Holiday Programming
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Toast of the Nation

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Count down, sing along, and dance the night away with live music from parties coast to coast. Starting in Boston, you’ll toast the New Year moving west with four celebrations of midnight from time zone to time zone. Ring it in with salsa, samba and swing!
VPR News

VPR Evening News December 31st, 2007

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A fire levels a 19th-century church in Mount Holly; A former home of poet Robert Frost has been vandalized; New Hampshire’s Civil Unions law goes into effect at midnight tonight; A difficult year at Vermont Yankee tops the AP Top Stories list of 2007; A sneak peek at St Johnsbury’s First Night; and commentator Madeline Kunin remembers Benazir Bhutto.
VPR News
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2007 Year in Review: Passages

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In almost any year, some of the moving moments come when we pause to reflect on those who have left the stage during the past few months. And, as VPR’s Steve Delaney reports, there were some notable departures this year.
Vermont Edition
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New Year’s Resolutions

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As we turn the calendar page to 2008, most of us will go through the annual ritual of making a New Year’s resolution. Life coaches Laura Lind-Blum and Lisa Buell join us to walk through the process of making a resolution, and sticking with it. Also, Burlington Free Press reporter Candace Page discusses the state’s top news stories of 2007. And, we bring you remembrances of some of the Vermonters who died this year.
Interlude

Bruckner 8

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Bruckner’s Symphony No.8 is performed by the Symphony Orchestra of the Nort German Radio conducted by Günter Wand.
VPR News

VPR Evening News December 28th, 2007

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New questions about the growing cost of decommissioning Vermont Yankee; Senator Patrick Leahy says a top priority is passage of a bill that requires the Bush Administration to obtain court approval for electronic wiretapping;Plans to tear down public housing in New Orleans inspires a protest in Burlington; A petition drive in Brattleboro to indict President Bush and Vice President Cheney; A Montpelier-based landlord will pay a fine for failing to comply with lead paint standards; and commentator Jay Craven on an unexpected gift.
Commentary Series

The Puppy

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It’s a rare gift that actually changes your outlook on things, but that’s just what happened this year with a gift from filmmaker and commentator Jay Craven – to his son.
Live Fridays at Noon (vpr.net exclusive)

The Word Live Friday at Noon

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The Word is a blues/jazz jam rock supergroup composed of Robert Randolph, John Medeski, Chris Chew, Luther Dickinson, and Cody Dickinson. Being a supergroup, each of the band members lead their own outfits: Dickinson brothers and Chew are known as North Mississippi Allstars; Medeski plays with jazz-funk band Medeski, Martin & Wood (MMW); and Robert Randolph, a steel pedal phenomenon, tours with his Family Band. Hear the Word Live Friday at Noon on VPR.net
VPR News
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2007 Year in Review: Business

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When things change in the business world, it often affects employment and the general economy. As VPR’s Steve Delaney reports, some of those stories during the past year involved one of the biggest names in business.
Vermont Edition

Winter Wildlife

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We talk with professional wildlife watchers Ted Levin and Lynn Levine, and take your calls about reading the tracks and signs of animals in the winter woods. Also in the program, Professor Oliver Goodenough of the Vermont Law School discusses a Brattleboro-based lawsuit that looks at issues of legal liability on the Web. And our Year-End Review continues.
Commentary Series

Green Mountain Roids

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In light of the Mitchell Report on steroids, the Rutland Herald polled coaches and trainers in Vermont – and found that the problem was not widespread in the state. But the poll led commentator Philip Baruth to imagine a scenario worthy of Jose Canseco: what if the Presidential candidates in New Hampshire all used steroids, and Vermont was the source of their Juice?
VPR News

Leahy says wiretapping bill is a top priority

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Senator Patrick Leahy says one of his top priorities in the coming weeks is the passage of a bill that requires the Bush Administration to obtain court approval before putting new electronic wiretapping programs in place. Leahy is also opposed to plans to provide telephone companies with retroactive immunity for their participation in surveillance activities between 2001 and 2006. VPR’s Bob Kinzel reports.
VPR News

VPR Evening News December 27th, 2007

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Vermont’s two U.S. Senators comment on the assassination of Benazir Bhutto; Vermont’s place in Mormon church history; CVPS getting help in it’s ShareHeat program; A new snowmaking system is installed at Cochran’s ski area in Richmond; and an audio postcard from Brattleboro’s Esty Organ Musuem.
VPR News
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2007 Year in Review: Potpourri

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In every collection of the year’s top stories, some fit neatly into categories. This is about politics, that’s a weather story. Others just won’t slide neatly into pigeon-holes. VPR’s Steve Delaney reports on some of these stories for our 2007 Year in Review.
Vermont Edition

Parlor culture and Estey organs

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Enthomusicologist Dennis Waring and Christopher Grotke of the Estey Organ Museum reveal what the parlor organ can teach us about American culture at the turn of the last century. Also in the program, writer Tom Slayton shares his new book of essays, and we continue our 2007 Year in Review.
Commentary Series

What Romney Saw?

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For veteran A-B-C News correspondent and commentator Bill Seamans, a certain recent twist in the national political debate is sounding a bit like deja-vue – all over again.
VPR News
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Vermont Mormons mum on Romney’s candidacy

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The presidential candidacy of Republican Mitt Romney has focused attention on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – and Vermont has a special place in church history. Founder Joseph Smith and early leader Brigham Young were both born here. But despite those connections, church membership in Vermont is relatively small – and local officials are reluctant to say much about Romney’s candidacy. VPR’s Steve Zind has this report.
VPR News

Supreme Court rejects man’s DUI appeal

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The Vermont Supreme Court has rejected the appeal of a man who complained a drunken driving charge against him was improper because the state did not supply him with a copy of a videotape of his arrest.
VPR News

Hearing this morning on Claremont layoffs

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The New Hampshire Attorney General’s office heads to court this morning to ask a judge to freeze the assets of a Claremont company that shut down last week, costing 120 workers their jobs.
VPR News

VPR Evening News December 26th, 2007

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Senator Patrick Leahy helps shape a Farm Bill the President will sign; New England health officials are concerned about mumps; CVPS is reaching out to other corporations to raise money to keep Vermonters warm this winter; Three people have been arrested in one of Vermont’s largest art heists; and commentator Bill Mares on a new method for heating his home.
VPR News
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Health officials concerned about new cases of mumps

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In recent months, cases of mumps have been reported in Canada and Maine, causing concern among health officials in New England. Vermont’s epidemiologist says health care providers should be on the lookout for cases of mumps in the state, especially among college-age adults.
VPR News

CVPS looks to expand Shareheat program

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The state’s largest electric utility is reaching out to other corporations to raise money to keep Vermonters warm this winter. Central Vermont Public Service Corporation wants to expand its Shareheat program to respond to record high heating fuel prices. 
VPR News
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2007 Year in Review: Politics

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There’s a theory that more legislation is passed in odd-numbered years, when lawmakers are not distracted by running for office. But as VPR’s Steve Delaney reports, politics seldom took a back seat to policy in the past twelve months.
Vermont Edition

Charitable Giving

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We salute Boxing Day with a look at charitable giving and the organizations that rely on the donations and generosity of Vermonters. Also, the differences between British and American English, and our Year in Review series continues with a look at politics in 2007.
VPR News

State is owner of some unclaimed money

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The Vermont state treasurer’s office has been putting the word out this year about unclaimed property from bank accounts and utility refunds. But, it turns out some of that money belongs to state agencies.
VPR News

Leahy at center of effort to revise farm bill

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Congress updates national agriculture policy every five years in the farm bill, which finally passed the Senate earlier this month. But the ultimate fate of the bill will be decided by negotiations in a conference committee. And much of the responsibility for resolving differences with the House will lie with Senator Patrick Leahy, who helped write the bill. He’s now part of a group who has to come up with a bipartisan bill the president can sign. VPR’s Sara Sciammacco has more from Washington.
VPR News

Sunapee ski lift malfunction injures skier

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A young skier at Mount Sunapee ski resort was thrown from a chairlift and fell 20 feet when the lift malfunctioned yesterday. Officials say the North Peak Triple chairlift stopped suddenly and deroped.
VPR News

Romney, Edwards return to New Hampshire today

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Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney took Christmas Day off. Today, he’s back on the trail with less than two weeks before New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation primary. The former Massachusetts governor plans to visit Concord, Henniker and Hooksett today to meet with voters. He plans a town hall-style meeting this evening in Merrimack at Thomas More College. Presidential hopeful John Edwards is back in New Hampshire today, knocking on doors in Nashua and meeting with voters in Conway.
VPR News

Aid agencies look for help all year

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Officials at the United Way of Chittenden County say they really appreciate all the energy and enthusiasm shown by volunteers around the holidays.
VPR News

VPR Evening News December 25th, 2007

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United Way officials would like to see the giving spirit year-round; City of Rutland looking to see if they can bottle their water for sale; Rockingham ski tow re-opens; A Lamoille-County singer-songwriter has revived the art of the singing telegram as a way to raise funds for the United Way; and commentator Deborah Doyle-Schectman on the gift of friendship.
VPR News

Jon Gailmor perfects the singing telegram

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A well-known Lamoille County singer- songwriter is involved in an unusual way of raising money for his community. He’s revived the art of the singing telegram. VPR’s Amy Noyes has the story:
VPR News

A Pawlet man’s Christmas tree tradition

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We hear a lot of stories about Christmas, but some are special enough that they stick with us from one year to another. VPR’s Susan Keese first told us about Russ Tarbell of Pawlet last year, as he went on a special Christmas tree mission on Mount Tabor.
VPR News

A visit to Rutland’s open door mission

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Rutland’s Open Door Mission is often the beneficiary of generosity. This holiday season, two sixth-graders organized their classmates to raise 100 dollars for the Mission. Executive Director Sharon Russell shared the story with VPR’s Nina Keck last year – and it still resonates.
VPR News

VPR Evening News December 24th, 2007

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Maine utility regulators are postponing a hearing on the proposed Fairpoint-Verizon sale until January 3rd; Vermont lawmakers consider a bill that would increase fines for uninsured Vermonters; Snowmobilers and the businesses that depend on them are enjoying a good year; Handel’s Messiah in Woodstock; and commentator Peter Gilbert on a favorite poem.
Commentary Series

A Wreath

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This time of year, beautiful holiday wreaths adorn front doors all over Vermont. They remind commentator Peter Gilbert of a favorite poem.
Holiday Programming

A Christmas Carol with Willem Lange

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Master storyteller Willem Lange presents a distinctive reading of the holiday classic using a special performance edition prepared by Dickens himself for his own readings. A Vermont Public Radio listener favorite!
Commentary Series

Great Expectations

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Writer and commentator Leora Dowling has been thinking about how much we look forward to the holidays, and she has some advice for making this holiday the best ever… really.
Sunday Bach

Sunday Bach for December 23rd, 2007

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Sunday Bach features an all-Bach line-up with a focus on new recordings and complete choral works.  This Sunday on the program we’ll enjoy lots of works for the holiday, including some familiar Christmas organ chorales and Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring.
Interlude

A Child’s Christmas in Wales

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The Dylan Thomas classic is read by Peter Fox Smith, with occasional music provided by soprano Bonnie Scarpelli and the Carnegie Chamber Players.
My Place with Joel Najman

A Musical Profile Of Joe South

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As a recording artist, Joe South was a singer/songwriter hitmaker in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. In addition. many of songs became big hits for other recording artists. And as a prolific session guitarist, Joe South played on many of the rock era’s most memorable recordings. My Place With Joel Najman presents "A Musical Profile Of Joe South" on 12/22/07 
Commentary Series

Holiday Greetings

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About forty years ago, commentator Stephanie Montgomery spent an afternoon picking blueberries at a farm in Maine. By evening, she had two new, lifelong friends in Helen and Scott Nearing. And fifteen later, she received a most unusual Christmas card.
VPR News
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2007 Year in Review: Weather

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In Vermont, the weather is frequently the news. It makes or breaks growing seasons on the farms and ski season on the slopes. Or, as Steve Delaney reports in this part of our series on the top stories of 2007, sometimes Mother Nature just gets cranky.
Vermont Edition

Annual Music Show

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2007 has been a great year in music, and Vermont Edition’s Annual Music Show is chance to share your favorites with other VPR listeners.
VPR News
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Vermont could become first state to lease lottery

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No other state has leased its lottery … Vermont wants to be the first. Governor Jim Douglas hopes the lease will bring in $50 million dollars for the state budget. That’s on top of the $23 million the lottery brings in now. Today in a special report, VPR’s John Dillon explores the advantages and disadvantages of what is so far an untested idea.
VPR News

Lynch says layoffs are ‘unconscionable’

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New Hampshire Governor John Lynch says it was unconscionable for a Claremont company to lay off 120 workers just before Christmas. And he says the company is breaking federal law by not providing the workers with 60 day’s notice or 60 days of severance pay.
Holiday Programming on VPR Classical

Christmas Classics with Joe Goetz

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I’ll be sharing some of my favorite Christmas music with you, including (but certainly not limited to!) Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols, Rachmaninoff’s Vespers, and a beautiful suite of carol arrangements by Samuel Barber. Hope you can tune in!
VPR News

VPR Evening News December 20th, 2007

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Vermont will challenge an EPA decision on auto emissions standards; Senator Patrick Leahy adds a provision to the federal budget bill that will delay implementation of passport rules until 2009; New England’s five largest banks are putting up 125 million dollars to help homeowners who are caught in the national credit crisis; For the second time in a month, a Vermonter has won a Powerball lottery jackpot; and commentator Helen Labun-Jordan on buying local for Christmas.
Commentary Series

Designated Shopper

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Commentator Helen Labun Jordan is a marketing specialist for the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, and she’s finding that her knowledge of local products is coming in very handy this year.
VPR News

VT Edition Interview: Audubon Vermont’s Bridget Butler on the Christmas Bird Count

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The Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count is the oldest citizen-science project in the country.  Bird enthusiasts around the country gather over the course of three weeks to jot down sightings, and take photographs of early winter birds in their area.  It’s sponsored by The Audubon Society, and is an annual tradition.  The count actually runs for three weeks, from December 14th to January 5th.   Bridget Butler is the Conservation Education Coordinator for Audubon Vermont.  She spoke with VPR’s Jan Lindholm about the count and what birds we can expect to see in winter.
VPR News
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2007 Year in Review: Culture

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The fabric of life in Vermont has a different weave every year. In 2007 it was full of variety. On the lighter side, the state became the official home of The Simpsons. And weightier social topics had our attention, especially when it came to one marijuana case in Windsor County. VPR’s Steve Delaney has more in the second part of our year in review.
Vermont Edition
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Annual Christmas Bird Count

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The Annual Christmas Bird Count is underway. We talk with Bridget Butler of Audubon Vermont about which winter birds we’re likely to catch a glimpse of here in Vermont. Then we hear from author and VPR commentator Willem Lange about his much loved Christmas story about Favor Johnson. And we continue our Year in Review series by looking at the top cultural stories of the year.
VPR News
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New website focuses on joy of giving

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Are you sick of the throngs of shoppers packing the malls in these remaining days before Xmas? Do the constant barrage of TV commercials screaming "Sale! Sale! Buy now!" make you want to pull an Elvis Presley?
VPR News

Lawmakers opposed to ornaments from China

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It’s a warm and fuzzy feeling to hang up colorful decorations on the Christmas tree. But some Christmas ornaments are made in Chinese sweatshops – and now Vermont lawmakers say they want to stop the practice. Elizabeth Wynne Johnson reports.
VPR News

EPA decision setback for Vermont

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The Environmental Protection Agency is saying no to California’s bid for first-in-the-nation greenhouse gas limits on cars, trucks and SUVs.
VPR News

VPR Evening News December 19th, 2007

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Congressman Peter Welch must vote against a tax relief bill because there is no way to pay for it; Half of the Martin Luther King memorial project will involve Vermont granite; Legislators will consider a range of ideas for reducing spending on prisons; CVPS will turn off power to parts of Mendon and Killington to repair a transmission line; and commentator Bill Shubart on the "perfect gift".
VPR News

Welch in awkward position on tax relief legislation

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Congressman Peter Welch finds himself in an awkward position concerning legislation that provides tax relief to thousands of middle class Vermont families. Welch strongly supports the bill but a new version of the proposal doesn’t include a way to pay for it, so Welch says he’s voting against it.
VPR News
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2007 Year in Review: Global Warming

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All through the year, awareness of global warming and the role played by carbon dioxide, kept growing among Vermonters. And as VPR’s Steve Delaney reports in this part of our series, that awareness began strongly, early this year.
VPR News

Test towers approved on Grandpa’s Knob

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A Connecticut company proposing to place wind towers on a western Vermont ridge line has cleared its first hurdle, winning approval to place two test towers on Grandpa’s Knob.
VPR News

King memorial compromise is no change

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The Barre granite industry isn’t happy that the sculpture of Martin Luther King will be made from Chinese stone. Adding insult to injury, Vermont stone carvers learned that a Chinese artist would create the monument. Then last week the Vermont congressional delegation declared a partial victory …. half of the project would involve domestic granite, possibly some from Vermont. But the foundation in charge of the memorial says that was the plan all along. VPR’s John Dillon reports.
VPR News

Congress expanding FOIA to allow access to more government records

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Congress is moving to reverse one area of the Bush administration’s trend toward secrecy since the 2001 terrorist attacks by expanding the Freedom of Information Act. It’s also increasing penalties for noncompliance and making records held by government contractors subject to the law.
VPR News

New England lawmakers want voice federal trade policy

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Legislators from Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont want the government to give states more of a voice in international trade. The leaders of three state commissions on international trade are concerned about the impact trade agreements have on their states.
VPR Presents

The Sounds of Spanglish

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Spanglish – the intercourse of Spanish and English – is used daily by millions of Americans. This emergence of Spanglish as a form of communication is one of the more influential markers of an America gone Latino. In a Vermont Humanities Council "First Wednesdays" Lecture, Amherst College Professor Ilan Stavans explores the Spanglish and its political clout.
VPR News

VPR Evening News December 18th, 2007

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Senator Patrick Leahy will vote against a plan to allocate another 50 billion dollars to continue the war in Iraq; Senator Leahy sponsors legislation to open federal government records by expanding the Freedom of Information Act; Vermont businessman Skip Vallee returns home after two years as U.S. Ambassador to Slovakia; The Department of Corrections is under pressure to trim its budget by four million dollars; A Congressional bill could make it easier for emergency responders in the U.S. and Canada to work on either side of the border; and commentator Ruth Page on Christmas cookies.
VPR News

Midday Newscast: December 18, 2007

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Governor Jim Douglas says he will ask the Legislature for extra money in the state budget to help the homeless; a design will be unveiled tomorrow for a proposed resort hotel on the waterfront in Newport; the organization that promotes business in downtown Bennington is getting a new leader; it cost two million dollars two years ago to fix a rock slide that closed a downtown Montpelier street for months but the city’s taxpayers are only going to have to pay $5,500.
Holiday Programming on VPR Classical

Echoes of Christmas

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A glorious concert of choral Christmas music with the Dale Warland Singers. Hosts Dale Warland and host Brian Newhouse bring old and new treasures to listeners looking for Christmas inspiration. Tuesday, December 18 at 9pm on VPR Classical.
Vermont Edition

‘Tis the season to be… shopping?

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December can be a make or break month in the retail calendar. But the stress of shopping can leave some of us questioning the point of all that standing in line and spending. We examine the economics and culture of consumers in the holiday season with Geri Anne Higgans, marketing director at the University Mall in South Burlington, and Hardwick writer Judith Levine, author of "Not Buying It: My Year Without Shopping." Also in the program, Skip Vallee tells us what it was like to serve as the US ambassador to Slovakia. And we pay homage to a food that (for some) is synonymous with the Christmas season: fruitcake.
Commentary Series

China Trip

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Commentator Jay Craven recently returned from a two-week trip to China – organized by the American Film Institute – where he encountered many provocative images.
VPR News

Corrections considers options to cut budget

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The Department of Corrections is under pressure to trim its budget by $4 million dollars. Corrections Commissioner Rob Hofmann says one option is closing a prison and sending more prisoners out of state. VPR’s John Dillon has more:
VPR News

VPR Evening News December 17th, 2007

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The Agriculture Agency is advising farmers to clear snow from their barn roofs; The Vermont Council on Rural Development has launched a study about the future of the state; The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has appointed a new inspector for Vermont Yankee; The 2007 World Series Trophy comes to the Vermont Statehouse; Biologists say the threatened Canada Lynx is returning to northeastern Vermont and northern New Hampshire; and commentator Allen Gilbert on how Catherine the Great can help out withholiday plans.
Vermont Edition
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Planning Vermont’s Future

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Once a generation Vermonters have come together to assess their values and their hopes for the state’s future. The Vermont Council on Rural Development is leading this generation’s conversation. Also, eels have disappeared from Lake Champlain. We talk about efforts to bring them back. And, holiday choral music from the group Counterpoint.
Commentary Series

Homemade Gifts

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As a teacher and writer, commentator Deborah Luskin places a high value on creativity and the personal touch – a sentiment that even influences her gift-giving.
VPR News

Rutland blood drive aims to break record

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Think of it as a holiday party where you just happen to give blood. That’s how organizers of Rutland’s fifth annual Gift of Life Marathon are describing the blood drive extravaganza that takes place Tuesday at Rutland’s Paramount Theater. As VPR’s Nina Keck reports, for many, the event has become a holiday tradition.
Interlude

Dvořák

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We mark the December 15, 1893 premiere of the New World Symphony with an all-DvoÅ™ák program.
My Place with Joel Najman

Answer Records Revisited

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An "Answer Record" is a song that in one way or another replies to an earlier recording. Damita Jo’s "I’ll Be There" is an answer record to Ben E. King’s "Stand By Me". Answer records prolifereated in pop music in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, and we’ve unearthed an interesting handful for tonight’s "My Place".
VPR News

VPR Evening News December 14th, 2007

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A five-year extension of the farm bill has won approval by the U.S. Senate; A legislative study committee has recommended against declaring the state’s groundwater a public resource owned by all Vermonters; It seems snowy, but weather records show this is actually normal, and commentator Peter Gilbert reviews history according to Time Magazine’s selections for Person of the Year.
Commentary Series

Person of the Year

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Each December Time Magazine chooses a Person of the Year, the person or idea that for better or worse, has most influenced events in the preceding year. Commentator Peter Gilbert takes a look at the last eighty years of world history through Times choices.
Vermont Edition

Future of Health Care

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Researchers at Dartmouth Medical School say spending more money on health care doesn’t necessarily yield better health outcomes. We talk with Dr. Gil Welch about Dartmouth study of health policy, and hear commentary by Bill Schubart.
Commentary Series

Civility

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When it comes to political rough-and-tumble between candidates, veteran news correspondent and commentator Bill Seamans observes that it’s early days yet.
VPR News

Burton sends out call for poaches

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Snowboarders were once the strange and unwanted few encroaching upon the pristine slopes of skiers. But times have changed. You can now find riders and skiers whooshing down the mountain, side by side. But apparently the battle for parity on the slopes isn’t quite over. VPR’s Jane Lindholm has more.
VPR News

VPR Evening News December 13th, 2007

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The Senate Judiciary Committee is recommending that two top advisors of President Bush be held in contempt of Congress; Labor unions are criticizing a proposed settlement in Maine that would allow Verizon to transfer its telephone land lines to Fairpoint Communications; Democratic leaders make covering the underinsured a priority; USDA praises Vermont’s administration of food stamps; and commentator Commentator Tom Slayton on cultural diversity…Vermont-style.
Vermont Edition

The Winter Reading Program

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It’s time for our winter reading program. We’ll talk books with two professional bibliophiles and take your suggestions for best reading picks. Also on the program, a challenge from the maker of Burton Snowboards to "poach" the mountain at skiers-only Mad River Glen.And an audio postcard from Bloomfield, Vermont’s coldest town.
VPR News

Assessment panel meets to assess view tax criticism

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The New Hampshire board that oversees property assessing practices in New Hampshire meets today to review a series of public hearings at which its practices, its chairman and tax assessments were loudly criticized.
VPR News

Maine PUC to deliberate proposed phone deal

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The Maine Public Utilities Commission is scheduled to begin deliberations today on a proposal by FairPoint Communications to buy Verizon’s landline telephone operations in northern New England for $2.7 billion.
VPR News
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Lawmakers consider plans for the underinsured

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When lawmakers return to Montpelier next month, they’ll consider several proposals to expand state health care programs. While previous plans have focused on uninsured Vermonters, the new efforts will target the underinsured – people who have expensive policies and huge deductibles. As VPRs Bob Kinzel reports in this week’s series on the Future of Health Care.
VPR News

Senate checks President’s authority to call up Guard

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The U.S. Senate has agreed to repeal a law that gave the president authority to call up the National Guard and use the military for law enforcement. As VPR’s Ross Sneyd reports, the provision was adopted just last year and quickly drew bipartisan opposition, especially from governors.
VPR News

Former NHL star LeClair pleads to DUI

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Former National Hockey League star John LeClair pleaded guilty yesterday in Vermont District Court in Burlington to a driving under the influence of alcohol charge and agreed to pay $606 in fines and fees.
VPR News

VPR Evening News December 12th, 2007

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Medicaid needs less money for this fiscal year, but still faces a deficit for the years ahead; California follows Vermont in ruling against the auto industry in its attempt to block regulation of greenhouse gas pollution from cars; The Farm Bill is back in play; The Vermont Department of Corrections is considering closing one of the state’s prisons; A "Mystery Santa" is handing out cards and cash; and commentator Madeline Kunin on violence and injustice against women.
VPR News

Another U.S. court rules against auto industry

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Another federal court has ruled against the auto industry in its attempt to block regulation of greenhouse gas pollution from cars. The ruling today from a U.S. District Judge in California supports a September decision by a federal judge in Vermont.
VPR News

Leahy says MILC will remain in farm bill

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Senator Patrick Leahy says the Senate has revived the national farm bill and he’s confident policies important to Vermont will remain in it. As VPR’s Ross Sneyd reports, the next hurdle for farmers will be the negotiations between the House and Senate on a compromise bill.
Vermont Edition

State’s Attorney Bobby Sand

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The appropriate punishment for marijuana crimes has become the center of a heated disagreement in recent weeks between Governor Jim Douglas and Windsor County State’s Attorney Bobby Sand. We talk with State’s Attorney Bobby Sand about how the situation is resolving itself. Also in the program, VPR’s Ross Sneyd on the role the media played in the controversy, and the director fo the Vermont Ski Museum shares how the sport has changed over the decades.
VPR News
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Electronic medical records could change health care

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Over the next five years, more than half of all doctors in Vermont are expected to install electronic medical record systems in their offices. Doctors say the new records will allow instant access to a patient’s health history and help reduce medical mistakes, so the quality of care will improve. As VPRs Bob Kinzel reports, electronic records could change future visits to your doctor.
VPR News
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Questions remain in death of man hit by police crusier

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State Police Director James Baker answered some of the questions at a news briefing late yesterday. He identified the trooper who was driving the car that struck and killed the man. Baker said the death is the subject of an ongoing criminal investigation. But he said that based on what he knows now, the death was a tragic accident. VPR’s John Dillon reports.
VPR News

Panel allows easing of crack sentences

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One of Vermont’s federal judges says a decision to allow about 19,000 federal prison inmates to seek reductions in their crack cocaine sentences will dramatically affect some African American families.
Commentary Series

Violence Against Women

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Recent headlines have reminded commentator Madeleine Kunin that in many parts of the world, women are still subjected to violence and injustice.
VPR News

VPR Evening News December 11th, 2007

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State Police Director James Baker identifies the trooper who’s vehicle struck and killed a Dover man, and says it was a tragic accident; Governor Douglas says he’s patched up his differences with the Windsor County prosecutor, Bobby Sand; A new report says Vermont’s system for taxing power plants favors nuclear power over renewable energy generators; Nancy Gioia of Ford Motor Company. She spoke today at UVM on plug-in hybrid vehicles; and commentator Paul Richardson connects Aleksandr Solzhenistyn and Vladimir Putin.
VPR News

Small hospitals face big challenges

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Chronic care costs are just one of the concerns facing the state’s smaller hospitals. Karen Weller is President of North Country Hospital in Newport. She says quality of care is always a top priority, but it’s maintained amid numerous challenges.
VPR News
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Bennington County tries to stabilize chronic care costs

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Today, the largest amount of money in health care is spent on people who have chronic illnesses. Listen to this statistic: roughly 80 percent of our health care money is spent on 20 percent of all Vermonters. In Southwestern Vermont, doctors running an innovative program are trying to stabilize the costs of chronic care. VPR’s Bob Kinzel visited Bennington County for today’s special report on health care solutions.
VPR News
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Merchants cautiously optimistic about holiday season

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With gas over three dollars a gallon, heating fuel near an all time high and plenty of bleak economic news, local retailers have been understandably concerned about this year’s holiday shopping season. But as VPR’s Nina Keck reports, many store owners say they’re cautiously optimistic.
VPR News

Latest report by feds gives mixed report on State Hospital

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Federal regulators who’ve been monitoring the Vermont State Hospital issued a new report yesterday. It’s a 75-page checklist that contains both criticism and praise for the hospital’s improvements, following a critical review in 2005.
Vermont Edition

Religion and Politics

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We look at how religion influences national politics, and why its impact in Vermont doesn’t seem to be as big. Also, Valley News reporter John Gregg catches us up on the primaries. And comedian Martha Tormey recalls a childhood ski trip.
VPR News

VPR Evening News December 10th, 2007

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Congressman Peter Welch plans to break with the Democratic leadership on a budget bill; Vermont lawmakers will need to add 17 million dollars to this year’s budget to deal with unexpected increases in the cost of state government; Federal regulators issue a new report on the Vermont State Hospital; Advocates for the homeless say state government needs to put more money into an emergency program that ensures children have a place to stay; A hunter pleads not guilty in the death of a friend he says he mistook for a coyote; Montpelier was erroneously ranked the fifth-best public high school; and commentator Philip Baruth with lessons from Kurt Vonnegut.
Commentary Series

Vonnegut’s Book

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When Kurt Vonnegut died in April, something died in Commentator Philip Baruth too. But the other night he discovered a rare Vonnegut paperback at his local supermarket, and that has made all the difference.
Vermont Edition
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Vermont’s Newspaper Industry

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Each year, fewer people start their day by sitting down with a cup of coffee and the morning newspaper. Here in Vermont, newspapers are looking for fresh ways to remain marketable. We talk with the new publisher of the Burlington Free Press, Brad Robertson, and Pulitzer Prize winning journalist David Moats. Then, we turn to the state’s broadcast media, and talk with Vermont’s new FOX News affiliate. And, hear from future journalists at Springfield High School.
VPR News
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UVM’s Dr. Frederick Morin on Vermont’s physician shortage

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While getting more Vermonters health insurance is a key goal to improving health care, getting more doctors to the state to administer care is also critical. There is a shortage of physicians in Vermont — and Dr. Frederick Morin — Dean of the University of Vermont’s College of Medicine says it’s a problem the whole country is dealing with as well:   Click listen to hear the entire interview.
VPR Series and Specials
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The Future of Health Care

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Most Vermonters are about to be touched by changes in the way health care comes to them, how they pay for it and how their records are kept. VPR’s week-long series explores how health care reform affects you.  
VPR News

Utility sale debate runs on multiple fronts

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Private talks among various parties and pro and con advertising preceded this week’s deliberations by Maine regulators on the proposed sale of Verizon to Fairpoint Communications.  
VPR News

Montreal woman found safe after night on mountain

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A 29-year-old Montreal woman was found safe Sunday almost a day after she was reported missing after she skied out of bounds at the Jay Peak Ski Area. The Vermont State Police says that Jennifer Davey was located at just after 3 p.m. She was described as being in good spirits. She was checked out and released. Davey was reported missing at about 6 p.m. Saturday after her skiing companion walked out of the woods.
VPR News

Some ski areas selling Ski Vermont Burger

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Some ski areas and the state Beef Producers Association are teaming up this winter to offer what is being called the “Ski Vermont Burger.” The Vermont Agency of Agriculture is taking part in the effort to encourage the buying of local beef. Ski Vermont Burgers will be sold at Okemo, Bolton Valley, Jay Peak and the Stowe Mountain Resort. The burgers will be served with a Vermont-made maple toothpick featuring the buy local brand. And officials say the Vermont burger will taste a little different because it’s made from grass-fed beef. The program is expected to benefit about 300 Vermont beef producers.
Sunday Bach

Sunday Bach for December 9th, 2007

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Sunday Bach features an all-Bach line-up with a focus on new recordings and complete choral works.  This Sunday morning at 7 we’ll enjoy Parts 3 and 4 of the Christmas Oratorio, along with other great works for the season. 
Saturday Afternoon at the Opera

Iphigénie en Tauride

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The 2007-8 Metropolitan Opera broadcast season begins with the broadcast premiere of Gluck’s Iphigénie en Tauride. The Opera Prelude and Opera Postlude feature the voice of soprano Régine Crespin.
Interlude

Sibelius

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The Symphony No.5 of Jean Sibelius was first performed on his 50th birthday: December 8, 1915.  We’ll hear that symphony — and his violin concerto, performed by Jascha Heifetz.
My Place with Joel Najman

A Musical Remembrance Of Teresa Brewer

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Teresa Brewer is best known for her bouncy pop hits of the 1950’s including "Music! Music! Music!", and "Till I Waltz Again With You". Teresa Brewer passed away on October 17, 2007, and this week Joel Najman’s My Place program presents a musical remembrance of Teresa Brewer. 
VPR News

VPR Evening News December 7th, 2007

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A dispute has erupted again between Governor Douglas and Windsor County State’s Attorney Bobby Sand; The EPA has put up a potential roadblock to the Circ Highway; Senator Bernie Sanders joins Democrats in exposing fraud and abuse by Iraq war contractors; An anonymous donor drops a rare coin into a Salvation Army kettle; and commentator Brian Porto on Manny Ramirez and winning.
VPR News

Sanders, Democrats question waste, fraud in Iraq

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Democrats and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders brought in whistle-blowers and defense experts today to share new chapters in an epic tale of waste, fraud and abuse by Iraq war contractors. VPR’s Elizabeth Wynne Johnson reports from Capitol Hill.
VPR News

Douglas, Sand dispute over marijuana cases erupts again

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A dispute has erupted again between the governor and the Windsor County prosecutor. The governor accuses the state’s attorney of abusing his discretion by sending all first-time marijuana possession cases to court diversion. But, as VPR’s Ross Sneyd reports, the prosecutor says the governor doesn’t have his facts straight.
Commentary Series

Lessons from Manny

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This year’s World Series victory by the Boston Red Sox is now fading into history, but commentator Brian Porto is still thinking about outfielder Manny Ramirez, and the storm he stirred up with his comments about winning.
Live Fridays at Noon (vpr.net exclusive)

Ingrid Michaelson in Concert

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Ingrid Michaelson frequently gets compared to the likes of Fiona Apple and Regina Spektor, but she’s staked out her own distinct musical territory. The formally trained 27-year-old New Yorker fuses indie-pop and folk in a smooth and unique way that helped her attract a large audience via MySpace. Hear Michaelson perform a concert from WXPN and World Cafe Live in Philadelphia.
VPR News

Voices in the week’s news

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Some of the stories in the news this week included questions about cellular phone service in Vermont, consolidation of small school districts, continued concerns about health problems in a Bennington office building, and the lighting of a Vermont Christmas tree at the U.S. Capitol.
Vermont Edition

Gov. Jim Douglas

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Governor Jim Douglas talks with Bob Kinzel about the key issues facing the state, and takes your phone calls. Also, news analysis with VPR’s Ross Sneyd and we listen back to some of the voices in the news this week.
VPR News
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Vermont Edition interview: Gov. Jim Douglas

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  VPR’s Bob Kinzel interviews Governor Jim Douglas on Vermont Edition about his plan for creating a standard for carbon credits and why this is an effective approach to curbing the probem with greenhouse gases. Also, the heated the dispute between Douglas and Windsor County State’s Attorney Bobby Sand over how first-time marijuana offenders are treated, and why the state lottery might be leased to a private business. (36 minutes)
Commentary Series

US NIE on Iran

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President Gerge W. Bush said earlier this week that the latest National Intelligence Estimate on Iran’s nuclear weapons program doesn’t change anything. Commentator Barrie Dunsmore respectfully disagrees.
Classical Music with Cheryl Willoughby

Classical Music with Cheryl Willoughby – 12/7/07

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Spending some time in the world of children this morning, with Schumann’s "Fairy Tales", Debussy’s "Children’s Corner Suite", and the "Evening Prayer" from Humperdinck’s fairytale opera "Hansel & Gretel" – music also being featured this weekend in the VSO Holiday Pops series of concerts around the region. (Information at www.vso.org)
VPR News

VPR Evening News December 6th, 2007

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Congressman Peter Welch says a new House energy bill would help set the U.S. on a path of energy independence; A delegation from China is in Vermont this week to learn about the state’s energy efficiency programs; Burlington Police Chief Tom Tremblay will become Vermont’s public safety commissioner; Contract workers at an immigration service center in St. Albans are thinking about starting a union; Mad River Glen’s new single person chairlift debuted today; and commentator Deborah Luskin has found the perfect gift.
Commentary Series

Presence

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Stumped by the cultural imperative to buy holiday gifts even though her family has everything it needs, commentator Deborah Luskin thinks she’s found the perfect gift – something we all could use more of.
Vermont Edition
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Turnover of School Superintendents

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Every year, nearly one-third of Vermont’s 60 school superintendents are new to their jobs. We look at the impact of high turnover rates, and the job’s aging population. Then, we turn to Vermont students making a difference. High school students in Bristol are crafting their own constitution, and Cape Breton fiddle students are hosting a benefit concert for their teacher who has cancer.
VPR News
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Vermont tree lights up Capitol

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Vermont was on display last night in Washington. After its long journey- the Green Mountain fir chosen as the Capitol Christmas tree is now lighting up the D.C. skyline. Jodi Breisler was there and she sent this audio postcard, beginning with the Mount Anthony Union High School Chamber Singers.
Commentary Series

Tips for Upright Living

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On one of his last hikes before snow, commentator Willem Lange found himself reflecting on the laws of gravity, and today he offers what you might call: some tips for upright living.
VPR News

N.H. teachers union to endorse Clinton and Huckabee

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The New Hampshire chapter of the National Education Association will announce today that it has endorsed Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton and Republican Mike Huckabee in their respective presidential primaries.
VPR News

Montpelier couple killed in home fire

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State police investigators are searching for the source of a fire that killed a Montpelier couple. One of the victims was a former Vermont state auditor.
VPR News

VPR Evening News December 5th, 2007

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State consumer advocates have concerns about A-T-and-T’s plan to acquire a large piece of Unicel’s wireless phone service in Vermont; Most Windsor County police chiefs will continue taking marijuana cases to the local state’s attorney for prosecution; State police investigators are searching for the source of a fire that killed a Montpelier couple last night; Savoring some of the fresh powder at Killington; and commentator Vic Henningsen on the birthday of Sherlock Holmes.
VPR News

Storm gives Killington a boost

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Ski areas across the state are enjoying the after effects of the first major snow storm of the season – something they hope will bode well for the Christmas holidays. VPR’s Nina Keck took a few hours off to savor some of the fresh powder at Killington and she has this report.
VPR News

VPR Evening News December 4th, 2007

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Governor Jim Douglas won’t be endorsing any Republican presidential candidates before Town Meeting Day; Stowe Mountain Resort wants a delay in meeting state environmental requirements; Vermont Health Commissioner says the now-abandoned state office building in Bennington can now be safely cleaned and reoccupied; The Vermont Health Department is warning parents about high levels of lead in some children’s jewelry; and commentator John Fox says nostalgia isn’t what it used to be.
Commentary Series

Nostalgia

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As our communities face a host of challenges and the pressures of change, commentator John Fox thinks it’s time for Vermonters to move beyond nostalgia for the good old days and forge new narratives that are all about imagining, and creating, the good times to come.
VPR News
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Stowe wants delay in meeting snowmaking requirements

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In the 1990s, ski resorts and state environmental officials often clashed over the impact of snowmaking on high elevation streams. Those issues have mostly been resolved. But now the Stowe Mountain Resort wants a delay in meeting some state requirements.  
Holiday Programming

Hanukkah Lights

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Four authors explore Hanukkah traditions in original stories commissioned expressly for "Hanukkah Lights."
VPR News
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TV medical dramas still capture attention

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Medical dramas have held a solid place in the television landscape for generations. E.R. and Grey’s Anatomy may be staples of the genre now, but commentator Tim Johnson’s memory of these shows goes back a lot further. And he wonders why they still capture our attention.
Election 2008 Coverage

Democratic Presidential Debate Live on VPR

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On Tuesday, NPR and Iowa Public Radio will host a Democratic presidential candidates’ debate and VPR will carry live coverage. NPR will select some of your questions to ask the candidates during the debate. Submit your question and tune in Tuesday at 2pm for live coverage on VPR. (AP Photo/Bill Sikes) LISTEN Live at 2PM. Click here to Listen Online.
VPR News

Midday Newscast: December 4, 2007

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The state Tax Department says there’s plenty of money in the education fund; two communities in Rutland County are still trying to develop an indoor recreation center, even though two of their neighbors have dropped out; more…
Vermont Edition

Internet and Presidential Campaigns

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The Internet’s role in the presidential campaign is breaking new ground with candidates gathering dollars and supporters online, and the advent of the YouTube Debate. We talk with Garrett Graff, author of the book, "The First Campaign," about new media in politics. Also in the program, Dr. Robert Shapiro explains the science of a migraine, and VPR’s Tim Johnson reflects on the genre of medical TV shows.
Commentary Series

The Question

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There’s been a lot of discussion lately about what constitutes torture. And commentator Mike Martin has been looking for an answer.
VPR News

Plans for Rutland Rec facility moving forward

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Four towns in Rutland County had been working together to create a multi-district, indoor recreation facility. But concern about the $23 million price tag prompted residents in West Rutland and Rutland Town to opt out last March. Many thought the project was finished. But as VPR’s Nina Keck reports, proponents in Mendon and Rutland City have been busy moving forward.
VPR News

Lawsuit against church to go to jury today

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Closing arguments are expected this morning in the case of a man suing the Roman Catholic Diocese of Vermont over his alleged molestation by a priest more than 30 years ago.
VPR News

Fox44 television news debuts in Colchester

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A 10:00 p.m. newscast on WFFF, the local Fox affiliate also known as Fox 44, hit the airwaves last night. WFFF, a Fox News affiliate also known as Fox44, hit the airwaves last night, offering a 30-minute newscast starting at 10 p.m. The new station is broadcasting from a new newsroom and 1,200-square foot studio. WFFF-Fox44 is undaunted by the prospect of starting up in the nation’s 92nd-biggest market, despite the presence of WPTZ-Channel 5 in Plattsburgh, N.Y., and WCAX-Channel 3 in Burlington. It’s the first time the Champlain Valley has had three TV news outlets since 2003, when ABC affiliate WVNY folded, unable to make inroads into the market.
VPR News

Winter storm socks Vermont with up to a foot of snow

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Vermont is digging out today. But then so is much of the northeastern United States following a winter storm that dumped up to a foot of snow in some parts of the Green Mountain state, making travel treacherous but skiers happy.
VPR News

VPR Evening News December 3rd, 2007

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Education Commissioner Richard Cate says Vermont could get along with fewer school districts; The Chief Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court suggest a business court to help with a budget shortfall in the state’s court system; Chittenden Senator Doug Racine is considering another run for Governor; and commentator Howard Coffin with a civil war story related to Mt. Ascutney.
Vermont Edition
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Funding Vermont’s Courts

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Vermont’s court system is facing a $1 million deficit this fiscal year. Chief Justice Paul Reiber says it’s part of a chronic underfunding problem that’s just beginning to impact the court system. We talk with the Chief Justice and the state’s court administrator about why Vermont’s courts are in such bad financial shape, and possible ways to deal with the budget shortfall.
Commentary Series

New Conservation Plates

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Recently, commentator Ted Levin got new license plates. And he noticed something different about them – something he doesn’t quite approve of.
VPR News

Rutland railyard plans inch forward

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It’s been slow going – but plans to relocate Rutland’s congested downtown rail yard continue to inch forward. As VPR’s Nina Keck reports – finding a suitable location and funding for the project remain the biggest challenges.
VPR News

Trial to go to jury

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Closing arguments are expected tomorrow in the case of a man suing the Roman Catholic Diocese of Vermont over his alleged molestation by a priest more than 30 years ago.
VPR News

Winter storm hits the state

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  The first big snowstorm of the season is in full swing and could dump eight to 14 inches of snow in parts of Vermont by tomorrow.  
VPR Classical

Performance Today Returns to VPR Classical

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We’ve refined VPR Classical’s programming schedule. "Performance Today", with Fred Child (left), returns to weekdays afternoons. "Sunday Bach," "Exploring Music," "From the Top" and "Classical Music with Joe Goetz" also begin at new times.
From the Top

Young Vermont Musicians & Chandler Music Hall Featured

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Hear the "From the Top" taped live at Chandler Music Hall in Randolph. Featured performers include 17-year-old horn player Katie Jordan from Charlotte and 18-year-old violinist Thea Talento from Woodstock (pictured). Vermont Public Radio will broadcast this special episode on both VPR and VPR Classical.
Interlude

Saint-Saëns

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Vintage performances of the Saint-Saëns Organ Symphony (BSO/Munch) and his Piano Concerto No.2 (Entremont/Philadelphia/Ormandy).
My Place with Joel Najman

The Early Recording Career Of Steve Lawrence

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Singer Steve Lawrence has been making records and performing for well over five decades, and later this month he and his wife and singing partner Eydie Gorme will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. This week Joel Najman on his "My Place" program looks at the earliest recordings of Steve Lawrence and the diffrent directions his recording career has taken.
VPR News

VPR Evening News November 30th, 2007

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Senator Patrick Leahy wants to hear from current and former members of the Bush administration about their involvement in the firings of eight U.S. attorneys last winter; Congressman Peter Welch says the time has come for Congress to challenge President Bush over future funding of the Iraq war; The federal Department of Education wants to know why so many Vermont college students get loans from VSAC; more…
Commentary Series

Winter Farmers Markets

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The practice of farmers bringing their produce to town is almost as ancient as agriculture itself, and it’s been enjoying a popular revival – one that commentator Ron Krupp says is beginning to extend into the winter months.
Live Fridays at Noon (vpr.net exclusive)

Ben Arnold performs Live Friday at Noon on VPR.net

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Philadelphia-based singer Ben Arnold flirted with major-label stardom in the mid-’90s, but in recent years has found success writing songs for television (including the cult hit Joan of Arcadia) and building a cult following as a performer who gets compared to Bob Dylan. Hear Arnold perform a concert from WXPN and World Cafe Live in Philadelphia on VPR.net Friday at noon ET.
Vermont Edition

Congressman Peter Welch

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Congressman Peter Welch discusses key issues before Congress and takes your phone calls. Also in program, news analysis with top reporters in the state and we listen back to some of the voices in the week’s news.
VPR News

VPR Evening News November 29th, 2007

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CVPS reaches an agreement with the Department of Public Service allowing the company to raise rates by 2.3 percent this winter; Congressman Peter Welch is sponsoring legislation to provide tax relief for middle-income Vermonters; finding jobs for the laid-off employees of Metrogroup in Rutland; Chittenden Bank stockholders approve sale of the bank to People’s United Financial of Connecticut; and commentator Peter Gilbert on the Pilgrims.
Commentary Series

Pilgrims

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Commentator Allen Gilbert spent part of his Thanksgiving reading up on people he thought he knew a lot about – the Pilgrims. He was in for some surprises.
VPR News

Rutland struggling with unemployment

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December is a tough time to lose your job. Just ask the 210 employees at Metrogroup – a direct mail company that will be closing its doors in Rutland next month. As VPR’s Nina Keck reports, the job prospects for many of them are mixed.
Vermont Edition

Vermont’s Libraries

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Vermont has more libraries per capita than any other state. But Vermont is one of the few states in the nation that does not fund its libraries at a state level. We look at how libraries raise their own funds locally, and we also examine how the role of a town library has changed.
Jazz with George Thomas

Jazz Trombonist Dan Silverman Performs Live

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Join us live in the VPR Performance Studio at 8pm on Thursday November 29th with jazz trombonist Dan Silverman and his band. The Hinesburg, Vermont native celebrates his new CD Silverslide with an appearance Dec 1st at FlynnSpace in Burlington.
VPR News
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ANR undergoing major reorganization

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The agency that protects Vermont’s environment is going through a major re-organization. Officials say the goal is to adapt to the latest environmental challenges and to serve the public more efficiently. But lawmakers have questions about the speed — and the scale — of the changes. VPR’s John Dillon reports:
VPR News

Man suing Vermont diocese testifies

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A man who blames the Catholic Diocese of Burlington for not protecting him from a priest who allegedly molested him more than 30 years ago was back on the stand yesterday.
VPR News

VPR Evening News November 28th, 2007

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Federal law enforcement authorities say they’ve broken up two major alien smuggling rings over the past several months; Progressive party leaders are setting ambitions goals for the 2008 gubernatorial race; An Elks Lodge that was found to have discriminated against women is asking for a new trial; and commentator Stephanie Montgomery stumbles over a good bargain.
VPR News

Vermont Edition Interview: Homeless Teens

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VPR’s Jane Lindholm talks with Cody Ingram and Tim Farr about their personal experience with teen homelessness. She also speaks with Mark Redmond, the Executive Director at Spectrum Youth & Family Services in Burlington about the homless teen situation.
Vermont Edition
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Vermont’s Homeless Teenagers

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Homeless teenagers are often part of a hidden population in Vermont. They may be jumping from couch to couch at friends’ houses, or they may be camping out in the woods, or sleeping in the back of restaurants. Local advocacy groups estimate that more than 1,000 young people are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless in the state. We talk with two teenagers who have lived on the streets, and who have found help through Burlington’s Spectrum Youth and Family Services program.
VPR News

Towns appointing energy commissions, coordinators

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Hartford’s select board has appointed seven residents to a “town energy commission” that’s been charged with promoting conservation. As VPR’s Ross Sneyd reports, Hartford is among a growing number of towns trying to make global warming a local concern.
Commentary Series

Portland

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The Holiday Travel Season has just begun. And commentator Bill Mares observes that while we usually travel to places that are new and unfamiliar, every so often a trip results in a strong feeling of deja-vu.
VPR News

NH consumer advocate says no to Fairpoint deal

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New Hampshire’s consumer advocate is recommending that state utility regulators reject Verizon’s plan to sell its landline telephone service to FairPoint Communications, saying the deal would hurt customers.
VPR News

States slow to ban restaurant trans fats

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State lawmakers from Connecticut to California, including in New Hampshire, are looking at copying New York City’s ban on artery-clogging trans fats from restaurants.
VPR News

Vt. association joins challenge to Maine law

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The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a challenge today from motor transport associations in three New England states to a 2003 Maine law that seeks tighter regulation of online sales of tobacco products.
VPR News

VPR Evening News November 27th, 2007

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The Cabot Creamery has agreed to plead guilty to violating the Clean Water Act after an ammonia spill two years ago; Senator Patrick Leahy says a decision by Republican senators to filibuster the 2007 Farm Bill will hurt key programs in Vermont; Hundreds of workers at a federal immigration office in Vermont face pay cuts; The city of Montpelier is getting ready to deal with any future floods; and commentator John McClaughry has concerns about the unintended consequences of responding to global warming.
VPR News

Cabot Creamery pleads guilty to chemical spill

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The Cabot Creamery has agreed to plead guilty to violating the Clean Water Act after an ammonia spill two years ago killed thousands of fish in the Winooski River. The Creamery will pay a $50,000 dollar fine, and another $50,000 to fund environmental projects.
Commentary Series

Lost Letters

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For commentator Peter Gilbert, stories of lost and undelivered letters spark the imagination, and remind him of monumental works in literature:
Vermont Edition
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Vermont’s Pharmacist Shortage

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Vermont is home to more than 260 pharmacists, but that’s not enough to staff the state’s 145 different retail pharmacy outlets. The Rite Aid in Randolph has been closing sporadically during the past several months because of the shortage, and other pharmacies are also scaling back their hours. We look at the reasons behind the shortage, and how a new pharmacy school in Chittenden county may help alleviate the problem.
Commentary Series

Sustainable Energy

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Lately we’ve been hearing a lot about renewable energy being produced from farms, from ethanol to electricity. Commentator Vern Grubinger has some thoughts about what kind of agricultural energy projects are appropriate for Vermont.
VPR News
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Advocates say Farm Bill filibuster will hurt hungry Vermonters

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Senator Patrick Leahy says a decision by several Republican senators to filibuster the 2007 Farm Bill will hurt a number of key programs in Vermont. The legislation includes the continuation of dairy subsidies, new clean up money for Lake Champlain, and an expansion of the federal Food Stamp program. VPR’s Bob Kinzel reports:
VPR News

VPR Evening News November 26th, 2007

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A report from the Ethan Allen Institute says the state should not spend up to $100 million dollars to replace the Vermont State Hospital; Debate continues about where state government offices should be located in Bennington; A Mount Holly man is due to go on trial on federal charges that he tried to board a commercial airliner with a loaded gun; Ski season opens strong in Vermont; Dry weather in Colorado sends skiers east; Senator Patrick Leahy was on hand to welcome a Vermont fir tree to a spot of honor in front of the U.S. Capitol; and commentator Rachel Johnson says the glycemic index will help you eat better during the holidays.
Commentary Series

Russian Elections

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On December 2, for just the fifth time since 1993, Russia will hold nationwide parliamentary elections. There have been plenty of theories about what the elections will mean for Russia’s future. Commentator Paul Richardson examines one of these theories, with a little help from a Russian friend.
VPR News
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Transportation agency’s history experts preserve bridges

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Engineers and safety specialists are involved every time a highway or bridge is built in Vermont. But none gets final approval until the Transportation Agency’s history experts weigh in. Scott Newman is one of those experts and he showed VPR’s Ross Sneyd how he helps to preserve some of Vermont’s history.
VPR News

Canadians add to holiday shopping crowds

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The pre-holiday bustle of Vermont’s main shopping districts is taking on a bit of a Canadian accent this year as shoppers from north of the border travel south to take advantage of an unusually strong Canadian dollar.
VPR News

Police say hunter wasn’t wearing orange

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Police in Milton are expected today to release more details into Friday’s hunting accident death in Milton. But one detail is known: 43-year-old David Jenkins was wearing camouflage clothing and not blaze orange when he was shot.
VPR News

State archives puts 18th century maps online

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Want to see what your town looked like, at least on the map, in the mid-18th century? The Vermont State Archives staff has been posting many of the state’s original surveyors’ maps online.
Sunday Bach

Sunday Bach for November 25th, 2007

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Sunday Bach features an all Bach line-up with a focus on new recordings, and complete choral works. This Sunday we’ll feature the Partita No. 6 in e minor, with pianist Craig Sheppard, as well as Cantata Number 64, for Christmas.
VPR News

VPR Evening News: November 23, 2007

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Another Vermont tree goes to Washington for the Capitol Christmas Tree. One candidate could represent both Democrats AND Progressives in the 2008 race for VT Governor. VT biologist concerned over deer disease in NY State possibly heading for VT. VPIRG hoping media attention to understaffed Consumer product Safety Comm. will lead to legislative action on dangerous products, particularly toys.
VPR News

Capitol Christmas Tree on its way to Washington

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All this week a very special caravan has been wending its way to Washington D.C. A fleet of 16 antique trucks from Vermont is delivering the tree that will stand in front of the Capitol Building this Christmas season. The tree’s journey began a week ago when it was harvested in the Green Mountain National Forest. VPR’s Susan Keese was there for the send-off.
Commentary Series

Thanking Vets

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As part of this Thanksgiving holiday, commentator Bill Seamans hopes that Americans will find meaningful ways to thank veterans for their service. And he favors one idea in particular.
Vermont Edition
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The China Project

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Performances on the Great Wall, language lessons, and city adventures. This summer’s trip to China for the Vermont Youth Orchestra was an eye-opening adventure, and a chance for students to write about and share their experiences through a partnership with the Young Writer’s Project. We hear from those students and from Geoff Gevalt, the editor of the Young Writer’s Project.
VPR News
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Advocates urge extra caution when purchasing toys this year

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On this day after Thanksgiving, it’s become increasingly popular for folks to work off the turkey and trimmings by shopping. At least that’s what retailers are hoping, as the frenzy to buy the latest toy or gadget before Christmas takes full flight starting today. But take caution when it comes to the toys. The Vermont Public Interest Research Group is out with its annual toy safety report, and despite the high profile stories about dangerous toys on store shelves in recent months, many unsafe toys for young children are still out there. Charity Carbine is the Environmental Health Advocate for VPIRG, and says parents should shop carefully:   AP Photo/Toby Talbot
Commentary Series

Running

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Now that we’re thinking about running off some of those calories we consumed yesterday, commentator David Moats has some thoughts about exercise… and magazines… and maps.
VPR News

Who will run against Jim Douglas?

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A big question looms on the Vermont political scene in the coming weeks. Will Democrats and Progressives agree on a consensus candidate to run against Governor Jim Douglas in 2008? VPR’s Bob Kinzel reports.
VPR News

Burke divided over ski area development

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(Host) With some late November snow, Burke Mountain hopes to open for skiing during the first week of December. The resort also has hopes for something much bigger in a five year development plan. It’s a much-discussed proposal in the Northeast Kingdom. This fall, VPR’s Charlotte Albright found that locals see some ups and downs. (Albright) On its website, the Burke Chamber of Commerce paints a pretty picture, calling the Northeast Kingdom "a sprinkling of rural villages set among a sparsely populated landscape." It’s an accurate description-for now-even on a winter day at the popular Burke Mountain ski resort, or a summer day on the 100 miles of internationally vaunted mountain bike trails.
VPR News

VPR Evening Newscast, November 22, 2007

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Steve Zind on getting in the wood in Randolph. VT Food Bank has 50% leass food than a year ago at a time when demand is on the rise. VT home sales rose 0.8% in 2006, bucking the national trend. Search for missing 12-year-old boy in Rupert proves fruitless. Readsboro, VT electric dept for sale with both GMP and CVPS placing bids.
VPR News

Getting the wood in for the winter

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Thanksgiving marks the time when Vermonters who heat with wood are putting the finishing touches on their woodpiles. It’s the end of a long process that, for some, began in the woods when the weather was still warm. A few seasons ago, VPR’s Steve Zind visited with one Vermonter who gets in his wood much as they did a half century ago…
The Splendid Table

Turkey Confidential

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Help is on the way for Thanksgiving cooks on the biggest cooking day of the year. On Thanksgiving morning, Lynne Rossetto Kasper, host of The Splendid Table, takes listeners’ calls for real-time turkey triage. Listen live Thursday at 11a.m. on VPR.
Commentary Series

My Plymouth Rock

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When she was in elementary school, Commentator Deborah Luskin learned about the Pilgrims and Thanksgiving, but it wasn’t until years later that she realized her immigrant grandparents hadn’t landed at Plymouth Rock.
VPR News

Vermont’s food shelves short on food

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The Vermont Food Bank has 50 percent less food than it did one year ago, and across the state local food pantries are struggling to fill their shelves. Demand for food typically goes up around this time of year, and that has food shelf workers worried. VPR’s Sarah Ashworth has more.
Commentary Series

Traumatic Turkey Memories

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These days Commentator Philip Baruth spends Thanksgiving in a big dining room full of food and family. But, when he was growing up, his Thanksgivings didn’t always come so easy. Sometimes he had to fight for his turkey.
VPR News

VPR Evening News November 21st, 2007

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Environmentalists say the Circ Highway will contribute to climate change; Vermont State Police Lieutenant John Flannigan says travelers will be seeing a lot of troopers on the road this Thanksgiving weekend; Business is good at area ski resorts; Vermont appears to be bucking the trend on home sales; and commentator Tom Slayton on the Thanksgiving feast.
Commentary Series

The Feast

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Commentator Tom Slayton has been thinking about what we consider the traditional Thanksgiving meal – and how it came to be.
VPR News
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EPA launches effort to clean up Eden asbestos site

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For almost a century, workers mined asbestos from Belvidere Mountain, leaving behind 70 million tons of rock waste. Asbestos fibers from the waste are washing into the headwaters of the Lamoille and Missisquoi Rivers. So this fall, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency launched a $2 million project to stabilize the site. As VPR’s John Dillon reports, that’s just the beginning.
VPR News

Tobin could be acquitted or face new trial

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A federal judge in New Hampshire is considering the definitions of the words ‘harassment’ and ‘intention’ as he decides on the phone jamming case of a former national Republican Party official.
VPR News

Pownal site could contain hazardous waste

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Already having completed a 60-million-dollar cleanup of hazardous wastes at the site of a former tannery, the town of Pownal appears to be facing a similar problem at another property nearby.
VPR News

Bennington company to add jobs

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A Bennington company has doubled its employment over the past year and expects to double again in the next few months. The growth at Plasan USA is due, in part, to the need for better armor on military vehicles in Iraq. VPR’s Ross Sneyd reports.
VPR News

Evening Newscast: November 19, 2007

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Unified school calendar planned for Vermont. Senate majority leader John Campbell is suggesting he’ll run for Governor, with a handful of contingencies. Findings from Current Use hearings. Vermont wins $3M to expand a program helping troops return from tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Vermont Edition
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Vermont’s Current Use Program

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In 1978, Vermont legislators created the Use Value Appraisal Program, designed to help preserve undeveloped land and to create greater equity in property taxes. Thirty years later, 65% of the state’s agricultural land is enrolled. This coming session, the legislature is set to re-examine the program based on recommendations from a task force. We look at how well the program has worked for Vermont, and how it could possibly change.
Commentary Series

Kennedy and Thanksgiving

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This coming Thursday is Thanksgiving, but it’s also the 44th anniversary of the assassination of President Kennedy. Commentator Peter Gilbert recently came across the speech that the President would have given that afternoon and thinks it may reflect important lessons Kennedy learned as president.
VPR News

Study says brain drain fears overstated

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One question facing Vermont policy-makers is what to do about Vermont’s aging demographics. Statistics show that as Vermont’s workforce ages, fewer young people are choosing to live and work in Vermont. In 2006, a special panel was formed to study the problem, and make recommendations. But does the emigration of young professionals merit this level of concern?
Commentary Series

Commentary Series – 11/19/07

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As we approach one of the biggest food celebrations of the year, commentator Vern Grubinger is thinking about the food choices he makes, and how they’ve been changing over the years.
Saturday Afternoon at the Opera

Der Freischütz

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Just in time for hunting season, it’s the story of Max the "free-shooter" and his magic silver bullets.  Carl Maria von Weber’s masterpiece Der Freischütz will be heard on Saturday Afternoon at the Opera.
Interlude

Tchaikovsky

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A Tchaikovsky program, featuring a vintage performance of the Symphony No.5 with the Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Eugene Ormandy.
My Place with Joel Najman

The “Number One” Hits of 1958 – Part 1

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Ike was President, new cars had long tailfins and quad-headlights, and of the 535 hiit records to make Billboard Magazine’s Hot 100 Popularity Charts in 1958, only 23 of them made it all the way up to the coveted #1 spot. This week Joel Najman’s "My Place" program surveys "The Number One Hits Of 1958" Saturday night from 8-9PM on Vermont Public Radio.
VPR News

VPR Evening News November 16th, 2007

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Vermont Yankee does not have the money to dismantle and remove the reactor when its license expires in five years; Arizona Senator John McCain brings his campaign to a remote corner of Vermont; A 55-foot balsam fir in the Green Mountain National Forest was cut down, and will spend the Christmas season in front of the U.S. Capitol; and commentator Henry Homeyer on invasive trees and bushes.
Commentary Series

Spotting Invasives

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Commentator Henry Homeyer says that this time of year it’s easy to tell where native trees and bushes are being crowded out by invasives. And it’s a good time to do something about it.
VPR News

Vermont Yankee decommissioning funds insufficient

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The Vermont Yankee nuclear plant does not have enough money to dismantle and remove the reactor when its license expires in five years. But Yankee executives and state officials say they’re not concerned. They say the plant can be safely closed and protected for decades, until the there’s enough money to pay for a full decommissioning.
Vermont Edition

Vermont in the Civil War

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Virtually every Vermont community lost sons in the Civil War. Author Howard Coffin talks about his search to find each town’s connection to the battle between the states.
Live Fridays at Noon (vpr.net exclusive)

Galactic, Live Friday at Noon

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Galactic may have begun as a straightforwardly funky jam band, but it’s since evolved to incorporate electronic elements and a greater emphasis on hip-hop. Hear Galactic perform a concert from WXPN and World Cafe Live in Philadelphia on Friday at noon ET.
VPR News

Senate judiciary committee approves Laplante

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The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee has unanimously approved the nomination of Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Laplante to be the next U.S. District Court judge in New Hampshire.
VPR News

VPR Evening News November 15h, 2007

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Congressman Peter Welch says Congress must continue to push for legislation to end the war in Iraq; Governor Douglas is standing by his order that major marijuana cases should be taken to the attorney general; A Vermont soldier killed in Iraq was laid to rest today; and commentator Allen Gilbert on events in Pakistan.
Vermont Edition

Prosecuting Marijuana Crimes: Who Decides?

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The Windsor County State’s Attorney’s handling of a marijuana case has sparked a strong response from Governor Douglas. He’s asked law enforcement agencies to bypass the county prosecutor and send “significant” marijuana cases to federal prosecutors or the state. We talk with the governor and other state officials about the controversy.
Commentary Series

Sarkozy Visits Congress

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When Nicolas Sarkozy visited Congress last week he praised the U.S. at length. Commentator Mike Martin listened to the speech with his French students and has been thinking about all we have to live up to now.
Classical Music with Walter Parker

Classical Music with Walter Parker – 11/15/07

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Gustav Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony, with its glorious final setting of the text: On Wings that I have won through the ardent labours of love, I shall soar aloft to that light which no mortal eye has penetrated. I shall die, so that I may live again! You will rise again, my heart; your beating will carry you to God!    
VPR News

VPR Evening News November 14th, 2007

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Vermont State Auditor Tom Salmon may be called to active duty in the Navy in the next few months; What high fuel prices means for consumers who get help from state and federal programs; The high price of oil is making fuel dealers nervous; Union leaders, small business representatives and some politicians are urging Governor Douglas to oppose the planned sale of Verizon’s land lines to Fairpoint Communications; A case involving teenagers stealing exams from Hanover High School is headed to trial.
Vermont Edition

Vermont’s Empty Food Shelves

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The Vermont Food Bank has 50% less stock than it did one year ago, and across the state local food pantries are struggling to fill their shelves. Demand for food typically goes up during the winter and holiday season, and that has food shelf workers worried. We talk with the head of the Vermont Food Bank, Doug O’Brien, about the reasons behind the shortage, and the impact of a decrease in federal funding.
VPR News

Morning Newscast: November 14, 2007

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Everyone who heats with oil or propane is feeling it. Fuel prices are high and climbing higher. The federal government reports that heating oil prices jumped 15 percent just from October to November. This morning, we have two reports on the oil price situation.
VPR News

Fuel oil dealers concerned about rising prices

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The high price of oil is making fuel dealers nervous as well. Chris Keyser owns Owner Service Incorporated – a Proctor based company which provides propane, heating oil, gasoline and installation services in Rutland County.
VPR News

Still in the doldrums, but economic growth ahead, report says

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A new report out of Boston says Vermont’s economic growth is slowing this year, but will rebound in coming years. The New England Economic Partnership says the nation’s housing slump and credit crunch have left economists gloomier than they were six months ago.
VPR News

VPR Evening News November 13th, 2007

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VT Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Reiber projects a $1M deficit in this years budget, impacting VT’s court system.   A group of state legislators says Gov. Douglas overstepped his authority when he ordered VT State Police to refer Windsor Cty marijuana cases to the Attorney General. Consultants hired by the Legislature recommend compromise on how to replace the VT State Hospital, saying most community institutions and local hospitals can merge efforts with a state inpatient psychiatric facility offering long-term care and rehab.  COMMENTARY by Jay Parini on Chilean poet Pablo Neruda.
Commentary Series

The Home of Pablo Neruda

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Commentator Jay Parini recently traveled to the coast of Chile, where poet Pablo Neruda lived – and is buried. It was a trip that brought back memories – and inspired reflection.
VPR News

Lawmakers say Douglas should rescind order on Windsor County marijuana cases

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(Host) A group of state legislators says the governor has overstepped his authority. They say he should not have ordered state police to take significant marijuana cases in Windsor County to the attorney general for prosecution. VPR’s Ross Sneyd has more: (Sneyd) Thirteen lawmakers wrote to Governor Jim Douglas, criticizing him for stepping into a controversy involving Windsor County State’s Attorney Robert Sand. They want Douglas to rescind the order. They also want Attorney General Bill Sorrell to refuse to take the cases.
VPR News
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Vt. Supreme Court projects $1Million deficit

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The Chief Justice of the Vermont Supreme Court, Paul Reiber, says a chronic under funding of the state’s judicial system is beginning to have a serious impact on Vermont’s court system. Reiber told a special legislative panel that he’s projecting a million dollar deficit in this year’s budget. And Reiber says there are no easy ways to deal with the shortfall.
VPR News

Inmates build house for Springfield family

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A family is about to move into a new, home in Springfield that’s part of an unusual affordable housing initiative: the home was built by women who are serving time at the state prison in Windsor. As VPR’s Ross Sneyd reports, the three-bedroom ranch was part of a work training program at the prison.
VPR News

Three inmates sick at Southern State prison

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Three cases of the potent MRSA staph infection have been identified at Southern State Correctional Facility, and sanitizers are being made available to staff members and visitors.
VPR News

Groveton residents looking for ideas

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People of Groveton, New Hampshire say it’s time to get creative about their future after the town’s paper mill closes at the end of the year.
VPR News

Flags placed on Statehouse lawn again

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A woman who placed thousands of miniature American flags on the lawn of the Vermont Statehouse says her message was one of thanks to veterans and their families.
Vermont Edition
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Future of the Vermont State Hospital

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The Douglas Administration has been advocating for a new mental health facility in Burlington to replace the century-old Vermont State Hospital in Waterbury. But progress on the replacement has been slow. Last Spring the Legislature commissioned a study on the future of the State Hospital and mental health care in the state. The study’s findings are being made public this week. On this episode of Vermont Edition we examine the new report and its recommendations with two of its creators.
VPR News

VPR Evening News November 12th, 2007

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Progressive Anthony Pollina says he intends to run for governor next year; A funeral service will be held this week for a Vermont soldier killed in Iraq; A look at Veteran’s Day observations; and commentator Frank Bryan on Bill McKibben’s new book, "Deep Economy".
VPR News
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Pollina intends to run for Governor

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Progressive Anthony Pollina says he intends to run for governor next year. Pollina hopes to win the support of many Democrats and Independents in his effort to unseat three-term Republican governor Jim Douglas.
Commentary Series

Deep Economy

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Commentator Frank Bryan has been reading Bill McKibben’s new book – and that, in turn, has reminded him of the traditional Vermont values of Heart and Hearth.
VPR News

Pot controversy reignites debate over decriminalization

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Controversy about how a marijuana possession case was handled in Windsor County is reigniting another debate – whether possession should be decriminalized. As VPR’s Ross Sneyd reports, a state senator says she wants the debate to shift to the Statehouse this winter.
Vermont Edition
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Veteran’s Day

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National Guard psychologist, Colonel John Coffin, talks about the difficulties Iraq war veterans are still facing months after returning to their families. We also hear the compelling stories behind a series of photos taken by one Vermont guard member.
My Place with Joel Najman

A Mixed BagOf Early Rock & Roll

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It’s another of our "Mixed Bag" My Place themes. We begin with a seminal early Rhythm & Blues vocal group from Detroit – Nolan Strong and the Diablos – and we conlude with some final thoughts, trivia, and rare music from the songwriting partnership of Carole King and Gerry Goffin.
VPR Classical Specials

“The Morning News” with Joe Goetz

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Joe Goetz shares "The Morning News" on VPR Classical, showcasing some of the most recent additions to our library! Highlights include a recent release of rare music from the French Renaissance, by Thomas Crequillon – and, the world premiere recording of a work by contemporary choral composer Morten Lauridsen.
VPR News

VPR Evening News November 9th, 2007

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Gov. Kunin supports 4-yr term for VT’s Governor. UVM poli sci professor Frank Bryan says that will insulate governors from voters, favoring the current 2 year term. VT Supreme Court declares murder sentencing practices ARE constitutional. U-S E-P-A concerned about phosphorus pollution that the state allows from the St. Albans sewage treatment plant. Commentator Willem Lange sits beside the waterfall and thinks long thoughts back to the glacial age.
VPR News

Vt. debates 2-year vs. 4-year term

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Former governor Madeleine Kunin says she’ll urge lawmakers in the upcoming Legislative session to support a four-year term for governor. Kunin says a longer term is needed because state government is now dealing with more complicated issues. But UVM political science professor Frank Bryan says the plan will insulate governors from voters.
Live Fridays at Noon (vpr.net exclusive)

Chuck Prophet: Live at Noon on VPR.net

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San Francisco-based singer-songwriter Chuck Prophet first made a name for himself in the ’80s as the young guitarist in L.A.’s Green on Red. Since then, he’s released a string of critically praised roots-rock albums, each drawing on a sound that brings to mind the likes of Bob Dylan and Tom Petty. Hear Chuck Prophet, Live at Noon on Friday, on VPR.net.
VPR News
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Barre granite workers upset King memorial will be made in China

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The centerpiece of a national memorial to honor civil rights leader Martin Luther King Junior will be built in China, by a Chinese artist. That’s not going over very well in Barre, the central Vermont city that calls itself the Granite Center of the World. The granite industry says it has the raw material and the local talent to do the job. VPR’s John Dillon reports.
VPR News

VPR Evening News November 8th, 2007

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The fiancee of a Dartmouth College professor who was jailed over a problem with her visa has been released, Congress has given its approval to legislation that will provide 80 million dollars for a variety of water projects in Vermont, Some legal experts are questioning Governor Jim Douglas’ reaction to a marijuana possession case in Windsor County, and we go behind-the-scenes with Lyric Theater’s production of "West Side Story".
VPR News

Legal experts question Windsor marijuana case

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Some legal experts are questioning Governor Jim Douglas’ reaction to a marijuana possession case in Windsor County. Douglas has ordered state police to bypass the Windsor state’s attorney and refer marijuana cases to the attorney general’s office for prosecution. VPR’s Ross Sneyd has the story.
Vermont Edition

The Vermont Frost Heaves

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In its inaugural season, Vermont’s pro basketball team, the Frost Heaves, won the American Basketball Association championship. As the team’s second season begins, we check in with head coach Will Voight, and two players about what it’s like to play pro ball in Vermont, and what fans can look forward to this season.
VPR News

Author says Vermont has a lot to learn about dying

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Journalist Stephen Kiernan says Vermont has a lot to learn when it comes to dying. His book, Last Rights: Rescuing the End of Life from the Medical System, was published a year ago. And since then the Vermont writer has traveled all over the country talking about the need for more holistic end of life care.     Tonight, Kiernan addresses the issue in Rutland. 
VPR News

Democratic leaders question lottery proposal

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Democratic legislative leaders are concerned about the Douglas Administration’s plan to lease the Vermont Lottery to a private business for 30 years. The Governor says the proposal is a way to provide at least $25 million for immediate property tax relief. But the lawmakers question the social cost of relying more heavily on gambling revenue.
VPR News

Some good news in teen ‘risky behavior’ report

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Vermont teenagers are smoking and drinking less than they were eight years ago. That’s the good news in the latest survey of risky behavior among the state’s youth. The bad news is that they smoke more marijuana than the national average, and have a relatively high rate of binge drinking.  
VPR News

NRC says Yankee needs to be scrutinized

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The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has concluded its investigation into two problems this summer at the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant. The NRC says both episodes warrant close scrutiny of Vermont Yankee’s operations.
VPR News
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Snow Geese make their annual stop in Addison

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Every year thousands of Snow Geese fly through the skies of Vermont and take a break in the Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area in Addison. They land by the thousands in a cornfield, and their white feathers almost glow against the brown and yellow earth. Last week VPR’s Jane Lindholm went out to Dead Creek with bird enthusiast Bridget Butler, who is a naturalist with Audubon Vermont to talk about Snow Goose migration.
VPR News

Seniors face 22 to 33 percent increases for supplemental insurance

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Vermont seniors could soon pay steep increases for insurance policies that fill in gaps left by federal Medicare coverage. About 20,000 Vermonters buy these policies. And one of the major carriers – Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Vermont – has asked the state for rate increases ranging from 22 to 33 percent. VPR’s John Dillon reports.
VPR News

VPR Evening News November 6th, 2007

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The Douglas Administration is considering a plan to lease the Vermont Lottery to a private company in order to finance a one-time property tax relief plan; Vermont’s only for-profit home health provider has found an investor and will remain open; Remembering 21-year-old Adam Muller, who died Monday in Iraq; and commentator Bill Mares wonders if the U.S. can be compared to Imperial Rome.
VPR News

Vermont soldier remembered

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Another Vermont family is grieving the loss of a loved one in the war in Iraq. 21 year old Adam Muller died Monday when the Humvee he was riding in struck a roadside bomb. Muller served as a gunner in the U.S. Army.
VPR News

Interview: Don Metz, “Confessions of a Country Architect.”

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Don Metz is an architect with a view. After graduating from the Yale School of Architecture, when many students gravitate to lucrative commercial firms, Metz opted instead to open a small country practice in the Upper Valley. He has built his reputation as a maverick architect and a pioneer in sustainable housing, and is a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. Metz recounts his experiences in his new memoir, "Confessions of a Country Architect." The book contrasts the sometimes loopy requests of wealthy clients with the earthy wisdom of native contractors, and provides insight into a career devoted to building dreams. Don Metz lives in Lyme, New Hampshire. He spoke with VPR’s Neal Charnoff.
Commentary Series

Imperial Rome

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Pundits have been comparing the United States to Imperial Rome for a while now. In fact, commentator Bill Mares says that he’s been doing it himself for years. But he also says that a new book offers a fresh and provocative take on the idea.
Vermont Edition

Planning Vermont’s Energy Future

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Two hundred randomly-picked Vermonters spent last weekend pondering Vermont’s energy future. Tuesday on Vermont Edition, we preview their ideas- and how much weight those ideas will carry as the state forges new power contracts. Also on the program, a look at Vermont’s meat producers and the shortage of slaughterhouses. And an audio postcard from Danville.
Commentary Series

Hunting

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Hunting season is not just a Vermont tradition. According to commentator Deborah Luskin, hunting is a primal force of nature.
Commentary Series

Alzheimers

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Commentator Madeleine Kunin recently went to the store to buy groceries, but came home with a deeper understanding of what it’s like to cope with Alzheimers.
VPR News

VPR Evening News November 5th, 2007

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Senator Bernie Sanders is raising concerns about the plan by Verizon Wireless to buy Unicel; A key committee of the Vermont House plans to draft a bill that would shift a good deal of education funding to an income tax; Vermont ranks at the top of the list in an annual survey of the nation’s healthiest states; and commentator Bill Shutkin on how the Iraq War is affecting Vermont’s soldiers, and the state’s identity.
Commentary Series

Dissonance

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With the Iraq War a daily staple of today’s news diet, commentator Bill Shutkin has begun to reconsider the War’s impact, not only on Vermont’s soldiers but on the state’s very identity.
Classical Music with Cheryl Willoughby

It’s About Time

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It’s the time of the year when the shadows lengthen even as the height of the woodpile starts to diminish. With the time change that took place over the weekend, we’ll share a morning of music with time in mind.
Vermont Edition

Prehistoric Vermont

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For the past 11,000 years, humans have been living in the area now known as Vermont. But long before that, glaciers covered the land and when those receded, the Champlain Sea filled in. We dig into the bedrock and biology of prehistoric Vermont, to learn what transformed the region from this vast sea into mountains of granite, and to explore how life developed on the heels of the Ice Age.
Commentary Series

Lunch

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Commentator Bill Schubart recently spent some time in Italy, and he returned with a new attitude concerning…lunch.
VPR News

Orleans Elementary School teams up with NASA

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Researchers say a weak spot in elementary education is often the teaching of science, math and technology. But what if NASA offers some expertise? As VPR’s Ross Sneyd reports, teachers at a small Northeast Kingdom school are about to find out how the space agency can help promote the sciences.
VPR News

Group giving away free diapers

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An organization in Central Vermont that provides support to parents of newborns and newly adopted babies is giving away 268,800 diapers.
Sunday Bach

Sunday Bach for November 4, 2007

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Sunday Bach features an all-Bach line-up focusing on new recordings and complete choral works. On Sunday’s program we’ll hear the motet, “Jesu, meine Freude”, along with a movement from a Musical Offering, and a transcription of the 6th Cello Suite for harp.
VPR News

Voices in the week’s news – Saturday, Nov. 3, 2007

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  Our regional news this week included controversy over phone tapping, debate about a school budget rule, a theater project on hate crime, rising fuel costs and Senator Patrick Leahy’s decision not to support the attorney general nominee. Here’s a listen back to some of the voices in the news this week:   Leahy, Sanders oppose immunity for phone companies in wiretapping investigation (Sen. Bernie Sanders) I don’t understand how we can give immunity to phone companies who are spying on the American people and we don’t even known what they’re doing and furthermore if you give prospective immunity that simply gives them a green light to do anything that they want to do I think that makes zero sense."   Symington opposes a repeal of new school funding law (House Speaker Gaye Symington) "I think that by asking voters to look at that second vote you’re drawing attention to that level of spending. And you are giving school boards a tougher job – I acknowledge that – in convincing voters that that spending is necessary." (John Nelson, Vermont School Boards Association) "With all due respect, if there’s anybody who thinks that school boards only think once about their budgets, or that voters only think once about their budgets – they are from somewhere else. This is kind of a patronizing approach to it."   Bias and hate crimes expored in "The Laramie Project" (Judy Shepard) "I think the straight community is largely ignorant of what the gay community goes through on a daily basis. And the only way we can correct that ignorance is if members of the community and their friends and families tell their stories."   Fuel oil prices on the rise (Tim Searles, Champlain Valley Office for Economic Opportunity) "We’ve seen an 18 cent increase in the price of fuel just in the month of October.
My Place with Joel Najman

The Carole King Demos – Part 2

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This week Joel Najman’s “My Place” concludes a 2-week exploration of rarely-heard early demonstration recordings by Carole king of songs she and her then-husband Gerry Goffin wrote back in the 1960’s, songs that became big pop hits for The Monkees, The Righteous Brothers, The Everly Brothers and Aretha Franklin. “My Place”, Saturday night from 8-9PM on VPR.
Commentary Series
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Oakes Remembrance

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When commentator Geoff Shields became a law clerk for the late James Oakes, he gained much more than the average boss. Shields remembers a man who embraced life as well as the law.
VPR News

Dean supports rotating regional presidential primaries

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Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean says he’d like to see his party adopt a system of rotating regional presidential primaries beginning in 2012. Dean says the approach would give most states an opportunity to have a greater influence on the selection of presidential nominees.
VPR News

VPR Evening News November 2nd, 2007

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Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy will oppose the nomination of Michael Mukasey to be the next Attorney General; Democratic National Committee chairman Howard Dean would like to see a system of rotating regional primaries; There was a wave of violence in Rutland and Bennington counties over the past day; The police chief in Brattleboro has been fired; Authorities report a fatal fire in Newfane; Leaders from a variety of fields believe education is a key way to expand Vermont’s growing environmental economy; and commentator Jeff Shields remembers federal Judge James Oakes of Brattleboro.
VPR News

Leahy will vote ‘no’ on Mukasey nomination

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Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy announced today that he’ll oppose the nomination of Michael Mukasey to be the next Attorney General. Leahy says Mukasey’s refusal to condemn as “illegal” the interrogation practice known as waterboarding is at the heart of his decision.
VPR News

Wave of ‘impulse violence’ hits Vermont

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There was an extraordinary wave of violence in Rutland and Bennington counties over the past day. Five people died in three different violent incidents. Public safety officials worry the crimes are part of a disturbing new trend.
Live Fridays at Noon (vpr.net exclusive)

Over the Rhine performs Live

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Over the Rhine has taken on a variety of forms since it was founded in 1989, but it’s recently been reduced to the husband-and-wife duo of Linford Detweiler (bass, piano, guitar) and Karin Bergquist (guitar, vocals). Hear the bittersweet folk-pop band perform a concert from WXPN and the Whitake Center in Harrisburg, Pa., on Friday at noon ET.
Vermont Edition

Former Governor Howard Dean

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We talk with Howard Dean about the chaotic primary schedule and how the presidential candidates are getting focused in the weeks before Iowa and New Hampshire. Also, analysis of week’s news and a student theater production about hate crimes and the legacy of Matthew Shepard.
Reactionline

with Mark Vogelzang

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Ask questions and share your thoughts about programming on VPR and VPR Classical. Vermont Public Radio President and General Manager Mark Vogelzang will take your calls live Friday morning at 8:00am. It’s simulcast, so you can listen on VPR or VPR Classical. You can also e-mail questions for Mark in advance.
Commentary Series

FairPoint

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The Public Service Board will decide soon on whether it will allow the sale of Verizon’s phone lines to FairPoint Communications. And Commentator Tim McQuiston thinks that, whatever the ruling, it’s only fair that the PSB gets to make the call.
VPR News

Hospice singers bring comfort to the dying

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Many families struggling with a terminal illness turn to their local hospice organization for help. Hospice nurses and volunteers provide much needed medical care, home visits and support for patients and their families. In many parts of Vermont, Hospice volunteers also provide comfort another way – with music. VPR’s Nina Keck has more.
VPR News

Police investigation continues on woman hit by truck

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A good person who wouldn’t intentionally hurt anyone. That’s the way Delbert Degree’s boss described the 41-year-old St. Johnsbury man the day after a confrontation between motorists ended with Degree driving his tractor-trailer rig over a woman who had criticized his driving.
Commentary Series

New School Budget Law

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The new law on double votes for school budgets is raising concerns, even though it’s a year away from implementation. Commentator Allen Gilbert, a school board member, offers his insights on what’s going on.
VPR News
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Fuel oil prices on the rise

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Fuel oil prices are expected to exceed $3 a gallon this winter. That’s up almost 20 percent from a year ago. Congressman Peter Welch blames some of the price increase on speculation in the energy markets. He’s introduced a bill that would restore government control over these markets
VPR News

VPR Evening News November 1st, 2007

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With fuel oil prices expected to exceed $3 a gallon this winter, Congressman Peter Welch introduces a bill that would restore government control in energy markets; Senator Bernie Sanders has voted against a global warming bill, with the backing of environmental leaders; State officials embark on a new push to reach about 65,000 Vermonters who have on health insurance; Green Mountain Power asks for a rate increase of just under one percent;The Vermont State College system is among 19 public university systems trying to cut achievement gaps for minority and low-income students; and commentator Allen Gilbert on a new law regarding double votes on school budgets.
VPR News
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Social Justice series explores bias and hate crimes with “The Laramie Project”

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At Saint Michael’s College, students want to do something about homophobia, hate crimes and social injustice. So this fall, the school organized a series of events to confront the issue, beginning with a theater production of “The Laramie Project”. The play tells the story of the people of Laramie, Wyoming, and the tragic death of Matthew Shepard in a hate crime nine years ago.
Vermont Edition

Legacy of the 1927 Flood

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Eighty years ago this weekend, floodwaters ravaged Vermont and left a deep legacy. We hear the memories of people who lived through the flood, and talk with historians about how that disaster changed the state.
VPR News

Cape Air begins service in Rutland

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(Host) Starting today, passengers traveling out of Rutland Aiport will be able to fly Cape Air to Boston. As VPR’s Nina Keck reports, the Massachusetts-based airline hopes more flights and cheaper ticket prices will result in new passengers.
VPR News

Sanders says global warming bill ignores wind, solar

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(Host) A Senate subcommittee will decide today whether a landmark bill aimed at curbing global warming will sink or move forward. Senator Bernie Sanders will cast one of the crucial votes. But before that, he’s trying to plug what he calls loopholes in the bill. Matt Laslo reports from Capitol Hill.
VPR News

Woman hit by truck after road confrontation

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Vermont State Police say a confrontation between motorists that began when a truck passed a car that had slowed for another ended when the trucker ran over and fatally injured one of the people involved.
VPR News

Leahy says Mukasey nomination is in trouble

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Senator Patrick Leahy says the nomination of judge Michael Mukasey as the country’s next Attorney General is in a lot of trouble. According to Leahy, Mukasey won’t say whether he believes an interrogation technique known as waterboarding is illegal.
VPR News

VPR Evening News October 31st, 2007

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Senator Patrick Leahy says the nomination of Michael Mukasey for Attorney General is in trouble, House Speaker Gaye Symington is endorsing Hillary Clinton for president, A coach at Dartmouth says his fiancee is being unfairly deported because of a misunderstanding regarding her visa, and on this night of ghosts and goblins, commentator Stephanie Montgomery remembers dark nights in the fifties.
Capitol Steps

Politics Takes a Holiday Halloween Special

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Take a break from politics this Halloween with the Capitol Steps. It’s a trick-and-treat-filled night of songs and stories from Washington’s most irreverent political satirists. They give their unique spin to topics ranging from the supreme court, to competing health care plans to chinese imports. Get into Halloween with the Capitol Steps, Wednesday evening at 6PM, here on VPR.
Vermont Edition

Affording College in Vermont

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A college freshman at UVM can expect to pay $10,422 in tuition this year. That’s up 7% from a year ago, and it’s 68% higher than the national average. A new study by the College Board cites Vermont’s four-year public colleges as having the highest tuition rates in the country. We look at why the numbers are so high, and what’s being done to try to reverse the trend.
VPR Classical Specials

HALLOWE’EN!

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From the terror of Goethe’s “Erl-king”, to the ineptitude of “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” – we’ll get into the Halowe’en spirit today with the ghouls, witches, ghosts and goblins that haunt classical music.
VPR News
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Bush has visited every state, except Vermont

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In nearly seven years in office, President Bush has visited every state in the country except one: Vermont. What keeps George Bush away? The weather? Politics? Ben and Jerry? VPR’s Steve Zind went looking for answers.
VPR News

Rutland Halloween parade expected to be biggest one yet

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(Host) The bands have been practicing and the float builders have been busy decorating for tonight’s Halloween parade in Rutland. The annual event attracts 10,000 to 15,000 people – weather permitting. And, as VPR’s Nina Keck reports, this year’s is expected to be the biggest one yet.
VPR News

Nine crashes blamed on icy roads

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Drivers are being warned to slow down on wet, icy or snow-covered pavement after a number of vehicles crashed in the Saint Johnsbury area early yesterday morning.
Commentary Series

Top Commanders

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Commentator Bill Seamans has noticed that our current top military leaders have something interesting in common – something that may signal a change in the way we manage our armed forces.
VPR News

Vt. pursues unique legal strategy to reduce mercury levels

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Vermont has joined other New England states and New York in asking the federal government to cut mercury pollution coming from Midwest coal plants. The states are pursuing a unique legal strategy. They hope to use a provision of the Clean Water Act to reduce mercury levels in the region’s fish.
VPR News

Symington opposes a repeal of new school funding law

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House Speaker Gaye Symington says she opposes efforts to repeal a new state law to slow down the growth of school budgets. Vermont’s teachers union and the state’s School Board Association argue the new law will undermine the quality of education in the state.
Commentary Series

New Pair of Shoes

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Commentator Philip Baruth’s daughter loves pizza arcades, but over the last five years Philip has seen quite a few of them go through a slow transformation – and not for the better.
Vermont Edition

Apples, apples, apples

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The apple harvest is nearly past and we check in with growers and agriculture officials about the physical and financial health of this year’s crop. Also, we hear stories from the orchard from a grower who cultivates heirloom varieties, and from his wife, who doesn’t see him much around picking time.
VPR News

Forests increase in value as carbon sinks

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Vermont forest land is taking on a new and valuable role in an age of global warming. That’s as an environment that soaks up some of the excess carbon in the atmosphere.
VPR News
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Highway through Smugglers’ Notch is no place for trucks

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The winding road through Smuggler’s Notch is filled with steep, hair-pin turns. You take extra care if you’re driving your car through the notch between Stowe and Jeffersonville. The speeds are very … very slow. But this year the road closed down six times when tractor-trailer trucks tried to get through. VPR’s Ross Sneyd took a drive through the Notch to find out why.
VPR News

Vermont State Colleges to receive $72 million bond

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Castleton State College has plans for almost 26 million dollars worth of improvements to the school. The funding will come from a 72 million dollar bond approved by the Vermont State College Board of Trustees to finance upgrades throughout the system. VPR’s Nina Keck reports.
VPR News

Help coming for mill workers

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New Hampshire Congressman Paul Hodes met with union officials and the economic team working to help mill workers about to lose their jobs in Groveton.
VPR News

UVM campus quiet after Red Sox sweep

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Celebrations erupted at the University of Vermont early Monday morning after the Boston ball club’s World Series sweep, but not the rioting of 2004.
Commentary Series

Indecision Medicine

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Commentator Claire Ankuda says that her first course at UVM’s College of Medicine provided – among other things – a valuable reality check in ethics and expectations.
VPR News

Evening Newscast: October 29, 2007

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Both VT’s U.S. Senators will oppose legislation granting immunity to telephone companies that wiretapped phones without a federal court order; Castleton State College plans $30 million bond for campus expansion; more…
Commentary Series

Garden Year in Review

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It’s time to take stock of the garden year just ending, and commentator Henry Homeyer says that on the whole he’s had a pretty successful harvest.
Sunday Bach

Sunday Bach for October 28th, 2007

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Sunday Bach features an all-Bach line-up focusing on new recordings, and complete choral works. On October 28th we’ll enjoy a complete performance of Cantata Number 80, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God”, along with the English Suite No. 1 in A Major, performed by Angela Hewitt.
Interlude

Paganini

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We present music by Nicolo Paganini, born on October 27, 1782.
My Place with Joel Najman

My Place with Joel Najman – 10/27/07

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Carole King and Gerry Goffin wrote many enduring pop music hits of the 1960’s for artists including the Shirelles, Drifters, and Righteous Brothers. And Carole’s own “Tapestry” LP earned four Grammy awards, ushering in the era of the singer/songwriter in contemorary popular music. This week hear Carole singing some rarely heard very early “demos” or demonstration recordings of her music, on Joel Najman’s “My Place” program Saturday night from 8-9PM on VPR.
Commentary Series

Northwest Passage

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Recently, the European Space Agency announced that the Northwest Passage is fully clear of ice for the first time since records began. For commentator Peter Gilbert, the news brings to mind centuries of compelling history of Arctic exploration.
VPR News

Midday Newscast: October 26, 2007

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After almost two years of work, the governor’s commission on climate change has laid out a detailed plan for how Vermont can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25% in five years; more…
Vermont Edition

Senate President Peter Shumlin

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Senate President Peter Shumlin talks with Bob Kinzel about the top issues that lawmakers will face this winter. Also, VPR’s Ross Sneyd analyzes the big stories of the week, and we listen back to some of the voices in the week’s news.
Live Fridays at Noon (vpr.net exclusive)

Nellie McKay, Live in Concert

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Born in London and raised in Harlem, 25-year-old Nellie McKay has already carved out a name for herself as a singer, songwriter, musician, actress and comedian. Blending jazz, pop and rap with the piano as the focal point, McKay is noted for her sharp and sardonic lyrics, as well as her outspoken views on animal rights and politics. Hear Nellie McKay Live Friday on VPR.net.
VPR News

VTel confronting labor issues in court

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Vermont Telephone in Springfield prides itself on being a cutting-edge, 21st century communications company. But it finds itself confronting what it considers a very 20th century issue: serious disagreements with organized labor.
VPR News

VPR Evening News October 25th, 2007

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Congressman Peter Welch grills Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice over corruption by the Iraqi Government; The state wants to hear from the public on how best to control lamprey that are blamed for killing fish in Lake Champlain; Senator Bernie Sanders is trying to reform federal laws governing when companies can hire foreign workers; and members of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra perform with the Boston Pops at the World Series.
VPR News

Welch grills Rice on Iraqi war contracts

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Congressman Peter Welch grilled Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice today over what Welch says is the Bush Administration’s failure to address massive corruption by the Iraqi government. Welch says the Administration has done a terrible job overseeing billions of dollars in special war contracts.
Vermont Edition

Vermont Rail Transportation

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Monday’s train derailment in Middlebury has re-focused attention on Vermont’s rail infrastructure. Vermont’s rail lines are still below industry standards. Nationally, most freight cars can carry a maximum load of 286,000 pounds, but most Vermont rail lines are rated for a maximum load 23,000 pounds lighter. And many in the state worry that weight limitations are hurting Vermont’s rail business. We examine the economic issues and talk about rail safety, and the state’s plans to improve rails across the state.
VPR News

Berlin crash victim, 15, improves

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A teenager seriously injured in a Berlin car crash last week that killed the driver is said to be getting better at the hospital in Burlington.
Commentary Series

Kurdish Complications

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The war in Iraq has become further complicated as key American ally and NATO member Turkey has come under terrorist attack by Kurdish rebels, operating from Iraq’s Kurdish region. As commentator Barrie Dunsmore explains, this new crisis should come as no surprise.
VPR News

Groveton paper mill to close

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State and federal help could be on the way to ease the pain for 300 mill workers about to lose their jobs in Groveton, New Hampshire.
VPR News

VPR Evening News October 24th, 2007

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Governor Douglas accuses Vermont’s Democratic legislative leaders of ignoring issues important to Vermonters; A coalition of groups is supporting incentives to steer new housing toward designated growth centers; Vermont is among six states calling on the EPA to do more to control mercury pollution blowing into New England from the Midwest; The Vermont Fish and Wildlife board has enacted a new emergency rule for the handling of bait fish; and commentator Deborah Luskin has a proposal for abolishing marriage.
VPR News
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Interview: Viking history comes to light in book by Vermont author Nancy Marie Brown

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500 years before Christopher Columbus, a Viking woman landed in the New World, where she twice tried to establish a colony. This chapter in Viking history comes to light in a new book by Vermont author Nancy Marie Brown. "The Far Traveler" tells the story of Gudrid, an Icelandic woman whose travels took her to Greenland, Rome and North America. Until recently, Gudrid’s adventures have been the subject of myth and legend, only briefly mentioned in the Viking sagas. In "The Far Traveler", Brown draws on her research in science, history and archeology to present an illuminating account of Gudrid’s travels, and Viking life in the year 1000.
VPR News

Farmers worry about federal crackdown on immigrant workforce

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The 2,000 immigrant workers on Vermont dairy farms have always had a risky job. Many of the dairy workers are here illegally, and they can be deported if caught by federal authorities. But now the farmers who hire them are also worried. Federal officials have vowed to crack down on employers who knowingly hire illegal labor.
VPR News

For-profit nursing service may close

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Vermont’s only for-profit home health care group will have to close unless someone steps forward in the next few days with a big shot of funding.
VPR News

VPR Evening News October 23rd, 2007

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Clean-up efforts continue in Middlebury following yesterday’s train derailment; Senator Patrick Leahy remains undecided about his vote for Attorney General nominee, Michael Mukasey; The state Health Department is urging Vermonters to get their flu shots; and commentator Ruth Page says we should be more thoughtful about our use of water.
VPR News
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Leahy not sure he’ll vote for Mukasey

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Senator Patrick Leahy says he’s not sure if he’ll vote for Attorney General nominee, Michael Mukasey. Leahy, who chairs the U.S. Senate Judiciary committee, says he has some serious concerns that Mukasey doesn’t oppose the use of torture in the interrogation of suspected terrorists.
Vermont Edition

Myths and Facts About Flu Shots

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Flu shots have been available to the public since 1945, but most of us still don’t know whether or not we should get one. Can vaccines cause the flu? Is there a date you have to get one by? Will there be a shortage this year? Health commissioner Sharon Moffatt joins us to help examine the facts and myths behind the decision to get a flu shot.
Commentary Series

Water Crisis

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Lately we’ve been hearing a great deal about water shortages in southern states – both east and west, and in countries all around the world. Commentator Ruth Page says that even here at home we should be more thoughtful about our use of water.
VPR News

Sanders says he won’t support Mukasey nomination

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Senator Bernie Sanders says the confirmation of Michael Mukasey as the next attorney general is likely to happen without his support. Sanders is one of the first Senators to publicly oppose the nominee. Trimmel Gomes reports from Washington.
Commentary Series

Gore’s Nobel

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Commentator Mike Martin has noticed a cultural shift when it comes to environmentalism: he thinks that Al Gore’s Nobel Peace Prize has finally made it ok for men to be green.
VPR News

VPR Evening News October 22nd, 2007

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Tense moments following a train derailment in Middlebury; Governor Douglas and the congressional delegation at odds over future funding of S-Chip;VSAC launches a new program to get middle and high school students thinking about college; Garry Trudeau appears at the Center for Comic Studies; and Nina Keck visits a Pittsford pumpkin patch.
Vermont Edition

Field of Democratic Presidential Candidates

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We talk with the political analyst Eric Davis of the field of Democratic presidential candidates, and which of them are gaining traction with Vermont politicos and primary voters. Also, reviving the American Chestnut Tree and picking the perfect Jack O’ Lantern pumpkin.
Commentary Series

On the Brink

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Commentator Vic Henningsen reminds us that had things gone differently, few – if any of us – might be around today to recall the events of October 1962.
VPR News
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Sanders: climate change bill falls short

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(Host) Senators are debating a proposal tackling climate change. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders says it falls short of his expectation. VPR’s Eric Niiler reports from Capitol Hill.
Sunday Bach

Sunday Bach for October 21st, 2007

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Sunday Bach features an all-Bach line-up, with a focus on new recordings, as well as complete choral works. This Sunday we’ll enjoy a complete performance of the secular Cantata Number 214, “Sound all ye drums now! Resound all ye trumpets”.
Interlude

Rome

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A program of Rome-related pieces, including the Petrarch Sonnets of Liszt, the Berlioz “Roman Carnival Overture,” and “Feste Romane” by Ottorino Respighi.
My Place with Joel Najman

A Musical Profile Of Singer/Songwriter Dickey Lee

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Dickey Lee has been successfully part of the contemporary music scene for over 50 years, first as a teen pop recording artist during Rock & Roll’s first Golden Era, and then as both a country music songwriter and recording artist to this very day. Tune in “My Place” with Joel Najman Saturday October 20th from 8-9PM for a musical profile of singer/songwriter Dickey Lee.
VPR News

VPR Evening News October 19th, 2007

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Outgoing Public Safety Commissioner Kerry Sleeper says the impact of drug use is the biggest challenge facing Vermont’s law enforcement community; The Vermont Institute of Natural Science dedicates its Quechee campus in honor of Senator Jim Jeffords and his late wife, Liz; Peace activists adorn the Statehouse with symbolic flags representing those killed in Iraq; and commentator Paul Richardson remembers the Cuban Missile Crisis.
VPR News

Vt police challenged by increase in illegal drug use

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Outgoing Public Safety Commissioner Kerry Sleeper says the biggest challenge facing Vermont’s law enforcement community is curtailing the growing impact of illegal drugs. Sleeper says additional state and or federal resources are going to be needed to successfully deal with the problem.
Commentary Series

Cold War Baby

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Forty five years ago this coming Monday, the world woke up to find itself on the brink of nuclear war, after a reckless Soviet leader was caught trying to sneak medium-ranged nuclear missiles into Cuba. Commentator Paul Richardson was there – in a manner of speaking.
Vermont Edition

Changes in Policing and Public Safety

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We talk with Public Safety Commissioner Kerry Sleeper about the changes he’s seen in his 30 year career in policing, public safety and homeland security. Also, news analysis with Vermont reporters and a listen back to voices in the week’s news.
VPR News

Sunapee operations sue state

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Operators of New Hampshire’s Mount Sunapee ski resort have sued the state, claiming Governor John Lynch has violated their lease agreement by refusing to consider their plan to expand.
Commentary Series

Jacob’s ladder

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Commentator Willem Lange recently participated in a Fall Foliage tradition – climbing Mt Washington on the Cog Railway. Turns out it made him just a wee bit nervous.
VPR News

NH won’t announce primary date until Nov. 2 or later

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New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner says those wanting to know the date for the state’s presidential primary are going to have to wait for a while longer. And he says that the date could be in December of this year.
VPR News

VPR Evening News October 18th, 2007

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Congressman Peter Welch says S-Chip supporters must continue to fight for its expansion; The president of the NEA is supporting a local teacher’s union effort to repeal a school funding law; Medical patients are increasingly being targeted by thieves who what to steal narcotics or other prescription drugs; Top state officials are warning that many Vermonters face a tough old age, due to a widespread lack of adequate retirement savings; and commentator Bill Mares on the disappearance of honeybees nationwide.
Commentary Series

Disappearing Bees

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Commentator Bill Mares has been a beekeeper for more than 30 years, so he’s been thinking a lot lately about the mysterious disappearance of millions of honeybees nationwide.
VPR News

Human hair used in Hood Museum art exhibit

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Wenda Gu is an artist from Shanghai, China, whose latest work can literally be described as “hair-raising.” The Wenda Gu exhibit is currently on display at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. That’s where VPR’s Mitch Wertlieb got a look at the new work, guided by the Hood Museum of Art’s Assistant Director Juliette Bianco:
Vermont Edition

Adult Day Services

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More and more seniors are turning to adult day centers as a way to remain independent. The centers offer daily respite for caregivers, and provide meals, activities, and in Vermont, medical services. However, funding is a challenge. Medicaid covers a majority of expenses, but a recent MetLife study cites Vermont as having the highest adult day costs in the country. We look at what those numbers mean, and how adult day centers fit into the future of elderly care.
VPR News

N.H. judges recuse themselves from Browns supporters’ trials

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A federal judge from Maine will handle the trials of four men charged with providing guns or other supplies to convicted New Hampshire tax evaders Ed and Elaine Brown. Both federal judges who handle criminal cases in New Hampshire pulled themselves from the cases.
VPR News

VPR Evening News October 17th, 2007

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Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama becomes the first candidate to qualify for Vermont’s presidential primary; Canadian authorities have arrested more than 40 people at the Stanstead-Derby border; The Douglas Administration says regulators should reject Fairpoint Communications’ bid to buy Verizon’s phone business unless strict conditions are met; The number of Vermont children showing up for school without the recommended childhood immunizations has more than doubled in the past 10 years; and commentator Howard Coffin remembers arriving at college in 1960.
VPR News
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Obama first to qualify for Vt. presidential primary

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Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama became the first candidate this afternoon to qualify for Vermont’s presidential primary. And new campaign finance reports show that Obama has raised more money in Vermont than all the other Democratic and Republican candidates combined.
Commentary Series

Seek a Friend

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When commentator Howard Coffin attended a college soccer game recently and saw freshmen just beginning the fall semester, he was reminded of his own arrival on campus in 1960.
VPR News

Hearing loss is on the rise

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Most people are bombarded by noise. There’s traffic, sirens, power saws and leaf blowers. Too much noise is the number one cause of hearing loss, affecting 36 million Americans. And that number is expected to increase by more than 50% over the next 25 years.
Vermont Edition

Lead Paint in Vermont’s Housing

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A ban on lead paint was passed in 1978, with public health officials citing it as a cause of significant developmental problems and even death among children. Nearly 30 years later, the consequences of lead exposure are more serious than previously known, but Vermont is still dealing with lead paint in the state’s old housing stock.
Commentary Series

Blackwater

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Commentator Bill Seamans has been following the Blackwater controversy, and he’s begun to wonder if these services really are needed – and if so – why.
VPR News
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State will use federal grant for a barn census

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(Host) State government plans to conduct a census of all the barns in Vermont. Officials say the goal will be to develop a preservation plan for buildings that are closely identified with Vermont’s image. VPR’s Ross Sneyd has more.
VPR News

VPR Evening News October 16th, 2007

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Senator Patrick Leahy says Attorney General nominee will be confirmed if he convinces Judiciary Committee members he’ll be independent of the White House; UVM is closing a laboratory that tested soils and forage crops for Vermont farmers; Officials with Vermont’s captive insurance industry say tax-rule changes could hurt the industry; Barton residents launch a petition drive to prohibit commercial wind power development; and commentator Madeline Kunin on the debate about funding for S-Chip.
VPR News

UVM closes ag testing lab

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The University of Vermont is closing a laboratory that tested soils and forage crops for Vermont farmers. The school says the lab was losing money, and that the testing can be done by other facilities. But some say the lab closing may raise a larger question about the school’s ties to agriculture.
Commentary Series

Override

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Commentator Madeleine Kunin has been watching the debate about funding for S-Chip, the national Children’s Health Insurance Program, with increasing concern, and a strong sense of deja-vu.
VPR News
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Soldier’s remains identified after 63 years

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Robert Cotey was missing and presumed killed when his plane disappeared over Germany on July 7, 1944. Now 63 years later, the Department of Defense says Cotey’s remains and those of his fellow crew members have finally been located and identified. The wreckage of the plane was discovered in 2001.
Commentary Series

Adams in Russia

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He’s President of the United States and the son of a former President of the United States. He’s headed to Russia for a ten-day visit, but it’s not George W. Bush. Here’s commentator Peter Gilbert to explain.
VPR News

Welch has more than $567,000 in bank

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Vermont Congressman Peter Welch already has more than $567,000 in campaign cash on hand more than a year before he’s expected to seek re-election to a second term.
VPR News

VPR Evening News October 15th, 2007

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A veteran Vermont judge known for his defense of the environment has died at the age of 83; Congressman Peter Welch says a new report shows that taxpayers and consumers are “getting ripped off” by Medicare; The man facing charges in the rape and killing of a UVM student wants his statements to police kept out of his trial; The Union of Concerned Scientists says New England could become a much different place if the globe’s climate continues to change; Secretary of State Deb Markowitz will be in Washington tomorrow to testify about early and absentee voting in Vermont; A town in the Northeast Kingdom may convert an old lumber mill into a factory making wood chips and pellets; and commentator Edith Hunter on Albert Einstein.
Commentary Series

Rites of Passage

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Now that the school year is well under way, commentator Mike Martin is thinking about what it takes to navigate the sometimes dangerous transition from child to adult.
Commentary Series

Einstein’s legacy

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News reports about the most recent group of Nobel prize winners has reminded commentator Edith Hunter of a book about a past recipient – and the influence his work continues to have today.
VPR News
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Gypsy punk band, Gogol Bordello visits VPR

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The band Gogol Bordello has its roots in Eastern European Gypsy music. The band’s leader, Eugene Hutz, is of Romani ancestry. He grew up in Ukraine but became a refugee and as a teenager he moved with his family to Vermont.
VPR News
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Real estate experts say houses will sell with the right strategy

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Real estate news has not been especially good of late. Sales are down and foreclosures are at an all-time high. And with many Vermonters worried about their finances, homebuyers are being more cautious. But as VPR’s Nina Keck reports, real estate brokers say both buyers and sellers can make out well with the right strategy.
Classical Music with Joe Goetz

Classical Music with Joe Goetz – 10/15/07

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A lot of unintended coincidences on today’s program…two major symphonic works in the same key, and two pieces by British composers written in 1939….take a look at the playlist and see if you can figure out what these are….and let me know, I’d be curious to see who figures it out first.
Sunday Bach

Sunday Bach for October 14th, 2007

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Sunday Bach features an all-Bach line-up with a focus on new recordings, as well as complete choral works. Join us Sunday, October 14th, for a classic performance of the double violin concerto with Itzhak Perlman and Pinchas Zukerman. We’ll also enjoy a newer recording of Cantata 149, “Man Singet Mit Freuden Vom Sieg”, with the Montreal Baroque Soloists and Choir led by Eric Milnes.
Saturday Afternoon at the Opera

Verdi

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We celebrate Verdi’s October 11, 1813 birthday with performances of his Requiem and his tuneful, popular “Il trovatore.”
My Place with Joel Najman

Even More #1 Hits Of 1966

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This week on Joel Najman’s “My Place” program on Saturday October 13th from 8-9PM we complete our 3-week survey of the #1 pop hits of 1966 and the oftentimes fascinating stories behind the songs.
Interlude

Verdi

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We celebrate the October 11, 1813 birthday of Giuseppe Verdi with a couple of his little-known non-operatic works.
Symphony at Seven

Pavarotti in Memoriam

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The death of Luciano Pavarotti ends what may be the most internationally successful career in the history of opera singing. On his 72nd birthday, VPR Classical celebrates the life, work, and music of this Opera Legend.
VPR News

VPR Evening News October 12th, 2007

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Transportation Secretary Neale Lunderville says he doesn’t think the state should borrow money to help repair the transportation system; Vermont’s top policy-makers say it’s time to shake up the system; Public Safety Commissioner Kerry Sleeper will retire after a 30-year career in law enforcement and state government; New Hampshire Governor is establishing a Climate Change task force; A popular route for leaf-peepers was closed today when a tractor-trailer got stuck; The U.S. Marine Band is coming to Vermont this weekend, under the direction of native Vermonter Colonel Michael Colburn; and commentator Willem Lange on deer-vehicle collisions.
VPR News

Vt transportation infrastructure faces challenges

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Transportation Secretary Neale Lunderville says he doesn’t think the state should borrow money to help repair the state’s transportation system. Lunderville says he hopes to dedicate enough money for road, bridge and culvert repairs by reorganizing the priorities of his agency.
VPR News

Vermont’s top cop to retire

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Vermont’s top cop will call it quits at the end of the year. Public Safety Commissioner Kerry Sleeper says he’ll retire after a 30-year career in law enforcement and state government.
VPR News

U.S. Marine Band performing in Vermont

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The U.S. Marine Band is coming to Vermont this weekend. The band known as “The President’s Own” will give a free concert on Sunday at Norwich University.
Commentary Series

Afghan Update

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Six years ago this week, the American military attack on Afghanistan and its Taliban government began. The U.S. quickly claimed victory, but, as commentator Barrie Dunsmore tells us this morning, this has become another mission not accomplished.
Classical Music with Walter Parker

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Vermont composer Gwyneth Walker celebrates her 60th birthday this year. We feature her music as we anticipate 2 days of concerts of her music at Chandler Music Hall in Randolph Oct. 13 and 14.
Live Fridays at Noon (vpr.net exclusive)

Steve Earle performs Live on VPR.net

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Early in his career, singer-songwriter Steve Earle was often compared to Bruce Springsteen and widely viewed as a savior of country music. In recent years, his work has grown increasingly political, addressing war, religion and politics with a decidedly populist bent. Hear Steve Earle Live, Friday at Noon, on VPR.net.
Vermont Edition

Maintaining Vermont’s Bridges and Roads

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We talk with Vermont’s Transportation Secretary Neale Lunderville about challenges facing the state’s transportation infrastructure– from roads to bridges. And we look at how Governor Douglas plans to address those concerns without raising the gas tax.
VPR Classical Specials

A Celebration of Gwyneth Walker

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Vermont’s own Gwyneth Walker is in the VPR Classical spotlight Friday, October 12! This year she celebrates her 60th birthday, and VPR Classical joins Chandler Music Hall in Randolph in honoring the occasion. Chandler has two special music events this coming weekend (Oct. 13th and 14th). VPR Classical celebrates by featuring several of Walkers recordings throughout the day. Listen for music by Walker at 8 a.m., 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
VPR News
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Fuel prices could rise as much as 22 percent this winter

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Cold weather has not settled into Vermont, yet. But, when it does, it’s going to cost more than ever to stay warm. The federal government projects home heating oil prices could rise 22 percent this winter and propane could go up about as much. VPR’s Ross Sneyd has more.
Classical Music with Joe Goetz

Shostakovich and the October Revolution

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This month marks the 90th anniversary of the October Revolution. One of the most important figures of that era was Dimitri Shostakovich. This week VPR Classical is featuring some of his symphonies. For our last installment, we’ll hear his Symphony #9, a musical slap-in-the-face to Joseph Stalin. We’ll talk more about that and also hear a violin concerto by Vermont composer Gwyneth Walker.
VPR News

VPR Evening News October 11th, 2007

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A Northeast Kingdom law firm has warned its clients that the federal government may be monitoring its phones and computer equipment; A direct-mail company that employs nearly 250 people will close its Rutland plant in mid-December; VPIRG says that more than half of Vermont’s industrial and municipal facilities discharged more pollution into the state’s water than allowed in 2005; New York town’s welcome signs feature Vermont landscape; and commentator Alan Betts on the rapid melting of the Arctic ice cap.
VPR News
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NEK law firm: Feds may be monitoring phones and computers

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A Northeast Kingdom law firm has warned its clients that the federal government may be monitoring its phones and computer equipment. A lawyer at the firm represents a prisoner at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. This summer, the lawyer suspected that his phone had been tapped. He recently discovered that his office computer was also hacked into.
Commentary Series

Melting World

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The Arctic Ice-cap melted by a stunning amount this summer. This has lead to some excited speculation about the opening of the NW passage, or drilling for oil in the arctic, but commentator Alan Betts warns that this news doesn’t bode well for anyone.
VPR News

Rutland plant to close

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Rutland is reeling with the news today that MetroGroup – a direct mail company that employs nearly 250 people – will close its Rutland plant in mid- December.
Vermont Edition

Clashing Habitats

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As the Vermont’s moose population increases, so does the number of plants they eat, and the amount of space they need. The number of black bears and deer are also up, and wolves may be poised to return to Vermont any day. How will the arrival of a new predator affect other animals? We explore these issues with Vermont naturalist Sue Morse.
VPR News

Judge says outburts won’t be tolerated

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Recalling a courtroom melee that broke out at a murder suspect’s arraignment, a judge warned the man’s relatives and others that she won’t tolerate outbursts.
VPR News

Vermont Women’s Fund honors outstanding women

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The Vermont Women’s Fund was created ten years ago to help support the needs of women and girls through grants to organizations that provide assistance to them. But just giving out money doesn’t guarantee results; so each year the Vermont Women’s Fund presents the Holly D. Miller awards for women or girls who have used the opportunities to transform their lives.
VPR News

State commisssion adds local voice to free trade debate

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A state commission wants to hear from Vermonters about the opportunities – and potential perils – posed by free trade agreements. One concern is that international trade tribunals could override Vermont laws that protect agriculture and the environment. VPR’s John Dillon reports:
Commentary Series

Pup Generation

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Commentator Helen Labun Jordan has been watching for cultural trends that define her generation. . . and she thinks that a recent one will be good for young people in Vermont.
VPR News

Landlord, painters faulted on lead paint

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Attorney General William Sorrell says a Newport couple who own rental properties will spend $150,000 to mitigate lead paint problems in their properties and make an additional $15,000 in payments to housing programs and the state.
VPR News

New Hampshire utility lines up behind FairPoint in Verizon deal

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New Hampshire’s largest electric company is supporting FairPoint Communications’ bid to take over Verizon’s land telephone lines in Vermont and two other states. Public Service Company of New Hampshire and FairPoint have reached an agreement to work together to manage utility poles and on other issues of mutual interest.
VPR News

VPR Evening News October 10th, 2007

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International Paper says it’s still looking at the possibility of burning tires for fuel at its Ticonderoga plant; Senator Patrick Leahy chairs a Judiciary Committee hearing in Newport, focusing on border issues; New Hampshire’s largest electric company is supporting FairPoint Communication’s bid to take over Verizon’s land telephone lines in northern New England; A Vermont poet has been named a National Book Awardvfinalist; and commentator Allen Gilbert on the future of the news business.
VPR News

Ellen Bryant Voigt named a National Book Award finalist in poetry

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A Vermont poet has been named a National Book Award finalist. Ellen Bryant Voigt was nominated for her collection titled "Messenger: New and Selected Poems, 1976- 2006". It includes poems from six of her books, as well as some new pieces. Voigt’s work has appeared in The New Yorker, The Atlantic and other publications, as well as many literary journals. She was also named a finalist for the National Book Award in 2002.
VPR News
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Leahy holds hearing on border issues

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The Department of Homeland Security says it’s trying to make borders more secure with its “Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative”. But to many Vermonters and Canadians, the new law stands for daily headaches and long-term worries. Today in Newport, Senator Patrick Leahy chaired a Judiciary Committee hearing on the issue.
Commentary Series

Enhanced

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Homeland Security Director Michael Chertoff came to Burlington recently, to tout a new form of identification known as the “enhanced driver’s license.” Chertoff’s visit inspired commentator Philip Baruth to imagine what it would be like to be among the first to receive one of the new licenses.
Vermont Edition

Revisiting Acid Rain

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One of the nation’s biggest coal-fired plants has settled a lengthy lawsuit over acid rain. The state of Vermont was one of the plaintiffs in the case. We look at the toll – and the lessons from the settlement. And, we examine the science behind acid rain, and why it’s not talked about much anymore.
Classical Music with Joe Goetz

Shostakovich and the October Revolution

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This month marks the 90th anniversary of the October Revolution. One of the most important figures of that era was Dimitri Shostakovich. This week VPR Classical is featuring some of his symphonies. Today it is Shostakovich’s Symphony #7, dedicated to the citizens of Leningrad as they were being surrounded and killed by the thousands by Nazi invaders. Find out more as we listen to this symphony today at 2:30.
VPR News

Feds questioning Brown sympathizers

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_ Federal marshals are interviewing people around New Hampshire and the rest of the country as they search for anyone suspected of plotting violence in retaliation for the arrests of tax evaders Ed and Elaine Brown.
VPR News
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A Burmese student speaks out in favor of democracy

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At Middlebury College, Htar Htar Yu is trying to find out what’s happening in Burma, because that’s where she’s from. It’s the place where her parents, living in the remote jungle regions of the nation, joined a democracy group opposed to the military, and where they sought refuge with a similar faction when the junta came for them.
VPR News
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Welch supports effort to block additional funding for war

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Congressman Peter Welch says he supports a new effort to block additional funding for the Iraq war until President Bush sets a timetable for the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops. Welch says the bill may offer the best opportunity for opponents of the war to influence the policies of the Bush Administration. VPR’s Bob Kinzel reports.
VPR News

Officials pleased with early Catamount Health applications

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Officials say they’re pleased with the early results of an outreach effort aimed at getting Vermonters health coverage. The idea behind the marketing and education campaign is to reach people who don’t know that they may qualify for a state health plan, and then steer them to the right program. VPR’s John Dillon reports:
VPR News

VPR Evening News October 9th, 2007

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An Ohio-based power company which has settled a lawsuit funded research at UVM which demonstrated that the company contributed to acid rain in Vermont and the Northeast; An environmental lawyer working to reorganize the Agency of Natural Resources will be the next commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation; The director of Vermont’s Office of Health Access says the president’s S-Chip veto won’t affect children here as much as it may in other states; Proponents of biodiesel gather for a conference in Burlington tomorrow; and commentator Bill Schubart shares the comments of a bovine friend.
VPR News
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Ohio power company funded UVM acid rain research

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An Ohio company has agreed to spend four-point-six billion dollars to clean up emissions from its power plants. As VPR’s Ross Sneyd reports, American Electric helped fund groundbreaking research at the University of Vermont that demonstrated the company’s emissions contributed to acid rain in Vermont and the Northeast.
Commentary Series

Belle Galloway

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Today, commentator Bill Schubart shares with us the comments of his bovine friend Belle Galloway, a long time activist in the dairy industry and a bovine model for pastoral images of Vermont.
Vermont Edition

Vermont’s Biodiesel Future

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The use of biofuels is growing in Vermont. Some experts now say biodiesel could eventually supply up to a quarter of the state’s liquid fuel needs. The biodiesel industry could also be a source of jobs in Vermont, and it could be a boon to farmers – a few of whom are already growing biofuel crops to power their tractors and feed their livestock. We discuss the pros and cons of biodiesel and Vermont’s efforts to develop this potential fuel source.
VPR News

Williston workers vote to strike

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Some 113 workers at a Williston manufacturing plant have voted to strike when their contract expires on Sunday. Leaders with the International Aerospace Machinists union say the company wants to triple workers’ health-care co-pays without a corresponding increase in wages.
VPR News
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Vermont resorts focused on “green skiing”

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Vermont ski resorts are hoping cold weather is on its way as they look beyond fall foliage to the start of winter. But they also know that global climate change could threaten their industry. So, as VPR’s Ross Sneyd reports, they’re trying to do reduce their own greenhouse gas emissions.
Commentary Series

Cunningham premiere

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Commentator Jay Craven brought the Merce Cunningham Dance Company to Lyndon twenty two years ago – and he’s glad to see that the legendary master still going strong today.
VPR News
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Company to pay billions to reduce pollution

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One of the nation’s largest power generators has agreed to end a years-long federal lawsuit by paying $4.6 billion to reduce pollution that has eaten away at Northeast mountain ranges and national landmarks.
VPR News

Burlington police investigate racist graffiti

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Vandals spray-painted a swastika and other racist messages around the entrance to the city’s middle school, but maintenance staff were able to clean it up before classes started Monday.
VPR News

VPR Evening News October 8th, 2007

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A new report says most elements of the Vermont economy performed strongly during the first quarter of the new fiscal year; Warm weather, beautiful foliage and a three-day weekend added up to big business this weekend; A new state authority says Vermont can meet the goal of bringing broadband to all Vermonters in just over three years; New CEO appointed at Champlain Housing Trust; Rutland gets ready for a year-round Farmer’s Market.
Vermont Edition

Rural Broadband Access

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High speed internet access doesn’t reach many rural areas of Vermont. In those spots, people still rely on slow and unreliable dial-up service. But now some small towns are banding together and finding ways to provide broadband services. We talk with some of the leaders of these grassroots efforts, and explore the challenges of bringing broadband statewide.
VPR News

Year-round farmer’s market opening in Rutland

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Most summer Saturdays, Rutland’s Depot Park is filled with shoppers buying fresh vegetables, flowers, baked goods and other locally produced odds and ends. The popular farmers’ market traditionally shuts down during the winter. But, as VPR’s Nina Keck reports, renovations are nearly complete on a new indoor market that will be open year-round.
VPR News

Mount Snow drops reservoir plan

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Mount Snow is giving up on a $10 million plan to build an elaborate snowmaking system using water from Somerset Reservoir and instead will build a snowmaking pond fed by the Deerfield River, officials said.
VPR News

Chittenden Reservoir clean-up attracts a crowd

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About 200 people paddled and hiked the shoreline of Chittenden Reservoir Saturday taking part in Central Vermont Public Service’s annual clean up day. As VPR’s Nina Keck reports, unusually warm weather and brilliant fall foliage brought out locals and visitors alike.
Commentary Series

Dietary Laws

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Dizzy with all the choices she faced when deciding whether to eat organic, vegetarian or local, Commentator Deborah Luskin recently came up with her own set of dietary laws.
VPR News

Sanders faults administration statements on Costa Rica

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U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders is objecting to statements from the Bush administration about consequences for Costa Rica if its voters reject the Central American Free Trade Agreement. Voters in Costa Rica approved the CAFTA agreement yesterday.
Sunday Bach

Sunday Bach for October 7th, 2007

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Sunday Bach features an all-Bach line-up featuring new recordings, as well as complete choral works. On Sunday, October 7th, we’ll enjoy a complete performance of the Bach Magnificat, with the Monteverdi Choir and the English Baroque Soloists, led by John Eliot Gardiner.
Saturday Afternoon at the Opera

Mozart’s “Don Giovanni”

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An historic recording of Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” featuring Cesare Siepi, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Anton Dermota, Otto Edelmann, Elisabeth Grümmer, Erna Berger, and the Vienna Philharmonic conducted by Wilhelm Furtwängler.
Interlude

Mozart

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An all-Mozart program, including the Concerto for Flute and Harp and the C minor Piano Concerto with Robert Casadesus.
My Place with Joel Najman

More Of The #1 Hits Of 1966

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This is the first week of My Place With Joel Najman at it’s new time, 8-9PM on Saturday Night. Help spread the word so we can have all our My Place family on board. This week we continue our theme of the top pop hits of 1966 with a program titled, “More #1 Hits of 1966”. Featured is the most unusual biographical story of the man who wrote and recorded the top selling record of 1966, “The Ballad Of The Green Berets”.
VPR News

VPR Evening News October 5th, 2007

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The U.S. auto industry will appeal a federal judge’s ruling in Vermont that said states could regulate greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles; Senator Patrick Leahy says he’ll oppose the nomination of Attorney General designee Michael Mukasey if the nominee doesn’t disavow the torture policies developed by the Bush Administration; A California company wants to launch a new methadone treatment center in Berlin; Vermont’s plan to use small rail cars on its portion of the Amtrak Vermonter route may have hit a snag; Vermont sportsmen are going to help maintain and improve some of the state’s wildlife management areas; Hunters can expect to find big deer this season, and commentator Olin Robison on the conflict in Myanmar.
VPR News

US auto industry appeals Vermont ruling

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The U-S auto industry will appeal a federal judge’s ruling in Vermont that said states could regulate greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles.   The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers argues that federal law prohibits states from regulating fuel economy.  The industry says technology cannot be developed to meet the tough standards pushed by California, Vermont and other states. Automobile Alliance President Dave McCurdy says greenhouse gas emissions must be dealt with at the national level. Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell says the appeal was expected. But Sorrell says the court ruling was well reasoned and sound.
VPR News

Leahy wants answers from Mukasey

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Senator Patrick Leahy says he’ll oppose the nomination of Attorney General designee Michael Mukasey if the nominee doesn’t disavow the torture policies developed by the Bush Administration. Leahy says the White House has deceived the American people and Congress about the existence of these policies.
VPR News

Postcard from Montpelier, a crossroads for all

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Montpelier is known as one of Vermont’s great gathering places. As one person told us: "You can have bikers over here, guys in business suits over there, hippies on that side, jocks over here – and it’s totally fine and everyone is welcome as long as you get along."
VPR News

U.S. Marshal: Convicted tax evaders arrested

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The U.S. Marshals Service says a couple convicted of tax evasion were arrested peacefully at their Plainfield, New Hampshire home last night after holing up at the fortress-like compound for months.
Vermont Edition

Senator Patrick Leahy

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Senator Patrick Leahy joins Bob Kinzel Friday. They discuss confirmation hearings for Attorney General-designate Michael Mukasey, and take your calls. Also in the program, VPR’s John Dillon analyzes the big stories of the week’s news, and we continue our series of audio postcards from Vermont towns with a stop in Montpelier to get the locals’ view of the state capital.
VPR News

VPR Evening News October 4th, 2007

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The U.S. House has given its approval to legislation that’s expected to pump millions of dollars into small business projects in northern and rural Vermont; Governor Douglas is skeptical of legislation that would give Vermont a greater role in overseeing nuclear power plants; The Senate Judiciary Committee has passed a bill that would shield reporters from being forced to reveal their sources in federal court; Authorities are investigating an explosion and fire at the water treatment facility in Springfield; Quebec is committing one-point-three million dollars to keep farm pollution from flowing into the Mississquoi Bay of Lake Champlain; St. Michael’s College celebrates a day of peace with a pledge to St. Francis of Assissi, and commentator Edith Hunter explains cellar holes.
Commentary Series

A what? A Cellar Hole

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Here in Vermont, we’re surrounded by reminders of the generations that have lived here before us, and in the hustle of our daily lives it can be easy to pass them by without thinking, but commentator Edith Hunter believes that even the simplest of them shouldn’t be taken for granted.
VPR News

Audio Postcard: Stannard, Vt

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With a population of fewer than 200, Caledonia County’s smallest town is accustomed to being overlooked. VPR’s Steve Zind visited Stannard for our series on what makes Vermont towns unique, and filed this audio postcard.
Vermont Edition

Vermont Guard Status

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This week, the 131st Engineers came back to Vermont from their deployment in Iraq. We talk with Adjutant General Michael Dubie about the status of the Vermont Guard – its recruiting, retainment goals, and whether more deployments can be expected. And the spouse of Guard member tells us how her family readjusted after deployment.
VPR News

Teenage sisters charged with anti-gay hate crime

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A second St. Albans teenager is expected in court today to answer a hate crime charge that she and her sister allegedly spray painted anti-gay slogans and slashed the tires of vehicles belonging to two men joined in a civil union.
VPR News

Company to build plant in Claremont

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Earlier this week, people in Claremont, New Hampshire were told 70 jobs would be lost when one company leaves town. Today, there is word that at least 50 new jobs will be added when another company moves in.
VPR News

VPR Evening News October 3rd, 2007

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The director of the Vermont State Police is calling for a statewide discussion concerning the future mission of the force; Senator Bernie Sanders told federal nuclear regulators that the public lacks confidence in their oversight ability; The public defender who represents defendants in some of Vermont’s most high profile criminal cases is out of a job, and commentator Ron Krupp observes that Vermonters have deep roots when it comes to ‘eating local’.
VPR News

Sanders: Public lacks confidence in NRC oversight

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Senator Bernie Sanders told federal nuclear regulators today that the public lacks confidence in their ability to oversee the industry. But while Sanders questioned nuclear power, other Senators praised what they called a coming nuclear renaissance.
VPR News
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Vt State Police discuss their future mission

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The director of the Vermont State Police is calling for a statewide discussion concerning the future mission of the State Police. Col. James Baker says his force is having a difficult time dealing with a number of serious cases, because the troopers are being asked to respond to calls from towns that rely solely on the State Police for all their law enforcement needs.
VPR News

Audio Postcard: Rochester, Vt

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Our ongoing tour of Vermont towns takes us directly to the middle of the state: to the town of Rochester. "The Green” in the center of town is home to Sunday night concerts all summer long, but the town is alive with music and theater most of the year.
Vermont Edition

Families And Depression

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We check in on a long-term study of how depression affects families. Psychiatrist Gary Keller talks with us about the rates of children who suffer depression when their parents are clinically depressed.
Commentary Series

Vets Care

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Six months ago the Walter Reed scandal first made headlines, and commentator Bill Seamans is wondering if there’s been any improvement in the care of wounded veterans since then.
VPR News

UVM researchers to analyze lake data

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University of Vermont researchers hope they can learn some new lessons about Lake Champlain from some old work. As VPR’s Ross Sneyd reports, the scientists think high-speed computers can analyze previous data to solve the lake’s problems.
VPR News

VPR Evening News October 2nd, 2007

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Governor Douglas says Vermont may join a lawsuit to block the Bush administration from cutting funds for children’s health care programs; Vermont farmers may see more federal money to install environmental controls; The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee is heading to northern Vermont to get a sense of the problems along the Canadian border, and commentator Vic Henningsen reflects on a ritual he followed when one ofhis children was far away.
Commentary Series

Prayer Flags

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Those of us with children tend to worry about them, especially when they’re traveling. Commentator Vic Henningsen reflects on a ritual he followed when one of his children was far away.
VPR News

Shifting focus of the US farm bill

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As Congress debates a massive farm bill, lawmakers are under pressure to cut subsidy payments, and fund conservation programs instead. For Vermont farmers, that could mean more federal money to install new environmental controls.
VPR News

Audio Postcard from Peru, Vt

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Our ongoing tour of Vermont towns takes us today to Peru. Peru has just has 416 residents, according to the last census. It’s probably best known for the Bromley Mountain Ski Resort. Local Justice of the Peace Kermit Reilly tells us a little about himself and the town of Peru in this audio postcard.
Vermont Edition

Security and Convenience at the Border

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Heightened border security has led to long waits for travelers crossing from Canada into Vermont. And the situation is likely to worsen if a federal passport mandate goes into effect next summer. We talk with leaders who are emphasizing the the cultural and economic importance of U.S. – Canada relations. Also, the conclusion of our series, The China Project about the Vermont Youth Orchestra’s summer concert tour in China.
Commentary Series

Sputnik 50th

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Recently commentator Peter Gilbert was reminded of a time – not so very long ago – when anything having to do with “space” was still the stuff of science fiction.
VPR News

VPR Evening News October 1st, 2007

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Both of Vermont’s U.S. Senators say they’re concerned that the Bush Administration may be planning military actions against Iran; It may be a particularly good foliage season for businesses in Vermont; The Vermont ski industry is concerned that a change in federal law could resorts short of workers this winter; A former Vermont State Police trooper will serve time in jail after pleading no contest to charges that he assaulted a teenager; Construction is starting on the busiest section of Interstate 89; and commentator Olin Robison on what the outcome of the war in Iraq could to us, Iraq and Iran.
Commentary Series

Who benefits?

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Commentator Olin Robison has been thinking about the war in Iraq, and what the outcome may really mean in the long term – for us, for Iraq and especially for Iran.
VPR News

Leahy and Sanders against Iran resolution

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Both of Vermont’s U.S. senators say they’re concerned that the Bush Administration may be planning military actions against Iran. Senators Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders recently voted against a resolution that they believe may give the President the authority to go to war.
VPR News

Audio Postcard from Lyndonville, Vt

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Bag Balm, train rides and welded ‘junk art’ are a few of the things that distinguish the town of Lyndonville. VPR’s Charlotte Albright filed this audio postcard for our ongoing series on Vermont towns.
VPR Series and Specials

The China Project

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A group of young Vermont musicians traveled to China this summer and experienced the enormous and complex nation in a way the average tourist never could. In collaboration with the Young Writers Project, VPR hears the voices of those students in “The China Project.” Listen Monday and Tuesday during Vermont Edition on VPR.
Vermont Edition

New Supreme Court Session

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The U.S. Supreme Court begins a new session on Monday, and a few of the cases on its docket have Vermont ties. Vermont Law School professor Cheryl Hanna walks us through some of those cases. Also, the musicians of the Vermont Youth Orchestra take us along on their concert tour in China.
VPR News

Vermont faces large animal vet shortage

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If you own sheep, horses or cattle, you may have noticed that it takes longer to get medical help for your animals – if you can get emergency veterinary service at all. In Vermont and other rural parts of the country, there is a growing shortage of large animal doctors. Public health experts say it’s a problem that could impact all of us.
Sunday Bach

Sunday Bach for September 30th, 2007

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Sunday Bach features an all-Bach line-up with a focus on new recordings, as well as complete chorale works. Tune in Sunday, September 30th, to hear a brand-new recording of the Bach violin partitas and concertos. We’ll hear the famous “Chaconne” from the Partita Number 2 in D minor.
Interlude

David Oistrakh

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We hear violin concertos by Sibelius and Shostakovich performed by the Russian violinist David Oistrakh, who was born on September 30, 1908.
My Place with Joel Najman

The Number One Hits Of 1966

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The 1960’s were the first full decade of the Rock & Roll era in contemporary popular music. On Joel Najman’s “My Place” program, we look at some of the 27 records that topped Billboard’s Hot 100 popularity charts that year.
VPR News

Renewed interest in animal power

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The image of the farmer or logger working with horses or oxen is part of American frontier lore. The tradition today not only survives, there’s a renewed interest in it. This weekend at the Tunbridge Fairgrounds enthusiasts will gather to swap stories, exchange information and reflect on why they rely on four-legged power to get the job done.
VPR News

VPR Evening News September 28th 2007

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Debating the statewide property tax; Vermont’s two largest power companies say they need to be able to change their rates when their own costs for electricity rise or fall; The federal Department of Homeland Security is creating 300 new jobs in Vermont; A new research initiative that’s focused on Lake Champlain and its tributaries has been awarded a six-point-seven million dollar grant; Members of the U.S. House are asking the FCC to review the proposed sale of Verizon’s telephone land lines in the three states; Enthusiasts of four-legged power gather this weekend at the Tunbridge Fairgrounds; and commentator Frank Bryan on the end of September being a time for reflection.
VPR News

Debate: Income Tax or Property Tax?

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Advocates of changing the way Vermont pays for education say an income tax would be fairer than the statewide property tax. But opponents say the proposal would put too much burden on Vermont’s income tax.
Commentary Series

September’s Gift

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For commentator Frank Bryan, the end of September is a time for reflection, memories and just a touch of nostalgia.
VPR News

Voices from the week’s news

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Border crossings and economic predictions were only some of the stories that caught our attention this week. Police said that drug-related crime was up, Dartmouth College hosted a national presidential debate and health officials heard from Burlington residents who believe water additives are making them sick.
Vermont Edition

Property Tax or Income tax?

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The complexity and frustration over Vermont’s property taxes has prompted some people to wonder if there isn’t a better way to fund schools in the state. Bob Kinzel’s guests are Tax Commissioner Tom Pelham and Rep. Bud Otterman.
Live Fridays at Noon (vpr.net exclusive)

Michael McDermott, Live in Concert

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For more than 15 years, Chicago-born musician Michael McDermott has been writing and recording smart, personal, relatable rock ‘n’ roll music for a national audience. Hear the singer-songwriter perform a concert from WXPN and World Café Live in Philadelphia on Friday at noon ET on VPR.net.
Commentary Series

In the Clouds

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A recent hike to the top of Mount Washington, rewarded commentator Willem Lange with lots of clouds, a few quick views and coffee at the Summit House.
Jazz with George Thomas

Birthday: Bud Powell-1924

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Bop pianist Bud Powell’s birthday, mostly set in Europe. New releases include tributes, Herbie Hancock’s to Joni Mitchell, Cyrus Plays Elvis and vocalist Roberta Gambarini’s duet with Hank Jones.
VPR News

Vermont gets a new website

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Vermont state government has a new look on the Internet. The re-designed web site also involves a new public-private funding model. The site developer is paid through a portion of the fees that people pay for some of the on-line government services.
VPR News

VPR Evening News September 27th 2007

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Congressman Peter Welch reacts to the Bush Administration’s S-Chip veto threat; The State of Vermont has a new website; Montpelier will raise residential property taxes by five-and-a-half percent; Two people in New Hampshire have been indicted for stealing money from relatives in nursing homes, and commentator Ruth Page is concerned that Canadian oil production methods are taking a toll on the environment.
VPR News

Welch says he’ll oppose president’s war funding

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Congressman Peter Welch says he’s appalled that the Bush Administration is threatening to veto legislation expanding children’s health care programs at the same time that it’s asking Congress to spend an additional 189 billion dollars for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Welch says he’ll definitely vote against the new funding request for the war.
Commentary Series

Ahmadinejad

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For the past few days America’s most infamous visitor has been the president of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. This morning, commentator Barrie Dunsmore has some thoughts on the Iranian leader and his reception.
VPR News
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Kerouac’s “On the Road” turns 50

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Jack Kerouac’s “On the Road” was published 50 years ago this month.It became a symbol of the Beat generation – spawning a social and cultural revolution. But it appears that Kerouac thought of himself as profoundly French-Canadian.
Vermont Edition

Catamount Health Plan

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After years of political wrangling, Vermont’s answer to covering the uninsured takes another step forward. Beginning Monday, October 1, qualified Vermonters can begin to register for Catamount Health. The state is spending state and federal funds of about $1.4 million to help market the plan. We look at the state’s efforts to reach 65,000 uninsured Vermonters, and we talk about who’s eligible, and how to sign up.
VPR News

Deal near on moving veterans clinic

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The Department of Veterans Affairs is near agreement on a plan to move its outpatient clinic for veterans from the Vermont Veterans Home to its own facility.
VPR News
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Dartmouth caught up in debate excitement

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Dartmouth College was the center of nationwide attention last night when eight Democratic presidential candidates met to debate. As VPR’s Steve Zind reports, many on the Ivy League campus were caught up in the excitement of the event — and the chance to see the candidates up close.
VPR News

VPR Evening News September 26th 2007

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Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff was in Vermont to approve “enhanced driver’s licenses”; Bob Kinzel explains what the new enhanced driver’s licenses look like, and how they work; Officials from the Centers for Disease Control hear from Vermonters about chloramine; Behind the scenes at the setup for tonight’s presidential debate at Dartmouth College; and commentator Howard Coffin was surprised by a World War II relic that appeared in the skies over Montpelier.
Commentary Series

Gilford’s Room

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The visit of a restored World War Two B-17 to the Montpelier area on a recent morning, reminded commentator Howard Coffin of a Vermonter who was lost in the air war over Europe.
VPR News

CDC officials hear complaints about chloramine

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Officials from the Centers for Disease control hear from Vermonters about skin irritation and other problems. The officials also plan to visit residents in their homes and may help the state design a study to look at the health impacts of chloramine.
VPR News
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Dartmouth prepares for debate

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Early this week a crew of technicians seemed to be moving at time lapse speed as they transformed Dartmouth’s Spaulding Auditorium overnight into a television set.
VPR News

Midday Newscast, September 26, 2007

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Brattleboro’s beleaguered town government has a new manager; Vermont Public Safety Commissioner Kerry Sleeper says an increase in serious crime over the past year has been alarming; persistent dry weather for the past two months has started to cause some problems; a boater from Vermont is safe after the Coast Guard rescued him and a companion from a homemade boat about one mile off the New Jersey shore.
Vermont Edition

Live from Dartmouth College

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Dartmouth College is humming with activity as students return to class and the Democratic presidential candidates hit the campus. On Wednesday night, students will be scrutinizing the candidates as they debate at the Hopkins Center on campus. Join Vermont Edition for a live broadcast from Dartmouth College, where we talk politics with students and learn how young people are sizing up the presidential race.
VPR News

Lack of rain causing farms, wells to dry out

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Warm, dry weather during the past couple of months has been great for anyone who spends time outdoors. But as VPR’s Ross Sneyd reports, farmers – and now at least one municipal water system – are wishing it would rain.
VPR News

Homeland Security chief in Vermont Wednesday

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Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff will be in Burlington today to discuss Vermont’s plans for enhanced driver’s licenses that could be used as identification to cross the Canadian border.
Jazz with George Thomas

Autumn Jazz

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Woody Herman, Sarah Vaughan, Stan Getz & Bill Charlap bring in Autumn and Betty Carter’s version of Moonlight In Vermont helps to set the tone for the season.
VPR News

VPR Evening News September 25th 2007

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Progressive Anthony Pollina is moving closer to becoming a candidate for Governor in 2008; Vermont students have outperformed their peers around the country in reading and math; Federal health experts will be in Vermont on Wednesday to hear concerns about chloramine; Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff will be in Vermont Wednesday to meet with Governor Jim Douglas; and commentator David Moats reflects on how seasons give definition to our lives.
VPR News

CDC Officials to Visit Vermont

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Federal health experts will be in Vermont on Wednesday to hear concerns about a water additive that some people say makes them sick. The officials from the U-S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were invited here by the state Health Department.
Commentary Series

Yankee Speak

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While the collapse of a water cooling tower at Vermont Yankee last month produced riveting news images, commentator Philip Baruth has been far more interested in the language arising from the event.
VPR News
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Pollina Closer to Running for Gov

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Progressive Anthony Pollina is moving closer to becoming a candidate for Governor in 2008. Pollina plans to hold a series of meetings around the state in mid October to gauge support for a gubernatorial bid. If there’s strong grassroots support – it’s likely that he’ll run.
VPR News
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Francois Clemmons still popular from “Mr. Rogers Neighboorhood”

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Middlebury College artist in residence Francois Clemmons played the role of Officer Clemmons on the popular television program, “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.” It has been on the air since 1968, and is now in reruns. VPR’s Jane Lindholm sat down with Clemmons in his Middlebury home and asked him to share some of his memories of being on the seminal PBS program.
VPR News

Midday Newscast, September 25, 2007

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Vermont students are better than average; two Vermont cities are working with other communities throughout New England to help control global climate change; Congressman Peter Welch says he hopes President Bush drops his opposition to expanding a national children’s health insurance program; the editor of the Brattleboro Reformer is joining the Douglas administration.
Commentary Series

Seasons

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Commentator David Moats has been thinking about how the seasons give definition to more than just the calendar year.
Vermont Edition

The Office of Lieutenant Governor

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For the second time, current Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie is looking at a job outside of state government. How important is the office of lieutenant governor? We talk with former Lieutenant Governor Madeleine Kunin about her experience, and talk with news analyst Chris Graff and State Archivist Gregory Sanford on how the job has changed over the years.
VPR News
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Kurien provides hope for Indian women

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A Catholic nun from Kerala, India is in Vermont today with a message of distress: Women in her native land – especially the poor – face constant abuse, and grave danger, at the hands of their spouses.
VPR News

VPR Evening News September 24th 2007

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Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie is under consideration for the top post at the Federal Aviation Administration; Former Vermont lawmaker John “Jack” Burgess has died at the age of 87; State officials say Vermont is entering the peak season for deer ticks; and commentator Ted Levin on how plastic bags affect the environment.
VPR News
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Lt. Gov Dubie Considered for Federal Post

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Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie is under consideration for the top post at the Federal Aviation Administration. The magazine Aviation Week reports that Dubie is one of the finalists for the position but Dubie has refused all requests to discuss the matter.
VPR News

Helping Children of Inmates

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With the prison population growing, more and more children are feeling the impact. It’s estimated that 10 million kids in America have one or both parents in some form of incarceration. As VPR’s Nina Keck reports, hundreds of social workers, therapists, educators and corrections personnel from all over Vermont met today in Killington to discuss what can be done to help.
VPR News
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Hawk watchers gather at Putney Mountain

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Putney Mountain is a sky- island of glacier-scrubbed bedrock that towers 1600 feet high with a view of the Connecticut River and Mount Monadnock to the East. To the West is the West River Valley, Bromley, Stratton and Mount Snow. It’s a relatively easy Sunday climb, kept open by a local conservation Alliance. In the fall it’s a magnet for migrating hawk s—and hawk watchers.
VPR News

Midday Newscast, September 24

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Former Lt. Governor John “Jack” Burgess has died;people spending time outdoors in Vermont this fall are being warned that this is also a peak season for deer ticks; Dan Davis says he intended to serve out his four-year term as Windham County state’s attorney when he was re-elected last year, but changes in state retirement benefits prompted him to reconsider; about 80 Vermont National Guard engineers are back in the United States after spending almost a year on the ground in Iraq.
Vermont Edition

Public Transportation

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Public transportation has always been a problem for residents of Vermont’s small towns and back roads, and the need for public transit is likely to become more acute as the population ages. We talk about new ideas for getting Vermonters where they need to go, and learn about an award-winning program that seems to be working for residents of the Champlain Islands.
Commentary Series

Paper or Plastic?

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Some of the choices we make every day may have unintended adverse consequences, and commentator Ted Levin says that one of them is at the end of the check-out counter.
VPR News

Flu vaccine plentiful this year

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A new strain of the flu is heading for Vermont this year, but health officials say supplies of vaccine to deal with it are plentiful.
VPR News

Former Guardsman sentenced

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A 21-year-old former Vermont National Guardsman from Winooski who served six months in one of the most dangerous cities in Iraq is going to jail for 60 days.
VPR News

Apple growers worried about harvest help

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Farm Credit Associations of New York, an organization of agricultural lenders, predicted that 900 New York farmers will go out of business in the next two years, representing a $195 million loss in production unless the federal government finds a way to let foreign workers in legally.
VPR News

N.H. turnpike system has no money for major repairs

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New Hampshire’s turnpike system has enough income through 2014 to cover expenses, but supporters say a proposed toll hike is essential to replacing ailing bridges and relieve congestion on the Seacoast.
Sunday Bach

Sunday Bach for September 23rd, 2007

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Today on the program we’ll enjoy a complete performance of the Goldberg Variations, with pianist Andrew Rangell. We’ll also hear a unique transcription of the chorale prelude, “Ach Gott und Herr”, with the Finckel Cello Quartet.
VPR News

New York man to lead Bellows Falls Police

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A veteran police chief from Cornwall, N.Y., will become the new leader of the village police department. The village trustees offered the job to Russell “Rusty” O’Dell.
Classical Music with Walter Parker

Live Performance: A Far Cry

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A Far Cry, Boston’s 16-member conductor-less string ensemble, and flutist Karen Kevra perform a live preview of their Capital City Concert in Montpelier on the 22nd, including a Flute Concerto by Quantz and the Serenade for Strings of Tchaikovsky.
VPR News

VPR Evening News September 21st, 2007

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Congressman Peter Welch says Congressional Democrats should maintain a tough stand against the Iraqi War policies of the Bush Administration; The Vermont National Guard says 250 members of the Air Guard are returning this weekend from the Middle East this weekend; Fletcher Allen Health Care applies for state permission to build an electronic health records system; The state will spend almost a million dollars to help low income people who were inadvertently cut from fuel assistance programs; Governor Douglas accuses Democratic legislative leaders of being out of the mainstream; Vermont’s Medicaid program will get an infusion of $530,000 as part of a national settlement with a prescription drug maker, and commentator Mary Barrosse Schwartz is planning to visit her local farmer’s market for Eat Local Day.
Live Fridays at Noon (vpr.net exclusive)

Live Performance: The A-Sides

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Expansive and poppy, The A-Sides’ sound is positively cheerful. From their classroom days at Drexel University in Philly to their studio experience with legendary Philadelphia producer Brian McTear, The A-Sides have brought their trademark silliness and sincerity with them wherever they go.
VPR News

Midday Newscast, September 21st, 2007

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The University of Vermont’s Transportation Center has focused its attention on how to improve public transportation in rural areas; the Vermont National Guard says 250 members of the Air Guard are returning this weekend from service in the Iraq war; the military is planning to make changes in the flight patterns used in northern New York by Air National Guard units based in Syracuse and Vermont; Vermont’s largest hospital says it’s ready to go electronic.
VPR News

Voices in the week’s news: Friday, September 21, 2007

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Wiretapping attorneys, political fundraising and hospital rates were only some of the stories that caught our attention this week. A college campus dealt with two assaults, California turned its eye to Vermont’s car emissions trial and some home owners felt the pinch of adjusted mortgage rates.
Vermont Edition

Congressman Peter Welch

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Congressman Peter Welch joins Bob Kinzel on the next Vermont Edition to talk about the Democrats’ inability to pass legislation to end the war in Iraq.
VPR News

Wilhelm gets help from students for his new novel

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Rutland novelist Doug Wilhelm writes books for young adults, and is known for his realistic portrayal of teens. In his last novel, three seventh graders use the internet to fight bullying. In his most recent book, Wilhelm tackles heroin abuse and sets his story in Rutland. As VPR’s Nina Keck reports, local middle schoolers helped the author develop the story.
VPR News

Canadian telemarketer pleads guilty

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A man from Montreal, Quebec has pleaded guilty in New Hampshire to conspiracy to commit wire fraud stemming from a telemarketing scheme originating in Canada and targeted toward U.S. citizens.
VPR News

Welch leads effort to get EPA turnabout

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Congressman Peter Welch says the Environmental Protection Agency has run out of excuses for their failure so far to allow states to regulate carbon dioxide emissions from vehicles.
VPR News

Canadian dollar on par with U.S.

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It’s becoming a better deal for Canadians to shop in the United States, thanks to the growing strength of that nation’s dollar as compared to the U.S. greenback.
VPR News

VPR Evening News September 20th, 2007

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The U.S. Senate gives its approval to a mental health parity bill, minus provisions that would have watered down key parts of Vermont’s existing parity law; State officials are encouraging Vermonters who have “advance directives” to put them in an online registry; Congressman Peter Welch is leading an effort to persuade the EPA to give Vermont, California and other states permission to regulate how much greenhouse gas carbon dioxide can be emitted by cars; State officials raise the number of Southern Vermont Correctional Facility prisoners affected with strep throat; and commentator Allen Gilbert says that changes in state law have made it difficult for schools to address bullying.
VPR News

Threat to Vt mental health law averted

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In Washington, the Senate has given its approval to a mental health parity law. There were strong concerns in Vermont that the initial draft of the bill would have watered down key parts of the state’s existing parity law, but the provisions were eliminated from the final version.
VPR News

Muslims celebrate Ramadan

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As Jews prepare for Yom Kippur this weekend, Muslims are well into the month-long celebration of Ramadan. It’s a special time of worship, contemplation and dawn-to-dusk fasting to commemorate when the prophet Mohammed received the Koran. VPR’s Susan Keese visited the Islamic Center in Colchester where Muslims from more than 30 different countries gather for Ramadan.
VPR News

Midday Newscast: September 20, 2007

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State officials are encouraging Vermonters who have “advance directives” to put them in an online registry; a student from Rutland has won a college scholarship for her ideas about kitchen technology of the future; one of the issues that will be debated in the federal farm bill this fall is a national tracking program designed to protect consumers from the spread of animal disease; an agency that advises Congress says the U.S. Department of Agriculture should figure out a way to integrate state programs to keep costs down and focus on animals that pose serious risks.
VPR News

Bennington County feels impact of doctor shortage

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There’s a doctor shortage in the United States. According to the Association of American Medical Colleges, one in three doctors is over age 55 and nearing retirement. So are millions of baby boomers. VPR examines the factors behind a doctor shortage at the Southwest Medical Center.
Vermont Edition

Physician Shortage In Vermont

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A physician shortage is causing problems in many parts of the state. We examine what’s being done to entice more doctors to practice in rural Vermont. And we look at how this month’s Jewish and Islamic holidays are being observed in Vermont.
VPR News

Farmers slow to sign up for animal ID program

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Vermont farmers have been slow to sign up for a federal tracking program that supporters say will help protect consumers from the spread of animal disease. Some farmers say they’re waiting for the government to get the program up to speed before they sign up.
VPR News

Catamount Health plan ready for rollout

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Enrollment begins in less than two weeks for a new state-sponsored health insurance plan. Advocates say they believe Catamount Health will be important for people who don’t currently have insurance.
VPR News

Evening Newscast: September 19, 2007

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The U.S. Senate has rejected a plan by Senator Patrick Leahy to allow military detainees to challenge their detention in federal court,Vermont’s Public Service Board says hospitals should be forced to live within budgets that grow no faster than the rate of inflation, Advocates launch a statewide awareness campaign for Catamount Health, and commentator Charlie Nardozzi with lawn care advice before the snow flies.
VPR News

Commission says hospital rates too high

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The commission that oversees hospital budgets in Vermont has proposed radical surgery to control health care costs. The commission says hospitals should be forced to live within budgets that grow no faster than the rate of inflation.
VPR News

Senate rejects detainee challenge plan

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The United States Senate has rejected a plan by Senator Patrick Leahy to allow military detainees to challenge their detention in federal court. Leahy says he’s concerned that Congress is legislating out of fear, and depriving some individuals of their basic legal rights.
VPR News

A Fall tour of the Statehouse

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Last fall we joined a group of tourists at the Statehouse and went along on a tour led by Jim Murray, one of the volunteer guides. With visitors arriving by the busload for early glimpses of fall foliage, it seems appropriate to take that tour once again.
VPR News

Midday Newscast: September 19, 2007

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Vermont state Treasurer Jeb Spaulding has joined an effort that would force companies to disclose the financial risks they face from global climate change; Vermonters will be able to sign up for a new state-sponsored health insurance plan in less than two weeks; a new disclosure is putting more pressure on the Public Service Board to continue investigating phone companies’ roles in passing customer information to the federal government; the state prison in Springfield has been locked down today.
Vermont Edition

Poverty In Vermont

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Last spring the Legislature passed a law instructing the state to cut childhood poverty in half over the next 10 years. The effort has brought together lawmakers, state agencies and non-profit groups to rethink how we deal with poverty in Vermont. We talk with some of the people behind this effort about the new approach they’re taking.
VPR News

Realtor executive charged with embezzlement

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The former part-time executive of the Lamoille Area Board of Realtors, is facing charges that she embezzled nearly 30-thousand-dollars from her employer in less than a year.
VPR News

Credit crisis starting to emerge in Vermont

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State officials fear that the national credit crisis is only starting to emerge in Vermont. They hope a new Federal Housing Administration program will help homeowners whose variable rate mortgages are suddenly more expensive.
VPR News

Foliage reports going high-tech

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Leaf peepers headed to northern New England this fall can keep up with the hues with cell phone alerts, e-mail and computerized maps that predict where the colors will be.
VPR News

Bradford feels “betrayed” by accused teacher

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Hundreds of people turned out at Oxbow Union High School for a somber community get-together of parents, school officials and police _ many of them stunned and feeling betrayed by a sixth-grade teacher accused of molesting one of his students.
VPR News

VPR Evening News September 18th, 2007

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A prominent Vermont lawyer who represents a prisoner at Guantanamo Bay,Cuba, is concerned that the federal government is tapping his phones, A new study concludes the price tag to repair the states roads and bridges is larger than previously projected, Governors are the country are concerned about federal funding for a children’s health insurance program that is due to run out by the end of the month, and Commentator Bill Shubart wonders if local lessons can be drawn from the exodus of Bush Administration officials.
VPR News

Road repair cost projection higher than anticipated

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According to a new study, the price tag to repair the state’s roads and bridges is larger than previously projected. The Douglas Administration says it can meet these needs without increasing the state’s transportation budget but several key lawmakers are skeptical about the Administration’s approach.
Commentary Series

Session on Emissions

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Last week, Federal District Court Judge William Sessions paved the way for Vermont to set higher automobile emission standards. Commentator Cheryl Hanna weighs in on that decision and what it might mean for Vermont’s future.
VPR News

Montpelier students continue river cleanup tradition

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A hardy group of 30 Montpelier High School students recently took to the Winooski River to haul out tires and in the process they also collected several bikes, a sleeping bag, assorted clothing, and even a Sony Playstation. Montpelier students have been cleaning up the river behind their school for more than 20 years. Producer Sarah Ashworth followed the students along the banks of the river and put together this audio postcard.
Commentary Series

Loyalist Politics

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The resignation of Alberto Gonzales is just the latest fallout from the administration in Washington, and commentator Bill Schubart wonders if there’s a lesson in it for those of us here at home.
VPR News

Midday Newscast, September 18th, 2007

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Governor Jim Douglas is making the rounds in Washington today; A new, federally backed program was unveiled in Burlington that may help Vermonters avoid foreclosure. A community forum addressing sexual assaults, takes place at Castleton State College; The state Board of Education recognizes Teacher of the Year.
Vermont Edition

Green College Campuses

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A number of Vermont Colleges have signed on to the national movement to reduce their net carbon emissions to zero in the coming decades. We’ll explore what that means, and ask some hard questions.
VPR News

Officials looking for head of Veterans’ Home

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Vermont state officials are looking for the former head of the state Veterans’ Home in Bennington who they say still owe Vermont nearly 20-thousand-dollars for overbilling travel and other expenses while he was commandant of the home.
VPR News

Castleton holds forum on sexual assaults

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Castleton State College is hosting a community forum today at noon to discuss two recent reports of sexual assault on campus. Local police have not identified any suspects and say there’s no evidence linking the incidents.
VPR News

Senator Leahy ready to expedite Attorney General confirmation process

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Senate Democratic leaders, including Leahy, have given a clear message that the nomination of former federal judge Michael Mukasey would be viewed in a relatively positive light. But Leahy has been trying unsuccessfully to persuade the White House to release critical information about the decision making process used on several controversial issues. Leahy says he needs this information before he can schedule a confirmation hearing for Judge Mukasey.
VPR News

Vermont’s auto emissions ruling could have impact in other states

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Vermont is one of thirteen states that has adopted California’s auto emission standards, which go beyond the federal requirements. Because a lawsuit against the standards has been delayed in California, Vermont became the first state to be tested in a suit filed by the auto industry asking that the regulations be struck down. In a ruling last week, federal court judge William Sessions declared the standards were legal. Now, A UCLA lawyer says when the California case does come to trial, it’s likely the evidence will be similar to what was presented in Vermont.
VPR News

Evening Newscast: September 17, 2007

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Senator Patrick Leahy is ready to expedite Attorney General confirmation process; Ruling upholding auto emission standards could have implications for other states; Senator Bernie Sanders says Congress is about to pass legislation that could provide a record level of funding for veterans; Suburban sprawl group changes their name; Filmmaker returns lake artifacts to museum. Commentator Henry Homeyer on preparing plants for winter.
VPR News

Interview: Catherine Tudish, “American Cream”

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Vermont author Catherine Tudish wrote her first book several years ago, a collection of short stories called Tenney’s Landing . The stories wove together the daily lives of people in a fictional Pennsylvania small town. Now, Tudish revisits Tenney’s Landing in her debut novel, “American Cream”.
VPR News

Society provides forum for poets

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For sixty years, the Poetry Society of Vermont has dedicated itself to what is found in poems. The society provides a forum for discussion and an outlet for publication of work by everyone from kitchen table poets to professional writers.
VPR News

Midday Newscast: September 17, 2007

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Senator Patrick Leahy is greeting the appointment of a new attorney general with some advice to the White House; President Bush announced today he’s appointing retired federal judge Michael Mukasey as attorney general; Transportation officials say a key bridge over southern Lake Champlain is aging and may need to be replaced in the next few years; a group that has raised awareness about suburban sprawl in Vermont is changing its name to reflect its changing mission.
Vermont Edition

Auto Emissions Ruling Implications

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Vermont’s victory against the auto industry could have big implications across the country. A federal judge ruled that the state can regulate emissions, and that auto companies have to meet its stricter standards. We take an in-depth look at the decision, and what happens next.
VPR News

Sprawl forum changes name

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A group that has raised awareness about suburban sprawl in Vermont is changing its name to reflect its changing mission.Since 1998, the Vermont Forum on Sprawl has focused on the causes and impacts of unchecked development patterns.
VPR News

Crown Point Bridge update, replacement eyed

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The Crown Point Bridge was pronounced safe after inspections over the past month or so. But the historic span over southern Lake Champlain was designed for another era. So Vermont and New York are trying to figure out whether it can be updated or whether it should be replaced.
VPR News

Williamstown under boil-water order

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Williamstown officials have asked residents to boil their drinking water, after elevated coliform levels were found in two successive samples taken from the municipal water system.
VPR News

Sex assaults worry Castleton campus

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Two reports of sexual assaults on the Castleton State College campus have prompted the Vermont school to increase security patrols and issue an alert urging students, faculty and staff to take extra precautions.
VPR News

Army Corps puts new roadblock in front of wind project

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A plan to build 16 wind-power turbines on a ridge line in the northeastern Vermont town of Sheffield, approved by the state Public Service Board last month, has run into a new roadblock from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
VPR News

Smokestack demolition injures seven

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Police in Berlin, NH say it’s unlikely any criminal charges will be filed in the smokestack demolition this weekend that injured seven people.
VPR News

‘Organized, disciplined’ crack dealer sentenced

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She was organized, disciplined and, unusual for a drug dealer, didn’t use the drug herself. Authorities say those attributes helped a St. Albans woman become one of Vermont’s biggest crack cocaine dealers ever.
Commentary Series

Iraq Report

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This was the week that for many months had been touted by the White House as the time when America’s Iraq policy would be critiqued and clarified by the military and political experts on the ground. This morning, commentator Barrie Dunsmore offers his assessment.
VPR News

Environmental groups plan Montreal utility protests

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Office workers in Montreal may see an unusual sight today in the city’s downtown. Environmental groups plan to string a huge clothesline around the headquarters of Hydro-Quebec. It’s part of a new round of protests against the provincial utility’s plans to build new power projects in northern Quebec.
VPR News

VT Democrats Unhappy With New Washington Lobbyist

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Vermont has a new Washington lobbyist and some Democrats aren’t happy about it. The chairman of the state party says there was no competitive bidding for the work and there should have been. But the governor’s administration says someone with experience was needed quickly to protect Vermont’s interests in the capital.
VPR News

Midday Newscast, September 13th, 2007

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The NEA, Vermont’s teachers’ union, says it will mount a campaign this fall to overturn a new education funding law; Vermont Democrats want to know why Governor Jim Douglas hired a Washington lobbyist without putting the job out to bid; a prosecutor won’t drop criminal charges against students accused of stealing exams at Hanover High School.
Vermont Edition

Keeping Older Workers Happy on the Job

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Vermont’s aging population is creating new dynamics in the workplace, with people working well past retirement age. We talk with Vermont companies that offer innovative programs to keep older workers happy on the job.
VPR News

NEA plans campaign against two-vote budget law

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The Vermont NEA, the state’s teachers union, is planning to wage an aggressive campaign this fall to overturn a new law that calls for two votes on education budgets in higher spending towns. Supporters of the law say they’re surprised and dismayed by the group’s actions.
Commentary Series

Wind Storm Neighbors

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A summer storm can do considerable damage, but commentator Chris Wren discovered that cleaning up afterwards can have unexpected benefits.
VPR News

Creemee season coming to a close

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As summer comes to a close, so too will creemee stands around the state. Though a few places serve the swirls of soft ice cream year round, most operate only during the warm months. Creemees seem to be a Vermont peculiarity, in name at least. You’re not likely to find a creemee stand anywhere but in our state. Producer Sarah Ashworth, recently took a drive through central Vermont looking for the last creemees of the season.
VPR News

Taxi strike brings back memories for shuttle driver

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Last week’s two-day strike by New York City cab drivers brought back memories for Margaret Jackson of Shelburne.She spent two decades driving cab in New York and went through one cabbie strike. For the past 15 years, she’s driven shuttle buses on the University of Vermont campus. Recently, VPR’s Ross Sneyd hopped on the bus and heard her story between bus stops.
VPR News

Burlington promotional slogan returns

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The Burlington region has been rechristened The West Coast of New England. A new tourism marketing initiative that was launched today hopes to capitalize on the sparkling waters of Lake Champlain.
VPR News

Interview: John Gregg on Darmouth College Board of Trustees

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Steeped in tradition, Dartmouth College is now struggling with change. The small, Ivy League liberal arts school in Hanover, New Hampshire was founded in 1769, and one of its hallmarks has always been a high level of alumni involvement.That involvement has been at the center of a recent storm of controversy about the make-up of the college’s board of trustees.
Vermont Edition

DNA Backlog

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More than 2,500 DNA samples are sitting in Vermont’s Forensics Lab in Waterbury, waiting to be tested. We take a closer look at how two new federal grants could help the state unclog its backlog, and we explore some of the legal issues surrounding DNA.
Commentary Series

World citizens

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With America’s image in sharp decline abroad, commentator John Fox was encouraged to see the Vermont House pass a resolution in its last session. He thinks it could help Vermont become a leader in meeting the critical need for global citizens in our post-nine-eleven world.
Commentary Series

Gandhi and 9/11

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On September 11, 1906, a young lawyer named Mohandas K. Gandhi introduced his concept of non-violent resistance in Johannesburg, South Africa. One hundred and one years later, commentator Peter Gilbert considers whether or not it’s still relevant in today’s post-9/11 world.
Commentary Series

Need for Global Citizens

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With America’s image in sharp decline abroad, commentator John Fox was encouraged to see the Vermont House pass a resolution in its last session that – if backed by real action and investment – could help Vermont become a leader in meeting the critical need for global citizens in our post-nine-eleven world.
VPR News

The sounds of citizenship

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For several years since 9-11, Vermont has honored the day with a special gesture: every year immigrants take an oath of allegiance and become naturalized citizens of the United States. Yesterday, 104 people became new citizens in ceremony at the Statehouse. Judge William Sessions told the people who packed the House chamber that the day is a reminder that our doors remain open to all who come here.
VPR News

Midday Newscast: September 11, 2007

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Congressman Peter Welch says he doesn’t see much change in Iraq policy, despite General David Petraeus’s plans to withdraw some of the extra troops sent there early this year; Green Mountain College in Poultney is being recognized for its dedication to sustainability; Vermont’s real estate industry has not been hit as hard by the crisis in sub-prime mortgages as other parts of the country have been; Burlington’s municipal telecommunications agency says it’s reaching a milestone today.
Vermont Edition

Teaching 9/11

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From The 2007 VPR Archive – Six years after the 9/11, the attacks are taking their place in history. We talk with teachers about how they present the facts of that day to their students and why there is no standard curriculum about 9/11.
VPR News

Teachers grapple with 9-11 lesson plan

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Six years after the attacks of September 11th, Vermont teachers are grappling with ways to tell students about the events. As VPR’s Steve Zind reports, approaches to teaching about 9-11 vary not just from school to school but from teacher to teacher.
VPR News

Lake Champlain cleanup to take 10 years

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It will take at least 10 years to clean up Lake Champlain.That’s according to a new plan from the Agency of Natural Resources that focuses attention on cutting pollution in the northern part of the lake. The ten-year time frame is a retreat from the state’s previous goal, which called for reaching pollution reduction targets by 2009.
VPR News

Leahy, Sanders will oppose future Iraq war funding

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Both of Vermont’s U.S. senators say they’ll oppose future funding for the Iraq war because the recent ‘Surge” of U.S. troops hasn’t achieved its basic goal of providing the framework for a political solution in Iraq. Senators Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders both say they’ll also support efforts to withdraw most troops within a year.
VPR News

A life changed after 9-11

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Sally Goodrich is a Bennington resident whose life was changed dramatically on September 11, 2001. Her son, Peter was in one of the planes that hit the World Trade Center. Since then her family has endured this and other tragedies. We asked her to write down some of her thoughts on the anniversary of September 11th.
Commentary Series

Organic apples

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Apples are a challenge to grow organically, but commentator Ron Krupp says that researchers are working hard to find ways to improve upon the process.
VPR News

Midday Newscast: September 10, 2007

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A little more than an hour ago, 104 people stood at the Statehouse and became new citizens of the United States; Senator Patrick Leahy is urging Congress to support legislation to delay new passport requirements to 2009; foresters and landowners from around the Northeast are focusing on global climate change at a meeting in Fairlee today and tomorrow; the Caledonian-Record newspaper in St. Johnsbury was burglarized over the weekend.
VPR News

Foresters gather to tackle climate change

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The warming of the earth could dramatically change the face of Northeast forests. Vermont’s signature sugar maples could begin to decline gradually crowded out by oaks and other species more common in the south. That’s the challenge for owners of timber stands and the foresters and loggers who manage them. As VPR’s Ross Sneyd reports, foresters view global warming as both an opportunity and a challenge.
Commentary Series

Romance Gap

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What’s your idea of a romantic get-away? Recently, commentator Deborah Luskin and her husband rekindled the spark – somewhat unexpectedly – on the Long Trail.
VPR News

Energy efficiency is major topic as realtors gather

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Vermont Realtors are getting together at their annual meeting this week, and a lot of the discussion is about energy efficient homes.As VPR’s Ross Sneyd reports, the real estate industry also hopes to capitalize on consumers’ interest in combating global climate change.
VPR News

Ways and Means Committee reviews privacy concerns

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The House Ways and Means Committee is reviewing privacy concerns associated with the state’s new property tax rebate and prebate system. Some lawmakers on the panel think this issue is being blown out of proportion for political purposes.
VPR News

The pig races return to the Vermont State Fair

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The 162nd Vermont State Fair closed its doors for another year last night. Fairgoers enjoyed ten days of near perfect weather in Rutland and made the most of it. Today, VPR’s Nina Keck looks back at one event that lures people back again and again: the pig races.
VPR News

Backstage: Beyond Therapy

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Romantic relationships can be complicated. And the psychology behind them has been a subject for comedy and tragedy. On the comedy side, Playwright Christopher Durang wrote Beyond Therapy as a funny, cynical, adult look at love and intimacy. VPR’s Neal Charnoff went Backstage with the Waterbury Festival Players production of this play.
VPR News

Voices in the week’s news: Friday, September 7, 2007

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In addition to FairPoint’s hearings, and the ongoing questions around Vermont Yankee, the news this week also brought debate about federal wiretap rules, expanded airline service in the Champlain Valley and concern about the lack of rain. Here’s a look back at some of the voices in the news this week:
VPR News

Federal inspectors look at VT Yankee cooling towers

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Federal inspectors are looking closely at Vermont Yankee’s cooling towers after one of the structures collapsed two weeks ago. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission wants to make sure that the problems that caused the collapse are not affecting one tower that’s used as part of the plant’s safety-related system.
VPR News

Democrats nix Pollina support

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Democratic Party chairman Ian Carleton says it’s unlikely that the party would support Progressive Anthony Pollina, if Pollina decides to run for Governor next year. Carleton says he’s confident that a strong Democratic candidate will emerge in the coming months.
VPR News

Midday Newscast: Semptember 7, 2007

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Vermont Lieutenant Governor Brian Dubie could be appointed administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration; more Vermont National Guard members are heading overseas; Montpelier residents and officials are welcoming a land conservation group’s plan to buy a tract of open land; the chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board is in Vermont promoting highway and boating safety.
VPR News

Leahy gains support for Freedom of Information Act update

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Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy has gotten more support for his proposal to strengthen the federal law that protects the public’s right-to-know. Over the weekend he reached an agreement with Republican Senate opponents. But the legislation still needs approval from the President.
Commentary Series

Pavarotti

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For Peter Fox Smith, opera has been a passion since childhood. Since 1977, he has been our own host of Saturday Afternoon at the Opera. And today, he is reflecting on the life and legacy of the great tenor, Lucianno Pavarotti.
VPR News

Conservation group to buy Montpelier land

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land conservation group has reached agreement to buy nearly 100 acres of scarce open land in Montpelier.The Trust for Public Land will preserve the bulk of the property, known as Sabin’s Pasture, and use some of it for housing.But it hasn’t been easy to reach that settlement.
VPR News

Pavarotti remembered

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For VPR’s Peter Fox Smith, opera has been a passion since childhood. Since 1977 he has been the host of Saturday Afternoon at the Opera. Today he remembers the great tenor Luciano Pavarotti.
VPR News

Sanders calls Democratic Iraq strategy a mistake

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Senator Bernie Sanders says he thinks Senate Democratic leaders are making a mistake with their new strategy on the Iraq war. In an effort to attract Republican votes, the Democrats are prepared to back legislation that doesn’t include specific troop withdrawal timetables.
VPR News

Scotland-based company eyes Vermont for wind turbine site

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An energy company based in Scotland wants state approval to put up 17 wind turbines on national forest land in southern Vermont.The proposal is the first to come before state regulators since a developer won permission last month to construct a large-scale wind project in the Northeast Kingdom.
Commentary Series

Two Photos

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Commentator Jay Craven hasn’t been able to stop thinking about two photographs he saw this summer – of children caught up in the violence of Afghanistan and Iraq.
VPR News

Midday Newscast: September 6, 2007

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Firefighters in northeastern Vermont are continuing to battle a stubborn brush fire that has been smoldering on a Waterford mountain for almost a week; new passenger service and amenities are coming to several airports in the region.Vermont’s Public Service Board is in the second day of hearings on whether FairPoint Communications should be allowed to buy Verizon’s telephone and broadband businesses in northern New England.
VPR News

Allegiant Air to begin flights out of Plattsburgh

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Allegiant Air will begin nonstop flights between Plattsburgh International Airport and Fort Lauderdale this fall. Officials in upstate New York say they’re excited to establish regular commercial flights out of the old Air Force base. As VPR’s Ross Sneyd reports, Plattsburgh is hoping to take advantage of its proximity to Montreal.
VPR News

Museum showcases the quirky, fascinating and puzzling

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t’s not easy to pigeonhole the Main Street Museum in downtown White River Junction. Quirky, fascinating, puzzling are all words that leap to mind as you stroll through its displays of found and donated items. But there is a method and a philosophy to the seeming randomness of the museum’s collection.
VPR News

State downplays Circ Highway report

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A highway planned for Chittenden County will not create more jobs, and could slow employment growth in some towns. That’s the finding of a new study that looks at the economic impact of the Circumferential Highway.
VPR News

Midday Newscast: September 5, 2007

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There’s debate about whether a highway through the Burlington suburbs would boost jobs or hinder economic development; how would you like be told that you’d be getting a brand new home, absolutely free? Law enforcement and fire officials are doubling the reward for information about a 1998 arson that killed a St. Johnsbury firefighter.
VPR News

Welch will work to defeat wiretapping law extension

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Congressman Peter Welch says he’ll work to defeat the extension of a new federal wiretapping law that was passed in late July. Welch says he’s disappointed that a number of Democrats caved in from pressure from the White House and supported the bill.
VPR News

Interview: Sue Montgomery, Desire Munyaneza trial

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A war crimes trial resumed in Montreal yesterday after a 3-month hiatus. The case centers around a man named Desire Munyaneza, accused of committing numerous atrocities during the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Sue Montgomery is a journalist who has been to Rwanda and is covering the trial for the Montreal Gazette. She spoke with VPR’s Mitch Wertlieb about the case.
Commentary Series

Colin Petraeus

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As the Surge Report deadline approaches, commentator Bill Seamans finds himself thinking as much about the messenger as he is about the message.
VPR News

Farmers not concerned over dry weather

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(Host) Late summer has been particularly dry in Vermont this year. Rainfall in August alone was two-and-a-half inches below normal. But as VPR’s Ross Sneyd reports, experts say there’s little reason for concern.
VPR News

Leahy not ready for confirmation hearings yet

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Congress returns to Washington today following its month long August recess. One of the major issues facing the Senate will be the confirmation of a new Attorney General. Senator Patrick Leahy, who chairs the Senate Judiciary committee, says he doesn’t want hold any confirmation hearings right now.
VPR News

Douglas stresses importance of private prebate information

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Governor Jim Douglas says it’s important for lawmakers to take steps to make certain that property tax prebate information is kept private. Douglas says one possibility would be to go back to the old system where homeowners received a check from the state. But some lawmakers have other ideas. VPR’s Bob Kinzel reports:
VPR News

Midday Newscast: September 4, 2007

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August is typically one of the rainiest months in Vermont. But not this year; the chairman of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee says he doesn’t plan any confirmation hearings on a new attorney general until he gets more answers from the Bush administration; a Middlebury College biology professor says three years of research have concluded the best way to control an invasive plant in Vermont ponds and lakes is an insect.
VPR News

Bennington native finishes quilt after 30 years

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A Bennington native who started embroidering a quilt that consists of the patterns of all 50 state’s flags has finally finished it 30 years later. Elizabeth Carbonaro, who lives in Inglewood, California, visited her sister in Bennington last week and brought the quilt with her.
VPR News

Springfield looks for “Simpsons” material home

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The doughnut statue, which now stands in the square in front of the Springfield Theater, was autographed by “Simpsons” creator Matt Groening and other dignitaries. But with cold weather on the way, officials are trying to find a permanent place for the statue.
VPR News

Weddings and High Drama

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If you’ve attended more than your share of weddings this summer, you can be forgiven for feeling a little burned out on ceremonies, receptions and gift giving. But VPR’s Tim Johnson just came back from a wedding that left him feeling completely …. smitten.
VPR News

Technology to target people owing back taxes

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State government is taking advantage of new technology to go after people who owe back taxes. The Department of Taxes has updated its computer system. Now, it can cross-check other government databases against its own to make sure people have paid what they owe the state.
VPR News

Midday Newscast: September 3, 2007

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A state official says the emergency shutdown of the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant last week was caused by a lack of grease in a bearing that’s part of a large motor-operated valve; two federal grants could help the Vermont Department of Public Safety clear a backlog of DNA samples from old criminal cases; a lading lawmaker is calling for a more uniform approach to domestic violence enforcement in Vermont; the city of Rutland is another step closer to moving its Recreation Department into an Army Reserve Center.
Commentary Series

The Ely War

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As we celebrate Labor Day, commentator Vic Henningsen invites us to consider an unusual connection between French literature and Vermont labor history.
VPR News

Midday Newscast: August 31, 2007

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Law enforcement authorities in the United States and Canada are searching for a car that tried to run down a U.S. Border Patrol agent yesterday in Alburg; Senator Bernie Sanders says he’s using Labor Day to focus on ways to boost the struggling middle class; Former Iowa Congressman Jim Nussle has been nominated by President Bush to be director of the Office of Management and Budget; State officials are promoting a program designed to encourage saving money for college; Vermont State Police say they’ll be working with their counterparts in neighboring New York and New Hampshire over this long holiday weekend.
VPR News

The sounds of Lake Monster baseball

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This week our producer Patti Daniels sat in the press box at Centennial Field with Dave Pepperman. He runs the sound board at Vermont Lake Monsters games, and he uses music and sound effects to keep the crowds excited:
Commentary Series

Back to school

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It’s back to school time, and commentator Olin Robison thinks we should expect to pay the bill.
VPR News

Midday Newscast: August 30, 2007

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Policy makers are looking to advance health care reform again; construction is slated to begin soon on Grafton Village Cheese Company’s new factory in Brattleboro; Senator Bernie Sanders is taking a top official from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection service to Vermont’s border with Quebec today; an earthquake rumbled overnight in the central Adirondacks.
VPR News

Few clear answers for Rutland financial situation

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There’s plenty of finger pointing but few clear cut answers when it comes to understanding Rutland City’s troubled financial situation. Recent audits have criticized antiquated record keeping and the lack of adequate checks and balances. Rising taxes and ballooning deficits have local residents worried. And there are different opinions as to whether the deficit is recent or has occurred over many years.
VPR News

Congressional delegation to oppose war allocation

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All 3 members of Vermont’s congressional delegation say they’ll strongly oppose President Bush’s plan to allocate another $50 billion for the war in Iraq. But there’s a growing recognition that there may be very little opponents of the war can do to block the additional funding.
Commentary Series

Gonzales

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This morning, commentator Barrie Dunsmore looks at this week’s resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and finds a troubling pattern in the current ways of Washington when it comes to telling the truth.
Commentary Series

Baked beans

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Many family reunions take place this time of year. Commentator Peter Gilbert tells us about some of the features that make his family’s reunion special.
VPR News

Guard members headed to Cuba

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Fourteen Vermont Air National Guard members are due to leave later this week for six months service at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
VPR News

Midday Newscast: August 29, 2007

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A key position has been filled in Vermont’s health care reform efforts; a new training program in the Upper Valley aims to help reinvigorate one of the region’s traditional industries; Governor Jim Douglas says he plans to fight proposed federal budget cuts in the special education program.
VPR News

Farmer fights state on

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A Northeast Kingdom farmer is fighting a state rule that he says unfairly restricts his business of raising elk and deer. But part of his business involves charging people a fee to shoot the animals. And the state is opposed to these kinds of “captive hunting” operations.
VPR News

VPR visits the “Samosa Man” zone

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Summertime gives us so many opportunities to eat outside – with farmer’s markets, fairs, outdoor concerts, community events. And at many of these outdoor gatherings across central Vermont, you’re likely to run into a food vendor who introduces himself as “Samosa Man.”
VPR News

Interview: Maggie Huggins, Tim Corcoran, Bennington town records

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A project underway in Bennington will bring records of old Vermont into the realm of the 21st century. Town records from Bennington have been preserved and are now being transcribed for viewing on the Internet. That task goes to Maggie Huggins and Bennington Town Clerk Tim Corcoran. They spoke with VPR’s Mitch Wertlieb and said the archives from this project reveal some of Vermont’s earliest history.
Commentary Series

Miranda

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Commentator Philip Baruth’s youngest daughter Miranda returned from an extended trip to Sweden about a week ago – and somewhere along the way, she had lost every word of English. And Philip isn’t entirely happy about it.
VPR News

Interview: Dick Saudek on NSA phone record lawsuit

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Here’s an update on a story about privacy and whether thousands of people around the country including Vermonters had their private phone records handed over to the National Security Agency as part of the Bush administration’s warrant-less surveillance program. Vermont and other states have sued to find out if private phone records were divulged by telecommunications companies like At&T and Verizon.
VPR News

Midday Newscast: August 28, 2007

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Two California dairy cooperatives have agreed to support a milk pricing plan developed by a grassroots farm group in Vermont; Central Vermont Public Service customers who lost their power after Saturday’s violent thunderstorms finally got their electricity restored at one o’clock this morning; Lawyers say the country’s national intelligence director has helped their efforts to find out whether private phone records were disclosed by telecommunications companies.
VPR News

Storms stretch arborists thin

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Central Vermont Public Service customers who lost their power after Saturday’s violent thunderstorms finally got their electricity restored at one o’clock this morning. This weekend’s wind storms were the latest in a string that has created lots of overtime for utility line workers. As VPR’s Nina Keck reports, local arborists have been stretched thin as well.
VPR News

Spoken word poet, Taylor Mali on teacher’s salaries

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Students across the state are heading back to school this week, but their teachers have been prepping classrooms and attending workshops for the past couple of weeks. In the midst of all the preparation, teachers at U-32 Middle and High school in East Montpelier were treated to a performance by spoken word poet Taylor Mali. Mali used to be a teacher himself, before taking up slam poetry.
VPR News

Douglas hopes to fight special education budget cuts

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Governor Jim Douglas says new proposed federal budget cuts in the special education program will have a devastating impact on children in Vermont who have special needs. The Governor says he hopes to rally a coalition of governors to actively fight these cuts.
Commentary Series

Burlington Airpor

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If you’ve traveled by commercial airline this summer, chances are you’ve experienced a flight delay. And commentator Tim McQuiston says that weather probably wasn’t the only factor.
VPR News

Interview: Susan Smallheer on Vermont Yankee union vote

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More than 150 unionized workers at the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant are set to vote today on whether to accept the latest contract deal worked out by union and plant negotiators. The vote was supposed to take place on Saturday, but Rutland Herald reporter Susan Smallheer says the vote was surprisingly cancelled. She spoke with VPR’s Mitch Wertlieb about the vote.
VPR News

Children of prison inmates gather at camp

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This month, a group of children gathered in Cabot to do all the things children do at a summer camp. Unlike most camps, however, the children at Camp Agape are bound together by a singular fact: they all have a parent who is or has been in prison.
VPR News

Midday Newscast: August 27, 2007

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Vermont’s two U.S. senators are welcoming the resignation of Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez; another round of strong thunderstorms kept Vermont utility crews busy through the weekend; Vermont state government is being recognized for doing a good job handling the food stamp program; State government says it wants to do a better job of coordinating downtown improvement with land-use planning.
VPR News

Interview: Doug O’Brien, Vermont Foodbank

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The Vermont Foodbank has a new chief executive officer. Doug O’Brien is a former senior executive with America’s Second Harvest, the umbrella network overseeing foodbanks across the country. O’Brien began his career in Washington as a member of the legislative staffs for Senator Patrick Leahy and Congressman Joseph Kennedy. He lives in Middlesex and spoke with VPR’s Neal Charnoff about the foodbank’s goals.
VPR News

Midday Newscast: August 24, 2007

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The threat of a strike is looming at the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant; two people with extensive backgrounds in communications technology and regulation will lead a new authority designed to get modern communications technology to every corner of the state; the hospital serving the Barre-Montpelier area has won approval for an expansion; a new tool has been added to the Appalachian Mountain Club’s web site allowing hikers to customize routes online through the White Mountains.
VPR News

Audit points to bioterror fund mishandling

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An audit of how Vermont spent federal bioterrorism grants says the state hospital association mishandled money and that the state Department of Health let the missteps occur.
VPR News

State Catholic schools grapple with declining enrollment

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As schools in Vermont prepare for the beginning of classes, one long time elementary school will not open next week. Sacred Heart School in Newport has been in operation for more than a century. As VPR’s Steve Zind reports, the state’s remaining Catholic schools are grappling with some of the same factors that led to the closing of Sacred Heart.
VPR News

Committee will meet to insure prebate/rebate privacy

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he House Ways and Means committee will meet next month to consider plans for ensuring that details about a homeowner’s prebate or rebate under Act 68 remains as private information. One plan would have the state collect all revenues from the statewide property tax but it’s likely that other proposals will be considered as well.
Commentary Series

Max Roach

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The recent death of drummer Max Roach brought back memories of hot nights and cool jazz for commentator Mike Martin.
VPR News

Interview: Christopher D’Elia, Vermont Bankers Associaton president

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This summer has seen a sharp rise in foreclosures in the subprime mortgage market. Subprime lending refers to the practice of making loans to borrowers who may have problems with their credit history, or are unable to show proof they can repay the loan. This subprime mortgage meltdown has led to a global financial crisis, involving declines in the stock market and the near bankruptcy of several mortgage lenders.
VPR News

Interview: Senator Bernie Sanders on Fox News war message

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They did it 4 years ago and now they’re doing it again. And while the countries involved have changed, the message is the same: The U.S. needs to get ready for war. That’s the message Senator Bernie Sanders says is being sent by the Fox News Network regarding Iran. He says it’s a similar war cry to the one Fox and many other news networks sounded in 2003 in the weeks and months leading up to the invasion of Iraq.
VPR News

Midday Newscast: August 23, 2007

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A commission exploring same-sex marriage is concluding its first meeting; Vermonters who need health insurance can begin enrolling in a new state program in a little more than a month; Vermont’s aging state parks are going to get a close look from the new Governor’s Commission on the Future of State Parks; former Vermont state poet and activist Grace Paley has died.
Commentary Series

Split Court

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With the start of a new school year, commentator Cheryl Hanna has been thinking about what, exactly, she ought to be teaching her students about Constitutional Law…
Commentary Series

Dragonfly afternoon

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A drowsy summer afternoon can be deceptive, according to commentator Ted Levin. He says that if you look beyond the quiet surface, it can be full of dramatic action.
VPR News

Midday Newscast: August 22, 2007

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No new talks have been scheduled yet between Vermont Yankee and its unionized workers; Senator Bernie Sanders is holding a press conference this hour with independent filmmaker Robert Greenwald; FairPoint Communications stockholders approved buying Verizon’s operations in northern New England this morning; Folk musician Rusty Jacobs, a founder of the Woods Tea Company died last week.
VPR News

Homeland Security willing to work on “enhanced” driver’s licenses

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Rules that are due to go into effect next year would require anyone entering the United States by land or by sea to present a passport. But most Vermonters don’t have a passport. So, Vermont has been urging the Department of Homeland Security to accept driver’s licenses, instead. And Homeland Security says it’s willing to work with the state to develop “enhanced” licenses.
VPR News

Coach can help you make or break an accent

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Ever wanted to put on a foreign accent? David Stern is your man. He’s coached Hollywood actors to sound like regional characters, and now the part-time Vermonter makes training tapes and cd’s for just about anyone who wants to sound like someone else.
VPR News

Leahy receives White House executive privilege letter

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Senator Patrick Leahy returned to Washington today in hopes the Bush Administration would meet the Judiciary Committee’s deadline for information on warrantless wiretapping.But Leahy returned to Washington only to find a letter.
VPR News

Midday Newscast: August 21, 2007

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Traffic deaths were up sharply in Vermont last year, but the percentage of them tied to drunken driving was down slightly; The Department of Homeland Security has agreed to work with Vermont to develop an enhanced driver’s license that can be used as identification at border crossings; a search is continuing for an 89-year-old woman who went missing while camping with family members in Williamstown; new federal money is helping senior citizens buy fresh fruit and vegetables at local farmers’ markets.senior funding
VPR News

Vermont Yankee goes to 40% power

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The Vermont Yankee nuclear plant was forced to reduce its power output by 60% today after staff at the Vernon reactor detected problems with one of its two cooling towers.
VPR News

Chainsaws and the supercell

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Last week a series of powerful thunderstorms ripped through Vermont. The Champlain Islands were among the hardest hit. The storm peeled back roofs, ruined corn crops and provided a few minutes of terror for VPR’s Tim Johnson. The storm is also forcing him to confront some more lingering fears, as he reports in this essay.
VPR News

Interview: Jack McDevitt on racial profiling

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People living in Vermont’s largest city will gather at the Unitarian Church this evening to hear about issues regarding racial profiling from one of the country’s leading researchers on the subject. The Greater Burlington Multicultural Resource Center invited Jack McDevitt to make the presentation. He’s been conducting research on racial profiling for more than 2 decades at Northeastern University, and is co-author of the book “Hates Crimes Revisited.”
VPR News

Interview: Governor Jim Douglas on S-chip funding

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The Bush administration has proposed new federal guidelines on the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, also known as S-Chip. In Vermont, S-chip funds help pay for the “Dr. Dynosaur” program, which covers children at up to 300% of the poverty level.The new proposal would restrict funding for S-chip to children below 250% of the federal poverty level. VPR’s Neal Charnoff asked Governor Jim Douglas for his reaction to the new S-chip guidelines.
Commentary Series

Mystery Solved

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Commentator Peter Gilbert tells of a mystery in his family that was resolved recently, after decades of doubt.
VPR News

Midday Report – August 20, 2007

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General Dynamics in Burlington receives an Army contract extension worth $107 million; Governor Jim Douglas opposes FairPoint Communications’ plan to buy Verizon’s telephone lines; union workers at Vermont Yankee mull over a contract settlement; the Health Department provides new doses of potassium iodide to people who live in the fallout zone near Vermont Yankee.
VPR News

PSB Verizon, FairPoint hearings to begin after Labor Day

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Just after Labor Day, the Public Service Board begins hearings on the sale of Verizon’s northern New England operations. FairPoint Communications of North Carolina has put together a $2.7 billion deal for the business. But the Public Service Board needs to decide if that’s in the public interest.
VPR News

VPR News Week in Review: August 17, 2007

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Even in the dog days of August, there’s news happening across the region. This week’s stories ranged from violent storms to state efforts to computerize medical records. There was also scrutiny of police use of Tasers and Senator Patrick Leahy’s reaction to the resignation of Presidential advisor Karl Rove. Here’s a look back at some of the voices in the week’s news:
VPR News

Midday Newscast: August 17, 2007

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Here are the top stories at the noon hour. It looks like that wasn’t a tornado that hit northwestern Vermont yesterday; Senator Bernie Sanders says it appears there aren’t enough customs and Border Patrol officers along the U.S. Canada border; Governor Jim Douglas says changes to the education property tax system aren’t working.
VPR News

Storm cleanup continues

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The cleanup continues today after a band of “super cell” thunderstorms roared through parts of Vermont, knocking out power and leaving a tangled mess of tree limbs, leaves and debris in their wake.
VPR News

Interview: Peter Van Keuren, Crown Point Bridge inspection

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f you’re taking the bridge that connects Crown Point, New York with Addison, Vermont today, you may want to give yourself a little extra time. The Crown Point Bridge is undergoing an inspection that started yesterday and continues today. Peter Van Keuren is New York’s Department of Transportation Public Information Coordinator. He spoke with VPR’s Mitch Wertlieb and says the span was scheduled for a check-up, but given recent events, there was an added urgency to getting one now.
Commentary Series

Clean water

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Recently, commentator Ruth Page was interested to learn that one of the world’s most powerful corporations is taking a leadership role in global water conservation.
VPR News

Midday Newscast: August 16, 2007

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Governor Jim Douglas launches a “listening tour; about 230 workers at the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant could go on strike if a new contract with the plant’s owners can’t be reached by midnight Sunday; in less than 2 months, thousands of children in Vermont and across the country could lose their health insurance coverage; more than 200 people have signed up for a forum about counterfeiting and piracy that federal authorities are presenting.
VPR News

Symington moves to diffuse property tax controversy

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House Speaker Gaye Symington is moving to diffuse a growing controversy surrounding the state’s property tax system. Symington is asking the House Ways and Means committee to determine if personal financial information from a new program should be made available to the public.
Commentary Series

Schadenfreude

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Commentator Bill Schubart has been thinking about a German word for which there is no cognate in the English language – and enjoying it…carefully.
Commentary Series

Killer instinct

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When it comes to getting rid of garden pests, commentator Henry Homeyer employs what you might call the Dirty Harry method – that is: up close and personal.
VPR News

Waiting for a summer blockbuster

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It’s the middle of the week and you might be thinking ahead to your weekend. Maybe you’ll check out what’s playing at the local movie theater. Maybe you’re waiting for the next blockbuster. We know one film buff who is. VPR’s Tim Johnson is already thinking about the movie he’ll see next summer.
VPR News

FEMA grants to help flood victims

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The Federal Emergency Management Agency is prepared to spend $3.6 million to help Vermont communities recover from damage and destruction caused by severe storms and flooding in April.
VPR News

Midday Newscast: August 15, 2007

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A St. Albans man is due in court today to answer charges that he shot and wounded another man following an early morning altercation; FairPoint Communications says it’s ready to answer criticisms of its bid to buy most of Verizon’s northern New England operations; opponents of the war in Iraq are trying to pressure Congress to bring U.S. troops home; Vermont State Police are already preparing for Labor Day with saturation patrols.
VPR News

Interview: Dr. James Battey, Stem cell lecture

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Scientists, researchers, and physicians have been gathering in Burlington this week to discuss the latest developments in stem cell research. The keynote lecture for this closed-door meeting of scientific minds was delivered last night by Dr. James Battey, Chairman of the National Institutes of Health’s Stem Cell Task Force.
VPR News

Interview: Steven Venti, Economic retirement study

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Steven Venti understands why a lot of Americans looking down the road to retirement are uneasy. The Professor of Economics at Dartmouth College knows that some analysts predict a kind of perfect economic storm as the large baby boomer population gets ready to retire.
VPR News

Wennberg leaving state government

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Environmental Conservation Commissioner Jeff Wennberg is leaving state government. Wennberg says he hasn’t landed a new job, but he’s that decided four-and-a-half years as the state’s top environmental regulator is long enough.
VPR News

Fungus spotted on some Vermont farms

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Rainy, humid weather earlier this summer created perfect conditions for a fungus to develop in some grains and grasses. Now, livestock eating some of those plants run the risk of getting sick.
Commentary Series

Oscar the Cat

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Every summer there’s an off-beat, whimsical story that catches people’s attention, says commentator Allen Gilbert. This summer it’s the story of a cat that seems to have special powers.
VPR News

Midday Newscast: August 14, 2007

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Senator Patrick Leahy is seeking a meeting with President Bush to resolve a showdown over the firing of U.S. attorneys. Vermont’s Health Department wants to prevent the spread of several diseases in the state’s schools; police are searching for a man who shot a 20-year-old Berkshire man early this morning in downtown St. Albans following an argument; eight clifftops around Vermont have been reopened to hikers.
VPR News

The Making of a Music Box

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The Porter Music Box Company in Randolph has been making music boxes for thirty years. You can wind these boxes up, and they play traditional tunes like Let Me Call you Sweetheart but they don’t look like any music box you might have had as a kid. These music boxes are enormous wooden cabinets. They can stand several feet tall, and cost upwards of $20,000. Former clock repairman Dwight Porter started the company. We asked him and manager Jim Sault to lead us through the making of a music box.
Commentary Series

IBM

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While commentator Tim McQuiston regrets the recent layoffs at IBM, he thinks other employment concerns around the state may be more pressing.
Commentary Series

Celebrity

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Lately, commentator Olin Robison has been thinking about a chicken and egg kind of thing – that is – whether the media simply reflects our fascination with celebrity – or feeds it.
VPR News

Vermont car sales better than the national trend

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Slumping sales that have hit the automobile industry nationally this summer haven’t been as big a problem in Vermont. The Vermont Automobile Dealers Association says things have picked up in the last couple of months following a sluggish start to 2007.
VPR News

Midday Newscast: August 13, 2007

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Senator Patrick Leahy says Karl Rove’s decision to step down at the end of this month doesn’t change Rove’s legal status with the Senate Judiciary committee; archaeologists delving into the history of the Lake Champlain shoreline are looking for some help from residents of Addison County; getting cell phone service in rural parts of New England may soon become more difficult and expensive; a hiking trail system in northern New Hampshire is gaining newfound popularity after warnings it might have to close.
VPR News

30 years of VPR

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Today is an historic day in the history of Vermont Public Radio: Thirty years ago VPR signed on the air from studios in Windsor. In three decades of broadcasting we’ve aired countless music and public affairs programs. We’ve heard from the far corners of the world, and from our neighbors down the road. We’ve witnessed historic events and documented the everyday rhythms of life in Vermont. Here’s just a sampling of 30 years of VPR broadcasts.
VPR News

State drafts new pollution run-off rules

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Under pressure from environmentalists and the federal government, Vermont has drafted new rules to limit pollution run-off from construction sites. The rules will close a loophole that allowed contractors to release storm water for limited periods of time.
VPR News

FCC wants to freeze wireless funding program budget

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Getting cell phone service in rural parts of New England may soon become more difficult and expensive. The Federal Communications Commission wants to freeze the budget for a program that provides funding for wireless communications in areas with low populations.
VPR News

Midday Report: August 10, 2007

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After an inspection on Monday, the state has reduced the maximum weight allowed on the Tenney Truss Bridge on Route 15-A in Morrisville; Former Governor Howard Dean brings the inner circle of the Democratic National Committee to Burlington this weekend for a strategy session; Vermont’s new buildings commissioner Gerry Myers says he’ll have a recommendation for the Legislature by this winter about where state offices should be located in Bennington; this week a new class of students began their four years of study at the UVM Medical School, including Alan Frascoia from Barre, who was a granite cutter in the family tradition until he chose medicine over stone; VPR’s Steve Delaney hosts his final Midday Report and begins retirement after 50 years in broadcasting.
VPR News

State review due on use of non-lethal force

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Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell says his office will undertake a statewide review of the use of non-lethal force including electronic stun guns by police in the wake of a pair of controversial incidents in Brattleboro.
VPR News

Weight limit curtailed on Morrisville bridge

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Alarmed by what they saw during an inspection yesterday, state engineers today announced that they’re curtailing the weight limit on a Lamoille River truss bridge in Morrisville.
VPR News

Interview: Howard Dean, Burlington, DNC meeting

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Former Governor Howard Dean is in Burlington this weekend for meetingswith the executive committee of the Democratic National Committee. As head of the DNC, Dean will be discussing issues ranging from voter protection in next year’s Presidential elections to the best strategies for Democrats winning back the White House.
VPR News

Humane Society hosts party for people and their pets

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No one knows exactly when humans started domesticating dogs. It remains a “bone” of contention among scientists. We do know that there are an estimated 65 million dogs owned by people in the United States alone. VPR’s Mitch Wertlieb recently attended an event that aims to drive that number up even higher–a party for people and their pets called Canines and Cocktails , held at the Chittenden County Humane Society.
Commentary Series

Ralph and Ethan

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Lately commentator Tom Slayton has been remembering author and historian Ralph Nading Hill and his determined search for the Burlington home of Ethan Allen.
VPR News

Midday Report: August 9, 2007

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The state is asking young Vermonters who went away to college, to think about coming home to work; it’s now easier for Vermonters getting food assistance, to shop at farmers’ markets; twice this week the Public Service Board has acted in a manner that’s in conflict with Governor Jim Douglas known positions on energy policy; the Montpelier City Council has scrapped a just-completed property value revision. Dozens of angry residents argued at a meeting last night that there was no rhyme or reason for the values assigned to their properties.
VPR News

State launching employment recruitment drive

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The Douglas Administration is launching a recruitment drive to entice young people back to Vermont to work in high-tech jobs. Douglas says the effort is designed to fight a disturbing demographic trend that makes Vermont the state with the second oldest population.
VPR News

Interview: Garrett Graff, YearlyKOS convention

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Here’s another indication that Presidential campaigns are paying closer attention to what goes on in cyberspace. Every major Democratic Presidential contender except Joe Biden attended the progressive bloggers YearlyKOS convention in Chicago last week. In contrast, not one candidate bothered going to the recent Democratic Leadership Council meeting in Tennessee. YearlyKos brings together what members call a Netroots community, who use the web to connect with non-partisan grassroots political action communities. Former Governor and current head of the DNC Howard Dean gave the keynote speech at YearlyKos, some 4 years after he used the Internet to burst on the scene as an early front runner for the 2004 Democratic Presidential nomination.Garrett Graff is editor-at-large for the Washingtonian Magazine and was at the convention. He spoke with VPR’s Mitch Wertlieb and says it revealed something very telling about today’s Democratic Party.
Commentary Series

Localvore leaders

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Each summer, groups around Vermont sponsor “challenges” where participants eat only local foods for a day, week or month. One recent challenge has commentator Helen Labun Jordan thinking about the importance of each individual experience.
Commentary Series

Robots

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Recenty, the Army announced that it will be sending 18 fully armed robots to the war zone in Iraq. For various reasons, commentator Philip Baruth is aghast.
VPR News

Midday Report: August 8, 2007

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Critics of the Vermont property tax are saying the prebate system may make taxpayers’ incomes public knowledge; for the second year in a row, there’s a severe shortage of blood supplies in northern New England; the Vermont Public Service Board has rejected the Douglas administration’s request to study setting up an all-fuels” efficiency program; Vermont’s first biodiesel mixing terminal is open
VPR News

Charges dropped against Colchester selectman

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Prosecutors have dropped a disorderly conduct charged lodged against a Colchester selectmen who was cited after allegedly berating a police officer who pulled over the car he was a passenger in.
VPR News

Jury seated in Viens trial

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A jury was seated today to hear the case of a young hunter who mistakenly shot a farmer sitting in his tractor.
VPR News

Red Cross in need of all blood types

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The Red Cross says it needs help. It has cut blood shipments to hospitals in Vermont and the rest of the region because of a critical shortage. The agency says it has less than a one-day blood supply available. Summer typically is a tough time for the Red Cross to collect blood, mainly because of vacations. But lately, the heat has also cut into donations.
VPR News

Midday Report: August 7, 2007

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Senator Leahy works to update the Federal Freedom of Information Act; the intriguingly named Captive Insurance industry convenes in Burlington this week; a new federal grant is going to help preserve some paintings and historic flags in a pair of Vermont collections.
VPR News

Chemical contaminant found in water flowing from quarry

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A chemical contaminant used in blasting has been found in water flowing from a quarry operated by the Omya Corporation in Pittsford. The chemical is perchlorate. Environmentalists say it’s been linked to a variety of health impacts. But an Omya official says the chemical has not been detected off the company’s property, and that more research will be done.
VPR News

Interview: Jackie Calder on Vermont’s Civil War flag collection

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The Vermont Historical Society hopes a new federal grant will help preserve a collection of Civil War flags and paintings. The collection has deteriorated so much in recent years that many of the items had to be removed from public view. Jackie Calder is the curator of the Vermont Historical Society. She spoke with VPR’s Mitch Wertlieb and says the flags, some of which were carried into battle during the Civil War, are physical remnants of Vermont’s past.
Commentary Series

Energy update

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Where do we stand now in Vermont, as the Governor’s Commission on Climate Change wraps up a year of analysis? Commentator Alan Betts says Vermont has many options.
Commentary Series

Shade plants

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A shady corner of the yard can be heaven on a hot day, but commentator Charlie Nardozzi says it can also be a landscaping challenge.
Commentary Series

Grow local

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Taking a temporary localvore pledge wasn’t enough for the family of commentator Mary Barrosse Schwartz. Their commitment to localism has inspired an updated version of the family farm.
VPR News

Interview: Jess Campisi, Venue Czar

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You finally got someone to answer that “bass player wanted” ad…you’ve rehearsed to the point where you can play every original and cover tune you know in your sleep, and now you want to get out there and play live. Or maybe you’re a club owner looking for that next great band to pack ‘em in on a Saturday night . Well, the folks at Venue Czar say they’ve got you both covered with a new computer program.
VPR News

Midday Report: August 6, 2007

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What did the state’s bridge inspectors learn in a weekend of looking for structural problems? And remembering a man who helped turn the Holocaust into a field of scholarly study.
VPR News

Sanders holds “Vermont Listening Sessions”

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Last week’s collapse of a bridge in Minneapolis has a lot of people wondering about what kind of shape the nation’s highways are in. Senator Bernie Sanders says he’s particularly interested in the condition of Vermont’s roads and bridges. But he also wants to know how good water and sewer systems are, as well as other public infrastructure.
VPR News

Raul Hilberg dies at 81

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Raul Hilberg became one of the world’s foremost scholars on Holocaust Studies during a 35-year career at the University of Vermont. Hilberg died over the weekend.
VPR News

Interview: Adele Kristiansson, Drowsy Driving

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Most of us have had the experience at one time or another driving late at night on a long road trip, your head starts to feel heavy, your eyelids flutter, and the next thing you know you’re snapping your head back as you suddenly realize you’ve nodded off and drifted into another lane, or have started to go off the road entirely. It’s drowsy driving, and it’s more common than you think Adele Kristiansson is the legislative affairs director for the national Road Safety Foundation. She spoke with VPR’s Mitch Wertlieb about the problem.
Weekend Edition

This I Believe: by Michelle Gardner-Quinn

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This I Believe features an essay written by slain UVM student Michelle Gardner-Quinn. Gardner-Quinn wrote the essay, “A Reverence for All Life”, for a class assignment two days before her death. It is read by one of her UVM professors, Cecilia Danks, and was featured during the recent “Live Earth” concert and broadcast on Weekend Edition Sunday, on August 5.
VPR News

Midday Report: August 3, 2007

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The state begins inspections on eight highway bridges similar in design to the one that failed this week in Minnesota; the bike ferry between Colchester and South Hero begins its seventh season this weekend; Congress is about to go on vacation for the rest of August, and there’s been something of a flurry of activity before the recess; five avid hunters are willing to pay a lot of money to try to bag a moose this fall.
VPR News

Corrections officials search for work camp site

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The state also is considering whether to convert an existing prison into a work camp, instead of building an entirely new one. Corrections Commissioner Rob Hofmann says four towns have expressed interest in hosting a new camp, but none has committed to it.
VPR News

Circ Highway environmental impact statement draft published

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(Host) Another step has been taken in the debate about whether to build a highway bypass through the Burlington suburbs. Today, a draft was published of the environmental impact statement that’s needed for the so-called Circumferential Highway. Governor Jim Douglas and business supporters want to build a section of that highway in Williston. A section in Essex is already open and would connect to the stretch in Williston. But the administration was required by federal court to do a full study of how the road would affect the environment, including exploring alternatives to building it at all. Deputy Transportation Secretary David Dill says today’s report analyzes those alternatives but doesn’t make a final recommendation. (Dill) “I don’t think there’s any surprises in there in terms of what alternatives are being identified, studied and analyzed. But we’re not to the place yet where we’re ready to pick the preferred one.” (Host) Opponents of the highway went to court to force the administration to conduct the full environmental study. Sandra Levine of the Conservation Law Foundation says she’s glad that a draft version is done. But she says she can’t evaluate the work until the state settles on the alternative it prefers. (Levine) “I’m hopeful that the preferred alternative will recognize opportunities other than building the Circ Highway, which remains a very expensive option to meet traffic and congestion concerns.” Copies of the draft environmental impact statement are available at libraries and at V-Trans offices in Montpelier and Williston. A meeting to discuss the alternatives is planned for September and the public will have until November to comment on them. A final decision isn’t expected until next year.
VPR News

Interview: Colonel Philip Murdock, Guard deployment

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About 200 Vermont Air National Guardsmen left this afternoon for deployment to the Middle East. A contingent of F-16 fighter planes from Vermont and the Indiana Air National Guard will be lending strategic support to Iraqi and American forces serving on the ground in Iraq. Colonel Philip Murdock of the Vermont Air National Guard spoke with Neal Charnoff about where they will be deployed.
VPR News

Interview: James Tabor, author “Forever on the Mountain”

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In the summer of 1967, a 12-man expedition started up Alaska’s Mt. Mckinley, the largest peak in North America. A terrible storm hit, and only five men returned. What happened on the mountain has remained a controversial mystery, clouded by conflicting memoir accounts, and National Park Service bureaucracy. Neal Charnoff speaks with Vermont author James Tabor, who spent three years investigating the Mt. Mckinley tragedy and its aftermath. He reports his findings in a new book, Forever On The Mountain.
VPR News

Septic system rules in limbo

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Vermont’s rules on new septic systems are in limbo, as the Douglas administration decides how to respond to a legislative committee’s concerns. One controversy centers on converting seasonal camps to year-round homes.
Commentary Series

Nobody here

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Today, as part of a continuing collaboration between VPR and the Young Writer’s Project, Colin Doherty of Williston recalls a dream in which he confronts the imagined death of someone he loves.
VPR News

Midday Report: August 2, 2007

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Nuclear regulators see no environmental reasons to deny Vermont Yankee a license extension, but they’re looking at safety issues; the state prepares for a massive study of its future energy requirements; construction is beginning again on the Bennington Bypass; the company that had been operating the Gilman paper mill along the Connecticut River in northeastern Vermont, has been ordered out of the building and an adjoining hydroelectric plant; police in Hanover, NH are investigating an alleged break-in and test-cheating scheme at Hanover High School.
VPR News

Brock accepts Salmon invitation to teach course

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(Host) Here’s a political story you might not expect to hear. After last year’s razor thin contest for state auditor you might think that Tom Salmon and Randy Brock would still be at arms length. But the former auditor, Brock, has accepted Salmon’s invitation to teach a course at an annual conference put on by the auditor’s office.
Commentary Series

Films and filmmakers

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Lately the news has been full of headlines about films and film makers. And commentator Jay Craven has been thinking about the interesting – and sometimes surprising – cultural influences that some of them share.
VPR News

Interview: Jeff Birnbaum

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The Institute for Lifelong Education at Dartmouth is asking a provocative question in their annual summer series: Is Congress any longer relevant? One of the speakers addressing that issue is Jeff Birnbaum. He writes frequently about Congress in his Washington Post column “On K Street”. He spoke with VPR’s Mitch Wertlieb and says Congress can do many things well, but there are currently forces at play keeping it from doing so.
VPR News

Midday Report: August 1, 2007

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Vermont’s fourteen hospitals are before a state review board today, asking for revenue increases that average 10%; a statehouse cook off kicks off Eat Local challenges around Vermont; a convoy hauling a monster electrical transformer continues creeping down Interstate 89 this afternoon; dozens of elected officials from cities across the country lobbied Congress this week for an end to the war in Iraq. police in Claremont, NH are accusing a former credit union teller of stealing $72 thousand.
VPR News

Methadone clinic expansion eyed

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A company that’s been operating a mobile methadone clinic in St. Johnsbury and Newport wants to expand to Danville and Berlin.
VPR News

Hospitals look to raise revenues

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Vermont’s hospitals want to raise revenues by $161 million – more than a 10% increase over last year. A state commission today began its annual review of hospital budgets. That commission learned that this year’s budget growth is the largest in several years.
Commentary Series

Tree huggers

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Lately, commentator Olin Robison has been giving quite a bit of thought to hopeless campaigns, unpopular causes and the people who dedicate their lives to them.
VPR News

Congress lobbied to end war

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Yesterday dozens of elected officials from cities across the country lobbied Congress for an end to the war in Iraq. Those lobbying included a Vermont state representative from Lincoln.
VPR News

The sounds of cheesemaking in North Pomfret

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At last year’s American Cheese Society conference, one of the first-prize winners was a cheese called “Tarentaise”. It’s made at Thistle Hill Farm in North Pomfret, by John and Janine Putnam. Everything the Putnams need to make their cheese is within walking distance of their 1800’s white farmhouse. Nestled within the deep hills are the dairy barn, the cheese house, cow pastures, and the farm’s working labor…in the form of their four children. VPR’s Sarah Ashworth visited the Putnams and takes us through a day of cheesemaking:
VPR News

Interview: Jeff Birnbaum – “Is Congress Relevant?”

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The Institute for Lifelong Education at Dartmouth is asking a provocative question in their annual summer series: Is Congress any longer relevant? One of the speakers addressing that issue is Jeff Birnbaum. He writes frequently about Congress in his Washington Post column "On K Street".
Commentary Series

No skiing

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The closing of a ski resort in the French Alps caught commentator Allen Gilbert’s attention recently, leading him to wonder – could it happen here?
VPR News

Latino Festival begins in Burlington

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Tuesday night is the kickoff to the thirteenth annual Vermont Latino Festival in Burlington. The festival features music, food tasting, films and dance lessons. Neal Charnoff spoke with Hector Cobeo, the chairman of the Latino Festival, about the events this week.
VPR News

Twelve Vermont towns to receive tax credits

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A dozen Vermont downtowns will receive a boost from the state. The Downtown Development Board allocated $1.6 million in tax credits to revitalize buildings in downtown and village centers. The tax credits will help renovated existing space into office, retail and affordable housing units. Governor Jim Douglas says the credits are not only promoting smart growth, but smart economic development. The Champlain Mill in Winooski received the largest credit totaling $480,000.
VPR News

IBM announces layoffs

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IBM Corporation has announced that it is laying off 90 workers at its Essex Junction plant.
VPR News

Midday Report: July 30, 2007

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IBM Corporation has announced that it is laying off 90 workers at its Essex Junction plant, in semiconductor manufacturing and support functions such as packing and testing; more…
Commentary Series

Camp cook

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Cooking at camp can be a challenge, whether it’s over a campfire or on a rudimentary stove. But commentator Marialisa Calta considers it all just part of the adventure.
Commentary Series

Vt & NH

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Commentator Willem Lange observes that New Hampshire and Vermont are both shaped like wedges, which brings him to the crucial question: is one of them is upside down?
Commentary Series

Public nudity

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Commentator Deborah Luskin has been following the controversy about public nudity in Brattleboro and has some thoughts on the subject.
Commentary Series

Family meal

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There aren’t many things more enjoyable than sharing a family meal. And commentator Vic Henningsen suggests we shouldn’t take them for granted.
VPR News

Vermonter’s journey to Bosnia a homecoming

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Amila Begovic fled her native Sarajevo when the city was under siege by the Yugoslav army twelve years ago. Now she is returning to Sarajevo. She spoke with VPR’s Susan Keese about her journey to Vermont and her future homecoming.
Commentary Series

LACE

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Quite a few organizations are working hard to make the connection between consumers and locally-produced foods these days. Recently commentator Ron Krupp visited one of the newest.
Commentary Series

Doe Camp

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Several times each year, the Vermont Outdoor Guide Association organizes Doe Camp – a three-day, outdoors skills camp for women. This year, commentator Helen Labun Jordan went for the first time.
Commentary Series

Poets and lawyers

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The upcoming public ceremony at the State House honoring Ruth Stone of Middlebury as Vermont’s new State Poet has commentator Peter Gilbert thinking about the relationship between poets and – of all people – lawyers.
VPR News

Interview: Matthew Dickerson, “From Homer to Harry Potter”

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Despite all the hub-bub surrounding the premier of “The Simpson’s Movie” in Springfield, there was no overshadowing the release over the weekend of the 7th and final book in the Harry Potter series.Matthew Dickerson is a professor of computer science at Middlebury College, and also an author so moved by the Harry Potter books that he wrote a book of his own about the young wizard called From Homer to Harry Potter: A Handbook on Myth and Fantasy.
Commentary Series

The Denbeauxes

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Once again we’ve heard calls to close the Guantanamo Bay Detention Center. And that has reminded commentator Willem Lange of the legal limbo of the Guantanamo prisoners.
VPR News

Springfield is ready for its close-up

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Just one week ago, Springfield Vermont won an on-line competition to host tomorrow’s “hometown premiere” of the new Simpson movie, catapulting the small town into the international spotlight, and touching off a frantic race to get ready for the big day.
Commentary Series

Weeding

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Commentator Deborah Luskin has gardened for many years but just lately she’s realized that what she likes best about it – is the part most people consider a chore.
VPR News

Leahy puts Judiciary Committe at front line of controversy

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Congress and the White House are facing a showdown over a fundamental constitutional question. The confrontation concerns the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches. And Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy has put the Senate Judiciary Committee at the front line of the controversy.
VPR Series and Specials

Patrick Leahy’s Increasing National Role

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From illegal wiretaps to the scandal over the political dismissal of U.S. Attorneys, Patrick Leahy has emerged as his party’s point person against the administration. For this speical two-part series, VPR’s Bob Kinzel traveled to Washington to look into Leahy’s new role.
Commentary Series

Things

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As he recently packed up to move, commentator Caleb Daniloff found himself contemplating the things we acquire over time – and what gets brought along and what’s left behind.
Commentary Series

Sicko

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Michael Moore’s new film “Sicko” may be his best yet, says commentator Allen Gilbert. But he wonders when change will finally come to the U.S. health care system.
Commentary Series

John Engels

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It’s been said that watching a trout rise to a well-cast fly on a Vermont stream is pure poetry. Poet John Engels thought so – and often wrote about it. Engels died recently, and commentator Tom Slayton has this appreciation.
Commentary Series

Theatre

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With a growing sense of unreality, commentator Bill Seamans thinks that the credibility gap – between events in Iraq and the administration’s public image efforts at home – is getting wider.
Commentary Series

Girth

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Recently commentator Bill Schubart adopted a new attitude about food, exercise and physical reality.
VPR News

Welch backs Iraq withdrawl plan

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Congressman Peter Welch says he’s backing an effort to increase pressure on Congressional Republicans to support a plan to withdraw most American troops from Iraq by next spring.
VPR News

Midday Report: July 12, 2007

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People in Barre are cleaning up today from flooding that hit the center of the city’s downtown business district in the past 24 hours, while communities across a swath of Orange, Washington and Caledonia counties also were hit with flooding; more…
VPR News

Roads reopen in Barre after major flooding

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Torrential rains pelted central Vermont last night, triggering flash flooding that washed out roads and inundated the city of Barre, where water ran up to six feet deep for a time.
Commentary Series

Veto session

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Lawmakers are back in Montpelier on Wednesday for a special veto session. Longtime political observer Chris Graff says the divisive rhetoric around the two vetoed bills are a disservice to the process:
Commentary Series

Veto session

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Yesterday, we heard some advice for legislators on the special veto-override session from commentator John McClaughry. Today we have another perspective from commentator Bill Shutkin.
VPR News

Global warming deadlock as veto session convenes

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Governor Jim Douglas and the Democratic legislature have failed to reach a compromise on global warming legislation. The deadlock means lawmakers will not consider alternative legislation when they convene Wednesday to consider the governor’s veto of the bill.
VPR News

Former Essex County Sheriff investigated

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The state is investigating a former Essex County sheriff who showered his employees with nearly $25,000 in Christmas bonuses as he left office at the turn of the year.
VPR News

Springfield, VT, named home of ‘The Simpsons’

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The southeastern Vermont community has been declared the winner among 14 communities of the same name nationwide that competed for the title of the official hometown of the Simpsons, of TV comedy fame.
VPR News

Midday Report – July 9, 2007

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State police have found a missing man in Huntington, but a search for another missing man continues in Stratton; the Legislature holds a veto session on Wednesday; schoolteachers are helping in archeological digs in the region; biologists have discovered a new invasive algae.
VPR News

Interview: Rachel Lawler, Death Penalty Protest

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January 17th of 2007 wasn’t just another day for Rachel Lawler. The Montpelier-based college student is a founding member of Vermonters Against the Death Penalty. She was arrested that day with other demonstrators and later convicted for protesting Capital Punishment on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington.
VPR News

Schoolteachers to help on archeological dig

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In a couple of years, Vermont, New York and Quebec will be celebrating the 400th anniversary of Lake Champlain’s discovery by Europeans. The Vermont Division for Historic Preservation is preparing for the celebration by digging into some of the region’s history. And schoolteachers are being asked to help.
VPR Series and Specials

Dorothy Thompson’s Vermont Journal

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Dorothy Thompson was a larger-than-life public figure, one of the most famous women of the 1930s and 40s and a part-time Vermonter. VPR presents “Dorothy Thompson’s Vermont Journal”, a series of commentaries by Cyndy Bittinger, based on her research of Thompson’s life.
Commentary Series

Scooter Libby

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President Bush decided this week to commute the thirty month jail term of Lewis “Scooter” Libby in the case of the leaking of a covert CIA agent’s identity. This morning commentator Barrie Dunsmore offers his opinion as to the true significance of this case.
Commentary Series

Thetford Bells

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Every year since 1819, neighbors have gathered at midnight on July 3rd, at the First Congregational Church in Thetford Hill to observe the tradition of ringing in the 4th of July. This year commentator Vic Henningsen joined them.
VPR News

Program launching to collect civil fines

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Scofflaws, beware. The state of Vermont is going to come looking for you. The Vermont Judicial Branch is launching a new program to try to collect $17 million dollars in overdue civil fines.
Commentary Series

Dylan

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Popular success can stifle growth and creativity. But commentator Jay Craven says at least one legendary performer has managed to avoid stagnation.
Commentary Series

Putin in Maine

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Summer visitors to the coast of Maine don’t usually make the headlines – but commentator Olin Robison was still surprised that Vladimir Putin’s recent trip to Kennebunkport generated so few ripples in the news.
Commentary Series

Dylan

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Last weekend, Bob Dylan gave a concert at the Champlain Valley Expo in Essex Junction. Yesterday we heard an appreciation from Jay Parini as a promoter as well as a fan. Today commentator Jay Parini reflects on the concert as both a fan and a poet.
VPR News

No resolution yet in telephone probe

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Still no resolution of the state of Vermont’s probe into whether telephone companies Verizon and AT&T broke state laws by giving the federal government information as part of the White House’s so-called warrantless wiretapping program.
Commentary Series

July 4th

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Whatever it is we celebrate on July 4th, it’s not clear that we’re marking the actual anniversary of American independence. Commentator Vic Henningsen explains.
VPR News

Neighbors come together to celebrate July 4th

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It’s Independence Day – a day when communities all over the country gather to celebrate the ideas that launched the United States. Those ideas have always been a work in progress, complicated by conflicts, political debate and the urgencies of any given moment. But that’s never stopped neighbors from coming together over fireworks and strawberry shortcake, as VPR’s Susan Keese reports.
Commentary Series

Preservation

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Tomorrow is the Fourth of July and commentator Howard Coffin plans to spend the day in the historic town of Plymouth, where the 4th has special significance. Here’s a preview of the speech he’s preparing for the occasion.
Commentary Series

Ratatouille

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For various reasons, it’s unusual for Commentator Philip Baruth to take his daughters out to a movie. But recently they saw Pixar’s Ratatouille, and it was more or less a life-changing experience.
VPR News

Flight delayed for security screening

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A flight bound from Chicago to Burlington yesterday was delayed for extra security screening, and some on board say it was because of a group of Afghan passengers in traditional dress.
VPR News

Burton Corporation to add 270 jobs

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They started with snowboards and expanded to surfing and skateboarding equipment. But Burton Corporation is staying and growing in its hometown of Burlington, Vermont.
VPR Series and Specials

Homeless in Vermont

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Homeless in Vermont A special VPR program hosted by Neal Charnoff Homelessness is a persistent problem in Vermont, and it’s on the rise among families with children. VPR examines the changing face of homelessness in “Homeless in Vermont." We look at the growing number of families and working poor who are in need of shelter. We also visit a homeless family, talk with shelter providers, and hear about the renewed effort to address this troubling issue.
Commentary Series

Vitamin D

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It’s summer, the season of sunshine, so we’re all getting plenty of vitamin D, the “sunshine vitamin”, right? Well, maybe not, according to commentator Rachel Johnson.
Commentary Series

Eco-roots

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Commentary Nancy Nahra likes words, and how they can evolve to accommodate changing attitudes. Recently, she’s noticed a relatively new set of words that have very old roots that are surprisingly domestic.
Commentary Series

Tough cookies

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Commentator Willem Lange recently attended a meeting of modern-day explorers, and that got him wondering if we’re still making them as tough as we used to.
Commentary Series

So much for books

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With the 4th of July just around the corner, commentator Edith Hunter has been thinking about an unexpected history lesson and what it taught her about a lesser known Revolutionary War figure.
VPR News

Drug company payments under scrutiny

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Psychiatrists in Vermont were the top beneficiaries of drug company perks and payments. That’s according to a report released by the state Attorney General’s office. The office now wants to examine how the industry payments match up to the prescriptions that the doctors write.
Commentary Series

Lost dog

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Commentator Caleb Daniloff and his family are moving to Boston. Before leaving Middlebury, Caleb planned to spend some time hiking around town. On a recent weekend, he ended up doing just that, but not quite the way he’d imagined. Here’s Caleb.
Commentary Series

Gay pride

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With recent advances in gay civil rights, commentator John Scagliotti has been wondering whether the gay pride events held here and across the country this time of year are still needed.
VPR News

Midday Report: June 28, 2007

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FairPoint Communications, which is trying to replace Verizon as the phone company for northern New England, promises new jobs if the company gets its regulatory permits; more…
Commentary Series

Failed surge

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Commentator Bill Seamans says it’s so hard to tell if the Iraq Surge is working – or not – that he’s beginning to think that much of the confusion is intentional.
Commentary Series

La Fete de la Musique

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Since the dawn of recorded history, civilizations have celebrated the summer solstice with music. Commentator Mike Martin reports that a new take on the ancient tradition that started in France – is now sweeping around the world.
VPR News

Family keeps draft horse tradition alive

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For 28 years Jay Baily and his family have worked their farm with horses. Jay and his daughter, Rebekah also teach people how to work with horses. Our audio postcard begins in the barn where people are practicing handling reins tied to a post.
Commentary Series

Graduation address

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It’s customary for graduation guest speakers to direct words of wisdom and reflection *to* the graduates. But when asked to address a group of graduates this year, commentator Jay Craven took his inspiration *from* them.
Commentary Series

MIT Dean

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Student newspapers can provide interesting insights into how kids view certain issues. Commentator Allen Gilbert takes a look at one such story that appeared in his school’s paper.
Commentary Series

New tools

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Once the garden is planted, it’s time to guard against pests and other problems that can threaten our tender new seedlings. And commentator Charlie Nardozzi says there are some new products on the market that should help in that effort.
Commentary Series

Frog songs

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Recently, commentator Ted Levin took a midnight walk in the swamp near his home. There he encountered a chorus of frogs, their distinctive voices marking the end of spring and the beginning of summer.
VPR News

Prison inmates moved after rampage

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The two inmates who went on a weekend rampage at the Vermont state prison in Saint Johnsbury have been moved to the prison in Springfield and placed in segregation.
VPR News

Hiking death victim identified

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Maine officials have released the name of a Vermont man who lost his life over the weekend when he apparently slipped off a cliff while hiking.
Commentary Series

Gaza and West Bank

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The latest fighting between Palestinian factions has left a potential Palestinian state, seriously split into two very different parts. As commentator Barrie Dunsmore tells us this morning, this might produce some new opportunities for American diplomacy – but it also provides great challenges.
VPR News

Vernon at odds with Verizon

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When the Vernon Selectboard gave its approval for construction of a pair of cellular towers by Verizon Wireless, it did so with a string attached.
Commentary Series

Quinn & Tarleton

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Recent news of a brutal attack on a Thetford woman reminded commentator Philip Baruth of the murder last year of UVM student Michelle Gardner-Quinn, and left him trying to make sense of the senseless.
Commentary Series

White nights

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It’s Midsummer, and commentator Willem Lange warns that if you travel this time of year in the far north, you’re likely to lose some sleep.
VPR News

Passport plan delayed

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The Bush Administration has delayed a plan that would require passports for travel to and from Canada by car.
VPR News

Midday Report: June 21, 2007

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At mid-morning the Biomass energy Resource Center released a report showing that Vermont has plenty of forested land that can be harvested for clean-burning wood fuel; more…
VPR News

Derby Line border meeting draws passionate response

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A controversial plan to ban vehicles from three back streets connecting Derby Line, Vermont to Stanstead, Quebec triggered some testy exchanges last night in the Haskell Opera House, which straddles the border.
Commentary Series

What’s next?

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Where do we stand now in Vermont after this year’s scientific reports on global warming? Commentator Alan Betts says it is time to change direction.
Commentary Series

Border crossing

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As we debate funding for the Iraq war and how to improve security on our border with Mexico, commentator Bill Shutkin worries that other security needs are being overlooked.
Commentary Series

Posted

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Lately, commentator Bill Schubart has been noticing a proliferation of “posted property” signs around Vermont, leaving him to wonder about how notions of land ownership have changed since his childhood.
Commentary Series

Pitcher plants

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At a time of year when many of us are already busy tending transplants and seedlings, commentator Ruth Page is thinking about plants that are not your average garden-variety.
VPR News

Efrain Guigui dies at 81

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For fifteen years, Efrain Guigui led the Vermont symphony orchestra and took the musicians to perform in every one of Vermont’s towns. Guigui and the VSO parted ways in 1989, and yesterday, he died in Los Angeles of complications from cancer.
VPR News

Backward bandit suspect pleads “guilty”

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Federal Prosecutors say the “backward bandit” robberies that hit five Vermont convenience stores last winter were committed by at least two people who shared the sweat shirt with eye holes cut in the hood.
Commentary Series

Vt’s attic

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It’s only Monday, but commentator Vic Henningsen is already looking ahead to the weekend. There’s an old saying that “you can’t go home again” but – thanks to the Vermont Historical Society – this weekend he says you can.
Commentary Series

Downsizing

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From burgers to batting scores, we usually think that bigger is better, but commentator Brian Porto thinks that downsizing can be a good thing – especially when it comes to academic sports.
Commentary Series

Liar, liar

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Once again congress is trying to determine if lies were told to cover up a questionable political ploy. And that’s reminded commentator Willem Lange of some valuable lessons he learned about lying – in the third grade.
Commentary Series

Saturday Club

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Commentator Edith Hunter got her summer reading underway recently. She was enjoying an old book about notable Bostonians in the late eighteen hundreds until it suddenly occurred to her to wonder: where were all the women?
VPR News

Special Legislative veto session set for July 11

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The special Legislative veto session will be held as scheduled on July 11th. House Speaker Gaye Symington considered postponing the date until September but Symington says she’s dropping that plan because House Republicans strongly objected to the change.
VPR News

State executive to retire

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A long-time state executive has announced his retirement, setting off a shift in leadership in several state departments.
VPR News

Midday Report: June 15, 2007

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There will be a veto override session next month after all after House Speaker Gaye Symington drew fire from Governor Douglas and Republican legislators when she said she was considering a 2 month delay of the session; more…
Commentary Series

Homeless

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In the next hour, VPR will present a special report on homelessness in Vermont and the rise in the number of families who need services. One person who’s experienced being without a home first-hand is commentator Michelle Kennedy.
VPR News

CVPS looks for buyer

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Vermont’s largest electric utility is looking for a buyer. An investment newsletter Power Finance and Risk is reporting that the Central Vermont Public Service Corporation has hired Morgan Stanley to investigate its options, including a sale.
Commentary Series

Torture

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During the recent, first-round Presidential candidate debates, commentator Mike Martin found himself thinking – quite unexpectedly – about Algeria.
Commentary Series

Secrecy

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Commentator Bill Seamans is concerned that another casualty of the Iraq War may be the increase of apathy in the electorate.
Commentary Series

Remembering RFK

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Renewed media interest in the legacy of Robert F. Kennedy and the recent DVD release of the movie about his life and times, has reminded commentator David Moats of a turbulent era.
VPR News

Midday Report: June 13, 2007

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Vermont Congressman Peter Welch is newly back from the Middle East with a new perspective on the priorities there, and said that while Washington is consumed by Iraq, neighboring countries are not; more…
Commentary Series

Video games

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Commentator Helen Labun Jordan attended her grandfather’s birthday party this spring and came away with a new appreciation for video games.
Commentary Series

Bacteria

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It may not come as a surprise to hear that commentator Ted Levin’s summer reading list is a little bit unusual – and that this year he’s decided to learn more about life at the microscopic level.
VPR News

UVM pressed on housing issue

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Affordable housing advocates gathered in Burlington to hear about what the University of Vermont had to say on the topic of affordable housing.
VPR News

Long Trail maintenance grows challenging

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Each year 200,000 people use Vermont’s Long Trail, which stretches from Canada to the Massachusetts border. Protecting and maintaining the 270 mile trail is the job of the Green Mountain Club. And the task is becoming more challenging and costly.
Commentary Series

Little shrubs

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It’s easy to forget – and effectively plan for – how big some plants will be when they’re fully grown, but commentator Charlie Nardozzi says that some new varieties of old stand-bys may solve that problem.
Commentary Series

Six Day War

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This week marks the Fortieth Anniversary of the 1967 Arab Israeli War. This morning, commentator Barrie Dunsmore, who covered the war from the Israeli side, reflects on what has come to be seen as one of the most important events of contemporary Middle East history.
Commentary Series

Civics letter

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What does a teacher say to his students after a year together? Here’s commentator Vic Henningsen’s letter to his eleventh-grade American history class.
Commentary Series

Libby sentence

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Earlier this week, a judge sentenced Lewis “Scooter” Libby to serve thirty months in prison for lying to federal investigators about his role in the leak of CIA officer Valeria Plame’s identity. Commentator Cheryl Hanna shares her thoughts on the case and what we can all learn from it.
Commentary Series

Captain Thunderbolt

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Vermont history is full of interesting characters, and commentator Tom Slayton says that the identity of one of the most infamous was determined only after his death.
VPR News

“Game of Logging” taught in Bristol

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In the 1960s, Swedish logger Soren Eriksson developed a system of teaching people how to use a chain saw safely and efficiently. Today Ericksson’s “Game of Logging” technique is taught around the country. It’s a hand-on approach that teaches chain saw use and maintenance and a tree felling technique called “bore cutting.”
Commentary Series

Summer Camp

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Vermont offers a great variety of summer camp experiences, and today commentator Ron Krupp tells about one summer camp that’s serving a largely invisible sector of the Vermont community.
Commentary Series

Water

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Plans by a private company to tap a local spring outside of Montpelier has got commentator Allen Gilbert thinking about the value of water.
Commentary Series

Carter comments

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Former President Jimmy Carter has made some public statements lately that have been widely reported and criticised. Commentator Olin Robison has some thoughts about why they’ve caused such a fuss.
Commentary Series

Business climate

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There’s a widespread belief that Vermont suffers from a hostile and non-competitive business climate. Commentator Bill Schubart suggests that inconsistent regulation and Montpelier’s lack of vision may be parts of the problem.
Commentary Series

Maleski for Prez

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Both the Republican and Democratic fields have unannounced candidates lurking in the wings: Al Gore shadowing Democrats, and Fred Thompson pacing the Republicans. But there’s one stealth candidate out there who’s stealthier than the rest.
Commentary Series

Water

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Many of us carry bottled water wherever we go. Commentator Ruth Page suggests that drinking ordinary tap water can be healthier — and better for the environment.
Commentary Series

School secretaries

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As school lets out for the summer, commentator Deborah Luskin honors the sometimes overlooked – but always indispensable – school secretary.
Commentary Series

Spring in the wetlands

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One of the most distinctive sounds of Vermont in springtime is the song of the peepers. Recently commentator Ted Levin took a walk in his neighboring wetlands to enjoy the concert.
Commentary Series

School secretaries

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As school lets out for the summer, commentator Deborah Luskin honors the sometimes overlooked – but always indispensable – school secretary.
VPR News

Adamant celebrates black fly season

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The town of Adamant is actually proud of its black flies. There’s a lot of running water there and black flies breed in running water. So the town has droves of black flies every spring. And for the past five years, in the spirit of if you can’t beat em, join em the community has held a black fly festival.
VPR News

Douglas vetoes campaign finance reform bill

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Governor Jim Douglas has vetoed a campaign finance reform bill passed by the Legislature this session. This means the lawmakers will have two bills to consider during a special veto session scheduled for July 11th because the Governor also has said that he’ll veto the global warming bill.
Commentary Series

Book Fair Letter

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Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day, and it was first observed on May 30th, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. Recently commentator Howard Coffin came across a letter that reminded him of those origins.
Commentary Series

Clinton visit

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“When former President Bill Clinton spoke at Middlebury College over the weekend, commentator Caleb Daniloff was in the audience. He was hoping to bask in the glow from the 1990s, but came away thinking about a new “here and now.”
VPR News

Interview: Christopher Preble on U.S. Iran talks

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Will there be a second-round of talks between the U.S. and Iran given the current instability in the Middle East? Christopher Preble is the head of foreign policy studies at the Cato Institute in Washington D.C. He’ll be speaking at the School for International Training on Tuesday. He spoke with VPR’s Nick Kaiser and said another round of talks between the U.S. and Iran is likely.
VPR News

Clinton stesses building “community” in keynote address

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Middlebury College Administrators say typically about 5,000 people attend their spring commencement ceremonies. This year, however, with former president Bill Clinton giving the keynote address, they set out 7,500 wooden folding chairs. And, as VPR’s Nina Keck reports – they were all filled and then some.
VPR News

Painted flags commemorate fallen soldiers

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Visitors to Brattleboro over the next few weeks may notice rows of small, hand-painted American flags. They flutter knee-high on the lawn of the Brattleboro Museum and Art Center. There’s a flag for every U.S. service person who has died in the War in Iraq.
VPR News

Nominees chosen for Dorothy Canfield Fisher book award

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For 50 years, the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award has been empowering young readers in Vermont. In May, shortly after the winner is announced, teachers and librarians from across the state gather to learn about the titles on the next DCF list.
Commentary Series

Anzio

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On this Memorial Day weekend, commentator Willem Lange will remember a place in Europe where Americans are loved without reserve.
Commentary Series

Memorial Day

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This Memorial Day commentator Peter Gilbert will be in his family’s hometown of Dorset. Each year, there’s a brief ceremony in the church before the parade to the cemetery, where the honor guard’s three-volley salute and the playing of taps – literally brings home the meaning of the day.
VPR News

State parks open, fees up slightly

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Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer. This holiday weekend also marks the official opening of Vermont’s 52 state parks. The parks offer campgrounds, cool ponds for swimming and tree-lined trails for hiking. It will cost a little more to visit the parks this summer, but as VPR’s John Dillon reports, they’re still one of the state’s best bargains.
VPR News

Milk price program finds support in Congress

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Vermont’s dairy farmers received a double dose of good news from Congress this week. A program that creates a safety net for milk prices has been included in the 2007 Farm Bill and lawmakers in Washington finally approved a disaster relief bill to help farmers deal with the wet conditions they experienced last spring.
Commentary Series

Plan B

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The “surge” of American troops continues in Baghdad with increasing American casualties and questionable results in the goal of stabilizing the Iraqi capital. So what happens after the surge? This morning’s commentator Barrie Dunsmore discusses what may be the Bush administration’s fall back position.
VPR News

Welch, Leahy urged to leave Democratic Party

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Congressman Peter Welch says he’ll vote no on a compromise with the White House that provides funding for the Iraq war without a timetable for withdrawing U.S. troops. But some of the liberal Democrat’s most vocal critics, those on his left, say that’s not good enough.
Commentary Series

Warblers

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The word “fallout” is most often associated with undesirable events, but commentator Tom Slayton says that in the world of bird-watching, it can be a very good thing indeed.
VPR News

Star Wars sparks quest for adventure

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VPR’s own Tim Johnson is among the legion of fans who’ve been mesmerized by Star Wars. So we asked him to pinpoint why this pop culture made such a deep impact on him.
VPR News

Midday Report: May 23, 2007

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Former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani spoke this morning at a gathering for Upper Valley Republicans and said that the United States needs better immigration reform; more…
Commentary Series

Lilac time

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Vermont is famous for autumn, but commentator David Moats thinks it ought to be famous for spring, when pale green leaves climb the hillsides, and the air has a new freshness mixed with the heady fragrance of lilacs.
Commentary Series

Soil

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As gardening season really gets under way, it’s probably no surprise that commentator Charlie Nardozzi has been thinking a lot about soil. And he says that good soil is much more than just dirt.
VPR News

Midday Report: May 22, 2007

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Vermont Governor Jim Douglas and the governors of 23 other states have co-signed a letter to Congressional leaders in Washington, asking for a bi-partisan inquiry into the escalating gasoline prices across the country; more…
Commentary Series

Student loans

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Got student loans? The New York attorney general has been investigating the agencies making the loans. Commentator Allen Gilbert takes a look at the industry that has developed because college costs keep rising.
Commentary Series

Spring cleaning

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It’s spring – the traditional time for spring cleaning – and commentator Helen Labun Jordan is trying to understand why springtime and serious cleaning are so closely linked in her mind.
VPR News

Vermont export industry jobs down

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According to a new report, there’s been a significant loss of jobs in Vermont’s export industries over the last 5 years. Members of the Vermont Commission on International Trade expressed surprise and dismay at the details of the report.
VPR News

Veto urged for foster children tax break bill

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Legislators adopted a bill this year designed to encourage families to take in foster children by giving them a break on their property taxes. But some are urging the governor to veto the bill because they worry exempting some from a portion of their property taxes could create pressure to do the same for others.
VPR News

UVM tuition going up

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The University of Vermont, already one of the most expensive public institutions in the country, is to become more so in the fall.
VPR News

Experts say wild brook trout habitat decreasing

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Vermont’s only native stream-dwelling trout may be endangered by the state’s warming climate, and has been labeled by some who revere the fish as a “canary in a coal mine” on climate change.
Commentary Series

Trees

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In cities like Rutland and New York City, trees are being planted this year in record numbers. But commentator Bill Shutkin reminds us that planting a tree in an urban environment requires a long term commitment.
VPR Series and Specials

Common Ground, Uncommon Voices

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VPR recently spent a day celebrating the short and sweet – the short and salty – the short and spicy. In short – the commentaries. These brief, pithy bursts of insight and inspiration began in 1988. Since then, literally hundreds of Vermonters have told their stories, made their cases, and imparted their wisdom through the Commentary Series. Many of them were with us that day and just to make things interesting, we decided to ask them to tell us what the phrase “Common Ground, Uncommon Voices” means to them – in one minute.
Commentary Series

Barbarians

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Commentator Peter Gilbert says that lessons about not making convenient excuses for inaction — either as a society or as individuals – can be found in an anniversary coming up tomorrow – and a modern Greek poem.
VPR News

Researchers study development impact on watersheds

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If you compared two mountain streams, one near a ski resort and the other in the wild, what would you find? Researchers at the University of Vermont have done just that and they’ve found big differences in the quality of the water and in the amount of water.
VPR News

Rutland continues work on creative economy

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Two years ago, the city of Rutland kicked off a series of community-wide dialogs on the region’s creative economy. As VPR’s Nina Keck reports, many local residents say it’s paid off with a variety of new projects and developments.
VPR News

Percussion group’s music drawn from tradition of Carnival

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When the summer calendar fills with festivals, parades and community events you have a good chance of seeing and hearing the rhythm band, Sambatucada. The group of forty musicians brings crowds to their feet with loud and joyful percussion music drawn from the Brazilian tradition of Carnival. We caught up with Sambatucada and asked some of the musicians to share their music.
VPR News

Midday Report: May 16, 2007

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Vermont’s rooms and meals tax receipts are up more than 8% above March a year ago, and the state says that’s because the ski season had a strong finishing surge; more…
VPR News

CVPS seeks rate increase

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Central Vermont Public Service Corporation is seeking a 4% rate increase next year. The company cites as the reason increased transmission and power costs and investments in reliability improvements.
VPR News

Interview: John Nelson, education spending bill

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One of the hurdles lawmakers had to clear to adjourn in time for the end of the 2007 legislative session was education spending. Specifically, a method for slowing its growth that would hopefully in turn reduce Vermont property tax rates, which are linked to school budgets. But the compromise legislators and Governor Douglas came up with isn’t sitting well with most educators.
Commentary Series

Food labels

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Commentator Rachel Johnson has been contemplating something she’s calling "Label Mania" and she wonders if we really need so many flashy labels to steer us toward healthier foods.
Commentary Series

Hormuz

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Commentator Bill Seamans has been thinking about some military maneuvering that could be putting the U.S. in a tight spot.
VPR News

State gets federal funds for contamination cleanup

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Vermont will get $1.3 million in federal funding to help clean up contaminated properties so they can be redeveloped. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grants will be divided between five areas around the state.
VPR News

Interview: Bennignton Bombers owner Jack Appleman

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Bennington Bombers owner Jack Appleman has been trying to build his own field in southern Vermont for the team to play its games, and while that hasn’t happened yet due to a number of factors the team does have a new temporary home at southern Vermont College.
Commentary Series

Gun laws

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Given the recent shootings at Virginia Tech, there’s been much talk about imposing stricter gun control laws across the Nation. Commentator Cheryl Hanna suggests that given what’s happening in the Federal Courts, those efforts may be in vane.
Commentary Series

Yankee tax

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Last week we heard from John McClaughry, who criticized the effort to fund the energy efficiency program with a windfall profits tax on Vermont Yankee. We also heard from James Moore, who supported taxing Yankee at the same rates as wind generation. Today we hear from commentator Timothy McQuiston, who wonders why Vermont Yankee was virtually the only source considered.
VPR News

Congdon remembered at service

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About two hundred people gathered at Barstow Memorial School in Chittenden Saturday to remember Bernard Congdon Jr. Congdon was the local select board member who was shot and killed at his home May 3rd.
VPR News

Legislative session adjourned

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Lawmakers adjourned the 2007 session late Saturday after completing work on a number of key priorities including an education cost containment bill and legislation expanding cell and broadband service throughout the state.
Commentary Series

French vote

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France elected Nicholas Sarkozy as its new president last Sunday. As commentator Barrie Dunsmore tells us this morning, there is at least one lesson in that election for Americans.
Commentary Series

Dandelions

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With the arrival of warm weather, dandelions are everywhere, and commentator Henry Homeyer says that if you’re quick – and selective – it’s the perfect time to enjoy a distinctive springtime treat.
Commentary Series

Crosswords

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Commentator Willem Lange used a recent period of recuperation to take up an old favorite recreation.
VPR News

Natural gas used in Public Works vehicles

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Two big cylindrical tanks sit next to the Public Works Department garage in downtown Burlington. Each holds thousands of gallons of diesel fuel and gasoline. But what comes out of a nearby pump doesn’t come from either tank.
VPR News

Profile: Jazz saxophonist Jonathan Lorentz

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Jazz saxophonist Jonathan Lorentz has built up an impressive resume. The Vermont native is only thirty, but he’s performed at Radio City Music Hall and the famed Blue Note, he’s taught at New York University, and he’s shared stages with Grammy-winning artists.
Commentary Series

Yankee tax

By |
Yesterday we heard from commentator John McClaughry, who criticized a proposal to fund a new energy efficiency initiative in Vermont with a tax on windfall profits at Vermont Yankee. Today we hear from commentator James Moore, who believes that the efficiency program must be funded somehow.
Commentary Series

Mother’s love

By |
With Mother’s Day coming up, commentator Philip Baruth can’t help but remember a day in 1974, when reports of Philip’s own death were greatly exaggerated.
VPR News

Agreement reached on Vermont Yankee tax

By |
Negotiators in the Statehouse have reached an agreement on a way to tax the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant to pay for energy conservation programs. But the Douglas Administration remains strongly opposed to the tax and several other provisions in global warming bill.
VPR News

Group calls for diocese firing

By |
Vermont’s Roman Catholic bishop is defending a staff member after an advocacy group for victims of priest abuse called for the employee’s dismissal.
VPR News

Emmissions trial ends

By |
Calling them “purely symbolic” and pre-empted by federal law, a lawyer for the auto industry has urged a judge to throw out greenhouse gas limits on car emissions.
VPR News

NRC finds Vermont Yankee operating safely

By |
Federal regulators say the Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant is operating safely. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission will hold a public meeting in Putney on Monday to discuss last year’s safety review.
Commentary Series

French elections

By |
Commentator Mike Martin followed the recent French elections closely, and he has these observations on the process.
Commentary Series

Yankee tax

By |
The proposal to tax Vermont Yankee on windfall profits has stirred up lots of comment from supporters and critics alike. Among the latter is commentator John McClaughry.
VPR News

Manufacturing facility could mean end of dairy operation

By |
Plans are moving forward for a new Grafton Cheese manufacturing facility at the old Retreat Farm on the outskirts of Brattleboro. The cheese company’s owner Windham Foundation says the plant will buy 15 million pounds of Vermont milk annually. That’s good news for dairy farmers but not for the Retreat farm’s dairy operation.
Commentary Series

Spring

By |
A couple of weeks ago, on one of the first real spring days of the year, commentator Ruth Page took advantage of the good weather – and took a walk.
Commentary Series

Life story

By |
Judging by the current crop of memoirs by presidential candidates, retired athletes and disaster survivors, the genre is alive and well. New volumes of personal history seem to appear all the time. So commentator Caleb Daniloff recently decided to take another crack at his own memoir.
VPR News

Welch to host impeachment town hall forum

By |
Congressman Peter Welch says he’s opposed to the impeachment of President Bush, but he says he will host a town hall forum so he can hear from Vermonters on the subject.
VPR News

Interview: Canute Delmasse, Agency of Natural Resources

By |
Canute Dalmasse has seen a lot in his tenure with the Agency of Natural Resources. His work with the agency began just after its inception in the early 1970’s. Now that he’s retired as the Deputy Secretary of the ANR, he’s hoping changes he’s overseen and some he’s implemented will protect that environment for future generations.
VPR News

Interview: Greg Palast, “Armed Madhouse”

By |
A recent Bill Moyers journal on PBS looked back at the events leading up to the war in Iraq and asked why so many journalists weren’t skeptical enough about Bush Administration claims that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. BBC correspondent Greg Palast was not one of those journalists.
Commentary Series

Graduation

By |
This is the time of year for graduations and commencement addresses. And commentator Peter Gilbert is reminded of a classic commencement address that is as inspiring today as it was when it was given – in 1954.
Commentary Series

Rattler round-up

By |
Recently, commentator Ted Levin met a young man who has taken unusual steps to protect one of Vermont’s most reclusive and endangered animals – one that’s just now emerging from it’s winter dens.
VPR News

Rutland celebrates storm response

By |
Many Rutland area residents are still cleaning up after the April 16th storm that pummeled the region with 70 mile per hour winds. But local officials and area businesses are encouraging everyone to take a few hours off tonight to celebrate.
VPR News

Interview: Charles Pena, “The Un-War”

By |
There is no war on terrorism, despite what you’ve been hearing ever since the attacks of September 11th six years ago. Charles Pe a says what the U.S. really is struggling with is an un-war, and he’ll speak about what he says is a new strategy needed to win that difficult designation tonight in Brattleboro.
VPR News

Books

By |
Commentator David Moats says that quite a few books on his summer reading list will be distinctly deja-vu.
VPR News

Bones

By |
Commentator Vic Henningsen says there’s a lot to see on a spring walk – and we don’t even have to look that carefully.
VPR News

Congress to keep pressure on Bush to bring troops home

By |
“Keep the pressure on President Bush to bring the troops home from Iraq.” That’s the consensus opinion of Vermont’s Congressional delegation, following the President’s veto of legislation calling for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq over the next 12 months.
VPR News

Lawmakers consider lake pollution bill

By |
Lake Champlain is getting some attention from the Vermont Legislature. Lawmakers are frustrated with the pace of clean-up. So they’re considering a bill that may force the state to re-examine the way it controls water pollution in the big lake.
VPR News

The sounds of recycling in Williston

By |
More than half of the recyclable collected curbside or at centers around the state ends up at a big green building in a Williston industrial park. That’s 40,000 tons a year.
Commentary Series

Yingling

By |
Debate about our Iraq War strategy is increasing, and commentator Bill Seamans says that some of the criticism is coming from within the military.
VPR News

Spring at last

By |
Commentator Edith Hunter has finally decided that it’s safe to declare that spring is here – at last – and it’s about time.
VPR News

Region could see record summer power use

By |
New England’s power grid manager says the region should have enough electricity to meet consumer demand this summer. But Holyoke-based ISO New England also cautions that consumers in the region could set a record for peak electricity usage if hot and humid weather prevails.
VPR News

Former Vermonter killed in Iraq

By |
The Defense Department says that 25-year-old Marine Corporal Christopher DeGiovine formerly of Essex Junction was killed in Anbar Province, Iraq, on Thursday.
Commentary Series

Withdrawal

By |
During a recent power outage, commentator Henry Homeyer discovered that being without phones was one thing – but being without email was quite another.
Commentary Series

French elections

By |
Commentator Olin Robison has been watching the French elections with interest, and he says that no matter how the campaign chips fall, they’re likely to be the agent of real change.
Commentary Series

Aftermath

By |
Commentator Linda Durkee was in the Rutland area during last week’s big storm and its aftermath. She says it was an interesting opportunity to observe nature – human and otherwise.
Commentary Series

Yeltsin and Halberstam

By |
The deaths this week of Boris Yeltsin and David Halberstam set off a stream of memories for commentator Barrie Dunsmore who during his career was acquainted with them both. This morning, he has some personal reflections.
Commentary Series

Back road slalom

By |
Commentator Bill Schubart is celebrating one of Vermont’s most time-honored rites of spring – one in which challenging conditions test our strength, experience and endurance.
VPR News

Jeffords moving to Washington

By |
Retired Vermont Senator Jim Jeffords will be leaving his Shrewsbury home to live in the Washington area near his children.
VPR News

Midday Report: April 25, 2007

By |
Advocates of impeaching President George Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney are rallying at the Statehouse, trying to influence a debate on impeachment that starts early this afternoon; more…
VPR News

Hazing incident under investigation

By |
Lyndon State College officials are investigating a report that a student was forced to drink excessive amounts of alcohol in what is being described as a hazing incident.
VPR News

Union faults state response to bomb scare

By |
Human Resources Commissioner Linda McIntire says Vermont State Employees’ Association representatives interfered with the bomb threat investigation by questioning the state security chief during the event.
VPR News

CVPS raises storm damage estimate

By |
The state’s largest utility has increased its damage estimate for last week’s storm. Central Vermont Public Service now says repairs will cost $3.5 million.
VPR News

Lepine sisters preserve family farm

By |
Gert and Jeanette Lepine can scarcely go anywhere without being recognized. It started when they were featured in Peter Miller’s book Vermont People. Now the two farmers from the Mud City area of Morristown are again making their mark.
Commentary Series

Supreme Court

By |
With finals approaching, the students in Commentator Cheryl Hanna’s Constitutional Law class are nervous about their exam. She explains why, given recent rulings by the Court, their exam may be even harder than they think.
Commentary Series

Dairy

By |
It’s time for farmers to buy seed and fertilizer for spring planting, but this year, with milk prices so low and grain and fuel prices so high, commentator Ron Krupp says that many farmers may instead decide to call it quits.
Commentary Series

Equal pay day

By |
Today is Equal Pay Day, and commentator Mary Claire Carroll will join thousands of women in Vermont and across the country working to raise awareness about gender based wage discrimination.
Commentary Series

Technology today

By |
Commentator Mike Martin recently found out that our phones will soon replace our credit cards, our cameras, and even our kids’ toys. He’s been thinking about what fast-changing technology means for us.
VPR News

Vermont pacifist, environmentalist turning 98

By |
Many readers of Vermont newspapers are familiar with Marion Leonard’s name. Leonard is a tireless composer of letters to the editor. She’s a passionate pacifist and an enthusiastic environmentalist. And she’ll be 98 years old next month.
Commentary Series

Speeding

By |
Now that the weather is improving, commentator Deborah Lee Luskin is taking her daily walk again, and she’s wondering what it will take to get drivers to slow down.
Commentary Series

Super-taster

By |
Commentator Ruth Page has just learned that what she’s always thought of as a life-long limitation is really an exceptional ability – and she’s not the only one who has it.
Commentary Series

English

By |
Lately, commentator Olin Robison* has been thinking quite a bit about the extraordinary utility of the English language.
Commentary Series

Class trip

By |
This is the time of year when many schools sponsor class trips, and commentator Casey Huling has been remembering a trip he took as a junior in High School.
VPR News

Leahy to lead Gonzales questioning

By |
Vermont U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy will lead the questioning today when Attorney General Alberto Gonzales appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
VPR News

Interview: Professor Jane Smith, on Islam

By |
What are the tenets of Islam? How does fundamentalist Islam differ from a more liberal interpretation of the Koran? And could Islam be considered, in some ways, an American religion? That’s a question that Jane Smith has been exploring,
Commentary Series

Global ed week

By |
Next week is Global Education Action Week, and commentator John Fox has been thinking about education issues around the world – and here in Vermont.
Commentary Series

Ancient roads

By |
As snow recedes in the woods, and hiking season approaches, commentator Edith Hunter is reminded of a piece of legislation passed last year on Ancient Roads. And while she says that none of our roads quite fit the dictionary definition of “ancient” as “belonging to times long past…from the historical period beginning with Egypt, down to the fall of the Roman Empire…” she still thinks that Act 178 is a good idea.
VPR News

Rutland faces high storm repair costs

By |
Officials at Central Vermont Public Service estimate that it will cost the company a record two and a half million dollars to repair downed electrical lines and restore power to all of its customers, following this week’s storm.
VPR News

Interview: Peter Welch, on his Iraq, Afghanistan trip

By |
Vermont Congressman Peter Welch returned Monday from a four-day visit to the Middle East. Welch toured Iraq and Afghanistan as part of a congressional delegation. He spoke with VPR’s Neal Charnoff who asked Welch if he could contrast the situation in the two countries.
Commentary Series

Gun control

By |
Commentator Bill Seamans is among those who think that the shootings in Virginia will revive the gun control debate.
VPR News

Ray Dilley, VPR founder, dies at 67

By |
One of Vermont Public Radio’s founders has died. Ray Dilley started VPR in 1975 with the late Raymond Phillips and the late Reverend Howard Stearns. Dilley died unexpectedly last weekend at his home in Lincoln, Nebraska.
VPR News

Generator manufacturer issues safety tips

By |
With extensive power outages throughout the state, many Vermonters are firing up their portable generators for electricity. Briggs and Stratton, manufacturer of portable generators has issued safety tips about use of the equipment.
VPR News

Leahy delays Gonzales appearance

By |
Vermont U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy has decided to delay by two days the long-awaited appearance by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
VPR News

Midday Report: April 16, 2007

By |
Heavy rains, powerful waves and astronomical tides are combining to create flooded streets, smashed windows and downed power lines from the Adirondacks to the Atlantic today; more…
VPR News

IRV legislation sets off spirited debate

By |
A Senate committee is expected to approve legislation this week that will implement an Instant Run Off voting system beginning next year. The issue has set off a spirited debate among the members of the committee.
Commentary Series

Energy future

By |
Like greenhouse gasses, the future of electric generation is up in the air. Decisions on that future will have to be made soon. Commentator Tim McQuiston thinks it likely that no one is going to be completely happy with whatever happens next.
Commentary Series

Imus

By |
Commentator Madeleine Kunin has been following the controversy over remarks made by popular radio host Don Imus about the Rutgers Women’s Basketball Team, and she has a few thoughts of her own on the matter.
VPR News

Midday Report: April 13, 2007

By |
Liz Jeffords, who twice married former U.S. Senator Jim Jeffords, has died at 68, after a recurrence of ovarian cancer: a showdown looms for the Attorney General in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
VPR News

Liz Jeffords dies

By |
Elizabeth “Liz” Daley Jeffords, the wife of Vermont’s former Republican-turned independent senator, died today. She was 68.
VPR News

Interview: Emily Bernard, “Teaching the N-Word”

By |
Emily Bernard is an associate professor of English who teaches African American studies at the University of Vermont. She spoke with VPR’s Mitch Wertlieb about why she felt it was important to wade into such potentially dangerous waters with her essay “Teaching the N-Word.”
Commentary Series

Iraq policy

By |
As the divide over Iraq between the White House and the Congress grows ever more rancorous, commentator Barrie Dunsmore examines what, for many Americans, is the great dilemma of deciding what policy to support.
Commentary Series

Taxes

By |
It’s tax time, and commentator Deborah Luskin has been thinking about how we invest our tax dollars – and the old saying “Penny wise, pound foolish”.
VPR News

Midday Report: April 12, 2007

By |
There may be a consensus developing in the Statehouse to look favorably at a new seat belt law that’s under consideration, because there’s a federal carrot attached to it; more…
VPR News

Anastasio considers plea deal

By |
Former Phish frontman Trey Anastasio is considering a plea deal to settle drug possession charges filed against him in northern New York.
Commentary Series

Nigerian elections

By |
This coming Saturday and the next, Nigeria will hold national legislative and presidential elections. Commentator Scott Baker says the outcome could affect us right here in Vermont – at the gas pump.
VPR News

Impeachment effort may shift to House if stalled in Legislature

By |
If the Vermont Legislature won’t pass a resolution calling on Congress to impeach President Bush, then Vermonters should petition Congressman Peter Welch to initiate impeachment hearings in Washington. That’s the opinion of Dan DeWalt, one of the organizers of the Town Meeting Day resolutions to impeach the president.
Commentary Series

Darwin

By |
An exhibit at the Boston Museum of Science through April 27th has reminded commentator Ted Levin of Charles Darwin’s contribution to human knowledge. He says it’s almost beyond comprehension.
Commentary Series

Sugaring

By |
Commentator Edith Hunter is sugaring again this spring – by fits and starts.
Commentary Series

Cooperative plants

By |
If the earth is going to continue warming, commentator Ruth Page thinks that a recent discovery concerning a complex form of plant cooperation may turn out to have great value.
Commentary Series

Iraqi oil law

By |
As we work to find new solutions to the conflict in Iraq, commentator Jay Craven wonders if we’re overlooking the old question of who will control the oil.
Commentary Series

School board petition

By |
Vermont school board members have taken on a new role during this legislative session. They’ve even been organizing on the Internet. Commentator Allen Gilbert offers an inside look.
VPR News

Inquiry complete in death of soldier

By |
The wait may be over for the family of Tom Stone. Stone is the 52-year-old Vermont Army Guardsman who was killed in Afghanistan in March of 2006. The Army has now informed his family that a year-long inquiry into his death has been completed.
Commentary Series

Mistakes were made

By |
Vermont senator Pat Leahy has called Attorney General Roberto Gonzalez to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on April 17th. Commentator Vic Henningsen hopes the Attorney General will be attentive to his use of language.
Commentary Series

Frost on Spring

By |
With spring more or less at hand, commentator Peter Gilbert has been thinking of Robert Frost’s poem "A Prayer in Spring", which, he says, is about one of those beautiful spring days that doesn’t just give you spring fever; it touches your heart and soul at the deepest level.
VPR News

Backers say education bill will save nine million dollars

By |
After several hours of debate, the Vermont House late yesterday gave its final approval to legislation that’s designed to help control education costs in the future. The vote on the measure was 87 to 54. Backers of the bill estimate that the measure will save roughly 9 million dollars a year when the legislation is fully implemented in three years.
Commentary Series

Behavior policies

By |
Commentator Charles Johnson says there’s a new approach to helping children learn social and emotional skills that can be an effective weapon against bullying and other forms of undesirable behavior in school.
VPR News

More DNA testing due in Rooney case

By |
Prosecutors handling the case of a UVM student who was sexually assaulted and slain last October say they have more evidence they’ll submit for DNA testing.
Commentary Series

Woman President

By |
Democrat Hillary Clinton is ahead of all the other major presidential candidates in fundraising so far, but commentator Madeleine Kunin thinks that gender bias is still a challenge.
VPR News

Interview: Dr. Don Swarz, Hunger Task Force

By |
a task force on hunger met recently to review 20 years of data on who is suffering from lack of nutrition and what can be done to help alleviate hunger in Vermont. Dr. Don Swarz is the Medical director of the Vermont Department of Health and the Chairman of the Governor’s Task Force on Hunger. He spoke with Mitch Wertlieb about the findings of the task force.
VPR News

Welch to monitor EPA after ruling

By |
Yesterday’s Supreme Court ruling could give Congress more leeway in addressing climate change. Vermont Congressman Peter Welch will be one of the lawmakers charged with seeing that the EPA does their job.
Commentary Series

Y W P: Landell – Music teacher

By |
Today, as part of a continuing collaboration between VPR and the Young Writer’s Project, Rebecca Landell of Richmond, honors her music teacher, who provided her students with enough inspiration to last a life time.
Commentary Series

Student protest

By |
Students at Vermont’s oldest secondary school, Thetfford Academy, joined thousands of others in protesting the fourth anniversary of the Iraq War . Commentator and teacher Joe Deffner offers his thoughts on why this one was a little different.
VPR News

Vermont native dies on school-sponsored ski trip

By |
A Northeastern University student dies on a school-sponsored ski trip. University officials say 18-year-old Adrienne Devino died Saturday night after her snow tube went off course and crashed into a tree at Loon Mountain in New Hampshire.
VPR News

Interview: NPR’s John Burnett, “America’s Forgotten War”

By |
Starting today during All Things Considered NPR news will present a week-long series of reports called “America’s Forgotten War.” NPR correspondent John Burnett spoke with VPR’s Mitch Wertlieb about the reports and says the investigation reveals a mixed level of success and failure. But he says some progress has been made.
Commentary Series

Hunger

By |
Commentator Ron Krupp was recently reminded that even in Vermont, hunger is a persistent problem.
VPR News

Midday Report – March 30, 2007

By |
Yesterday’s Iraq war funding bill included a provision to extend and fully fund the Milk Income Loss Contract for dairy farmers when milk prices drop below a certain level; the Vermont House is debates legislation designed to expand high speed Internet service to all parts of Vermont; nearly one hundred Vermont fourth through eighth graders will gather this afternoon at the University of Vermont for the annual Vermont State Geography Bee; more….
Commentary Series

Civil unions

By |
This year, the New Hampshire legislature has taken up the civil union debate. And commentator Edith Hunter has been thinking about how much attitudes can change – and why.
Commentary Series

Beavers return

By |
As wetlands all around us begin to thaw, and life returns to the marsh, commentator Ted Levin observes that the beaver is to northeastern woodlands what the bison once was to the Great Plains – a KEYSTONE species whose presence supports a truly impressive range of biodiversity.
Commentary Series

On the table

By |
Commentator Bill Seamans has been thinking about the meaning and usage of words again. Everyday words like “patience” and “table”. And other words we haven’t used in a while – like “draft”.
VPR News

Interview: Author David Hemenway on gun violence research

By |
A Harvard professor is visiting UVM this week to talk about his research into gun violence Dr. David Hemenway is the author of Private Guns Public Health. It’s a book that sets aside the debate over gun control and instead looks at ways to make the use of firearms safer. He spoke with Neal Charnoff about his approach to guns and violence.
VPR News

Environmentalists criticize Act 250 exemption

By |
Lawmakers are trying to tackle the housing shortage in Vermont by exempting some projects from state environmental review. At a hearing today, business leaders praised the two pieces of housing legislation. But environmentalists said the bills could have the unintended consequence of promoting sprawl development.
Commentary Series

Telecommunications

By |
A 1989 state report said that Vermont was poised to become a leader in telecommunications. Eighteen years later, we’re trying to play catch-up through the creation of a state Telecommunications Authority. What happened? Commentator Allen Gilbert takes a look.
Commentary Series

Existentialist

By |
Commentator Philip Baruth has loved the Google search engine ever since he began using it, but there’s always been something that troubled him about it. Now, thanks to good old American ingenuity, that tiny glitch has been fixed.
Commentary Series

Merce Cunningham

By |
Support for the arts can be hard to find under the best of circumstances – and a special challenge in rural communities – but commentator Jay Craven was recently reminded that it’s important to keep trying.
Commentary Series

History lesson

By |
The philosopher George Santayana is credited with writing, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Commentator Willem Lange thinks it’s become one of the most quoted of all truisms, as well as one of the most ignored. He wonders when, if ever, we will learn the lessons of history.
Commentary Series

Vermont Women: Eickoff book on Clarina Howard Nichols

By |
This week VPR is honoring the accomplishments of notable Vermont women. Clarina Howard Nichols was a pioneering newspaper editor, an early women’s rights advocate and the first woman ever to address the Vermont legislature. Educator Deborah Luskin has been reading the Diane Eickoff book about Nichols that explains why she became an activist.
VPR News

Midday Report: March 22, 2007

By |
Vermont is joining six other states asking the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to think more about terrorism when deciding whether nuclear power plants should get license extensions; more…
Commentary Series

Vermont Women: Hazel M. Weil

By |
Barbara Snelling on her mother, Hazel M. Weil, who lived a life of quiet, willing and uncomplaining service. She served as the Minister’s wife in a large suburban church where much was demanded of her with very little recognition. She was mother of two, a son and a daughter, to whom she gave guidance and love. She managed the family finances, a challenging task at best to an outsider’s perspective. She would appear unremarkable. In fact, she was a quiet and modest heroine.
Commentary Series

Dewey

By |
In this era of No Child Left Behind, with its emphasis on largely mechanical “standards”, commentator Jay Parini is reminded of the spirit and legacy of the great Vermonter, philosopher John Dewey.
Commentary Series

Vermont Women: Sylvia Bliss

By |
As VPR’s week honoring women who have contributed to the life and culture of Vermont continues, we hear from Amy Cunningham, Education Director for the Vermont Historical Society, about Sylvia Bliss, an early 20th century musician, botantist, poet, and writer.
Commentary Series

Women as leaders

By |
Inspired this week by VPR’s series of stories about the contribution of Vermont women to our history and heritage, commentator Ruth Page is wondering what challenges they may face in the future.
VPR Series and Specials

Vermont Women

By |
VPR offers a special series featuring the voices and stories of a cross-section of Vermont women about the lasting contributions women have made to our life and culture here in Vermont.
Commentary Series

Vermont Women: Edna Beard

By |
All this week on Morning Edition, VPR salutes women who have contributed to the life and culture of Vermont. Today we hear from Deb Markowitz, the first woman elected to serve as Vermont Secretary of State, about Edna Beard, who in 1921 became the first woman elected to the Vermont General Assembly.
Commentary Series

John Howard

By |
Commentator Olin Robison recently returned from Australia, and he says the two-thousand-eight American presidential election is already making headlines there.
VPR News

Midday Report: March 16, 2007

By |
The Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy, votes to subpoena administration officials regarding dismissal of U.S. Attorneys; more…
Commentary Series

Sugaring

By |
Every year about this time, you can find one of commentator Janisse Ray’s neighbors in his sugar house, and every year she pays him a visit in celebration of this sweet tradition.
Commentary Series

Demographics

By |
A few months ago, my old college roommate called from Virginia. “I’ve found a young person for you,” she said, “She just applied for an internship in Montpelier and we get along great. I’m sure you’ll be friends.”
Commentary Series

Dred Scott anniversary

By |
Commentator Peter Gilbert says that last Tuesday, March 6th, marked the hundred and fiftieth anniversary of one of the most well-known Supreme Court decisions in U.S. History. But the occasion was largely ignored, perhaps because the decision in the Dred Scott case was one of the worst ever issued by the Court.
VPR News

ACLU says sex offender bill unconstitutional

By |
The Senate Judiciary Committee is set to give its approval to legislation that places new restrictions on high risk sex offenders when they’re released from prison. The Vermont chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union says the bill is blatantly unconstitutional.
Commentary Series

Death with dignity

By |
The ongoing debate surrounding end-of-life legislation has prompted commentator Caleb Daniloff to recall his late father-in-law — the way he lived and the way he died.
Commentary Series

Social innovation

By |
With some of the US economy’s biggest players struggling to survive in the global marketplace, commentator Bill Shutkin sees a new frontier for American innovation.
VPR News

IRV study due for lawmakers

By |
Lawmakers this week will receive a detailed study concerning the possible implementation of an instant runoff voting system for Vermont’s statewide offices.
VPR News

Committee considers Vermont trans fat bill

By |
A Senate committee is considering a bill that that would prohibit restaurants from serving food prepared with or containing trans fats, which doctors say increases the risk for heart disease.
Commentary Series

Randal cattle

By |
On a recent visit to the old Poor Farm in Hardwick, commentator Ron Krupp encountered a breed of livestock he’d never seen before.
VPR News

Leahy says Comittee will hold FBI hearings

By |
Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy says the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold hearings on allegations the FBI improperly used federal law to obtain personal information about Americans.
VPR News

Montpelier officials prepare for possible flooding

By |
Residents of Vermont’s capital city are hoping history does not repeat itself. Fifteen years ago, an ice jam on the Winooski River flooded Montpelier, causing millions of dollars in damage. Ice again blocks the river. And if the weather warms suddenly, the flood danger is high. City officials are preparing for the worst.
VPR News

UVM team one game away from NCAA tournament

By |
he University of Vermont men’s basketball team is on game away from making it to this year’s NCAA tournament. The Catamounts can go to the show with a win at home overt Albany tomorrow. As VPR’s Mitch Wertlieb reports, a victory can also put this UVM team in the record books.
Commentary Series

Names

By |
What’s in a name? Commentary Mary Barrosse Schwartz says – sometimes – there’s more than you’d think.
VPR News

Midday Report: March 8, 2007

By |
The gap between what it costs to buy a house and what Vermonters can afford to pay is growing, according to a new report; Montpelier prepares for a rising river; Tonight Governor Jim Douglas will continue his series of accountability forums.
Commentary Series

Galway Kinnel book

By |
Galway Kinnell was the first Vermont State Poet and he’s the most nationally prominent poet writing in Vermont today. His latest collection of poems has captured the attention – and admiration – of commentator Tom Slayton.
VPR News

A Town Meeting snapshot

By |
Despite the chilly temperatures, attendance at West Windsor’s Town Meeting Tuesday topped out at a respectable hundred plus voters – all in a pretty good mood. VPR’s Betty Smith has this snapshot of town meeting start-to-finish.
VPR News

Louras elected Rutland Mayor

By |
Despite yesterday’s cold temperatures voters turned out in near record numbers in Rutland to elect a new mayor, treasurer and several new members for the board of aldermen.
VPR News

Construction moratorium could affect school consolidation

By |
Last fall, Weathersfield voters approved a plan to consolidate the elementary school with the middle school, using both state and local money. When Windsor County Senator Alice Nitka stopped by the Weathersfield meeting, school board chairman Jeffery Locke asked her if the governor’s moratorium on new school construction could de-rail the project.
Commentary Series

Climate change

By |
First it was record warm temperatures in December and early January. Now we’re shivering our way through record cold temperatures for March. And these extremes are said by many to be indicators of world-wide climate change. Commentator Alan Betts says that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC, recently released a new report on the “Physical Basis for Climate Change”. And he says it was a monumental effort.
VPR Series and Specials

Senate Economic Development Committee Hearing

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On March 2, 2007 anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan testified at a hearing endorsing the Vermont Legislature’s call to withdraw troops from Iraq. The hearing came three weeks after both the House and the Senate went on record against the war. It drew passionate testimony from Vermonters both for and against continuing the war.
Commentary Series

Daniloff ’08

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Town Meeting can be an inspiring event for the civically-minded among us, and election fever has struck commentator Caleb Daniloff. He went to his town meeting in Middlebury this week to plot his own run for office, and to check out the competition.
Commentary Series

McCain’s Sandwich

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Every once in a while commentator Philip Baruth loses himself in a fictional character, when his everyday self proves too limiting. Today he tells the story of John McCain’s 2008 Presidential bid from just such a character’s point of view: Philly, a deli owner in Winooski.
Commentary Series

Robert’s other rules

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As commentator Linda DuCharme prepares for her town meeting, she’s reviewing the UN-written rules of town meeting etiquette – ones that you’ll never find in Robert’s Rules of Order.
Commentary Series

What to eat?

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he old question – “What’ll we have for supper?” has taken on new meaning lately, and left commentator Edith Hunter without much of an appetite.
VPR Series and Specials

First Tuesday In March: A VPR Documentary About Town Meeting Day

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More than a century ago lawmakers designated the first Tuesday in March as a day for town meeting. Now changing times are threatening the health of this democratic institution. What is the future of town meeting day? This hour long documentary, narrated by VPR’s Steve Delaney, explores the rich tradition of Town Meeting Day, its importance to Vermont life and the challenges to grassroots democracy during changing times. We hear from all the experts: the voters, moderators, clerks, the governor, the secretary of state, the legislature and the political scientists.
VPR News

Moderators hone their parliamentary craft before Town Meeting

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Last week in Montpelier, the Vermont League of Cities and Towns brought about 80 town moderators together for a pre-town meeting refresher course. They spent the day in workshop sessions with titles like, “Ruling the Unruly” and “Using Rules Tact and Humor to Inspire Civility,” We spoke with several of those in attendance about the challenges and rewards of being town moderator.
Commentary Series

Civil disobedience

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Tomorrow is the traditional day for Town Meeting in Vermont. And commentator Deborah Luskin is thinking about an item from last year’s agenda.
Commentary Series

Town Meeting and the Revolution

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When you participate in your local Town Meeting, commentator Neil Stout thinks you should take a moment to reflect on the fact that you’re part of a long and glorious tradition.
Commentary Series

Shays’ rebellion

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At about this time in the winter of 1787, small groups of desperate men and their families fled to Vermont in search of political asylum. Commentator Vic Henningsen reminds us who they were and why they came here.
VPR News

The Future of Education: A cost review

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This week, Vermont Public Radio has brought together many different perspectives on the topic of education funding in a two-part symposium on The Future of Education.VPR’s Lynne McCrea reviews some of the perspectives on the cost of education from the first session in Manchester this week.
VPR News

The Future of Education: A property tax lesson

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The cost of education and how to pay for it really hits home when your property tax bill comes in the mail. This is one of the moments when statewide education facts and figures get personal. So we asked VPR’s Nina Keck to provide us with a crash course in how to understand your bill.
Commentary Series

Ed funding

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Tonight on VPR’s Symposium on the Future of Education in Vermont, the focus shifts to how we pay for our education system, and the thinking behind Vermont’s education financing reform movement, which seeks to change the basic laws that direct how we pay for primary and secondary education in Vermont. This morning, commentator Dick Mallary begins the discussion by suggesting that the laws themselves do not need reforming.
Commentary Series

Off the rails

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As the legislature considers how to fund education in Vermont, as well as the many other fiscal needs of our state, commentator John McClaughry is hoping that they are paying attention to a recent report on our economic future.
VPR News

Low level arsenic found in Pittsford wells near Omya plant

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For years, neighbors of the Omya manufacturing plant in Pittsford have tried to stop the company from dumping rock in open pits near their homes. The residents say the waste rock contains material that could contaminate their water supply. Now neighbors are more concerned because tests have found low levels of arsenic in nearby wells.
Commentary Series

Global Savvy

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As part of our week on the Future of Education in Vermont, commentator Mike Martin considers how the teaching of foreign languages and culture may change – as the need for global literacy grows.
Commentary Series

Walter Reed

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How we care for our veterans, especially those returning wounded from Iraq, has been in the headlines again. And commentator Bill Seamans hopes that this time – things will change.
VPR Series and Specials

The Future of Education

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VPR’s Bob Kinzel hosts two 90-minute specials on the future of education in Vermont. The two broadcasts feature panel discussions, reports, and of course, questions from our live audience, including listener calls. Contributing to the symposium are VPR’s Nina Keck, Steve Zind, Susan Keese and Lynne McCrea.
Commentary Series

Consolidation

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Education Commissioner Richard Cate ignited a statewide debate when he suggested that one possible way to address the rising cost of education was to downsize the number of Vermont school districts — one of the topics for discussion on VPR’s Symposium on the Future of Education in Vermont.This morning’s commentator Dick Mallory supports it, but it reminds commentator Edith Hunter of a proposal she made concerning school supervision.
Commentary Series

Ed cost

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As part of our week on the future of education in Vermont, commentator Dick Mallary thinks the time has come to rectify costly inefficiencies in Vermont’s public education system.
Commentary Series

Slavery in NY

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February is Black History Month, and commentator Allen Gilbert recently attended an exhibit exploring the lives of African Americans in New York state after abolition. He came away from it with plenty to think about.
VPR News

Bill a top priority for Senate Education Committee

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All this week, Vermont Public Radio is examining the future of education in Vermont – from the factors driving school budgets up to different ways to pay for education. The head of the Senate Education committee, Franklin senator Don Collins, is sponsoring a bill that he believes will help slow down budget increases in the future.
VPR News

Roadblock surfaces on bypass project

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An alternative truck route around the Village of Morrisville has been in the works for 37 years. Just when it appeared the bypass would finally be built, another roadblock has surfaced.
Commentary Series

School funding

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Our week-long discussion of the future of education in Vermont continues this morning with commentator Chris Graff. Today’s debate over the financing of education in Vermont appears to be the continuation of one that has been ongoing for decades. But Graff says there is a big difference.
VPR News

Midday Report – February 23, 2007

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Two of the most prominent women in Vermont politics lead a discussion in Montpelier about a bill called “The Vermont Patient Choice and Control at the End of Life Act”; a new fight over access to government documents erupts between Governor Jim Douglas and the Legislature; Congressman Peter Welch zones in on problems at the outpatient facilities for wounded veterans at Washington’s Walter Reed Hospital; more…
Commentary Series

Terabithia

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This is the weekend when the film industry hands out the Oscars for outstanding achivements in motion pictures. And commentator Jay Craven is getting into the spirit by celebrating a film that has just been released.
VPR News

Defense lawyers alarmed by undercover warrant

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A judge in Windham County has allowed an undercover police officer to secretly record his conversations with a defense lawyer. Defense attorneys around the state are closely following the case. They say the move is unprecedented, and represents a threat to their ability to vigorously defend their clients.
VPR News

Douglas criticizes Democrats for lack of action

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Governor Jim Douglas says he’s disappointed that lawmakers have made little progress on the key issues facing the state during the first two months of the session. Democratic leaders disputed the governor’s claim and they found an unlikely ally in House Republican leader Steve Adams.
VPR News

Interview: ‘Babel’ producer Jon Kilik

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When the Academy awards are presented this Sunday night, one former Vermonter will be in the audience hoping for an Oscar himself. Jon Killik, the producer of best-picture nominated “Babel,” is a 1978 graduate of the University of Vermont, where he studied film-making and production.
VPR News

Supreme Court hears cases at Vermont Law School

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The Vermont Supreme Court was in South Royalton today for its annual visit to the Vermont Law School. The court was heard oral arguments in a half dozen cases on Thursday, continuing an annual tradition that began in the early 1990s.
Commentary Series

Auden

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Tomorrow, February 21, is the hundredth birthday of one of the great literary figures of the twentieth century. And commentator Peter Gilbert thinks it’s an event worth celebrating.
Commentary Series

LEDs

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Energy conservation continues to be a factor in planning for our future energy needs, and commentator Ruth Page says that one new technology in particular is beginning to look like a genuinely bright idea.
VPR News

Report highlights Vermont State Hospital problems

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A new report highlights continuing problems at the Vermont State Hospital. The document says patients have assaulted employees seven times recently, with three of the injuries resulting in broken bones. The Douglas Administration wants to replace the hospital. But legislative leaders said today they’re not satisfied with the progress to date.
VPR News

Sanders part of “new look” in Senate

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There’s a slightly different look to the U.S. Senate this year. Part of it is the election of nine freshmen who are either Democrats or caucus with the Democrats.
Commentary Series

Omega-3s

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As we consider ways to boost our mid-winter nutrition, commentator Rachel Johnson reminds us that Omega Three oils provide powerful protection for the heart.
VPR News

Lawmakers want latest technology for broadband expansion

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The company that’s acquiring Verizon’s phone lines in Vermont says it’s committed to an aggressive build-out of broadband Internet services. But lawmakers have many questions. They want to make sure that Fairpoint Communications uses the latest technology, and that it has the financial resources to deliver.
Commentary Series

Obama

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Barack Obama announced his Presidential candidacy last week, and commentator Philip Baruth found himself in the midst of a Vermonters-for-Obama rally, watching the event on a torn bedsheet and eating a slice of baklava.
VPR News

Happy ending for lost snowmobiler

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There are many stories in the aftermath of a blizzard. One involves a snowmobiler from Egremont, Massachusetts, and it has a happy ending.
VPR News

Interview: Karen Griffin, Libby’s Blue Line Diner

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As things begin to get back to normal from the big snow storm, Mitch Wertlieb spoke with Karen Griffin, the co-owner of Libby’s Blue Line Diner in Colchester and a life-long Vermonter. She says on a scale of 1 – 10 she’d rank the Valentine’s Day storm at about a 7.
Commentary Series

Pundits

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It’s early days yet for candidates to begin to line up for the next presidential election, and commentator Bill Seamans says that’s a problem for certain members of the news media.
VPR News

Storm sends non-essential state workers home

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All non-essential state government workers are getting part of the day off today. Administration Secretary Mike Smith says all non-essential state workers will be sent home at noon.
VPR News

Biathlon and paintball make a popular combination

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Biathlon is an event the combines the sport of cross country ski racing with rifle marksmanship. It’s one of the most popular winter sports there is in Europe. Yet it remains relatively obscure in the United States. Cross country ski enthusiasts in Vermont are trying to change that and generate more interest in Nordic skiing and events like the biathlon.
Commentary Series

Coins

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Next Monday is Presidents’ Day and to celebrate the U-S Mint is issuing a new one-dollar coin with the likeness of George Washington. Commentator Vic Henningsen says that’s just the beginning.
Commentary Series

Valentine wish

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Our first house was an antique cape, and we moved in before renovations were complete, which is how we started eating dinner in bed. For about a month, our bedroom was the only place clean enough to eat, so we carried our dinner to bed and ate there.
VPR News

Midday Report – February 13, 2007

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On Town Meeting Day 23 towns will whether to impeach President Bush; the Legislature debates the immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq; a plan would allow towns to waive penalties and interest when ski-related businesses are late with tax payments; a plan is in place in the case of a hazardous material spill in Lake Memphremagog; Middlebury College history students are no longer allowed to cite Wikipedia in class papers.
Commentary Series

VT farm future

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Commentator Jay Craven says that when we talk about the future of farming in Vermont, there’s a great deal more involved than just the price of milk.
VPR News

Vermont faces physician shortage

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Vermont faces a shortage of primary care physicians just as these doctors are being asked to do more to manage chronic diseases. The Vermont Medical Society says one reason for the shortage is that payments to physicians have not kept pace with rising costs.
VPR News

Bennington building workers deal with sarcoidosis

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(Host) Until recently, most Vermonters had never even heard of sarcoidosis. But now the state is spending millions of dollars to move workers out of a state office building in Bennington because of the disease.At least a half-dozen cases of sarcoidosis have been diagnosed among people who’ve worked in the building. VPR’s Susan Keese met with several workers who described what it’s like to live with the illness.
Commentary Series

The Homestead

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As a biographer of the Founding Fathers, commentator Willard Sterne Randall has spent the last three years researching Vermont’s Founding Father Ethan Allen. And he was stunned to hear the recent news that Allen’s Homestead in the Winooski Intervale – the only home Ethan Allen ever owned and lived in for any length of time – was about to close it doors.
VPR News

Eagle Scouts recognized

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Governor Jim Douglas recognized 93 young men for achieving the highest honor in the Boy Scouts – the Eagle Scout award at a special ceremony in Montpelier this morning.
VPR News

Midday Report – February 9, 2007

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Today in Bennington, state workers are moving out of the building where at least six employees have come down with a rare pulmonary ailment; the late model and entertainment personality Anna-Nicole Smith filmed her last movie in Vermont; Terry Gildea of Capitol News Connection says Vermont lawmakers have made it clear where they stand on the non-binding resolutions competing for attention regarding the war in Iraq.
VPR News

The Young Writer’s Project: Molly Ziegler

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Today, as part of a continuing collaboration between VPR and the Young Writer’s Project, 16-year-old Molly Ziegler describes how she learned a lesson about trust while trying to learn to skate.
Commentary Series

Special Olympics

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Winter weather came late this year, but commentator John Morton says that didn’t do a thing to dampen the spirits of the competitors at one recent winter sports event.
Commentary Series

Springweather

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Commentator Edith Hunter often drives from Springfield to Weathersfield by way of Reservoir Road. Along the way she passes a nature reserve now busy with cross country skiers and winter hikers – and that reminds her of a story with a happy ending.
Commentary Series

Eating adventures

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Vermont’s agriculture offers us not only standard fare, like milk and maple syrup, but also the chance for adventure – exploring local food. Commentator Helen Labun Jordan is enjoying her winter, experimenting with new possibilities for a local menu.
VPR News

Interview: Singer/Songwriter, Anais Mitchell, “The Brightness”

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In the town of New Haven you’ll find the unusual voice of Anais Mitchell, a singer/songwriter who’s gained national attention. A Chicago reviewer said ” her melodies are like zebra mussels that latch on and stick to your consciousness.” Mitchell releases her third album, “The Brightness” next week. She recently joined Mitch Wertlieb in the VPR studios to talk about the album and her
VPR News

Town officials have plans for Stephen Douglas home

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Stephen Douglas, the famous 19th century politician and debater of Abraham Lincoln, was born in Brandon Vermont. Town officials there hope to turn the small, white clapboard house where Douglas was born, into a visitors’ center and museum.
Commentary Series

Disappearing dairy

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While the legislature debates how best to support Vermont’s remaining dairy farms, commentator Ron Krupp observes that they’re fast disappearing in one corner of the state.
Commentary Series

Tusks

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If you enjoyed the movies Ice Age and Ice Age: the Meltdown, commentator Ted Levin says you won’t want to miss the new exhibit at the Montshire.
Commentary Series

Hot topic

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The prospects of global climate change can feel pretty discouraging, but commentator Ruth Page says we might take heart from projects like the one in Manchester, where a simple concept turned out to be a very bright idea indeed.
VPR News

Tour boat owner, captain indicted

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The owner and captain of the tour boat that capsized on Lake George in 2005, killing 20 elderly tourists, have been indicted by a grand jury.
VPR News

Midday Report – February 5, 2007

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Congress Peter Welch will use his own money to help for two renewable energy projects; Rob Roper, the newly chosen head of the Vermont GOP, wants to take the party back to the days of President Ronald Reagan; at next month’s town meeting, voters in Rutland City will not only decide which aldermen they want, but how they’re elected.
Commentary Series

Predictions

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At the start of a new year, it’s customary to look toward the future, so all through January commentator Olin Robison has been gazing into his crystal ball – with some rather surprising results.
Commentary Series

Leg news & Kendall Wild

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The Vermont Legislature opened this month with a score of reporters covering it. Tom Slayton remembers the editor who first assigned him to cover the legislature, almost forty years ago.
VPR News

Douglas criticizes state subsidy extension plan

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A day after pledging to work with lawmakers on education spending, Governor Jim Douglas is strongly criticizing a legislative plan to extend a state subsidy program for dairy farmers because the proposal includes a temporary surcharge on the sale of non-residential property.
Commentary Series

Obama

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Barack Obama has a lot to talk about these days but commentator Bill Seamans says that what’s being said *about him* may be even more provocative.
VPR News

The secrets of making skating rink ice revealed

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On a recent Saturday morning when the temperature was below zero, Tom Morgan was where he loves to be – out on the ice at the Randolph Community Rink pushing what looks like a big janitor’s broom that sprays a steady stream of water on the surface. We tagged along with Tom as he revealed to us the secrets of making skating ice.
VPR News

Interview: Marc Estrin, ‘Golem Song’

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The protagonist in Marc Estrin’s new novel “Golem Song” can barely contain his rage. He’s a militant Jewish man living in New York City who sees enemies lurking in the shadows, and readies himself for violent confrontation.
VPR News

Douglas hears from Bennington building employees

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Governor Jim Douglas got an earful from anxious employees at the Bennington State Offices Tuesday. Workers from human services, corrections and the court have been waiting since October for the state to move them out of a building they say is making them sick.
Commentary Series

Health care

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Other issues have bumped health care reform from the top of the Legislature’s agenda. But commentator Allen Gilbert thinks a close eye needs to be kept on some recent developments.
VPR News

Interview: Fred Wiseman, ‘Against the Darkness’

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On a proud day in May of 2006, Vermont’s Abenaki tribe finally gained official recognition from the state of Vermont. The difficult journey to get to that point has been chronicled in a new video production called Against the Darkness , which debuts later today at Johnson State College. Fred Wiseman produced the film. Wiseman is Abenaki and is a professor in Johnson State’s Humanities Department.
Commentary Series

Basketball Inventor

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Commentator Philip Baruth delivers a stunning bit of basketball history today: his great-grandfather invented the game. And this time apparently – he’s not kidding. Here’s Philip.
VPR News

Renovations underway on Masonic Temple

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Renovations are underway at one of the Northeast Kingdom’s most prominent historic structures. The Masonic Temple in St. Johnsbury is an impressive three-story brick building that’s now in need of repair.
VPR News

Vermont could lose dairy farms

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Some lawmakers worry that without a new infusion of cash to farmers, Vermont could lose 10 to 15% of its dairy farms this spring.
VPR News

State computer hacked

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A state computer containing personal information about 70,000 Vermonters has been broken into.
VPR News

‘Climate Change: The Musical’ featured in film

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One of the scenes in The Great Warming shows people in Keene, New Hampshire rehearsing a production titled Climate Change: The Musical. The play has never been performed in quite the way its creator had in mind. But now the composer thinks the country may be ready for some interactive- theatrical-environmental-problem solving.’
Commentary Series

VT as leader

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When contemplating the changing climate, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer scope and complexity of the challenge, but commentator David Moats is encouraged that Vermonters are collectively looking for ways to take decisive action.
VPR News

Lawmakers concerned over Education Fund shortfall

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Governor Jim Douglas has acknowledged that when he signed last year’s state budget, he was fully aware that the spending plan shortchanged the state’s Education Fund by millions of dollars. Some lawmakers are concerned about the shortfall.
VPR News

Backstage with ‘Cats’

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Directing a theater production isn’t easy – especially when it’s an elaborate Broadway musical like Cats. But 16-year-old Jacob Patorti loves a challenge.
VPR News

Former weather columnist sees change in climate

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Long before weather data was recorded using sophisticated gadgetry; Vermonters were painstakingly gathering information in their own back yards. Much of what we know about our weather over the past two hundred years is thanks to their records.
VPR News

Some like it hot: Bikram yoga

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Imagine yourself in a yoga class among three dozen people sitting side by side on mats in front of a wall-sized mirror. It’s 105 degrees in the room and the humidity is over 50 percent. For over an hour and a half you and the rest of the students will sweat as you focus on the instructor’s insistent voice and move through a series of positions. Welcome to Bikram yoga.
VPR News

Interview: Alex Wilson, Building Green

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Alex Wilson is the founder and president of Building Green, a Brattleboro company that publishes an on-line newsletter for the construction industry, called Environmental Building News. He spoke with Steve Delaney and says the publication offers hands-on tips for energy-sensitive building practices.
Commentary Series

Climate change

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The changing climate has become a top priority for Vermont’s state government this year. And commentator Helen Labun Jordan has been thinking about the types of climate change policies Vermont might need.
Commentary Series

Personal responsibility

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When it comes to dealing with the changing climate, commentator John Fox thinks we might learn a thing or two about personal responsibility from our ancient ancestors.
Commentary Series

Climate change

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The changing climate has become a top priority for Vermont’s state government this year. And commentator Helen Labun Jordan has been thinking about the types of climate change policies Vermont might need.
VPR News

Interview: Dan Reicher, New Energy Capital

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Dan Reicher, of Norwich, is with New Energy Capital a company that develops renewable energy projects such as ethanol and biodiesel. He also served as U.S. Assistant Secretary of Energy in the Clinton administration. He spoke with Neal Charnoff about the obstacles to getting renewable energy projects off the ground.
VPR News

Interview: Author Peter Barnes on the ‘Cap and Trade’ initiative

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Peter Barnes is a former journalist and author of numerous books on the environment. His latest book is called “Capitalism 3.0: A Guide to Reclaiming the Commons.” Barnes recently gave testimony on climate change to the Vermont Legislature, and suggests that the state should consider a variation on the so-called “Cap and Trade” initiative.
Commentary Series

Green tech in Green Mtns

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The changing climate is affecting the way we look at the relationship between industry and ecology. And commentator Bill Shutkin says that if Vermont wants to become a national leader in green business development, some basic attitudes also need to change.
VPR Presents

The Coming Pandemics

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VPR collaborates with the Vermont Council on World Affairs to present this panel discussion about how a flu pandemic will affect Vermont and the United States.
VPR News

School viewing of news report raises questions on Internet safety education

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The principal of Wallingford Elementary school came under fire recently when fifth graders there were shown a TV news report on sexual predators who use the internet to stalk children. While some parents felt it was a valuable safety lesson, others argued that the material was inappropriate. The debate raises important questions about how and when to educate children about internet safety.
VPR News

Interview: Author, Bill McKibben on climate changes

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Author Bill McKibben, wrote The End of Nature twenty years ago. It was the first book to speak to a general audience about the dangers of global warming. Neal Charnoff joined McKibben for a walk in a wooded area of East Montpelier, where he says we could see big changes in years to come.
VPR News

Rescue workers find hiker

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Rescuers in New Hampshire this afternoon found a hiker who had been missing since Saturday on Mount Lafayette.
VPR News

Interview: David Blittersdorf, NRG Systems on clean energy

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For twenty five years, wind power advocate David Blittersdorf has been preaching wind energy and other clean, renewable resources. He spoke with Steve Delaney and says he’s been feeling somewhat vindicated recently, because of the new attention being given to climate change and clean energy.
VPR News

Interview, Alan Betts, atmospheric researcher on climate change

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Dr. Alan Betts is an atmospheric researcher from Pittsford and president of the Vermont Academy of Science and Engineering. He spoke with Mitch Wertlieb about the U.S. awareness of global warming, how our economy has grown from the availability of fossil fuels and how a shift is needed from that to stop climate change.
VPR News

Authors using Internet to promote books

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Readings, signings and newspaper reviews used to be all it took to publicize a new book. But times have changed and the number of fiction readers is in decline. To counter that trend, authors are increasingly getting involved in promoting their books – and using the Internet to do it.
Commentary Series

Darwinian warming

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On a recent vacation, commentator Ted Levin was running along the Hudson River when he noticed several branches of ornamental cherries in bloom. That got him thinking about the changing climate and how it may affect Vermont’s native plants and animals.
VPR News

Interview: Drew Cameron, Iraq Troop Surge

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President Bush’s plan to send up to 21,000 new troops to Iraq is running into stiff opposition in Washington, with a resolution signed by many Democrats and some Republicans that oppose the escalation. That resolution, though, is non-binding, and Drew Cameron doesn’t think it will change the President’s decision to increase forces in Iraq.
Commentary Series

State of the Union

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Next Tuesday evening, the President will once again address congress and the nation on the State of the Union. Commentator Vic Henningsen wonders why this particular event always seems to be such a challenge – both for the President – and for the audience.
Commentary Series

New taxes

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Until recently, the internet was in effect a tax free zone, but commentator Tim McQuiston says that a number of states have taken steps to change that – includeding Vermont.
Commentary Series

Williamsburg

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During the holidays, commentator Peter Gilbert traveled with his family to Williamsburg, Virginia – back in time, to the days of the American Revolution. What he found surprised him.
VPR News

Persian music star crosses musical boundaries

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Kayhan Kalhor is perhaps Persian music’s only international star. He’s toured and recorded as part of the group, Masters of Persian Music and he’s also crossed musical boundry’s to work with musicians from other cultures. Kayhan Kalhor’s been in residence at Dartmouth College in recent weeks and we talked with him about Persian music and his instrument – the spike fiddle or kamancheh.
Commentary Series

Mme la Presidente

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he French hold presidential elections this spring, and, for the first time in history, the winning candidate could be a woman. Commentator Mike Martin has been thinking that this might be a very good thing.
Commentary Series

Escalation

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Commentator Madeleine Kunin wasn’t surprised to hear that many Americans oppose the President’s plan to send more U.S. troops to Iraq. But she was surprised – and encouraged – to learn who some of those opponents are.
Commentary Series

Vacation view

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During the holidays, commentator Ted Levin took a trip to visit his childhood home, and here’s how he says it looked – from thirty five thousand feet.
Commentary Series

Broadband access

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The governor has made broadband access a statewide goal, and commentator Deborah Luskin says it can’t come a moment too soon.
Commentary Series

MLK Day

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Commentator Andrew Flewelling isn’t very formal when it comes to celebrating important dates, but once in a while he makes an exception.
Commentary Series

Dreams

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Commentator Traci Griffith agrees that it’s important to reflect on the dreams of Martin Luther King Junior – but she says it’s also good to remember – and honor – your own.
Commentary Series

Vt & NH

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For years, commentator Willem Lange has been reflecting on the differences between Vermont and New Hampshire – and he thinks he’s found the cause.
Commentary Series

Fresh starts

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January is a time for reflection, but it’s also a time for looking ahead and starting fresh, and that appeals to commentator Ruth Page.
VPR News

Demonstrators converge in Bellows Falls

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Demonstrators took to the streets of a number of Vermont towns and cities last night. They were part of a national wave of protests, calling on Congress to block the president’s plan to send 20,000 more troops to Iraq.
VPR News

Blue Cross Blue Shield CEO’s compensation questioned

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State regulators have raised questions about how much Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont spends on expenses and executive salaries. The top executive was paid about $850,000 in 2005. The company is Vermont’s largest health insurance carrier. And regulators want Blue Cross and Blue Shield to explain its administrative costs, including its executive compensation.
Commentary Series

State priorities

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The legislature is back in session, and commentator Tom Slayton is reminded that Vermonters have long taken the responsibilities of leadership seriously.
Commentary Series

Civil rights in Vt

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Martin Luther King’s birthday is this coming Monday, and it reminds commentator Jay Craven of a moment from Vermont history that inspired one of his films.
VPR News

Becoming a monk is a rite of passage for two men

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In 1980, Anon and Bouala Sengaloun-Homsab fled the communist takeover of Laos with their two small children. Now after nearly three decades in this region, their middle son and oldest grandson thanked them in a uniquely Laotian way — by spending a week in a Buddhist monastery.
Commentary Series

Waxman

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As President Bush prepares to change direction in Iraq, commentator Bill Seamans considers other changes we’re likely to see in Washington.
Commentary Series

Seasons

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The freezing and thawing of the ground as winter settles in has reminded commentator Chris Wren of an old cat, and a timeless sentiment.
Commentary Series

Aging Vermont

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What answers might a legislative study committee provide about keeping Vermont an attractive, vibrant place to live? Commentator Allen Gilbert thinks the answers may be more complex than convincing Vermont kids not to leave home.
Commentary Series

200 year old crisis

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Young Vermonters are leaving the state and lawmakers are worried. But commentator Edith Hunter says that a little reading of history reveals that the crisis is not a new one – young people have been leaving Vermont for close to 200 years.
VPR News

East Burke exhibit explores the brain

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Thirty years ago Harvard researcher J. Allan Hobson created an exhibit based on the latest research on dreams and the brain. Now Hobson has a built a new Dreamstage Sleep and Science Museum in a renovated barn on his East Burke farm.
Commentary Series

Big Pharma

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As Congress convenes the new session, commentator Olin Robison is thinking about some of the changes that may be ahead for the Pharmaceutical industry.
VPR News

Native plants okay during warm spell

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With the warmer than usual temperatures of recent weeks, how are the plants and trees doing? Professor Tom Vogelman is the chairman of the Botany Department at UVM. He says that for native plants there’s not too much to worry about.
VPR News

Man found dead after police standoff

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Vermont State Police say a 22-year-old man was found dead in a Saint Johnsbury home today after he was involved in a standoff with local and state police.
Commentary Series

State house anniversary

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On a cold night exactly one hundred and fifty years ago, Vermont lost a unique treasure. Ironically however, from that tragic loss came another handsome treasure, which we now have cause to celebrate. Here’s commentator Peter Gilbert.
VPR News

Dinah Stafford remembers her father

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Governor Jim Douglas and Senators Patrick Leahy and Jim Jeffords will be among the speakers honoring their late friend and political colleague, Robert Stafford. Their remarks will likely reflect Stafford’s many contributions to his state and country. But VPR’s Nina Keck talked with Stafford’s daughter Dinah, who remembers him on a much more personal level.
VPR News

Sanders and Welch are sworn in

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The pomp and circumstance was not only in Vermont on Thursday. In Washington, Bernie Sanders and Peter Welch were sworn in as new members of the 110th Congress. From Capitol Hill, Terry Gildea reports:
VPR News

This I Believe, VT: Samuel Moyer

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Samuel Moyer of Plymouth is a senior at Goshen College in Indiana, majoring in psychology and minoring in conflict studies. He believes that cold weather is an important reminder of the cycle of life. Here he is with his essay for This I Believe.
Commentary Series

Role models

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Memories of Vermont’s long time Senator Robert Stafford, and images of former First Lady Betty Ford at her husband’s funeral services this week, have reminded commentator Madeleine Kunin of the good examples they quietly set for the rest of us.
VPR News

Song inspired by Statehouse walls

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A Vermont music organization, Big Heavy World, has just released a CD called In Silver Light And among the songs by Vermont singers and composers is a track that harks back to a speech made by president Theodore Roosevelt 105 years ago in Windsor Vermont.
VPR News

This I Believe, VT: Stephanie Montgomery

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Today we hear from Stephanie Montgomery, whose beliefs embrace the gardener’s philosophy that new growth is possible on old wood. Here she is with her essay for This I Believe.
Commentary Series

Carson anniversary

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In the year ahead, commentator Ted Levin says we’ll be celebrating an important milestone in the way that we view the world – the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of one of the most influential writers of the 20th century.
VPR News

Douglas supports term extension

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The 2007 Legislative session will be an opportunity to amend the Vermont Constitution. Lawmakers are expected to consider a proposal to extend the length of the Governor’s term in office from 2 to 4 years. Governor Jim Douglas says he supports the plan but the proposal does have some strong critics.
VPR News

This I Believe, VT: – Lisa Furmanski

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Lisa Furmanski is a geriatrician at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. She’s been a Peace Corps volunteer in Togo and worked with a community HIV program in Uganda. Her belief in service to others is inspired by her family history.
VPR Series and Specials

2006 The Year in Review

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The death penalty, the war in Iraq and an election year that saw unprecedented campaign spending are just a few of the issues Vermonters talked about in 2006. It was the year International Paper conducted a test burn of tires in Ticonderoga New York, over intense opposition from Vermont. The issues of illegal immigrant farm workers in the state made news. A controversial sentence for child abuse brought national attention to a Vermont judge, and the long quest for recognition for Vermont’s Abenaki Indians took a big step forward. Join host, Steve Delaney as we ponder these and other events of 2006.
Commentary Series

Rush hour

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As he looks back on 2006, commentator Vic Henningsen is feeling some nostalgia for all the busy activity he observed on his country road last fall.
VPR News

This I Believe, VT: Bill Shutkin

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Bill Shutkin is a writer, lawyer and Research Affiliate at MIT specializing in environmental and sustainable development policy. He believes that paradox is another name for the creative tension that can bring about positive change.