced that a proposed test tire burn at the International Paper Company in Ticonderoga, New York will not harm the environment before the state of Vermont will allow the test burn to take place. It’s expected that IPC will file a formal application for this project by the end of the month.
VPR News

Iranian Nobel Laureate speaks at Bennington College

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For several weeks, Iranian human rights activist Shirin Ebadi, winner of the 2003 Nobel Peace Prize, has been speaking in this country. Mrs. Ebadi represents a modern Islam that embraces gender equality and separation of church and state. During commencement at Bennington College, Ebadi offered a perspective Americans rarely hear.
VPR News

Okemo owners propose expansion at Mt. Sunappee ski resort

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Mt. Sunapee ski resort in New Hampshire has presented its five year plan to Granite State officials. Operated by the Muellers of Okemo Mountain Ski Resort in Vermont, Mount Sunapee is proposing 75 acres of new trails and up to 250 new condominiums. But a group of citizens who live near the mountain oppose those plans.
VPR News

Leahy questions Ashcroft on interrogation memo

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This week Attorney General John Ashcroft appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee and faced persistent questioning by Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy over the use of torture in prisoner interrogations.
VPR News

Vermont hit hard by Iraq casualties

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Vermont has been hit unusually hard by casualties in the Iraq war. The deaths of ten soldiers in Iraq — an eleventh died of natural causes in Kuwait — mean that people with ties to Vermont account for more than one percent of total combat casualties.
VPR News

Interview: Doug Anderson, “Working” director

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Steven Schwartz sat in with the Middlebury Community players this week to see their production of his play “Working”, based on the book by legendary journalist Studs Turkel. Schwartz also wrote the music for the play “Wicked”. Doug Anderson, artistic director of Middlebury’s Town Hall Theater and director for the Middlebury Community Players’ production of “Working”, talks with Mitch Wertlieb.
VPR News

Dubie wants to see a new US-Cuba approach

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Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie says the time has come for the United States to lift its trade embargo and its travel restrictions with Cuba. Dubie traveled to Cuba in April as part of Cuban humanitarian program and returned with several letters of intent to have the Cuban government purchase Vermont food products such as skim milk powder and apples.
VPR News

June 9, 2004 – Midday Report

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Sen. Leahy clashes with Atty Gen Ashcroft over definition of torture; Internet service in central Vermont may improve soon;Vermont farmers anticipate a bumper hay crop; libraries launched their summer reading plan this morning.
Commentary Series

Diabetes research

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It may not surprise you that red wine can help diabetics control blood sugar levels, but how about decaf coffee and cinnamon? Ruth Page reports on some recent research.
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Lt. Governor Brian Dubie

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Bob Kinzel’s guest is Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie. They’ll discuss Dubie’s efforts to increase trade with Cuba and the remaining priorities for his term in office.
VPR News

House members to return for veto session

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Lawmakers will be returning to the Statehouse next week because Governor Jim Douglas has vetoed a piece of legislation. The adjournment motion of the Legislature allows members to come back to Montpelier to give them an opportunity to override a gubernatorial veto.
VPR News

Friends reflect on the loss of Sgt. Jamie Gray

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Vermonters found themselves in a sad but familiar ritual this week as they mourned the death of another young soldier killed in Iraq. People in the Montpelier area remembered National Guard Sergeant Jamie Gray as an athlete, a dedicated worker and a trusted friend.
VPR News

Vermont state offices will be open Friday

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Vermont state workers are expected to show up for work Friday, though federal offices will be closed to remember former president Ronald Reagan. President Bush has declared a national day of mourning for the day of Reagan’s funeral.
VPR News

Kitchel to run for Caledonia County Senate seat

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Former Human Services Secretary Jane Kitchel is making a bid for the state Senate. Kitchel, a Democrat from Danville, is running for the district covering all of Caledonia County as well as a handful of towns in Orange County.
VPR News

Vermonters witness the transit of Venus

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Vermonters joined star-watchers the world over this morning to watch the spectacle of Venus passing across the face of the sun. About 30 members of the Vermont Astronomical Society gathered in New Haven at dawn to see the transit of Venus.
VPR News

Fire damages St. Albans residential care center

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State and federal investigators are searching for the cause of a fire that heavily damaged a residential care facility in St. Albans. The early morning fire destroyed much of the $3.6 million Hawk’s Nest care facility on Vermont Route 104 that was under construction. The facility was due to open next month.
VPR News

Montpelier mourns loss of Sgt. Jamie Gray

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Montpelier is mourning the death this morning of Vermont National Guard member Sargent Jamie Gray. The 29-year-old from East Montpelier was killed Monday in Iraq when his armored vehicle drove by a roadside bomb.
Commentary Series

School gardens

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Memorial Day weekend is the traditional date in the northeast for planting your seeds and commentator Charlie Nardozzi says that lots of folks are hard at work in the garden.
VPR News

Hemlock pest found in Vermont

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For the first time, an insect that destroys hemlock trees has been found in Vermont. State officials say it’s too early to tell how significant the threat is, but they’re optimistic they can prevent its spread.
VPR News

Vermont National Guardsman Jamie Gray killed in Iraq

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Another Vermonter has been killed in Iraq. Sergeant Jamie Gray of East Montpelier died today when a roadside bomb exploded. Two other members of the Vermont National Guard were injured in the attack south of Baghdad.
VPR News

State expects $20 million surplus by year’s end

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Despite slower than projected revenue growth last month, Administration Secretary Michael Smith says it’s likely that the state will end the fiscal year with roughly a $20 million surplus. Smith says he’s optimistic because he says there are clear signs that the Vermont economy is rebounding.
VPR News

Daley pleads guilty to manslaughter

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The New Hampshire man accused of killing state trooper Michael Johnson with his car pleaded guilty today to involuntary manslaughter in a plea agreement. Twenty-four-year-old Eric Daley, of Lebanon, New Hampshire, also pleaded guilty to six other charges, including several drug possession charges.
VPR News

Book interview: ‘A View from Vermont’

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In the new collection of essays “A View From Vermont,” author Helen Husher gives the reader a fresh interpretation of everyday life in Vermont. Husher writes about topics familiar to Vermonters, such as mud season, how to care for your tractor, and the pleasure of reading the local police blotter. At the same time, Husher punctures the quaint stereotypes so often associated with the state, and explores the unique relationship between individuality and community.
VPR News

June 7, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: dignitaries are gathering at the Champlain Mill in Winooski to launch Phase One of the ambitious plan to re-make downtown Winooski; Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell announces that, as of tomorrow, identity theft will become an official crime in Vermont; the Rutland Area Physical Activity Coalition says the best way to fight the state’s growing obesity problem is to get moving; more…
VPR News

Book interview: ‘In Service to the Horse’

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When the Belmont Stakes is run this weekend, all eyes will be on the horses, their owners and the jockeys. But behind every winning horse is a groom, responsible for every nuance of the horse’s care, health and spirit. In her new book “In Service to the Horse,” author Susan Nusser details a year in the life of three grooms, all working with champion thoroughbreds. Neal Charnoff talks with Nusser about the book.
VPR News

Supreme Court rules on land use case

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The Vermont Supreme Court has ruled for the state in a dispute over whether a Mendon property owner can be penalized for not following a forest management plan. Friday’s decision overturns a lower court’s ruling.
VPR News

June 4, 2004 – Midday Report

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Funeral services will be held in Vergennes in about two hours for Specialist Alan Bean, the second of two Vermont Army National Guardsmen killed last week in combat in Iraq; a Johnson man is due in court Monday to answer charges that he murdered his wife; Rutland firefighters say the net loss of three firefighters after an early buyout program will threaten community safety; update on Vermont’s congressional delegation; more…
VPR News

Interview: Future of family farms

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Agriculture experts from around Vermont met in Brattleboro Thursday night for a discussion on ways to maintain family farms, and make sure they’re a vibrant part of the state’s economy and way of life. Robert Wellington says doing so takes a lot more than a snappy ad campaign like the “Got milk?” slogan. Wellington is the senior vice president for Agri-Mark, one of New England’s largest farmer-owned dairy cooperatives, and he talks with Mitch Wertlieb.
Switchboard

Annual Gardening Show

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Charlie Nardozzi, horticulturist for the National Gardening Association, is Steve Zind’s guest for the annual gardening show. He answers all your garden questions, from asparagus to zinnias.
Commentary Series

Endangered Vermont?

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In other states, Wal-Marts have damaged working downtowns and local businesses. What night happen if more Wal-Marts come to Vermont? Commentator Tom Slayton has some thoughts on that.
VPR News

Douglas steers away from heavy campaign debate schedule

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Governor Jim Douglas says he will debate his Democratic challenger, but probably not as many times as in the last campaign. The Republican governor also said at his weekly news conference that he’s hopeful Vermonters will support him for re-election, even if voters oppose the Iraq war and other policies of the Bush administration.
VPR News

Organizers question future of farmers’ milk processing plant

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Supporters of a plan to locate a new milk processing plant in Springfield say their proposal faces an uncertain future because lawmakers failed to appropriate half a million dollars for the project. If the plan does go forward, it’s likely that a different location will be chosen for the project.
VPR News

Brattleboro festival highlights family farming

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Organizers of this weekend’s Strolling of the Heifers in Brattleboro hope folks joining in the fun will take away a serious message. They say Vermont’s farm economy has been in trouble for years and new, creative ways are needed to help it survive.
VPR News

Justice Department to review State Hospital

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Officials from the U.S. Department of Justice will do a systems review of the Vermont State Hospital this summer. Vermont Human Services Secretary Charles Smith said today that the investigation was triggered by publicity over the hospital’s loss of federal certification last year.
VPR News

June 3, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: a national report says Vermont’s children are among the healthiest in the country; plans for a new public safety building in Barre have been put on hold by a neighbor’s appeal of a city permit; International Paper in Ticonderoga has been trying to get a permit for a test burn of tire chips; Governor Jim Douglas will comment on right to farm legislation at his weekly news conference today; more…
VPR News

Interview: Employee ownership conference

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The second annual Vermont Employee Ownership Conference takes place Friday morning in Burlington, an event aimed at developing strategies for setting up and maintaining worker-owned businesses. Mitch Wertlieb talks with the keynote speaker, Dr. John Logue, who is a professor of political science at Kent State University and director of the Ohio Employee Ownership Center.
VPR News

June 2, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: a funeral is being held at this hour in St. Albans for Vermont soldier Kevin Sheehan; a new report says Bennington’s drinking water has unacceptable levels of a harmful acid; Transportation Secretary Patricia McDonald comments on the implication for Vermont of a federal transportation funding bill; Governor Jim Douglas met this morning with the Select Board in Milton to discuss the controversy over the Peterson Dam, and other issues.
VPR News

Interview: Canada braces for contentious elections

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Canadians are bracing for what could be one of the most contentious national elections in recent history. on Tuesday, Prime Minister Paul Martin called for federal elections to be held on June 28. Although the Liberal Party has been in power for four consecutive terms, recent government scandals have some political observers predicting that the Conservative Party could come up winners this time. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Phil Authier, national news editor of the Montreal Gazette.
VPR News

Contract awarded for repaving parts of I-89

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A New Hampshire firm has been chosen to repave parts of Interstate 89 between Montpelier and Bolton. An official at the Vermont Agency of Transportation says the work was put out to bid as two separate projects and that Pike Industries of Belmont, New Hampshire, emerged as the low bidder for both.
VPR News

Officials investigate connection between missing women

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Investigators in Vermont will meet with their counterparts in New Hampshire to compare notes on the third disappearance of a woman in the region since February. Lamoille County Sheriff Roger Marcoux says the only common thread to the three cases is that the vehicles of the missing women were all found abandoned.
VPR News

Interview: UVM librarian awarded for work on USA Patriot Act

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A University of Vermont librarian was honored last month for helping to create a bill that would scale back provisions of the USA Patriot Act. Trina Magi received the Vermont Library Association’s Sarah C. Hagar Award and the Hugh M. Hefner I Amendment Award. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Magi, who says she became concerned that the Act would compromise the constitutional rights of library users.
Commentary Series

Korea, Iraq and WMD

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Commentator Philip Baruth, like everyone else, has been disturbed by the images coming from the Abu Ghraib prison. But he is disturbed by something else as well: the lack of debate about a situation he finds even more unsettling.
Switchboard

Transportation priorities

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Host Bob Kinzel is joined Agency of Transportation Secretary Pat McDonald and Mark Sinclair, Vice President of the Conservation Law Foundation. They discuss the financial, legal and environmental issues surrounding major transportation projects in the state.
VPR News

Dummerston honors Kyle Gilbert on Memorial Day

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This Memorial Day weekend, communities all over Vermont have been honoring those who gave their lives serving their country. The town of Dummerston held its observance Sunday night in the local Grange Hall. Veterans and fallen soldiers of all eras were recognized.
VPR News

Vermont veterans attend opening of World War II Memorial

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Three busloads of veterans left Vermont Friday to attend the dedication of the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. Veterans’ groups say the completion of the memorial provides a long needed recognition of the men and women who served in the Second World War.
VPR News

Governor signs stormwater legislation

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Vermont’s new stormwater rules have been signed into law by Governor Jim Douglas. The governor signed the bill yesterday during a ceremony on the University of Vermont campus.
VPR News

May 28, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: northern New England states have scored well in a survey of the ratio of students to guidance counselors; thousands of people are expected in Brandon this weekend for a new community art exhibit; Melinda Wittstock of the Capital Hill news bureau updates the activities of the Vermont Congressional delegation; presidential candidate Ralph Nader is in Waterbury at this hour, urging voters to support his candidacy.
VPR News

Leahy still awaits release of interrogation tapes

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Senator Patrick Leahy says he’s very disappointed that the Defense Department hasn’t turned over video tapes of alleged prisoner abuse at the Detention Center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Leahy, who requested these tapes last week, says he’s concerned that the Bush administration may be trying to cover up this issue.
VPR News

Bank robber sentenced to 15 years in prison

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A former resident of South Londonderry has been sentenced to over 15 years in prison for robbing a bank. Fifty-seven-year-old Donald Smith had pleaded guilty to robbing the Charter One Bank in the town of Jamaica in December 2002.
VPR News

May 27, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: eight members of the Vermont Army National Guard are deployed; political maverick Ralph Nader brings his third party candidacy for president to Vermont; Progressivelegislators issue a report card of the accomplishments of the Legislative biennium that ended last week; a fire in Newfane has destroyed a 194-year old barn; Vermont State Police arrested Lyle Birchard of Monkton in relation to suspicious fires on Sunday in Addison County.
VPR News

Impact of War: Rutland demonstrators take sides

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With casualties rising, Vermonters continue to be divided over the war in Iraq. This split is given voice every Friday in Rutland during two separate demonstrations just a few blocks apart. In the second part of our series on the war, VPR’s Susan Keese visits both rallies and finds that the issues are not black and white.
VPR News

Interview: Ralph Nader visits Vermont

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Consumer advocate Ralph Nader is coming to Vermont this weekend as an independent candidate for president of the United States. No stranger to controversy, Nader is aware that his candidacy has some Democrats concerned that his presence in the 2004 election could take votes away from the presumptive Democratic nominee, Massachusetts Senator John Kerry. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Ralph Nader.
Switchboard

U.S. Role in Iraq

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Host Bob Kinzel talks with UVM professors Robert Kaufman and Mark Stoler about President Bush’s speech this week and the future of U.S. policy in Iraq.
VPR News

Sergeant Kevin Sheehan, 36, killed in Iraq

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In Milton, Sergeant Kevin Sheehan is being remembered as a friend, father, and co-worker who wore a constant smile. The news of the National Guardsman’s death also hit hard in the Milton school, where some of the school children had exchanged letters with troops in Iraq.
VPR News

Specialist Alan Bean, 22, killed in Iraq

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Bridport, the small town in the rolling farmland between Middlebury and Lake Champlain, is home to the family of Specialist Alan Bean. His parents described him as a man with a big personality – someone you wouldn’t forget.
VPR News

Pacifist David Dellinger dies at 88

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Activist David Dellinger, one of the “Chicago Seven” and a longtime resident of Vermont, has died at the age of 88. Dellinger was one of the group of protesters convicted of conspiracy to incite a riot at the 1968 Democratic convention.
VPR News

Workers’ compensation reform signed into law

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Governor Jim Douglas has signed into law modest reforms to Vermont’s workers’ compensation insurance system. The governor highlighted some of the provisions of the law at a signing ceremony on Wednesday.
VPR News

Auditor says state was overbilled for corrections services

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A new report says the Corrections Department has been routinely overbilled by a private firm contracted to provide health care services to Vermont inmates. A report by Vermont Auditor Elizabeth Ready focused on the performance of Correctional Medical Services of St. Louis.
VPR News

Two Vermont Guardsmen killed in Iraq

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Two Vermont Army National Guardsmen were killed in Iraq on Tuesday. Thirty-six-year-old Kevin Sheehan and 22-year-old Alan Bean were killed Tuesday in a mortar attack.
VPR News

Impact of War: Families deal with long deployments

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Hundreds of Vermonters have been called from their families and jobs for long and often dangerous duty in the Iraq war. At home and overseas, these Vermonters are coping with longer absences than they anticipated. They’ve experienced first-hand the changing role of the Guard and Reserves.
Commentary Series

Snake behavior

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Who ever heard of socializing among poisonous snakes? Commentator Ruth Page says that scientists studying pit vipers have found that females care for eggs and young, and enjoy the company of sisters.
VPR News

Northern hospitals compete for cardiac patients

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Vermont’s largest hospital has launched an unprecedented advertising campaign aimed at preserving market share in New York State. Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington is worried it will lose patients to a new cardiac care facility in Plattsburgh, New York. But an official at the New York hospital says Fletcher Allen rejected a plan two years ago to work together to meet patient needs.
VPR News

Vermont, New York test terrorism information system

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Vermont has been chosen to be part of a pilot program that will give local and state law enforcement officers direct access to federal counter-terrorism information. Governor Jim Douglas says the program is critical because local officials are a key component in the war against terrorism.
VPR News

Group hired to study feasibility of new UVM arena

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The Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce has signed a contract with a consultant to study the cost and feasibility of building a new arena at the University of Vermont. The $80,000 deal with Conventions, Sports and Leisure International, or CSL, was signed last week.
Switchboard

Reporters’ Roundtable

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We take a look back at the 2004 Legislature. Bob Kinzel hosts a reporters’ roundtable on the issues that dominated the Legislature. And the reporters will take a look forward at this year’s race for governor.
VPR News

Phish calls it quits

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The band Phish reports it will break up this summer after 20 years together and their last show is in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom. Phish recently announced plans to play a weekend festival expected to attract about 70,000 people to the town of Coventry.
VPR News

May 25, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: New York and Vermont are launching a pilot program in which patrol officers receive almost instant information on terrorism alerts; the Canadian government gives the Champlain Award to Governor Jim Douglas for excellence in enhancing international relations; Howard Dean speaks out against President Bush’s speech on Iraq; state tourism officials respond to Vermont’s listing as an endangered historic place; more….
VPR News

Interview: Dean reacts to president’s address on Iraq’s future

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Speaking Monday night at the Army War College in Pennsylvania, President Bush made the first in what the White House says will be a series of weekly speeches about U.S. policy in Iraq. Former presidential candidate and Vermont governor Howard Dean has been a vocal critic of the Bush administration’s decision to go to war with Iraq and he shares his reactions to the president’s remarks with Mitch Wertlieb.
Commentary Series

May colors

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Recently Commentator Alan Boye spent some time in Townsend State Park. While there, he made some discoveries. He joins us today to share some thoughts.
Commentary Series

10 in Their 20s – New Jersey honesty

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Over the last few weeks, VPR has been featuring a series of commentaries from “10 in Their 20s,” in which members of Vermont’s 20-something generation share their perspectives on issues that matter the most to them – from the local to the global. This week the series concludes with Helen Labun and her perspective on environmental honesty.
Commentary Series

Civics education

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The importance of “civics education” was recently endorsed by the Vermont Legislature. Commentator Allen Gilbert fears that while the endorsement is well-intentioned, it’s a bit hollow.
VPR News

State rules for methadone set to expire

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Health Commissioner Doctor Paul Jarris says a decision by the Legislature not to extend Vermont’s methadone law means it will be easier to locate new clinics around the state. Jarris says expanding the availability of methadone is an important part of Governor Jim Douglas’s anti-drug program.
VPR News

Financial aid offered to help smokers quit

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The State of Vermont has created a program that’s designed to help several thousand people quit smoking in the coming months. Attorney General Bill Sorrell says the plan will be funded using $100,000 in tobacco-related settlement money.
VPR News

Vermont named to national endangered places list

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The state of Vermont is back on the list of “most endangered places” compiled by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The group says plans for seven Wal-Mart stores threaten the character of the state.
VPR News

Family questions cause of helicopter crash in Iraq

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The mother of a Vermont helicopter pilot killed in Iraq last year is disputing an Army report that says pilot error caused the crash. Dorothy Halvorsen is pushing for the Army to release more information about the crash that killed her son, 40-year-old Chief Warrant Officer Erik Halvorsen of Bennington on April 2 of last year.
VPR News

Police search for car related to Addison County fires

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Vermont state police are looking for a white Volkswagen with unknown license plates in connection with a series of suspicious fires in Addison County on Sunday. Police say three men and a woman were seen in the car around the time of the fires.
VPR News

May 24, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: minor flooding is predicted for the Otter Creek area; the National Trust for Historic Preservation has released its endangered places list and Vermont is now at the top of it; Secretary of State Deb Markowitz kicks off a campaign to register 18-year olds to vote; Governor Jim Douglas attends a summit on out of school time for youth; Lt. Governor Brian Dubie presents awards to kids who won an aviation art contest.
VPR News

Interview: ‘Red Sox Century’

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Fans of the Boston Red Sox may not want to see the documentary “Still We Believe” that opened in theaters throughout New England this weekend. The film chronicles the 2003 season that ended with a devastating playoff loss to the New York Yankees. If the movie is too much to take, it might be easier to read about the 2003 season in the newly updated “Red Sox Century,” the comprehensive guide to the team’s history. Mitch Wertlieb talks with the book’s co-author, Glen Stout, about the 2003 season.
VPR News

Upper Valley homeless shelter doubles space for families

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Homeless families in the Upper Valley will have more shelter with the opening this weekend of the new Upper Valley Haven. The $2.4 million project in White River Junction means the Haven can now provide shelter for eight homeless families.
VPR News

Interview: Christopher Reeve speaks at Middlebury commencement

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Christopher Reeve is best known for his role in the 1978 film “Superman.” Since a paralyzing equestrian accident in 1995, Reeve has actively promoted advancements in bio-medical and rehabilitation research. This Sunday, Reeve will co-deliver the commencement address at Middlebury College with his wife Dana Reeve, a member of the school’s class of 1984. Neal Charnoff talks with Reeve, from Reeve’s home in Westchester County, New York.
VPR News

New owners give Santa’s Land a make-over

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Last year, the owner of Santa’s Land in Putney said he would close the landmark and reopen it as a Wild West theme park. But Christmas will come again to this famous Putney tourist attraction, when it opens next weekend under new ownership.
VPR News

Black River Produce wins national business award

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The owners of Black River Produce in Proctorsville have been named second runners-up for National Small Business Person of the Year award. Steve Birge, who co-owns Black River with Mark Curran, attended the awards ceremony this week at the U.S. Small Business Administration annual conference in Orlando, Florida.
VPR News

Tent caterpillar infestation

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Tent caterpillars are invading trees and bushes around Vermont this spring. The mix of a warm spring and cold winter has spurred a rise in population of the two leaf-eating pests.
VPR News

May 21, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Congressman Bernie Sanders doesn’t think Republican Senator John McCain would be a good running mate for presidential candidate John Kerry; politicians in Vermont’s Democratic and Republican parties are gearing up for their state conventions, both being held Saturday; the tenth annual Historic Preservation Conference opened Friday morning at the Town Hall in Bellows Falls.
VPR News

Interview: Democrats and Republicans prepare for state conventions

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The Republicans and the Democrats are both holding their state conventions Saturday, both choosing delegates to their national nominating conventions this summer, and both telling the party faithful that their formula for the future is the only way to go. Steve Delaney talks with the chairs of both parties about their prospects for this election year.
VPR News

Legislature adjourns

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The final gavel has come down on the 2004 Legislative session. Adjournment came after disagreements between the House and the Senate over next year’s capital construction bill were worked out late Thursday afternoon.
VPR News

Sanders urges Kerry to chgoose progressive running mate

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Congressman Bernie Sanders says Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry could improve his chances of winning in November by selecting a running mate who’s taken strong progressive positions on the key issues facing the country.
VPR News

Interview: UVM celebrates 200th commencement

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The excitement of commencement season is in full swing, and at the University of Vermont there’s an extra spring in the step of faculty officials and members of the class of 2004, who will graduate this Sunday. That’s because UVM is celebrating a bicentennial commencement ceremony. Mitch Wertlieb talks with University of Vermont President Dan Fogel.
Commentary Series

Wood thrush returns

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Vermont’s state bird, the hermit thrush, and another closely related thrush, the wood thrush, can be heard singing in the forest these days. Commentator Tom Slayton has some thoughts on the decline of these birds and on our many connections to them.
Switchboard

Congressman Bernie Sanders

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Bob Kinzel’s guest is Vermont Independent congressman Bernie Sanders. They discuss the war in Iraq, prescription drug re-importation and variety of other domestic policies.
VPR News

Storm ruled not a tornado

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A storm that ripped through Florence Tuesday evening was not a tornado, according to the National Weather Service.
VPR News

Burlington man summits Mount Everest

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A Burlington man has made it to the top of Mount Everest as part of a Connecticut-based expedition. The 28-year-old Dave Watson called his parents in Connecticut at about 10:15 Wednesday night from the summit of the 29,035-foot mountain.
VPR News

May 20, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: The Vermont Legislature prepares to adjourn today; Construction started this week for a Lowe’s Home Center in South Burlington while two separate appeals that could stop the work are pending; the town of Plymouth has decided to keep its tiny elementary school open after all; every week we ask Melinda Wittstock of the Capitol Hill news bureau in Washington about the activities of the Vermont Congressional delegation; more….
VPR News

Interview: Historic preservation conference

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The tenth annual Historic Preservation Conference meets Friday in Bellows Falls, and it will be a chance to celebrate Vermont’s work in revitalizing historic villages and town centers. Bellows Falls is itself an example of how a downtown can be brought back to life. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Robert McBride, the conference coordinator and a resident of Bellows Falls.
Commentary Series

Chain of Command

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Commentator Bill Seamans has been following the investigation into prison abuse in Iraq, and wonders where responsibility lies in the military’s chain of command.
VPR News

Leahy demands president release tapes from Guantanamo camps

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Senator Patrick Leahy has asked the Bush administration to release video tapes allegedly showing the physical and mental abuse of detainees at a detention center in Guatanamo Bay, Cuba. Leahy says it’s clear that the administration wants to keep these tapes secret as long as it can.
VPR News

Interview: ‘Exception to the Rulers’

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A new book examines the role of media in the age of large corporate conglomerates. “The Exception To the Rulers” is an aggressive attack on what the authors call the “power elite” that controls the information delivered to Americans through the news media. Neal Charnoff talks with David Goodman, who lives in Waterbury. He co-authored the book with his sister, journalist Amy Goodman.
VPR News

Low-cost airline adds Burlington-Washington route

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A new low-cost airline plans to offer flights from Burlington to Washington D.C. this summer. Independence Air announced Wednesday that it will serve Burlington and 34 other cities with daily flights to Washington Dulles International Airport.
VPR News

Stamford school wins Business Roundtable award

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A tiny school in southern Vermont is one of three winners in the Vermont Business Roundtable’s annual awards for top-performing schools. Stamford Elementary School will receive three thousand dollars and an IBM ThinkPad computer for performing well on standardized tests and during judges’ visits this spring.
VPR News

May 19, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Peter Clavelle spells out his differences with Jim Douglas, whom he’s trying to replace as governor; a group of Vermonters whose employees serve in the National Guard begin a three-day visit to a Virginia military base; a Cabot farmer is going to court on charges of animal cruelty; Jack Greene is named the Transportation Agency’s employee of the year.
VPR News

Clavelle criticizes Douglas’ leadership on transportation

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Democratic gubernatorial candidate Peter Clavelle says the primary reason he’s running for governor this year is because he feels incumbent Republican governor Jim Douglas has failed to provide effective leadership on a number of key issues facing the state.
VPR News

Interview: Brattleboro civilian police review

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The Brattleboro Select Board last night agreed to a committee that will study the possibility of a civilian review board for the town’s police department. The vote was 3 to 2. Mitch Wertlieb talks with the lead organizer of the Committee for Brattleboro Civilian Review Board, Thom Namaya.
Commentary Series

A bridge over troubled waters

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Recently the Burlington bike path was connected to the Colchester bike path by an impressive new bridge. The resulting pathway is now an uninterrupted 12-and-a-half mile span. Commentator Philip Baruth says the new bridge fills him with renewed hope for humanity.
Switchboard

Gubernatorial candidate Peter Clavelle

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Host Bob Kinzel is joined by Burlington mayor and gubernatorial candidate Peter Clavelle. Clavelle will face Republican incumbent Jim Douglas in the November election, and health care, economic development and the environment are likely to be at the center of his campaign.
VPR News

Search for fuel rod parts moves from pool to written records

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After a lengthy search with a robotic camera, technicians at the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant have not found missing fuel rod segments in the spent fuel pool. The investigation to locate the pieces continues, with Yankee officials sifting through thousands of documents, some dating back 25 years.
VPR News

Senate likely to accept compromise on medical marijuana

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Senate President Pro Tem Peter Welch says the Senate is expected to accept the House’s more restrictive plan on medical marijuana to ensure that a bill passes this year. Governor Jim Douglas says allowing the bill to become law without his signature is one of the options he’s reviewing with this legislation.
VPR News

CVU High School runs pilot program to prevent harassment

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More than 1,600 incidents of school-based harassment were reported in Vermont in 2002. Most had to do with students’ race, gender or sexual identity. A pilot program to prevent bullying is now underway at Champlain Valley Union High School in Hinesburg, and the program seems to be working.
VPR News

Phish receives permit for August concert

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The band Phish is headed to the Northeast Kingdom this summer. The Vermont jam band plans to hold a two-day summer festival at the Newport State Airport in Coventry in mid-August. Vermont State Police issued a permit on Tuesday for the concert.
VPR News

May 18, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: legislators have agreed on a $955 million spending limit for the state budget; Vermont Yankee has reported that fuel rod parts last accounted for in 1979 are not at the bottom of the spent fuel pool; two Vermont inmates who says they were abused in a Kentucky prison will be returned to Vermont to finish their sentences; Governor Jim Douglas signed into law a bill to prevent bullying at schools; more….
VPR News

School encouraged to use wood chips for energy

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A group of state and local officials are hoping to increase funding levels for a program that encourages schools to install wood-chip heating systems. Currently, 24 schools have put systems into place and another three schools have plans to install them.
Commentary Series

10 in Their 20s – Support for the Montreal Expos

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Currently VPR is featuring a Monday morning series of commentaries from “10 in Their 20s,” in which members of Vermont’s 20-something generation share their perspectives on issues that matter the most to them – from the local to the global. This week Sean Cooley reflects on the future of major league baseball in our region.
VPR News

May 17, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: last-minute struggles over the state budget, as the Legislature moves toward adjournment; bald eagle chicks arrive in Vermont; American Skiing Company has sold 400 acres in the Killington ski resort; Governor Jim Douglas is busy with public appearances; Congressman Bernie Sanders speaks recognizes schools’ efforts to save energy; the Congressional High School Arts Competition is held at Vermont College in Montpelier.
VPR News

Human Services Agency prepares for reorganization

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The Human Services Agency is Vermont’s largest government agency, employing more than 3,000 people. It provides a wide range of services – from welfare and mental health, to help for the disabled. It also includes the Department of Health and the Department of Corrections. A major overhaul of the agency got the go-ahead from the Vermont Legislature at the end of this year’s session.
VPR News

Interview: Businesses for Social Responsibility conference

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The annual Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility conference starts Tuesday in Burlington. More than 350 people are expected to attend presentations centered on the idea of fostering a business ethic that, according to the organization’s mission statement, sets a high standard for protecting the natural, human and economic environments of Vermonters. Mitch Wertlieb talks with VBSR director Spence Putnam about the conference.
VPR News

Lawmakers reach deal to reallocate Circ Highway funds

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The delay of a major highway project in Chittenden County touched off an intense Statehouse battle over how to spend the money that’s now available. Lawmakers from outside Chittenden County were ultimately successful in shifting more of the funds to other projects around the state.
VPR News

Interview: International AIDS memorial observance

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The Global Health Council is sponsoring a local observance of the 2004 International AIDS Candlelight Memorial on Sunday evening in Norwich. They’ll be joining thousands of communities around the world lighting candles in remembrance of those impacted by the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. Neal Charnoff talks with Pastor Douglas, one of the featured speakers at the ceremony.
VPR News

Agreement reached on two agriculture bills

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House and Senate negotiators have reached agreement on a pair of key agricultural bills. One bill reaffirms Vermont’s right to farm law, and the other establishes new regulations to help medium-sized farms install manure management systems.
VPR News

Grant provides bulletproof vests to Vermont police

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Over two-dozen police departments across Vermont will be able to buy bulletproof vests under a program authored by Vermont U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy. Twenty-nine departments were awarded over $70,000 to buy the protective vests.
VPR News

Bald eagle chicks arrive in Vermont

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The first pair of bald eagle chicks has arrived in Vermont as part of a program to revive the bird’s population in the state. The birds will spend the weekend at an aviary in Sheldon before moving to their new home at the Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area in Addison on Monday.
VPR News

May 14, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: the Vermont Legislature is disposing of a long list of bills at a brisk pace; some Vermonters who are unhappy with policy in Iraq will gather at Goddard College for a conference this weekend; a Brookline Elementary School teacher has been barred from teaching in Vermont; Fridays check-in on Vermont’s congressional delegation; Senator Patrick Leahy speaks at the annual meeting of the Vermont Trial Lawyers’ Association.
VPR News

Graduation events across the state

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May is a month of graduations for most colleges and universities. Many speakers, dignitaries and events will mark the celebrations at Vermont graduations this spring.
VPR News

Interview: Birds of prey exhibited at ECHO Center

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A traveling exhibit of predatory birds has landed in Burlington. “Hunters of the Sky” debuts Saturday at the ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, providing a ground-level view of some of the world’s most powerful birds. Mitch Wertlieb visited the center for a sneak preview with Echo Director Phelan Fretz.
Commentary Series

Mothers in prison

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What most mothers wanted for Mother’s Day was time with their children. Yet, as commentator Cheryl Hanna reminds us, not all moms this past Sunday had reason to celebrate.
Switchboard

U.S. War on Drugs

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Host Bob Kinzel is joined by two national experts who say it’s time to re-evaluate U.S. drug policy. Bob’s guests are Ethan Nadelmann of the Drug Policy Alliance, Roger Goodman of the Seattle-based Drug Policy Project and Public Safety Commissioner Kerry Sleeper.
VPR News

GOP candidate drops out of congressional race

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A Stowe businessman has dropped his bid to challenge incumbent Bernie Sanders in the race for Congress. Robert Anderson says an election campaign would place a heavy burden on his family.
VPR News

May 13, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Governor Jim Douglas signs a permit reform bill into law; an unintended consequence of delaying the Circumferential Highway is a scramble for the money set aside for that project; an excursion boat navigates tight corners in Ticonderoga; Howard Dean has released a list of a dozen candidates his Democracy for America organization will raise funds for this year.
VPR News

Interview: Drug enforcement policy conference

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A policy conference called “Assessing the War on Drugs in Vermont” is being held Thursday and will cover topics including prison sentences for drug offenders and placing drug violators in treatment instead of jail. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Anna Saxman, president of the Vermont Bar Association, who helped coordinate the conference.
Commentary Series

Vermont’s mining history

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This June 26-27 the fifth annual Vermont History Expo will be held at the Tunbridge Worlds Fairgrounds. Commentator Edith Hunter says the Weathersfield Historical Society is preparing to share exhibit space with several other societies on the common theme of “Mining in Vermont.”
VPR News

Circ Highway funds may be reallocated

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A decision to postpone construction of Chittenden County’s Circumferential Highway for two years could free up nearly $35 million in funds for other transportation projects. Some lawmakers are concerned that if this happens, there may not be enough money for the Circ in the future.
VPR News

Slaughterhouse reopens under new management

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A Swanton slaughterhouse that went out of business in January is back open with a new name and owner. Green Mountain Packing, formerly Swanton Packing, opened its doors this week under the ownership of local businessman Rosaire Laroche.
VPR News

May 12, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Governor Jim Douglas talks about the Circumferential Highway’s budget; the Green Mountain Park horse and dog track is for sale on eBay; Vermont Protection and Advocacy holds a news conference at the Vermont State Hospital in Waterbury; a cap on a Rockingham landfill is preventing leaks; Vermont’s only natural gas utility will expand service to 1,500 more homes and businesses.
VPR News

Stormwater bill passes Senate

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The Senate has overwhelming passed legislation to clean up stormwater pollution and remove legal roadblocks to development.
VPR News

Legislators assess final bills before adjournment

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Senate Democratic leaders say passage of legislation that holds the manufacturers of genetically modified seeds liable for the contamination of neighboring fields is a top priority in the final days of the current session. Meanwhile, a House Republican leader says she’s not certain if a medical marijuana bill is going to make it to the House floor for a vote before the Legislature adjourns.
VPR News

Interview: Visiting Nurses Association

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Governor Jim Douglas kicked off national Nurses Week at Fletcher Allen Hospital Monday, just as another week honoring the men and women of the National Visiting Nurse Association drew to a close. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Sue Larman, the president and CEO of the Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice of Vermont and New Hampshire.
Commentary Series

Bluegill parenting

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Some male bluegill fish will risk their lives rather than undertake the work of protecting their young for ten days while they’re too young to survive independently. Ruth Page describes their tricky tactics.
Switchboard

Still to come in the Legislature

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Host Bob Kinzel leads the discussion with House Republican leader Connie Houston and Senate Democratic leader John Campbell. They review the bills that are likely to pass before the Legislature adjourns, and which measures may not.
VPR News

Jeffords calls for Rumsfeld’s resignation

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Senator Jim Jeffords has joined those who are calling for the resignation of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. Jeffords says Rumsfeld must be fired to show the world that the United States is willing to be accountable for the abuse of Iraqi prisoners.
VPR News

May 11, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the one o’clock hour: Governor Jim Douglas remains committed to the Circumferential Highway in Chittenden County, despite a court order to halt work on the project; a bill in the Legislature aimed at expanding early education has stalled; the most recent Vermont Youth Risk Behavior Survey shows that parents aren’t talking to their kids about sex; Santa’s Land USA, a Putney landmark, has new owners.
Commentary Series

10 in Their 20s – Art or entertainment?

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Currently VPR is featuring a Monday morning series of commentaries from “10 in Their 20s,” in which members of Vermont’s 20-something generation share their perspectives on issues that matter the most to them – from the local to the global. This week Luke Mindell reflects on the difference between art and entertainment.
VPR News

Hingtgen to focus campaign on health care

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Burlington Representative Steve Hingtgen, who’s seeking the Progressive Party’s nomination for lieutenant governor, unveiled an unusual campaign strategy on Monday. Hingtgen plans to focus on one issue for his entire campaign.
VPR News

Gasoline prices set record

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The Automotive club AAA says the average price of regular gasoline in Vermont is $1.82, about 11 cents less than the national average.
VPR News

May 10, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: the Federal Aviation Administration is investigating an incident Sunday at the Morrisville-Stowe airport; Infragard offers a series of free seminars on how small businesses and individuals can protect themselves against computer crime; Howard Dean speaks at the UVM medical school on treating uninsured medical patients; Vermont begins planning for the four hundredth anniversary of Samuel de Champlain sailing the lake named for him.
VPR News

Word for Word: Low-income housing cuts

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Last week, low income advocates gathered in Montpelier to speak out against proposed cuts in federal housing subsidies. They say up to 740 low-income, elderly or disabled Vermonters could lose federal housing assistance next year. Rita Markley, the director of the Committee on Temporary Shelter in Burlington, says the federal cuts will put more stress on a system that’s already stretched almost to the breaking point. Today, in “Word for Word,” we have an excerpt from Markley’s comments.
VPR News

Fletcher Allen opens new birthing center

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Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington celebrated a milestone in the hospital’s controversial expansion project on Sunday. Politicians, philanthropists and community members attended the ceremonial opening of the new birthing center.
Commentary Series

Mother Superior

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Sunday is Mother’s Day, and it’s a good time to honor all of those who enrich our lives with motherly care and wisdom. Commentator Frank Bryan remembers one such woman.
VPR News

Douglas optimistic about drug reimportation bill

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Governor Jim Douglas says he’ll urge President Bush to sign legislation allowing consumers to purchase drugs from Canada if Congress passes this bill in the next few months. Douglas says he’s convinced that safety concerns associated with re-importation can be worked out.
VPR News

House passes stormwater legislation

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The Vermont House has overwhelmingly approved legislation to clean up streams polluted by stormwater. The bill is also supposed to ease regulatory gridlock that’s halted some real estate deals in northwestern Vermont.
VPR News

Martin found guilty in drunk boating trial

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A Charlotte man has been found guilty of two counts of boating while intoxicated with death resulting. George Dean Martin faces up to ten years in jail and a $4,000 fine for causing the accident that killed two children.
VPR News

Brattleboro Women’s Chorus uses poetry to honor mothers

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Among the special events around Vermont this Mother’s Day weekend is the Brattleboro Women’s chorus annual concert. For almost a decade, the amateur choral group has been exploring women’s folk traditions from around the world. This year’s music is from their own back yards.
Commentary Series

Writers who know nature

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Commentator Tom Slayton observes that reading the work of a good writer with a keen understanding of the natural world can be almost as good as getting out into the spring woods yourself.
Switchboard

Senator Patrick Leahy

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Bob Kinzel talks with Vermont U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy. They cover a range of domestic and international issues – including Iraq, transportation and education policy.
VPR News

Tight transportation budget may cause Circ delays

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Governor Jim Douglas says future sections of the Chittenden County Circumferential Highway may be delayed because the costs are higher than the state anticipated. The state Transportation Agency confirmed this week that the highway costs have grown by $40 million. Douglas says the state may have to adjust the construction schedule in order to pay for other transportation projects.
VPR News

Douglas still opposed to medical marijuana bill

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Governor Jim Douglas says he’s not sure if he could sign a compromise medical marijuana bill adopted by the House Health and Welfare Committee because he still has several major problems with the proposal. Meanwhile backers of the original marijuana legislation aren’t happy with the way that the committee has changed the bill.
VPR News

Hingtgen seeks Progressive nomination for lt. governor

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Burlington Representative Steve Hingtgen says that he plans to seek the Progressive nomination for lieutenant governor this year. It’s a move that means that former Progressive candidate Anthony Pollina will not run for this post.
VPR News

Funding cut planned for low income housing

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Low-income advocates and others say planned cuts to a federal housing subsidy program will hurt Vermont families. The cuts are part of the budget that President Bush signed into law earlier this year. They go into effect in October.
VPR News

May 6, 2004 – News at a glance

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: more than 740 Vermont families could lose their federal housing assistance next year; Governor Jim Douglas holds his weekly news conference; Burlington unveils a new program to eliminate lead paint contamination in the city; Marlboro elementary school opts out of the No Child Left Behind education reform law; the Vermont Green Party calls for the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq.
VPR News

Interview: Barre’s early history in the granite industry

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A new book of previously unpublished stories based on interviews with Vermonters reveals in great detail what life was like in Barre during the Great Depression of the 1930’s. “Men Against Granite” features stories about the lives of more than 100 Barre residents, most of whom had some connection to the granite industry. Mitch Wertlieb talks with the managing editor of the New England Press Christopher Bray about the book.
VPR News

NRC agrees to independent review of Vermont Yankee

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Federal regulators have agreed to conduct a detailed engineering assessment of the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission says the new inspection should satisfy the state’s request for additional review before Yankee is allowed to boost its power output.
VPR News

House committee passes medical marijuana bill

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The House Health and Welfare Committee has given its approval to a scaled-down version of the medical marijuana bill. The legislation is more restrictive than the proposal the Senate passed last year. The vote in committee was eight to three.
VPR News

Milton representative proposes from the House floor

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An unusual event took place on the House floor Wednesday afternoon. During afternoon announcements, Milton Representative Doran Metzger introduced his girlfriend to his House colleagues and then Metzger dropped a bombshell.
VPR News

Poll shows Douglas leads Clavelle

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Republican Governor Jim Douglas leads Democratic challenger Peter Clavelle in a new poll. The poll of 400 likely voters was conducted April 28-30 for WCAX TV by Research 2000.
VPR News

May 5, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Federal regulators agree to conduct an independent engineering assessment of the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant; Governor Jim Douglas testifies before a federal task force on drug re-importation; the father of soldier Christopher Gelineau announces a memorial fund in his son’s honor; Jack McMullen discusses his Senate campaign; the commission on overcrowded prisons will hold its final public meeting tonight in Springfield.
VPR News

Interview: Vermont Tubbs’ turn-around

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Small business success stories can be hard to come by, especially when the company thrives after nearly shutting its doors for good. But that’s the case with Vermont Tubbs, the Brandon-based furniture maker that almost called it quits last year, and now is looking to add more workers for extra shifts and is anticipating sales that would have seemed beyond reach just eight months ago. Mitch Wertlieb talks with John McNeill, one of the investors who took over Vermont Tubbs last Fall.
Commentary Series

UVM is back

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After a rough few years, the University of Vermont seems to be hitting its stride again. Commentator Philip Baruth teaches at UVM and offers an insider’s view of the comeback.
VPR News

Another landslide closes Route 15 near Hardwick

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Vermont Route 15 outside of Hardwick is closed again due to a landslide, the second one in 17 days. Crews from the Agency of Transportation were wrapping up work Tuesday afternoon and expect to have the road open soon.
VPR News

May 4, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing at the noon hour: South Burlington bans smoking in bars and restaurants; the Select Board in Springfield has dropped the idea of establishing a curfew for the town’s young people; Green Mountain College has joined the Eco League, a new consortium of small, environmentally focused colleges; state etymologist Jon Turmel says black fly season is upon us; more…
VPR News

Interview: Middlebury College’s new president

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For just the third time in its 204-year history, Middlebury College has chosen a new president from within its own ranks. The Middlebury College Board of Trustees announced recently that Cornwall resident Ronald Liebowitz will succeed outgoing president John McCardle. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Liebowitz about his new role at the college.
VPR News

Circ Highway costs exceed estimate

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Another big highway project is coming in over the estimated costs. The state Transportation Agency says the 16 mile Chittenden County Circumferential Highway will cost $222 million – about $43 million more than previous estimates.
Commentary Series

10 in Their 20s – Health insurance costs

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For ten Mondays, VPR is featuring a new series of commentaries from “10 in Their 20s,” in which members of Vermont’s 20-something generation share their perspectives on issues that matter the most to them – from the local to the global. This week Marrisa Caldwell reflects on the high cost of health insurance.
VPR News

Memphremagog swim changes course

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Organizers of a 27-mile Lake Memphremagog swimming marathon will break tradition and move the start of the race from Vermont to Magog, Quebec.
VPR News

Interview: ‘Candyfreak’

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For better or for worse, author Steve Almond claims to have eaten a piece of candy every day in his life. Almond has embraced his obsession by writing the new memoir “Candyfreak: A Journey Through the Chocolate Underbelly of America.” The book recounts his quest to discover candy’s origins here, and describes his visits to the unsung independent candy companies across the country. Neal Charnoff talks with Almond about what it means to be a “Candyfreak.”
VPR News

May 3, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: UVM gets $1.6 million through Senator Jeffords for advanced research projects; officials in the town of Putney are praising the effectiveness of the town’s emergency response plan after a chemical gas release on Friday; Howard Dean discusses how he hopes to use his new Democracy for America organization to influence the 2004 general elections; “Way to Go Week” encourages people to get around without a car.
VPR News

Brattleboro questions priorities of local paper’s owners

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For almost a century the Brattleboro Reformer has been the spirited voice of Vermont’s southeast corner. Now it’s owned by one of the nation’s largest media chains. Recent firings by the Denver-based owner have raised questions about a local paper’s role – and obligation – to the local community.
Commentary Series

Fluke

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Commentator Jules Older is in love with a book about… well, here’s a hint: What’s 50 feet long, wider than a bus and weighs 80-thousand pounds?
VPR News

Interview: Putney evacuated after suspected chlorine gas leak

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The Putney Fire Department reports a release of what is believed to be chlorine gas into the air at the Putney Paper plant on Friday afternoon. The plant and homes on Putney’s main street have been evacuated, and U.S. Route 5 through Putney and some side roads were closed. Those who were evacuated were taken to the Putney Central School. Neal CHarnoff talks with VPR’s Susan Keese, who is at the Putney General Store.
VPR News

Schools required to test water for uranium

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The state wants 150 schools and day care centers to test their water supplies for signs of radioactive contamination. The state imposed the new testing requirements after the well water for the Middletown Springs elementary school showed elevated levels of uranium. The radioactive material occurs naturally in some rock formations in Vermont.
VPR News

Dean considers TV talk show offer

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Former Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean is talking to executives in Los Angeles about hosting a TV talk show. Dean met with Paramount executives this week.
VPR News

Vermont Tubbs plans for new hires

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The furniture maker Vermont Tubbs is training workers for a third shift. Last fall, Vermont Tubbs was on the verge of closing when investors purchased it.
VPR News

April 30, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: tomorrow is Green-up Day in Vermont; a last-minute amendment to a sex-offender bill has broad implications for access to court records scheduled to be released on the internet in July; Melinda Wittstock of the Capitol Hill news bureau in Washington reports on the Vermont Congressional delegation; Saint Michael’s College Rescue Squad in Colchester donates an ambulance to Choloma, Honduras.
VPR News

Agriculture secretary’s statement provokes angry response from Senate leader

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Vermont’s Agriculture Secretary called on the Senate Thursday to pass a key farm bill. The secretary says the Senate isn’t holding up its end of an agreement to pass legislation this session dealing with genetically engineered seeds, amending Vermont’s Right to Farm Law and enforcement of water quality standards for farms. The comments drew an immediate and angry response from the Democratic leader of the Senate.
VPR News

Book interview: ‘My Sister’s Keeper’

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There has been much debate about the ethical implications of genetic planning, stem cell research and “designer babies.” Author Jodi Picoult gives the topic a dramatic human perspective in her new novel, “My Sisters’s Keeper.” Neal Charnoff talks with author about her book.
VPR News

April 29, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: funeral services will be held this weekend for a soldier killed in combat in Iraq; Vermont’s DNA databank helps solve a fatal hit and run in New York; two students from the Northeast Kingdom win first place in a NASA engineering contest; Agriculture Secretary Steve Kerr comments on two pending agriculture bills; New Hampshire lawmakers debate whether to make it illegal to recognize same-sex marriages performed out of state.
VPR News

Governor urges House to pass sex offender registry bill

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Governor Jim Douglas pressed the Legislature on Wednesday to make it easier for community members to have access to information about convicted sex offenders. The Senate has passed legislation that would create an online registry of sex offenders and the governor says the House should do the same.
VPR News

National Guard recruitment picks up

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Political and military leaders are talking about the need for more troops in Iraq and elsewhere. But the increasing death toll and violence in Iraq has not dampened Vermonters’ interest in serving in the National Guard.
VPR News

New policy for high-speed police chases

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Vermont State Police have new guidelines for deciding when to pursue high-speed chases. The policy puts limits on when tire-deflating spikes can be used and requires closer radio supervision of chases by senior officers.
VPR News

New 911 call answering center open

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Another call answering center for 911 emergency telephone calls is now online in Vermont. The tenth public service answering point began operations on Tuesday at the state police barracks in Derby.
VPR News

April 28, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: the Leader of the Vermont Senate says Vermont Yankee has lost credibility, as well as fuel rod pieces; political and military leaders are talking about the need for more troops in Iraq and elsewhere; Senator Patrick Leahy says Justice Antonin Scalia should recuse himself from a case involving Vice President Cheney’s energy task force; veteran state senator Gary Gossens of Addison County will not run for re-election in the fall.
VPR News

Interview: Senate Judiciary Committee stolen memos

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Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy is speaking out on some high-profile judicial matters – including an argument before the Supreme Court could force Vice President Dick Cheney to turn over documents on his energy policy meetings and a case of memos stolen last year from computers used by Democrats on the judiciary committee. Those memos were found on a Republican aide’s computer. Mitch Wertlieb talks
VPR News

Administration plans for statewide broadband service

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Public Service Department Commissioner David O’Brien says it’s critical to expand new telecommunication services, like high-speed Internet and broadband capabilities, to every part of the state in the next few years.
VPR News

No word from NRC on Vermont Yankee safety review

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Federal regulators let Tuesday’s deadline pass and failed to respond to Vermont’s request for an independent assessment of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant. Public Service Commissioner David O’Brien says he’s disappointed with the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission. O’Brien says the federal agency runs the risk of losing public confidence in the Yankee plant.
VPR News

April 27, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: federal regulators say it’s unlikely they’ll have an answer today on the state’s request for an independent engineering assessment of the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant; Congressman Bernie Sanders says senior centers in Vermont are underfunded; New Hampshire cracks down on highway driving violations; a NH burglary suspect has been arrested in Florida; researchers at UVM research a vaccine for anthrax.
VPR News

Interview: Teens compete in Texas birding competition

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Some Vermont teenagers spent their spring break competing in the annual Great Texas Birding Classic, one of the largest birding competitions in the country. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Chip Darmstadt of the Vermont Institute of Natural Science, who’s coached the team of eight Vermonters.
VPR News

Missing fuel rods won’t affect NRC’s decision on uprate

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The Nuclear Regulatory Commission says the missing fuel rods at Vermont Yankee will not affect a decision on an increase in power at the plant. NRC inspectors are at Vermont Yankee this week to look for the missing fuel components. But the agency says that work won’t be connected to its review of a controversial request to generate more power there.
VPR News

Tax package would raise $10 million from out of state businesses

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The Douglas administration is supporting a tax package that’s expected to raise about $10 million primarily from out-of-state businesses. The administration wants to use half of the money to lower income tax rates for Vermont businesses and the other half to help deal with unexpected pressures on the state budget.
Commentary Series

Spring preview

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Commentator Ruth Page recently saw a very special light-show. She describes that offering of Nature as a sample of the kind of experience we all “luck into” from time to time.
VPR News

20 states settle allegations with pharmacy benefits manager

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Vermont and 19 other states are getting cash in a settlement over medications. The nation’s largest pharmacy benefits manager is settling allegations by the 20 states that it was switching patients to medications to save itself money, not to benefit the patients.
VPR News

Banknorth income up 11 percent over last year

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Banknorth Group says it posted net income of $90 million in the first quarter, up 11 percent from a year ago. The bank said income would have been higher but the bank pumped more money into marketing to attract Fleet Bank customers in advance of its merger.
VPR News

April 26, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: state officials say they expect a response from the Nuclear Regulatory Agency in Washington, to the Vermont request for a top-to-bottom engineering reliability survey; the pace of legislative decision-making has quickened at the Statehouse in Montpelier, where lawmakers are beginning to think about adjourning; recent graduates from Dartmouth College have spent the past three years teaching English on remote Pacific islands.
Commentary Series

10 in Their 20s – A new world view

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For ten Mondays, VPR is featuring a new series of commentaries from “10 in Their 20s,” in which members of Vermont’s 20-something generation share their perspectives on issues that matter the most to them – from the local to the global. This week Brendan Fisher reflects on how the U.S. is perceived by the rest of the world.
Commentary Series

Opening day

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Commentator Willem Lange has been enjoying the winter, but there’s something about the year’s first fishing trip that’s very special.
Commentary Series

Ramzi Yousef trial

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The current inquiry into the September 11 attacks has given commentator Christopher Wren a strong case of the deja vu’s.
VPR News

April 23, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: the Public Service Commissioner says he doubts the spent fuel rods missing from Vermont Yankee are in the power plant’s spent fuel pool; funding for Rutland’s rail yard relocation in bogged down in Congress; Senator Jim Jeffords’ criticizes President Bush’s environmental record; Dartmouth College launches a research service for public issue questions that may become legislation.
VPR News

Interview: Medical marijuana debate

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A bill that would legalize the use of medical marijuana has drawn passionate testimony on both sides of the issue from Vermont residents, health and law enforcement officials. The legislation is currently before the House Health and Welfare Committee, and its fate is hard to predict. Hilton Wick is an attorney from Burlington, who’s wife Barbara died of cancer three years ago. Wick talks with VPR’s Mitch Wertlieb about why he testified in favor of the Medical Marijuana bill.
VPR News

Interview: Children’s theater in Bethlehem

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A community leader from the Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem, Israel has been visiting Vermont this week and brings a message of non-violent resistance against the Israeli occupation. Dr. Abdel Fattah Abu-Srour is especially concerned about the lives of Palestinian children in the camp, and hopes immersion in the arts can help communicate their troubles to the outside world. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Dr. Abu-Srour about a fundraiser for the Palestinian Children’s Theater in Bethlehem.
VPR News

Douglas loses confidence in Vermont Yankee over lost fuel rods

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Governor Jim Douglas says a proposed expansion of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant could be affected by the disclosure that two segments of a fuel rod are missing at the facility. Douglas says the incident has caused him to lose some confidence in the owners of the plant and he says it’s critical for the federal government to support an independent reliability study of the facility before the power upgrade takes place.
VPR News

Spent fuel rods missing from Vermont Yankee

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A recent federal inspection of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant has revealed that two spent fuel rods are missing. Plant officials say there’s no threat to public safety because it’s very likely that the rods are still in the facility’s spent fuel pool.
Commentary Series

Signs of spring

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Many Vermonters are cheered by the birds of early spring. Tom Slayton says that he especially likes a family of birds that arrives a bit later in the season.
VPR News

Permit reform compromised reached in conference committee

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The Vermont Senate has approval to legislation that makes the first substantial changes to Act 250 in over 30 years. The vote on the bill was 25 to 4. A House-and-Senate conference committee has been working on this compromise plan for almost a year.
VPR News

New tax plan under review

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A new tax plan backed by the House Ways and Means Committee is being viewed as a way to lower corporate income tax rates for Vermont businesses and provide an additional $5 million for next year’s budget.
VPR News

House gives preliminary approval to health care plan

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The Vermont House gave preliminary approval on Tuesday to a scaled down version of Governor Jim Douglas’s health care reform plan. The proposal offers tax credits to small businesses that currently don’t offer health insurance to their employees. During a full day of debate, House members defeated a Democratic alternative.
VPR News

State studies economic impact of tourism

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The state of Vermont is commissioning a study of its tourism industry to learn how the industry affects the state’s economy. The state plans to hire someone next month with the aim of having the study completed in October.
VPR News

Burlington ranks second for gay population

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Vermont’s largest city is a popular place with gay couples. A book that’s due to be released soon ranks several small cities according to the percentage of gay and lesbian households living there.
VPR News

April 20, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing at the noon hour: the managing editor of the Brattleboro Reformer was fired yesterday; the Vermont House is debating competing ideas on how to improve health care for uninsured state residents; Governor Jim Douglas has signed a proclamation for Equal Pay Day in Vermont; in New Hampshire, the State Senate is calling for an independent safety review of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant in Vernon.
VPR News

Interview: Gender wage gap

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When a group of businesswomen called The Ladies of Vermont meet with Governor Jim Douglas today, they will be dressed in red – the color signifying the deficit in pay between men and women who perform the same job. The meeting is part of the “Equal Pay Day Proclamation.” Mitch Wertlieb talks with Laurie Beth Putnam, vice president of the Vermont Federation of Business and Professional Women.
Commentary Series

A dog’s life

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Philip Baruth claims to live near a dog park in Burlington’s New North End. This is true. His claim to have met a dog there resembling British Prime Minister Tony Blair, however, cannot be independently verified.
VPR News

Vermont set to pass GMO bill into law

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Governor Jim Douglas says he’ll sign a bill into law that requires the labeling of genetically modified seeds in Vermont. The legislation marks the first time that any state in the country has taken this action.
VPR News

Conference focuses attention on substance abuse

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Advocates say the past two years have brought increased recognition of a serious substance abuse problem in Vermont. They say what’s needed now are the resources to deal with the problem. Providers and policymakers met on Monday in a first-ever town meeting to discuss ways to improve the system.
VPR News

Hawaii joins multi-state prescription drug pool

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Another state has joined the multi-state drug purchasing pool that Vermont belongs to. Hawaii has joined Michigan, New Hampshire, Alaska, Nevada and Vermont in the effort to negotiate discounts from pharmaceutical manufacturers.
VPR News

Higher Ground makes way for Winooski redevelopment

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A Winooski concert hall is getting ready to close. Higher Ground will host its last show this Sunday before the club and a neighboring shopping complex are razed to make way for a $200 million redevelopment project.
VPR News

Apri 19, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: plans are firming up for some major retail development in St. Albans; historian and human rights scholar Michael Ignatieff delivers a speech on how democracies respond to terrorism; drivers in Rutland may soon see the blue lights of police vehicles flashing from motorcycles; a Hanover doctor talks about his work building roads, and unofficially supporting orphanages in Afghanistan
VPR News

Wilderness designation ignites land use debate

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A plan to more than double the federally designated wilderness in Vermont’s national forest has tempers flaring in some towns. Wilderness can only be designated by Congress. Hunters, campers, hikers and skiers are allowed in Wilderness Areas. Mechanized vehicles and logging are not. In towns where generations have worked and played in what are now public lands, that cuts pretty close to home.
VPR News

Word for Word: Michael Ignatieff

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Last week, students and community members gathered at Middlebury College for an address delivered by human rights scholar Michael Ignatieff. In his speech, Ignatieff argued that the United States has an obligation to uphold the human rights of terrorists, and that doing so demonstrates the morality of a free society.
VPR News

Interview: Sugar on snow

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This year’s sugaring season is drawing to a close and with it comes the annual Sugar-on-Snow party at the University of Vermont’s Baily-Howe Library. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Brian Stowe of UVM’s Proctor Maple Research Center, about the event.
Commentary Series

10 in Their 20s – Politics of Food

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For ten Mondays, VPR is featuring a new series of commentaries from “10 in Their 20s,” in which members of Vermont’s 20-something generation share their perspectives on issues that matter the most to them – from the local to the global. This week, Suzanne Podhaizer reflects on the politics of food.
VPR News

Law firm settles with hospital after expansion scandal

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A Burlington law firm will pay Fletcher Allen Health Care $2 million to settle legal issues arising from its role in the hospital’s expansion project. Both the hospital and the law firm say the settlement was reached amicably and that they continue to work together.
VPR News

Douglas against moving funds for milk processing plant

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The Douglas administration is opposing a plan to transfer half a million dollars from agricultural pollution programs to help build a new milk processing plant in Springfield. Agriculture Secretary Steve Kerr says the pollution program is critical to help clean up streams and rivers across the state.
VPR News

April 16, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Dairy Farmers of Vermont urges the State Senate to put a half million dollars into a milk processing plant; Melinda Wittstock of the Capitol Hill News Bureau in Washington recaps what Vermont’s Congressional delegation has done this week; the trustees of the Vermont state colleges vote to raise tuition at the five schools, one day after Governor Jim Douglas said he would oppose an increase.
VPR News

Senate proposes changes to right to farm law

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The Senate Agriculture Committee has heard concerns that proposed changes to the right-to-farm law could make it unconstitutional. The legislation is a top priority for the Douglas Administration. But it’s facing tough questions in the Senate.
VPR News

Interview: Mo Rocca speaks at UVM

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The University of Vermont’s Speakers Series continues on Friday evening with Mo Rocca, a former “senior correspondent” from the Daily Show, a fake TV news program on Comedy Central. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Rocca about fake news coverage and art the of satire.
VPR News

Senate approves identity theft bill

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The Senate has given its final approval to legislation that makes it a crime to steal someone’s identity for the purpose of illegally obtaining merchandise in the victim’s name. Backers of the bill say it’s one of the fastest growing crimes in the country.
VPR News

Interview: My Life Had Stood a Loaded Gun

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In 1999, author Theo Padnos was nearing the completion of his PhD in comparative literature. His job search brought him to the Woodstock Correctional Facility, where he was a teacher for just over a year. Padnos used the works of authors such as Mark Twain, Flannery O’Connor and Ken Kesey to connect with an assortment on young Vermont criminals. They in turn shared with him thoughts about their lives, and their crimes. Neal Charnoff talks with Padnos about his new memoir.
VPR News

April 15, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: trustees of the Vermont colleges will vote on a tuition hike opposed by Governor Jim Douglas; Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie has been in Cuba since Monday trying to build personal and commercial relationships; Senator Patrick Leahy will be in Brattleboro this afternoon to deliver a major speech on Iraq; Rockingham has formed a new alliance with the Vermont Public Power Supply Authority to study buying a hydro-electric dam.
VPR News

Interview: US family planning policy abroad

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A symposium has been taking place all this week at Middlebury College, “Might for Right? The Tension Between International Humanitarian and U.S. Political Interests.” The program included a forum held Wednesday on U.S. funding for United Nations family planning initiatives. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Ellen Oxfeld, a professor of anthropology at Middlebury College, about the panel.
VPR News

Douglas opposes tuition increase for state colleges

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Governor Jim Douglas says he won’t support proposed tuition increases at Vermont state colleges. Douglas is a member of the state college board of trustees. The board is considering the tuition hikes on Thursday. The head of the college system says without the tuition hike, there will be a decline in quality of education at the colleges.
VPR News

Senate approves public power authority

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The Vermont Senate is debating whether to create a public power authority that would sell electricity produced by Connecticut River hydro dams. Advocates say it would allow the state to provide environmentally friendly, low cost power.
VPR News

Partisan debate continues over health care proposals

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The Vermont House is getting ready for a showdown over legislation that’s designed to provide health care coverage to uninsured Vermonters. It’s become a partisan issue in the House because Democrats and Republicans are supporting very different approaches.
VPR News

Amestoy warns lawmakers of pre-trial detention

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Vermont Supreme Court Chief Justice Jeffrey Amestoy is warning lawmakers of what he calls a potentially catastrophic threat to the state’s criminal justice system. Amestoy says more people are being held in jail for longer periods before they go to trial.
VPR News

April 14, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: the House has voted overwhelmingly to let the Fish and Wildlife Department manage the state’s deer herd; lawmakers are asking why Vermont should spend $600,000 to renovate the Vermont State Hospital when officials want to close the facility within the next few years; opponents of a medical marijuana bill say there isn’t enough time left in the current session to give the proposal a thorough review; more….
VPR News

Interview: Report on childhood poverty in Vermont

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A report on children and poverty in Vermont will be released Wednesday morning, and the news is not expected to be very good – with warning signs that child poverty may be on the rise in Vermont due to a variety of complex conditions. The report is being issued by the non-partisan research policy organization Vermont Children’s Forum. Micth Wertlieb talks with Beth Burgess, the forum’s research coordinator, about the report.
VPR News

Bennington caps square footage of new retail stores

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Selectmen in Bennington have set a temporary cap on the size of retail businesses in town. A new interim zoning bylaw provision limits the size of retail construction to 75,000 square feet in the Northside Drive area.
Commentary Series

Vietnam deja vu

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For many people, events in Iraq have brought back memories of America’s entry into Vietnam 40 years ago. Among them is commentator Nick Boke.
VPR News

Nobel laureate urges students to be activists

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Nobel Laureate and Poultney native Jody Williams returned to Vermont Tuesday. Speaking at Saint Michael’s College, Williams described the 12-year effort to ban land mines that made her a co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. And she encouraged students to devote themselves to a cause.
VPR News

Jane Sanders named president of Burlington College

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Vermont Representative Bernard Sanders has lost his campaign manager, but Burlington College has gained a new president. The college announced on Tuesday that it has hired Jane O’Meara Sanders – Bernie Sanders’ wife – as its new leader.
VPR News

Senate gives preliminary approval to capital bill

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The Vermont Senate has given preliminary approval to a spending plan that would help build a new courthouse in Rutland. The $40 million capital construction bill calls for issuing bonds to pay for state construction projects and other capital investments.
VPR News

April 13, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: a new law to control racial harassment in schools was signed this morning in Montpelier; there’s a new teaching tool at the Burlington Technical Center’s aviation program, based at the Burlington International Airport; the border between the United States and Canada is losing some of its markers; President Bush’s re-election campaign opens a headquarters on Elm Street in downtown Manchester, New Hampshire this evening.
VPR News

Federal safety review questioned in Vermont Yankee case

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The safety of nuclear power hinges on the concept of “redundancy.” How much redundancy is one of the questions raised by the proposal at the Vermont Yankee plant in Vernon to boost power by 20 percent. Critics say that at least two layers of safety systems are needed to control radiation releases. But they charge that the increase in power could trigger a situation in which a key safety system could fail.
VPR News

Douglas asks for cost-saving modifications to Bypass

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Governor Jim Douglas is asking state highway engineers to consider ways to redesign the northern leg of the Bennington Bypass to help reduce the cost of the project. The governor is taking this step because the estimated price tag for the road has more than doubled, from $45 million to $99 million.
VPR News

VHFA celebrates 30 years

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The Vermont Housing Finance Agency marked its thirtieth anniversary on Monday with a ceremony at the Statehouse.
VPR News

April 12, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Governor Jim Douglas is in Bennington for an update on the Bennington Bypass; the Vermont Housing Finance Agency marks its 30th anniversary with a ceremony at the Statehouse; Manchester and Windsor voters will bond issues on the ballot tomorrow; Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry is in New Hampshire kicking off his tour of college campuses.
VPR News

Inside the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant

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For the rest of the month, the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant will be shutdown for a major overhaul. Over a thousand people are working around the clock to install new equipment so the plant can boost its power by 20 percent. Yankee officials say the upgrade is a relatively low-cost way to gain an additional 110 megawatts, but opponents worry that safety will be compromised. Reporter John Dillon takes us inside the Vernon power plant.
VPR News

Sugar makers review successful season

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As the sugaring season draws to a close this year, the maple industry says production has increased and plans for more expansion are in the works. That means maple producers are looking for new ways to market their “liquid gold.”
VPR News

Word for Word – Cheryl Brown Henderson

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Last week, the University of Vermont hosted a symposium on the legacy of the school desegregation court case, Brown v. Board of Education. The daughter of the lead plaintiff in the case, Cheryl Brown Henderson, was on campus to participate in the forum. In a speech to students and faculty, she said the Supreme Court’s 1954 decision was an important step in bridging the gap between the theory of democracy, and the way it had been practiced.
Commentary Series

10 in Their 20s – In search of a church

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For ten Mondays, VPR is featuring a new series of commentaries from “10 in Their 20s”, in which members of Vermont’s 20-something generation share their perspectives on issues that matter the most to them – from the local to the global. This week, Gregory Bernhardt reflects on his search for a spiritual community.
VPR News

$360 million may not cover state’s transportation needs

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The Vermont Senate has given its unanimous approval to legislation that calls for spending almost $360 million on state transportation projects next year. Despite the large appropriation, backers of the plan say the proposal doesn’t meet Vermont’s paving and highway maintenance needs.
VPR News

Bypass costs prompt questions about Circ budget

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Concern over cost increases for the Bennington Bypass has prompted questions about whether a major Chittenden County highway project is holding to its budget. State transportation officials are now reviewing cost estimates for the $189 million Circumferential Highway.
VPR News

CVPS may raise rates before 2006

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The state’s largest utility says it may soon need to raise rates. The Central Vermont Public Service Corporation had set a goal of holding rates flat until 2006. But a spokesman said it will likely file for a rate increase much sooner.
VPR News

April 9, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: state officials are worried about a shortfall in highway construction and repair funds; a Senate committee has proposed adding five mental health jobs to the state’s prison system; Vermont’s population continues to rise; Melinda Wittstock of the Capitol Hill news bureau gives an update on the Vermont Congressional delegation; Vermont will keep it’s sole 802 area code for at least another six years; more…
VPR News

Interview: Sabra Field exhibit opens at VLS

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Vermont artist Sabra Field’s bucolic wood block prints have become synonymous with the landscape of Vermont, where Field has lived and worked since 1969. Her achievements include a Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts, and the design of Vermont’s bicentennial stamp. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Field about a new permanent exhibition that chronicles the architectural evolution of the Vermont Law School in South Royalton.
VPR News

Leahy reacts to Rice’s 9-11 testimony

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Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy says National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice shouldn’t be surprised that the commission is questioning the Bush administration’s commitment to fighting terrorism prior to 9-11.
VPR News

Douglas asks EPA to withdraw mercury proposal

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Governor Jim Douglas says he’s concerned that new regulations developed by the Bush administration concerning mercury emissions from power plants will cause significant harm to Vermont’s environment. Douglas is asking the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, Michael Leavitt, to withdraw the proposal and come back with much stronger rules:
VPR News

School choice bill stays in Committee

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The Vermont House has voted two to one not to pull a school choice bill out of the House Education Committee so it could go directly to the floor for a vote. Some proponents of public school choice are frustrated that the Education Committee has refused to vote the bill out. They decided to employ a seldom used parliamentary tool to override the committee.
VPR News

Overweight children lack access to medical care

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A Vermont pediatrician says it’s time to classify the problem of overweight children as an eating disorder. Speaking Thursday night on VPR’s Switchboard, Gifford Hospital Medical Director, Dr. Lou DiNicola, said some children aren’t getting the medical care they need for overweight problems:
Commentary Series

Romantic math

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You might think that math and romance are an unlikely combination, but commentator Dan Rockmore assures us that they’re actually very compatible.
VPR News

Speaker of the House announces retirement

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House Speaker Walter Freed says he won’t seek re-election to the Legislature in November because he feels it’s time for him to move on to other challenges. Freed says he has no plans to run for higher office in the future.
VPR News

April 8, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Speaker of the House Walter Freed explains why he’s leaving his post at the end of his term; Senator Patrick Leahy is in the middle of a fight in Washington over high gasoline prices; the Fairbanks Museum in St. Johnsbury received a significant grant from NASA for programs that develop young scientists; Springfield school officials hope students can return to the Union Street Elementary School on Monday.
VPR News

Interview: Brown v. Board of Education

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Michael Lomax, president of the United Negro College Fund, will speak Friday at the University of Vermont commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Lomax about the historic decision that led to desegregated schools.
Commentary Series

Farmer’s Diner

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Eating out and eating locally grown food don’t always go together, but commentator Ron Krupp has an example of how the two can be combined creatively.
VPR News

House approves key agriculture legislation

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The Vermont House gave preliminary approval to key farm legislation on Wednesday. The bills deal with genetically engineered seeds, the right to farm law, and regulations protecting streams and lakes from farm runoff.
VPR News

Burlington Diocese settles abuse lawsuit

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The Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington said this week that it has reached a settlement in the last of several lawsuits filed in the wake of allegations of sexual misconduct by Vermont priests.
VPR News

Dubie plans trip to Cuba

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Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie will visit Cuba next week. Dubie will be traveling with his chief of staff, Martha Hanson, and Essex High School principal Armando Vilaseca – who grew up in Cuba.
VPR News

Windsor fills town administrator vacancy

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The Windsor select board is offering the job of town administrator to an official from Manhattan, Kansas. The move comes eight months after the board fired its previous administrator.
VPR News

April 7, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington has settled all its outstanding sexual abuse lawsuits, but more may be filed; Governor Jim Douglas will announce a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the state; three major agriculture bills are up for floor debate in the House this afternoon; Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie goes to Cuba next week to build relationships between that country and Vermont.
VPR News

Project introduces nesting bald eagles to Vermont

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Vermont is the only state in the continental United States without nesting bald eagles. Even though it’s expected that birds from New Hampshire will take up residence in Vermont in the next several years, the state has launched its own effort to make sure the bald eagle returns.
Commentary Series

A different March Madness

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As Congress looks into events leading up to 9-11 and the media debates the use of graphic depictions of violence, commentator Bill Seamans reflects on current American attitudes about the war on terror.
VPR News

Senate unanimously passes identity theft bill

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The Senate Judiciary Committee has voted unanimously in favor of legislation to reduce cases of identity theft in Vermont. Committee Chairman Dick Sears says the bill is the most important consumer protection initiative that the Legislature will deal with this year.
VPR News

Three Vermont Guard members wounded in Iraq

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Three Vermont National Guard soldiers are recovering from wounds suffered last week in a roadside ambush in Iraq. In the same attack, a New Hampshire National Guard soldier was killed.
VPR News

Vermonters hope to make the Major Leagues this season

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It’s been more than 19 years since a Vermont-born baseball player has made it to the Major Leagues. But that could change this year. Six Vermont baseball players are finishing spring training in Florida and Arizona.
VPR News

April 6, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: the Vermont Electric Cooperative has closed on its purchase of of Citizens Communications’ Vermont assets; the Federal government says Lebanon, New Hampshire has put city workers at risk at its landfill, airport and public works garages; Vermont state officials have confirmed the FBI is investigating a local tourism marketing group; a Senate committee has passed a bill reforming Vermont’s worker’s compensation insurance; more….
VPR News

Interview: Canadian refugee return policy

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Last week, a coalition of non-governmental organizations, including Montpelier-based Vermont Refugee Assistance, filed a formal request with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights to declare the Canadian refugee policy of “direct return” illegal. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Patrick Giantonio, the director of Vermont Refugee Assistance, about the policy and the protest.
VPR News

Prescription drug abuse – Part II

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Prescription drug abuse is increasing dramatically. Eighteen people died in Vermont from overdoses of Oxycodone alone, the active ingredient in Oxycontin. In the second of a two-part series on prescription drug abuse, VPR’s Nina Keck reports on a new collaborative effort in Rutland that has doctors, pharmacists and law enforcement personnel working together to fight the problem.
VPR News

Pollina may run in Democratic primary

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Progressive Anthony Pollina says he’s considering running for lieutenant governor – but as a Democrat. Pollina says it’s clear to him that incumbent Republican Brian Dubie will win re-election if there are Democratic and Progressive candidates in the race.
VPR News

April 5, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: the Colchester School Board has chosen Armando Vilaseca, who’s been principal of Essex High School, as its new superintendent; administrators at Rutland Regional Medical Center say profits are way up this year; the Springfield High School newspaper has won several student journalism awards, including best overall small paper in the northeastern United States.
VPR News

Prescription drug abuse – Part I

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Rutland was one of the first communities in Vermont to publicly address its growing heroin problem. But many of the city’s heroin users began their addictions with prescription drugs. In fact, prescription drug abuse accounts for about a third of the abuse here and around the country.
Commentary Series

10 in Their 20s – A generation of volunteers

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For ten Mondays, VPR is featuring a new series of commentaries from “10 in Their 20s,” in which members of Vermont’s 20-something generation share their perspectives on issues that matter the most to them – from the local to the global. This week, Rebekah Zietz reflects on the importance of volunteering.
VPR News

Interview: College Republicans hold convention

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The Vermont College Republican Federation is holding its first convention this weekend in Middlebury. Neal Charnoff talks with Drew Pugsley, a Middlebury College senior and chairman of the Vermont College Republican Federation, about the convention.
VPR News

April 2, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Angelina Marano starts in June as the new chief operating officer of Fletcher Allen Health Care, part of the hospital’s effort to emerge from a financial scandal; New Hampshire has surpassed Vermont as the nation’s healthiest state; VPIRG is warning that Vermont needs to act now on anti-pollution commitments it made three years ago; Senator Patrick Leahy opposes President Bush’s nominee for the ninth circuit court of appeals.
VPR News

Interview: Planned Parenthood leader speaks in Vermont

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The national president of Planned Parenthood will be in Vermont on Friday, taking part in events sponsored by Independent Congressman Bernie Sanders and his annual statewide women’s forum. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Gloria Feldt about why she believes there’s a sense of urgency now concerning women’s reproductive rights.
VPR News

Sen. committee studies drop in Dr. Dynasaur enrollment

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The Senate Health and Welfare Committee is trying to determine how many children have been removed from the state’s Dr. Dynasaur program because of the implementation of a new payment system for the program. Committee Chairman Jim Leddy says the impact of these cuts goes far beyond health care issues.
VPR News

U.S. Senate committee endorses Hall’s nomination

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Vermonter Peter Hall is one step closer to assuming a seat on one of the most important courts in the country. Hall’s appointment to the second circuit court of appeals won the unanimous endorsement of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday.
VPR News

April 1, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Vermont National Guard members return this evening from a tour of duty in Bosnia-Herzegovina; last night a large crowd filled the Vernon Elementary School gymnasium and demanded that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission take a close look at Vermont Yankee’s plans to boost its power output; Vermont Corrections Commissioner Steve Gold is asking lawmakers and the public to help solve problems with the state’s prison system; more…
VPR News

Interview: Corrections Commissioner Steve Gold

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State Corrections Commissioner Steve Gold has submitted a preliminary plan to lawmakers and is also asking for the public’s help to deal with serious problems in the state prison system. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Commissioner Gold about the recommendations.
VPR News

Workshop warns parents of online dangers

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Unhealthy messages about sex are pervasive on the Internet and child health experts say it’s more important than ever that parents talk to kids about these messages.
Commentary Series

Hoosac tunnel

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Many places in New England inspire legends and ghost stories. Recently commentator Joe Citro visited one spot that is said to be haunted, and he says it’s easy to see why.
VPR News

Officials ask NRC to conduct Vermont Yankee review

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Governor Jim Douglas is calling on the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission to comply with an order from the state Public Service Board. The board called for an independent engineering study of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant’s proposal to increase its power output by 20 percent. The NRC says it hasn’t decided how it will respond to this request.
VPR News

Book interview: ‘Walking to Vermont’

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After a 40-year career as a foreign correspondent, reporter Christopher Wren left his office at the New York Times and walked home. Nothing unusual about that, except in this case, the homeward trek was 400 miles north to Vermont. Neal Charnoff talks with Wren about the book that recounts his adventures, “Walking to Vermont.”
VPR News

March 31, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: this afternoon a select committee of Vermont lawmakers will meet to review the causes of death in custody; residents of southeastern Vermont are waiting for a definitive federal answer to a key question in the Vermont Yankee expansion plan; a group of artists and business owners in Ludlow hope an unusual exhibit will attract visitors.
Commentary Series

Einstein’s brain

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Science has been delving for years into the details of how our bafflingly complex brains work. Commentator Ruth Page offers a simple introduction to the challenges researchers face, and a recent discovery they’ve made.
Commentary Series

St. Johnsbury Athenaeum

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The Saint Johnsbury Athenaeum and Art Gallery – one of Vermont’s architectural gems – has recently re-opened after a year-long renovation. And commentator Peter Gilbert says it’s been worth the wait.
VPR News

Uncertain status for requested review of Vernon plant

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There’s regulatory uncertainty surrounding Vermont Yankee’s plan to boost its power output by 20 percent. Federal nuclear regulators said this week that they won’t do an additional engineering assessment of the nuclear plant. But Vermont regulators required that assessment as a condition of a power increase.
VPR News

Howard Center cuts jobs, services in tight budget year

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The Howard Center for Human Services announced on Tuesday that it will cut up to 40 jobs and scale back a number of mental health services in Chittenden County. The cuts are a result of a nearly $2 million shortfall, which Howard Center officials say is due to years of state underfunding.
VPR News

DWI bill faces resistance in House

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Legislation that’s designed to crack down on people convicted of multiple drunken-driving offenses has run into a road block on the floor of the Vermont House.
VPR News

Vermont attracts new residents

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A new survey says more people are moving into Vermont than out of it. And a nationwide ranking puts Vermont first for that trend.
VPR News

March 30, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: a new 15-member board has been chosen for the future technical academy in Chittenden County; Judging by the turnout at a public meeting in Montpelier, Vermonters are concerned about the trend toward outsourcing; the town of Claremont, NH has formed a committee to look at solid waste disposal in the region; more….
VPR News

Jeffords optimistic re-importation bill will pass

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Senator James Jeffords says he’s optimistic that legislation allowing consumers to re-import prescription drugs from Canada will be approved by the U.S. Senate in the coming weeks. Jeffords says the plan has attracted a lot of Republican support in the last month.
VPR News

VCET focuses on development of start-up companies

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Top state officials gathered at the University of Vermont on Monday to unveil a new business technology center. The Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies, known as VCET, will help start-up companies develop and market high-tech services and products.
Commentary Series

Werewolves of Fairfax

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Commentator Philip Baruth has recently begun working with the Vermont Council on the Humanities on their Contemporary Issues of Vermont series. The experience has taught him a great deal about himself more about himself, in fact, than he is comfortable knowing.
VPR News

Disagreement over water level at Joe’s Pond

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Owners of vacation homes around Joe’s Pond in West Danville have been complaining for years about fluctuating water levels and flood conditions caused by a dam at the pond’s southeast corner.
VPR News

March 29, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Senator Patrick Leahy, Governor Jim Douglas and UVM Pres Daniel Fogel launched a new technology business incubator this morning; former Presidential contender Howard Dean will be interviewed this evening on a CNBC business news program; Adelphia Cable tries to get beyond the alleged criminal activity of its founders; Congressman Bernie Sanders hold a forum this evening on the effects of outsourcing.
VPR News

Guardian ad litem program lacking volunteers and funds

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Every day, courts in Vermont make rulings that can profoundly affect a child. The decisions can involve custody disputes, victims of abuse or neglect, and children who have committed crimes.In each case, it’s the job of a “guardian ad litem” to make sure the court acts in the child’s best interests.
VPR News

School band to perform at Disney World

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Seventy-four middle school students from Shelburne are heading to Orlando Florida Monday morning, to fulfill a musical dream they’ve been working towards for nearly a year.
VPR News

House approves plan to auction off moose permits

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The Vermont House, by a one vote margin, has given its approval to a plan to auction off five moose permits in order to provide new money for fish and wildlife conservation programs. House Speaker Walter Freed cast the deciding vote on this issue.
Commentary Series

10 in Their 20s – Dedication to community

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On Mondays, over the next ten weeks, VPR is featuring a new series of commentaries from “10 in Their 20s”, in which members of Vermont’s 20-something generation share their perspectives on issues that matter the most to them – from the local to the global. This week, Casey Huling reflects on the importance of community.
VPR News

Farm bills fall through as Legislature recesses

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A key compromise in the Vermont Legislature to get action on several farm-related bills fell through on Friday. As lawmakers headed home for a week off for Town Meeting, some were disappointed that they had failed to advance legislation on the top farm issues of the year.
Commentary Series

Hayden Carruth’s ‘Twilight Comes’

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Honorary Poet Laureat of Vermont, Hayden Carruth, often incorporates images of seasonal change into his writing. From a VPR archive of a reading held in his honor in Montpelier, here is poet Jody Gladding reading Carruth’s poem “Twilight Comes.”
Commentary Series

Spring

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Commentator Willem Lange is always looking for a better way to cross Vermont from side to side, and he has this advice: Suspend the search during mud season
VPR News

Wind project moratorium fails in House

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The Vermont House has defeated a proposal to place a 15-month moratorium on the development of energy-producing wind turbines on the state’s ridgelines. Some lawmakers say there has been too little debate about the public policies surrounding construction of windmills at elevations of 2,500 feet and higher.
VPR News

Interview: ‘Get your film seen’

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The Green Mountain Film Festival continues this week in Montpelier. As part of the festival, the Vermont Film Commission is co-sponsoring a panel discussion called “Get Your Film Seen.” Neal Charnoff talks with Danis Regal, executive director of the Vermont Film Commission, about avenues of distribution for independent filmmakers.
VPR News

March 26, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: The Vermont House debates whether the state should auction off five moose hunting licenses as a fundraiser; the company that operates Shaw’s Supermarkets and Star Markets is being sold to grocery operator Albertson’s; update on Vermont’s Congressional delegation; Vergennes cleans up after a fire gutted a shoe store in the middle of a city block; the new president and dean at Vermont Law School visits the South Royalton campus; more…
VPR News

New policy would expand telecom services

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The Douglas Administration has unveiled a new telecommunications policy that calls for a significant expansion of cell phone and broad band services throughout the state in the next three years. The governor says the plan is needed to help stimulate economic development efforts in Vermont.
VPR News

Outsourcing may not have heavy impact in Vermont

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Economist Art Woolf says it’s unlikely a large number of Vermont jobs will be outsourced overseas. Speaking last night on VPR’s Switchboard, Woolf said the transfer of jobs overseas is also a two-way street for the state.
VPR News

Dean endorses Kerry

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Former Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean endorsed John Kerry for president at a rally at a university in the nation’s capital on Thursday.
VPR News

Interview: ‘Project X’

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The Columbine school shootings have surfaced as the source of inspiration for “Project X,” the new book by novelist Jim Shepard. Edwin Hanratty and his only friend, the aptly named “Flake,” are victims of constant bullying. Together, they concoct a plan to take revenge on their tormenters. Neal Charnoff talks with novelist Jim Shepard about “Project X.”
VPR News

March 25, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Howard Dean endorses John Kerry; Vermont House says wind projects should not be reviewed by Act 250; environmentalist Devra Davis speaks at UVM; Governor Jim Douglas is expected to announce a plan that he says will improve cell phone coverage and increase Internet access across the state.
Commentary Series

Spirit of old buildings

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If landscape is the fabric of Vermont, you might consider the many old buildings in our towns and villages to be elegant, antique buttons holding the fabric together. Commentator Tom Slayton has as appreciation of our historic built environment.
Commentary Series

Little things

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You might not expect a shopping cart to inspire deep thoughts about calculus, but that’s what happened to commentator Dan Rockmore the other day.
VPR News

March 24, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: a Senate committee is hearing from both sides of the same-sex marriage issue this week in Washington; it’s been one year since a group of Clarendon citizens organized to investigate abnormally high rates of leukemia in their community; the son of Democratic Representative Ernie Shand of Windsor is returning from Iraq.
VPR News

Welch asks for study of outsourced government jobs

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Senate President Pro Tempore Peter Welch is calling on the Douglas administration to conduct a thorough study of how many state government services are outsourced to foreign countries. An investigation by the Bennington Banner revealed that some social welfare information services are sub-contracted to a firm in India.
VPR News

Legislature takes up capital construction bill

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An early spring ritual is underway in the Statehouse: the legislative dance has begun over the annual capital construction bill. The legislation sets spending priorities for government building projects. But it also becomes the vehicle for lawmakers to set policy and to pursue pet projects.
VPR News

Highlights of the 2004 Capital Bill

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The annual capital construction bill is under consideration at the Statehouse. The bill would allocate $40 million to construction projects, some of which are listed here….
VPR News

Laid off Ethan Allen workers receive federal support

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Former workers of the Ethan Allen furniture plant in Beecher Falls are getting some help from the federal government. The U.S. Department of Labor has approved a Trade Adjustment Assistance petition that will give the 26 workers extended unemployment payments and job training.
VPR News

March 23, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Vermont lottery officials say this fiscal year will see record revenue from lottery ticket sales; James Cramer is retiring as president of the School for International Training and as chief executive of World Learning International in Brattleboro; Eric Davis discusses innovative policy that originate in Vermont.
VPR News

Interview: Decade of change

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Mention a decade of radical change in America and the 1960’s might spring to mind. But Boston University professor Bruce Schulman argues that the 1970’s were actually the most pivotal years in U.S. history, or at the very least a decade that made its mark with more than just pet rocks, disco, and the introduction of the leisure suit. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Professor Schulman about his book, “The 70’s: The Great Shift in American Culture, Politics, and Society.”
VPR News

House gives initial approval to state budget

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On Monday, by a vote of 81 to 59, the Vermont House gave its preliminary approval to the state budget for next year. House Appropriations Chairman Richard Westman says the budget plan meets the state’s immediate needs, while it limits the growth of overall state spending.
VPR News

Power companies to fund renewable energy projects

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Vermont’s two largest utilities want to use a grant program to jump-start small-scale renewable energy projects. Governor Jim Douglas says the power companies will offer more than one million dollars for renewable energy efforts, including systems that convert farm waste to methane.
Commentary Series

10 in Their 20s – What matters

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On Mondays, over the next ten weeks, VPR will feature a new series of commentaries from “10 in Their 20s”, in which members of Vermont’s 20-something generation share their perspectives on issues that matter the most to them – from the local to the global. This week, Jacob Levi Kuebler reflects on the importance of knowledge.
VPR News

Jimmy Cochran wins national skiing title

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Skier Jimmy Cochran of Keene, New Hampshire has won his first national title. Cochran won the slalom at the U.S. Alpine Championships at in Alaska on Sunday. The Cochrans are one of the pre-eminent skiing families in the country.
VPR News

St. Johnsbury School deals with bomb hoaxes

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The principal of the St. Johnsbury School is fighting back against a rash of recent bomb threats. Janet Haley says the six threats this month are disruptive and draw the school’s resources away from teaching and into policing.
VPR News

March 22, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Governor Jim Douglas has teamed up with bankers to warn consumers about predatory lending; in St. Johnsbury, a developer is eyeing a 23-acre parcel in the town’s north end, as a potential site for a “big box” retail store; the town of Wells hope to address a lack of cell phone coverage; the House begins a floor debate on the state budget; more…
VPR News

Bill would increase early education spending

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According to a new report, state spending on early education programs is “woefully inadequate” given the importance of brain development in young children. The head of the Senate Education committee has a bill that addresses these concerns.
VPR News

Ski trek gives teens outdoor education

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All this winter seven teenagers and their teacher have been sleeping under the stars in a canvas tent. By day they’ve been traveling on skis, following the Catamount Trail northward, along Vermont’s rocky backbone. They’re part of a six-month journey sponsored by Kroka Expeditions, a southern Vermont outdoor education organization.
VPR News

Word for Word: Supreme Court nominee Paul Reiber

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The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the nomination late last week of Paul Reiber to the Vermont Supreme Court. Reiber’s nomination goes to the full Senate this week. During his testimony to the committee, the former Rutland trial attorney was asked about his thoughts on judicial activism and judicial restraint. Today, in “Word for Word” we bring you an excerpt from that hearing.
VPR News

Senate debates underage drinking sting

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The state plans to conduct undercover operations in Bennington County to catch people buying alcohol for underage drinkers. But on Friday, members of the Senate Judiciary Committee questioned whether the program borders on entrapment of innocent citizens.
VPR News

Backstage: Underneath the Lintel

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A one-person play currently being performed at Burlington’s Flynnspace uses storytelling as a vehicle for self-discovery. VPR’s Neal Charnoff goes “Backstage” with the Vermont Stage Company.
VPR News

Champlain College president announces retirement

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Champlain College President Roger Perry will retire next year. Perry has served as president of the private college for 12 years. Before that he spent a decade as the school’s vice president for academic affairs and provost.
VPR News

March 19, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: the Senate Judiciary Committee confirms Paul Reiber to the Vermont Supreme Court; Senator Patrick Leahy and Howard Dean will speak at the Vermont’s Democratic Party annual dinner; the president of Champlain College in Burlington is retiring; Melinda Wittstock of the Capitol Hill news bureau reports on Vermont’s Congressional delegation; Stowe educator Bob Anderson announces he’s a Republican candidate for Congress; more….
VPR News

Stormwater solution tangled in Legislature

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A proposal to rewrite Vermont law that controls stormwater pollution is caught up in political wrangling inside the Statehouse. Republican House Speaker Walter Freed says the stormwater problem is primarily a Chittenden County concern, and he wants the Democratically controlled Senate to address the issue first. The Democrats say the House has already started work on the bill, and that it should take the lead on the legislation.
VPR News

Interview: Peace activists rally, one year later

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Friday marks one year since the United States went to war with Iraq in an effort to topple Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. But the defeat of Iraq’s army and the capture of Saddam Hussein has not ended hostilities and thousands of American troops remain in the region. In the U.S., protesters against the war continue to speak out. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Kimberly Ead, director of the Peace and Human Rights Project with the Burlington Peace and Justice Center.
VPR News

Bonds proposed to cover highway repairs

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State Treasurer Jeb Spaulding says the state could use up to $100 million in bond financing to help pay for road repair and maintenance projects. Spaulding says the state would pay off the bond interest by using an expected increase in federal highway funds. He says this funding mechanism is used in many other states.
VPR News

Judiciary Committee expected to confirm Reiber

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Vermont Supreme Court nominee Paul Reiber told members of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday that he does not bring any ideological principles to the court that will influence how he rules on future cases. Reiber’s comments came at a special confirmation hearing that was held to review his nomination.
VPR News

Dean announces new advocacy organization

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Former governor Howard Dean officially launched his new advocacy organization Thursday afternoon in Seattle. Dean says the group, which will be known as Democracy for America, will encourage grassroots support for many of the issues that Dean raised during his presidential campaign.
VPR News

Audio of Dean’s speech in Seattle

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Howard Dean officially announced his new advocacy organization in a speech to supporters in Seattle Thursday afternoon. Listen to Dean’s speech online.
VPR News

March 18, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: the Senate Judiciary Committee holds a confirmation hearing for Supreme Court nominee Paul Reiber; Howard Dean unveils his new organization, “Democracy for America,” the successor to his presidential campaign; the state treasurer proposes bonds to pay for repairs to the state’s highways and bridges; residents of Killington are concerned about the resort’s future; more…
Commentary Series

Under God?

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In constitutional law, commentator Peter Gilbert suggests that the internet may make it harder for us to say, “Enough of facts; let’s get back to strict emotion.”
Commentary Series

UVM lung research

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The University of Vermont has a special team of researchers peering into human lungs at the cellular level, trying to figure out a way to prevent damage from pollutants. Commentator Ruth Page says that the process is very complex.
VPR News

Senate passes prescription drug bill

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The Vermont Senate passed a bill on Wednesday that backers hope will ultimately lead to lower prescription drug prices for many Vermonters. The bill includes a controversial provision that would set a maximum price for drugs sold in Vermont.
VPR News

Yankee waste storage may require Legislature’s approval

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The Legislature may get involved in Vermont Yankee’s plans to expand storage of high-level radioactive waste. The issue is gaining attention because the nuclear plant recently won approval to boost its power output. And the increased power will result in more waste that has to be stored near the Connecticut River in southern Vermont.
VPR News

End in sight for flu season

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Vermont health officials say the state is nearing the end of what they call a particularly nasty flu season. As of March 6, the Vermont Department of Health reported 179 positive viral cultures for the disease.
VPR News

March 17, 2004 – Midday Report

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: the state Senate tackles the issue of prescription drug prices this afternoon in what’s likely to be a contentious debate; Howard Dean announces the new direction of his effort to influence the American political process; Brattleboro deliberates how to replace the Creamery Covered Bridge, built in 1879; residents of a Milton housing development will vote tomorrow on whether to connect their neighborhood to the town water system; more…
VPR News

Douglas says tax plan needs changes

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Governor Jim Douglas says he’s optimistic that the Legislature will back a plan to cut income taxes this year. He acknowledges that his own proposal to reduce taxes is not very popular with lawmakers and needs to be changed.
VPR News

Interview: Irish cultural festival

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It’s St. Patrick’s Day – a day when everybody is said to be a little bit Irish, no matter their background. Even though the holiday is steeped in myth and often misconception, it is a source of great pride for Irish Americans, as well as an opportunity to celebrate Irish culture with more than just green beer and clothing. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Jan Mahoney about the annual Irish Heritage Festival now underway in Burlington.
VPR News

Report on inmate deaths places partial blame with state

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An investigation into the deaths of seven Vermont prison inmates says that the state may be partially to blame in at least two of the cases. The state requested the investigation late last year. And Human Services Secretary Charles Smith on Tuesday promised to do whatever it takes to improve Vermont’s prison system.
VPR News

Lawmakers given authority over Yankee uprate proceeds

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The Public Service Board has ruled that lawmakers should have the final say on how millions of dollars associated with an increase of power at the Vermont Nuclear Power Plant should be spent. The Douglas administration had hoped to earmark the money to help clean up Lake Champlain.
VPR News

Vermont Law School names new president

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Vermont Law School has chosen a partner in a Chicago law firm as its new president and dean. Fifty-eight-year-old Geoffrey Shields will assume the position August 1.
VPR News

Midday Report: Tuesday, March 16, 2004

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Top stories developing across the listening region at the noon hour: the state releases a report on seven recent inmate deaths in Vermont state prisons; Vermont’s Commissioner of Environmental Conservation testifies on the administration’s approach to stormwater cleanup; Rutland reviews its moratorium on sewer connection fees; the annual Rotten Sneaker Contest starts this afternoon in Montpelier.
VPR News

Pharmacists oppose Senate drug pricing bill

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The Vermont Senate is set to debate legislation later this week that would establish price controls for many prescription drugs if costs continue to skyrocket. However the bill is being strongly opposed by the Vermont Pharmacists Association.
Commentary Series

Regional Technical Academy

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A proposal to build a tech ed academy in Chittenden County passed its first test on Town Meeting Day. Commentator Allen Gilbert thinks the academy is a significant departure from the way tech ed has been provided in the past.
Commentary Series

Bonnie Moffat

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Commentator Philip Baruth has been working on a novel set in eighteenth-century Scotland. It’s Philip’s first historical novel, and if he has anything to say about it, it will be his last.
VPR News

Midday Report: Monday, March 15, 2004

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Top stories developing across the listening region at the noon hour: Army Reservists in C Company of the 318th Engineering Battalion return home from the Middle East today; Brandon residents have been advised to boil their water due to coliform bacteria in the public water supply; a series of public meetings on wind power begins tonight in Springfield; state utility regulators may rule as earlier as today on Vermont Yankee’s uprate request.
VPR News

Bill would ban phosphates in dish soap

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Under a bill given an initial green light in the Vermont Senate last week, all dishwashing detergent sold in Vermont would have to be made without phosphorous within about four years.
VPR News

Kerr supports stronger rules for Vermont product labels

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Vermont’s agriculture secretary says he would like to see some changes in proposed rules on how Vermont’s name is used in product labeling. Steve Kerr says he wants to make sure labeling requirements are broad enough to protect Vermont farms now and in the future.
Commentary Series

Modern Times

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Commentator David Moats thinks that the frustrating situation commonly known as “Catch twenty-two” is alive and well in computerized retailing.
VPR News

National Life Insurance to out-source jobs

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The National Life insurance company in Montpelier has shifted more than 150 jobs to a separate information technology company. On Thursday, many of those workers were told if they’ll get to keep their jobs in Vermont. The move to out-source the work saves National Life about $20 million over five years. But some of the jobs will go to India, and National Life has come under increasing criticism for its decision.
VPR News

No action expected on four-year term

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A proposed constitutional amendment extending the governor’s term in office to four years has been dealt a major setback in the Senate. The head of the Senate Government Operations Committee says his panel is divided over this issue and no action on the plan is expected for the rest of the session.
VPR News

UVM Catamounts host America East Championship Saturday

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The University of Vermont gets a shot at its second straight appearance in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament when the Catamounts take on the Maine Black Bears Saturday morning at Patrick Gymnasium in South Burlington.
VPR News

Vermont Transit Company eliminates Kingdom bus route

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The Vermont Transit Company is planning to eliminate bus service between Newport and White River Junction starting April 4. Vermont Transit says the route is the company’s poorest performer, carrying an average of four passengers a trip.
VPR News

Sanders backs legislation to increase FCC fines

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Congressman Bernie Sanders is backing legislation that would crack down on indecent behavior on radio and television. The bill, which passed the U.S. House by a wide margin on Thursday, increases the size of fines that the Federal Communications Commission can levy against broadcasters who violate indecency regulations.
VPR News

Excitement builds for America East basketball finals

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The University of Vermont men’s basketball team takes on the Maine Black Bears at Patrick Gymnasium Saturday, with a berth in college basketball’s NCAA tournament on the line. The atmosphere around the UVM campus is electric, as VPR’s Mitch Wertlieb discovered when he attended the Catamounts’ practice this week.
VPR News

Midday Report: Friday, March 12, 2004

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Vermont Congressman Bernie Sanders was joined this morning by Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie in a news conference on wind energy; Verizon Wireless is refusing to let a Newport church out of a contract to install communications equipment in the church’s steeple; officials from Radio Free Brattleboro are due in court Monday to hear a complaint brought by the Federal Communications Commission; more…
VPR News

Midday Report: Thursday, March 11, 2004

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Top stories at noon: the American Skiing Company lost more than $22 million in the second quarter of its fiscal year; neighbors of a proposed large farm in Charlotte have challenged the state’s environmental review of that project; Governor Douglas promotes federal tax credits; CVPS has asked for approval of a renewable energy offering for customers; towns and cities that have zoning regulations are required to include, provisions for day-care in their town plans; more….
VPR News

Grange faces sharp decline in membership

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Every year the Vermont Grange holds an annual legislative luncheon in Montpelier. As Grange members listen, lawmakers take to the podium to talk about the issues of the day. The luncheon is a tradition that’s gone on for years.
VPR News

Bill would clarify liability for GE seeds

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The Vermont Senate has taken action it hopes will protect farmers who use genetically engineered seeds and plants from lawsuits. The legislation that was approved on Wednesday insulates farmers from legal action if their crops contaminate a neighbor’s fields.
VPR News

Legislature urged to ban touch-screen voting

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Secretary of State Deb Markowitz wants the Legislature to ban the use of touch-screen voting machines in Vermont. Markowitz says that unless changes are made, the computers can be manipulated to report fraudulent ballot results.
VPR News

Bill would prohibit sale of phosphorus detergents

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All dishwashing detergent sold in Vermont may have to be made without phosphorous within about four years. The state Senate gave preliminary approval to a bill on Wednesday that would ban all but trace amounts of phosphorous in dishwashing soap.
VPR News

Kerry hopes to gain Dean endorsement

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In a symbol of unity, Howard Dean and John Kerry joined hands and raised them high for the cameras on Wednesday. Kerry and Dean met in Washington to talk about what role the former Vermont governor might play in Kerry’s campaign.
Commentary Series

Mount Hunger

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Just about everyone is probably feeling a bit tired of this long winter. Commentator Tom Slayton has found one way to shorten the season – climbing up a small but snowy mountain.
VPR News

Midday Report: Wednesday, March 10, 2004

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: the Associated Press is reporting that Howard Dean is prepared to endorse John Kerry; the No Child Left Behind Act is becoming a partisan political issue in Montpelier; a Senate Committee has passed a resolution for an independent safety analysis of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant; the National Weather Service says this should not be a bad spring for flooding; more…
VPR News

Hospital whistle-blower bill wins initial approval

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By a vote of 16 to 12, the Vermont Senate has given its preliminary approval to legislation that prohibits hospitals from taking retaliatory action against employees who report violations that could threaten patient safety. Opponents say the measure isn’t needed and will cause more problems than it solves.
VPR News

Water Board finds consensus on stormwater cleanup

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The Water Resources Board says there’s widespread scientific and technical agreement on how to clean up streams damaged by stormwater. On Tuesday, the board released a report that tries to tackle one of the most vexing pollution problems that faces Vermont.
VPR News

Parke announces candidacy for U.S. House seat

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Republican Greg Parke says he wants to run for the U.S. House because he’s convinced he can defeat incumbent Independent Congressman Bernie Sanders in the November election. The retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel ran unsuccessfully for the GOP nomination two years ago.
VPR News

Midday Report: Tuesday, March 9, 2004

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Greg Parke will run for Congress against Representative Bernie Sanders; official returns are now in from last week’s election; the Mount Anthony Union school board may sell a middle school building on eBay; a U.S. Department of Education official was in Essex Junction to learn about teacher apprenticeships; the Fair Haven Union High School Board may adopt random drug tests for students who take part in extracurricular activities.
VPR News

Senator Flanders speech to the Senate, March 9, 1954

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Complete text of the speech Vermont Senator Ralph Flanders gave in the Seante chamber on March 9, 1954, criticizing Senator Joseph McCarthy and setting in motion a series of events that would end a troubled era in American politics.
VPR News

Omya seeks exemption to solid waste fees

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The Omya Corporation wants an exemption from fees and taxes related to waste from its mineral mining operation. Omya faces a state ruling on its waste that could force it to pay millions of dollars. Company officials have asked the Legislature for help.
VPR News

50 years ago: Vermonter stands up to McCarthy

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Fifty years ago on Tuesday, a soft spoken U.S. senator from Vermont stood before a nearly empty Senate chamber and made a speech that set in motion a chain of events that would end a troubled era in American politics. Ralph Flanders was an unlikely figure to stand up to a powerful Wisconsin Senator named Joseph McCarthy.
VPR News

Bennington cautiously courts development

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Bennington has seen some hard knocks over the last 15 years with significant losses in industry and jobs. This fall, though, a long-awaited highway of opportunity for this area will open. With the opening of the first leg of the Bennington Bypass has come a debate over where – and on what scale – the development will be.
VPR News

Wal-Mart criticized for forcing suppliers overseas

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Several members of Congress are bashing Wal-Mart — the world’s largest retailer. They say it is so obsessed with cutting costs that it treats its employees badly and maintains trade practices that cost Americans jobs.
VPR News

Tax refunds cause unanticipated drop in state revenue

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State revenues in February took an unexpected drop because personal income tax refunds are running much higher than projected.The Douglas Administration is trying to determine if this is happening because the Tax Department is processing returns much more efficiently than in previous years.
VPR News

Study contradicts affordable housing claims

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A leading economist says housing in Vermont is more affordable than it has been in years. Art Woolf of the Vermont Economy newsletter says record low interest rates have more than compensated for rising home prices.
Commentary Series

Flanders and public discourse

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Today is the 50th anniversary of the speech given by then-Vermont Senator Ralph Flanders that is widely credited with turning the tide against McCarthyism in the United States. Commentator Gregory Sanford recalls Senator Flanders and how he influenced our notion of what it means to be an American.
VPR News

Midday Report: March 8, 2004

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: the effort to expand the Searsburg wind power facility will have to proceed along different lines; a man who’s been convicted of 22 misdemeanors and five felonies has accepted a plea bargain; the Vermont Legislature returns to Montpelier today; the U.S. Border Patrol is defending its inland checkpoints to critics who say they’re a waste of money.
VPR News

Removal of cabaret exemptions unlikely

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Efforts to do away with an exemption that allows smoking in Vermont’s bars appear to have failed in this legislative session. Advocates say they plan to push for the ban again next session. Meanwhile they hope a smoking ban in some Vermont communities will prove that the policy can work.
VPR News

Rivers calls for Bush political ads to be pulled

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President Bush’s new television campaign ads are becoming an issue in Vermont politics. Cheryl Rivers, a Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor, says the use of footage from the September eleventh terrorist attacks in the political ads is “morally unconscionable.” She’s calling on Vermont Republican leaders to urge the president to pull these ads.
VPR News

Corinth copper mine may get Superfund eligibility

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A former copper mine in Corinth may added to the national Superfund list of the worst polluted sites in the country. The Environmental Protection Agency’s recommendation would make it eligible for federal cleanup assistance.
VPR News

Midday Report: Friday, March 5, 2004

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: the state is launching a $15,000 ad campaign to encourage seatbelt use; revisions to Act 60 have led to the passage of a lot of school budgets, but the fix may be temporary; Senator Patrick Leahy has harsh words for Republican staffers on the Senate Judiciary Committee; an Ohio man pleads innocent to vandalism charges at the Fairbanks Museum; hazardous material crews are cleaning up a fuel oil spill in Guilford.
VPR News

Demolition debris trucked through Windham County

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The Yankee nuclear power plant in Rowe, Massachusetts is nearing the end of a 10-year decommissioning, the first in the country for a commercial plant. Yankee Rowe is only a mile or so from Vermont, and some of the demolition debris is being trucked through Windham County.
VPR News

Act 68 tax relief may be short lived

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School officials say they believe that recent changes to Act 60 are responsible for the passage of most school budgets on Town Meeting Day. But some officials are concerned that tax pressures will emerge in just a few years, if a number of issues aren’t addressed by local school boards.
VPR News

Fletcher Allen trains medical transcriptionists

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Vermont’s largest hospital is teaming up with a non-profit company and the state to train medical transcriptionists. Fletcher Allen Health Care says the program should help the hospital find local workers and end the need to send 20 jobs out of state or overseas.
VPR News

Sale of Citizens Utilities approved

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The Vermont Public Service Board has approved the sale of the Citizens Utilities properties in northern Vermont to the Vermont Electric Cooperative.
VPR News

Officials cautious about low unemployment rates

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Vermont officials are guardedly optimistic about the latest statewide unemployment figures. The unemployment rate for January was 3.8 percent, almost a whole percentage point lower than the rate for December.
Commentary Series

Power of political grassroots

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Commentator Garrett Graff has been collecting the stories of the activists who brought new meaning to the concept of “grassroots politics” in the Dean for America campaign.
VPR News

Midday Report: Thursday, March 4, 2004

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Governor Douglas signals a change in the way Vermont tries to provide job growth; Senator Patrick Leahy says Senate Republicans are using gay marriage to avoid addressing what he calls more important issues; a recent study says Burlington is one of the cheaper small cities in which to do business; three Killington night clubs are getting good marks for their safety policies; a conference in Burlington looks at obesity in children.
VPR News

Douglas urged to modify tax cut proposal

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House Democratic leader Gaye Symington is calling on Governor Jim Douglas to modify his tax equity plan to provide greater benefits to middle income taxpayers. The governor says he’s willing to discuss this issue.
Commentary Series

The Nearings

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Every so often someone comes along and leaves his or her unmistakable mark on a style of architecture and commentator C.B. Johnson says that happened in Vermont in the 1930’s.
Commentary Series

Water music

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Water has often been the source of inspiration for music, but today commentator Joe Citro has the story about a source of music with a watery twist.
VPR News

Midday Report: Wednesday, March 3, 2004

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Howard Dean says he’s honored to win the Vermont primary; Secretary of State Deb Markowitz discusses Town Meeting votes on school budgets; the U.S. Second Circuit Court of appeals has overturned a death penalty ruling in the case of accused murderer Donald Fell; Governor Jim Douglas is in the southwestern corner of the state for most of the day.
VPR News

Voters okay Regional Technical Academy

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Voters in Northwestern Vermont have approved plans to move forward with a new Regional Technical Academy. There had been considerable debate over the idea, but both sides now say they need to work together to plan the new school.
VPR News

Dean wins Vermont Primary

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Tuesday night, VPR’s Bob Kinzel spoke with former presidential candidate Howard Dean about his strong victory in the Vermont primary. In a telephone conversation, Dean reflected on politics in Vermont, his future plans and how gratified he is by the support in his home state.
VPR News

Dean supporters count on Vermont victory

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All day long, the diehard supporters of Howard Dean have been on street corners and near polling places, hoping to pull off more than a symbolic win for their candidate. The volunteers hope that Dean’s positions will have a place in the Democratic convention in July as a result.
VPR News

Killington votes to secede from Vermont

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In Killington on Tuesday, voters said ‘yes’ to secession as a way to fight what they consider to be unfair state property taxes. Most admit that becoming part of New Hampshire will be a long shot, but the majority of those at Town Meeting said it’s worth the fight.
VPR News

Vermont Pure sells bottling operation to MA company

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Vermont Pure Holdings has sold its retail water bottling operation to Micropack Bottled Water, of Natick, Massachusetts. In the transaction, Micropack has acquired Vermont Pure’s spring sources in Randolph and the Hidden Springs trademark.
VPR News

Midday Report: Tuesday, March 2, 2004

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Town Meeting Day. Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: the presidential primary is a complicating factor for the clerks and boards of Civil Authority who run today’s balloting; the town of Salisbury held its Town Meeting on Monday night; last week was the longest streak of sunny weather in Vermont in more than forty years; votes will be cast in nine other states in the Super Tuesday primaries; more….
VPR News

Rockingham voters question hydro dam purchase

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Voters in Rockingham approved a $4.7 million town budget at the their Town Meeting Monday night. The town’s attempt to purchase the Bellows Falls hydroelectric generating facility wasn’t on the town warning, but it was a topic of conversation.
VPR News

Interview: Strengthening the town meeting tradition

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Some call town meeting America’s best example of direct democracy in action, and today the practice will be in full swing throughout Vermont. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Carolyn Lukensmeyer, the founder and president of “America Speaks,” a Washington-based nonprofit organization dedicated to observing and finding ways to improve town meetings.
VPR News

Kerry hopes to win Vermont primary

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The campaign of Massachusetts Senator John Kerry says it’s cautiously optimistic that Kerry will win Vermont’s presidential primary. But supporters of former governor Howard Dean are urging voters to back Dean even though he’s no longer an active candidate.
VPR News

Rejected land swap causes setback for wind project

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The U.S. Forest Service has handed a setback to wind energy developers in southern Vermont. Project proponents had wanted to trade private land for public property to accommodate a new wind farm. But forest managers rejected the proposed land exchange, saying it did not fit with their overall goals for the national forest.
VPR News

Interview: Rules of Order at Town Meeting

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Town Meeting Day in Vermont has been called “democracy being practiced in its purest form.” But with democracy comes procedure. Neal Charnoff talks with the executive director of the Vermont League of Cities and Towns about the procedural aspects of Town Meeting Day.
VPR News

Leahy critical of Iraqi children’s hospital proposal

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Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy is raising questions about a project being promoted by First Lady Laura Bush. Laura Bush is pushing a $100 million children’s medical center that would be built in the southern Iraqi city of Basra.
VPR News

Midday Report: Monday, March 1, 2004

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Some communities are holding Town Meeting on Monday rather than Tuesday; Marlboro discusses the town evacuation plan; thirteen historic preservation grants were announced today; Governor Jim Douglas is spending most of the day visiting businesses in the Springfield area.
VPR News

No idling proposal targets truck exhaust

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The state is poised to propose new regulations prohibiting large trucks and buses from idling for more than a few minutes at a time. The move comes as “no-idling” legislation languishes in the Legislature. The trucking industry says it favors self regulation.
VPR News

Downtown union has supporters and skeptics

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A new kind of union effort is under way in Montpelier. For the first time, organizers are attempting to unionize an entire downtown retail district. Supporters say a city-wide union would give workers more job security and better pay and benefits.
VPR News

Brattleboro measure looks at Yankee shutdown strategy

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Brattleboro voters will be asked on Tuesday whether to direct officials to begin preparing for the possible shutdown of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant. The plant’s current operating license expires in eight years.
VPR News

Killington voters consider seceding to New Hampshire

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Act 60 has received some of its most serious criticism in the big ski resort town of Killington. With the changes to the law, Killington will still be among the top tier of towns with the highest tax rates. The town is now considering a vote on whether to secede from Vermont.
Commentary Series

Regional Technical Academy

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On Town Meeting Day, voters in Chittenden County will have the chance to authorize the formation of a board to study the feasibility of constructing a Regional Technical Academy. Commentator Tim McQuiston has an overview.
Commentary Series

Alas, poor Howard

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Commentator Philip Baruth had a lot of fun imagining was it must have been like to be an insider in the Dean campaign. Most recently, he’s been imagining being sent in to pick up the pieces.
VPR News

Midday Report: Friday, February 27, 2004

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Democratic leaders in the Vermont Senate are promoting a bill that requires utilities to include renewables in their portfolio of energy sources; Howard Dean has made his first public appearance since bowing out of the presidential race last week; Capitol Hill update with Melinda Wittstock; Governor Jim Douglas is spending the day Rutland County.
VPR News

Dean urges supporters to back Democratic nominee

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Howard Dean has made his first public appearance since bowing out of the presidential race last week. He was in New Haven, Connecticut, Thursday night, where he told his supporters that he would encourage them to back Senators John Edwards or John Kerry for now. And he urged them to stay together behind the eventual Democratic nominee.
VPR News

Interview: Northern stage produces Miller play

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A very special play comes to the Northern Stage in White River Junction this Sunday. “Resurrection Blues,” written by renowned playwright Arthur Miller, has been produced only twice in the world, and Mr. Miller will be coming to Northern Stage as the play debuts in White River Junction. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Brooke Chiardelli, artistic director for Northern Stage, about the play.
VPR News

Douglas addresses gay marriage concerns

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Governor Jim Douglas says there’s no need to change any Vermont laws to address growing concerns about gay marriage. The governor also says he doubts that the state of Vermont will recognize gay marriages sanctioned by the state of Massachusetts.
VPR News

Douglas seeks approval for drug price reduction

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Governor Jim Douglas says he hopes the federal government will still approve a plan to reduce prescription drug prices. The program seeks to reduce Vermont’s and Michigan’s prescription drug costs for state employees by jointly negotiating prices.
VPR News

Drug companies’ marketing reports

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Attorney General William Sorrell says drug companies spent nearly 2.5 million dollars to market their products in Vermont in a one-year period. The report is a result of Vermont’s 2001 drug marketing disclosure law.
VPR News

Midday Report: Thursday, February 26, 2004

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: more than 100 opponents of genetically modified foods were at the Statehouse this morning to show their support for several bills that would regulate the new technology; Burlington Mayor Peter Clavelle outlined a proposal giving city employees the option of buying prescription drugs from Canada; the Vermont Economic Development Authority celebrates 30 years.
VPR News

Interview: Gay community responds to marriage amendment

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President Bush’s support of a federal constitutional amendment that would effectively ban same-sex marriage is drawing sharp responses from gay and lesbian communities throughout the country, and Vermont – the first state to adopt civil union legislation – is no exception. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Christopher Kauffman, executive director of Vermont’s gay community center “R.U.1.2”?
VPR News

Mental health providers envision new approach

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A group of hospital psychiatric care providers says the state needs to reassess the entire mental health care system in order to improve patient care. They say the current system is fragmented, with patients falling through the cracks. They say there’s a critical need to improve coordination between care providers, state agencies and the courts.
Commentary Series

Sauna

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During Vermont’s long winters, commentator Caleb Daniloff finds that the perfect escape is as close as the nearest sauna.
VPR News

Midday Report: Wednesday, February 25, 2005

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: mental health care providers are releasing a vision statement on the future of mental health in Vermont; an effort is udnerway to promote New York Senator Hillary Clinton for president; Vermont Tourism and Marketing Commissioner Bruce Hyde will be in Washington for tonight’s Travel Industry Association of America Unity Dinner; a literary artifact has turned up in an antique shop in Newfane; presidential campaign update.
Commentary Series

Special forces

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Global terrorism has changed the way the United States engages in military combat. According to commentator Bill Seamans, some of the proposals for the role of Special Forces are creating controversy.
Commentary Series

Arsenic

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With the prospect of warmer weather approaching, commentator Ruth Page says that if you have pressure-treated wood in or around your home, you might want to add a new item to your list of spring chores.
VPR News

Douglas proposes changes to stormwater regulations

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The Douglas administration unveiled legislation on Tuesday that would overhaul the way the state regulates stormwater pollution. The bill lifts a deadline to clean up damaged streams. And the proposal also gives the Agency of Natural Resources new authority to issue permits in polluted watersheds.
VPR News

House takes up workers compensation reform bill

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After several hours of debate, the Vermont House gave its preliminary approval on Tuesday afternoon to legislation that backers hope will help reduce workers compensation insurance rates in Vermont. The vote on the bill was 101 to 39.
VPR News

House shows support for photos on driver’s licenses

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The Vermont House has given its preliminary approval to legislation that will mandate photos on driver’s licenses in the state. The proposal applies only to new drivers. All current drivers will be exempt from the requirement.
VPR News

Senate refines rules on vanity license plates

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Vermont state senators are trying to clarify the rules for what drivers can put on their vanity license plates. Senators gave preliminary approval on Tuesday to a bill that puts into state law the rules already used by the Motor Vehicles Department.
VPR News

Book interview: ‘Eden Falls’

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A debut novel by Jericho author Richard Mindell explores the dark side of the Green Mountain State. “Eden Falls” is a murder mystery that draws upon the changing Vermont social landscape. At its core is a conflict between native Vermonters and the flatlanders. The novel has been drawing attention not only for it’s compelling narrative, but for it’s portrayal of how a Vermont confronts, or ignores, it’s social problems. Neal Charnoff talks with Richard Mindell.
VPR News

Midday Report: Tuesday, February 24, 2004

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: The Vermont House is expected to pass a bill that would require photographs on Vermont drivers’ licenses; the House is also taking up a bill to reform the state’s system of paying workman’s compensation; the town of Killington consideres seceding from Vermont; Governor Douglas discusses National Guard deployments; Vermont state police special units will stage a hostage situation drill at the Essex Fairgrounds.
VPR News

Governor expects increased Vermont Guard deployments

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Governor Jim Douglas says he expects that a greater number of Vermont National Guard members will be sent overseas in the coming months. Guard leaders in Washington want to equalize the percentage of guard members from each state that are assigned to overseas duty. Vermont’s share is currently one the smallest in the country.
VPR News

Interview: UVM sociologist researches 9-11 volunteers

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A University of Vermont sociologist was one of six top rapid response disaster experts in the nation to shed light on their research at Ground Zero following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Alice Fothergill spoke on Monday at the National Science Foundation in Washington. Mitch Wertlieb talks with her about Fothergill about her research on volunteer efforts at Ground Zero following the attacks.
VPR News

Sanders says trade threatens Vermont granite industry

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An official with the Barre Granite Association says the industry has lost jobs and market share because of low-cost imports from China and India. The industry official met on Monday with Congressman Bernie Sanders, who has sponsored legislation to roll back a recent trade deal with China.
VPR News

Study says housing prices beyond reach of many

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A shortage of affordable housing is driving prices beyond the reach of an increasing number of Vermonters according to a new study of census and government data compiled by the Housing Council and the Vermont Housing Awareness Campaign.
Commentary Series

Sugaring

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It won’t be long till sugaring and commentator Vern Grubinger is already looking forward to this annual North Country Rite of Spring.
VPR News

Midday Report: Monday February 23, 2004

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Affordable housing advocates say the gap between wages and housing costs continues to grow; Senator Patrick Leahy speaks out against the recess appointment of an Alabama judge; Congressman Bernie Sanders says American trade policy has damaged the granite industry in Barre; Goodwill Industries reduces the number of unattended donation bins; presidential campaign update.
VPR News

Interview: Women in statewide government

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Governor Jim Douglas is defending his record on hiring women to top government positions, following a recent survey that shows Vermont’s ranking for women in top government jobs has dropped. The survey showed Vermont was number one in the nation for women in top government jobs in 1999, to number 34 this year. Mitch Wertlieb discusses the findings of the survey with Deb Alden, the editor of Vermont Woman newspaper.
VPR News

Controls proposed for using Vermont’s name

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The Attorney General’s office is asking the public to sign off on an effort to tighten the state’s consumer fraud regulations. The state wants to make it clear to shoppers and businesses what it means when Vermont’s name appears on a product label or in an advertisement.
VPR News

Book interview: ‘My Name is Bill’

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Bill Wilson co-founded Alcoholics Anonymous in 1935. His 12-step program and philosophy of treating addiction as a disease has been used as a blueprint for countless other recovery programs. Wilson is the subject of a new biography called “My Name is Bill,” written by Susan Cheever. Cheever points to Wilson’s Vermont upbringing as a prime influence on the elements of AA, along with his time on Wall Street and in the military.
VPR News

Midday Report: Friday, February 20, 2004

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: the owner of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant hopes to begin a $60 million renovation before receiving federal approval for the project; state officials hope a rare snake – seen for the first time in almost 20 years – can be placed on the state’s list of endangered and threatened species; an update on the Vermont Congressional delegation; more….
VPR News

Court rules on IBM’s retirement plan

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Vermonters who spearheaded the opposition to changes in IBM’s retirement plan are pleased with a court ruling calling on the company to compensate employees affected by the plan. They say the decision is significant for workers at other companies.
VPR News

State Senate approves naturopathic coverage

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(Host) The Vermont Senate has given its strong approval to legislation that requires health insurance companies to provide coverage for naturopathic physicians who offer “medically necessary” services to their patients. The final vote on the bill was 25 to 2.
VPR News

State’s ranking of women in top positions drops

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Vermont has seen a big drop in the number of women in top positions in state government. In 1999 Vermont ranked first in the nation in the number of women in top positions; two years later Vermont’s raking slipped to fourth. Now the state ranks 34th.
Commentary Series

A jammed key

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Commentator Willem Lange and some friends have been going north for over 30 years to ski through the woods near the Canadian border. Their most recent trip was a little chillier than usual.
VPR News

Midday Report: Thursday, February 19, 2004

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Top stories developing at the noon hour: IBM’s pension plan changes are ruled unfair; wind energy hearings will be held over the next few weeks; two warplanes flew near the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant; Howard Dean’s organization is now being coveted by his rivals; Champlain College will drop its respiratory therapy program; a New Hampshire poll shows President Bush’s approval rating has fallen to its lowest point; a Senate committee takes testimony tonight on a GMO bill.
VPR News

Interview: Impact of Dean’s campaign

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Howard Dean’s run for president is over, but the former Vermont governor may still influence the outcome of the Democratic nomination, and possibly the future of presidential politics as well. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Eric Davis, professor of political science at Middlebury College, about the impact of Dean’s campaign.
VPR News

Midday Report: Wednesday, February 18, 2004

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Howard Dean will make an announcement this afternoon that may reveal the future of his presidential campaign; Senator Jim Jeffords announces federal funds for a South Burlington project; the Vermont Teddy Bear Company says its newly acquired flower delivery business has caused a jump in profits and revenues in its second quarter of the fiscal year; a series of hearings on wind energy continues tonight in Rutland; more…
VPR News

Dean bows out of presidential contest

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Howard Dean’s presidential fortunes seemed to follow the seasons. The Democratic campaign had the heat from a Vermont summer day to get off the ground and came to a close in the chill of a late winter afternoon. But even as Dean announced plans to end his campaign, he announced the creation of a new organization to make changes in the country’s political system.
Commentary Series

Aesthetic relativism

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Having spent many of the last years of his working life in the electric utility industry, commentator Richard Mallary has been fascinated by the recent interest in using wind power to generate electricity.
VPR News

Vermonters react to Dean’s announcement

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Shortly after Howard Dean’s announcement, VPR checked in with some Vermonters about their thoughts of the news. At the Morning Star Caf in Springfield, most said they were not surprised to hear that Dean had withdrawn from the Democratic contest, and many felt he had made an important contribution to the race.
VPR News

Dean weighs campaign’s future after loss in Wisconsin

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After finishing third in the Wisconsin primary, Howard Dean flew back to Vermont with the future of his presidential campaign very much in doubt. But in a fiery speech to supporters Tuesday night, he said the work of transforming his party and the political process had only just begun.
Commentary Series

Kakewalk

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For many years, Winter Carnival at the University of Vermont featured an event known as Kakewalk, a local adaptation of the Black Face Minstrel Show. And only recently, it led to an uncomfortable encounter for commentator Willi Coleman.
VPR News

Judge rules against sealing Dean’s records

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A Vermont judge has ruled that the state’s procedure to seal the records of former governor Howard Dean is not valid and must be changed. The decision calls for an indexing of all records and requires Dean to detail why a specific document should be sealed under the doctrine of executive privilege.
VPR News

Midday Report: Tuesday, February 17, 2004

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Top stories developing across the listening region at the noon hour: in the Senate chamber, Democrat Cheryl Rivers is announcing that she will run for lieutenant governor this year; a jury has awarded two Department of Corrections employees more than $100,000 for a workplace accident four years ago; the FBI reportedly has interviewed a scientist in connection with deadly anthrax attacks in 2001; Howard Dean will fly back to Vermont Tuesday night after votes have been tallied in Wisconsin.
VPR News

Dean makes final effort in Wisconsin

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With voters ready to make their choice, Howard Dean urged Wisconsin supporters to ignore the polls and the pundits Monday night and to give his sagging campaign a boost. Dean insisted he could win the nomination. Yet some of his grassroots supporters have begun to look beyond today’s primary to consider the impact his campaign has had on American politics.
VPR News

Supporters say Dean energizes Party despite losses

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Howard Dean searched for votes across Wisconsin on Monday, even as his presidential campaign was rocked by the departure of its chairman. Dean’s campaign seemed to be searching for a way to maintain visibility and organization even if he formally drops out of the race later this week.
VPR News

President Bush and the National Guard

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Commentator Jay Parini finds it ironic that one of the most recent challenges to President Bush centers on his service in the National Guard – especially considering the Guard’s greatly increased role in Iraq.
VPR News

Burst pipe damages files in state office

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A burst pipe has workers at the Vermont Secretary of State’s office drying boxes of government records that were damaged by water. Secretary of State Deb Markowitz says most of the records were from the Snelling and Kunin administrations.
VPR News

Midday Report: Monday, February 16, 2004

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Top stories developing across the listening region at the noon hour: Howard Dean campaigns for votes in the Wisconsin Primary; a burst pipe at the Secretary of State’s office has damaged 50 boxes of government records; a plan for a regional technical academy in Essex will be voted on in 25 towns; Vermont State Police continue to investigate the weekend ski accident that killed a 15-year-old girl; in Montpelier the Legislature is not meeting on this President’s Day.
VPR News

Interview: Dean’s prospects in Wisconsin

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Howard Dean is trying to keep his presidential campaign alive on the day before the Wisconsin primary. Dean hasn’t won a primary or caucus in this presidential season and a story attributed to the co-chairman of his campaign says he’ll withdraw after Wisconsin. Dean has issued a vigorous denial of that. But he’s thought to be in third place, well behind front-runner John Kerry, and John Edwards. Steve Delaney talks with VPR’s John Dillon, who is on the campaign trail in Milwaukee.
VPR News

Dean pushes on as Wisconsin Primary draws near

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Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean has criss-crossed Wisconsin in recent days in an intense drive to save his sagging campaign. Polls show Dean faces the possibility of coming in third in Tuesday’s primary. Yet Dean denied reports on Sunday that he’ll quit the race if he loses badly in Wisconsin.
VPR News

Blue Cross opposes bill to cover naturopathic medicine

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Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont is opposing legislation that would extend insurance coverage to naturopathic physicians for medically necessary health care services. Naturopaths are state-licensed health care providers, although they don’t have traditional medical degrees.
VPR News

Kids find confidence in dog training

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Around the country, “Dog Agility” is becoming a popular competitive sport. In agility trials, handlers train their dogs to complete a timed obstacle course of hurdles, chutes, tunnels and balance beams. Now one Vermont educator is using dog agility to help children learn to focus and interact successfully.
Commentary Series

Neighbors and sweethearts

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Used to be that the boy fell in love with the girl next door. But times have changed, as commentator Edith Hunter observes with a Valentine’s Day story about neighborhoods and sweethearts.
Commentary Series

Daytime TV wasteland

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Commentator Willem Lange recently had an enforced opportunity to watch daytime television, and he thinks he’s found the reason for the cultural and moral tailspin of the United States.
VPR News

Hinsdale hopes for settlement of large farm permit

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A Charlotte farmer says a ruling against his proposed large farm may lead to new negotiations with neighbors who oppose the project. This week, Vermont’s Agriculture Agency denied the permit for farmer Clark Hinsdale to operate a 684-cow farm. Hinsdale says he plans to speak with his neighbors to resolve their concerns.
VPR News

Diocese issues review of abuse allegations

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The Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington has released the results of a review of sexual abuse allegations going back more than 50 years. The review was part of a nationwide study, ordered by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in the wake of disclosures of incidents of child sexual abuse by priests in a number of U.S. Catholic Diocese.
VPR News

School choice divides House Education Committee

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The head of the House Education Committee, Burke Representative Howard Crawford, says he plans to offer a scaled back school choice bill in the near future. Crawford says he’s taking this step because his panel won’t support the original proposal.
VPR News

Teens meet for statewide Peace Summit

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High school students from around Vermont will gather on the Goddard College Campus on Saturday to attend a statewide youth Peace Summit. The purpose of the day is to educate and encourage young people to put their ideas about peace into action.
VPR News

Midday Report: Friday, February 13, 2004

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Top sories developing across the region at the noon hour: Officials from Green Mountain Power have the honor of ringing the closing bell today at the New York Stock Exchange; roundup of news from Capitol Hill with Melinda Wittstock; UVM men’s basketball goes into a big weekend match-up with a 13-game winning streak; more…
VPR News

GMO protesters disrupt governor’s news conference

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Bob Kinzel also reports that there was an unexpected disruption at the beginning of the Governor Douglas’s weekly press conference at the Statehouse. Supporters of legislation that would ban the use of genetically engineered seeds stepped forward to present Douglas with several large red valentines. And they refused to leave until they had made a point about their concerns.
VPR News

Dean sharpens attacks on Kerry

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Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean has sharpened his attacks on Massachusetts Senator John Kerry. As next week’s primary in Wisconsin approaches, some political experts say the strategy is a risky one.
VPR News

School harassment bill passes House

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On Thursday, the Vermont House gave preliminary approval to legislation that clarifies the definition of harassment in schools and encourages the training of school personnel to deal with incidents of harassment.
VPR News

Interview: UVM men’s basketball

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The Catamounts won their school record thirteenth straight game with a victory Wednesday and sit alone atop the standings in the America East conference. The Boston University Terriers come to the Gutterson Field House this Sunday just one game behind UVM in the America East; the only blemish being a 2-point loss to UVM back in January. So the sold out game will be a battle for first place and a rematch between two teams hoping to make it to the big dance in March.
Commentary Series

Cling, clang!

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Commentator Joe Citro likes to collect stories about eccentric events and characters. Recently he ran across one that features not only an unusual fellow, but an unexpected means of transportation
VPR News

Sanders spars with Federal Reserve Chairman

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Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan appeared before the House Financial Services Committee on Wednesday to present his semiannual report on monetary policy. The Greenspan appearances provided committee member Vermont Congressman Bernie Sanders with a chance to spar with the nation’s leading economic soothsayer.
VPR News

Midday Report: Thursday, February 12, 2004

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Top stories developing around the region at the noon hour: Senator Jim Jeffords is urging the passage of a $318 billion dollar federal highway spending plan; Governor Jim Douglas defends his tax plan against a Democratic alternative that provides for broader distribution of tax revenues; the House takes up a bill that authorizes bartenders to serve two drinks at a time to patrons; the House is also grappling with the details of a bill aimed at harassment in schools; more…
VPR News

Alternatives to power line project will be heard

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Vermont utility regulators opened hearings Wednesday on a $128 million power line project planned between West Rutland and Chittenden County. Opponents won an early legal victory. The Public Service Board decided to hear testimony related to alternatives to the huge transmission project.
VPR News

House moves forward on Memorial Day bill

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The Vermont House gave preliminary approval on Wednesday, to legislation that changes when the state of Vermont celebrates Memorial Day. The measure passed with very little debate. The federal government and most other states recognize Memorial Day as the last Monday in the month; while the state of Vermont observes the holiday on its traditional date of May 30th.
VPR News

Democrats to meet in presidential debate on Sunday

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Democratic presidential front-runner Senator John Kerry will participate in presidential debate in Wisconsin on Sunday. A campaign spokesman says Kerry waited to commit to the debate until it was clear his schedule would allow it.
VPR News

Jeffords pushes for transportation funding increase

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Vermont Senator Jim Jeffords is urging the passage of a transportation bill that could bring one billion dollars in funding to the state’s roads, trails and bridges. The federal spending plan represents an increase of 37 percent over funding from 1998 to 2003.
VPR News

Officials confirm use of date-rape drug

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Vermont authorities are confirming the state’s first medically documented case of a date-rape drug. Recent tests show that a young woman tested positive for the date-rape drug GHB after having a drink at a Chittenden County bar three weeks ago.
VPR News

Midday Report: Wednesday, February 11, 2004

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: the owners of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant are dropping their plans to put up two temporary buildings on the site in Vernon; the Senate is considering a mercury bill; in the House, a bill to define and prevent harassment in schools is up for consideration; some Bennington residents want to turn an old railroad line into a walking trail; more….
VPR News

Interview: Constitutional amendment for four-year terms

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The question of whether Vermont should adopt a four-year term for the governor and other lawmakers gets another public hearing Wednesday night in Rutland. The proposal, known as Prop 4, would end the current two-year term for lawmakers and would require an amendment to the state constitution to do so. Mitch Wertlieb talks with state archivist Gregory Sanford about the issue and the history of amending Vermont’s Constitution.
VPR News

Dean may feel pressure to end presidential campaign

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Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean will face enormous pressure from national Democratic leaders to withdraw from the race – if Dean loses next week’s primary in Wisconsin. That’s the viewpoint of Senate President Pro Tempore Peter Welch, who has campaigned for Dean.
Commentary Series

Gay marriage

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Gay marriange could be the “wedge” issue in the 2004 presidential election. Commentator Alexis Jetter looks at how it might affect one Vermont family.
Commentary Series

Political calculus

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Commentator Barrie Dunsmore reflects on Secretary of State Powell’s recent statements concerning weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, and what factors make up “the political calculus.”
VPR News

Mental health advocates rally for increased funding

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Hundreds of mental health care recipients, workers and advocates rallied at the Statehouse on Tuesday. They warned that the state’s system of community mental health centers is on the verge of an unprecedented breakdown unless there’s an increase in state funding.
VPR News

Parents warned of improper car seat use

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A new Vermont law that went into effect January first says children up to the age of eight must now be in a booster seat when traveling by car. But as VPR’s Nina Keck reports, many parents are unaware of that new law and – even more startling – the majority of parents who do use a child seat in the car don’t use it correctly.
VPR News

Midday Report: Tuesday, February 10, 2004

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: mental health service providers are expressing their concerns over Governor Jim Douglas’s new budget; a new law that went into effect January 1 requires children up to the age of eight to be in a booster seat when traveling by car; officials in the town of Ludlow want to apply for a $30,000 planning grant to study whether it’s feasible to build affordable housing for the town; more…
VPR News

Hinsdale plays dual roles in large farm policy debate

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In Vermont’s debate over legislation regulating large farms and the right to farm, one man is in an unusual position. Clark Hinsdale, who wants to build a large dairy farm in Charlotte, is also president of the Vermont Farm Bureau. And the Farm Bureau is the state’s leading farm organization, which provides testimony to legislators on agriculture matters.
VPR News

Dean asks supporters to vote online for TV ad

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The campaign of Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean is taking an unusual approach to its media strategy in Wisconsin. Dean’s Internet supporters are being asked to watch three spots online and then vote for the one they feel is the most effective.
VPR News

Sanders demands more spending on Veterans’ health care

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Congressman Bernie Sanders is urging President Bush to increase spending on health care programs for veterans. Sanders says the president’s new budget plan calls for less than a two percent hike in spending for these programs. He says this means many veterans will have to wait months before receiving proper medical care.
Commentary Series

The second wave of AIDS

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The AIDS crisis may have eased somewhat in this country, but commentator Nils Daulaire says that other parts of the world are bracing for another wave of this devastating illness.
VPR News

Midday Report: Monday, February 9, 2004

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Top stories developing across the listening region at the noon hour: even though Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean took the number-two position in Maine’s caucuses on Sunday, Dean’s supporters are still enthusiastic; Ed Laviletta, president of Vermont Veterans of Foreign Wars, says President Bush’s proposed increase in health spending for veterans is insufficient; more…
VPR News

Interview: Dean comes second in Maine Caucuses

By |
Hoping to grab some momentum away from frontrunner Massachusetts Senator John Kerry, Howard Dean campaigned in Maine on Saturday – but results of Sunday’s caucus voting show that Kerry won that contest with nearly 50 percent of the vote. Dean picked up about 26 percent and Ohio congressman Dennis Kucinich came in third.
VPR News

VELCO to change route of upgraded transmission lines

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The company that owns Vermont’s high voltage power lines wants to change the route of a major transmission project to avoid neighborhoods and reduce environmental impacts. But the project faces a continuing legal challenge from opponents who have asked regulators to appoint a special counsel to represent the public interest.
VPR News

Douglas signs ‘Emily’s Bill’ into law

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On Friday, Governor Jim Douglas signed a bill into law that will make it possible for students who are in the custody of the state to receive a grant to go to college. The leading proponent of the plan is a 17-year-old central Vermont high school student who worked four years to achieve her goal.
VPR News

Maine Democrats survey the field for Sunday’s caucus

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On Sunday, Democrats in Maine will head to local meeting halls to vote by caucus for a presidential nominee. Howard Dean, who hasn’t had a win so far, and Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich are hoping to get boost their campaigns with a good showing.
VPR News

Midday Report: Friday, February 6, 2004

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Top stories developing acorss the region at the noon hour: The company that owns Vermont’s high voltage power lines wants to change the route of a major transmission project to avoid neighborhoods and reduce environmental impacts; a lackluster season is prompting Vermont lawmakers to consider giving a $500,000 boost to the state’s ski areas; Melinda Wittstock provides a roundup of the week’s news from Capitol Hill; more…
VPR News

Developer says state has few potential wind farm sites

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A Vermont wind farm developer says, when all is said and done, there will only be a small number of wind farms in the state. Matthew Rubin heads a group that has proposed an array of wind turbines in the Northeast Kingdom.
VPR News

Dean pins campaign’s future on Wisconsin results

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The campaign of Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean has decided to throw most of its resources into an effort to win the Wisconsin primary. Campaign Director Roy Neel says Dean must win Wisconsin in order to emerge as a viable alternative to Massachusetts Senator John Kerry.
VPR News

State takes steps toward purchase of dams

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State officials took their first concrete steps on Thursday, toward buying a stake in hydroelectric dams on the Deerfield and Connecticut Rivers. The company that owns the dams is in bankruptcy. Advocates say Vermont has the chance now to secure a stable, long-term power resource for the future.
VPR News

Guard member marries via teleconference

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A small bouquet of purple flowers on a white tablecloth set with two unlit candles. These were the only hints that a small conference room at the National Guard headquarters in Colchester would be the scene of an unusual wedding ceremony.
Commentary Series

Applied history

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Vermont’s history always tells us something about today. Commentator Tom Slayton has been talking with Vermont Historical Society Director Kevin Graffagnino about how the lessons Vermont’s past might teach today’s policy-makers.
Commentary Series

Sex offender bill

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The Senate Judiciary Committee is considering a bill that would expand Vermont’s Sex Offender Registry. Commentator Cheryl Hanna offers her thoughts on this controversial issue.
VPR News

Midday Report: Thursday, February 5, 2004

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Howard Dean’s hopes of eventually winning the White House now hinge on Wisconsin; the president of the New Hampshire State Employees Association says union members are still solidly behind Dean; Vermont’s most active businesses are increasingly optimistic about economic growth in 2004; the Vermont Ski Areas Association says December’s rain and January’s sub-zero temperatures resulted in 15 to 20 percent less business.
VPR News

Shumlin won’t run for governor

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Former Senate Democratic leader Peter Shumlin says he won’t be a candidate for governor this year. Burlington Mayor, Peter Clavelle, says he’s relieved by Shumlin’s decision because it means that Clavelle probably won’t face a bruising primary fight to win the Democratic nomination.
Jazz with George Thomas

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Jazz in the Evening with George Thomas for Wednesday, February 4, 2004
VPR News

Midday Report: Wednesday, February 4, 2004

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Top stories developing acorss the regiong at the noon hour: Peter Shumlin says he will not be a candidate for governor; elsewhere in a busy Statehouse today there’s a conference committee meeting on environmental permit reform; a few hundred Vermont middle school students are taking part in the eighth annual Vermont Kids Against Tobacco rally; Howard Dean is promising to forge ahead in his bid for the White House; Central Vermont Public Service says it might have to ask for a rate increase.
VPR News

Teacher qualifications called into question

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As part of the federal No Child Left Behind Act, public school teachers who teach core subjects like math, English and history must be highly qualified. Last week, 8,000 teachers in Vermont received letters informing them of this requirement.
VPR News

Swanton meatpacker closes

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One of the largest meatpacking plants in Vermont is out of business. Swanton Packing closed its doors last week because of federal regulations designed to prevent the spread of mad cow disease.
VPR News

Interview: Dean’s chances in the primaries ahead

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Howard Dean is promising to stay in the race for the White House, even without a victory on Tuesday night. Seven states held primaries and caucuses, but the former Vermont governor spent the day campaigning in Washington state, which holds its caucuses on Saturday. Mitch Wertlieb talks with UVM political science professor Anthony Gierzynski about Howard Dean’s strategy and his chances as he sticks it out in the race.
VPR News

Utility argues against rate reduction

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The state’s largest electric utility wants regulators to change a recent ruling that said customers may deserve a rate decrease. Central Vermont Public Service Corporation says the Public Service Board should approve a rate freeze instead of a rate reduction.
Commentary Series

Alaska clean air decision

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The Supreme Court has ruled, five to four, that EPA clean air regulations take precedence over state requirements in an Alaska case. Commentator Ruth Page wonders why the vote wasn’t unanimous.
VPR News

Democrats prepare alternative tax cuts

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Democratic leaders at the Statehouse say it’s likely that they’ll propose an alternative to Governor Jim Douglas’s tax cut plan. One possibility under review would reduce the state sales tax from 6 to 5 percent.
VPR News

Midday Report: Tuesday, February 3, 2004

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: The Senate has approved a bill that would eliminate the requirement that only hospitals can dispense methadone, by a vote of 27 to 0; After back-to-back wins in Iowa and New Hampshire, John Kerry is hoping for a sweep in the biggest test yet for Democratic hopefuls, the seven states holding primaries or caucuses today; Congressman Bernie Sanders is speaking out against President Bush’s new budget.
VPR News

Douglas seeks to strengthen Right to Farm law

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The Douglas Administration wants to strengthen a law that protects farmers against lawsuits brought by neighbors. At the same time, Agriculture Secretary Steve Kerr says the state may need additional authority to regulate farms that cause pollution.
VPR News

Midday Report: Monday, February 2, 2004

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Williston will decide at Town Meeting whether to continue its local one percent sales tax; Governor Douglas is going to Island Pond to celebrate the first anniversary of a new woodworking facility; state officials have cleared the way for a new medical facility in St. Johnsbury; the Bennington debate over how to assign sixth grade students is to be placed on the Town Meeting Day ballot, over the objections of the school board; more….
VPR News

Midday Report: Thursday, January 29, 2004

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Howard Dean has replaced his presidential campaign Manager Joe Trippi after finishing third in Iowa and second in New Hampshire; the rate at which Vermont recycles its electronic waste is good but could be better, according to a report by the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation; the Douglas administration will set up a public process for comments on allowing wind turbines on state lands; more….
VPR News

Agriculture Agency outlines legal issues in GMO debate

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Vermont lawmakers are struggling to find ways to protect the state’s organic farmers from possible contamination by genetically modified crops. On Friday, a lawyer for the Agency of Agriculture outlined the legal issues raised by regulation of gene-altered crops. But advocates say the agency hasn’t done enough to explore all the legal options.
VPR News

West Pawlet hosts first annual Woodchuck Festival

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Monday is Groundhog Day. According to legend, it’s the time when the groundhog awakens from its winter sleep. If it sees its shadow, some people believe it means a lot of winter is still to come. But on Saturday in West Pawlet – where more winter weather is a good bet in any case – people are celebrating the holiday in their own way.
VPR News

Midday Report: Friday, January 30, 2004

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: the state is about to sell $120 million in tax-free bonds; some Chittenden County homeowners may see their school taxes go down this year; roundup of issues from Capitol Hill this week; in the Democratic presidential campaign, former frontrunner Howard Dean is down to about $5 million and is not running TV ads in the seven states that will vote next Tuesday; more….
VPR News

Australia trade deal may hurt Vermont dairy industry

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Both of Vermont’s U.S. senators are warning that a proposed free trade agreement with Australia could have a devastating impact on Vermont’s dairy industry. Senators Patrick Leahy and Jim Jeffords are concerned that pact will allow farmers in Australia and New Zealand to flood the U.S. market with imported milk products.
VPR News

Judge rules drug sting unconstitutional

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A Vermont District Court judge has ruled a sting operation unconstitutional because police conducted electronic surveillance without first obtaining a warrant. The ruling dismisses five counts of selling heroin against 20-year-old Ashley Rush of Derby.
VPR News

Brattleboro’s virtual meeting place

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There’s a lot of talk these days about media ownership being consolidated into too few hands. In Brattleboro, a couple of Web designers have created an Internet soapbox and local information exchange.
VPR News

Dean replaces campaign manager

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A major shake up at the Howard Dean campaign. Dean has named a longtime associate of former Vice President Al Gore to head up the campaign. Roy Neel will have the title of chief operating officer.
VPR News

Interview: Annual Farm Show wraps up in Barre

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The Vermont Farm Show has been underway at the Barre Civic Center. The three-day exhibition wraps up on Thursday and this year celebrates a milestone. The show is now in its seventieth year, in what has become the state’s largest agricultural showcase. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Jon Turmel, the farm show manager.
VPR News

Midday Report: Wednesday, January 28, 2004

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Howard Dean is at home in Burlington today, working the phones and the satellites, taping new messages for use in the next twelve primary states; The National Labor Relations Board is examining charges that a Montpelier restaurant owner acted illegally in firing an employee involved in union activities; the Senate Health and Welfare Committee opens a forum on the economic impact of health care costs on Vermont businesses; more…
VPR News

Election energizes youth voting block

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Most experts agree that the youth vote is up for grabs in this election year. It’s believed that young voters are feeling increasingly disenfranchised and cynical toward government. Some young voters at Dartmouth College say that foreign policy and Iraq are big issues at the ballot box.
VPR News

Dartmouth students shuttle young voters to polls

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From 1972 to 2000, the number of 18 to 24 year-olds who voted in a presidential election dropped by 13 percent. And many studies indicate that young voters are feeling increasingly apathetic and cynical about their government. But as VPR’s Nina Keck reports, on the Dartmouth College campus on Tuesday, several young political activists have been working hard to encourage their classmates to vote.
VPR News

Interview: Candidates anticipate election results

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The presidential candidates are eagerly awaiting early results from Tuesday’s voting in the New Hampshire primary. Neal Charnoff talks with John Dillon, who has spent the day following the candidates and talking with voters.
VPR News

Midday Report: Tuesday, January 27, 2004

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Top stories developing across the region at hte noon hour: it’s Decision Day in New Hampshire, and the early measure of turnout in the Presidential primary is evidence that the voters there are taking seriously their part in the election cycle; the city of Vergennes is trying to decide the future of a 114-acre parcel of riverfront land that has been for sale for years; it’s taken several years, but the Northeast Kingdom Waste Management District is about to emerge from some heavy debt; more…
VPR News

What’s at stake for Dean

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All the major Democratic presidential candidates will be frantically crisscrossing New Hampshire on Tuesday in search of last minute votes for the primary election. As VPR’s Bob Kinzel reports, there’s a lot at stake for Howard Dean.
VPR News

Interview: Dixville Notch, NH casts first votes

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The town of Dixville Notch, New Hampshire kept with tradition at midnight by casting the first votes in the first-in-the-nation primary. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Art McGrath, a reporter for the Caledonian Record, who was in Dixville Notch as the voting began.
VPR News

Manchester crowd greets Dean

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In his last full day of campaigning before the New Hampshire primary, Howard Dean worked hard to win over undecided voters. During a campaign rally in Manchester, Dean criticized his Democratic rivals, but focused more of his attacks on President Bush.
VPR News

Documented bear killed by hunters

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A New Hampshire black bear that was featured in a National Geographic special has been shot and killed by hunters. The bear, named “Yoda,” had been adopted as an orphaned cub by naturalist Ben Kilham and was an important part of Kilham’s research.
VPR News

Home Depot protested in Brattleboro

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A group in Brattleboro is protesting the town’s new Home Depot store. Petitions and demonstrations marked the store’s first weekend of business on Saturday.
VPR News

Police seek ex-husband of slain woman

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Vermont State Police are seeking the ex-husband of a 41-year-old Bethel woman found dead last week. Police believe 35-year-old William Kimmick — who goes by the nickname Al — killed Kathryn Kimmick and then fled the country. The estranged couple’s two young children have been placed in state custody.
VPR News

Midday Report: Monday, January 26, 2004

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: New Hampshire polls are showing varied levels of support for the Democratic presidential candidates and some analysts say the numbers are too volatile to rely on; the Vermont emergency management office is making five more HAZMAT trailers available to local fire departments; Captain Kangaroo, Bob Keeshan, will be given a private service in the spring, according to his family.
VPR News

Leahy leads buses of Dean supporters to New Hampshire

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Vermonters packed several buses to New Hampshire over the weekend to help boost the candidacy of Howard Dean at a critical time. Their message to the Granite Staters: Dean has brought a lot of voters to the party and he’s still the one. Senator Patrick Leahy led the caravan that started in Burlington.
VPR News

Interview: How New Hampshire votes

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In anticipation of Tuesday’s New Hampshire primary, pundits guessing about the people of the Granite State – their values, their character, and how it all might come together to determine which Democratic presidential hopeful emerges a winner. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Judson Hale is editor in chief for Yankee Magazine in New Dublin, NH.
VPR News

Dean, Kerry leverage regional familiarity in NH

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After two years of campaigning in neighboring New Hampshire, Howard Dean finds himself sprinting from behind as he nears the end of the marathon. Despite his name recognition with New Hampshire voters, the candidate is still trying to answer the question – who is the real Howard Dean?
VPR News

Interview: The Deans’ television interview

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Thursday night’s television interview with Diane Sawyer was a chance for both Judy and Howard Dean to discuss, explain, and perhaps exert some damage control over a situation that some critics say has Howard Dean’s presidential bid in trouble. Mitch Wertlieb discusses the Deans’ TV appearance with Eric Davis, professor of political science at Middlebury College.
VPR News

Dean criticizes Alan Greenspan

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Democratic Presidential candidate Howard Dean is trying to focus his campaign on tax and fiscal issues in the days leading up to the New Hampshire primary. Today, he criticized Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan.
VPR News

Captain Kangaroo dies

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Bob Keeshan, known for three decades as television’s gentle, patient Captain Kangaroo died yesterday.
VPR News

Midday Report: Friday, January 23, 2004

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: An assessment of Howard Dean’s busy day of damage control in New Hampshire; the Vermont-related squabble over Republicans sneaking material out of Democrats’ computers in the Senate Judiciary Committee in Washington; more…
Commentary Series

Compensation

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Commentator Dick Mallary thinks that a recent study of the compensation of public officials in Vermont will stimulate lively debate in this legislative session.
VPR News

Interview: Dean prepares for NH debate

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Political observers say its make or break time for Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean, as he prepares for Thursday’s debate near Manchester. Success in the debate is seen as crucial to Dean’s political future, and New Hampshire voters are already seeing a kinder, gentler candidate. Neal Charnoff talks with John Dillon, who’s at the debate site.
VPR News

Dean’s New Hampshire strategy

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The campaign of Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean says it doesn’t plan to make major changes in its basic strategy. But leading up to next week’s primary election in New Hampshire, Dean may refrain from airing negative TV ads.
VPR News

Good chance of VT bid on hydro dams

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Governor Jim Douglas says there’s a good chance that the state of Vermont will make a formal bid on a series of hydro dams along the Connecticut River.
VPR News

Vermonters respond to Dean’s yell

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Commentators, editorial writers and late night talk show hosts have seized on Howard Dean’s emotional appearance before a crowd of supporters Monday night in Iowa. Dean’s wild exuberance and loud yell have spawned both light-hearted jokes and serious questions about his candidacy. VPR’s Steve Zind has reaction from some Vermonters who have worked with Dean.
Commentary Series

Craig Burt

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Commentator Tom Slayton has been reading Craig Burt’s recently published autobiography, “We Lived in Stowe.” Here are some of his thoughts.
Commentary Series

Old books

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A recent literary encounter has reminded commentator Madeleine Kunin that — while they may get old in terms of years — some things remain ageless.
VPR News

Sportsmen say wind projects threaten hunting

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A coalition of hunters and trappers are calling for a moratorium on new wind energy projects. The groups are particularly worried about wind projects that may be proposed for the former Champion paper company land in the Northeast Kingdom.
VPR News

Book Interview: The Rope Eater

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A new novel by Vermont author Ben Jones is a tale of arctic exploration and discovery during the American Civil War. “The Rope Eater” is narrated by Brendan Kane, an army private who has been overwhelmed by the carnage of war. Neal Charnoff talks with the Bennington novelist about his book.
VPR News

Burke votes against wind towers

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Burke voters are taking a stand against wind towers. At a special meeting on Monday, voters adopted an ordinance restricting structures higher than 100 feet on land above 1,000 feet.
VPR News

Midday Report: Wednesday, January 21, 2004

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: four new polls show that Vermont’s Howard Dean still leads in New Hampshire, though they are closer than they were earlier this month; U.S. Gen New England has agreed to sell its Bellows Falls hydroelectric plant for $72 million; the town of Brandon is working towards urban renewal; Voters in the Northeast Kingdom town of Burke have taken a stand against wind towers; more….
VPR News

Interview: Leahy responds to State of the Union

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A call for Congress to make last year’s tax cuts permanent and for renewal of the Patriot Act were among the notable sections of President Bush’s State of the Union address Tuesday night. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Senator Patrick Leahy about the Vermont congressional delegation’s critical response to the president’s speech.
Commentary Series

Holiday fat

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If one of your New Year’s resolutions is to lose a few pounds, commentator Nils Daulaire says you’ve got plenty of company.
VPR News

Compromise may be reached on GMO policy

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Vermont Secretary of Agriculture Steve Kerr has indicated that a compromise could be reached that would address many of the concerns about genetically modified seeds used by some Vermont farmers.
VPR News

Budget Address focuses on environment and health care

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Governor Jim Douglas has outlined a state budget that calls for new health care initiatives and new spending on environmental clean-up programs. The governor says that spending money in these areas will reap dividends in the future. Despite the new programs, Douglas says the new budget will stay within the growth of state revenues.
VPR News

Bennington optimistic about Bypass funding

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Bennington officials are confident a recent report justifies continued state support of the southern leg of the Bennington Bypass. The Bypass is competing for funding with other projects in Essex Junction, Rutland and Hartford.
VPR News

Governor’s Budget Address

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Governor Jim Douglas’ Budget Address, delivered on January 20, 2004 in the Vermont House of Representatives.
VPR News

Midday Report: Tuesday, January 20, 2004

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Howard Dean’s campaign for the presidency got its fenders bent in Iowa, where he finished a distant third; in Montpelier, Governor Jim Douglas delivered his annual budget address to the Legislature; the number of new businesses in Vermont is on the rise; all the surviving Democratic contenders are campaigning in New Hampshire today.
VPR News

Dean finishes third in Iowa caucuses

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Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean finished third in Monday night’s Iowa caucuses. Despite this disappointing result, Dean says he’s confident he’ll still win the Democratic presidential nomination.
Commentary Series

Basic skills

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Recently commentator Ruth Page has been wondering if too many Americans are escaping reality by neglecting education and serious thought.
VPR News

Midday Report: Monday, January 19, 2004

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Bob Kinzel reports on the Iowa caucuses from the John Edwards campaign headquarters; Governor Jim Douglas is putting the final touches on Tuesday’s annual budget address; Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is being observed across Vermont.
VPR News

Interview: Iowans go to caucuses Monday night

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Political observers will have all eyes on Iowa Monday night as the Iowa caucuses are held – the first major political vote of the presidential primary season, following the non-binding Washington D.C. primary. To help us get a sense of the prevailing political winds in Iowa we’re joined on the line by University of Iowa professor Jane Singer.
VPR News

College campus reflects changes in race relations

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It’s Martin Luther King Day. All over Vermont, programs and activities will honor the great civil rights leader. Middlebury College began its observances on Friday with a concert of spirituals and readings from Dr. King’s speeches. They continue today with the college’s annual Martin Luther King prayer breakfast, which Governor Douglas is scheduled to attend.
Commentary Series

Hayden Carruth’s ‘North Winter’

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Honorary Poet Laureat of Vermont, Hayden Carruth, often incorporates the images of contemporary, rural Vermont into his writing. From a VPR archive of a reading held in his honor in Montpelier, here is Ellen McCullough Lovell reading excerpts from Carruth’s long poem “North Winter.”
VPR News

Watershed protection sought for national forest

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Two environmental groups want greater protection for many streams and ponds in the 400,000-acre Green Mountain National Forest. The petition filed with the Water Resources Board covers seven separate watersheds and includes the headwaters of several major rivers in the Green Mountains.
VPR News

Interview: Dean targets Iowa youth vote

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As we head into the final weekend before the Iowa Caucuses, the race for the Democratic presidential nomination is tighter than ever. In Iowa Friday afternoon, Howard Dean spoke at a teen center in Newton, one of the stops on his statewide bus tour. Neal CHarnoff talks with VPR’s Bob Kinzel about how Dean is trying to get his message across to youth.
VPR News

Frist makes NH appearance on behalf of Bush

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Following in the wake of a succession of Democratic presidential hopefuls, Republican Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist visited Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon on Friday. Appearing on behalf of President Bush, Frist outlined what he says are the administration’s key health care accomplishments.
VPR News

Ferry crew keeps high spirits in cold weather

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Everyone has a cold story this week. But one crew that can really speak to the penetrating weather is on deck at the Lake Champlain Ferry, where the wind is strong and the spray is cold. It’s the midnight crossing between Grand Isle and Plattsburgh, one of a dozen sub-zero trips the boat will make this night.
VPR News

Former Texas governor endorses Dean

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A former governor of Texas is endorsing Howard Dean for president. Former Texas chief executive Ann Richards says she believes Dean is the only Democrat who’s introducing new voters to politics.
VPR News

Vermont in compliance with new federal voting law

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Vermont is in compliance with most of a 2002 federal voting law. Secretary of State Deborah Markowitz says the state is doing well in meeting almost all of the standards in the Help America Vote Act.
VPR News

Multiple accidents on Interstate 89

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Vermont State Police are advising motorists against traveling on Interstate 89. Troopers say there have been a series of accidents on the highway from Northfield to the Canadian border, a distance of at least 85 miles.
VPR News

Midday Report: Friday, January 16, 2004

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Howard Dean says the increasingly tight race for the Iowa caucuses is a four-way dead heat; at this hour, House and Senate Democrats in Montpelier are stepping up their criticism of the Douglas administration’s long-term energy plan; school teachers in Montpelier have a new contract after more than a year and a half of negotiations; federal officials may be preparing to close an unlicensed community radio station in Brattleboro.
VPR News

Dean relies on organizers to pull ahead in Iowa

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New polls indicate that the Democratic presidential race in Iowa has now become a four-person race with just four days to go before Monday night’s caucuses. VPR’s Bob Kinzel examines how the campaign of Howard Dean hopes to organize its volunteers for a victory on Monday night.
VPR News

Iowa polls show changing landscape in Democratic race

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Neal Charnoff talks with Bob Kinzel, who reports from the campaign trail in Iowa on the changing poll numbers of Howard Dean and his rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination. Drake University professor Dennis Goldford comments on the final days of campaigning before Iowans go to caucus on Monday.
VPR News

Legislation would address racial harassment in schools

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Although Vermont and the nation celebrates Martin Luther King Day on Monday, Thursday was the civil rights leader’s birthday. Advocates gathered in the Statehouse Thursday and used the day to push for legislation that would strengthen laws against racial harassment in schools.
VPR News

State plans for rise in tax receipts

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Economists say the economic recovery has begun in Vermont, but significant uncertainties remain. They say there’s enough optimism to believe the economy is strong enough to expect state government’s collection of taxes and fees to increase.
VPR News

Midday Report: Thursday, January 15, 2004

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Bob Kinzel reports from Iowa on the tightening of the Democratic race and the impact on Dean’s campaign; the state hospital will be one of the topics discussed at Governor Jim Douglas’ weekly news conference; four middle school students in Shelburne just received $50 savings bonds for winning the statewide “Stock Market Game”; more….
VPR News

Dean begins 5-day Iowa bus tour

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Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean plans to barnstorm across Iowa by bus during the next five days. Dean kicked off the tour Wednesday night in Des Moines with the help from some well known friends.
VPR News

Bennington considers zoning for ‘supercenters’

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Nearly a hundred Bennington residents braved Wednesday night’s cold to attend a forum on big box stores and smart growth’ strategies. The town is in the process of deciding whether to rezone some of its industrial land for retail growth.
VPR News

Interview: Mountaintop Film Festival

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A week-long film festival kicks off today at the Eclipse Theater in Waitsfield. Over 25 human rights films, including some by Vermont filmmakers, will be presented to celebrate the birthday of Martin Luther King. Mitch Wertlieb talks with organizer Claudia Becker.
VPR News

Prominent Vermonters campaign for Dean in New Hampshire

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Several prominent Vermonters traveled to southern New Hampshire on Wednesday to support Howard Dean’s presidential campaign. The Democrats also tried to serve as a truth squad of sorts and worked to dispel negative impressions about the former governor’s temperament and character.
VPR News

Dean wins little noticed Washington DC primary

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Howard Dean’s first primary victory on Tuesday came in a contest that received scant attention from the campaigns of the Democratic candidates for president. Dean garnered 43 percent of the vote in the District of Columbia, compared to 34 percent for Al Sharpton.
VPR News

Cold weather continues

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There’s still more to say about the very cold weather this week. The Vermont Fuel Dealers Association has made an emergency request to the state to seek an exemption for the hours fuel truck drivers can work each day; the utilities continue to ask Vermonters for conservation; mechanics are advising how to treat cars kindly during the cold.
VPR News

Bush registers for Vermont ballot

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President Bush is formally a candidate for re-election in Vermont. His national campaign chairman, former Montana Governor Marc Racicot, filed the paperwork at the secretary of state’s office on Wednesday.
VPR News

Midday Report: Wednesday, January 14, 2004

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Howard Dean has won the Washington D.C. primary, a non-binding contest that received little attention; the Reverend Jesse Jackson says Democrats are spending too much time attacking one another; the arctic cold snap that’s gripping Vermont is keeping towing businesses busy; a Vermonter has been named to the prestigious President’s Commission on White House Fellowship.
VPR News

Discussion begins on four-year terms

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The Senate Government Operations Committee plans to hold public hearings throughout the state next month to gauge public support for a four-year term for governor. The proposal might be linked to a plan to implement a four-year term for lawmakers as well.
VPR News

Interview: Dartmouth doctors help quake victims in Iran

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Members of the advanced response team from the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center have just returned from southeastern Iran, where they helped more than 800 victims of the devastating earthquake that struck the region December 26. The magnitude 6.6 earthquake leveled much of the ancient city of Bam, and killed more than 30,000 people. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Dr. Rob Gougelet, the medical director for the Dartmouth-Hitchcock team.
Commentary Series

Sitting quietly

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Commentator Nick Boke has discovered that the roots of Americans’ acquisitive propensities go back a lot farther than he thought they did.
VPR News

Democrats say uprate proceeds should go to energy needs

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The Legislature will play a key role in how the state spends a $20 million payment from the new owner of the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant. The Douglas administration wants to use the money to clean up Lake Champlain and other projects. But top lawmakers want the money to be targeted at economic development, and they want to bring down the cost of electricity.
VPR News

Midday Report: Tuesday, January 13, 2004

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Top stories developing across the regiona at the noon hour: a program that allows for speedy border crossings for pre-approved, low-risk travelers has opened in northern New York and Vermont; a new Home Depot store opens this month in Brattleboro, creating about 95 jobs for area residents; while many Vermont industries have taken economic hits over the past few years, real estate has seen a pretty good year; more….
VPR News

Interview: Diversity of Dean’s cabinet

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As the Democratic presidential primaries move south in the next few months, the issue of race will certainly come up, as it did in a recent debate in Iowa. For a closer look at questions about race and diversity under Howard Dean, Mitch Wertlieb talks with Kathy Hoyt, who served as Dean’s chief of staff until 1997 and secretary of administration from 1997 to 2002.
VPR News

Winner in Iowa caucuses difficult to forecast

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Next Monday evening, roughly 100,000 Iowa voters will attend caucuses to kick up the 2004 Democratic presidential race. According to one national political observer, the situation in Iowa is fluid and many voters will be reassessing their choices in the next seven days.
Commentary Series

European college tuition

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European students have taken to the streets recently to protest tuition increases. Commentator Allen Gilbert compares the situation facing students in Europe to the situation here in the United States.
VPR News

Midday Report: Monday, January 12, 2004

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: the Vermont Legislature enters week two of its 2004 session, with some tough issues facing the lawmakers right away; deadlines are fast approaching for getting items on Town Meeting Day warnings; Vermont Congressman Bernie Sanders says his top priority in the new legislative session in Washington is to stem the loss of manufacturing jobs; more….
VPR News

Dean’s religious faith examined on campaign trail

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Recently, critics have claimed that Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean “got religion” on the campaign trail. But the minister at Dean’s Congregational Church says that Democratic front-runner has deeply held and long-standing religious beliefs. His pastor also says that religion played an important part in Dean’s decision to support Vermont’s historic civil unions law.
VPR News

UVM faces drug-related wrongful death suit

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The substance abuse center at the University of Vermont faces a wrongful death suit stemming from a traffic accident two years ago. A patient at the center killed three people while driving home after being given a drug to treat his heroin addiction. The suit says UVM officials ignored safeguards and should have known the drug would make the patient drowsy. But prosecutors have charged the driver with manslaughter. And UVM says it’s not responsible for the accident.
VPR News

Interview: ECHO receives award for environmental design

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The ECHO building at the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain on Burlington’s waterfront has the honor of receiving Vermont’s first “Green Building Certification” from the U.S. Green Building Council. It’s also among the first 70 buildings nationwide to be recognized as a “LEED” building – or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The official announcement will come at a press conference later Monday morning. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Falen Fretz, ECHO’s executive director.
VPR News

Harkin endorses Dean

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Less than 24 hours after a damaging story broke about disparaging comments Dean made about the Iowa caucuses four years ago, he’s being endorsed by that state’s senior Democrat, Senator Tom Harkin.
VPR News

Ads target Douglas’ opposition to marijuana bill

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A national organization that favors the decriminalization of marijuana has launched a TV campaign in Vermont. The ad urges people to contact lawmakers and Governor Jim Douglas in support of a medical marijuana bill. Douglas says he has serious problems with the marijuana legislation.
VPR News

Clark outlines health care plan in New Hampshire

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Democratic presidential candidate General Wesley Clark outlined his health care plan to an audience at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center on Friday. Clark says he’s troubled by a system that provides better care to those who can afford it and says as president he would increase health care access for Americans.
VPR News

Online sex-offender directory proposed

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The chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Dick Sears, says he wants to put names and pictures of the state’s most dangerous sex offenders on the Internet.
VPR News

Montshire Museum shows how animals prepare for the cold

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A winter cold snap can mean different things depending on who – or what – you are. For the power companies, it’s a time of worry about overloaded grids. For plumbers it means working overtime on people’s frozen pipe. At the Montshire Science Museum in Norwich, it’s an occasion for curiosity.
VPR News

Midday Report: Friday, January 9, 2004

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Dick Heaps of Northern Economic Consulting told the Vermont Economic Outlook Conference this morning that the state’s economy should be healthy and vigorous this year, with growth in jobs; Brattleboro is looking for additional sources of tax revenue; Melinda Wittstock of the Capitol Bureau in Washington says Senator Patrick Leahy opposes the immigration initiative announced this week by President Bush; more….
VPR News

Hearing addresses early construction at Vermont Yankee

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A hearing officer for the Vermont Public Service Board traveled south for a public hearing in Vernon Thursday night. The topic was preliminary site work begun by Entergy/Vermont Yankee without necessary state approvals.
Commentary Series

Rooftop prairie

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Though 99% of America’s natural prairies have been lost, commentator Ruth Page describes a little one atop a building in Chicago that offers a sampling of some natural prairie plants.
VPR News

Douglas, Democrats disagree on approach to health care

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Governor Jim Douglas says he’s not very enthusiastic about a Democratic proposal that would allow small businesses in the state to buy into the Vermont Health Access Plan. Douglas says he’ll unveil his own comprehensive health care proposal in several weeks.
VPR News

Rutland hospitals overcrowded

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Hospitals nationwide are seeing an increase in patient loads for a variety of reasons. In Vermont, there are cases of overcrowding not just in the emergency rooms, but in entire hospitals.
VPR News

Clark in second place in New Hampshire

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A new poll finds that Wesley Clark has moved ahead of John Kerry in the New Hampshire Democratic presidential race, with Clark now in second place and Kerry in third place.
VPR News

Kerr says GMO ban may be unconstitutional

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Legislators are continuing their debate this session on whether to ban or regulate the use of genetically engineered seeds in Vermont. Agriculture Secretary Steve Kerr told the House Agriculture Committee that he doesn’t think a ban would be constitutional.
VPR News

Midday Report: Thursday, January 8, 2004

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Governor Jim Douglas comments on the tax relief and health care proposals in his State of the State speech; Montreal hospital emergency rooms are overcrowded; the Legislature will not take up a bill on doctor-assisted suicide; extreme cold last night, and probably again tonight, has prompted Green Mountain Power and other utilities to ask for electricity conservation during the cold snap; more…
VPR News

Mad cow case diagnosed quicker than Vermont sheep

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Almost three years ago, the federal government seized and destroyed Vermont sheep suspected of having a strain of mad cow disease. The USDA’s determination that there was a problem with the sheep was made after 13 months of careful study. But in the recent mad cow case in Washington state, the government made its determination in a few days.
VPR News

More staff needed to manage Dean records requests

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Secretary of State Deb Markowitz says her office is being inundated by requests concerning former Governor Howard Dean’s official records. Markowitz will be asking the Legislature for additional funds to keep up with the growing demand on her office.
VPR News

Administration still cautious about state revenues

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According to Administration Secretary Mike Smith, the state’s new revenue report shows that the Vermont economy is on the rebound. Still, Smith is being cautious about how the economy will perform in the next six months.
VPR News

Midday Report: Wednesday, January 7, 2004

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: UVM political science professor Anthony Gierzynski analyzes the political implication of Governor Douglas’ proposed tax relief; almost all the legislative committees are meeting today as lawmakers buckle down to work in the second day of the new session; the Bennington-based American Chestnut Foundation got a boost to its efforts to breed a blight-resistant tree; more….
VPR News

Interview: Implication of governor’s tax proposals

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The talk of Tuesday’s state of the state address by Governor Jim Douglas was taxes – specifically the governor’s surprising announcement of a plan to cut both personal and corporate income taxes in Vermont, while collecting the same amount of money under the current law. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Tom Pelham, commissioner of the Vermont Department of Taxes.
VPR News

Democrats respond to governor’s address

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Governor Jim Douglas’ plan to lower income tax rates caught many Democrats by surprise. They were generally supportive of the idea, but wanted to learn more of the details. But Democrats had criticism for what they said was Douglas’s failure to propose any major plan to extend health coverage or to lower the cost of health care.
VPR News

State of the State Address

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Transcript of Governor Jim Douglas’ State of the State address, delivered on January 6, 2004 in the Vermont House of Representatives. Audio available shortly.
VPR News

Midday Report: Tuesday, January 6, 2004

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Governor Jim Douglas delivers his State of the State message to the Legislature this afternoon; the town of Proctor votes today on whether to retire the traditional town meeting formula of having open floor votes on budgets and other issues; former senator and presidential candidate Bill Bradley endorsed Howard Dean’s bid for the Democratic presidential nomination; more….
VPR News

Bradley endorses Dean

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Democratic presidential front-runner Howard Dean got the backing of another prominent Democrat on Tuesday, gaining the endorsement of former senator and presidential candidate Bill Bradley.
VPR News

Interview: Legislative trends

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Mitch Wertlieb talks with Senator William Doyle. Having served as a state senator since 1968, Doyle offers some perspective on how the challenges – and times – have changed for Vermont lawmakers over the years.
Commentary Series

Imagining the BBC’s take on Dean

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With Howard Dean the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination, it begins to look more and more likely that Vermonters will soon experience what Massachusetts went through in 1988: seeing themselves and the place they live caricatured by the global media. Commentator Philip Baruth imagines a broadcast by the BBC World Service, searching for the source of Dean’s legendary anger.
VPR News

Home-State Record: Howard Dean

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Today in our series on the home-state records of the Democratic presidential candidates we look at former Vermont Governor Howard Dean. He was one of that state’s longest serving governors and built his reputation on balanced budgets, health care for the uninsured, and the hot issue of gay rights.
VPR News

State energy plan subject of harsh comments

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Critics of the Douglas Administration’s proposed energy plan for Vermont turned out in force on Monday. They said the plan places too much emphasis on fossil fuels, and doesn’t do enough to support the state’s growing renewable energy industry.
VPR News

Rutland drug court offers integrated services

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Vermont has seen an explosion in heroin use and drug related crimes and the courts and jails have been reeling with the impact. A new federally funded drug court opens on Tuesday in Rutland that may help to address the problem. The new court will utilize one of the existing courtrooms in Rutland’s district courthouse every Tuesday.
VPR News

Midday Report: Monday, January 5, 2004

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: the Vermont Legislature reconvenes in Montpelier on Tuesday; the House Appropriations Committee is getting a jump start on the official start of the session by meeting on Monday on the supplemental appropriations bill; Vermont Yankee officials and members of the state police Homeland Security Unit say a series of security lapses reported in a 2002 audit have been corrected; more…
VPR News

Everyone’s an expert on Dean

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Vermonters are routinely asked about Howard Dean, now that he’s considered the frontrunner for the Democratic Presidential nomination. Newspapers and television and radio programs are in constant search of someone to talk to about Dean – and friends and relatives want the home state perspective on the candidate.
VPR News

Sanders proposes new dairy price support program

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Vermont Congressman Bernie Sanders has crafted new legislation that would combine elements of the Northeast Interstate Dairy Compact and more traditional milk subsidies to help struggling farmers.
VPR News

Midday Report: Friday, January 2, 2004

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Top stories developing across the region at the noon hour: Retailers report on the end of the holiday shopping season; Vermont’s Congressional delegation enters the new year fighting some familiar legislative battles; an environmental group says it may be zeroing in on the specific types of pollution that have led to a 20-year decline in wild trout populations; on the presidential campaign trail, all nine Democratic candidates are concentrating on New Hampshire and Iowa.
VPR News

Interview: New Hampshire primary

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The reporting quarter for campaign finances has ended and the New Hampshire primary is now just weeks away. Mitch Wertlieb talks with Guy MacMillan, editorial page editor of the Keene Sentinel in New Hampshire, about the concerns of Granite State voters.
VPR News

Douglas aid in Bush’s reelection campaign

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Governor Jim Douglas says he expects to play a leadership role in President Bush’s re-election campaign in Vermont. But Douglas says it’s unlikely that he’ll actively campaign against former Governor Howard Dean, if Dean wins the Democratic presidential nomination.
VPR News

Vermont’s ‘kitchen tunks’ revived in new release

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Before there were satellite dishes, DVD players and video games, Vermonters were savvy about creating their own forms of entertainment. Local musicians would gather around the farmhouse and play some of that old-time music. Now, a new CD is keeping the spirit of traditional New England music alive.
VPR News

Resolved to quit smoking

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An estimated 22 percent of Vermonters smoke and for many of them, quitting the habit will be a New Year’s Resolution. Health officials say there’s help available for those who are interested in kicking the habit.